It seems like emails from FFN are playing up again, so just as a reminder I try and post every Friday. I also let those on my discord server know when a chapter is uploaded so please feel free to join that if you would like more reliable updates than from this site. The link is here again, just remember to take the spaces out of the link.

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This chapter was a fun one with a lot of original potential given the nature of it, so I hope you all enjoy it too!

As predicted Leo's birthday had been the only day of relaxation that they had had around the holidays, with the holiday homework seeming like it was never ending. It seemed that the time away from lessons was limited to being spent either in the library, in the Great Hall, sleeping, or walking to class with the added task of avoiding the fireworks that were still flying around the castle. The 5th years worries weren't helped when towards the end of the holiday a notice had been placed up on the notice board in the Common Room.

CAREER ADVICE

All fifth years will be required to attend a short meeting with their Head of House during the first week of the Summer term, in which they will be given the opportunity to discuss their future careers. Times of individual appointments are listed below.

Leo looked down the list of Gryffindor students to see that he was expected in Professor McGonagall's office at noon on Monday. "Get in." He grinned to himself as he grabbed a handful of leaflets delving into their future options. "I'm out of Potions early."

He heard another laugh from beside him, turning to see Ron with a wide grin on his face as the red-head saw his own name. "Mine's during Defence, so less Umbridge this week!" He cheered.

The mix of dread and excitement over the prospect of future careers only grew as the day went on, and the final weekend of the Easter holiday became a flurry of research inside the Gryffindor Common Room, with the 5th Years having to split their time between studying and researching the relevant information for future job prospects, but while Fay had doubled down on her idea from earlier in the year to become an Auror, Leo was undecided as he flicked through leaflets about code breakers and troll trainers in between their Eradication Charm practice. Muggle liaising sounded fun as he imagined some of his new found ancestors rolling in their graves at the supposed heir of the House of Black working with muggles, but in the back of his mind he didn't want to choose a career in a spiteful manner.

As he was looking at a leaflet with the ministry department list, he felt a tap on his shoulder. Turning, he saw Harry. "Hey." Leo greeted, ignoring Anna's attempts at the charm.

"Can I have a word?" Harry asked. He seemed nervous, almost skittish. Leo nodded as he rose out of his chair to walk up to the now empty dormitory. Harry closed the door behind him before starting to speak. "Snuffles… have you spoken to him at all?"

Leo shook his head. "No, not directly since Christmas. Is everything ok?" He asked, worried something has happened.

"I just…" Harry sighed. "I need to talk to him, but discreetly. All our letters are being screened and what I need to talk about is private."

Knowing he wasn't going to get anything else out of the Boy-Who-Lived, Leo shrugged. "I don't need to know more mate. But sorry, I've not spoken to him since I left the house…" He trailed off as he remembered something. "Hold on." He said, moving to dig through his trunk until he found the package he was looking for. "Here." He said, unwrapping it from the socks that covered it and handing the mirror to Harry. "It's a communication mirror. I've never used it before, but he told me if I ever needed him…"

Harry grinned as he looked down at the mirror, simply pleased to have found something to get around Umbridge's censorship. "How does it work?"

"You say his name into it and he should appear." Leo explained, throwing the socks back in his trunk.

"Sirius Black." Harry muttered quietly. "Sirius Black." He repeated. "It's not working."

Frowning, Leo moved back over to Harry. "That's how he explained it to me…" He trailed off, before realisation hit him. "He keyed it to my magical signature, hold on." Leo took the mirror back and stated firmly. "Sirius Black."

The reflection became blurry before it shifted into a different picture entirely and instead of the pair's faces the mirror showed the vibrating ceiling of a different room. They waited for a moment when a door was barged open and suddenly the image shifted violently before Sirius' face was visible. "Some warning would have been nice." He grumbled, before grinning at the sight of the pair of Gryffindor's. "Boys!" He exclaimed happily.

