Chapter 14: Little Friend

Well, I was right. Lockhart's been hanging out with Rose. Caught him giving me a smug look when she wasn't looking. I ranted about it to Sirius later and Lockhart didn't show up for classes the next day. Apparently, Sirius had found a way to completely dye him Gryffindor red and he had been too embarrassed to show himself. I love my brother.

Leo skipped up the stairs toward the hospital wing, humming a small tune as he did so. The night had gone quite well so far. He was free from Umbridge's clutches, he'd - hopefully – be getting his hand healed soon, and Minnie was most likely tearing Umbridge a whole host of new ones. The blonde sighed in disappointment at the last thought, wishing he was there to see it. Oh well. Guess I'll just have to be content with what I have now. He grumbled to himself.

He paused for a moment as he saw a flash of light pass by just out of the corner of his eye. He blinked slowly before shaking his head, deciding that he had imagined whatever it was. He continued upward, reaching the fourth floor and going along the corridor until he finally reached the double doors of the hospital wing.

He opened the door, striding inside and opening his mouth to announce his presence when Madam Pomfrey appeared beside him, startling him. She grabbed his right arm, closely examining his bandaged hand and tapping it with her wand. She stared at it for a moment, critically looking it over before tutting and gently pulling him over to one of the beds, where she ordered him to lay down.

Leo did as she asked, figuring he'd be out sooner if he just did as she asked and got his hand seen to. She left him alone, returning a few minutes later with a bowl of yellow liquid. She placed the bowl on a tray table and pushed it closer to him. He stared at the bowl, wrinkling his nose at the slightly sour smell before looking up at Madam Pomfrey with a raised eyebrow.

"Am I supposed to drink this?" he inquired, not really wanting to.

"Of course not," she replied, giving him an odd look. "It's murtlap essence – it'll help with the healing. Just soak your hand in it."

"Oh, all right then," he shrugged.

He slowly placed his hand into the bowl, hissing with relief at the cooling effect it had on his hand. This is nice... why didn't Hermione or Draco think of this? I thought they were supposed to be the smart ones. He mused thoughtfully, leaning back against his pillow and watching as Madam Pomfrey bustled around, searching through cabinets and mumbling to herself furiously all the while.

"Out of dittany..." she was saying. "Have to talk to Pomona -"

"So, how long do I have to be here for? I have an essay from Binns to write and one from Umbridge to completely ignore," Leo informed her in a bored tone.

"At the very least, you'll be here until tomorrow morning," she told him, pursing her lips at his aghast expression. "Professor McGonagall was quite clear that she wanted you to stay here."

Leo opened his mouth to argue before shutting it abruptly. Minnie had already done so much for him, why should he argue with her instructions now? Instead, he gave a grumpy sigh, accepting the pajamas Madam Pomfrey handed him before she set up some curtains around him. When did Minnie even -? He began to wonder as he gingerly slid his right hand out of his shirt. That flash of light I saw earlier... a Patronus? He considered, finishing undressing before putting on his pajamas and flopping onto the bed.

Madam Pomfrey removed the curtains, checked on his hand, and strode back to her office. Leo placed his hand back in the bowl, staring up at the ceiling in abject boredom. Minutes ticked by, giving way to hours as the hospital wing slowly darkened. Madam Pomfrey came back every so often to examine his hand, nodding in approval before she departed back to her office. Leo was beginning to consider reading one of the books in his bag when he heard the hospital wing doors open and close.

He sat up, grabbing his wand off his nightstand with his left hand and clutching it tightly in case it might be Umbridge. He relaxed slightly a moment later when he saw it was just Minnie, who sat down in a chair on his right side and leaned slightly over the bowl to examine his hand. Leo thought he saw her eyebrows twitch angrily.

"So, what's the verdict?" he questioned.

"There is not much I or Professor Dumbledore can do," she informed him, sitting back in her chair. "You and Mr. Potter will no longer have to serve detention with Umbridge. However..."

