Chapter seven – most surprising pet visits and hidden classroom talk
Chapter seven – most surprising pet visits and hidden classroom talk
Leighton enjoyed Jul, or Christmas for the plebeian people, tremendously. His fathers attitude over the split of the assets and the heir title had deflated after he realized that not having to do the taxes and correspondence was actually a good thing. So Leighton spend his pre christmas days going round town and enjoying the jolly tunes.
Fawley mansion, unlike the pureblood mansions of more dark magic families, was right next to a decently sized smaller town. As a child Leigh had wondered about the red citadel behind the hill. He would try to sneak a peak at them while flying on his broom, although he never ever saw anything enlightening. Now at almost seventeen his parents couldn’t keep him, nor could his steely, dead grandmother.
Leigh enjoyed a good shopping spree and to his delight there was a miniature ice skating rink. It turned out he didn’t possess an adequate talent for that, after spending half the time wobbling over the ice. The thing that had brought him to the town in the first place was last minute present shopping. He’d gotten everything on time, as always, but he hadn’t anticipated Long- Neville.
He- honestly didn’t think he knew what the boy would like. What did you get a really nice guy, whose parents had been tortured into insanity by your some removed blood-related insane aunt? An apology letter, probably. ‘Sorry my family ruined your family, sincerely Leighton Fawley.’, seemed a bit- out of it.
Leigh waddled around and settled on a non-magical plant book, because he hoped Neville as a pureblood would know just as little about all that as Leigh did. Satisfied he left the town.
Christmas itself wasn’t much of an ordeal. Sure, there was a present exchange and Leigh got swarmed with presents. Unsurprisingly, even Malfoy sent something any other person would deem too expensive to be a present. Leigh looked at the medallion and shrugged. After a bunch of toffee’s from Artur, a small quiet charm in a cute box for studying from Oretia and some more of that sort Leigh settled in for a nice, calm evening. He overlooked the estate, the now empty flower beds and little pond he’d played by as a child. Fawley manor was fairly golden and sand coloured, making it warm and welcoming. It was a good place and Leigh wouldn’t mind raising his own family there one day.
Thinking about the past made him feel a bit antsy. He wanted to do something, the amount of sugar in his blood making him want to fly. Although it was already dark out, Leighton went to grab his old broom. He stepped out, the light-spheres ascending. Like little sun’s they hovered in the sky. Leigh swung himself atop his broom and shot into the hair. His green and silver christmas sweater fluttered as he made loops. It was so freeing, making the young man realize that he’d missed the feeling a lot at Hogwarts. He sped up and around the shimmering spheres and then down towards the grass.
With a bit more energy than necessary, he landed. Legs running while the broom was still between his legs, Leigh hover-glid towards the shed near the line of trees when he saw something.
Barely containing a surprised shriek, he saw a large animal stand there. Surprised, he took off to the sky again. That had been Potter’s dog. From the train station. Was Potter here? Leigh might’ve overreacted or maybe the punch had gone to his head. Was it legal to opperate a brrom while drunk? He dove down again, but he couldn’t see the dog any more. On his feet Leigh turned around and whisper-shouted.
“Dog? I know you’re here. Potter? Are you here too? I know that’s your dog.”
Leigh listened intently.
“That’s actually my dog.”
Leigh shrieked. He hadn’t expected a grown man to talk, nor to see said men when he turned around.
Leigh’s first thought was run, but as the man didn’t move, Leigh didn’t either.
His second thought was how that man looked more like he could be his father that his own actual father did. The man had long, dark curly hair and silvery eyes that reflected the few rays of moonlight that there were. He was dressed like an aristocrat wizard, but didn’t wear it as such. The robe was obviously long since out of style. It had been thrown over what must be a muggle shirt way underneath it. The man must’ve been handsome some years ago, but he was so pale and sickly thin that it was uncomfortable to look at.
The third thought came with urgency. That was bloody Sirius Black and that’s why they looked so alike.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” Leigh burst out, hand going to his pocket where he’d put his wand earlier.
“You curse.” Black answered, brows lifting in mild surprise. His eyes were so- sorrowful. There was a true, deep sadness in there directed at Leigh that didn’t make any sense.
“Of course I curse when Sirius – fucking – Black is in my backyard.” Leigh took a step back, angling his hand so he hoped he could jump on his broom and just take off.
“I- I shouldn’t have come. I’m not even allowed to leave the house, but everyone was somewhat drunk-” Black mumbled, never looking fully away. He seemed so taken by Leigh.
“Stop staring, it’s freaking me out!”
Had Leighton ever before been so rude and articulate. But the fear dripping into his inside wasn’t allowing his good schooling to win quite yet.
“I’m sorry. I- I just saw you before and you look a lot like my brother. It’s uncanny- I just needed to see it up close.”
