Over the next two weeks after he was released, Leon just focused on his schoolwork to catch back up. He had fallen behind in his coma, and even missed an important thing for Harry: his Quidditch game. Trying to make up for lost time, he got to work, making sure he didn't fall any further behind than he already had.
One day, closer to the Christmas holiday, he went into the library and overheard Harry, Ron, and Hermione talking about Nicolas Flamel, which caught him off guard. He knew that none of the classes were researching him for any essays or projects, so he found himself growing suspicious. So he walked up as quiet as he could be, sneaking up right behind Harry and saying, "Harry James Potter, what do you think you are doing?"
His sudden voice spooked the three, making them jump and almost scream out. Harry, looking like he about had a heart attack, stammered out, "Leon! When did you get there?"
Leon grinned and looked at the three, noting their expressions carefully. "I've been here long enough to know that you three wanna know about old man Nicolas."
The three looked shocked, Hermione the most of all. "Did you just call him 'old man Nicolas' as if you know him?"
Leon nodded. "That I did, because he is an old family friend, emphasis on old. He is like six hundred some odd years old now. Now I'll ask again: why do you three wanna know about him?"
Ron, whether he was being smart or just afraid of what Leon would do, blurted out, "We think that someone is trying to steal the philosopher's stone that is being hidden here."
Hermione and Harry glared at Ron and simultaneously said, "Ron, come on."
Leon just tossed Ron a Galleon for saying why so quickly. "Good boy. Now as for you two, why would you not have me involved...? Better yet, why are you not bringing this up to the teachers when they are the ones that have the best shot at preventing the stone from being snatched in the first place, if what you're saying is true?"
Hermione looked down in embarrassment, knowing that Leon was right, and Harry just sighed, saying, "We think that a teacher is the one trying to steal the stone."
This made Leon raise his eyebrow in confusion. "And what brought you to that conclusion, and whom do you suspect?"
They explained why they thought it, and who they expected, which only further made Leon question the logic of his two friends. He never thought it would come to this...
"You do realize that if a wizard of Professor Snape's level was trying to kill Harry that day, without someone doing a counter jinx, he would be dead, right? That means it either wasn't him, and someone else was trying but Snape was actually saving Harry, or someone already knows what he is planning and is thwarting him already." Leon had said like it was common sense.
The three looked down, ashamed of not having thought about that. Leon assumed they just thought Snape was evil because of how he acted in his classes, which was fair, but still rather infuriating.
Leon shook his head in annoyance. "I don't wanna hear any more about this nonsense. Do you understand me? If something is happening, it would be far too dangerous for first-years to deal with. Leave it to the headmaster and the professors."
The others nodded, resigning themselves to listen, if only for now. After the confrontation, Leon walked back off to study for upcoming exams and a little side project of his own.
The exams came and went, and after that was smooth sailing toward Christmas, which Leon still needed to decide if he was going to stay or go with his mother to Germany, and whether or not to invite Harry. This thinking had been constant in his head, since he did want to bring one of his friends, but he also didn't know if Harry would even want to go or not since he didn't seem to know German.
When the day finally came for him to get an answer, during breakfast with Harry and Hermione, Leon finally said, "So, I am planning on going to Germany for Christmas break with my mum, and I was wondering if you would like to come with me, Harry."
Harry was so shocked, he nearly choked on his sausage link and coughed before replying, "You mean, you want me to come on holiday with your family?"
Leon laughed at this reaction. "Yes, my mum and I would love to have you with us. I would invite Hermione, too, but we already have plans to spend summer vacation together. Plus, she is going with her parents somewhere a bit warmer."
Harry smiled and shook his head. "Sorry. I would love to go, but I don't wanna leave Ron alone with his brothers after all."
Nodding in understanding, Leon smiled and said, "I understand. just know that Mum will probably pick you up sometime over the summer since you aren't coming with us this time."
The three laughed together, knowing just how Robin Nightingale could be since they kept in touch regularly with her, Harry and Hermione feeling like members of the family since the beginning of the school year. She was quick to embrace the friends Leon had made, excited for him.
Harry stopped then and asked curiously, "Wait, why are you going to Germany?"
Leon stopped laughing and simply answered, "To see my Großvater." He saw their confused faces then continued, "Sorry, my grandfather. I forgot that I have to say it in English for you lot."
In confusion, Harry just stopped and said, "What do you mean 'you have to say it in English?' What language was that?"
Hermione sighed at her friend. "Harry, it was German; he is visiting his grandfather in Germany for Christmas."
"But wait, he said he forgot to say it in English, so why is that, Leon?" Harry asked, genuinely very curious.
"Oh, simple. English is my second language," Leon began. "Before you ask, there was a lot going on in my family in my early life, so I spent most of the first half of my life living with my grandfather in Germany. I learned English to fluency after returning to live with my mother back home in Ireland."
Harry and Hermione both nodded, seemingly grateful to get to learn a bit more about their friend.
They then spent time talking about what they were going to do for the holidays, and finding out little things about each other, like the fact that Leon isn't the only polyglot, which made him happy.
The next day, Leon had left Hogwarts for his grandfather's home in Rottweil, Germany, where he would be until school resumed. When he arrived, to his surprise, his grandfather greeted him in English. Leon, perplexed, shot him a look. It was explained that he has been practicing more over the years to ensure he could keep tabs on what was going on in the English wizarding world, where his eldest daughter and grandson lived. Leon has a feeling that explanation was only half true, but he would wait to ask further questions till they made it to his grandfather's cozy home in the countryside, which did not take long.
"So, Grandfather, what is the actual reason that you started learning English again? You speak it with enough intensity that you could almost speak it fluently now," Leon asked with a grin, knowing that he had caught his grandfather.
Leon's grandfather, Brenner, stopped and sighed. "You really are too smart for your own good, my boy. Just like your mother. You know that."
Laughing, Leon responded, "Guilty as charged."
Brenner shook his head and smiled warmly, and in a hushed voice, he told his grandson, "I have been seeing a beautiful English woman for a while now."
"I'm happy for you, Grandfather, but what is her name?" Leon asked as he took a drink of water.
"Minerva McGonagall," Brenner said with a bright smile.
Leon choked on his drink and had to cough hard to get air back into his lungs, then he stared dumbfoundedly at Brenner. "Excuse me? You are dating my deputy headmistress?"
Brenner laughed heartily. "Based on the reaction you just gave, yes, I am apparently. But shall we keep this between us? I don't think your mother and aunt would approve just yet."
Leon agreed, but he told his grandfather that it wasn't the end of the conversation.
Outside of that surprise, Leon and his family had a lot of fun spending time together. It was great to reunite with them.
For Christmas, Leon got a box of fancy German Chocolates from his grandfather, a ceremonial dagger from his aunt Cypress, and a camera from his mum so he could start making a photo memory album. Leon also got a present from Hermione, which spawned some light teasing from Cypress about young love. That caused Leon to blush in embarrassment, but he opened the gift anyway, seeing that it was a picture of Hermione and her parents saying 'Merry Christmas from Greece' as well as an empty locket. This made Leon happy, and he put it on before he and the family went on a hike through the snow, something his grandfather oddly loved to do despite the cold and his age.
The rest of the break went very well, ending in a teary eyed goodbye as Leon went back to Hogwarts. His grandfather and aunt promised to write him, and his grandfather made a playful jab about getting the girl in reference to Hermione. Leon shrugged him off, sad to leave his family but eager to return to school and his friends.