"Hi Sirius." Leo stated, still not ready to call him Dad to his face. "Sorry I know I probably shouldn't have told anyone about this, but Harry needed to speak to you urgently."

Thankfully Sirius didn't show any disappointment at the name, nor that it wasn't Leo that wanted to speak to him. "Of course, good thinking. I guess after last time the Floo Network is off limits?"

"Yeah, she's cracked down on any way to communicate with the outside world." Harry admitted, before looking at Leo. "Thanks, but do you mind…?" He trailed off, gesturing to the door with his head.

"Sure." Leo shrugged. "Thanks for the picture!" He called to Sirius before handing the mirror back to Harry. "I'll see you in Summer."

"Don't hesitate to call just for a catch up." Sirius grinned, before turning his attention to Harry. "Now Harry, what can I do for you…"

Leo quickly left the room before he heard any more, less eager to go through his future career options as he had been, and once he had sat down in front of the leaflets again his eyes kept wandering over to the dormitory staircase as he tried to figure out what could have been so urgent.

Monday came around in what seemed like the blink of an eye, and after being excused by Professor Snape twenty minutes early and making a mad rush away from the Dungeons, Leo found himself waiting outside of Professor McGonagall's office still with no idea what he wanted to do after he had left Hogwarts. He checked his watch to see the clock turn to exactly noon, and precisely at that moment the door opened and Neville walked out.

"How was it?" Leo asked his classmate eagerly, hoping for even a shred of information about what he should expect.

Neville shrugged. "There aren't a lot of plant-based jobs and that's all I'm good for. Professor McGonagall thought maybe a medical researcher or a teacher?"

That gave Leo a bit of relief, as it told him that they weren't expected to have planned out their futures straight away. "You'd be great at either of those." He encouraged his friend. "You've saved me more times than I can count with Herbology. I could definitely see you taking over from Professor Sprout."

Neville's face went pale at the thought. "I'll never be at that standard…" He whispered, shaking his head. "Good luck anyway." Neville waved. "I'm going to take the long way back really slowly so I don't need to go back to Snape."

Grinning, Leo waved too before he walked through the door. The office was a cosy area, with a good view of the Quidditch Pitch. The Professor was sat at her desk, shuffling papers. "MacDonald, please have a seat." Leo nodded and did as he was asked. "As you likely know from talking with Longbottom outside, this is a meeting to talk over any career ideas you may have, and to go through which subjects you should continue with or take on as an addition through your sixth and seventh years at Hogwarts." Professor McGonagall explained. "Have you had any thoughts on your future?"

Leo sighed. "I had a look Professor, but most of the options just didn't quite seem right."

McGonagall nodded. "You're not the first and will not be the last to come in here with no ideas on where your future will lead, so let me help you go through some options." Healing was dismissed straight away, as was banking and so was teaching after the Deputy Headmistress had explained that until Professor Binns passed on the position of History of Magic Professor would never be available due to the lack of a wage needed by a ghost, but when Professor McGonagall came to a list of Ministry roles, Leo's nose turned up noticeably. "You do not like the idea of working at the Ministry of Magic?" Professor McGonagall asked.

"Not really." Leo admitted. "It's just… mum works there and hates almost everything about it. And after everything that has happened this year… I just don't trust the Minister to levitate a feather, let alone run a competent government."

Professor McGonagall grinned, and it was a slightly unnerving sight to see from the usually stern woman. "What do you know about the magical government?" She asked him.

Leo thought back to previous History lessons when they learnt about the formation of the Ministry and the rules that had been set in place. "Elections for Minister are held every seven years because of the magical power of the number seven." Leo began explaining. "And a Minister can run for as many terms as they feel able to provided they keep winning elections, a measure put in place to keep our leaders accountable to the public."

