Disclaimer: Anything you recognise from JK Rowling's works are hers…

Chapter Twenty. Swordmasters and Healers

Isah explained to Godric and Euan what had happened in detail as the walked up towards the castle. He was aware of his father's steely gaze but he chose to ignore it for now. Sooner or later he would have to answer for his friendship with Leonis. He couldn't think about life without his Gryffindor friend; but he was certain that his father did not approve. When the confrontation came Isah knew his words would have to be measured carefully.

Godric listened frowning to Isah's tale. Once the Slytherin boy had stopped talking he turned to the fox in his arms. "You should have told me about the threats, Scruffy."

Isah chortled at the name earning himself a reproving glare from the baby fox which unmistakably looked pained. "Oh it's cute, Scruffy," Isah sniggered and smiled as if being 'cute' was a reassurance.

Leonis snorted through his foxy nose and twitched slightly. Godric run his hand through his soft fur which made Leonis flinch. "Oh, I'm sorry," Godric cried nursing Leonis much like a baby, much to Leonis chagrin. Isah saw this and hand to muffle his laughter behind his hand – earning him a cuff about the ears from his own father and a stern frown.

Minutes later the sad procession entered the Gryffindor private chambers, the rooms the specifically belonged to Godric, his wife and children. Leonis was too miserable to care.

"Good grief Godric!" Elizabeth cried from the far side. She was sitting on a little stool by the window with intricate embroidery work. Meagan, who was reading a book, suddenly had her mother's work thrust into her hands. Elizabeth was already on her feet looking appraisingly at the little fox.

"What has happened?" she asked taking Leonis into her own arms carefully.

"Bullies," Godric murmured angrily. "I still have the culprits to punish… do you mind…?"

Elizabeth shook her head. "Go do what you must. I'll look after Leo."

Godric nodded smiled apologetically at Leonis before turning his back and striding out of the room like a wizard with a purpose.

"Come, Isah," Slytherin spat his lip curling. "We. Need. To. Talk." He too turned abruptly. Isah shifted and without glancing at his friend hurried after his sire, knowing it would not be in his favour to linger any longer in the Gryffindor apartments.

Euan sighed and with his limping gait he pulled out a large wooden bowl. Elizabeth sat Leonis down on the table and motioned him to stay still.

By this time Meagan had become curious and was standing over him frowning. Leonis tried to ignore her out of embarrassment.

Luther then joined them. He took one look at Leonis and gave a delighted squeal not realising his elder brother was hurt. "Leooo!" Luther cried giggling. He would have picked the wounded creature up into a bone crushing hug but Meagan batted his hands away. "He's hurt. Leave him."

Luther's hands were still outstretched but his large inquisitive eyes stared at Leonis unblinkingly. "Why?"

Leonis, being a fox, could not answer him. Instead he wearily lay down on the bench his four legs spread out in the shape of a six pointed star.

Euan and Elizabeth worked over the bowl. Before Euan decided that he had an urgent errand to run. He left shouting something in the fireplace. Leonis however was ignoring him.

Elizabeth dipped a ripped cloth into the bowl and patted the essence gently onto Leonis' many cuts and bruises. Leonis felt some relief; but unfortunately could not get enough of it into his wounds.

"It is a solution of strained and pickled Murtlap tentacles," Elizabeth explained when she saw Leonis the fox staring curiously at the wooden bowl. "It should help."

Leonis didn't know what Murtlaps were, nor did he particularly care. If it was poison he was happy as long as it brought him some type of relief.

A few minutes passed and Euan returned in the fireplace with a few others. Leonis was oblivious he was not in the mood to be social. As soon as Elizabeth turned around wiping her wet hands on her dress to greet the men Leonis made his move.

Leonis slowly slunk over to the bowl and dipped one paw in. He dipped a second, then a third then his final paw into the bowl. The bowl was large enough for him to comfortably lie in the relieving essence. And that is exactly what he did much to the glee of Luther…

Leonis lay on his back, his head lolled over the side, his four paws dangled upwards and his long bushy tail protruded outside the rim.

Luther was in fits of laughter. It did indeed look quiet ridiculous to see a fox reclining in a bowl.

"Luther please," came Elizabeth's voice to Leonis' it seemed far away. "I'm talking with your uncles."

"But mamma…"

"Oh my!" came a jovial voice above Leonis. "Now that is using one's head."

Leonis crack one eye open and came face to face with his uncle Maverick. Ordinarily would have been pleased to see his genial uncle but was too miserable to care.

"His giving his wounds a good soaking," another voice rejoined; a voice that Leonis didn't immediately recognise. "Let him it'll do him good."

Leonis stretched and saw a man he recognised as one of his uncles but he wasn't quite sure which one. Rourke stood moodily by the fireplace; his expression was not quite as stern as Leonis remembered he looked more thoughtful. They locked eyes for a moment before Rourke turned abruptly mumbling about clearing punishment with Godric before it was too late.

The unknown uncle busied himself with a bag and settled himself into a chair and asked Elizabeth in a charming voice to bring him a towel. Elizabeth complied and a moment later appeared with a large white towel. The uncle laid the towel on his lap and reached over and grabbed Leonis' scruff making him yip.

Leonis stood on his uncle's lap as the man pushed up his sleeves. "Now I usually don't heal wild animals so… well healing you shouldn't be much different than a puppy."

