THE NEXT MORNING WAS THE DAY THAT LEO LEFT HIS DECENT APARTMENT IN NEW YORK FOR ONE THAT WAS MUCH SMALLER IN LONDON. The move most definitely wasn't something he was excited about, the memories he had of London and the miserable family reunions where his older cousin, Bellatrix would lecture him on his sickening disrespect towards their family history. Then there were the god awful dinner parties that his mother and father would make him dress up for and where he had to keep his mouth shut and listen to the garbage that their extended family rambled about. Luckily once Leo was old enough to go to school, he was able to choose to stay at Ilvermorny over the holidays. His parents didn't put up much of a fight, they knew he didn't fit in with them on their trips to London like Elladora or even Atticus— who was just as against dark arts as he was, but much more interested in loyalty to the family than Leo. So it had been years since Leo had been face to face with most of not all of his family in London— so now with his move, he knew he was bound to run into one of them. Part of him hoped that he would run into Sirius, being able to lock him away would be the ultimate way to distance himself from his family.

     But he wasn't going to go out of his way to find any of them. Narcissa had married into a family just as bad as the Black family; Andromeda was the only one that he wouldn't mind seeing. They were honestly the only two that he could possibly see, unless Sirius came looking for him. But until that day came, he was going to focus on settling into his new home and his new job. In a way, he was nervous for the following day, at the Magical Congress, he had a reputation. One that got results, but a reputation none the less. And from what he knew of the Ministry, they'd be a bit less forgiving of his methods and attitude. So he hoped that he could get the same type of results as he would get with the congress.

     Once he had gotten his belongings to to his new apartment— which was in a building that looked and smelt older than he was. He had met two of his neighbors, one was a no-maj couple who seemed to argue quite a bit from what he could tell already from the short time he had been there. Then the other was an old woman who complained and cursed loudly as she marched up the two flights of stairs— her name was Gertrude; a name that seemed to suit her well. After that, Leo decided to go to the one place that he had spent time at as a kid during their trips to London to pass the time; the Leaky Cauldron...

"What did I tell you, Leo?" Atticus grumbled as they passed through the brick wall from Diagon Ally to the Leaky Cauldron. "I told you that if you tried taking anything, mother would send us back here." he told him again when Leo didn't reply.

"Who said anything about trying to take anything?" Leo said sharply looking up at his brother, shoving his hands in his robe pockets. "She just saw me trying to take one chocolate frog," he said revealing three chocolate frogs and some taffy. "I wasn't going to pay three galleons for one. Back home that'd get you a pack of four."

Atticus stopped in his tracks as he watched the younger boy shove his candy back in his pockets. "Well, good for you, Leo. But now, we're stuck here while Ella finishes her shopping." he reminded him as they walked into the grimy looking bar area. The two found a table to claim as their own.

       However as they say, Leo reached into one of the pockets on the inside of his robes and pulled out two neatly wrapped cauldron cakes.

"I guess you wouldn't want one of these then?" he asked, arching a brow before tossing one of them to his brother. "But I'm so deeply sorry for cutting your exciting shopping trip for new robes short, Atticus. Really." he said, keeping his tone as dull as possible.

Atticus sighed heavily, "Thanks..."

"Can I help you?"

      Leo quickly snapped out of his memory, only to realize he had come to a complete stop in the entry way. Right beside the table, which hasn't changed, where he had sat with Atticus that day while they ate his sweets that he had stolen.

"Sir?"

Leo quickly turned his head and looked at a girl, about his age maybe a bit younger. She had dark skin and dark hair cut just above her shoulders. She was much prettier than the old witch and wizard that had worked there whenever his family had visited. In her arms she had a tray holding some dirty dishes.

"Sorry," he said quickly as he moved away from the doorway.

She offered him a soft smile, "It's alright," she sighed, "have a seat anywhere. I'll be right with you." she told him as she rounded the corner of the bar and disappeared briefly into the back.

"It really hasn't changed all that much," Leo said aloud as he made his way to the bar— where he had always wanted to sit as a kid but his mother wouldn't have let him. "Does the chair in the corner still need a folded napkin under its leg?" he asked as she emerged from the back.

