This chapter is one that has some tough implications towards the end of it. I've used Mary Macdonald as a character for a number of reasons, and one of them is because of these two lines in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Chapter 33: The Prince's Tale.
"We are, Sev, but I don't like some of the people you're hanging round with! I'm sorry, but I detest Avery and Mulciber! Mulciber, What do you see in him, Sev, he's creepy! D'you know what he tried to do to Mary Macdonald the other day?"
"I don't need you to tell me that. But Mulciber's and Avery's idea of humour is just evil. Evil, Sev. I don't understand how you can be friends with them."
This may be the Game of Thrones writer in me where things like this often gets desensitised, but an event like this would have had a profound impact and I really wanted to try and explore that as tactfully as I could. More will be made of that event in the future, but this is perhaps the first proper mention and idea of what I'm thinking happened.
Being stuck inside the dingy old townhouse meant that the days following Christmas Day fell into a bit of a monotonous cycle, although despite the boredom and frustration at not being able to send an owl over to Fay and Anna, Leo almost wished that he didn't need to go back to Hogwarts now that he had finally started to get to know Sirius in a bit more detail. After the initial frostiness before Christmas the pair had spent a lot of time as the winter break went on just trying to get to know the others hobbies and personalities. Learning stories about Sirius' school escapades was probably Leo's favourite, though the brief introduction in Hippogriff care was interesting for the student given he had never taken Care of Magical Creatures. Eventually though, the time came for all of the students to board the Knight Bus to head back to Hogwarts, but before they departed Grimmauld Place, Sirius pulled Leo aside into his bedroom.
It was the first time Leo had been inside and compared to the rest of the dark and brooding house, this room was brilliant. Gryffindor banners and colours were everywhere, and it would have taken Leo days to look through the number of photos plastered all over the walls. Leo was drawn to one in particular though, where he recognised his Mother in her Gryffindor Hogwarts robes, sitting on Sirius' shoulders as the pair were laughing along at a long-lost joke.
"That's a recent addition." Sirius admitted, noticing what Leo was looking at. "We didn't get together until our Seventh year, and by that time I'd already run away from this place." He said the last two words with such venom it gave Leo a chill down his spine. "Thankfully on one of the few days we weren't shouting at each other this past summer she brought that along, and it's had pride of place ever since. Lily took that, just after our last exam." He added, his voice turning softer at the mention of Harry's mother.
"You both look so happy." Leo noted, his eyes locked to the picture of his parents actually acting like a couple instead of the more recent arguments that Leo had been hearing all about from the others in the townhouse.
"We were." Sirius muttered from behind him, his voice trailing off as he was once again trapped in a distant memory. "But anyway, I didn't bring you here just to show you some old photographs, come here for a second." Leo turned around and Sirius passed him a package the size of a small book, really badly wrapped in loose, brown paper. Leo opened it quickly and saw that it was a mirror, and the look of confusion adorning his face must have been obvious because Sirius snorted, continuing his explanation. "It's a communication mirror. I used to have one with James at school so we could still talk during our many, many detentions, but I've charmed this one specifically for you. I won't force you, but if at any point you need to talk to me then all you have to do is say my name."
Nodding, Leo stashed the mirror into his inside coat pocket. "I will." He said, though in the back of his mind Leo was thinking about how sad Sirius had looked the day before at the thought of all of them leaving. "But you also need to remember that you're still on the run. Don't go rushing into anything stupid that could get you caught…"
Sirius smirked, but the amusement noticeably didn't reach his eyes. "And I thought I was meant to be the adult."
Leo chuckled. "Maybe you will be one day." He grinned, before the moment got interrupted by a familiar Scottish voice.
"LEO MACDONALD! WE WILL LEAVE YOU HERE IF YOU DON'T MOVE YOUR ARSE!" Mary barked up from downstairs.
"COMING!" Leo called back, but he turned to face Sirius again. "I guess I'll see you in the summer then."
Sirius smiled, nodding the once. "I'm looking forward to it already." He replied honestly. "Go, or your Mother will hex me after you've left and I've had enough of that for a lifetime."
Grinning, Leo nodded again and left the room, rushing down the stairs to join the rest of the group stood by the door and accidentally setting off the portrait of his Grandmother, to which Professor Lupin immediately waved his wand and shut her up and ushered the students out of 12 Grimmauld Place as he shared nervous glances with Nymphadora Tonks, the pair of adults looking around nervously as if they were worried about an imminent attack of some kind.
They all arrived at Hogwarts late on the Sunday night after a truly horrific experience on the Knight Bus that Leo never wanted to repeat for as long as he lived, and given that they hadn't taken the Hogwarts Express like most of the students that were returning to the school Leo didn't really get a chance to speak to either Fay or Anna until the evening of the first Monday back when he found himself a spare table in the Common Room, wanting to get a head start on his Potions homework so that Professor Snape wouldn't be breathing down his neck after the glares he had received in class that day.
The two sat down either side of him as if he was about to be interrogated. Keeping a straight face despite wanting to burst into laughter as he looked between the girls' stern faces, Leo muttered. "Evening ladies."
