Chapter 19: "A Natural Gryffindor? Who? Leon Shelby?"

Chapter 19: "A Natural Gryffindor? Who? Leon Shelby?"

A thin, silvery-white mist sprayed from the tip of his wand. As Leon and Lupin watched, it swirled and began to shift, slowly taking on the vague shape of an animal.

However, the Patronus failed to fully form. All they could tell was that it was some kind of four-legged land animal.

"Moody wasn't lying. Your natural talent for magic is simply astonishing..." Lupin said, his voice full of wonder. "To get a partial form on your very first try... and it looks like some kind of powerful creature, doesn't it?"

He rubbed his face, his excitement growing. "What were you thinking of? It seems it wasn't quite happy enough. If you can, try to find a memory that's even more powerful."

As the leader of the Peaky Blinders, Leon's memories weren't exactly filled with warmth and light. They were moments steeped in cigar smoke and the rustle of banknotes. His first attempt had been the memory of the first time he led his men in a turf war, pistol in hand.

It was the beginning of the Peaky Blinders' glorious return.

Evidently, the memory of "putting a bullet in a rival boss's head" was not quite happy enough.

He tightened his grip on the black walnut wand and made his second attempt. "Expecto Patronum!"

This time, the memory he chose was from after he had united the entire Birmingham underworld. It was the afternoon he'd had tea with an emissary from one of the true bigwigs in London. Leon swore that tea was ten thousand times more dangerous than any street fight. But in the end, his meticulous caution had paid off. He had passed their test.

The Peaky Blinders had been given their first taste of the real arms trade, and the Shelby family's business entered a new era.

Just as before, the silver mist appeared, coalescing and drawing the outline of the Patronus. The second attempt was far more successful. The four legs of the creature were exceptionally clear, and their powerful, muscular shape made Lupin marvel.

"A perfect attempt! What a remarkable creature! Look at those legs!"

He paused, then said, "Alright, one last try. The Patronus Charm drains a great deal of magical and mental energy. Three attempts is likely the most you can handle right now."

Leon nodded, deciding to try one final memory.

It was the family meeting. The one where Arthur and John had both withdrawn their claim, nominating Leon to lead the family. One of the old guard, an uncle who hadn't read the room, had forcefully objected, daring to call Leon "a brat not even as tall as the table."

So Leon had him shortened. Once the lower half was gone, the old fossil wasn't taller than Leon anymore.

The others in attendance suddenly lost their nerve to "compare heights." Before the maids had even finished mopping the blood from the floor, the vote was concluded.

Thirteen in favour, one opposed.

And so Leon, who had cast the single vote against himself, became the head of the Shelby family, all while telling his brothers, "You've completely ruined me."

From that day on, Leon's power was absolute. There was never again a dissenting voice in the Shelby family.

Remembering the look of total submission in everyone's eyes at that meeting, Leon took a long, slow breath. His voice was filled with a joyful, unwavering certainty. "Expecto Patronum!"

A dense, corporeal silver mist erupted from his wand. It solidified in the air, taking the form of a magnificent lion. It threw its head back and let out a silent, powerful roar. Its mane was like heavy velvet, flowing down over its shoulders, and its form was far more muscular and imposing than an ordinary lion. It stood in the air, its mane seeming to ripple with every breath, the very picture of majesty.

"Three tries! Just three! You've done it!" Lupin was pacing the room, his voice high with excitement and disbelief.

He stared at Leon as if he were a priceless work of art. "And a silver lion! The Sorting Hat won't hesitate for a second! You are a natural-born Gryffindor!"

However, before his excitement could even begin to fade, the silver lion suddenly changed.

As Lupin watched, dumbfounded, the Patronus began to shift in colour, from head to tail. The lion's majestic silver mane bled into a colour as black as the night sky.

In just a few seconds, the entire creature was a solid, gleaming black. Its once-majestic silver eyes now held a sinister, ruthless glint.

"A black Patronus..." Lupin was utterly baffled. "Since the charm was first created, there has never been a Patronus that wasn't silver..."

He looked completely bewildered, staring at the black lion and running his hands through his hair.

"This feeling... it's strange. I feel a special connection to it," a voice said. But it was Leon's voice, and it was abnormally loud.

Lupin, distracted, nodded absently. "Of course. A wizard always has a spiritual connection to their Patronus."

A second later, his head snapped up, and he stared at the black lion. "Was that you talking?"

"Yes," the black lion spoke, in Leon's voice. "I just tried it. I didn't expect it to work so easily."

Lupin looked even more confused. "He can speak through it on the very first try... The affinity is extraordinarily high." He stared at Leon as if he were some kind of monster.

"Well," Lupin said, rubbing his head, "I don't entirely understand what's just happened. But clearly, all you need is practice."

He looked stressed. "My original plan was for you to simply master the charm before the start of term. It seems I'll need to adjust my lesson plan. What... what type of magic would you prefer to learn?"

"Combat," Leon answered without hesitation. "I want to master combat-related spells as quickly as possible. That way, if I run into any trouble at school, I can defend myself."

"Hogwarts is the safest place in the world," Lupin said with a comforting smile. "You don't need to worry about things like that. But, if it's combat magic you wish to learn, then that is what we will focus on."

Right, Leon thought. The safest place in the world. If you don't count Quirrell in the first year, the Basilisk and Riddle's diary in the second, Peter Pettigrew in the third, Barty Crouch Jr. in the fourth, and Dolores Umbridge in the fifth...

Then yes, Hogwarts is perfectly safe.

It's a joke. "Hogwarts, protected by Dumbledore."

"Alright, that's enough for today's lesson. Draining your magic too much will do you more harm than good, Mr. Leon," Lupin said, hastily gathering his things and heading for the door.

Mad-Eye Moody was waiting for him outside. They had plans to go for a drink.

Their voices drifted back into the room.

"So, how did the lad do with the Patronus Charm?"

"It was... astonishing, Alastor. He's already cast a corporeal one. A... a rather strange lion. I think Mr. Leon is going to be an outstanding Gryffindor!"

"Ahahahaha! Lupin, did that thousand Galleons rot your brain?"

"Gryffindor?"

"Leon Shelby?"

"Voldemort himself is more of a Gryffindor than he is!"