Chapter 22 Nightmares

Ivy Hall, Bracknell, Bracknell Forest, Berkshire, England

November 28, 1985

"Pathetic," the woman screeched at him as he cowered away from her. He didn't understand why she was so angry. He didn't know what he had done wrong. He only knew that her anger hurt him. It felt like a physical blow and he whimpered in pain. "You are worthless Regulus Black! You were supposed to be better than this."

He didn't know what he found more confusing, the woman's anger, how it hurt him, or that she had called him Regulus Black. He opened his mouth to question her as to what she meant by calling him that name but instead his mouth refused to obey him. Instead he said "Mother, I am sorry," in a sad little whimper.

"Sorry," She hissed. "You think you can whimper out a simple sorry and that will make it all better?" she demanded to know and he shook his head vigorously in the negative.

"No, but I am, I am sorry," he tried to explain but she did not want to listen to him. She did not care.

"Wretched child, I'll make you sorry," she said and then she smacked him hard across the cheek. The pain exploded where she had struck him and he fell to the floor due to the impact of force. Tears pooled in his eyes though he tried to hold them back.

"Reggie!" came the cry of another boy. He looked slightly older than him and had black hair that fell in enchanting waves. Blue eyes looked upon him in concern before they turned away from him to clash angrily with his mother. "Leave him alone!"

"Siri," he whispered as he watched the other boy face off against the likes of Walburga Black and keep her away from her son.

"No wonder he is so weak, you coddle him," Walburga sneered at her oldest son.

"I do not! I love him, there is a difference, not that you would ever know a thing about it," Sirius managed to sneer.

She glared hard at Sirius before she raised her hand against him. Regulus heard the sharp sound of her palm meeting Sirius's cheek and opened his own tear bright eyes to watch as she turned away from the pair and fled from the room. It was only after she had gone that he dissolved into sniffles. After a short silence he felt arms come around him. He heard the soothing voice of his brother. "Hey, calm down Reggie," Sirius soothed. "It's alright, I'm here baby brother, I'm here."

"She's so mean!" he cried as the other boy hugged him and rocked him back and forth. "Mother hates us," he murmured into Sirius' chest as the older boy held him and comforted him. "Please Sirius, be careful around her. She hates us and I don't want her to hurt you anymore," he begged.

Sirius ran his hands through his raven locks and smiled down at him through blue eyes that were bright with unshed tears. "Don't worry about it Reggie. I am your older brother, my place is between you and anyone who would try to harm you. That's where I belong. She can't hurt me too bad anyway, I'm the first born. One day I'll be Lord Black. And when I am, I'll make her pay for every tear you've ever shed due to her," his voice was full of promise and had all the conviction of a vow.

He trembled in his older brother's arms feeling suddenly very afraid for the future. He was now terrified for Sirius. Did magic herself take his words as a vow? He didn't know but he prayed silently as he cuddled in his brothers arms that fate watch over Sirius Black and protect him from harm.

"Master Leonis, Young master!" the voice was familiar and it broke through the haze of his dreams. Leonis Black opened his gray eyes to the soft light of dawn flooding through the curtains of his bedroom at Ivy Hall. He raised a shaking hand and ran it over his face and realized that he was crying. He stared at his hand in confusion for a moment.

"Young Master was distressed in his dreams," his bonded Personal House-Elf, Kryn, insisted. "Master was crying and was murmuring in his dreamings."

Leonis slowly sat up in the bed amongst the many fluffy pillows. "It, it just seemed so real," he murmured softly.

"You's was wanting Siri, Master Sirius Black," Kryn told him.

Leonis stared at Kryn for a few moments before bowing his head to look at the imprint of the lion that was embroidered upon his comforter. It was magically done and each thread had been charmed to insure protection and restive sleep. His favorite thing about it was that the Lion roamed the comforter during the daylight hours and seemed to try to attack him if he lounged upon the bed during daylight.

He nodded to Kryn's statement about Sirius Black. It was far easier to let Kryn and therefore the rest of the staff of Ivy Hall believe that Leonis longed for the birth father he had no memory of ever meeting rather than the truth that he was dreaming that he was someone else entirely.

"Young Master must not let himself think on Master Sirius. It can only cause pain to Young Master," Kryn advised.

"I know, but Kryn," he paused and frowned in thought. He had brought this subject up with Cassiopeia before but his Great-Great Aunt did not like to discuss his father. "Do you really think he betrayed Harry and his parents? It just seems so hard to believe. Everyone says that he loved James more than he did his own brother, Regulus." Why did admitting that cause such a pain inside of him? It was the dream surely. The promise that young Sirius Black made sure sounded like the pledge of a boy who adored his younger sibling. Somewhere down the line that love was eradicated from him, or so Cassiopeia believed and often enough said.