"Umbridge won't have any consequences, will she?" Leo surmised when she trailed off, receiving a nod in response. "Figures. Can't do much without it looking like we're fighting against Fudge... Have you contacted my dad?"

"Professor Dumbledore and I felt that he'd much rather hear what happened from you."

"Oh, all right then," he blinked before frowning as another thought occurred to him. "Professor... can I ask you something?"

"You just did, Black," McGonagall replied in a tone of faint amusement. "However, I am going to assume that is not the question you were referring to and allow you to ask another."

"Right," Leo chuckled lightly before taking on a curious expression. "Over the summer, Dad told me you were my godmother... why didn't you ever try to get custody of me when my mother died?"

McGonagall's eyebrows knitted together.

"I did try, but you wouldn't allow it," she informed him, receiving a startled look in response. "You were quite adamant about staying with your cousin and informed us that it was your job to protect him. Albus and I both felt it would be quite cruel to part you from him given your strong attachment to Potter."

Leo smiled broadly before frowning as he recalled the conversation from dinner. Guess that means I'm out of a job now... He scowled, looking down at his scarred hand still stuck in the bowl. Harry says he doesn't need me to protect him anymore, so I should respect his wishes... right? He bit his lower lip and frowned, unsure and unwilling to do so.

Dad,

So, Minnie said I should be the one to send this letter to you... honestly, not quite sure how I should phrase this so I'll just stick with brutal honesty, shall I?

For the past week, that fat toad Umbridge has been having Harry and I carve messages into our hands with a black quill. Unpleasant, I know, but I took care of it. Just had to get some help from dear old Minnie. I don't have to serve any detentions this week either since Minnie said what I was being forced to do was punishment enough. Big plus in my book.

Hope you and the Marauders are doing well.

Love,

Leo

P.S.: Harry told me he doesn't need me to look after him anymore, but I don't think he's ready to look after himself quite yet... what should I do?

Leo read and reread what he had written, biting his lower lip as his eyes settled on the last bit. He had been unsure whether or not he should ask his dad for advice – feeling weak and a wee bit foolish for doing so. Well, he's my dad, I'm supposed to go to him for stuff like this. He told himself firmly as he sealed his letter and handed it off to Apollo.

It was the following morning after his detention with Umbridge. Against Madam Pomfrey's wishes, he had been released with only a bandage wrapped around his hand and had headed straight for the Owlery to send his letter off to his dad. He had been quite relieved to discover that he could now write with his right hand, though it did still twinge a bit.

He absentmindedly flexed his hand as Apollo took his letter with a low hoot and took off. He watched the owl fade away into the distance, flicking his wrist and enjoying the feeling of his wand sliding into his hand once more. He mumbled the time spell, sighing with disappointment when he saw he had Charms in fifteen minutes. Well, at least I ate breakfast already. He shrugged, waving away the clock before retracting his wand and heading down the stairs.

He arrived on the second floor with five minutes to spare, having taken the long way down in order to avoid arriving at the same time as his fellow Gryffindors. He was still quite miffed about dinner the previous night, after all. He spotted the trio when he walked in, ignoring their waves as he sat on the other side of the classroom and stared at Flitwick. The lesson for that day was the Bubble-Head Charm – a spell Leo had learned and taught to Harry the previous year in preparation for the second task. If it wasn't for me, he would have drowned. He growled to himself.

Since he could already do the spell, he instead worked on his essay for Binns until the bell rang. He quickly packed up his belongings, rushing ahead of everyone else as he made his way down to Transfiguration. He had strode to the middle of the classroom when he felt a prickling on the back of his neck, prompting him to tentatively sniff the air. There was the usual smell of Ginger Newt and cat – Minnie's scent – as well as the various smells of the students. Another, more fresh smell covered it all. It smelled like sour honey and some sort of flower that Leo felt could be found in a swamp. Umbridge. He snarled, not particularly wanting to turn around to confirm his suspicions.

