The Bloody Phantoms could barely hold in their laughter as 'Snape' berated the Weasley twins who were oddly enough changed into the Patail twins. Leevi had never before seen Snape that particular shade of red in either dimension. His smile grew wider as 'Snape's' lips tightened until they were barely visible.
Fred and George could do little more than sputter their innocence which Snape did not buy in the least. Just before the bell was set to ring 'Snape' grabbed Fred and George by the ear and started to haul them off to the headmaster's office with 'McGonagall' in tow, who had an amused smile firmly in place.
As they made their way to charms Ron muttered angrily and kept pushing the messy hair out of his face. Harry and Leevi amused themselves by pretending to be the other to confuse Ron and the others, only Christelle seemed to know what they were doing and promptly ignored them in favor of staring at Neville, who became uncomfortable at the girls staring. During the time they had been at school Neville had begun to relax around Christelle after Leevi had explained to the boy that Christelle genuinely liked him as a person and not as the boy-who-lived. Too bad that Neville was only eleven and had no intentions of returning the affection in 'that' way yet.
The charms lesson passed quickly and Leevi ditched the others as soon as he could to slip Melton some food. He grabbed some tender meat from the kitchen and some pork bones for Fluffy, feeling the dog could use a treat every once in awhile.
After stepping out of the kitchen he disillusioned himself and quickly made his way to the forbidden corridor. Sliding the door open, Fluffy began to growl but stopped immediately when he saw who it was, even going as far as wag his tail and try to lick his face in greeting. Handing each head a bone he petted him for awhile before seeking out his bonded that was sleeping in the corner.
Snorting softly Leevi nudged the green snake a bit with his foot to gain its attention. Melton only snored on, and would have continued to do so if she hadn't found herself in a puddle of cold water.
Once Leevi was sure she was awake he smirked at the poisonous snake, "What sleeping on the job are we?"
"I was not sleeping on the job per say, after all I am mainly meant to guard during the night, boy." Melton hissed with annoyance clear in her voice.
"And besides I knew it was you, if it was anyone else do you honestly think that Fluffy would have been happy? Now where is my food!"
Leevi chuckled in amusement and unwrapped the small package of meat he had for her, "I would have asked for mice, but the house elves might have found that just a tad strange, that and I know how you actually like real meat."
Melton hissed her pleasure at his selection and began to eat eagerly.
"So have we had any other interesting visitors or anything noteworthy since the bat?"
'Well the manipulative old bastard did come to check on things, unfortunately Fluffy refused to take a bite of him.' Melton thought in a disgruntled voice.
With eyes narrowed Leevi responded in a warning voice, "Honestly does he deserve that nickname? He may be manipulative but he is hardly a bastard."
'Of course he does, he is a meddlesome old coot, hopefully with out you being the boy-who-lived here he'll leave you along, but from his actions so far I'd say fat chance.'
Leevi had to agree however as much as he resented the headmaster for keeping him out of the loop in his world, he could hardly hold it against him in this one, after all like Melton said, he was not the boy-who-lived here. That and if it wasn't for the insane old man Christelle and he would never have been able to come here. Perhaps he should find some leverage here to keep the headmaster from gaining any control over him.
By 'documentation' he and his sister were both legal adults in the States and because of that it would be just as easy to do so here. He would just have to be sure to keep it all hush hush until all the paper work went through; after all it wouldn't do for Dumbledore to step in with all of his political power for the greater good of things. As an adult in England he would be able to play politics with the big boys so to speak, and perhaps swing things to help Neville out, after all the war had taught him many things, and how to play dirty politics was one of them.
Just as he was sure that he was never meant to be placed with the Dursleys, Neville was more than likely not meant to be raised by his current guardians. With that dark train of thought he turned to leave, "You're right he is a manipulative old bastard."
Leevi was on his way back to the common room lost in thought when he bumped into somebody. Before he could fall he caught his balance and instinctively pulled out his wand. Lying on the ground before him was a larger boy perhaps thirteen or fourteen with a Hufflepuff crest on the front of his robe. The boy had thick brown hair, blue eyes, and a rather fair complexion.
Leevi quickly offered him a hand up while he apologized for not looking where he was going. The boy much to his surprise smiled openly at him in a friendly manner and waved his excuses aside.
"Don't worry about it; karma is always catching up to me in odd ways like that, I'm sure it was an accident."
Leevi was a bit thrown off by his friendly/odd nature but figured that most Hufflepuffs were all just a bit odd any ways. If he was that bloody happy all the time he was certain that he would go insane, after all sometimes he just needed a good brood and he could hardly do that if he was happy.
"So I am sure you didn't mean anything about it, by the way I'm Alex Kent, third year Hufflepuff." Alex said as he held out his hand.
Leevi smiled at him in return and shook his hand, for some reason the name Kent sounded familiar to him.
"Leevi Maximus, first year Gryffindor."
"Hey I know you, well sort of anyways. My dad mentioned you, told me to show you around here." Alex said as they started to walk towards the Gryffindor dorms.
"Really and who is your father?" Leevi asked straining his memory for the name Kent.
"Met you a while back when you came to England and got on the night bus."
