A/N: first of all, my sincerest apologies for being so late to update, and thank you very much for those of you who reviewed! It warms my heart.
Please accept my apologies in the form of an extra long chapter.

Things pick up a bit in this one…

THIRD TIME LUCKY
Chapter 2

"I felt my lungs inflate with the onrush of scenery—air, mountains, trees, people. I thought, "This is what it is to be happy."
- Sylvia Plath

Shortly after Dumbledore left, Pollonus came to Leda's room to inquire about lunch- she still wasn't particularly hungry, and he must have noticed the slightly dejected mood she was in, because his next proposition certainly lifted her spirits.

"You must be awfully bored, cooped up in 'ere all alone… Say, why don't I get Reggie to take you through the village for a bit? I'm sure a girly like you would love to do a spot of shopping, and Reggie could pick up a delivery for me."

Leda warmed to the idea of exploring the little village, and nodded.

"I'd like that very much, Pollonus," she answered, a smile forming on her face - partly because of the thought of Reggie being her tour guide.

Merlin, I need to get a life!

"Well alright then, get yourself ready and Reggie'll take you out at 1," he confirmed to her with a toothy smile, before leaving.

Leda grabbed her purse and gave herself a once over in the bathroom mirror. She supposed she was pretty – her olive skin had deepened over the summer, and her dark hair had subtle streaks of mahogany running through it, also courtesy of the summer sun. She lined her dark eyes with kohl and knew that she certainly didn't look like anyone on the cover of Vogue Witch, but she hardly gave it a second thought as her eye caught the clock in the room, which indicated it was 1:07.

She hurried down to the pub, chagrined, as her frantic footsteps made the old stairs groan in protest. Waiting by the entrance was a very casual looking Reggie, whose eyes lit up as he saw her making her way towards him.

"I was beginning to think you'd changed your mind!" Thankfully, he didn't seem annoyed, but simply amused.

Flushing, she stammered out some excuse, and upon regaining some composure gestured towards the door.

"Shall we get going then?"

The village certainly was very charming, Leda decided, as she strolled through it with one arm interlocked on Reggie's and the other with a loose hold on her purse. They stopped first at the Apothecary, where Pollonus had placed orders for Dreamless Sleep and Pepper-Up.

As he counted out the change for the potions, Reggie explained, "Uncle's son, Mundungus, has a nasty cold – which I'm sure he'll be passing along to the rest of us."

While he was occupied with the payment, Leda's eyes roamed the room and what she saw made her smile. Shelves full to the brim with unusual vials and decanters, in a myriad of odd and eye-catching colours.

One wall of the hazy shop was dedicated to ingredients and equipment, all immaculately arranged to entice a Potions fanatic into buying them. And it was certainly working as Leda felt her hand twitching towards her purse when she saw a small vial of Lolabug venom in the chilled segment of the display.

"See something you like?" Leda heard Reggie's voice behind her.

Turning to face him, she decided not to say what answer had originally formed in her mind – her mother was constantly chiding her for being 'improper'- and answered "My father is a potions brewer – I grew up around things like this," she explained, gesturing to the immaculate display and picking up charred bezoar stone. After turning it in her hand, she placed it back delicately, exactly as it had been.

"It feels like home here."

And it did, as the smells of the strange and wonderful ingredients and potions and the sterile pewter brought back memories of happier days, when she would spend hours at a time watching and helping her father brew countless complicated concoctions.

"It must be hard for you, to leave them behind."

Leda didn't reply, simply giving him a small smile and leading him back out into the main street. After visiting various other glorious stores (and buying several kilograms of goods from Honeydukes – her willpower at the Apothecary had withered away in the face of the velvety nougat on offer), Leda asked Reggie where Ollivander's was.

Frowning slightly, informed her "Well, that's in Diagon Alley. In London."

"Oh." Leda's face began burning – clearly she should have familiarised herself with the geographical layout of the UK before opening her mouth.

"I could take you though, if you want. Don't you have a wand?" he enquired, looking pointedly at the one sticking out of her purse.

"Oh yes, but I heard you change your wand as you mature – and I've heard a lot about Ollivander's wands. I'd love to go but..." She looked up at the bell tower to the clock that indicated it was quarter to 3.

"I'm being taken to Hogwarts at 4pm," she explained, "And I doubt Professor Dumbledore would be impressed if I was late in meeting him too."