He took his usual seat in front of Minnie's desk, visibly tense as the rest of the fifth year Gryffindors slowly filtered into the room. McGonagall marched into the room not long after without giving the slightest indication that she knew Umbridge was there. A small smile unfurled upon Leo's face.

"That will do," she said and silence fell immediately. "Mr. Finnigan, kindly come here and hand back the homework — Miss Brown, please take this box of mice — don't be silly, girl, they won't hurt you — and hand one to each student —"

"Hem, hem," said Umbridge, employing the same silly little cough she had used to interrupt Dumbledore on the first night of term.

McGonagall ignored her. Finnigan handed back Leo's essay; Leo spared a glance at it and smirked at his O. He then accepted his shaking mouse from Lavender, gently stroking the small brown creature's back and murmuring soothing words to him. The mouse gave a small squeak and sniffed the blonde's nose, prompting him to smile even wider in response.

"Right then, everyone, listen closely — Dean Thomas, if you do that to the mouse again I shall put you in detention — most of you have now successfully vanished your snails and even those who were left with a certain amount of shell have the gist of the spell. Today we shall be —"

"Hem, hem," said Umbridge.

"Yes?" said McGonagall, turning round, her eyebrows so close together they seemed to form one long, severe line.

"I was just wondering, Professor, whether you received my note telling you of the date and time of your inspec —"

"Obviously I received it, or I would have asked you what you are doing in my classroom," said McGonagall, turning her back firmly on Umbridge. Many of the students exchanged looks of glee while Leo did his best to keep from laughing out loud. "As I was saying, today we shall be practicing the altogether more difficult vanishment of mice. Now, the Vanishing Spell —"

"Hem, hem."

"I wonder," said McGonagall in cold fury, turning on Umbridge, "how you expect to gain an idea of my usual teaching methods if you continue to interrupt me? You see, I do not generally permit people to talk when I am talking."

Umbridge looked as though she had just been slapped in the face, much to Leo's delight. She did not speak, but straightened the parchment on her clipboard and began scribbling furiously. Looking supremely unconcerned, McGonagall addressed the class once more.

"As I was saying, the Vanishing Spell becomes more difficult with the complexity of the animal to be Vanished. The snail, as an invertebrate, does not present much of a challenge; the mouse, as a mammal, offers a much greater one. This is not, therefore, magic you can accomplish with your mind on your dinner. So — you know the incantation, let me see what you can do..."

Leo looked down forlornly at his mouse, not quite wanting to Vanish the little guy. The snails had been easier – they couldn't really communicate. He'd had reservations about transfiguring animals in the past but had always managed to accomplish the set task, secure in the knowledge that he could just reverse the transformation with no harm done to the animal. Vanishment, however... it just felt so... permanent. A tall shadow loomed over him.

"Is there a problem, Mr. Black?" questioned McGonagall's voice.

"Yeah... I don't feel right vanishing Fievel," Leo replied with a small frown.

"Vanishing - you named your mouse?" Minnie asked with an audible sigh.

"Of course I did," Leo responded in a mildly affronted tone, rubbing Fievel's head. "I was wondering... is there a way to make him come back? Otherwise, it'll feel like I'm murdering him."

"I'm afraid not, Mr. Black," McGonagall informed him, looking at him over her glasses. "Perhaps you would like another mouse? One you haven't named."

Leo nodded, still feeling bad about the whole ordeal. Fievel climbed up his arm and rested on his shoulder while Minnie summoned another mouse from the box. It zoomed over, landing gently on the desk. Leo advised Fievel to close his eyes whilst he flicked out his wand, pointed it at the mouse, and muttered the Vanishing Spell. The mouse disappeared before their eyes and McGonagall nodded in approval before striding away.

