Snakeskin (A Harry Potter Fanfic)

Chapter 4: Bookstore Brawl

Chapter 4: Bookstore Brawl

Siri was quiet after I told him. Then he pulled me into a hug and apologized over and over for being a git. I felt better afterward. Not just because I well and truly had my brother back, but because I had gotten my fears out in the open and I wasn't rejected. I think that's what I feared most would happen. Rejection.

**

Leo had a nightmare his first night at the Burrow. It was the same one – Quirrell torturing him repeatedly and Leo eventually killing him. He woke up to find Fred and George holding him down, staring at his sweat-soaked form in worry. When they asked what was wrong, he had looked away and mumbled that it was just nightmares from the end of last year. The two had exchanged a look before picking him up by his arms, grabbing his broom, and marching him out the door.

The led him to a large field and tossed him a Quaffle-sized ball, which he stared at in confusion until they grabbed their own brooms and took the ball from him, soaring through the sky. Leo raced after them and took it back, and there progressed the quietest game of keep-away Leo had ever been a part of.

When they returned to the house, Mrs. Weasley was standing in the front yard, hands on her hips as she prepared to scold them all for being out so late. The twins sent Leo inside while they talked to their mum.

The next night, he had another nightmare, and again the twins took him out flying. This time, when they returned, Mrs. Weasley was waiting for them with a kind smile and mugs of hot chocolate.

As this was occurring, the Weasleys began to notice other odd behaviors as well. Leo avoided mirrors at all costs and outright refused to be in a room with a chessboard in it. They were confused at first until Harry explained that some of the obstacles they had had to overcome were a giant chessboard and dealing with the Mirror of Erised. Leo was surprised the following morning to find that all of the mirrors had either been removed or covered. He didn't say anything but was grateful nonetheless.

A week after Leo began staying with the Weasleys, he and the twins were walking back into the kitchen that morning when they heard Mr. Weasley speaking.

"... You three've got them, too," he was saying, as the three ambled in.

Leo blinked at his Hogwarts letter before opening it and reading through the list of books. One was The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2, and the rest were seven books all by Gitroy Lookhard, as Leo liked to call him. As in 'look hard enough, and you might just find some talent'. Leo outright refused to believe that someone with an ego that large had done any of the things Mrs. Weasley said he had done. You don't see, do, and experience horrible things and come out of it smiling. You just don't.

Fred, who had finished his own list, peered over at Leo's.

"You've been told to get all Lockhart's books, too!" he said. "The new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher must be a fan — bet it's a witch."

At this point, Fred caught his mother's eye and quickly busied himself with the marmalade.

"That lot won't come cheap," said George, with a quick look at his parents. "Lockhart's books are really expensive..."

"Well, we'll manage," said Mrs. Weasley, but she looked worried. "I expect we'll be able to pick up a lot of Ginny's things secondhand."

Leo made a resolution at that moment to pay for all the Weasleys' supplies. It was the least he could do after they put up with his nonsense for the past week.

"Oh, are you starting at Hogwarts this year?" Harry asked Ginny.

She nodded, blushing to the roots of her flaming hair, and put her elbow in the butter dish. Fortunately, no one saw this except Harry and Leo – who barely suppressed a snort of laughter - because just then Ron's elder brother Percy walked in. He was already dressed, his Hogwarts prefect badge pinned to his sweater vest. Leo had the overwhelming desire to give it to Apollo and have him fly it off to Azkaban as a gift for Sirius.