"I could have you there and back in an hour," he bragged, with an unperturbed expression.

Leda apprehended him for a moment. He seemed sincere, which prompted her to ask how they would be getting there. He pursed his lips in a thoughtful manner.

"Well, I could Side-Along you, but you'd probably feel sick – there's a Floo connection to the Leaky Cauldron in Uncle's pub, and I don't think he would mind us using it."

Leda nodded. "And you don't mind wasting your day off to take me?" she asked, wanting to make sure she wasn't being a hindrance.

He looked down at her with a sweet smile.

"Not one bit."

After confirming with his Uncle that it was indeed okay to use his Floo, Leda stumbled out into The Leaky Cauldron moments after Reggie. Immediately it struck her how different it was – much more metropolitan and busy – Leda immediately decided she preferred The Three Broomsticks.

Reggie led her out quickly, evidently having been here before, and took Leda's hand. In other circumstances, that may have caused her some surprise, but it was the hectic scene in front of her that captured her attention.

"You said we would get there and back in an hour," she accused shooting a glare at him.

"Oh, I know some shortcuts," he declared with an impish grin on his face.

He skilfully weaved his way through the crowd and through various narrow alleyways, and to Leda's surprise, within minutes they had reached it. Proud and tall, stood Ollivander's: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C.

Inside, the shop was small and had minimal decoration – save for the thousands of wands stacked on the shelves behind the counter. A rangy, middle-aged man with fair hair and eyes was the only person visible – presumably this was the esteemed Ollivander.

He looked back at her with wise eyes, and she approached the counter, about to speak when Ollivander simply stated "Silver lime wood." He swiftly turned around, making his way to the far left of the little shop.

Puzzled, she watched him duck behind the counter and bring out two long velvet boxes.

Lifting the wands out of their cases, he muttered "…very rare indeed, the Trelawney girl had promise too…"

He handed over the first wand. "Unicorn hair, 12 inches" he announced. The second Leda's hand made contact with the wand, she felt as though it had scalded her – she promptly dropped it back into his hands. It seemed to be recoil from her touch – completely unwilling to yield to her.

"Oh dear, oh dear," muttered Ollivander under his breath. She wasn't sure if she was supposed to have heard it.

Handing over the second wand with an expectant look on his face, Ollivander's face light up as a silvery wisp formed from the wand, and wound spirals around Leda. Warmth radiated from the wood, and it seemed to be almost buzzing in her palm. It had accepted her.

"Silver lime wood, 9 ½ inches, Dragon heartstring. A most exquisite combination."

She thanked him, paying him generously before leaving the peculiar old man's shop.

"Strange, isn't he?" she remarked to Reggie, who snorted.

"Bit more than just 'strange' – but he has certainly got a flair for wandistry. The best in Europe, they say."

Leda thought back to the immense power that oozed out of her new wand when she had touched it, and she was glad that she had a new one, and glad that Reggie hadn't asked why she needed a new one. She wouldn't have cared to explain how and why the old one increasingly kept resisting her magic…

After a few more stops – the most disappointing of which was the visit to Madam Malkin's for a few new dress robes (sadly, none were as stylish as those that she had left in Herault – she absently made a note to remind her mother to send a few over) – Leda conceded to Reggie's gentle reminder that she would be late if they didn't leave now.

Albus' brow furrowed as he Hogsmeade came into view through the small window of the carriage. The Three Broomsticks. The girl's thoughts yesterday were troubling – she had been occluding, but what little Albus had managed to see of her thoughts worried him deeply. Putting his concern aside for the minute, Albus forced himself to smile cheerfully as he caught sight of the young witch waiting outside the pub, dressed in the Hogwarts robes.

"The uniform becomes you, Miss Malfadine," the older wizard declared, his eyes twinkling.

She smiled back, but didn't meet his eye – evidently the girl was nervous.

Lena tried to keep a scowl of her face as the Albus Dumbledore stepped out of the carriage.

Twinkle your eyes all you like. I know what you did.

Leda refused to meet his eye, on account that she was still bitter she hadn't realised Dumbledore had used Legilimancy on her until after he had left – and that her mind hadn't been as secure as she thought. She would have to be careful of him, it seemed. Thank Merlin her father had taught her Occlumency when she was younger; otherwise Dumbledore's discoveries of her mind yesterday could have been a tenfold worse.