"You weren't on the train." Anna said bluntly as both of the girls stared at him, unblinkingly.
"Your observational skills are incredible." Leo smirked, earning a whack on the arm from the auburn-haired girl in the process.
"Jerk! Fay went looking everywhere for you!" Anna nodded to Leo's best friend. "We were really worried!"
Fay nodded ferociously; concern clearly written all over her face. "You didn't even write to me all Christmas; I only got your present… thank you by the way… and that was it? No letters, no sign… I thought something bad had happened!"
"I'm fine, I swear." Leo sighed. "I just can't really talk about it." He said honestly, noticing Harry walk into the common room looking extremely pale and unwell. He went to say hello, but the Boy-Who-Lived just walked past without any acknowledgement and went to join Ron and Hermione in the window. Leo shook his head and went back to his essay, understanding that despite what had happened over the course of the holidays, the trio were back to being just that, and he was once again stuck on the outside looking in.
"You can't talk about it?" Fay asked incredulously, drawing Leo's attention back towards her. "You always write over Christmas! It's basically a tradition at this point."
Leo looked around nervously in the hope that nobody was listening in and was grateful that he didn't see anybody looking towards them. "Look, where I was, owls couldn't find me. I'm really sorry, but it really is top secret."
Anna snorted. "You're not that interesting, MacDonald." She laughed. "But anyway, listen, you'll never guess what I heard on the train…"
Leo just shrugged and reopened his book as he continued with his Potions homework while ignoring whatever Anna's gossip of the day was. He really did feel bad about not telling them the truth, but with how Anna had reacted earlier in the year he really didn't want to open that can of worms in the middle of the common room. He looked up at one point when the common room burst out laughing, and Leo noticed that Hermione was now on her own just about to scold the Weasley Twins for forcing a headless hat on a second year, but in the corner of his eye he saw Fay looking at him, concerned. "I'm fine, I promise." Leo said to his friend quietly.
"Hmm." Fay just muttered, gathering her things. "I'm going to bed." She then got up without a second look towards him and walked away briskly.
Anna snorted. "You're in her bad books." She then blew him a sarcastic kiss. "Later, MacDonald."
"Later, Bailey." Leo responded bluntly, watching both of them head up the stairs to the Girls Dormitory's. Sighing, he settled back into his essay, hoping to get it done before bed that night only to be interrupted once again. He looked up at the recently vacated seat beside him however and was surprised to see that it had been filled by Hermione.
"Is this seat taken?" She asked. Leo shook his head, gesturing her to sit down. "Thanks, Harry had his… lessons… with Professor Snape and he and Ron have already gone up to bed but I want to get started on the Defence Against the Dark Arts homework from today."
Suddenly Harry's pale and ill looking demeanour made total sense to Leo, the discussions over Occlumency after Christmas being quite a big one while Leo was simply getting to know his father. He looked up at the stairs to the boy's dormitory, seeing Harry peer over his shoulder at him before the Boy-Who-Lived skulked upwards, allowing Leo to fully focus on his present company. "I'm worse at Potions, so I started that first." He explained, eagerly looking forward to the end of the year when he could finally drop Professor Snape's class and definitely not envying Harry at having to spend even more time with the unlikable Head of Slytherin, not to mention the thought of Snape digging around his mind.
Hermione smiled as she began to lay her parchment out and prepare her books. "It's so nice talking to someone who actually cares about their education as well. Harry and Ron mean well, but if they could get away with it they'd never do any additional learning other than what they get taught in lessons." She then looked around again towards the stairs to the dormitories which had now cleared. "I noticed your friends weren't too happy with you tonight, is everything alright?"
Not really knowing what to say, Leo simply shrugged. "This Christmas was such a big change and I can't really talk to them about it. Fay doesn't understand and I can't tell her to explain it, which is weird because we talk about everything together. She'll be fine eventually I'm sure, but she's pissed off at me and for good reason."
Hermione nodded sadly. "That's where I am lucky I suppose, I can all talk about whatever is going on to Harry and Ron, and even you now because we're all involved now." She sighed. "I'm sorry, this must be really difficult having everything change so quickly."
"It's strange, not odd." Leo admitted. "I just hope… you know… doesn't do anything…" He trailed off, but thankfully Hermione knew exactly what he was going to say.
"Snuffles." Hermione said quickly. "At Hogwarts, he's Snuffles."
Leo grinned at the absurdity. "Snuffles then, I hope he doesn't do anything rash or stupid."
"Your mum will stop him." Hermione smirked, and Leo enjoyed the sight. "In the summer their shouting matches rivalled my own with Ron, but you can see he still cares for her deeply."
Leo nodded, though despite knowing that he was proof they had had a relationship, the thought still turned his stomach a little. "That's weird in itself." He commented bluntly. "She's never been one for a relationship. Of course now I know why, but it will take a lot of getting used to."
Laughing, Hermione said one last thing before they settled into their homework. "He has something to live for, Leo. That will keep him safe, I am sure." She placed her hand gently on his arm, and that action mixed with her words were comforting for the black-haired teen, allowing him to relax slightly as he settled in to his essay.