Kryn began to lay out his clothes for the day and spoke softly, "Kryn does not know young Master. Kryn was not knowing Master Sirius very well. It is true that he was close to Mister James."

Leonis nodded in acceptance of Kryn's limited knowledge and leaned back against his pillows in thought. Would his father really have betrayed his own best friend? The idea was abhorrent to him. Leonis was best friends with his cousins Draco Malfoy, Harry Potter, and Dudley Black. He didn't want to believe that he could betray them like people said that his father had done to the late Lord Potter. He frowned then as he thought of his father and his uncle Regulus. Why was it so hard for him to think that Sirius could betray James Potter, after all, had Sirius not already betrayed the trust of his own brother, Regulus?

He slowly crawled out of the bed even as the lion embroidered on the comforter began to stretch and slowly awaken. He let his hand caress the center of its brow before he left the bed and began his morning ablutions. He tried to push thoughts of Sirius, Regulus, and James out of his mind. There was no use in dwelling on them at the moment, he had worse things to deal with today.

He let Kryn help him dress in his third best pair of wizarding robes. He wore a white button up shirt with mother of pearl buttons, a charcoal gray vest and slacks to match and a charcoal robe that was embroidered with a lion proud and gleaming in golden thread upon the back and simply swirls and vines of golden thread around the cuffs and edges.

This morning after breakfast he was journeying to 12 Grimmauld Place, London with his Aunt Cassiopeia Black. His grandmother Walburga Black was dying and the healers believed that today would be the day. Leonis had rarely spent any time with his grandmother. He really did not want to go today but he knew it was expected of him to be there when she breathed her last. He had the consolation of knowing that Draco would surely be with him today. Perhaps Harry and Dudley would also be present, though he was not sure. They had recently been enrolled in Muggle Primary school and so they may not be able to come.

He did not like Walburga. She was rude and horrible to him when he had been in her company. She said awful things about his father and when she wasn't saying vile things about Sirius then she was growing confused and calling him Regulus. 'Is that why I dreamt that I was uncle Regulus last night?' he wondered. He would not deny that it was a good possibility. The dream had been so vivid though. Like the times he dreamt about things that he had done with Draco or with Ernie, his half-brother.

The death of Regulus Black was another mystery to Leonis. It happened on his birthday so naturally he was terribly curious about what happened to his uncle. He wondered if it was possible that a connection had been formed between them at Regulus' death and his birth? That would better explain his strange dreams where he was Regulus than any other idea he had come up with so far. The thing was, he did not want to tell anyone about the dreams. He was too scared that they would think he was insane, like cousin Bellatrix.

During her trial, Bellatrix had kept muttering about her baby and how she had to do everything she could to protect it. She had repeatedly implored the court to tell her if her little boy was safe. This had created confusion and havoc during the first few days of her trial. She had been taken away to Saint Mungo's to undergo testing to determine if she had been pregnant. Perhaps she had been and the necessary rough handling by the Auror's caused her to miscarry? The healers ruled that there was no sign that Bellatrix had ever been pregnant. Even the rest of the Black's had no idea who the mystery child was that she muttered about. Clearly Bellatrix's mind had finally broken with reality.

Leonis feared that if he told Cassiopeia or Arcturus about his dreams that they would think his own mind was trying to break from reality. They would fear he is fantasizing about being Regulus. He wasn't. He didn't want to have those dreams. He didn't want to dream of being anyone else and he didn't want to see a protective Sirius Black. His dreams that included his young father counteracted everything the family had ever told him about the man.

That was part of the problem though. He could not actually sit down for tea with Sirius and ask him question after question until he was satisfied that he had gathered enough information to contemplate. Great-Uncle Cygnus said that Sirius was a blackguard and a coward. Yet Sirius had been an Auror and had a solid record of going against the bad guys and bringing in criminals, albeit at times with excessive force. Fighting criminals to keep others safe did not strike Leonis as the sort of profession that a coward sought. His Grandmother, Walburga, claimed that Sirius had betrayed her when he was eleven and was sorted into Gryffindor House at Hogwart's School of Witchcraft & Wizardry. How can an eleven-year-old betray the family by being sorted? Leonis did not understand the concept and had said as much to Arcturus. Even after it was explained to him that Walburga put too much stock and store into Slytherin House and that traditionally most Black's sorted into Slytherin, Leonis still did not really understand. Had his Grandmother really decided her oldest son was a traitor due to his sorting? If so, then it was no wonder to Leonis why Cassiopeia refused to leave him alone in a room with Walburga Black.