Still avoiding his gaze, allowed him to place her trunks in the side compartment of the large carriage, which she noted was being led by a Thestral. Ugly creatures though they were, they were very gentle, and sensitive to humans – perhaps more so than humans themselves. Climbing into the carriage, Leda took a deep breath and cleared her mind – she wouldn't let her guard down again.

Finally looking at Dumbledore now, made menial small talk with him, until they reached the castle.

"It's much cooler here than back home," she remarked, deciding that the weather would be a safe topic.

Dumbledore smiled and replied "I'd imagine it is. Hopefully you've brought a good winter cloak with you – I'm afraid the Scottish winter is far harsher than that of Southern France." Realising that she hadn't, Leda decided to add that to the list of things her mother would need to send.

Leda looked out of the window as the scenic view Hogsmeade disappeared, giving way to a long stretch of trees.

"It's a pretty little place, isn't it?" She decided she would miss it.

Dumbledore smiled again, "It is rather pretty, yes. As your parents have given consent, you shall be able to revisit it a couple of times during the term."

This made Leda feel a little less tense about her situation. Change in habitat made her nervous, after spending two years either in her home or at least with her parents by her side. Now, for the third time in less than forty-eight hours, she would be relocating, and in the short time that she had stayed at The Three Broomsticks, she had become familiar with it, and felt somewhat wistful to leave it behind.

Once arriving and officially enrolling at the immense and magnificent Hogwarts, Leda made her way to the front of the line of little First Years. She felt sick as she felt a thousand eyes shift to her after Dippet announced the arrival of a new fifth year student. Hyperaware of the eyes that followed her, she made her way towards the regal looking chair with a tatty little hat on it. The Sorting itself was long and somewhat frightening – the hat reached into the most heavily occluded parts of her mind without any difficulty. The hat seemed certain of its choice throughout the process – occasionally muttering about loyalty, but in the end, its mind was made.

"SLYTHERIN!" it roared, and polite applause ensued. Leda was hardly aware of her shaky legs carrying her towards the green and silver table, and was incredibly glad to see a friendly smile on one blonde girl's face – she beckoned to Leda to sit opposite her, which she did.

Her eyes sparkled a brilliant, bright baby blue, and she extended her hand whispering "Welcome to Hogwarts, it's nice to meet you - I'm Cressida. Cressida Parker." Leda took notice of the shiny golden badge pinned to her lapel, that read 'Prefect'. That must be why she's so nice…

Leda scoured the table for any other sign of welcome, but was met by indifference, a few scowls, or people too engrossed in their own conversations to take notice of her. Shaking the witch's hand, Leda exhaled a deep breath, one she didn't know she had been holding in, and politely replied, "Leda Malfadine. It's a pleasure, Cressida." She saw Cressida's eyebrows raise slightly, but there was no waver in her smile, as they turned back to watching the First Years be Sorted.

As the Sorting drew to a close, and a banquet of decadent food appeared on the table, Cressida turned back to Leda and made more polite inquiries about her life, the progression of Grindelwald in France and her family. Truthfully, it made Leda happy that she could pick and choose what to tell the pretty witch opposite her – it felt like everyone back home knew everything about her, so it was nice to have some control over her image.

"It must be so hard to be away from your family, Leda. I'm so sorry," said Cressida, with eyes full of sincerity.

A high, crass voice rang out. "So, Malfadine did you say?"
Leda turned to her left to see one of the people who had scowled at her earlier - a girl with porcelain skin and rosy cheeks that looked painted on, anf from behind heavy eyelids had a gleam in her grey eyes that made Leda very nervous indeed.

Trying to remain cool, Leda confirmed her surname, and the haughty girl's eyebrows shot right up, almost meeting her widow's peak. "A very noble line indeed…", the witch remarked, with a slighly less acerbic tone. Her eyes raked over Leda, and she continued her inquisition. "How curious that you should be so far from your ancestral land."
Recognising the unspoken question in her tone, Leda apprehensively told the girl about her father having attended Hogwarts himself, and how her parents came to settle in France.

"Well, I heard that there was a blood-traitor in your family - it's such a shame when wizards of good families sully themselves and their lineage for the love of Mudbloods, don't you think?" the young woman said, pressing her to agree with her.