That state of relaxation barely even lasted the night, as straight away at breakfast as Leo was dipping some bread into his eggs, Anna's subscription of the Daily Prophet arrived. Leo tried to ignore it, thinking bitterly about the state of the national newspaper and all the lies that he now knew they had been spreading about Sirius on top of the well-known idiocy of the summer, but the horrified gasp that came from the Gryffindor girl was very distracting.
"What is it?" He finally asked, grumpily as he took a bite.
"A mass breakout of Azkaban." Anna whispered, the usually bubbly girl had turned quiet and pale. "The Ministry of Magic announced late last night that there has been a mass breakout from Azkaban… There's ten of them!"
"Ten?" Fay whispered. "But… isn't it meant to be impossible?"
"Who's out?" Leo asked coldly, desperately hoping not to hear one name above all else.
Anna skimmed the article, but then found the list. "Antonin Dolohov, Augustus Rookwood, Bellatrix Lestrange, Rabastan Lestrange, Rodolphus Lestrange…" She was listing with a pause between each. Annoyed at how long she was taking, Leo snatched the article out of her hands impatiently. "Hey!" She complained.
But the name Leo dreaded was there as he read the crimes of those that had escaped. "Mulciber…" He whispered; his voice full of hatred. He slammed the paper down on the table and picked up his bag, storming away.
He had been just about to go to Hogwarts for his third year when his Grandad had sat him down to give him the dreaded birds and bees talk. It was probably the most awkward conversation of his life, but when the topic of consent came up his Mother had joined them, and tearfully had explained to him how forcing people to do things they are unwilling to can scar a person. It had been a horrifying tale, but he would never forget the anger on his Grandad's face at the names of Mulciber and Avery.
His feet had taken him outside the castle into the snowy grounds, and Leo immediately regretted his direction when he exited the castle to the snowy grounds of Hogwarts, a chill forcing itself upon Leo. He pulled out his wand and stated clearly. "Focillo." Then he put the tip of his wand up his sleeve and enjoyed the warmth that his wand was pushing out.
"Leo." He heard a feminine voice coming from behind him. Expecting to see Fay, he didn't turn around. "Leo." The voice repeated again.
It wasn't Fay, and for the second time in two days Leo found himself alone at school with Hermione Granger. "Oh, hey." Leo said, his voice low.
She handed him some toast. "I saw you rush out, here." Leo took it gratefully, not realising how hungry he had been before storming out. "Is it the article? Your dad… Ron said you'd be fine but this is all so new to you that I just wanted to come and make sure…"
"It's not about Sirius." Leo said quickly, still not completely sure on how he should feel about the man. "I know people will be blaming him for the break out of course, but no this isn't about him." He kicked some snow. "It's the list of escapees."
Hermione frowned as she dragged her shoe through the snow in repetitive motions, to which Leo couldn't decide if it was worry or nerves. "They are some evil people." She finally admitted.
"Mulciber." Leo explained, gritting his teeth as he struggled to say the name. "The paper says he specialised in the Imperius curse. It doesn't say what he did with it. It doesn't say what he tried to do to my mum with it." Hermione didn't know what to say, and so Leo continued. "She told me her fifth year was when the pranks between Gryffindor and Slytherin students started to get more dangerous as people picked sides in the war. She told me that the Gryffindor boys in her year… I guess Snuffles and Harry's dad, were hexing Slytherins, but they retaliated by attacking whomever they could find." He sighed, trying not to cry as he remembered the tears coming from Mary when she told him about it. "Mum… she was cornered by two of them. Mulciber used the Imperius curse on her and dragged her into a boy's bathroom against her will. Then they made her…" He trailed off, his hand flying to his mouth to stop himself from sobbing.
"You don't need to say it." Hermione whispered quickly, gently placing her hand on Leo's shoulder comfortingly as he noticed her eyes were wide in horror and watery. "I get it. They are evil."
His upset then turned to anger. "I will kill him." Leo snarled. "Him and Avery, I'll kill them both."
Hermione shook her head but pulled Leo into a hug. "You're better than them, Leo, but they will pay. I promise." She was rubbing his back comfortingly, a soothing action that was helping him calm down. "Come on, we'll get out of the cold and head to Charms."
Nodding, Leo pulled away from the hug and allowed himself to be led back into the castle, though like most people inside the castle and throughout wizarding Britain, his mind was very much still on Azkaban and the faces of the men who had assaulted his mum.
Reviews:
Lightningscar: Thank you for this behemoth of a review! To not clog up this section I responded via a PM, but an important part that I think is worth everyone knowing is that this story will be around 60 chapters long and take place between books 4 (Chapter 1 just sneaks us in there) and Book 7.
SkepticPrinceArthur: I initially fancasted before House of the Dragon so to me she was more Olivia Cooke in Ready Player One, but as I said I won't force my own visions on everyone else, you can imagine these characters how you like (to an extent!) I haven't thought about ship names lol… Hero? Probably too on the nose, that one.
Dante687: It certainly will!
Guest (variety): I can't see too many other fandoms… I had an idea for a Marvel plan but that's sort of escaped me a bit. After this I'll be back into Thrones, though I'm enjoying this so far and have another plan idea with a bit of an AU twist…