IX. LEO


"Pulvinexpulso", "Verresco," Harry and Ron said while holding out their wands.

In an instant, dust was falling out of every material the wand has pointed and from the cabinets emerged brooms that sweeped the floor excellently. Leo couldn't believe what he was seeing. This is one heck of a doubt in mechanics. Things that operate alone, without any mechanisms... what on the depths of Tartarus is wrong with these people?

Soon, the Bunker was filled with casting of wands and charms of the two wizards. "Tergeo", "Scourgify", both had said and things moved to what they pleased like... magic.

In just some time, everything was in place as the two let themselves sit in a bench. Leo hurried and reached them goblets, each filled with soda.

"Thank you," Harry breathed.

"Thank me? No, thank YOU two. This is awesome! The whole Bunker was instantly like a pradise of some sort. Well, that was from Hephaestus' son's point of view. I mean, I am surely used to messy and oily places because of mechanical work but this is great! Now I get to find the things we need." Leo exclaimed, looking happy and still just slightly believing what just happened.

He wandered around, looking very pleased with the result of what the two newcomers have done with the Bunker. Since he and Festus discovered it, he haven't had the chance to actually clean or arrange it with all the work with the gods, Gaea, and the Argo II. While he is still savoring the moment, the neat and tidy Bunker, the arranged closets and tools, the shock due to something unimaginable done without being bounded by any rule and everything, a thing came up to his mind...

"Ah, guys, I also have something else to tell you. So, yeah, since we just recently came home after a great war, you know with things used and all... ah, there's the lack of something we really need in order to make the thing you are requesting," he said, looking at the two boys sipping their soda like they've never had one before. Or have they? "Bronze."

"Do you happen to have something here that is no longer needed?" Hermione's voice echoed, breaking the silence engulfing the whole room after Leo's announcement.

"How did you just...?" the son of Hephaestus asked, looking back and forth at the three of them. He just received 3 pairs of eyes staring back at him saying something like 'Duh?'. This is starting to get so dam freaky, Leo thought to himself.

"Oh... kay. Nevermind that. And yes, I suppose we have those uhm, trees?" Leo hesitated. "What is this for, anyway?"

"Yeah, I guess that could do," and in an instant, without answering his question, the four of them are outside the Bunker, looking up. The smell of the woods relieved Leo's senses after seeing something so surreal. He might have been amazed with the things done inside the Bunker but his doubts are still present. He sure have seen some godly things the gods do but certainly not THESE. Specially performed by mortals. Or at least half mortals. At his age. Breaking his train of thoughts is Hermione's pointing of her wand, muttering something that sounded like 'aeneus' and suddenly, the bright sunlight that goes through the rough edges of the very tree a while ago was bent, and is now reflected at the other parts of the woods.

The tree. It was turned into bronze.

Opening his mouth as to say something, Leo has yet remained flabbergasted when the tree, considering how unconscious it was before, moved. It walked right through the path connected to the Bunker and the only thing poor Leo could do was stare, and follow.