(A/N): Hey Guys! So, I'm home now, I had an exam earlier today... these next few chapters were written in my notebook over the past few days, and here they are!

Disclaimer: I own nothing you recognise.

Leo

The dress robes were an elegant, well-fitted silver, with a dark green vest made of silk, my bow tie black, and currently trying to choke me.

"Stupid thing..." I muttered to myself, adjusting it in the mirror before running a wet comb through my hair, leaving it neater than I had seen it in almost seven years.

My shoes were a shiny black, with tips of polished silver. On my finger was the Joannis family ring, a constant reminder of just where I was. After delaying it for a minute longer, I made my way down to the kitchen, which was really a dining room adjacent to the actual kitchen, where we could see the house elves at work.

"Leonides. Are you ready?" Her voice, as always, held a sharp tone. She had changed, now wearing a dark green floor length trumpet dress, a pair of silver, elbow length gloves on her hands, and the same diamond choker at her throat as before.

"As ready as I'll ever be." She flashed me a sharp-toothed smile.

"Good. I'll tell you the details of our deal on the way." From here, she led the way outside to the carriage.

"Why a carriage?" I asked as the horses navigated the busy streets of London, passing straight through car after car, bus after bus.

"It has a certain elegance, don't you think? Makes me feel like the Queen, except not a muggle." While I saw what she meant, the wooden carriage's interior having been lined in silk, I still didn't see the point. "Now, Leonides, you must be confused as to why I need you." Saving myself some trouble, I simply nodded. "People have started asking questions Leonides. It's been seven years, after all. So, you attend a few balls, clear up all the suspicions, I give you the antidote after tonight, and you owe me." I raised an eyebrow.

"What if I say, 'screw you' after you give me the antidote? You won't have any leverage." She tutted at me, smirking.

"If you double cross me, I'll kill your friends. That's enough leverage, isn't it Leonides?" I looked away, not answering.

"Who's attending this thing, anyway?" I ask, purely out of curiosity.

"A whole host of pureblood families. The Mikaelsonn's, the Romaer's, the Jomi's from Peru, and of course, it's being hosted by the Black family." I tried to look nonchalant, even though I was as shocked by the news as I had been by my mother's reappearance.

"The usual suspects then."

Less than a minute later, we arrived at a large, olden looking building, clearly a meeting hall of some sort. We both descended from the carriage, me helping my mother down, knowing I needed to fake being the dutiful son I had been before. As I hooked my arm in hers, I saw two familiar faces at the door to the hall.

Sirius... and my stepfather. Chatting politely, together. As we approached, I steeled myself.

"And I was saying-" My stepfather was loud, his hair a dark brown, face cleanly shaven and his eyes the color of jade.

"Father! Sorry we're a little tardy, my fault entirely." Sirius's head snapped around, eyes wide.

"Ah, Sirius, this is my son, Leonides." Obviously, my stepfather had been briefed on the situation as well.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Sirius Black." I said, grabbing his hand and shaking it, snapping him out of his daze.

"You as well... Leonides." My mother dropped a hand onto my shoulder.

"Well, we must get inside. Many people to see, much dancing to do." We passed Sirius and entered the hall, decorated elegantly, and full of purebloods in beautiful clothes.

Not too far away, I saw Mia, chatting to a few pureblood children her age, wearing a pale green dress with a single line of pearls at her throat, and another at her wrist.

"Miasenna, my darling girl!" My mother called, grasping Mia's cheeks in her taloned hand with a smile. "How goes the gala thus far?" Mia avoided looking at me, her eyes on her parents instead.

"It's been beautiful, stunningly so." From the corner of my eye, I saw Sirius watching us.

"Cipicia, Sebastien, how nice to see you here!" Sirius's mother announced as she neared us, her eyes skating over me sharply.

"Walburga Black. Leonides, this is Sirius's mother, Walburga, this is my son, Leonides." Walburga watched me with hungry eyes.

"I haven't seen Leonides at one of these things since he was as small as a house elf!" She exclaimed, holding out a hand for me to grasp. "It's nice to see you again." I twisted her hand gently, placing a quick peck on the back of it.

"The pleasure's mine, Mrs. Black." I stepped back, and she ferried Sirius forward. "This is my son, Sirius Orion Black. Say hello, Sirius." She instructed in a cold tone, gripping his shoulder tightly.

"Mr and Mrs Joannis, it's lovely to have you in attendance." My mother smiled sharply, seeing the tint of hatred in his eyes.

"And it's lovely to be here." His eyes darted between the two of us, but I put on the most believable smile I had.

"It's beautiful, really. Having so many purebloods under the same roof, it reminds me of heaven." Sirius watched me with narrowed eye, and I knew he was trying to figure out what was happening, why I was acting so... strange.

"So much purity. This is how it should always be." My mother said, placing a hand on my shoulder, flashing me a smile, but I didn't fail to notice the sad look in her eyes.

"Well, Walburga, we should get to mingling. So much to see, so little time, correct?" My stepfather asked, flashing her a tight lipped smile.

"Right as always, Sebastien. Go on you four, enjoy the gala." Walburga said frostily, but still with a smile. She was nowhere as scary as my mother, but I could see Sirius eyeing her nervously.

"We will, Mrs Black." Mia assured her, and all four of us made our way away from the Black family.

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

Please review and/or check out my other stories!

This chapter has had small edits made to it on 30/12/22 - Because for some reason this particular chapter was a mess of jumbled words, like 'leacinf ir' instead of 'leaving it'.

This chapter has had minor edits made to it on 5/2/23 - Because I put Leo in a suit instead of dress robes, and Cipicia would never have given Leo a muggle suit to wear.