His Great-Great Grandmother, Melania, spoke highly of his father. She never seemed to have a bad word for the man. Leonis loved his visits with her. Sometimes he helped her and the House-Elves in the kitchen at the Chateau Noir. Melania liked baking and so on occasion she would invade the kitchens. Her House-Elves were used to it now, though she assured him when she had first been married to Arcturus they had been scandalized. Leonis helped her in the form of taste testing the food and enjoying using a spoon to eat the remains of cookie batter that had not made it to the cookie sheets. It was during those private times in the kitchen at Chateau Noir that Melania would tell him bittersweet stories of his father. Leonis hung on her every word. He had been warned that she favored Sirius but that did not matter to Leonis. The family around him was so determined to color his view of his father in darkness that to hear his Grandma Melania saying such sweet things about Sirius made Leonis's heart fill with warmth. He did not want to think his father was a traitor, a coward, or a cruel monster who would assist in the murder of innocents. He wanted his father to be more like the stories that Melania told him. In those stories Sirius always meant well, even when he did misstep and do the wrong thing.

Leonis figured that the truth about his father must be somewhere in between the tales he had heard of Sirius. He wished that there was someone that could tell him about Sirius who had known him well but would have nothing really to gain in telling him about his father. That person might be able to be trusted.

He forced such contemplations from his thoughts as he left his bedroom and made his way down the hall and to the staircase. He put his hand on the railing, a rule of Cassiopeia's, as he descended the stairs. He found his Auntie Cassie in the sunlit breakfast parlor. He smiled at the sight of her and he paused beside his own chair to say "good morning, Aunt Cassie."

"Good morning, Leonis," Cassiopeia replied even as she let her eyes rove over his attire. "Good. Very good choice for the day. We want you to look well but not too well."

"Yes ma'am. Kryn thought you would approve and I am rather fond of it," he said even as he went about putting food on his plate with the help of one of the House-Elves. He was careful to remember his eating etiquette as he began to partake of his scrambled eggs.

Cassiopeia eyed him a moment and then smiled gently at him. "You do understand that this is a solemn occasion?" Her voice was firm. "I expect you to set a good example for your cousins."

"Of course Aunt Cassie," Leonis replied after he took the time to take a sip from his orange juice. The orange juice was especially bought for him by the House-Elves because he had taken a liking to it after a weekend long visit to Longview to stay with Harry and Dudley. Aunt Cassie had muttered that it was a silly Muggle thing but she had relented easily enough in allowing it to be brought into the household just for him. "Visiting Grandma Walburga is always a solemn event, but now," he trailed off looking across the table at his beloved Auntie. "Well now she's leaving forever isn't she?"

"Sweet Morgana, I do fervently hope so!" Cassiopeia exclaimed to the astonishment of her nephew.

Leonis could not contain his laughter. His usually stately and reserved Aunt had just admitted to wishing his Grandmother dead. Had his Grandmother been anyone else but Walburga Black then he might have been offended. Being as his Grandmother was Walburga he instead found himself laughing at the breakfast table.

"Understand Leonis, we honor the dead but we do not immortalize them. You and I shall not be forgetting what sort of creature Walburga Black was just because she has finally left this world behind," Cassiopeia told him.

He smiled at his beloved Aunt and nodded his head in agreement. "Yes, of course Aunt Cassie." The knowledge that he did not have to think well of Walburga was a liberating one. He had been so sure that the family would expect him to somehow praise Walburga's memory. He would not. She was terrible to him and she had been terrible to his father and to Uncle Regulus.

They finished their breakfast in silence and soon after it was deemed time for them to travel to 12 Grimmauld Place to attend the Deathbed of his grandmother. As he put the floo powder in the fire and firmly stated the words "12 Grimmauld Place" he could not help but wonder at his lack of care that his grandmother was dying. Just the thought of Aunt Cassie dying caused pain deep inside of him. He also did not like to think on Arcturus dying. He had thought of it on and off since he had been told that Walburga would not be getting better. He would trade Walburga any day if he could keep Grandpa Arcturus and Aunt Cassie.

He stepped gracefully into the receiving hall of Grimmauld Place. Upon the wall all around him was the great Tapestry of the Black Family. He approached the wall that held his branch of the family tree and was disgusted to see how ill kept the tapestry was. Why there were blast marks on it. He frowned as he found his name and traveled it up to his parents. His mother's face and name were upon the tree but the spot beside her, the part that should have held the face and name Sirius Orion Black had a dark sing mark where someone had blasted him off of the tree.

"That will have been Walburga's doing," Cassiopeia muttered behind him. "She has made it a habit to blast off the people in the family she hates or feels do not deserve the name. See here, she blasted off Cedrella Weasley," she pointed out her cousin on the tree. "Little fool. Cedrella is a formidable Witch. Even I would not like to be on her bad side," she smiled down at him. "Come along Leonis."

"Yes ma'am," he dutifully replied as he traipsed after her. He took his time looking around. He had rarely visited Grimmauld Place but each time he did it made him relieved that he did not live in the town house. The house wreaked of dirt and grime. He wondered when had Kreacher, the Black House-Elf, last cleaned Grimmauld Place? There were many dark objects that were in glass cases and he wondered why it was deemed attractive to have a troll's foot as an umbrella stand beside the front door? The place wreaked of Dark - if not Black - magic, no pun intended, and it set his teeth on edge.

