What?
The habit of wandering the corridors of Hogwarts had become second nature to Leonardo, a ritual so ingrained in him that even his friends joked about it. Like a lion patrolling its territory, they would say, referencing not only his prowling nature but also his golden eyes and mane of blond hair. His name didn’t help dissuade the comparison either.
Gossimer was always eager to share rumors of interesting places to explore during his nightly strolls, but tonight, Leo had other plans. Typically, he would visit the smithing clubroom to work with metal, the rhythmic clash of hammer against steel grounding him in ways little else could. It was his personal retreat—one he hadn’t yet told Ivy or Daniel about, as the project was still a work in progress.
Lately, however, something more pressing weighed on him. Daniel.
Since the start of their fifth year, Daniel had been avoiding him, not with open hostility, but with a growing distance that felt almost worse. They had been close before—especially last Christmas—but now, Daniel barely spoke to him outside of class. Whenever Leonardo tried to reach out, Daniel responded in clipped, impersonal sentences. The one exception was their letters. When they wrote to each other, Daniel still seemed like the friend he remembered, offering potions and advice for Leo’s chores. But in person? He withdrew. And Leo had no idea why.
Cassandra certainly wasn’t helping. As always, she spread rumors—this time, whispering that Leo was a failed Animagus experiment. He never changes in front of anyone, she had said. Maybe he’s just a liar.
Ivy, at least, was on his side. She was the only one who knew the truth: that he had transformed on school grounds during their battle with Eliot Evers and the members of NOTME. It had been necessary, but that didn’t matter to the Ministry. His family’s history had made sure of that.
The Goldknight bloodline—his father’s side—was known for producing towering, golden-furred creatures, while his mother’s Fenrisdottir lineage bore darker shades of black, brown, or gray. Both sides of his family were bound by strict regulations from the Ministry, forced to register their transformations due to their classification as magical creatures rather than mere Animagi. Because of this, the repercussions for breaking the rules were severe.
His punishment? Forced labor under Hagrid’s supervision for every winter holiday until he graduated. The work had been grueling, but not without benefits. The physical labor built his strength, and Hagrid—along with Luna Scamander and her spouse—offered invaluable guidance on controlling his abilities. One of his main tasks had been herding magical creatures away from the school grounds, a job both exhausting and dangerous. But through it all, Daniel had continued to write to him, sending potions that eased his workload.
Leo missed him.
Tonight, he had a rare break from responsibilities and planned to spend it in the smithing clubroom. Thanks to his persistence and strong academic record, McGonagall had agreed to reopen the workshop, strengthening ties between Hogwarts and the Dwarven crafters. His uncle, a master smith, now taught there, and with the help of fellow enthusiasts, they had restored the room with proper tools: anvils, hammers, tongs, chisels—everything needed for true craftsmanship.
But this night, his project was personal. A protection amulet, carefully designed for Daniel. He had worked with Ivy on the enchantments, his uncle on the craftsmanship, and Kotic—a descendant of Wayland—for advice on selecting the finest ores and gemstones. It was a token of care, a quiet reassurance that despite the distance between them, Leo still valued their friendship.
As if fate had answered his silent plea, Daniel appeared before him.
Leo nearly collided with him in the dimly lit corridor. For a moment, they just stared at each other. It had been so long since they had spoken face to face. And Daniel—he looked… smaller.
Leo frowned. Had Daniel always been this delicate? Before, they had stood at nearly the same height, but now Leo had to look down slightly to meet his gaze. His brown hair was longer, messier than before. He looked surprised—almost nervous—to see Leo there.
“Daniel! What are you doing here so late?”
Daniel’s eyes flickered to the floor. “Leo… please, just let me be.”
Leo clenched his fists. “Daniel, look at me.” His voice softened. “I want to help. Whatever’s going on, you don’t have to face it alone.”
Daniel hesitated before finally meeting his gaze. His expression was unreadable, but his voice was firm. “I promise that soon, everything will be back to normal.”
“What do you mean? Don’t tell me Cassandra’s been messing with you again.” Leo’s voice darkened. “You don’t believe what she’s saying, do you?”
Daniel’s eyes flashed. “No! I would never believe that.” He stepped forward, closing the gap between them. “Even if you were a failed Animagus, it wouldn’t matter to me.” His voice wavered slightly. “Just like Ivy believes in you, I do too.”
Leo felt warmth spread in his chest. “Then tell me what’s wrong. Why have you been avoiding me?”
Daniel looked away. “It’s… more complicated than that.”
“Then explain it to me.” Leo reached into his pocket, retrieving the amulet. Gently, he took Daniel’s hand and placed it in his palm. “Even if you won’t talk to me, I still care. I made this for you.”
Daniel stared at the necklace, eyes widening. When he looked up again, something in his expression cracked. He reached out, hesitating, before cupping Leo’s cheek. “Have you talked to your father about this?”
Leo exhaled sharply, gripping Daniel’s wrist. “I tried. He was too busy with the Ministry.”
Daniel didn’t reply. Instead, he kissed him.
Leo barely had time to react before instinct took over. He kissed back, wrapping his arms around Daniel’s waist, pulling him closer. The warmth of Daniel’s breath, the scent of hot cocoa—it was overwhelming, intoxicating. He deepened the kiss, pressing Daniel gently against the stone wall.
Then—
“Ahem.”
Their eyes shot open just as Filch’s rough hand gripped Leo’s shoulder, yanking him back. “Got you, Goldknight,” the old caretaker sneered. “Professor McGonagall’s been looking for you. Bet she’ll finally expel you, filthy mutt.”
Leo struggled, but Filch’s grip was stronger than expected. He glanced at Daniel, who was frozen in place.
“Daniel,” Leo said, forcing a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry. Everything will be fine.”
Daniel hesitated before nodding and disappearing into the shadows of the passageway.
Filch dragged Leo to the Headmistress’s office, where McGonagall stood in her nightgown. But it was the man standing beside her who made Leo’s stomach drop.
“Father?”
His father crossed his arms. “We need to talk.”
Leo’s blood ran cold. “What happened?”
McGonagall sighed. “Leonardo, I know you’ve done everything to control yourself. But after discussing with your father… your emotions are becoming unstable. If this continues, you could shift without realizing it.”
Leo swallowed hard. “I’ve been in control.”
His father’s gaze was firm. “Not enough. From now on, you’ll return home with me every afternoon after classes and stay on weekends.”
Leo’s breath caught. “What?”
“You’ll still see your friends—during class. That’s final.”
Anger, confusion, and heartbreak surged through him. No. No, this can’t be happening.
A visceral howl tore from his throat. The shift overtook him. Before anyone could stop him, he bolted, leaping through the window.
He landed on the lake—but didn’t sink. He ran across the water’s surface, straight into the Forbidden Forest.
McGonagall sighed, repairing the shattered glass. “Looks like this school will never have a peaceful year.” She glanced at Dumbledore’s portrait. “But at least I handle it better than you did.”