Leonard started replaying everything he had done up to now, trying to figure out what could possibly have affected the Delacour family.
After thinking it through for ages, he came up empty.
Nothing. Absolutely nothing he had done should have had any impact on them.
All he had done was kill Fenrir Greyback, the werewolf leader, and help Midgard bring the werewolf wizards under her wing.
He had killed Draco Malfoy and his lackeys.
He had killed a bunch of pureblood wizards...
Wait.
That was… quite a lot of people.
Could it be that among the ones he had killed, there had been someone connected to the Raven, and they were so furious that they started grabbing Bloodline Wizards at random?
It was possible, but it felt too forced. Someone dying did not automatically lead to hunting down so called Bloodline Wizards. The cause and effect did not line up.
But no matter how much Leonard wanted to deny it, things were clearly slipping out of control. He had to face the possibility that he had already changed the plot...
And so what?
Leonard's brow loosened, his body relaxing.
He had never planned to live by the original story anyway. He was Leonard William, a model student on the surface, and in reality, one of the people pulling the strings behind control of Knockturn Alley.
He already had real power and a solid ability to handle uncertainty.
Even if Voldemort and Dumbledore teamed up and came straight for him, he could still fight back. So what was there to fear from some secretive organization that hid in the shadows?
"Seems like there's nothing to worry about," Leonard muttered.
"Hm? What did you say?" Lehende asked.
"Nothing. Just talking to myself," Leonard said with a smile.
Outside, Londo's humming drifted in. Through the window, Leonard could see him returning, pulling a cart.
Judging by the cart piled high with ingredients, there would be a feast tonight.
...
At dinner, with Londo present, Lehende did not bring up the Raven again.
Instead, he talked about the customs and scenery of foreign places, describing what he had seen and experienced while working and traveling abroad. Every so often, he tossed out a joke that had everyone at the table laughing.
Lehende might not have inherited a Veela's looks, but that Veela affinity was real enough. He made full use of that famously romantic French charm.
It was a pity that Madame Delacour was the only woman of suitable age at the table. Otherwise, who knew whose heart Monsieur Delacour might have stolen with his wit.
After dinner, Londo refused Madame Delacour's offer to help again and again. Still, after Leonard and Lehende talked him into it, he stood aside and watched as Madame Delacour flicked her wand.
The dishes obediently washed themselves, then hopped neatly to their assigned spots.
"Magic really is convenient," Londo sighed.
Beside him, Lehende lowered his head and asked Leonard quietly, "Is it really all right for you to use magic? I remember the Trace can detect any spell cast within its range. Do you need me to ask a friend in Britain to help explain it? Don't worry, it won't expose our connection."
"I put my wand away," Leonard replied in a low voice. "Relax. It won't affect me."
Hearing that, Lehende finally felt at ease. He did not want his little ally to be expelled or have his wand snapped because of him.
After dinner, they started assigning rooms.
This time, Londo did not need to clean. With a cleaning spell, the dust vanished in an instant, and the room looked brand new.
Londo watched it happen and sighed again.
If he had to clean it himself, one room would cost him a full day.
In the end, they had two spare rooms. The Delacour couple took one, and their two daughters took the other.
The arrangement was perfect, right up until bedtime, when Fleur grabbed Claudia, who was about to follow Leonard back to his room.
"Girls should sleep together. We can't let certain people take advantage."
Fleur pulled a face at Leonard, then dragged a bewildered Claudia into the guest room.
Damn it. My soft, sweet little pillow just got stolen.
Leonard stood there, stunned. There was nothing he could do, so he trudged back to his room alone.
Fine. This family was leaving tomorrow. Not one more day.
...
On the other side, Lehende was getting ready for bed. When he stepped out of the washroom, he ran into Londo.
"Good night, Mr. William," Lehende greeted politely, turning to leave, only for Londo to call him back.
Londo looked troubled. He hesitated, then spoke carefully.
"Could I take a bit of your time, Mr. Delacour?"
"Of course," Lehende said, curious. "What is it?"
"It's not anything big," Londo sighed. "I can tell you're an important figure among wizards. I'm a Squib. I'm no help to Leonard, and I might even be holding him back."
He paused, then clenched his jaw like he had finally made up his mind.
"I can see you and Leonard get along well. So if it's possible, I'd like to ask you to look after him a little more."
So that was it.
Lehende could not help smiling. It was an old man worried about his grandson's future. In principle, it was not the kind of request one should refuse, but...
A boy who had nearly killed the Third Senator, Cappadocia, and who could smoothly use the Imperius Curse with an unfamiliar wand to control an adult wizard... did someone like that really need him to look after him?
Honestly, Lehende would have preferred the opposite.
But he was not going to say that to the old man in front of him. He needed to consider the elderly man's fragile heart and blood vessels.
"You're worrying too much, sir," Lehende said warmly. "Your grandson's future is limitless. For all we know, I might need him to help me someday."
"What future could a little brat possibly have?" Londo scoffed. "You… sigh. I've got no pride left to speak of. I can only put on this old face and ask you to take care of him."
It was clear that if Lehende did not agree, the old man would not let it go.
Lehende was both amused and helpless. He could only nod.
"All right. Don't worry. I'll take care of him."
With that promise in hand, Londo murmured his thanks over and over, then finally left.
Lehende let out a quiet breath. Just as he was about to head back to bed, he ran straight into Leonard, whose expression was complicated.
"Your grandfather really cares about you," Lehende said with a sigh. "Even if he's a Squib, what he feels is real. It's genuinely moving."
...
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