"The Minister for Magic should be held accountable by the public." Professor McGonagall nodded. "Although as seen in all but a few, rare cases, power corrupts weak witches and wizards. Minister Fudge for example was a bumbling, nervous wreck at the start of his term and now look at him." It was strange to hear the Professor speak so openly about the current situation, but Leo kept quiet to allow her to carry on. "Politics is not a career that I would usually recommend, for while I wish it was not so, in order to make a true difference one must need more than just being clever and knowing the law. You need an ability to sway people, a knack for public speaking, and a personality that will encourage the community to put their faith in you." She took a look at a paper in front of her, which Leo noticed was his own school file. "Though I'm looking at your predicted grades, MacDonald, and I'm impressed. An Exceeds Expectations in Arithmancy, an Exceeds Expectations in Charms, even an Exceeds Expectations in Potions, though to continue that into N.E.W.T. level with Professor Snape you will need an Outstanding." She then tapped the paper. "And whilst I'm very impressed at your predicted Outstanding in both Muggle Studies and Transfiguration, you seem to be one of the few with a genuine proclivity for History of Magic."

"I find history a fascinating topic, though most of it is self-taught..." Leo admitted, not wanting to say anything rude about a teacher to his Head of House. "I did think at looking into becoming a historian, but there don't seem to be many jobs in that field other than teaching or archaeology and I'm not entirely sure about either of those."

Professor McGonagall nodded. "As we have already discovered." She said, before adding. "Then my personal suggestion would be to use your historical knowledge and your wish to see the Ministry do better to look further into the politics route if you would like to be the one pioneering the changes you seek. A mind and a heart like yours could make a large difference if applied right." She peered over her glasses down at him. "In my experience, those with the right family name and the right level of funding do well quicker than those without in this area."

Leo smirked, realising that the Professor was well aware of his familial relationships. "I guess some good can finally come out of such an Ancient and Noble House."

Professor McGonagall nodded. "And to get you on your way, you will need to be fully aware of the law and the governance of our nation, as well as the international wizarding community. Thankfully one of our N.E.W.T. electives, Magical Law, delves into those topics. I would recommend choosing to study that alongside History of Magic, with your best core subjects filling your timetable to give you more variety in your education so that you have back up options. You will obviously be dependent on your grades this summer, but I see a course of Charms, Defence Against the Dark Arts and Transfiguration benefitting you." She then thought for a second. "And perhaps Muggle Studies too, the Minister for Magic has one of the closest relationships with the Muggle World after all and it wouldn't hurt to learn all you can there to prepare yourself." She looked at her notes again. "These are all subjects you have a strong chance of advancing to N.E.W.T. level education in, MacDonald."

"Thank you, Professor." Leo said a bit taken aback. "Is there more information on the Magical Law course? I'd like to take a further look at it."

"Of course." Professor McGonagall handed him another leaflet. "It is usually a small class, so there will be no room for slacking off as Professor Marchbanks will be able to have more time with you all individually, and she has little patience for troublemakers given she is only at the school for two days out of the week."

Leo nodded. "I understand."

"Then I believe we are all done for today." Professor McGonagall smiled. "And just in time for lunch too. You may leave, MacDonald. Keep up the hard work, I expect to see good things from you in your future."

Leo started to feel a little bit of pressure at that statement, but he thanked the Professor again and rose to his feet, starting to leave before Professor McGonagall added one last comment. "And enough duelling on the school grounds please, you were lucky that Professor Umbridge was otherwise occupied before…"

Despite having Arithmancy and Defence Against the Dark Arts after lunch, mixed with a Professor Umbridge that seemed to be in an even more foul mood than usual, it wasn't until after the 5th year's Defence class that his imagination stopped showing Leo images of himself dressed in Wizengamot robes proceeding over a trial for Sirius' innocence, and even then that illusion was only shattered because a crowd similar to that of the one that had gathered when Professor Trelawney had been sacked had gathered around the walls of the entrance hall, and as Leo managed to push to the front with his classmates. He saw Fred and George Weasley cornered by members of the Inquisitorial Squad.

"What's happened?" He asked Harry as Leo moved over to stand beside him.

