Disclaimer: Anything you recognise from JK Rowling's works are hers…
Chapter Fourteen. Regrets of a Beaten Man
Meagan and Luther ushered their new brother from the main part of the Gryffindor living quarters and down the hall a short way. "This your room with Uncle Euan." Leonis followed Luther's small pointed finger toward a wooden door.
Meagan smiling happily stepped past the two boys and opened the door. She stepped inside and held her arm out inviting Leonis to enter.
Leonis swallowed tightly a lump was forming in his throat. He stepped forward and was surprised by the sheer size of the room. Unlike the room back at his grandfather's estate, there were two identical four poster beds the fronts covered in over stuffed velvet cushions. There was also two desks. One large with many draws obviously meant for his uncle and a smaller one to which Leonis stumbled across.
Leonis ran his hand along the dark red grains of the wood. It was plain and simple but he had never owned anything of worth.
A soft breeze gained Leonis' attention and he glanced up to see large bay windows opened to a balcony. The red and gold curtains were drawn and he could see out through the lush countryside and over a great lake.
Leonis turned taking in the room which was decorated in mainly red and gold. Beside on of the beds was a stack of books. He picked one up…
"Unlocking the Secrets to Self Transfiguration by Maverick Dragan Gryffindor." Leonis flipped through the book and glanced at wonder at all the complicated diagrams. Books were rare and this one had obviously been painstakingly hand copied from the original manuscript.
"Oh you can read," Luther cried jumping up and down. "You can teach me. Meagan is not a good teacher."
Leonis lowered the book down as if it was a hollow chicken's egg and might break without any notice. He smiled up at his new found brother who was cheekily grinning at him. "Erm – sure…" Meanwhile, Meagan was glaring at her brother.
"I thought you might be interested," Meagan said smiling broadly. "It is written by one of our very own uncles. I'm sure you'll like him…"
"I meet our uncles when… when I was taken to see the Laird," Leonis returned. "And I did like him. I liked him very much."
"And I, Leonis?" A gruff voice asked at the entrance way. Leonis turned around quickly meeting both the stares of Godric and Euan. Leonis was not entirely sure which of them had spoken.
"Pappa! Uncle!" a pair of voices screeched as Meagan and Luther galloped forward into their father's open arms. Leonis grinned as Godric kissed both of his children's cheeks warmly.
Euan yawned lightly and swaggered to one of the beds. "Your father has given us a few errands to run in Diagon Ally for this afternoon," Euan said glancing at Leonis.
Leonis started he had been listening to Luther's excited re-tell of Helga Hufflepuff's monster fungi nearly biting his head of his shoulders.
Euan however did not seem to notice and had kept talking… "Of course we need to get you some decent wizard's apparel. Can't have Godric's son wondering around like a surf and then a wand… and I need to get supplies from the Apothecary and an owl would be handy in keeping in touch with Maverick without using floo…"
Leonis' head was spinning with all this information that Euan was rattling of. Floo? Apothecary? Owls? Wand?
"…any questions?"
Leonis blinked slowly in confusion his uncle was beaming down on him dotingly. "Well you can ask me anything while we are there. Or any time," Euan said.
About the same time Luther had finished his tall story. "… and then Aunty Helga had to pull me out but the hem of my cloak caught and the Venus fly trap was lunching on my sleeve. And that's how my best cloak ended up in tatters."
Leonis couldn't help but raise and eye brow at his. Indeed even Meagan and Godric were fighting not to burst out laughing at the serious expression on Luther's face.
"You two better be going," Godric said ruffling Luther's hair. "I want you back here by dinner time so that you can both be introduced to the school."
"Come," Euan ushered taking a hold of Leonis' elbow. "We'll floo there."
"Floo!"
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A few minutes later Leonis was sprawled across the floor of the Leaky Cauldron an exclusively wizarding pub. Leonis brushed himself off and was surprised that the patrons, and there were many of them, did not even turn to see what the awful noise was. He rightly guessed that they were probably used to eccentric modes of transportation.
"Aw," Leonis complained holding his head. "Whoever invented flooing has a wish to extract out his stomach contents."
"I'll let your Uncle Maverick know next time I owl him," Euan returned lightly looking at his fingernails.
"I should have known," Leonis muttered under his breath but inquired in a louder voice, "Did he invent applating too?" It wouldn't surprise him if Maverick had indeed invented that too.
Euan glanced down at Leonis for a brief moment confused. Then realised that Leonis meant apprating. "Er – no apparating has been a wizarding practice for a very long time."
"Oh."
"Maverick invented floo powder for a more comfort than apparition whilst remaining quick."
"I think he failed," Leonis murmured clutching his stomach. "I don't like either form. I would prefer to walk."
