Pernell had left Harry to finish mixing the meat and sauce into the noodles, while she went to greet Nick who had just gotten home. He had agreed, after seeing how Leo had taken the boys leaving, that it was time to get a pet. He had decided on a crup puppy, as they were very smart, but also could match Leo's energy levels.

After seeing the puppy, Pernell almost wanted to keep it for herself. However, she figured Harry wouldn't mind sharing when he was in lessons, or maybe playing with Bella at times. She picked up the pup, and covered it with a small throw blanket before carrying it into the kitchen.

"Leonidas, are you finished?"

"Yes Mama, I just need Papa to cut the bread."

"Well, it seems your papa has gotten you a surprise!"

"But my birthdays passed, and Christmas is still a few months away." Leo was quite confused now.

"I think it's more so you're not alone when Isabella can't come over."

"But you didn't need to get me anything, I could just study, or learn to cook better. You could teach me occlumency now, instead of next year. Or maybe-" his rambling was cut off by Nick's hand against his mouth.

"You have no choice, I already got it, you'll love it just say thank you." Nick said.

"But-"

"Not, thank you."

"But Papa-"

"Ah-ba-ba-ba"

"Fine, thank you Papa." Harry giggled, feeling a little better now. "Where is it then?" Pernell walked forward and handed him the blanket, only for him to freeze when he felt it move.

"Please tell me you didn't get me a baby sister or brother and wrap them up in a blanket!" Harry cried a look of pure terror on his face as the bundle began to whimper. He quickly set it down, and yanked the blanket off, only to put it back a second later. He repeated this process for about ten minutes before turning to his parents.

"You got me a puppy?" Leo asked, his eyes shining with happiness as he held the little crup close.

"Your Papa did, as you seemed so miserable about Severus and Victor leaving. We thought you would like a friend to play with, when you are not in lessons or flying with your sister."

"Yes, thank you! What's his name?"

"Well son you get to name him, he is after all your crup. It wouldn't be right for us to name him, now would it?" Nick said.

"Then I pick… Merlin! He will be my little Merlin." Leo said, and got a Yelp in reply from the pup before it started licking his face. Still holding the puppy he gave both his parents a hug. Hearing the floo go off in the living room, he ran to greet their guests and show off his new pet.

"Bella! Bella! You'll never believe what Papa got- oh… erm hello…" his excitement died as he faced his birth parents for the first time since being adopted by the Flamels. He looked to the floor, scuffing his shoes and holding Merlin close, hoping they would wait for Mama and Papa to get here.

"What a filthy animal! Go put that thing outside where it belongs!" Lily shrieked seeing the crup. Merlin growled at the woman, sensing his new master tense at her words.

"You will not tell my son what to do in his own house Lily Potter!" Nick yelled, storming into the room. He already hated the woman for what she did to Leo, he would not let her bully him any longer.

"Lord Flamel! My apologies I didn't realize who he was."

"So that gives you the right to walk into someone's home and demand things from them?"

"N-no of course not, I'm very sorry." Lily said, looking down to hide her face. Leo could still feel her glare on him though and sank back into his mother.

"Do not apologize to us, apologize to Leonidas." Pernell demanded.

"I'm very sorry Leonidas, of course your… dog can stay." Lily said through clenched teeth. James stared at her in slight shock, as he had planned to get Isabella a crup soon, unknowingly for the same reasons.

"Isabella, why don't you and Leo go play outside? I know he was very excited to introduce you to his new friend." Pernell said, sending the child a small smile before glaring at Lily again.

"Thank you ma'am." Isabella curtsied, a cheeky smile sent Nick's way, causing the man to hide his laugh with a cough.

"I told you to call me Pernell young lady!"

"And I distinctly remember asking you to call me Bella guess we're both out of luck. Come-on Leo." Bella giggle as she dragged her brother from the room, both of them giggling.

"That cheeky brat, leo better not get that from her." Pernell said with a smile.

"Oh no dearest, it's the other way around. He was born first you know, a whole three and a half minutes." Nick said.

"And he learned from you, so in the end this is your fault." Nick smiled completely unrepentant, and kissed Pernell lovingly on the cheek.

"You would have me no other way my dear. Now, Lord Potter, to what do we owe this visit? You have never dropped Bella off in person, so why now?"

"Well, she speaks so highly of Leonidas, I thought it was time we met him. She has always distracted us when it came time for her to leave, so we have never had the chance." Lily said, cutting James off before he could speak.

"I believe I asked your husband not yourself Mrs. Potter." Nick said coldly. "And you had plenty of chances, you knew the floo address, you have floo powder or you wouldn't send her alone."

"We did want to meet him, Lord Flamel. However, Albus has told us to ask you about possibly adding Bella into Leonidas' lessons. My wife has decided it is not necessary to hire a tutor, but she needs to at least know the basics. And she needs to learn the proper etiquette for the heir of my family. I was hoping, if nothing else, lady Flamel would accept teaching her proper etiquette." James said, sending Lily a hard look when she tried to open her mouth.

"We would accept regardless, she is like family. She is Leo's best friend, and the only one he has now that his betrotheds have left for school." Pernell accepted.

"He has more than one?" James asked.

"Yes, he inherited them from his birth family when they gave him away. We were adamant about them knowing each other young, imagine if they met as adults they may hate each other." Pernell smiled.

"Indeed, Victor almost hexed poor Bella for taking his Leo from him for twenty minutes the first time." Nick laughed, causing Lily to look alarmed at James. James however was too busy thinking about the Potter contracts trying to remember if they were still active or not.

"And poor Severus, getting pushed into the pool for spilling his drink on Leo, on his new shirt no less." Pernell laughed.

"And you let them get away with that! Those boys sound like ruffians!" Lily shrieked.

"Those ruffians are the son of the Bulgarian minister, and the world's best potions mistress. Both have been teaching all three since Leo was four. Those ruffians are also best friends to your daughter, and have taught her much in the ways of all things. Leo has even taught her a bit of Gobbledegook!" Nick yelled right back.

"Krum and Prince… they are the heirs to the Krum and Prince lines?" James asked looking a little pale, starting to connect the dots.

"Indeed, very bright boys too, although Leo has them outmatched in the brilliance department. Except potions, Severus excels in potions, alchemy is the only lesson Leo takes away from them. Leo is a genius, he has passed all his primary work and is almost ready to take his owls." Nick said proudly.

James's head was swirling, no it couldn't be… Lots of families probably had ties to those families, and Harry was with Petunia. They would get him when he turned eleven for Hogwarts. Right, he's just imagining it, Leo isn't Harry.

"Well, thank you for accepting to tutor Isabella, I'm afraid we must be going now. Albus was calling a meeting for the order when we left. We will be by to pick her up at dinner." James said, hurrying his wife to the floor. He had to get to Gringotts, he had to check those marriage contracts.