Harry smirked. "They've turned a corridor on the fifth floor into a swamp. Some students fell in. Umbridge is fuming."

"They'll be expelled." Leo noticed Hermione as she tutted from the other side of Harry.

Ron snorted. "Look at them, they don't care."

And Ron was proved right as Umbridge had finally arrived, walking down some steps with her face looking pinker than her awful cardigan. "So!" The imposter headmistress exclaimed triumphantly. "So… you think it amusing to turn a school corridor into a swamp, do you?"

Leo couldn't hold back his snickering, and neither could many of those around him.

"Pretty amusing, yeah." Fred told her defiantly.

Some wheezing followed and Leo noticed Filch running like he'd made a mess in his trousers, brandishing some parchment. "I've got the form, Headmistress! I've got the form and I've got the whips waiting… oh let me do it now…"

"Very good, Argus." Umbridge stated proudly, turning back on the twins. "You two, are about to learn what happens to wrongdoers in my school."

Without missing a beat, Fred responded. "You know what? I don't think we are." He turned to his twin. "George, I think we've outgrown full-time education."

The twins had their backs to where Leo and the other fifth years were stood, but Leo could almost feel the smirk on their faces radiating around the room. "Yeah, I've been feeling that way myself." George added.

"They wouldn't…" Ron whispered nearby. Leo was almost inclined to agree, but it was growing increasingly more obvious that Fred and George had planned this charade down to the last detail.

"Time to test our talents in the real world, d'you reckon?" Fred asked.

"Definitely." Replied George.

Together, they immediately lifted their wands in the air and said in unison. "Accio brooms!"

A crash sounded almost immediately, and Leo laughed along with the rest of the crowd as Umbridge ducked out of the way of the Cleansweep's, the broomsticks racing into their owners' hands despite still pulling the chain that Umbridge had incarcerated them in.

"We won't be seeing you." Fred needled at Umbridge as he swung his leg over his broom.

"Yeah, don't bother to keep in touch." George added, mounting his own broomstick.

They were about to set off when the pair began looking around at the gathered crowd, and Fred couldn't help himself. "If anyone fancies buying a Portable Swamp as demonstrated upstairs, come to number ninety-three Diagon Alley, Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes!" He called out to everyone. "Our new premises!"

"Special discounts to Hogwarts students who swear they're going to use our products to get rid of this old bat." George finished off, pointing deliberately at Umbridge much to the gathering's amusement.

And then the pair lifted off into the air, causing those still on the floor to look upwards as they veered around towards the open front doors of Hogwarts. In their eyeline now was Peeves the Poltergeist, watching on. "Give her hell from us, Peeves." Fred requested. Leo had only ever seen Peeves take orders from Professor McGonagall and the Bloody Baron before, but to everybody's astonishment the Poltergeist swiped his hat from his head and performed the most militant salute that Leo had ever seen from the troublemaker.

Cheers erupted at the sight of Peeves, and Leo joined in the cheering and the clapping as the Weasley twins did a quick circuit of the entrance hall, lapping up the applause before speeding out towards the sunset letting off one final firework each that began fizzing in the shape of a W.

Reviews:

Lightningscar: It will probably stay in the back of her mind but because they were so willing to show her what they had learned it helped things out. Leo and his girls has quite a funny ring to it! They would 100% hex him. You're right about that being the point of Leo. He will take more of an active role in things but at this point in time he's been thrust in the deep end and Anna and Fay are the two people he's trusted the most for 5 years. He's trying to explain things to them in ways that makes them understand why he can't say more. That was the idea behind the birthday! A calm before the storm type moment.

SkepticPrinceArthur: I'll never tire of hearing about pets with awesome names! Fay hasn't been affected as much by the past wars so I haven't given her a tragic backstory there, her thing is more about herself personally.

Dante687: Thank you!

PuCMagnet: It won't always be smooth sailing between them, that's for sure.