Where on earth had Leighton met a seriously dangerous criminal before? And HOW had he not noticed?
“He also liked to play Quidditch. He was a seeker. And the last time I saw him he was about your age and it- just feels like time stopped. I’m not- I’m not actually dangerous. I didn’t do anything the Ministry says I did.”
“And I should, believe that?”
“You can. But I can’t make you do anything. I just- I feel like something could’ve been done differently back then, so Regulus would still be alive. And there was no second chance of getting it right. Everyone else is dead now- And then I saw you.”
Oh. Sirius Black, at his core, was just like Grandmother Black. She took one look at Leigh and saw a Black and it made her care. Sirius Black took one look at Leighton, saw Regulus Black and it made him care.
“Am I like him? Regulus Black.”
“Not- Not a lot. From what Harry said about you, you sounded more like him, but I don’t think I ever heard Reg curse.”
“Well, I usually don’t.” This was insane. How were they just talking? Why wasn’t Leigh running away yet? “You did get me a bit panicked here, so-”
“Yeah, I keep doing that. A careful approach is hard when you’re a runway convict.”
“I would think so. What are you doing here? Did you come to sneak a peak, like that isn’t creepy at all.”
Sirius Black pulled out a parcel. It suddenly struck Leigh that it was Jul and it’s a family celebration. Whatever family Black had found for himself, the pureblood in him still knew that that wasn’t really his family. Or least not his only.
Leigh took the parcel, carefully watching whether Black would use the proximity for a sneak attack.
“I- Don’t believe in our family.” Black said. “Toujour pur, is a stupid motto and my mother was a horrible witch. I would never wish a father like mine upon anyone and it ruined my brother. There’s nothing but pain to be found, but I also think that when you take away everything and start building on your own, you could begin to make something better. I know Harry is doing better now and- I want you to do better as well. And I think you might. Harry told me you’ve been trying to help in a very Slytherin way, but you made a choice. You want out.”
“Harry?” Leigh frowned. “You are in contact with Potter?”
“I’ve been wrongfully brought to Azkaban. I’m innocent and Harry knows that.”
“And Harry told you I’ve been changing sides.”
“Yes, and I might not mean anything to you, but that’s all I wanted as a teen from-”
Black’s mouth shut, likely because that was a lot to share with a stranger.
But that's all I wanted from Regulus, hung in the air between them.
But I'm not him, Leigh thought, don't put this burdon on me.
“My brother made a wrong choice and I could’ve been there for him to change. I wasn’t, but now I can and I’d hate for any more- to just disappear.”
Leigh opened the parcel, the top coming off. It had dark red inlay and a ring. Not the one of Lord Black, of course, but the kind you would give a spare, someone in line and part of the family. It had scratches in the silver of it and was shinier in the inside. It had been used for years.
“It’s Regulus’s ring. I found it and- I think he took it off because whatever he was doing wasn’t meant to be witnessed by our family. I hope it was something good, something worthy, that Mother wouldn’t have approved of, but I will never know. And I think- It’s time it gets to witness our family doing right.”
Leigh stared. What was it with people and giving him incredibly personal gifts this year?
“I know it’s a lot and I need to go before anyone notices I left. I want to write to you. Can I?”
Leigh nodded, before he could think it through fully. And almost like he melted into the shadows, Sirius Black disappeared into the trees.
“What the actual fuck.” Leigh shouted into the night before turning around back to the house. He didn’t feel like playing Quidditch any more.
Hogwarts was a mess, although strictly speaking it was more organized and looked over than ever. Umbridges constant hovering was like a screw that was being pulled tighter and tighter, even though there was nothing left to screw. Leigh could only imagine how awful it was for all the other houses if even Slytherin felt her wrath.
It crescendoed into a news article of the sort Leighton had never wanted to read. Oretia and Eva by his side he’d hoped to enjoy a moment of peaceful breakfast when the owls arrived. Leigh had expected a nondescript letter from Black any day now. His mind had sort of turned to their encounter every so often trying to figure out Black’s angle was he really just looking for family? To right his wrongs, on Leigh because his own brother was gone?
The name Black came up differently though.
‘MASS BREAKOUT FROM AZKABAN
MINISTRY FEARS BLACK IS 'RALLYING POINT' FOR OLD DEATH EATERS’
Leigh almost dropped his Daily Prophet. The entire hall was whispering nervously.
