(A/N): Hey Guys! So, this is the first chapter of second year, and it's here because I wanted to write it, but didn't want to put it in a separate file, seeing as I have enough trouble with uploading chapters to the right stories as it is.

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

Leo

I woke up the morning of September 1st, feeling sore but optimistic. I bathed and dressed before packing the last-minute items I would be bringing with me to Hogwarts. Which brings me to the birthday present I received from my father. Since mine was confiscated and sent back to him after my little escapade last year, which, coincidentally, he seemed oddly proud of, he saw fit to buy me the newest broom on the market, a Nimbus 1001. Of course, both Shari and I were overjoyed.

"Morning." I said quietly as I slid into my chair at the kitchen table, and my father mumbled something in return as Shari scooped some breakfast onto my plate. "Mmm, bacon." I muttered, staring the delicious strips down for a second before quickly wolfing them down.

"Ready for the trip?" My father asked as Shari poured me a cup of coffee.

"Yeah, I think so." I said between bites, taking a sip of the steaming coffee.

"Excited to see your friends?" Shari asked, one eyebrow raised. I had often mentioned my new friends to them, though not in detail.

"Definitely. I haven't even heard from James and Sirius, and only small amounts from Remus." I said as I quickly drank the rest of my coffee and took my plate and cup to the sink.

"Ready to go?" My father asked tiredly, glancing at the clock which read 10:30.

"Yep." I said, and he took my arm in one hand before spinning on his heel.

After having my insides compressed by the apparition, I inhaled deeply, and glanced around King's Cross station, Shari and my father by my side.

"I won't be going onto the platform." This statement from my father pulled me up short.

"Why not?" He glanced around, somewhat paranoid, as if he expected someone to be listening in.

"Well...let's say, I'm not exactly inconspicuous." I paused for a second before nodding once. "Shari will accompany you to the platform." I glanced at Shari, who nodded in confirmation.

"Okay." I said quietly, and my father pulled me into a tight hug, which I reciprocated, knowing I wouldn't see him until Christmas.

"Bye." He said, and I didn't have time to reply before he had apparated again.

"Sorry." Shari said quietly as we meandered towards the platforms nine and ten.

"It's fine. Besides, I wouldn't blame you anyhow." I could feel her staring at me, but didn't acknowledge it.

"He's going to miss you, even more than you miss him." I stayed silent for a second before nodding.

"I know." I whispered sadly, before pulling myself up straight, composing my features. "But hey, at least you're here." I said as we arrived at the platform gate, and we went through it one after the other.

Through the already large crowd, I saw Lily, Elaine, Remus, James, Sirius and Peter about to board the train, and turned to Shari.

"Well...bye." I said lamely, and she grinned at me briefly before hugging me loosely.

"See you at Christmas Judy." She told me, and I chuckled lightly at the nickname before she released me, and I set off towards the others. I glanced back at her over my shoulder, waving, and she returned it before I saw her turn around and disappear through the barrier. Turning my attention frontwards, I could see the others waiting for me, so I sped up.

"Hey." I said, and was immediately tackled with a hug from Lily.

"Hi!" She squealed in my ear, and pulled away before I could return the hug, and was replaced by Elaine.

"Relatives?" She asked quietly, and I wrapped my arms around her tightly.

"On my father's side, thank-god." I hated lying to her, but I had to.

"My turn!" Remus exclaimed as Elaine pulled away, and I pulled him into a more manly type of hug.

"Good to see you too, Moony." I said with a chuckle before pushing him away. "Now can I get on the train and sit? My legs hurt." They laughed, and parted to let me up, but it was true, my legs did hurt. We all crammed into the first empty cabin we came across, which, thankfully, was a long one.

"So, Leo, why did you tell Lily your father was taking you on a last minute vacation, and yet you told me you were going to visit some relatives?" Elaine asked, and I froze for a second.

"Because, when I sent the letter to Lily, it was a vacation, and when I sent yours, my father dragged me off to see some relatives." Elaine glared at me slightly, and I knew she knew I was bluffing, but she dropped it in front of the others.

"Oh, okay." Lily glanced at her, confused by the dull tone she sported, before turning back to me.

"And who was that woman who dropped you off?" I frowned slightly, thinking for a second on how to explain this.

"That's Shari, she's one of my cousins. My dad was busy this morning, so she agreed to drop me off." A complete and utter lie, and Elaine knew it, I could tell, but the others seemed to buy it.

"Oh? Does she same talent for picking out Bertie Botts flavours?" Elaine asked, and I narrowed my eyes at her slightly. She was asking if Shari was a vampire.

"Yeah, it was a fun summer." Remus nodded slightly, and I noticed for the first time that his nose was wrinkled. As the others conversations took over, I leaned over to him.

"What?" He glanced at me before scrunching his nose further.

"I can smell her. It's stronger than yours...worse." He explained, and I instantly pulled, back, not wanting to cause him any more discomfort.

"It'll fade soon enough." He nodded slightly, to show that he heard, but so that the others wouldn't notice.

Sad to say, I don't really know much of what happened during that train ride, seeing as after about an hour, I fell asleep with my head on Elaine's shoulder. A few hours later, she shook me awake, looking amused and frustrated.

"We're almost there, you better go change." I nodded numbly, grabbing the bag I had put my robes in before finding a bathroom to change into them. As I reached the cabin once again, the others stood outside it, and the train was rolling to a stop.

This year, since we were second years, we took the carriages up to the castle, instead of the boats like the first years. It was just like our ride at the end of last year, except in reverse.

"Ah, old memories." I said wistfully as we exited the carriage in front of the castle before holding my hand out to Elaine to help her off the high step.

"Thanks." She mumbled, and as Lily climbed out, James offered her his hand, but she simply glared at it before slapping it out of the way and jumping down. We headed inside the castle with the rest of the school, taking our seats at the Gryffindor table. We only had to wait a few more minutes before the first years entered with Professor McGonagall.

The sorting passed quickly, and everyone in the hall dug into the feast with gusto. Afterwards, we all drudged to our common rooms, most of us going straight to bed. Soon, only Elaine and I were left in the Gryffindor common room, and she instantly started questioning me.

"So, where were you really?"

"At our old house in the country, the Ellwood estate." Elaine seemed slightly surprised.

"What were you doing?" I winced slightly and considered not answering, but decided against it.

"Training. That's all I'll say, so please don't push the subject." She studied me for a second before nodding slowly in acceptance.

"Who is Shari really?"

"She's an old friend of my fathers. An old friend." I emphasised, as if to point out the fact that she was a vampire. "She's helping with the training." I yawned deeply, my eyes drooping slightly.

"Why are you so tired?" I blinked at her before pushing myself off the couch. She stood up quickly as well, helping me up, and I leaned against her lightly, my arms around her shoulders for support.

"I told you, I was training." I muttered before I started heading for the boys dormitories. She slipped out from under my arm, staring at me.

"Night Leo." I turned to stare at her over my shoulder, and gave her a half-smile.

"Goodnight Elaine."

(A/N): So, the Nimbus 1001 is actually a real broom. It isn't specified when it was brought out, but judging by the ones before an after it, I estimated it to be around 1970.

Please review and/or check out my other stories!

This chapter has had some minor edits made to it on 25/12/22 - Because for some reason at certain points in the story I thought Shari didn't have magic, and in some she did, and clearly I decided at some point that she definitely did, so I had to come back and change some things to reflect that.