"Yes well time is of the essence. We'll go to the Apothecary first…"
The Apothecary was an old rickety building. Leonis was fascinated, not by the awful smell that reached his nose, but with all the interesting bottles, crates and boxes of the strangest objects. There were claws and fangs hanging by strings from the roof; crates of herbs that looked familiar but unfamiliar at the same time and there were slimy things of an indescribable nature. Leonis was staring at the unicorn hair, long silver strands that glistened and winked despite the dull lighting in the shop, when the keeper came to the front of the store.
"Ah, young Sir Gryffindor after the usual I suppose," the shop keeper stated more than asked. He was already under the counter before Euan could reply and set the box firmly down.
"Paid in advance according to me Missus."
Euan nodded and glanced at Leonis who was now staring at a bright pink powder labelled 'heart sickness.'
"Ah that be him. Me Judy wrote home from Hoggy-Warts telling me about Sir Godric's unfortunate discovery."
Euan suppressed a groan, the rumour mill was working a well as Godric had described to him earlier. "Yes, my nephew, Leonis. And I would not call his existence unfortunate," Euan replied testily.
"Yes, yes," the keeper waved his hand about carelessly. "Your poor Pappa's heart…"
Euan ushered Leonis from the store dragging him next to a small house with a painted sign. "Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 BC," Leonis read aloud. "BC? Does that mean this place is very old?"
"Indeed." Euan nodded his head and pushed open the door. Leonis followed almost clutching his heart. There were rows upon rows, shelves upon shelves of small rectangular boxes.
"Ah, Euan McGregor Gryffindor didn't expect to see you so soon."
"Mr. Ollivander I've come for..." Euan nodded his head down at Leonis whose attention was grabbed by the sheer quantity of boxes.
"Ah, you don't want talk so I shall oblige you. Wand arm boy?"
Leonis jumped and glanced at him blankly.
"Leonis is right handed," Euan supplied.
Ollivander nodded his head in understanding. "Of course, of course…Well hold out your right arm."
Leonis obeyed immediately looking somewhat concerned. A measure started zipping around him of its own free will while the keeper was casting a cursory glance over the wands. Leonis was too busy watching the measure which seemed to be measure the distance between his ears.
"Ah try this beechwood and phoenix feather, six inches…"
A long wood stick was pulled from its box and into Leonis hands. But before his fingertips curled about the end Ollivander snatched it back and placed it in the box. "Hmmm definitely not!"
This process continued four or five times before Ollivander reached up and pulled down a black satin box. "Try this… Hazelwood, unicorn hair core, 9 ½ inches very supple…"
Another wand was thrust into Leonis' hands but this time it was not snatched from his fingers. He felt first his skin tingling and then the warmth of something he could not place spread throughout him. In those moments he felt powerful almost indestructible.
"Ah yes. I thought so…"
Euan paid for the wand and once again they were on the street. They picked up some robes for Leonis, which Godric had seemingly pre ordered while they were at his grandfather's palace. Euan had strongly insisted that Leonis change from his travel worn robes. Leonis had at first put up a fight by soon the shop keeper and his uncle won the disagreement and Leonis was wearing brand new robes. Of course they were red and gold. "Your father's colours," Euan had told him.
Euan immediately bought an owl when he had entered a shop full of live creatures. She was a small white creature with grey dapple spots on her underbelly. Leonis was expecting to leave the store quickly but Euan seemed to be looking for something else amongst the owls.
"That one," Euan said pointing to a small ginger owl with chocolate brown stripes on his tail and wing. The owl seemed to know he was being discussed and bobbed his head and blinked large amber eyes. Which made Leonis smile.
The keeper took out the owl and placed it on Leonis' shoulder as Euan paid for both the creatures. Leonis came face to face with two large amber eyes which blinked at him slowly. Firm claws held to his shoulder and the owl ruffled its feathers, shook its tail and closed its eyes to sleep.
"Do you like your pet, Leo?" Euan asked as they left the shop. "You don't mind me calling you, Leo?"
"My – my – my pet?" Leonis asked bewildered.
Euan grinned. "Have any idea what the date is."
Leonis shook his head.
"August 14."
A smile tugged on Leonis' lips. He was eleven today. But how?
"How did you know?"
Euan lead Leonis through the back of the Leaky Cauldron and found two spare chairs amongst the sea of patrons.
"How did you know it was my birthday?" Leonis demanded. "I didn't tell anyone…"
"Your father saw it in the Book of Names and so he asked me to find you an owl while we were here since he has classes to teach."
"Oh… erm – thanks…" Leonis stuttered. Euan nodded his head and ordered some food. Leonis had heard of the Book of Names. His father had told him had he had discovered his existence during their time in the wilds.
"Uncle…"
"Hmmm…" Euan was staring at a tall man with long wavy brown hair and grey eyes entered with a witch with long raven locks.
"Have you ever done something you regretted?"
Euan blinked stunned and tore his gaze away from the happy couple. "Yes I have. We all have sometime. Why do you ask?"