‘The Ministry of Magic announced late last night that there has been a mass breakout from Azkaban. Speaking to reporters in his private office, Cornelius Fudge, Minister for Magic, confirmed that ten high-security prisoners escaped in the early hours of yesterday evening and that he has already informed the Muggle Prime Minister of the dangerous nature of these individuals. 'We find ourselves, most unfortunately, in the same position we were two and a half years ago when the murderer Sinus Black escaped,' said Fudge last night. 'Nor do we think the two breakouts are unrelated. An escape of this magnitude suggests outside help, and we must remember that Black, as the first person ever to break out of Azkaban, would be ideally placed to help others follow in his footsteps. We think it likely that these individuals, who include Black's cousin, Bellatrix Lestrange, have rallied around Black as their leader. We are, however, doing all we can to round up the criminals, and we beg the magical community to remain alert and cautious. On no account should any of these individuals be approached.'
Who do I believe? Black who said he’s innocent? The Ministry? Leigh felt both weren’t really reliable sources. But Black had mentioned Potter, so- That was something.
Then something far worse registered.
...who include Black's cousin, Bellatrix Lestrange, have rallied around Black as their leader.
Bellatix Lestrange? That were actually verified bad news. Leigh’s gaze snapped up to the Gryffindor table. There he saw the familiar hunched back. Leigh remember Neville looking a lot taller lately, but that must’ve been new-found confidence. Neville was now again sunken in on himself, a Prophet on the table before him.
No one noticed really when Longbottom stood up and left the hall. Only Leigh followed the boy with his eyes past the doors. He pondered whether he should follow the other. He didn’t want to... If Longbottom ever found out Leigh’s ties to the situation, he might find Leigh trying to console him tasteless.
No one was watching and Leigh didn’t have a good reason not to go, so he grabbed what was left of his buttered jam toast and followed the other boy. He barely caught the tail of a red coat at the top of the stairs. It was a bummer that Neville had such long legs as it made following him hard. Leigh lost him almost right away, but he had a feeling he would find Neville.
The Gryffindor, predictably, had hauled himself up in the corridor with the nooks. Leigh headed straight for the only one with drawn curtains. Neville looked up red-faced, but not crying. He looked somewhere between helpless and angry, which Leigh hadn’t expected. He had steeled himself for sobbing, magic knows why he wanted to put up with that, but instead Neville seemed to be calming himself down from anger.
“Leigh? Why-”
“You left the hall.”
“So, you followed me?”
“You seemed upset. Did I read this wrong? I can just leave...”
Neville took a deep breath and shook his head. He scooted to the side, patting the old seat, indicating Leigh to sit. He did.
“You’re right. I was upset- The escape in Azkaban-”
Neville took a breath, thinking. Then he shook his head, deciding something.
“I was in St. Mungo’s over christmas. I- You remember when we first met here? Why I was...”
“Because Malfoy made fun of people in the special ward there.” Leigh nodded, telling Neville to continue.
“Yeah,- For me it’s personal. I didn’t want to tell anyone, but my family is in there. My Mom and Dad. Not that I’m embarrassed! Don’t think that. Grandma thought I was, but that isn’t it. I love them and I know they were brave. I don’t think I could be this brave, but I wish- I just wish they weren’t brave! I wish they’d never have become Aurors or got entangled in all of this! I rather they were just here, with me. Fully. Even if they were just normal people. I don't need heroes. I just need parents.”
None of that would’ve made any sense if Leigh hadn’t known the story beforehand.
“So they’re permanent residents?”
“Yes. Bellatix Lestrange lead a group of Deatheaters there and they- tortured them. They did it so long there couldn’t ever be done anything to help them. And- I just wish it never happened. I just want her gone. For Lestrange to die a painful death so she can never harm anyone ever again. If I can’t have my family back I want at least that. But no one will do that- and I can’t. I’m not good enough.”
“-Yet.”
Neville looked up.
“Don’t get me wrong.” Leigh paddled back. “I’m not saying I want you to hunt her down, but you’re not done yet. You’re what, 15? You’re growing, physically and magically. And people are talking. You’ve improved, so keep doing that.”
“I should get good enough to hunt her, but not do it?”
“Neville, you Gryffindor’s don’t understand her. She’s the worst kind of Slytherin. Mad and Cunning. Most, let’s call her a bully- Most bullies don’t remember their victim’s because it was nothing special to them. They don’t care. But she- she remembers. I just know that if she ever saw you, she would poke that wound, because that’s fun to her. I-” Leigh contemplated. Keeping his cards to himself, but Longbottom wasn’t Potter, so he didn’t matter in the big scheme, and Potter knew already.
“My Grandmother was a Black, as is Lestrange. She told me about ‘little Bella’. She was always like that, but less intense. She likes to collect pain and she would love to have the entire Longbottom family in her notorious collection. So don’t approach her, but if she ever attacks you, don’t hesitate. Become stronger and don’t get caught off guard.”
Neville stared past Leigh, out the rounded window.
“You’re related to her?”