They stopped briefly in the parlor where he noticed Cygnus Black, Drusilla Black, Pollux Black, Irma Black, Arcturus Black, Melania Black, Callidora Longbottom, Cedrella Weasley, Septimus Weasley, Lucius Malfoy, and his step-father Malcolm Macmillan were gathered. He first paid his respects to his great-great Grandfather Lord Arcturus Black. Then his Grandma Melania, his Great-Uncle Pollux, then to Cygnus and Drusilla followed by the Ladies Irma Black, Callidora Longbottom, and Cedrella Weasley. He spoke briefly with Septimus and then to his favorite "Honorary Uncle" Lucius. He was permitted to hug Malcolm and he felt warmth seep into his chest as it always did when Malcolm gave him a hug in the same way that he always gave hugs to his own son Ernest. "Your mother is in library with Narcissa, Molly, and a few of the other children."

"Thank you," he told Malcolm and then he ran as fast as he could to the library. He paused when he reached the door to the library and peered inside the open doorway. Within the room he could see his cousin Draco Malfoy seated upon a chair at one of the tables. Seated across from Draco was Theodore Nott, the Ward of the Malfoy's. Beside Theodore was the olive skinned and brown haired Blaise Zabini. The boy had of late been spending most of his time living as a guest of the Malfoy's because his thrice widowed mother was off traveling somewhere in Europe. If it were not for the fact that Belladonna Zabini had been the childhood friend of Narcissa Malfoy, then Blaise would not have the sanctuary of the Malfoy home.

Leonis entered the room and as always Draco was the first to notice him. He stood from his chair and came forward to greet Leonis with a simple hug and a squeeze of his shoulder. It was after all, a very solemn occasion.

"Your grief is my grief," Draco said gently. They were the traditional words of kinship and fellowship in grief. Of course he knew that Draco had no more liking for Walburga than he did, but still the words must be said.

"I thank you for your presence here and the gift of comfort in my sorrows," Leonis said the traditional words and then he smiled at Draco. "What have you three been doing? And why are the table and chairs so small?" he asked the last having only just truly realized that the table had somehow been shrunk to better accommodate their size.

"Oh! Well, we were mostly going over what's expected of us," Draco explained. "The table and chairs were shrunk by Mrs. Weasley. She said that she usually shrinks these things down for her children as well. She has seven children. Her oldest two are already at Hogwart's but the others are here. The eldest boy, Percy, took them down to the kitchens to get them something to eat since they came early this morning without having eaten breakfast."

Leonis nodded his head. "I see. Aunt Cassie and I ate at Ivy Hall before we came," he said simply.

"My Lion," the voice of his mother interrupted his conversation with Draco. He smiled slightly and Draco did as well. Draco squeezed his hand in reassurance before releasing him and returning to his seat at the table with Theo and Blaise. Leonis then turned the whole of his attention to his mother.

She was a beautiful woman, his mother, and he knew that he was not biased in this. He had heard many men compliment her beauty in her hearing and outside of it. He reached for her without hesitation and smiled happily when she wrapped her arms around him and held him tight. "Mother, it's good to see you," he said softly. "I've missed you."

He saw her wince and sadness filled her green eyes as she looked at him. "I am sorry sweetheart," she said. "I have meant to visit you more."

Leonis nodded and then asked, "Where is my brother?" He glanced around as though he would see the thick blond hair that belonged to his half-brother, Ernest better known as Ernie.

"He's in the kitchen with the Weasley children," Olivia reassured him. "He was being a bit fractious wondering when you would arrive so I thought the distraction would do him good."

He was not sure what fractious meant but he liked the way the word sounded when she spoke it. He would have to look it up later, as he often did when adults said words he did not completely understand. Usually though he could take their meaning easily enough based on the sentence alone. Cassiopeia said he was very smart for his age.

After a few more moments spent in his mother's good company he was taken over to a corner of the library where some of the old wooden chairs had been transfigured into more comfortable chairs and even a chaise lounge. Upon the chaise rested a red haired woman that he had only seen in photographs. Molly Weasley, born of House Prewett, was a pretty woman. She had thick dark red hair that was wavy and slightly curly. It was cut fashionably short at her shoulders and she wore it half back away from her face in some sort of hair clip. She was wearing modest yet fashionable wizarding robes of pale gray over a form that was only slightly plump. When she looked at him he knew instantly that he liked her. She had kind brown eyes. This woman was the motherly type, or as Cassie always said the nurturing sort.

"Well, hello dear," Molly Weasley said in a welcoming and gentle tone. "I recognize you from your pictures though I must say you are far more handsome a boy in person. How do you do Leonis? Or do you prefer Leo?"

He smiled as he approached her. "Leo is fine if you prefer. I answer to both," he promised her.

