𝖈𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝖙𝖜𝖔
family heirlooms

✦

IN HIS TIME at 12 Grimmauld Place, Leo learned that it had two moods; incredible loudness or unbearable silence. The noise came from a portrait of the late Walburga Black who screamed about the inhabitants 'defiling' her house (even though she had been dead for years and therefore didn't live there anymore) and from the Weasley twins. Fred and George were an acquired taste that Leo didn't very much like, he would admit.

They were nice, sure, offered to use their tricks to eavesdrop on Order of the Phoenix meetings if they so pleased to be kept informed. And they sometimes Apparated out of the house with their siblings or alone to go meet with Lee Jordan, their friend and sort-of business partner (the whole business wasn't official, neither was Lee's part in it) and that was good. Leo had heard of Lee through Calypso since they were friends but he had never actually met the guy.

But the twins were also annoying. Not annoying like Nala the cat whenever she wanted attention, swatting at your arm or face or pushing glasses off of surfaces, but the kind of annoying that made Leo's eye twitch. They constantly Apparated through the whole house as if they had forgotten how to walk like normal people, flaunting their new ability that came with their being-of-age because in the wizarding world, adulthood began at seventeen instead of eighteen.

It wasn't that big of a difference, just a year, but to Leo that year could mean not having to deal with the twin's showing off their new trick. He supposed he was more jealous than anything. He lived in a new of wizards and while that wasn't any different from before, seeing as his mum and sister were witches, it was now on a grander scale. And he wasn't just twenty minutes away from his grandfather.

God, Leo loved his grandfather. He was a sweet man, sometimes snappish on his worst days, who still worked even though he could retire. Whenever he went over, Leo would help him with his garden and they would watch TV together while Leo told him about school and did his homework. He loved going there on the weekends or after school, seeing as he didn't have any friends to hang out with instead.

During summer, he often spent his weeks there. His grandfather lived right in front of a river and he loved spending his time there. Maia always hated going over to their grandad's. Well, not hated. She loved Papa as much as him, but she never liked being home to begin this.

Maia was enthralled by magic and always wanted to be surrounded by it, but at home mum never used magic and Papa wasn't a wizard at all. And he loved his sister, but he hated that she was instantly repelled by anything muggle. Never wanted to go see muggle London when she could just dip into Diagon Alley so easily there. Never wanted to enjoy the simple pleasures with her muggle twin or go see movies in the theater.

Calypso was more excited to learn what bowling was than Maia had ever been to play. And he hated to say it, but sometimes he enjoyed spending time with his cousin more than sister.

The same sister would wouldn't leave her room at all this summer, much like how Leo hadn't see his grandfather since they moved into 12 Grimmauld Place. Maia was sulking in a paralyzed state in her bed since learning the news that they were adopted. While Leo was worried about her, he couldn't help but think she was overreacting - not that he would ever tell that to someone else. It was practically blasphemous.

And Calypso stayed in her dead Uncle Regulus' room with headphones on trying to drown out the noise. Leo couldn't blame her, with the silence of the place every time there was noise it was amplified. But that also left Leo alone.

He didn't want to throw himself a pity party, but he also didn't want to engage with the other teenagers. Ron and Hermione, who were his age, were more interested in being around each other than invite him. He knew that he was a muggle, automatically separating them, but did they have to take it so far? And Ginny spent too much time with Fred and George for him to talk to her. He didn't try with the twins, though, and he didn't feel too bad about it either.

Leo mostly talked to his mum or Aunt Mel. His Uncle Remus was pretty cool and they talked but they had never been too close since he mostly saw Aunt Mel whenever he went to see Calypso and they had divorced long ago. Tonks was cool, too, but she was much too old and didn't stick around long. She entertained them, he'd admit, but she wasn't there just for that; she was there for the meetings and gone by morning afterwards. She had her own place to get back to, Leo could say the same but nothing would ever happen.

He was stuck.

Because he didn't have anyone to really talk to, he spent most of the time in the study. It was old, dusty since it hadn't been used since Orion and Walburga Black were alive, but there were a lot of books and he liked to read so he did. None of them were by muggle authors, not that he thought they would, and most of them were about dark magic or the danger of muggles. He snorted at that.

Yeah, muggles were dangerous - just look at Hitler for that - but really? They had a whole book about it? At least it was entertaining.

There was a knock at the door of the study. He kept it shut most of the times because he never liked being in a room with an open door, it made him uncomfortable, and he looked up. "Come on," he said, knowing that there was only a possibility of it being three people.

