Snakeskin (A Harry Potter Fanfic)

Chapter 5: Flashy Entrance

Chapter 5: Flashy Entrance

I've never been more relieved to go back to school. Escaping the place where my worst memories – my worst fears – are held will do me good, I'm sure. Seeing Remy and the Evans twins is a nice bonus as well.

**

Leo was dreading the end of the summer holidays. As the date drew closer to September first – to returning to Hogwarts – Leo's nightmares became more intense, something that he hadn't believed was possible. He could now feel what was happening, relive those terrible moments over and over again.

It got to the point where he would lay awake at night, waiting for the Weasley twins to fall asleep. When that happened, he would sneak downstairs and go to sleep on the couch until his nightmares awoke him and he headed out to the field to fly. Mrs. Weasley was still waiting with a mug of hot chocolate when he got back.

On their last evening, Mrs. Weasley conjured up a sumptuous dinner that included all of Harry and Leo's favorite things, ending with mouthwatering treacle pudding and a large chocolate cake. Leo almost got into a fistfight with Ron over the last slice. Fred and George rounded off the evening with a display of Filibuster fireworks that they had received from Leo last Christmas; they filled the kitchen with red and blue stars that bounced from ceiling to wall for at least half an hour. Then it was time for one last mug of hot chocolate and bed.

At least, for everyone else. Leo decided that it was best if he just stayed up that night and snuck downstairs to fly around the field for a bit. He was surprised to find Mrs. Weasley waiting for him in the living room, holding a glass containing some purple liquid. She handed it to him.

"This is a Dreamless Sleep Potion. It should help," she smiled at him.

At those words, Leo immediately drank down the potion. He was about to thank her when he felt his eyes droop shut and he fell backward on his feet. He awoke in the twins' room at dawn with everyone else, more rested than he had been in months. 

Mrs. Weasley dashed about in a bad mood looking for spare socks and quills – though still found time to ask Leo how he had slept. He had simply responded with a bone-crushing hug before dashing away to make sure his things were gathered. When he returned to the twins' room, he found Apollo waiting with what Leo was sure was Sirius's reply. He seemed affronted by the mere presence of the screech owl next to him, which most likely carried Remus's response.

"Don't worry about it, mate," Leo assured his feathered friend. "You had a very important job, delivering and bringing back Siri's letter. This fellow had it easy – no offense."

The screech owl merely hooted, shrugging it off as Leo retrieved both the letters. The screech owl and Apollo both took off once he had what he wanted. Apollo never wanted to be in his cage, so Leo figured he'd just let him fly off to Hogwarts on his own and meet him there. 

He looked down at the letters, prepared to open them when Fred and George barged into the room, scrambling for their things. Leo rolled his eyes as he stuffed his letters in his pocket before collecting his things, putting them in his trunk, and lugging it downstairs.

Leo couldn't see how nine people, seven large trunks, two owls, and a rat were going to fit into the small Ford Anglia Mr. Weasley had. What he had failed to take into account, however, were the numerous magical modifications the man had made to it. Apparently, it could even fly. 

"Not a word to Molly," he whispered to Leo and Harry as he opened the trunk and showed him how it had been magically expanded so that the luggage fitted easily.

When at last they were all in the car, Mrs. Weasley glanced into the back seat, where Harry, Ron, Fred, George, Leo, and Percy were all sitting comfortably side by side, and said, "Muggles do know more than we give them credit for, don't they?" She and Ginny got into the front seat, which had been stretched so that it resembled a park bench. "I mean, you'd never know it was this roomy from the outside, would you?"