Molly began to get up when Narcissa leaned forward and pushed the woman back down with a gentle hand. "None of that. You have been on your feet since early this morning. Take the time to rest, trust me, the day will get more hectic."

Leonis looked confused at Molly. "Are you hurt Mrs. Weasley?" he asked and found he disliked the idea that she could be hurt. He frowned and concentrated for a moment allowing his magic to unfurl and gently touch hers. He recoiled almost at once feeling a sense of weariness but not actual pain.

"Oh no," Molly assured him with a laugh. "I came over here late last night and began cooking for the vigil. I knew everyone would need their strength so I made plenty of foods for everyone to kip down to the kitchen and nibble on throughout the day. Then there was no time to sleep. I had to race home and change. I saw my dear Arthur off to work and got the kids ready and then my Mother-in-law and Father-in-law were ready to go and willing to help me with the kids. Narcissa and your mama are just being incredibly nice to me."

He laughed then. "Draco said you were blessed with a number of children. I do look forward to meeting them," he told her.

Olivia smiled down at him and leaned down to kiss his forehead. "You go sit with Draco for now. I know that Cygnus is insisting that you will have to go into Walburga's room at some point in the day," she scowled at the last part.

He nodded and with a polite bow to both Narcissa and Molly he took his leave of the ladies and soon found himself seated beside Draco. "If Grandma Walburga had been anything like Mrs. Weasley then this would truly feel like a solemn occasion," Leonis whispered to his three comrades.

There were nods all around. Each of the boys had been immediately drawn in by the red haired woman's nurturing presence. "I wish my mother was like that," Blaise whispered. He did not often make such confessions but then, today was not a normal day at all. It was a solemn occasion and a solemn duty lay before them.

The moment of solemnity passed when his brother Ernie came into the room with a gaggle of red heads trailing behind him. Ernie immediately raced to him and enveloped Leonis in a hug. "I'm so sorry that your Grandma is dying, Leo." Ernie said in his matter of fact way. He loved that about Ernie. His little brother did not dissemble like the other children of the House of Black did then. He either told you just what he thought or he held his tongue completely. It was refreshing.

He rubbed Ernie's back and felt grateful when his brother chose to stay near him for a time. "Thank you, Ernie," he said and then smiled at his little brother. "You've made some friends," he added. It was a hint for Ernie to properly introduce him to the Weasley children.

"Oh. Yeah, I guess I have," Ernie said with a chuckle. "They are really nice Leo," he assured him with enthusiasm and then he pointed out the oldest boy. "This is Percy Weasley. He's nine so in a few years he'll be off to Hogwart's like his older brothers Bill and Charlie."

Percy smiled gently at Leonis. "It's nice to meet you Heir Black."

"Please, call me Leo or Leonis," he protested instantly. This boy, four years older than him seemed shy and quiet. He had about him a calm and soothing presence though that Leonis liked very much. He liked the feel of Percy's magic, especially when compared to his siblings. Percy's magic was like the calm in the eye of a storm when compared to the four red haired children around him. "We are cousins after all. We should try to be on first name basis when it is alright to be."

Percy's smile grew brighter, his gray eyes showed genuine pleasure at the thought of being able to count on their familial bond. "Thank you, Leo," he then smiled and turned toward the two boys seated beside him. "These two are Fred and George."

"I'm George!" the one who had been called Fred protested.

"And I'm Fred!" insisted the one who had been called George.

Leonis expected Percy to look embarrassed at having gotten his twin brothers names wrong, but Percy did not. Instead the boy rolled his eyes and said firmly. "Oh stop it! You," he said pointing to the one insisting to be George, "are Fred. And you," he then pointed at the one insisting to be Fred "are George."

There was silence for a moment as all of the children watched in fascination. Then there were identical smiles on the faces of the twins and the question was raised "Blimey, how do you do that?"

The one who was truly George looked at Leo and explained, "Even our own parents cannot tell us apart but our Percy here always does, without fail."

"He's bright is our Percy," the one who was really Fred proclaimed. "Still wish you'd tell us how you know though."

Percy smiled fondly at his little brothers. "That's my little secret," he told them. "It's really no fun for you if you know how I know anyway."

"Fair enough, but answer me this," Fred began. "Can anybody do it? Could Ron figure it out?"

"No, not just anyone can do it. Ron couldn't figure it out though I think that perhaps Ginny can. I know that Leo can though and I think that Draco and perhaps Theo can as well," Percy admitted.

"What?" the one called Ron spoke up for the first time. "Why them and not me?" he demanded that Percy tell him and his tone was bordering on rude.

Percy shook his head at Ron's behavior but did not bother to chide him since he had not actually crossed a line. "Your magical strength is different than theirs is, that's all. Your magic is better suited for combat magics not detection magics."