The knob turned and Aunt Mel stepped in. She was a young woman, really, but always looked so old and incredibly tired. Working in law and now being in your childhood home that you left long ago could do that to a person, he suspected. "Knew I'd find you in here," she teased him, going to sit in the seat adjacent to him.

It was clear, despite her teasing tone, that she was uncomfortable being in the room. She looked around, scanning the features like the old shelf that only held a photo of Orion and Walburga on their wedding day and some Ministry papers before her eyes settled back on Leo.

He smiled at her. "Where else would I go?" he asked, a little jab at the fact that he wasn't allowed to leave. On house arrest even though he hadn't even committed a crime.

Remelda gave him a sympathetic look but it was clear that she understood how he felt. "Right," she said, "How've you been? I know Maia hasn't taken the news well."

Leo shrugged. There wasn't much to say, he was fine. He already knew because of his biology class last year, or at least he suspected, so it wasn't shocking and he didn't care either way. Not like Maia. So he was fine.

"Good. I mean, I don't really care either way. She's still our mum and you're still our aunt," he told her honestly, "I'm more worried about Maia than anything."

"Me too," Remelda admitted with a sigh, "You have to believe me that if I thought it was safe for you two to know, I would've told you long ago. It just wasn't, it still isn't. I - if he gets your hands on you..."

He understood. He did. From what she said, if their mother hadn't rescued them they would've been murdered by their own father. It would probably be called a tragedy, probably would've said that they were sick and didn't receive the proper treatment. And then they would try again and have the perfect family, forgetting about the twins who had one muggle being. Him.

"I know, but I'm not the one you should be saying this to. Maia cares more than me, she wants an explanation more than I do," Leo said to his aunt and she nodded.

"I know that, I know. I just - what can I tell her that would make sense to her? She was so angry and I...I don't understand. I wish more than anything that I hadn't been raised by my parents, would've gladly taken someone else to call mum and dad, but Maia...I don't know," Remelda sighed.

Leo swallowed at the mention of her past. He didn't know much of what her life was like growing up but by the sounds of what Remelda had said and Calypso had mentioned, he didn't want to. It didn't sound good at all.

"She just wants to understand what made them so bad, what made you really think our father could be that way," Leo tried to explain for his sister, but even he didn't believe the words coming out of his mouth, "But I don't know..."

"Yeah," Remelda said in agreement, knowing what he meant. Then, she opened her hand and gave stuck it out towards Leo, showing him a ring. Looking at it and then back into Remelda's eye for confirmation, he received a nod and then took the ring.

He inspected it, obviously a family heirloom is the big 'P' in the middle indicated anything. It was slick, in great care, and shined with a glint of something else in it.

"It was your mother's," she told him as he continued to look at him, "I took it from her when we were in school together. It was before, I wanted to make sure to have some leverage over her. In case I ever needed it. Never gave it back in the end, but you should have it now."

"Why didn't you ever get rid of it?" Leo asked, looking up at her, "You know, instead of throwing it away or anything."

Remelda shrugged at his question, "Honestly? I don't know. After we graduated, I always kept it just in case. I enchanted it and everything to keep tabs on her, more out of worry than anything else. I knew her husband a long time ago, I knew who he was and I was worried. Charmed it to show if she was alive or not. A week after she brought you to me...it died. The charm, I mean. And your mother."

His heart fell. He wanted to vomit at the news, knowing that protecting her children meant the death of his mother, that it was confirmed and that...that it was so sudden after giving them up, that if it hadn't been her, it would've been them.

"My charm was confirmed the next day when the Prophet wrote an article detailing her death. Said it was a tragedy, that she and her children had been on vacation when a mad man ran into their house and murdered them. There was even a funeral, I never attended. I wouldn't be welcome, but I know that your father gave an amazing eulogy ending with many heartfelt nods to the woman she was."

Remelda thought more on it, tilting her head as she mused, "He never cried, though. The reports never said anything about him shedding a tear over his dead family. Not that I expected him too, not in the environment we were in. We were never allowed to cry, it would've been...odd to hear that he shed a tear over her death."

"Did he kill her?" Leo asked suddenly, cutting Remelda from her daze. Her eyes trained back on him and she seemed to realize who she was talking to again, what she had just told him. Her eyes seemed sympathetic. "Did my father kill my mother."

