(A/N): Hey Guys! So, the start of this chapter may seem a bit like a filler chapter, but trust me, it's important later, and the rest of the chapter is pretty important.

Also, there's a massive plot twist coming in one of the next two chapters or so.

Disclaimer: I own nothing but Leo, Elaine, Nicholai and Shari.

Leo

I woke up the next morning, undisturbed, well-rested, but with an ache in my back from the dodgy position I had slept in.

"Morning." I grunted as I collapsed into my chair at the small dining table, and Shari turned to glare at me.

"So, Leo, your father told me earlier that you can cook." I froze, taking the chance to glare at my father who shrugged sheepishly before slowly turning to face her.

"Well...I wouldn't call it cooking..." She glared at me, dropping the empty plate she had been holding onto the table.

"And you let me cook for you all this time? Shame on you!" She pulled me out of my chair and sat herself in it, looking at me expectantly. "Well? Make me breakfast." I rolled my eyes, picking up the plate she had dropped which was, miraculously, still intact, before moving over to the stove.

"Bacon and eggs?" I suggested, and I received no reply. "Shari?" I heard her sigh, and I raised an eyebrow.

"I did nod." I rolled my eyes. It's not my fault I can't feel you move, demon-woman, you have no circulation!

"Well okay then." I told her, collecting all the ingredients needed, i.e: Bacon and eggs.

I broke two eggs into one pan before seasoning them with a little salt and pepper, and plopped a few rashes of bacon into the other, watching over them carefully.

I fetched the bag of shredded cheese from the fridge quickly, before scrambling the eggs, and adding a handful of cheese and mixing it until the cheese was melted.

I removed the pieces of bacon, and then the scrambled eggs, from their fry pans, turning off the jets and placing the pans in the sink. I took my plate and Shari's over to the table and sat down, readying my fork only to look up as I felt Shari staring at me.

"What?" I asked, somewhat defensively, and she shook her head.

"How long have you been able to cook?" I winced at her question, thinking back to the first time I tried to cook anything by myself.

"I started learning after my mother kicked me out. As you know, dad isn't exactly a great cook." He glanced up from over the Daily Prophet he was reading, not looking angry in the slightest. It was just a fact of life for us at this point.

"Well, yeah, I think everyone who's ever met him knows that." I saw my father roll his eyes, and I had to hold in my laughter. Of course Shari's comment was the one that managed to rile him up.

"I had to make food for myself, so I wouldn't have to eat burnt toast for every meal, and eventually, I got sort of good at it." She nodded, appraising me for a few seconds.

"And why didn't you tell me you could cook?" I shrugged, rubbing the back of my neck sheepishly.

"I cooked for myself for three years, wouldn't you take advantage if someone else offered to cook for you?" She seemed to think about it for a few seconds, and I returned to my meal.

"New training techniques to practice after breakfast." My father remarked, and I groaned. "We have to go to Diagon Alley tomorrow morning, to pick up a few new books. I heard about this..." I managed to tune him out, nodding every so often to make it look like I was listening, and I could tell Shari knew I wasn't paying attention to him, what with the amused smile on her lips.

A few minutes later, after I had finished my breakfast, my father, Shari and I made our way into our spacious back garden, which was pretty much just empty lawn. Maintaining a garden wasn't exactly high on my fathers' list of priorities, and since hiring a gardener was out of the question, anything other than plain old grass would have turned into a veritable jungle by now. We also had a lawn on both sides of our house, and one very large one in front, which was dominated by our Quidditch pitch.

Shari and I stood opposite each other, maybe two meters apart, with my father standing off to the side observing us.

"You may begin." We immediately began circling each other, our stances turning defensive. As I reached the opposite side of our circle, where Shari had been originally, she charged.

Now, full-vampires are much faster than half-vamps, so I must tell you that the odds were not in my favor. However, as soon as she charged, it happened. My body went into Sensory Alert, which is what we called the changes that happened when I was thirsty, hunting or threatened.

Thing is, the first time this had ever happened was when Maloney attacked, and I hadn't versed Shari since last summer, so she had no idea. And frankly, I wasn't expecting it either.

Everything slowed down.

Her movements, the wind, my usually hectic heartbeat. Everything except for me. As she approached, I waited patiently until she got close enough, and spun, sending a round-house kick straight to her chest.

She obviously wasn't expecting it, as she was launched backwards, landing on her back more than halfway across the circle.

I could see my father's eyes widen as she hit the ground, and her eyes were wide as well. My stance, which had defensive up until the point in which I had attacked, then had turned offensive, was now back to being defensive.

Instinctual questions ran through my head as I stood there, waiting for her to get up.

Would she attack?

How would she attack?

Would I be able to block it?

Would I be able to land another blow now that she was expecting it?

"Leo..." I heard my father say quietly, and in a split-second he was by my side, having used vampire-speed. I jerked away at the sudden proximity, worried of another attack, before I realised who it was, and relaxed a tiny bit. He cautiously rested a hand on my shoulder, and I didn't shrug him off.

"Leo." He said again, but I still didn't respond, watching Shari warily as she climbed to her feet with grace only a vampire could achieve.

"Leonides!" My eyes widened, and I jumped slightly, before turning to look at him.

"What?" I asked quietly, and he stared at me for a second, wide-eyed. I saw my reflection in his eyes, the same as it had been when I had almost attacked Madam Pomfrey.

I blinked, straightening up out of my defensive stance, and I could feel myself returning to normal. I avoided their gazes, staring at the ground only, before spinning on my heel and racing into the forest surrounding the Estate.

"Leo!" I heard Shari yell after me, but I shook my head, clearing myself of all conscious thought.

I cleared everything out, and just ran.

I ran to forget, I ran to avoid it, but mostly...

I ran to escape.

(A/N): So, what did you think?

Please review and/or check out my other stories!

This chapter has had minor edits made to it on 29/12/22