Leonis watched as the one called Ron stared into Percy's eyes. After a moment Leonis felt it, the push of Percy's magic, gentle and cradling around Ron's own and slowly, fascinated, he watched as Ron became less combative and more accepting of what Percy had said. "Oh, well alright then. But could you help me figure out when they are lying at least, because I hate when they try to trick me." The older Weasley boy smiled and promised to help his brother to learn to dissect the twins lies.

"I'm Ronald Weasley, by the way," Ronald began and held out his hand for Leonis to shake.

"Leonis Black, pleasure," he said as he shook Ron's hand.

"And this is our sister, Ginny, well Ginevra, but we call her Ginny," Ronald introduced the shy red-haired girl. She had the same brown eyes as her mother Molly.

"It's nice to meet you Ginny," he said to her.

"You too," the shy girl managed to say before once more falling silent and stealing glances past him. It took Leonis a moment to realize that she was stealing glances at Draco. He wondered if it was due to the fact that Lucius Malfoy and Arthur Weasley were not exactly fond of one another.

There was a long standing feud between the House of Weasley and the House of Malfoy. Leonis was not really sure what it was about but the rumors said it was over a stolen bride. Which side stole the bride, he had no idea. But Weasley's and Malfoy's had rarely gotten along since and so the old feud had continued to the current generation.

He did know that Arthur Weasley had been the voice behind several raids at Malfoy Manor. He had been a visitor to the Manor one night when Auror's had barged into Draco's room, where he, Draco, Theodore, and Blaise were sleeping. The Auror's had not only frightened them out of their wits but then had proceeded to terrorize them by destroying Draco's toys. They had taken Leonis' own favorite stuffed Lion, a gift from Narcissa, and had ripped it up because they thought it might be hiding a dark magical artifact. Leonis had been so angry then that he wanted to rip their throats out. Draco had fought against tears as they ripped apart his stuffed Dragon looking for dark items. Narcissa had been livid, her magic crackling around her as she ordered the Auror's out of her boys' suite of rooms. She had filed a complaint against the Auror's with the Ministry of Magic that very night. He was not sure the filing of complaint did any good though, but then Narcissa was a cunning woman. She had gone the step further to ensure that the story of the Auror Raid on Malfoy Manor made it to the Daily Prophet. Arthur Weasley's claims against the Malfoy's had not been taken seriously since then. It was hard to believe that Leonis was seated at a table with Arthur's children and having a nice time, all things considered.

The day passed much in this fashion with Leonis spending as much time as he could with the other children. They talked about their homes. Leonis and Draco asked several questions about the Burrow, the home of the Weasley children. It sounded like a fascinating house and a fascinating place. They were so used to being cooped up behind the blood wards of large manor houses. Other than the townhouses of London, they really had not seen other types of homes. Theo and Blaise were able to engage Ron in conversation about games that he liked. He adored Quidditch and he bragged about the large space that the Weasley's had in which to play it. The boy also liked Wizards Chess, which he had been learning to play. Percy was good at the game and so he asked the Lady Narcissa Malfoy if there was a set in the house.

Narcissa had returned some time later with a board and the pieces. Leonis had stared at the board recognizing it somehow and he slowly and gently ran his hand over it. There was a sort of reverence in the way he touched the board. He looked at the side of the board where initials were carved and inlaid with gold.

R.A.B.

He felt a chill race down his spine even as he watched Ron and Percy set up the pieces. He knew that R.A.B. must be Regulus Arcturus Black. He should have expected it. This was the home of Regulus before his untimely death. He would not be able to run away from mentions of his uncle here in this house. He excused himself with the excuse that he was thirsty a few moments after the game of wizards chess began and he left the library behind.

He wandered the house hoping to find the room that belonged to his father. As he turned the corner he noticed that the family House-Elf, Kreacher was standing by the stair railing. "Kreacher, are you unwell?" He asked gently.

The House-Elf turned to him and stared at him for a moment and then began to cry. "Oh young master has returned to me!" he wept. "Master, oh master thank you for returning for Kreacher!"

Leonis blinked in astonishment as the House-Elf threw himself to his knees before him in abasement. "Umm, Kreacher stop that. Stand up," he ordered.

There were more sniffles before Kreacher obeyed. His large eyes were tear bright but happiness and adoration shown through those eyes. Leonis was not sure what to make of it, but clearly the House-Elf seemed to feel bonded to him. He frowned and let his magic reach out to Kreacher's. He recoiled in surprise when he noticed that there was a tendril, a tie between them just like there was a tie between himself and Kryn. How or rather when did that happen? Perhaps it had happened when he was a baby? Was this yet another mystery to do with Regulus?

"I'm sorry Kreacher, I did not know you were bonded to me," Leonis said gently. Had he known, well he was still not sure that he would have had Kreacher at Ivy Hall with him. Aunt Cassiopeia was not fond of the House-Elf and since Ivy Hall was her residence, he could not easily ignore her will.