Leonis' ears twitched in reply.

"Now are you going to be a nice animal patient and sit here patiently or are you going to bite me?"

Leonis lay his ears flat across his skull and shook his head. But glanced down at the bag which was full of potions and odd instruments and whined loudly.

"Ah don't worry, Leo," Maverick said from his corner. "Uncle Hamish here is the best in the business."

Leonis still looked doubtful.

Hamish ran his hands expertly down the length of his spine. Leonis let himself collapse… the pain he was feeling particularly near his rump was terrible.

"The boys were using his fox tail to hold him up and jiggle him about," Euan said. Leonis jumped forgetting this uncle was still present.

Hamish frowned grinding his teeth his expression looked nasty. "You should never hold an animal by its tail. Animagus or not." Hamish picked the little fox back up much to Leonis' chagrin.

Hamish hands ran down the lines of Leonis' ribcage. Leonis yipped and squealed in protest but Hamish used to treating animals was ready and deftly caught him and held him firmly but still. "A few broken ribs."

"Not surprising they used him as a furry ball," Euan muttered crossing his hands against his chest.

Hamish only shook his head and leant down and grabbed a vial. "For any internal injuries," he told Leonis.

Leonis' tail sunk further down but opened his jaw for his uncle. If he was going to be treated he would do so without causing himself any more undue embarrassment. Hamish took him firmly and dripped the potion down Leonis' throat.

For a moment Leonis looked like he was going to heave the vile mixture up. Then he forced himself to swallow, open and closing his mouth as if to communicate how terrible the concoction was.

Another vial was produced for the bleeding and bruising. A third vial was for the muscle injuries and damage which Hamish connected with the spinal problems. Finally Leonis was set on all fours on the ground, Hamish hand brushing his hand through wet fur.

Hamish stood and stretched. "If he seems to be in any further pain as a human or no call for me… Leonis it was a pleasure meeting you even if the circumstances were far from pleasant."

Leonis dipped his head in reply.

'

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Leonis healed from external injuries lazed on the floor by Maverick's feet. Both Euan and Maverick feverishly been trying to break the spell Leonis was under but so far they had not had much luck. Maverick however was hopefully of breaking it soon.

Leonis' eyes glazed over only slightly disconcerted that he was enjoying his brother brushing his fur as if he was a fragile figure ready to burst. He was in proverbially heaven. Rolling over his four legs dangling Leonis indicated without words for Luther to start on his belly.

Maverick looked over his parchment and sighed. Euan blinked sleepily and rolled his eyes.

It had been a few hours since Rourke had disappeared to find Godric and help with dishing out revenge. Euan had hinted briefly that it was his idea in bring Rourke into the occasion but otherwise did not say any more on the issue. Rourke was still obviously with Godric for neither Gryffindor had appeared.

"Luther, Leonis… time for bed," Euan said his eyes already back to his parchment.

Luther didn't bother grumbling as Euan had become the second-in-charge father in the few weeks he had been at Hogwarts. The small boy kissed his uncles goodnight and bounced out of the room with a simple, "Send father in when he gets back."

Leonis jumped onto his bed and sat down on the pillows his tail waving up above his head. They had since retired to the shared room between Euan and Leonis when they discovered that turning Leonis back would take longer than they had anticipated.

"Yes we'll wake you if we unlock this puzzle," Euan said.

Leonis waved his tail in reply.

"Yes goodnight Leo."

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'

The pale dawn light filtered through the drapes on the balcony waking Leonis. He blinked and stretched out and huddled deeper into his blankets. He could here the twin snores of his two uncles who had obviously fallen asleep in their quest to break the spell that bound him to his animagus.

Leonis brought a hand to his face… Hand?

He had a hand?

Leonis could have jumped for joy. He looked down at his body and found that he was once more in human form, still wearing the dirty ripped cloak from the day before which was a testament that yesterday was not a dream.

He jumped from the bed barely able to hide his gleeful laugh…

"Good morning Leonis."

Leonis froze and turned to the speaker at the chamber entrance. His uncle Rourke leant against the door frame his red robes from yesterday had been discarded. Instead he was wearing plain trousers and a simple shirt and jerkin. His dark hair had been pulled from his face and held tightly back at the nape of his neck by a leather strap. On his hip was an ominous sword.

"Break your fast and meet me in the Arena," Rourke said solemnly. "It is time we worked on your revenge."

Leonis nodded dumbly hardly believing his eldest uncle was even bothering to speak to him. Now that he looked closely Rourke looked much older than his own father.

"Ah Swordmaster Gryffindor all is ready for Bedivere and his friends?" Euan mumbled with a yawn.

Rourke smiled evilly his eyes glinting. "Bedivere has agreed the arrogant little devil that he is. Pride commeth before the fall, Swordmaster Gryffindor as well as you know."

"Aye," Euan said. "I know. I shall bring Leonis down with me."

Rourke laughed mirthlessly. "Not one to miss out on the fun?"

"Of course not," Euan replied indigently. "This battered body can still teach."

"For that I am glad," Rourke muttered before he swept out of the room with eager strides.

Leonis glanced from the retreating form of one uncle to the other. They were planning something on his behalf and obviously he had a role in their twisted game. But what?