She pursed her lips, obviously not wanting to answer but not wanting to lie to him either. "I don't know," Remelda told him, "Honestly, I don't. But if I were to guess...I would say yes. He was never a stranger to the act anyway."

Leo sunk back in his chair, feeling shocked. He shouldn't have, he knew that his father wanted to murder him, but the thought of him actually killing? And not just anyone, but his mother? This man's wife? It made him sick. To be related to him made Leo sick.

✦

Harry Potter, Leo learned, was a very important wizard and should be protected at all costs. Apparently he was their savior and that automatically put him on a platform, not that Molly Weasley thought he should be included in conversations that would help him the best savior he could. She saw him more as a child than anything else, and Leo could respect that.

They were same age and Harry was already expected to save the world. Leo was just expected to do well at school and not cause trouble. Those were two vastly different things.

And when Harry Potter arrived at 12 Grimmauld Place, it caused an uproar. Not just for those staying in the house, but the wizarding world since he was expelled from Hogwarts and to refute that claim he had to attend a trial before the Ministry. Huge deal.

Because, as Leo knew, underage magic was not allowed and Harry Potter had used a spell in protecting himself and his cousin from Dementors that were attacking them. Leo didn't have any reason to mistrust Harry's word but he also didn't have any reason to believe it either, not even when everyone took it as gospel at the house.

Sirius Black loved the child even though he barely knew Harry, which Leo knew wasn't his fault. Molly and Arthur thought of him as a soon and the other Weasleys saw him as a brother - well, except for Ginny who had a crush on the boy, according to her teasing older brothers. Remelda cared for him, as did his mother, and Calypso told him that she was going to try harder with Harry in the coming school year. She hadn't before because for his first three years he didn't even know the connection between Sirius Black and James Potter (other than that Sirius gave them out to Voldemort) and others would think she was trying to trick him much like Sirius did to his dad.

But now they were in the clear and she thought the boy needed some guidance, which Leo couldn't argue. He didn't know Harry, who was he to say what the boy needed?

When he arrived at the house, Leo was informed by Calypso, who mostly told him about what was happening with the Order since she had that werewolf hearing and needed someone to talk to.

"Hey, Leo," Calypso said when she slipped into their room that night, giving them both a smile, "Hey, Maia."

Leo waved but didn't verbally greet her and Maia stayed as silent as she usually does. "If you couldn't hear, Harry just arrived," Calypso told them and he nodded, knowing that someone had come over because the portrait screamed again and Sirius fought against it.

"That's cool," Leo told her, "I'll finally be able to meet the guy that everyone's been talking about all summer."

"Try all my life," Calypso snorted, joking around despite wanting to have a better relationship with the boy that year, "Jesus, the world's obsessed with the guy and everything. But I guess it's fine, he's pretty nice when it comes down to everything. A bit hot-headed and impulsive, but he means well."

Leo knew that she wouldn't have added the last personality traits if she were talking to the others in the house. They knew Harry and knew what he was like, but Leo had never met the guy and needed to hear more details about him than the others.

"Great," Leo said before grinning and joking, leaning in closely to Calypso to ask, "Do you think he'll like me?" to brighten her mood.

It seemed to work as Calypso smiled at him, "He'll love you, Leo. Everyone does."

"Just what I like to hear," Leo said back even though he could fight that a lot of people didn't like him, just look at his nonexistent group of friends. Then, he turned to his sister, "Do you think you'll join us for dinner tonight? Since the guest of honor has finally arrived?"

There was no response and even though Leo wasn't expecting one, he was still hurt. "I'll bring you something up, how's that sound?" Again, there was only silence. "Sounds like a plan."

They talked some more as they walked down the stairs and Leo learned that Calypso didn't know who Gandalf was - which was completely blasphemous. He would so have to lend her his books. She had to be educated, after all. They took a seat at the long table, Calypso greeted her dad and everyone else settled in.

It was uncomfortable to begin with, everybody wanting to mention something to Harry but not knowing what exactly to say. Of course, they couldn't just avoid the topic of him being there - it was big news - but they didn't know how and Leo certainly wasn't going to say anything himself. Why would he?

In the end, it was Sirius who spoke to him. "Well, the Ministry is furious with you," he mentioned, looking at the boy.

Harry looked taken aback and shocked. "Why?" he asked Sirius.