Nothing of further interest occurred during class. Umbridge sat in a corner, taking many notes upon her notepad that Leo was eyeing in idle curiosity. He was just weighing the consequences of lighting it on fire when the bell rang and McGonagall told them all to pack up. Fievel climbed down and hid in the front pocket of Leo's shirt as Lavender came around collecting mice. Umbridge finally rose from her seat with a grim expression on her face.

As Umbridge approached Minnie's desk, Leo slowed his packing to watch what would unfold. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Harry, Ron, and Hermione all hanging back to eavesdrop as well.

"How long have you been teaching at Hogwarts?" Umbridge asked.

"Thirty-nine years this December," said McGonagall brusquely, snapping her bag shut.

Umbridge made a note.

"Very well," she said, "you will receive the results of your inspection in ten days' time."

"I can hardly wait," said McGonagall in a coldly indifferent voice, and she strode off toward the door. "Hurry up, you four," she added, sweeping Leo, Harry, Ron, and Hermione before her.

Leo gave her a wide smile before dashing off ahead of the other three and running down toward the kitchens. He stopped at the giant portrait of the pear, reaching into his front pocket and taking Fievel out. The little mouse squeaked at him as he gently set the small fellow on the floor, smiling as Fievel rubbed his furry head against his finger.

"There, now you'll be safe," Leo informed him before frowning as a thought occurred to him. "But... I don't want the house-elves to sweep you out or something so..."

He thought about it for a moment before taking out his wand and pulling his tie out from under his vest. He pointed his wand at the bottom of his tie, murmured the Severing Charm, and fashioned the small piece that came out into a little neckerchief for Fievel. The mouse pulled at the ends of the cloth after it was fastened, squeaking in delight before running off. Leo waved farewell, wondering if he'd ever see the little mouse again.

Only time will tell. He mused, rising to his feet and walking in the general direction of the Great Hall. Once there, he slipped inside, avoiding the Gryffindor table in lieu of sitting next to Luna at the Ravenclaw table, once more receiving odd looks from her housemates that he promptly ignored.

"You weren't at breakfast," she commented.

"Yeah, sorry, had a letter to write to my dad," Leo shrugged, pulling a bowl of beef stew toward him. "That and I've been trying to avoid Harry and the others."

"Oh," she replied, blinking her large eyes at him. "Did you have a fight?"

"Something like that," he frowned, stirring his spoon around in his bowl. "Harry doesn't think I need to protect him anymore, but I don't think he's ready to be on his own quite yet."

"Well, have you ever given him a chance?" Luna inquired.

Leo paused to consider this. Had he ever given Harry a chance to do things on his own? Well, there was that obstacle course with Quirrell... but he got caught in the end and I had to save both our arses. There was the dragon last year... and he did pretty well dealing with her on his own. Not to mention he made it through the maze without my assistance but... who's to say that wasn't just dumb luck? He frowned thoughtfully, shoving a large spoonful of stew in his mouth.

"I mean, he did the first and third task on his own last year... but what if that was just a fluke?" Leo questioned. "What if I believe that he's ready and he's really not and Voldemort or someone else kills him or something? Don't think I could live with the guilt of knowing I failed to do my job."

"I think it's very nice what you're doing for your cousin, but I think it may be doing more harm than good," Luna told him. "If he's never given the opportunity to grow, how can you expect him to be able to fly on his own?"

Leo was silent at this, conceding the point. As he walked down to Care of Magical Creatures after lunch, he resolved to keep his distance from Harry and watch from afar, observing him and looking to see if he truly was ready to stand on his own. Draco caught up with him shortly thereafter, with the other three not far behind. They all demanded to know what had happened the previous night, so he filled them in in hushed tones on what exactly had occurred.

Draco and Hermione seemed impressed that he had had the foresight to involve McGonagall in his detention. Ron was busy chortling as he imagined the look on Umbridge's face when Minnie had appeared seemingly out of thin air. Harry was quiet, seeming to vary between relief that he'd no longer have to do detentions with Umbridge and irritation that Leo had dragged his name into the whole ordeal.