Leda's hair stood on the back of her neck she sensed it would not be wise to disclose the fact that it was her father who married a muggle-born witch. She tried her best to settle her fear into the depths of her mind, before answering. "Well…", she began, her voice shaking more than she wanted it to. Before she could say anything more, another, very indignant voice spoke "Well wasn't there a blood-traitor in your family, Walburga? For Merlin's sake, just give it a rest." The girl, Walburga flushed and shot daggers at Cressida, whom Leda was beginning to appreciate as her own personal saviour. With an irritated huff, Walburga swept her hair over her shoulder and began to talk to the boy next to her.

"Don't mind her, she's always like that. Besides, it's her final year here," and leaning in closer she whispered "You see that boy she's talking to? That's Orion, her fiancé. He's also her cousin!" Leda glanced at the pair and saw the similarity between the elegant features etched on both of their faces. Pureblood rituals really were odd.

Cressida returned to an ordinary volume to ask "So what does your name mean, Leda? Is it French?" Leda replied, "Truthfully, I have no idea, I've never really thought about it. But I don't think it's French, no." Before she could inquire about the etymology of 'Cressida', a low and smooth voice enounced "The name 'Leda' hails from the Greeks – after the deity. She was married to the God Zeus, and was mother of the twins - Castor and Pollux. Pollux was granted immortality and Castor was not, so she was fated to watch one of her children die."

Leda apprehended the stranger who had spoken – he was undeniably handsome. His cheekbones rested high on his face, and his lips had the most precise Cupid's bow she had ever seen – but it was his eyes that captivated her.

They were like sapphire, but looked almost black at the same time - and held so very many secrets. It was only when the boy began to look uncomfortable that Leda realised she had stared at the beautiful boy for longer than is strictly socially acceptable – but once again, Cressida saved her from embarrassing herself.

"Well thanks, Tom, for that light-hearted titbit of history," she laughed. And history it was. While the muggles simply dismiss the stories of the Ancients as simply stories, every witch and wizard knows that they are utterly true, though study of the Ancients was no longer as widespread as it once was. Leda wondered why she shared a name with such a cursed woman. Foregoing the thought, she smiled and politely nodded at Tom, who returned the gesture before looking pointedly at Cressida. "Shall we lead the way?"

They both rose from the table, and began to gather the First Years, presumably to show them to the dormitories. Leda followed absently, consumed with the eccentric wonders of the castle. The paintings were vivid and utterly alive, the ceiling tall enough to touch the sky, staircases that were ever-shifting and eccentric ghosts floating overhead. It was mesmerising. Beauxbatons was far more... well, she supposed they would say refined, but it was really rather more boring.

Soon enough, they reached what appeared to be dungeons. Leda thought it a slightly morbid place to host school children, however inside was a well-lit and cosy room, containing scores of green and silver banners and large sofas and armchairs to match. Remembering the rather portly middle-aged man- who had introduced himself as her head of year – and his request that she meet him some time after after dinner, Leda made her way to a room labelled 'H. Slughorn, Professor of Potions, Head of Slytherin House.'

Leda emerged from his room a full hour later, after he had tirelessly inquired about her lineage, her wand, her skills – though it wasn't all so tedious, as they had a common love for the art of potion making. As she trudged out of the room, Leda suddenly became quite aware of just how tired she really was. Spotting Cressida across the room, she made her way over. Cressida was cheerfully chatting away to another girl in the Fifth year. Marlene! Leda remembered her name being Marlene - who was now saw sidling up to her, gushing "Did you see the way Tom looked at you? I think I would have died on the spot. He never dates you know, but dear Merlin is he ever so handsome..."

Leda was unsure of what part of the girl's statement she was supposed to respond to, so she told a casual lie "Oh, he isn't really my type...". Vaguely aware of eyes burning into her back, Leda turned just quickly enough to see the figure of Tom retreating up to the boys' dorms. Leda flushed, realising he had probably heard. A third girl Leda hadn't noticed being present before, scoffed at this. "Oh, don't be so ridiculous – and honestly Marlene, you're just reading into it. Tom was probably just being kind to the new girl," she said scathingly.

She soon came to learn that catty comments were typical of Regina Lestrange, and that it took very little to elicit one from her. As Leda settled down to sleep, she mulled over the extraordinarily surreal past few days – but sleep came easily, for once, and her weary eyes drew shut soon after.

A/N: I hope you enjoyed that! This is going to be a very long fic, so the progression between Leda and Tom will be slow and steady.

Leave a review and let me know your thoughts.

Kat x