"You did magic in front of your muggle cousin," and oh, Leo didn't like that. He knew that Sirius didn't mean it that way, but did he really have to add muggle? Was it really necessary? It made him stab his mashed potatoes a little harder next time. "You'll have to go to a disciplinary meeting tomorrow."

"Okay," Harry nodded, taking it on nicely, which was different from what Leo thought he would do. Then, the boy began to stand up, "I'm not really hungry. I think I'll go to bed."

Sirius chuckled at his godson, "You surprise me, Harry. I figured the first thing you'd do is start asking about Voldemort."

Ah, yes. Voldemort. The wizarding world equivalent of Hitler. Kind of. His philosophy didn't come from muggle philosophers - one who believed in Man and Super Man - but from his own twisted brain and dark magic. Well, Leo didn't really know where Voldemort had gotten his ideas. They didn't teach about him in history class, not that he expected them to either.

Harry paused and turned back, "I wanted to, but I didn't think anyone would tell me anything."

Molly stood up. "And that was quite right, Harry. You're much too young -"

"He has a right to know, Molly," Sirius cut her off, which was probably good because Leo had some arguments against that.

Kids their age were already getting stoned and drunk, becoming alcoholics. Some weren't even virgins anymore. Harry was probably old enough to know about what his arch-enemy was up to. God, that made him sound like Batman or something, but Harry wasn't as cool. At least not to Leo.

"It's not your decision!" Molly told him.

"Well, it's not yours either, Molly," Aunt Mel butt in, "So don't go trying to act like it is."

Leo smirked to himself. He loved it when Remelda laid down the facts. Well, not if it was against him, but whatever.

"We know what Dumbledore said, but he needs to know something," Sirius said, agreeing and adding on to what his sister said.

Harry grinned, feeling that someone was finally in his side. "Yeah."

"He's not a child, Molly," Sirius said and, well, Leo didn't agree with that. By definition they were underage and therefore children, so...

"He's not an adult either," Molly fired back, and Leo couldn't argue with her logic. She was right in that regard, after all. But then she added, "He's not James" and everything Leo had stood with her on diminished.

Sirius stiffened at the mention of his dead best friend, as did many others around the table and Leo gave the woman a glare even though he had never met James Potter and knew almost nothing about him. Still, even he knew that she had crossed a line though.

"I'm fully aware of who he is, Molly," Sirius told her coolly, sending chills down Leo's spine at his tone.

"I only have Harry's best interests at heart," Molly defended herself.

Remelda snorted at her, though. "Really? His best interests? Molly, Harry's best interest is not being killed, and part of that could potentially be by not having the information he needs. Do you want to be responsible for his death?"

And ouch, that was also a low blow, even if his aunt made a good point.

"You know about that, don't you?" Molly questioned and again, any fighting Leo could do on her behalf was thrown out the window.

"I don't know what you're inferring here, Molly, but whatever it is, you have it all wrong," Remelda stiffly replied, a warning glint in her eyes.

"Oh? Do I? Excuse me for not trusting someone who let their brother be killed and another imprisoned in Azkaban when they knew fully well he wasn't guilty," Molly said.

Remelda glared at the woman, the fires of hell burning in her eyes. "You don't have to trust me, but I didn't let anyone die. Regulus' dreams killed him and he died happily. With exactly what he wanted. And no one would have believed me if I said anything about Sirius and his murderous ways. Plus, I had been in the papers enough as a teenager."

"Really?" Tonks spoke up, looking at her older cousin, "I didn't know that."

"That's because you were a toddler, Nymphie," Remelda told her. Tonks made it clear that Remelda was the only one allowed to call her Nymphie if they wanted to live after one of the twins tried, Leo found that event very entertaining to say the least. "I think you were around five, actually."

Molly, knowing that she had lost the argument, left the room to have deniably (probably) and Leo knew that questions were going to be fired soon. Questions that Leo had no interest sitting through or hearing the answers to. He asked Calypso about it when they started and she told him that it was okay to leave, so he did.

He went back up to the room where he and Maia were staying in, cursing himself when he realized that he didn't bring her up food. He'd just sneak some up later since he didn't feel like going back down there. Instead, he stared up at the ceiling, wishing the room would swallow him whole.

authors note
sorry that there's nothing from maia's perspective this chapter but she doesn't do much during summer. it's more just leo who's the 'social' one so i wanted to establish that, but we will definitely be seeing her more next chapter.

also, i'm so sorry that it's been a month since i last updated. i've just been super busy lately and haven't been able to sit down and write often, so please forgive me