"Not since they replaced it," she replied as Leo scanned the entire room— the only other business that was there was a old wizard reading a paper and a older wizard who was getting ready to leave.

     Leo turned back around in his seat, and she stood just opposite of him so he got a much clearer look of her. And she was much prettier than he thought at first. She had big brown eyes that looked welcoming, more welcoming than either of his neighbors.

"A lot of business, I see," he said quickly, realizing he was probably looking at her far longer than the average costumer should have. "I mean this is just, unbelievable." he said, a bit of sarcasm in his tone as he motioned to the nearly empty room.

"It's something," she replied with nothing more than a small shrug, not even a snicker or smile. Which was usually something he was able to get out of anyone. "so what can I get you?"

Leo let out a huff, "Well, what do you recommend? I haven't been here for a while."

She hummed a bit as she pressed her lips together as she thought, "Albert makes a bloody good batch of blueberry waffles." she told him, motioning to the kitchen where Leo could still hear the clanking of dishes.

Leo nodded a bit, "I'll take your word on that."

     She gave him a small nod and turned and walked away— which was a disheartening. Almost as disheartening as the fact that he had just ordered something that he knew he wouldn't like; he didn't even like blueberries.

"So, what are you doing back in Europe?"  she asked as she appeared back behind the bar with a mug in her hand. "You said you hadn't been here in a while?"

"My job," he replied, "I just transferred to the Ministry from the Magical Congress." as he spoke, she set the mug down before him, and he watched as it filled itself with coffee. "How'd you know I didn't want something else?" he questioned.

She smirked, "You're American," she replied, "there hasn't been one American I've seen come in here who didn't want coffee in the morning." she explained, "The day an American comes and asks for tea with their breakfast will be the day I quit."

Leo chuckled.

"Cream?"

"Yes, please."

"So what do you do that got you a job here?" she asked as she pulled out her wand from her waist and gave it a wave towards the counter behind her. A small dish of little plastic containers began floating towards them.

"Auror's Office," he replied, "I worked with the Magical Congress for...five years now." he said as he grabbed to creams and put them in his coffee. "They thought you guys could use me expertise over here."

She laughed a bit, "I'm sure they did. I guess I find that hard to believe."

Leo arched a brow, "Oh? Why is that? Because I'm American?" he asked, "If you know Americans so well, tell me more about myself."

She raised a brow.

"So far we have that I prefer coffee over tea, and that the ministry is stuck with me."

She leaned her hands on the counter, "You're a loner, you like being by yourself?"

"Ah, but that's not an American thing. That's a me thing. And it depends on the type of company I'm missing out on." he replied, "But that's pretty good. Do you have the sight or something?"

"Nope, I've just gotten good at reading people." she replied. "Besides, people like you are usually the same. And once you're bored with things, you'll be packing up and leaving."

"Who says I'm going to get bored?" he asked her, "I like it here so far. And what does people like you imply?"

"Young guys who-" she paused for a split second, "-want to be Auror's."

Leo chuckled, "You think I just want to be an Auror?" he asked, "Hate to break it to you, but I was just Head Auror for a year back in the states. I think I'm in this for the long haul."

Her eyes widened for a split second, a bit shocked at the fact that he had been Head Auror.

"And you left to work here and not be a the head Auror?" she asked.

Leo chuckled and shrugged, "Looks that way." he sighed heavily and picked up his coffee, "To new beginnings I guess."

"To new beginnings," she echoed, and after a moment of silence she stuck her hand over the counter. "I'm Ramona Zabini, you can call me Mona though."

Leo smiled at her and reached for her hand, "Leo Black."

"Order up!" a man in the back shouted, and Ramona quickly pulled her hand away to go retrieve the order.

Leo groaned quietly in his seat, "Great." he mumbled, and then mentally prepared himself to force down the blueberry waffles he ordered after Ramona's recommendation.

AUTHORS NOTE:
shout out to justanillusion for being as
enthusiastic about Leo's story as I am.

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*edited 5/11*