"How can Kreacher serve Master?" the House-Elf croaked out.

He thought for a moment and decided that there was surely no harm in asking Kreacher. "I wish to be taken to the room of Sirius Black."

Kreacher seemed to frown. "Nasty boy who broke his mother's heart," the House-Elf spat.

"Have a care of what else you say," Leonis said in a stern tone of voice. "His mother did little to earn such devotion or care from either of her sons."

Kreacher bowed his head and then turned to lead him up a flight of stairs to the fourth floor. He was led down the hall to a door that bore initials S.O.B. Leonis slowly turned the handle to the door before he entered the room. Gryffindor colors dominated the room. Red and gold bedspread and hangings. Red and gold curtains on the windows. Glossy photos from muggle magazines were stuck to the wall and Leonis realized very swiftly that he would never be able to tear them off of the walls. His father had used a permanent sticking charm to place them upon the walls.

He sighed as he sat down on the bed, dusty from disuse. He was not sure how he had expected to feel about being in his father's old room. Surely he was supposed to feel some sort of attachment but he didn't. He felt nothing. Sirius had left his place so long ago maybe that was why he could not connect.

He slowly walked across down the hall to go back the way he came but he froze before the door that said R.A.B. He stared at the door for several moments of agonizing indecision before he put his hand to the doorknob and slowly opened the door. He strode several steps before he froze in the middle of the green and silver decorated room. The Slytherin banner hung over a writing desk and for a brief moment Leonis felt as though he had sat at that very desk before doing school work. It was impossible, of course it was. He had never entered this room before and yet, why did it feel so familiar to him?

He turned away from the desk and stared for a few moments at the bed. The room was dusty and he felt as though he were suffocating just standing in the room. The air felt heavy with dust and with memories of the boy who once belonged there. He turned away and swiftly strode from the room with Kreacher racing at his heels. When he reached the stairs he paused and told the House-Elf, "I want you to clean Regulus Black's room. I want his things left as they are for the moment but make the room spotless of all dust and grime."

"Yes Master," Kreacher said and he seemed pleased and happy that Leonis had given him chores to do. As Leonis descended the stairs it made him wonder if part of the ill kept appearance of Grimmauld Place was due to the fact that Kreacher might need to be told to clean the place. It was something he would have to consider in the future. Kreacher was, after all, his House-Elf.

As he reached the second floor and turned back to the library he found his upper arm suddenly grabbed in a painful grip. He tried to jerk away but found the grip only tightened. He narrowed his eyes at the man who dared to lay his hands upon him. He frowned up at his Great-Uncle Cygnus Black.

Cygnus was the favored, as well as only still living, brother of Leo's grandmother Walburga. Leonis had learned to be wary of Cygnus due to the man's greedy actions as well as to the warnings of his Great-Grandfather Arcturus and his Great-Great Aunt Cassiopeia. Cygnus had been the God-father of Regulus Black, but had done little to nurture or support the young man until Sirius Black had been disowned. Then Cygnus had bullied Regulus into doing what he felt was right for the House of Black. Leonis had an instinctual dislike of the man. Cygnus was also the grandfather of Leo's favorite cousin, Draco. He might have felt some guilt over his dislike of Cygnus if it were not for the fact that Draco shared in that dislike. Draco had once told him not to trust Cygnus. Draco had based his opinion of Cygnus on the way that the man treated his daughters. The man bullied his wife and he bullied his daughters. It was really no wonder that Andromeda ran away.

"There you are," Cygnus snarled as he shook Leonis for a moment. "My sister lays dying and you go gallivanting around as you please," he snarled.

His glare sharpened as he stared at Cygnus. "I have not been gallivanting," he protested. "I have been awaiting the summons to attend my Grandmother," Leonis informed him. "I was told that a House-Elf would be sent to fetch me when she was ready to receive me. She is in a delicate state right now and does not need her nerve tested in her final hours by a mere child," the last he said solemnly and with the intent to spite Cygnus.

"Very well. You are to come with me now," Cygnus insisted and then he released his hold on him.

Leonis rubbed gently at his upper arm as he followed Cygnus to the master suite that belonged to his Grandmother. He entered through the open door and saw many of the adults of the family loitering in his grandmother's sitting room. Lord Black sat on a love seat with his wife Melania. Pollux Black, the father of Walbura and Cygnus stood by the window and in the seat beside the window was his wife Irma. Aunt Cassie was seated in the middle of a sofa with Callidora Longbottom seated to her right and Cedrella Weasley seated on her left. Septimus Weasley stood by a large painting of Walburga and Orion in their wedding attire. He was in an animated conversation with Ignatius Prewett and his wife Lucretia. Lucretia was the sister of Orion Black. His step-father Malcolm Macmillan and Lucius Malfoy sat beside Marius Black and his wife Petunia.