“Distantly. All Purebloods are. You’re probably as well, some removed. I think I’m as related to her as Potter is. His Grandmother was a Black as well. Does it matter?”
“No- It just feels ironic.”
“What does?”
Neville shook his head. He grasped Leigh‘s hand for comfort and gave it a short squeeze. Before Leigh really thought about it, he squeezed back.
“Let’s talk about that another time. I just- need a moment. And then I’ll try harder.”
A strange thing it was how quickly the unusual could become your normal if everyone lived that way. Leigh’s life after the news proved to him that Umbridge could screw even tighter. Not only was it now impossible to talk to a teacher, she also started to push new duties onto him, like it was normal. Just once he wanted to snap at her that she couldn’t talk to him about the Inquisitorial Squad as it didn’t concern her subject. He didn’t. Lee Jordan had made a similar remark, although as a joke, and his awkwardly held hand told Leigh all he needed to know.
Another not normal thing was him more often than not encountering Neville on his rounds. It took him a week to realize that that was somewhat on purpose. Neville didn’t even talk much to Leigh, but spend his time in an abandoned classroom practising spells. Leigh then would sit down and watch. Sometimes he’d help to correct something the younger student didn’t do right. After a month of that new dynamic Neville improved so much, Leigh wasn’t sure what to think anymore. He’d always judged the other as mediocre or below mediocre, but now? It seemed the fire of Bellatrix’s escape had given him the fire hr needed to concentrate.
Leigh almost forgot his promise until Neville, still concentrated and not at all a klutz anymore, brought it up again.
“Do you remember what we were talking about a while back.”
He was panting a bit. They were training summoning quickly. There were plenty of books and other old things in the room that Leigh kept throwing away with the flick of hi wand, as Neville had to 'accio' them back. From time to time Leigh would out of jux throw something directly at Neville forcing him to produce a shield or let the book hit him.
“What exactly? We’ve been talking a lot recently.” Leigh said flinging a bunch of feathers in a box.
“About going round Hogsmeade together.” Neville seemed a bit shy asking about that.
“I did say we would go. I was the one asking actually, right?”
“Yeah. So, can we go next weekend?” Neville said so quickly Leigh had a hard time hearing him over the moving articles in the room.
“Sure-” Leigh lifted a book and faltered. It dropped to the ground mid-way. “Isn’t next Hogsmeade-weekend Valentines?!”
Neville missed the oncoming scroll and it hit him in the face. He was red and his round face looked properly warm. Leigh saw the other, who’d become taller with confidence sack into himself a bit embarrassed.
“Yeah. I know.”
“And you don’t have a date you rather take?”
“Well- I have you. I-”
Was Leigh overthinking this? He felt like- Was Neville-? No- But maybe? What if-?
“So what I mean to say- Leigh- I-”
“Are you asking me out on a date?”
“No- ye- I-”
Leigh sprang down from the desk he’d been sitting on. Usually, he would check his clothes and pull them straight. He didn’t care about that. Instead, he approached Neville Longbottom, the boy who was so impossibly tall that he looked like a small tree. The others face was turned towards the ground now, looking a lot like a child that was about to be reprimanded.
“Is that a no or a yes?”
Leigh leaned in and looked from below up into Neville’s face. He had to go into his knees a bit to manage that, as he wasn’t that much smaller than Neville.
Neville Longbottom looked so- earnest. Leigh, surrounded by snakes and little mind game (something he generally did enjoy) felt oddly endeared. Maybe that explained his moment of weakness.
“I want to go to Hogsmeade with you on Valentines!” Neville burst out, as he stepped back, entirely overwhelmed.
“As friends?”
“No. As a date.”
There it was, that Gryffindor bravery, somewhere deep inside the tall boy, hidden away.
Leighton should say no. Sure, he liked men. Sure, Longbottom weirdly fit into his visual type. Sure, he liked spending time with the other, but a war was brewing and Slytherin and Gryffindor were like water and oil, a dragon and a ministry ball. It didn’t mix well.
“Okay.”
Neville’s shoulders dropped, nervousness dissipating and he came closer, almost involuntarily.
“Okay?”
“Yes. Okay. I’ll go out with you once. If it doesn’t work, we’ll return what we have here. That okay with you?”
“Yes!” Neville came closer and for a moment it seemed like he wanted to hug Leigh. His arms went out then back and out again like he was being pulled forward and backwards in time. He settled for just smiling, no- beaming.
“You’ll plan the date. I’m spread out between all of my duties.”
“I will. Don’t worry. I will take care of everything. Just be there.”
“Great, now… Practice?”
On his way back into the dungeon Leigh wondered why he’d agreed so easily. Maybe, he just hadn’t been on a date a while and missed it. Maybe he just felt like it. He didn’t consider it might be because of who asked him.