(A/N): Hey Guys! So, this chapter might seem a little rushed, but... sorry.

Disclaimer:I own nothing but my own OC's.

Leo

Weeks had passed since the incident with my mother, and it was now September first- time to go back to Hogwarts. I was looking forward to seeing all of my friends and, sadly enough, being away from my father, who hadn't stopped babying me ever since. Lisbet volunteered to drop me at the station, and Shari and my father hugged me tightly before we left. Since the incident I had fortunately grown stronger again, reaching my previous state of being, and my senses were feeling newly heightened. We arrived at the station, and Lisbet patted me on the shoulder fondly outside the barrier to platform nine and three quarters, before disappearing into the crowd again.

I took a deep breath and approached the barrier at a jog, slipping through without incident before starting to scan the area, using both my heightened sense of sight and smell to try to locate my friends. Taking a glance at the clock I realised it was almost five to eleven, and moved quickly towards the train, loading my luggage before boarding. With a deep inhale I located their carriage and started toward it, pausing outside the door for a second to take my time to listen to the voices within, smiling lightly at the familiarity. Right as I was about to open the door I caught another scent, and snapped my head to the side, beaming as I locked eyes with Mia.

"Hey," She mouthed, waving.

"Hi," I mouthed back before giving her the thumbs up- trying to showing her that it would all be okay, and that she didn't need to be nervous- she rolled her eyes. I gave her one last wave before sliding the door open, and stepping in.

"Leo!"

Arms engulfed me, and my grin widened as I returned the hug. "Elaine," I teased in reply, and she pulled back, examining me closely before pulling me into another hug. "I'm fine," I whispered in her ear, and I heard a whine from inside the carriage.

"Where's my hug?" Sirius grumbled, and I spun Elaine back into her seat before lifting Sirius off the ground with a bear hug. "Ugh, forget I asked," He groaned, patting me on the back lightly, though I could tell he was joking. I released him, and was immediately bombarded by Remus and James.

"Glad you're okay, Blue," Remus murmured, and James seemed confused after having heard this, though he managed to awkwardly pat on the back.

"And where's my main girl?" I asked jokingly, and Lily rolled her eyes, rising to her feet as James and Remus moved aside for her.

"It's good to see you, Leo," She told me sincerely, though it was followed by a light chuckle as she wrapped her arms around my neck.

"You too, Princess," I said, before dropping into the seat between her and Elaine, Remus on the other side of her.

A few hours passed, and the subject finally came up. "So, are you still worried about what house Mia's going to be in?" It was Elaine who asked, and I grinned before as all eyes turned to me, and I shook my head.

"Nah. She's proper Gryffindor material, that girl." Eyebrows rose around the room.

"You haven't seen her in years Leo, she could have changed drastically," Lily pointed out.

"I saw her a few weeks ago, along with my mother."

Eyebrows rose higher. "Didn't she disown you?" I flinched, and Sirius seemed to regret asking.

"Yep. It was such a pleasant visit," I lied through clenched teeth, and the others decided to change the subject.

"Do you think Minnie missed us?" Remus asked, and I grinned weakly.

"Of course she did! Who wouldn't miss us hooligans?"

Lily and Elaine shared a look, shaking their heads. "Delusional..." Lily muttered.

Yet more hours later, we arrived at Hogsmeade Station. We had gotten changed not long ago and now drudged to the carriages, drawn by the thestrals that none of us could see, to make our way up to the castle, though I was preoccupied the whole time, knowing that Mia was currently in the boats. She had never been a strong swimmer... "Leo? Leo, we're here." Lily announced, shoving me roughly in the shoulder, and I realised that we were the only ones left in the carriage.

"Sorry," I murmured, climbing out after her, and Elaine raised an eyebrow at me, to which I shrugged.

"Alright, let's go," James said, glancing sideways at me before taking the lead the way he almost always did. We traipsed into the Great Hall, taking our seats at the Gryffindor table and waited as the hall filled up, and for the first years to arrive.

"Here they come..." I murmured, catching the others attention and directing it toward the doors of the Great Hall just before they were pushed open by Professor McGonagall. She strutted down the walkway like a majestic peacock, though I could see the bounce in her step denoting the feline characteristics of her animagus form. Following behind her were a large group of first years, my sister leading the pack- not seeming nervous in the slightest, though I could tell she was, and had equipped the emotionless mask that I'd worked just as hard to perfect, and pasted a confident grin over the top.

"Where's Mia?"

I didn't have time to reply, my eyes fixed on Minnie as she started the sorting. "Ashton, Ashley?" It went this way for a little while, before she reached about the middle of the list.

"Joannis, Miasenna?" Yes, her full name was Miasenna, but she hated it... much like I did mine. The hall went silent, everyone either knowing the Joannis name or knowing me, and Mia took her steps towards the stool. Minnie placed the sorting hat on her head, and a split second, it shouted its verdict.

"Hufflepuff!" I wasn't expecting it, but my smile was wider than it would've been if she was in Gryffindor. When my mother would have eventually found out she was in Gryffindor, Mia would have been in for the thrashing of her life- this way she was safe, and not in Slytherin. My group of friends and I stood and clapped, James letting out a shrill whistle before Minnie scolded him, which only served to leave him laughing. Our applause died down as Mia took her seat at the Hufflepuff table, her cheeks flushed lightly from our embarrassing antics, but I couldn't have been more proud of her.

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

This chapter has had edits made to it on 20/2/24 - formatting, and reconfiguring of sentences so they make sense. Also added the line about thestrals, because Leo originally said that the carriages we drawn by 'nothing', when he's already met the thestrals at this point and realised that they pulled the carriages, so he'd definitely acknowledge it here. I also think he would've tried to pat one again, if he hadn't been around people, distracted, and the thestral hadn't been 'working', so to speak.