"Something happened while we in the wilds," Leonis muttered.
"Thought something would have happened. Do you want to tell me?"
Leonis nodded his head in an uncommitted manner and struggled in silence to find the right words. Euan was patient and sat calmly waiting for Leonis to speak.
"I stabbed my father," Leonis mumbled.
Euan's head shot up. Surely he misunderstood what Leonis just told him.
Leonis mistaking the expression on Euan's face became flustered. "I don't understand what happened… I was… was trying to escape him and we… we were falling. Then his face… like thunder and he was cursing like I never heard before. I was afraid of him and I… I grabbed the dirk and slashed his belly… I don't know why. I don't know why."
Euan reached over and squeezed Leonis shoulder finding that the boy was trembling slightly.
"You were frightened," Euan soothed. "And I don't doubt you have a bit of your grandfather in you."
Leonis glared at him incredulously. Him like the clan laird?
"Your grandfather is a warrior. A warrior only knows one rule in a conflict: kill or be killed. You were afraid and so you instinctively protected yourself." Euan paused and tilted his head to the side. "Godric knows this very well and would have recognised the instinct behind your actions."
Leonis looked thoughtful biting down on his pink lips. The bar maid presently brought them their food and Euan started eating with gusto (Leonis began with less enthusiasm).
"Do you want to know how I got my limp?"
Leonis looked mortified. He had indeed wondered how his uncle had been injured but was too shy to inquire.
"Being the fifth son of seven was not always easy. In my young adulthood fresh from battle school I was confident in my own abilities and was often upset when my elder brothers were allowed to gallivant about the countryside without me. Aware that it was not only myself whose pride was injured I once asked your father to accompany me on our own adventure without our father's blessing.
When we had stopped for lunch Godric, being Godric, wandered off to the stream. The next moment I heard his cries for help. You must understand that he is seven years my junior and not much older than you are now. Thirteen that's how old he was.
Back to my point. I ran to find my brother somewhat startled caught up in a tree a wild boar underneath. I don't know if you've ever seen a wild pig…
"I have," Leonis interjected shivering. "And I don't like them much."
"Well then you would know they are the most endearing of creatures. Unfortunately the pig saw me and… you can guess the rest. Stupid beast gored my leg. Godric never went into specifics by a band of father's knights had been sent to find us and bring us home by the tips of our ears if they had too.
I regretted that day. I had knowingly endangered my youngest brother and acquired a limp that will follow me to the end of my days. I was a favourite son being a relatively well groomed warrior. Godric was father's little imp the youngest and the sheltered child. It was he that I think was more severely punished than I.
But my story of regret does not end there, dear nephew. I was engaged at that point to Lady Flora de Mimsy-Porpington a second cousin to dear Salazar Slytherin. Well, being newly injured, ruining my bright career. It was easy for a young man to be caught up in his woes…"
"What did you do?" Leonis asked his eyes were growing wider as he heard his uncle's tale. His backside was perched precariously on the edge of the wooden seat. If he leant any further he would find himself on the floor.
Euan chuckled lightly. "In a moment young one. I was getting there. Now where was I?"
"You were a young man caught up in your woes…"
"Thankyou. I was a young man easily caught up in my woes and fell easily into a dark stage of depression. I told my fair lady that I was not the young gentleman for her. She did not protest and then… then not a month after my injury and release she was engaged to Jerome Bedivere, my most bitter rival."
"That's awful."
Euan nodded his head in acknowledgement. "And now she is Lady Flora Bedivere, the wife of a foe and the mother of the horrible little upstart Mortimor Bedivere. A student I am not looking forward in teaching. Oh look at the time… We should be going…"
Without another word Euan stood up from the table and awoke Leonis from his daydream. It was with a poorly disguised groan on disgust Leonis saw Euan pull out his small pouch of floo powder.
"Can't we just walk?"
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Note: Leonis wand was made of Hazel I used the notes of JK Rowling's site on birthdays and wood for wands according to the Celtics. Leonis birthday is 14th August, which makes him a Leo and he deliberately shares the date with my daddy!
Next chapter, Leonis and Euan have their first day at Hogwarts and SS makes a re- appearance.
Preview For Chapter Fifteen. Let the Bullying Begin
The Great Hall seemed to be buzzing with excitement. Leonis wished he could have died on the spot… or the floor could open up and swallow him!
"I'm Malcom MacKinley, my father's a count."
Leonis head snapped up to glance at a boy a few years older than him with bright red hair and freckles. Blue eyes seemed to be dancing at him at some hidden mirth.
"This is Adonis Covington, he's father is a duke."
Leonis swivelled his head and meet cold coal eyes.
"I'm – I'm Leonis…"
"Yes we know," Adonis Covington snapped sarcastically. Malcom was laughing. Leonis frowned their was something wrong with how they were speaking to him. Malcom's laugh did not seem friendly.