(A/N): Hey Guys! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! So, I made that video, it's not very good, but I'll leave the link below. Here's the next chapter, I know it's short, but I'll get started on the next one.
Disclaimer: I own nothing you recognise.
Leo
It was a strange feeling, riding in a carriage in just my boxers and a t-shirt with my mother sitting across from me, but I fought the urge to up and bolt. I was terrified to know what she had planned, of course, but I didn't let myself show it; I stared out the window, and watched the world outside pass in a blur. The horses that pulled the carriage weren't normal, that much was obvious- they were pitch black, taller than the average horse, and far faster than the cars on the motorway around us, they weaved in between vehicles as if those around us were at a stand still- or perhaps even moving in reverse- and only a little more than half an hour later, I caught sight of a few familiar landmarks out of the window. I clamped down on my mental barriers as hard as I could and chanced a glance in my mother's direction, but she seemed summarily unconcerned- both with me, and the locale. A few more minutes passed, and the carriage only slowed to a stop right as we reached the front of the manor I'd once called home. "Don't worry, Leonides- no one can see you," My mother assured me as we exited the carriage, the wind tugging at my clothes.
"Well, that's a plus," I muttered, knowing it would be the only one on this whole trip. As soon as we'd disembarked, the horses took off again, disappearing around the corner of the block- likely heading around to the back of the property where the gated drive was, in order to wait for the next time they were needed. She pushed the front door open like she owned the place- which she did- and I found myself in the familiar foyer, which was less regularly trafficked than the Arrival Hall in the back of the house, where guests typically apparated or flooed in. This foyer was only for those arriving by carriage, or- Merlin forbid- on foot, and for show. "Hasn't changed a bit," I whispered to myself, despite the fact that it looked much smaller than it'd been the last time I'd been here.
I followed my mother up the front staircase and along the landing, then first through one hallway then another, which I knew attached to the landing at the top of the main staircase, at the rear of the house. We passed room after familiar room- the salle d'armes, a study that used to be a play room, the sitting room where Mia and I got caught eating pilfered pastries, that one time- we finally reached the room that used to be mine. My first thought wasn't anything to do with the room itself, but instead, I looked to the next room along the hall, which had always been Mia's. I wanted to see her so badly, even if we had to fake hating each other while under our mother's watchful eye, but it seemed I wouldn't get the chance any time soon if the open door was anything to go by... which I suspected it was, hence it being left open. It was likely Mia herself had closed it, only for our mother to open it again so I knew she wasn't there for me to be able to try to interact with.
Said mother stood off to one side, watching me- just watching- as I reached out, and gingerly rested my hand on the knob. I hesitated for a second; the last time I'd been in this room was when she'd thrown me out... I'd entered this room via the door, but never again exited by it- in a way, it was like I'd never truly left. I twisted the knob and let the door fall open, and... it was exactly as I remembered it. It was well-appointed, and as luxurious as a child's bedroom could possibly be, but it seemed strangely bare to me- likely because my current room was so heavily decorated with mementos and keepsakes. The emerald green bed covers were still pulled up tight despite being rumpled toward the foot, the edge of the green and blue rug on the floor still kicked up from the day I'd left, and a fine layer of dust covered everything in the room, despite the fact that I knew there was dozens- if not more- charms on every surface to keep it from being able to gather any. No one had been in this room for a very long time- possibly not since the day I left, I thought to myself. Did I ever actually leave?
"Get changed, and meet me in the kitchen." She closed the door behind her as she left, and I was confused for a second before, hanging on the back of the door, I saw a set of dress robes.
(A/N): So, what did you think?
Ooh lala, Leo in dress robes!
watch?v=FhLFfRjqYRk
Please review and/or check out my other stories!
This chapter has had minor edits made to it on 5/2/23 - Because I originally gave Leo a suit to wear, and Cipicia would NEVER put Leo in a muggle suit.
This chapter has had edits made to it on 18/6/24 - formatting, and reconfiguring of sentences so they make more sense. This chapter used to be about half as long, but since we now know a bit more about the day Leo was kicked out, and the layout of the Joannis Manor, I had to/decided to add some things. I also made it so the horses and carriage traveled along the motorway, since the M1 runs pretty perfectly from Nottingham, which is where I've said the Ellwood Estate is in the past, and London/Regent's Park/Cambridge Gate, which is where I've said the Joannis Manor is. I also noticed that another story relevant location is perfectly in the path, so had Leo react to that fact, but because his reaction was vague, we have no idea why he reacted that way- and why he thought Cipicia might react to it, and then she didn't. Although, maybe if you've read ahead to the Little Leo Arc, you might be able to figure out why such a location might cause him to react like that, at least in part, though it really isn't mentioned here OR there. Basically anything about the layout of the Joannis Manor I added, as well as Leo looking for Mia and finding her room pointedly left empty, and then his doubt about ever having left the house, which comes up again later in the story. Obviously I also added the little thing about Leo and Mia getting caught eating stolen pastries, because I needed a third room and I thought that was cute. Also, now we know what another two rooms in that hallway are, since we only knew the two kids bedrooms and the salle d'armes, which seemed a bit odd to me.
Nottingham to London via the M1 is somewhere between two and a half to three hours, but seeing as the horses are moving so fast that cars look like they're moving backward, I've cut the time down to about forty-five to fifty minutes. I don't know if that's right, but hey, just blame it on magic horses, okay? Technically, Cipicia could've just apparated Leo back to the Joannis Manor, but she thought this was cooler, I guess.