Thankfully, Harry didn't have time to yell at Leo as something else caught their attention. Or, rather, someone else. Leo wrinkled his nose in disgust as he noticed Umbridge and her clipboard standing beside Grubbly-Plank.

"You do not usually take this class, is that correct?" Leo heard her ask as they arrived at the trestle table where the group of captive bowtruckles were scrabbling around for wood lice like so many living twigs. He eyed the plant-like creatures warily, recalling their last lesson.

"Quite correct," said Grubbly-Plank, hands behind her back and bouncing on the balls of her feet. "I am a substitute teacher standing in for Professor Hagrid."

"Hmm," said Umbridge, dropping her voice, though they could still hear her quite clearly, "I wonder — the headmaster seems strangely reluctant to give me any information on the matter — can you tell me what is causing Professor Hagrid's very extended leave of absence?"

Leo let loose a low growl as his friends exchanged looks of mild apprehension.

"'Fraid I can't," said Grubbly-Plank breezily. "Don't know anything more about it than you do. Got an owl from Dumbledore, would I like a couple of weeks teaching work, accepted — that's as much as I know. Well... shall I get started then?"

"Yes, please do," said Umbridge, scribbling upon her clipboard.

Umbridge took a different tack in this class and wandered among the students, questioning them on magical creatures. Most people were able to answer well, much to Leo's mingled relief and surprise. He had thought he was the only one who had really paid attention in the class.

"Overall," said Umbridge, returning to Grubbly-Plank's side after a lengthy interrogation of Dean Thomas, "how do you, as a temporary member of staff — an objective outsider, I suppose you might say — how do you find Hogwarts? Do you feel you receive enough support from the school management?"

"Oh, yes, Dumbledore's excellent," said Grubbly-Plank heartily. "No, I'm very happy with the way things are run, very happy indeed."

Looking politely incredulous, Umbridge made a tiny note on her clipboard and went on, "And what are you planning to cover with this class this year — assuming, of course, that Professor Hagrid does not return?"

You'd like that, wouldn't you? Leo snarled, recalling what Sirius had said about the woman's intense dislike of 'half-breeds'.

"Oh, I'll take them through the creatures that most often come up in O.W.L.," said Grubbly-Plank. "Not much left to do — they've studied unicorns and nifflers, I thought we'd cover porlocks and kneazles, make sure they can recognize crups and knarls, you know..."

"Well, you seem to know what you're doing, at any rate," said Umbridge, making a very obvious tick on her clipboard. Leo did not like the emphasis she put on "you" and liked it even less when she put her next question to Goyle: "Now, I hear there have been injuries in this class?"

Goyle gave a stupid grin. Zabini hastened to answer the question.

"That was me – I got mauled by a wolf," he informed her in a slightly smug tone.

Leo couldn't stop his snort of laughter as he recalled that it had been his dad in Animagus form. Unfortunately, Umbridge heard him and turned her head towards him in such a slow manner that it reminded Leo a bit of some character in a horror movie. He raised his eyebrows at her apprehensively.

"Something humorous to you, Mr. Black?" she asked him in the usual tone that made him want to vomit.

"A lot of things are," he shrugged nonchalantly. "I was just thinking of something funny my dad did."

"And that would be...?" she leaned forward expectantly.

Leo scowled.

"Sorry, but I don't see how my personal life is any of your business, Madam Inquisitor," he informed her in the politest tone he could muster.

Umbridge's expression seemed to fall before she recovered herself enough to turn to Grubbly-Plank and say, "Well, thank you very much, Professor Grubbly-Plank, I think that's all I need here. You will be receiving the results of your inspection within ten days."

"Jolly good," said Grubbly-Plank, and Umbridge set off back across the lawn to the castle.

Leo stared after her for a moment before turning to his friends.

"I hope Grubbly-Plank brings back the unicorns next lesson. Be a riot to see Umbridge get trampled by them."