Leonis smiled at the sight of Marius and Petunia Black. If they were there then it meant that at some point Harry and Dudley must have arrived. He was sure that he would find them with the other children in the library, no doubt under the watchful eye of his mother and Mrs. Weasley.

Leonis paused for a moment and wanted to ask Petunia about Harry and Dudley but he could not. He was prodded along by Cygnus and so he was forced to go into his grandmother's sick room. He could feel that her time was almost at an end and he felt relief fill him at the prospect. He wondered what could be wrong with him that he felt so relieved at her dying? He did not relish the idea of her lingering on in pain, granted, but to be happy that she was dying seemed terrible.

'Am I a horrible person?' he wondered as he stared at her.

She was gasping for breath and her chest was rising and falling heavily with the effort to simply breathe. Her face was haggard and pale and she looked clammy to the touch. "I am here Grandmother," Leonis said and felt foolish for saying it. Still there was no guarantee that Walburga was truly aware of her surroundings.

He was surprised when she snatched his hand and held it in a strong clawing grip. "Regulus, my sweet boy," she murmured as she stared at him. "You won't end up like Sirius, will you Regulus? You won't betray me. You will not whisper our family secrets to Dumbledore? You will not shame the family by rebellious behavior? Oh Regulus, you'll be my good sweet child," she breathed out in ragged breaths.

His mind whirled as he stared at her horrified. He knew now, just by listening to her that her mind was gone. She thought him Regulus, had decided he must be her dead son. He refused to play that role. He refused.

"Grandmother, it is I, it is Leonis," he tried again to reach her.

"Swear to me!" she shrieked as her nails dug into his skin, her hands gripping him tightly. He winced in pain and felt blood as he instinctively attempted to fight her grip.

"Grandmother, you're hurting me!" Leonis cried out and whimpered as he fought against her grip.

"Swear now!" she gasped, her breathing more ragged than before.

There was a commotion by the doorway and he glanced swiftly toward it to see that the Lord Black was striding into the room, approaching the bed. Leonis felt a sense of relief in that moment and he turned his gaze back to his grandmother. Her nails were digging in deeper and he whimpered again in pain. "I swear to you that I will be all that I should be as the Heir Black," he said and felt his magic react to his words, his drawn blood adding to the oath he had made.

He felt the magic settle over himself and over Walburga and slowly she released her hold upon him and she began stroking his hand. She continued to stroke his hand for several moments as she attempted to breathe in and out. He felt his Grandpa Arcturus behind him and he willingly leaned his weight against the older man in order to be further away from the dying woman. He closed his eyes and waited in silence hoping that it would be over soon. 'Please,' he thought. 'Please, take her now. Let her have no more pain and cause no more pain to others.'

A moment later he heard the rattling sound of her breathing cease and he opened his gray eyes to stare at her still form on the bed. He stared for a few moments at her face and then he breathed in heavily and turned away from her and into the embrace of Arcturus. He tried to breathe steadily but he couldn't. His arm throbbed where she had drawn his blood and he felt tears come to his eyes. The whole event was too much. Just too much. He felt a tear slide down his cheek and then another and then he was lifted up and carried from the room by Arcturus.

"Leonis," Cassiopeia called out and several others murmured his name but he didn't pay them any mind. He buried his head in the crook where Arcturus neck met his collar bone and he wept bitter tears over the death of Walburga.

He felt Arcturus rubbing his back and attempting to sooth him. "I know," the older man spoke gently into his ear. "I know it's hard. She was not a kind woman, was not a good woman. She did not deserve your devotion nor affection and yet you feel shame for not being able to love her well."

Leonis could only nod his head because it was true. He did feel bad for not loving Walburga. She was his grandmother; he should have been able to love her. He whimpered and gripped Arcturus tighter, burrowed his head a bit deeper.

"No shame now," Arcturus whispered to him. "Walburga could have turned her life around when you were born. She could have redeemed herself by loving you as you deserve and in so doing you would have showed her the adoration she felt was her just due. But she did not and so you could not. It's alright little Lion."

Leonis closed his eyes tight and let the tears fall silently begging Arcturus not to leave him yet, not to put him down or hand him over to other family who would ask silly questions about why was he so upset. He knew that as the future Lord Black one day he would have to be in control of his emotions just like Arcturus, but he was grateful that right now he was allowed to be a child and simply cry out his own hurt.


I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter. I thought it only fitting to write Leonis during the death of his grandmother. Obviously they did not have a close relationship since his Guardian's viewed her as a danger to his well-being. I hope everyone liked seeing young Weasley's, young Ernie, young Draco, young Theo, and young Blaise (even though Blaise and Theo were more or less just there in this chapter). We shall see more of Leonis and his friends in further chapters and we shall learn more about Sirius Black and whether the Black family intends to press for a trial for him or not. Thank you for reading and reviewing. I really appreciate your feedback!