"IS THIS GOING TO BECOME A HABIT?" Alyona asked as Leo sat down on one of the stools that surround the island counter in their kitchen. "Atticus isn't going to always be able to come and get you, Leo."

Leo sighed heavily, the act itself was excruciating. Almost as excruciating as the fact that Atticus had to help him. "He didn't even have to come tonight." he stated, "I had everything under control. It is my job after all."

Alyona arched an eyebrow, "You're a mess, Leo. You're lucky Atticus got there when he did." she said simply, drumming her fingers on the island before turning to get something from their freezer. She had insisted when she married Atticus that they have some simplicity as she called it. Behind closed doors, Atticus called it muggle garbage.

Leo rolled his eyes as she handed him a plastic bag full of ice that was wrapped up in a rag. "I'm sure he's thrilled he had to help me." Leo grumbled as he pressed the makeshift ice pack to his head, magic could make things easier. But Alyona wouldn't be happy to have him refuse to use some of her muggle methods. "I can hear it now, you're supposed to be Auror, Leo. You're supposed to be the one helping me." he said, mocking his brothers know-it-all attitude and tone.

Alyona shook her head, "You know he was there because he cares about you, Leo." she assures him, "News about death eaters spreads over this city like wildfire, and Atticus was worried about you."

"Yeah," he muttered, "where is Marianne?" he asked, changing the subject entirely to his niece.

"Finally napping," she said with a heavy sigh. But from the look on her face, Leo could see that she wasn't moving on that easily. "I know today didn't have the outcome you wanted, Leo. But you did save that girl and her mom. Didn't you? If it hadn't been for Atticus, you wouldn't have been able to get both of them out of there."

Leo stared at her, his eyebrows pressing together. "It wasn't because of Atticus, sure him and the others showing up when they did gave me some more time. But it was because of Patrick Hoode."

Atticus and his ever so caring personality could honestly just shove off.

Leo snapped himself out of the memory as soon as Atticus stood up and left. Leaving Leo at the bar to think about what he said; loyalty...but from what Leo remembered, there was nothing about Elladora that said loyalty. Maybe two-faced but not loyal in the slightest. Then again, he and Atticus had very different ideas of what it meant to be loyal and to who. To Leo it meant to be a good person, who was loyal to people who were loyal to him. Meaning he didn't need to be loyal to Elladora. To Atticus, family needed to be a priority. No matter what the differences were— which was practically the single rule that Atticus lived by. Family came first, even if that meant protecting and lying for someone like Elladora.

"Not happy about the family reunion?" Mona asked as she walked back around the bar and leaned against the counter in front of him.

Leo sighed heavily, "Is it that obvious?" he asked, "Can I actually have a firewhiskey instead?"

Mona raised an eyebrow, "That bad, huh?" she asked as she turned to get the drink for Leo. "Bad blood between the two of you?" she asked.

"It's complicated," Leo shrugged as she filled a glass with a light reddish drink. He muttered a thanks as she set it down in front of him.

"Try me," Mona smirked. But Leo didn't budge on the matter of not talking to her about it.

The Black name had enough baggage that he was trying to get away from, why would he want to blantantly explain all of the families deepest and darkest secrets? But still, Mona stood there for a moment, waiting to see if he'd change his mind. Then when it sunk into her head that he wasn't, she took a deep breath and leaned on the counter again.

"My stepmother killed my mum and my dad." she said quietly, "Now my brother lives with her in that manor— that should actually be mine. I moved in with a family of bloodtraitors, well at least that's what they are to my stepmother. Now I'm just trying to save enough so my brother can get out of that awful house." she explained simply, "So don't tell me that your family is complicated, mine is too."

"And how do you know your stepmom did that?" Leo asked, arching an eyebrow before he took a swig of his drink. Which wasn't exactly his favorite or go to, but it was one of the strongest. And after any time spent with his brother, that was just what he needed.

"I assumed for awhile, but when I was seventeen I got into bit of a screaming match with my stepmum," she paused her eyes darting away from Leo for a moment. "she practically admitted to it." she shrugged. "So tell me about your complicated family, Mr. Black."

Leo stared at her for a moment, she waited patiently and it was clear that she wasn't going to leave the subject.

"Well, for starters, my parents aren't death eaters. At least as far as I know." he started, "My sister as I'm sure you already know is..." he paused, "but him? He's just thinks that what I'm doing is the worst possible thing I could have chosen to do."

"Being an Auror?"

He nodded, "I thinks I should have gone to play Quidditch somewhere or something, instead of arresting people like my sister. Well, especially my sister." he shrugged and let silence surround the two of them for a moment. "I guess my family isn't as complicated as yours is." he sighed heavily, chuckling a bit.

"To be fair that's just your part of the family. The Blacks here in Europe are another story."

Leo nodded, "That they are," he paused, "so how old is your brother?"

"He'll be a fourth year this year." she stated, "I'm actually seeing him off in a few days for the train to Hogwarts."

"I've always wanted to see that." Leo confessed, "To get to Ilvermorny, we all had to go through this old antique store to get into Old Salem, a place like Diagon Alley," he explained simply motioning to the back wall that went to the streets of Diagon Alley. "then we had to pile into some carriages and went up to the school."

Mona smiled, "That sounds nice," she replied, "the Hogwarts Express was always so crowded, and it was like a war zone sometimes trying to find a seat. I guess that's sorta why I became friends with Bill and Charlie Weasley, it was easy for them to just walk in and sit in a compartment."

"Charlie Weasley? Didn't he almost play Quidditch professionally?"

Mona nodded, "He likes his dragons though." she said with a small smile.

"Well, the American Team was sad to see him turn down their offer."  Leo confessed.

Mona shrugged, "He didn't care all that much to be honest. Still doesn't."

"So what house were you in at Hogwarts?" He asked, "Atticus' wife was a Ravenclaw."

"Slytherin." she replied glancing down, "Not a house I'm really that proud of to be honest." she shrugged.

"I've heard there's some nasty people in that house." Leo shrugged, "I've met one, actually." he started, "You might know her, she's a real piece of work. She works at this Inn, and she's not all that friendly to costumers..." he smirked, and almost immediately Mona realised what he was saying and laughed.

After a while, Leo decided it was time to head out. He rose from his seat and pulled his money out, but Mona didn't give him enough time to even pull out any money.

"It's on the house," Mona said quickly, "good conversation is a good enough payment."

Leo didn't argue about saving a bit of money, so he shoved his wallet into his pocket again. "If that's the only thing I need to pay here, I guess I won't worry about finding a place to go to closer to my apartment."

Mona smiled, "I think it may work a bit differently if I'm not working."

           Leo got up from his seat, and turned and walked away after saying goodbye. Although he couldn't wait to let the day end, he was at least in a better mood...

AUTHORS NOTE:
well here we are. a good
hunk of the way into the story!
what do you guys want more of?
Mona? Lydia? Atticus? Elladora?
there's so many different story lines
that are in store for Leo! I can't wait
for you guys to see how it all ties in
with Harry's fourth year!

Any thoughts? Anything at all?
don't forget to comment, vote,
and follow me for updates!

Stay classy!
*edited 7/25*