"That actually makes some sense. All right, I'll let Marcus handle it," Midgard said, thinking it over.
With everything settled, it was time for Leonard to leave.
"Oh, and put my wand away for me. I'll come get it when term starts." Leonard handed his wand to Midgard.
"Your wand? You won't need it at home?" Midgard asked as she took it.
"Underage wizards aren't allowed to use magic outside school. The wand has The Trace on it, so it's pointless for me to carry it around anyway," Leonard said. "Where's Claudia? Still asleep?"
"She's slept long enough. Time to get up." Midgard turned and went into the room, waking Claudia, who was curled up with her unicorn plush.
When Midgard came back out holding Claudia's little hand, Claudia blinked sleepily, and Leonard's expression softened into a gentle smile.
The moment she saw Leonard, Claudia's eyes, hazy with sleep a second ago, widened like sudden starlight.
"Leonard!" Claudia ran over and threw her arms around him.
Leonard smiled and ruffled her hair, but then he paused. Something felt off…
He steadied her by the shoulders and eased her back, studying her face more closely. Something really wasn't right.
Claudia thought he was playing with her and grinned up at him, meeting his gaze without a care.
It didn't take long for Leonard to spot what it was. His eyes fixed on Claudia's smooth forehead.
"Huh? Where did the little horn on your head go, Claudia?"
"She made it disappear herself," Midgard said. "Like it was a talent. She just figured it out on her own."
"That's great." Leonard looked at Claudia, who was staring blankly, then揉led her pale-golden hair. "I was just wondering how we were going to hide that little horn. Claudia, you're amazing."
"Hehe." Claudia beamed at the praise, burying her face in Leonard's chest and rubbing against him.
Midgard watched the two of them and smiled. "Time to go. Have a good holiday."
"Mm. See you in August." Leonard nodded and took Claudia back to the Leaky Cauldron.
...
The next day…
After washing up, Londo stepped out of his room and knocked on Leonard's door.
"Up you get. Time to go home," he called, yawning.
The door opened. Londo was halfway through his yawn when he sucked in a sharp breath, nearly choking on it.
A little girl in a white sundress stood in the doorway, peering up at him with open curiosity.
The morning sun fell across her face, giving her a soft halo. Her pale-golden hair looked almost translucent in the light. With her delicate features, for a split second Londo thought he was looking at an angel.
"Hello, Grandpa," little Claudia said, smiling sweetly up at him.
"Uh… hello… Sorry, I must have the wrong room." Londo froze, then instinctively checked the room number.
No. This was definitely his grandson's room.
So who was this little girl?
Before he could work it out, Leonard's voice came from inside. "Claudia, come wash your face."
"Coming!" Claudia called back, then turned around and trotted off, leaving Londo standing there like he didn't exist.
Londo stared for a moment. That voice was absolutely Leonard's. He pushed the door open and walked in.
Inside, Leonard was wiping the little girl's face with a damp towel.
Leonard glanced at Londo, then said to Claudia, "Remember this. Don't open the door for people you don't know."
"Hey! I'm your grandfather! How am I someone you don't know?" Londo shot back on reflex.
"I know you," Leonard said casually. "That doesn't mean Claudia does." He flicked Claudia a look, prompting her to answer.
Claudia frowned, thinking hard. "But if I don't open the door, how am I supposed to know whether I know the person outside?"
"Besides me, you don't know anyone," Leonard said airily, then pinched her cheek.
Before Claudia could respond, Londo grabbed Leonard and hauled him aside.
"Who is she?" Londo demanded in a low voice. "How did she suddenly show up in your room?"
"Mm…" Leonard hummed and thought for a few seconds, making Londo so anxious he could barely stand still.
"Is this something you can't say? Why are you taking so long?" Londo pressed.
"Oh, it's not that," Leonard said, completely casual. "I was just thinking what excuse I should use to fool you."
Londo: ???
"I'm your grandfather!" Londo hissed, furious. "Do you really think you should be hiding something like this from me?"
"Of course I should," Leonard said, spreading his hands as if it were obvious. "Otherwise, why would I be trying to come up with an excuse to fool you?"
"You…" Londo nearly rolled his eyes into the back of his head. He glanced at Claudia, who was watching them with bright curiosity, and lowered his voice. "Kidnapping is illegal!"
"Who said I kidnapped anyone?" Leonard said, offended. "And that's Muggle law. Wizarding law doesn't work like that."
"Then how does wizarding law 'work'?" Londo demanded.
"Oh, wizarding law is harsher," Leonard said. "Probably twenty years in Azkaban."
"Are you messing with me right now?" Londo smacked Leonard on the back of the head. "Seriously, what's going on?"
"Just treat her as my classmate spending the summer with me," Leonard said with a shrug, rubbing the back of his head.
"Oh, so you've finally come up with your excuse?"
"Mm."
"That's it? Just 'mm'?" Londo drew a deep breath. "Do her parents know?"
"They know," Leonard said. He paused, thinking of the unicorns in the Forbidden Forest. "They asked me to look after Claudia."
"And they're just fine with that?" Londo glared. "Did you two sleep together last night?"
"Mm."
"In the same bed?"
"She was scared of the unfamiliar place," Leonard said. "So she slept hugging me."
"Nonsense!" Londo bristled, eyes bulging. "Boys and girls shouldn't be sleeping together once they're seven!"
"Tsk, I'm only eleven. I'll be twelve after my birthday," Leonard said, exasperated. "What exactly are you imagining?"
"Hmph! No means no. If her parents told you to look after her, then you look after her properly… No, wait. Looking after her is one thing, but you still need to keep some distance!"
Londo muttered under his breath, thinking what kind of parents would hand their child over to another child so casually.
"So what do you want to do?" Leonard asked, palms up.
"Go home first," Londo said. "We'll talk about it once we're back."
...
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