Leo worked his way through Dumbledore’s private stash of sweets, sampling treats from both the wizarding and Muggle worlds.
Most of them were so sugary they made his teeth ache.
“All right, your sweet tooth is even worse than mine.” Leo bared his teeth in a grimace.
“You eat stuff like this all the time, and somehow your teeth still haven’t fallen out?” “Severus brews a potion that is remarkably effective at treating cavities,” Dumbledore said.
“So that’s how you do it.” Leo nodded.
“I’ll ask him for some later.” “Perhaps don’t mention that you heard about it from me,” Dumbledore whispered.
“I’m joking.
I can brew it myself.” The corner of Leo’s mouth curled upward.
“I may not look the part, but I’m better at Potions than most seventh-years.” “I seem to recall Severus mentioning that you were one of his finest students.” “He definitely didn’t say it that nicely.” “Of course not.
That was my translation.” Dumbledore chuckled.
“But that was certainly the meaning behind what he said.” “Heh…” Leo shook his head.
“Enough about him.
Let’s talk about me.
Why did you deliberately tell the Aurors that I was the one who captured that dark wizard?” “To show them what you are capable of and discourage certain people from doing anything…
unwise.” Dumbledore’s expression grew more serious.
“Quite a few people have had their eyes on you since the moment you enrolled at Hogwarts.” Dumbledore might have no desire to hold political power himself, but he was hardly unfamiliar with the maneuvering and intrigue that surrounded it.
“I see.
Well, that’s not exactly surprising.” Leo nodded.
“Considering my parents…
heh.
I couldn’t have been born with a more incriminating pedigree if I tried.” “I have never believed that a person should be judged by their birth, but not everyone shares that view.” Dumbledore nodded slowly.
“And your parents are only part of the issue.
During the First Wizarding War, Geoffrey took almost the entire William family with him in support of Voldemort.
They all died during the conflict, leaving only you, an infant, to inherit the family estate.
Ironically, that meant there was almost no one left for the Ministry to prosecute after the war.” “Everyone involved was already dead.
What were they supposed to do, put a baby on trial?” Leo laughed.
“Worked out rather well for me in the end.
I inherited everything they left behind.” “And there are many people who would very much like a share of that inheritance,” Dumbledore continued.
“Not only people within the Ministry, but former associates of your father and distant relatives as well.
If not for Mr.
Frisia, some of them might have tried something long ago…
and it is entirely possible that some already did, only to fail.” “So now that I’m away from Frisia, they think I’m finally easy enough to deal with?” Leo smiled mockingly.
“And here I was under the impression that Hogwarts was supposed to be the safest place in Britain.” “Hogwarts will protect every young witch and wizard under its roof,” Dumbledore said seriously.
“Add one condition to that,” Leo replied.
“As long as everything goes according to your plan.” Dumbledore went quiet.
“…How much do you know?” “Not much.
I’ve met Fluffy, and I went down through the trapdoor to have a look around.
There aren’t any traps set up down there yet, but the rooms are already arranged in a pretty interesting way.
Harry figured out the connection between the Gringotts break-in and the little package Hagrid took out of Vault Seven Hundred and Thirteen.
Then there’s Professor Quirrell, whose personality changed completely after he came back from traveling in Albania…” Leo clicked his tongue.
“And the garlic.
Seriously, what was he thinking?
He claims it’s supposed to ward off vampires.
Quirrell used to be famous for being brilliant, and even Lockhart knows vampires aren’t afraid of garlic.
Still, I can’t be bothered thinking too hard about any of it, so I haven’t managed to connect all the clues.” Dumbledore pressed two fingers to his temple.
“Isn’t that essentially everything?” Leo blinked.
“Is it?” “Leo, it seems I have underestimated you yet again.
Your intelligence is no less troublesome than your strength.” “Does that mean I get to ask for something?” Leo asked, his eyes immediately brightening.
“For Merlin’s sake…” Dumbledore could feel another headache coming on, but he still nodded.
“Very well.
What do you want?” He could hardly refuse now.
At this rate, Leo’s next line might very well be, ‘Headmaster, you wouldn’t want Harry finding out about your plan, would you?’ “I was thinking Professor McGonagall could also—” “Choose something else,” Dumbledore interrupted immediately.
“Fine.” Leo thought for a moment.
“Professor Flitwick, then.
I heard he used to be a dueling champion…” “I imagine Filius would not object to giving you some additional instruction in dueling outside normal class hours,” Dumbledore said.
“We can speak to him after Charms this afternoon.” ..
The Charms classroom.
“Today, we’ll be learning a simple but useful piece of everyday magic: the Wand-Lighting Charm.” Professor Flitwick, who had goblin ancestry, was exceptionally short.
During lessons, he had to stand on a stack of books just to see properly over his desk.
He waved his short arms as he demonstrated, looking almost comical.
“It may seem like an ordinary little spell, but there are plenty of situations in which it can be extremely useful.
The incantation is very simple.
All you need to say is ‘Lumos,’ accompanied by a light flick of the wrist, like so.” Hermione immediately raised her wand, eager to try.
“Lumos!” A steady, gentle sphere of white light blossomed at the tip of her wand, brightly illuminating the area around her.
“Excellent!
A beautifully cast Wand-Lighting Charm.
Five points to Gryffindor!” Professor Flitwick praised enthusiastically.
The rest of the first-years quickly began trying it for themselves, and soft flashes of white light soon flickered throughout the classroom.
“Leo’s been gone with Snape for ages,” Ron whispered to Harry.
“You don’t think something happened to him, do you?” “Hard to say.
Maybe Snape dragged him off to use him in some horrible experiment,” Harry whispered back.
When it came to Snape, Harry was always perfectly willing to assume the worst.
“I don’t think so.
We’re talking about Leo here.” Ron shook his head.
He had complete faith in Leo’s ability to handle himself.
“With Snape built like that…
Leo could probably knock him apart with one slap.” Harry considered this seriously.
“Maybe Snape tried something suspicious, Leo slapped him to death, and now Leo’s gone on the run.” “That actually sounds pretty possible,” Ron agreed.
“Then we definitely need to find him.
The Ministry doesn’t exactly go easy on fugitives—” “Or maybe,” Seamus suggested from nearby, “Snape only called Leo away for something minor, and Leo used it as an excuse to skip Charms.” “Mr.
Finnigan,” Professor Flitwick called, having clearly noticed Seamus talking.
“Why don’t you give the spell a try?” “R-Right…” Seamus stiffened after being caught talking during class and nervously raised his wand.
“Lu…
Lumos!” Fzzzt!
A blinding burst of white light exploded through the classroom.
For one startling moment, it was as though someone had set off a flashbang in the middle of the lesson.
..
When the bell rang, Professor Flitwick began tidying away his books.
Without warning, Dumbledore’s phoenix, Fawkes, appeared inside the classroom.
“Oh?
Does Albus need something?” Professor Flitwick reached up and took hold of Fawkes’s leg.
A moment later, the phoenix carried him away, transporting him directly to the Headmaster’s office.
“Albus, is something wrong?” Professor Flitwick asked as soon as he arrived.
“Oh, Filius!
Come, sit down.” Dumbledore greeted him with a broad, cheerful smile.
Professor Flitwick climbed into the chair across from him.
His feet could not reach the floor, leaving his legs swinging idly beneath the seat.
He studied Dumbledore’s expression for a moment.
“…Albus, why does that smile of yours look so suspicious?”