"Oh of course Edward Kent, I was wondering why the name Kent was sounding so familiar. In that case it is truly a pleasure to meet you. Your dad was very kind to my sister and me when we met, I do hope he is doing well?" Leevi asked in a truthful voice, for he did mean it, but he was also interested in gaining friends in all the houses, especially the older students.
"He's doing fine, well I do need to go as I was in a hurry as I ran into you, however if you ever need any help with…well…anything I'll help if I can." Alex said with a smile then he was gone.
Leevi just shook his head for a minute in amusement and headed back to the common room.
As he entered he saw the other first years crowded around the board whispering excitedly about something posted. Both Fred and George were sitting in a corner being yelled at by Percy about the prank that morning, which they were still protesting to having any involvement in; the only thing in their favor were the fact that Dumbledore believed them. Grinning he quickly made his way over to his 'group' as he had begun to call them, and asked what the up roar was about, but judging by both Hermione's and Neville's pale face he already knew. However, Harry was practically bouncing in his seat, as was Ron, Christelle simply looked bored.
"We have flying lessons this Friday!" Harry said excitedly.
"It's going to be great I haven't been on a broom in weeks, if I don't fly soon I'll lose my touch." Ron exclaimed puffing out his chest a bit, "After all I've been flying for years!"
Both Neville and Hermione seemed to shrink further in their seats as the conversation was progressing.
Noticing this Christelle decided to cheer them up a bit, "Don't worry Hermione, Neville at least the class is with the Slytherins."
How that was supposed to cheer the group up no one knew.
When Friday dawned bright and early the group made their way down to breakfast and four out of the six began to eat eagerly as usual, the other two just picked at some toast. Leevi having pity on them began explaining some useful facts about flying that actually wasn't from a book, such as how to hold your hands and how to lean. By the end of breakfast both Hermione and Neville had regained some of the color back to their faces and they were actually looking forward to the lesson some what.
When the Gryffindors made their way out to the pitch many of the Slytherins were already there and sent the lions withering glares. Leevi took particular amusement when they walked past Malfoy and his goons and they cracked their fists menacingly at them, or what would have been considered menacing if the action hadn't came from three eleven-year-olds. Christelle just grinned cheekily at them along with a small wave and a wink that caused Malfoy to blush, with embarrassment or anger the group didn't know which.
The lesson was going fairly well meaning that Neville managed to actually fly, before something went wrong. He didn't know where the spell came from, he had his suspicions, but the spell hit Harry who collided with Blaise Zabini before falling off his broom from twenty feet up. It was lucky that Leevi was quick with a wand, or Harry could have been seriously injured, however he simply got away with a broken arm.
Madam Hooch who had been helping a reluctant Slytherin at the time simply thought that Harry had fell from his broom, and quickly escorted him to the hospital wing while throwing out threats about flying while she was gone.
Christelle glared at Malfoy and his goons, preparing to go give them a piece of her mind, when Malfoy bent over and picked up an object lying in the grass. What appeared to be an expensive locket was now grasped in his hand.
"Well what do we have here?" Draco asked happily as he was about to pocket the clearly expensive item.
Zabini went pale as he saw what Malfoy had. His grandmother's locket!
Blaise quickly stepped forward and towards Malfoy, "Give me back my locket Malfoy."
The statement was in a calm voice, but clearly conveyed an implied 'or'.
"Oh I don't think so Zabini; it's really a nice locket. Tell you what I'll leave it somewhere for you to find it…how about up a tree." Malfoy said as if he were merely discussing the weather. Finishing his sentence he jumped on his broom and took off as fast as he could.
Blaise was about to follow but as he swung his leg over the broomstick a figure swept past him quickly in hot pursuit of the blond haired nuisance.
To say Malfoy was surprised when he turned around and saw not Blaise but Leevi Maximus would be an understatement, "What do you want Maximus? Sticking up for the poor defensely boy now are we?"
Leevi just rolled his eyes at the infuriating brat, what ever dimension he was in Malfoy would always be a no good death eater in his opinion.
"Wow Malfoy who knew you could talk all big, especially without your lackeys here to save your neck, not that they helped you much against a girl, eh?"
Draco narrowed his eyes dangerously, "You need to watch what you say Maximus, or you might just have an accident."
"Oh like you're about to have?" Came the non-pulsed response as Leevi let a wicked grin play across his lips and a glint enter his eyes.
Suddenly Malfoy looked extremely uncomfortable and started to look around as if Leevi's words about his lackeys just sunk in.
"Well Maximus if you want this, then catch!" Draco yelled as he threw he locket as hard as he could.
Leevi quickly shot past the Slytherin making sure he kicked him in the shin as he passed, which produced a very satisfying yelp.
The golden locket was quiet dense for its size and started to fall quickly towards the grassy earth below.
Going into a deep dive he could hear his classmates yelling from below as he streaked closer and closer towards the ground.
Grabbing the chain he pulled up at the last possible minute and made his way back to the group of stunned children, but before he could even reach them he heard a stern voice, "MR. MAXIMUS!"
Wincing he turned around and saw Professor McGonagall walking quickly towards him, with very thin lips. As the students started yelling his defense she silenced them with a glare, but before she could order him to follow her he slipped to Zabini and handed him his locket back with a nod.
Then turning he followed the transfiguration professor without protest, but couldn't help the satisfied smirk that played across his lips as he saw Malfoy limping over to Crabbe and Goyle.