we've always had bad timing (leo/charley, pg-13)
we've always had bad timing, leonidas yaxley/charlemagne travers with mentions of rabdolph, alecto, robbie, joey, lettie, junia. almost-ish AU. not really, i guess. it's pretty canon. They are not young anymore. 2315. PG-13.
He is 25 when he steps into the bridal party's reserved room. His breath catches in his throat when he sees his sister in the brilliant, innocent white, the long train carefully placed behind her, her hair intricately designed, the glittering diamonds of the engagement band shining at him. The girls don't notice him until he clears his throat, and Lettie turns around, inquiring at the arrival -- as always, she is alert and suspicious, but relaxes when she see that it is only her brother, who, despite his surly frown and faint hints of wrinkles on his forehead, cuts a stark figure in his dark dress robes, the material carefully pressed and the style custom-made. She gestures for him to walk closer, because it's clear that she has been told to not move unless absolutely necessary, and he obeys. Leonidas Yaxley is cautious, but steady, as he walks, and Lettie's bridesmaids and maid of honor discreetly leave the room. The door closes and engulfs the two in silence.
They do not break into tears or hug; it has never been their custom. She gives him a slight, but genuine smile, and he eases out one of his own, a rare one reserved for his closest friends and family. She touches his hand and they stand there in comfortable silence, before there is a knock on the door. Leo brushes aside the strand of hair that has escaped her hairstyle and leans down to plant a kiss on her forehead.
"You look beautiful," he says, a bit haltingly, though he means it completely. Leticia Yaxley whispers a thank you before he leaves.
He is 25 when he stops by the groom's reserved room. Rodolphus is lounging on the provided couch and Rabastan is still drinking. Charlemagne has his trademark displeased scowl as he observes the twins in their natural state, and his eyes move up to meet Leo's as he walks in. The three of them spend the remainder of the time before they have to walk up the aisle attempting to convince Rabastan to stop drinking long enough for him to walk up the aisle, and they are almost very nearly unsuccessful. Thankfully, with a few minutes to spare, they wrestle the flask away, and Rabastan sullenly leaves the room to take his place. Rodolphus follows his brother, amused.
Leo moves to follow them, followed by Charlemagne, and the group walk to the main chamber in an easy silence, broken up only by the requisite teasing of Charley. Charley's only response is his patented death glare, and they all chuckle. They take their place on the altar, Charley on the highest step, and the music starts. Leo takes his place next to Charley, and they are close enough to pass a conversation between them without having to whisper. When the crowd stands up for the arrival of Leticia Yaxley and her father, Leo turns to Charley and asks, "Are you ready?," devoid of an emotional attachment, and the groom only responds with a glare. Satisfied, Leo turns his attention back to the procession, and makes up his mind that he will deny it to the day that he has tears in his eyes as he watches his sister get married to his best friend.
He is 23 when Charlemagne tells him he is courting Lettie. Leo doesn't talk to him for a week.
He is 11 when he studies with Charley for the first time, the two quiet, anti-social, pureblood outcasts of the Ravenclaw dorm. They do not talk at all, both of them too involved in their own work, and even Madame Pince nods approvingly at the silent concentration the two of them use. Leo looks up once and sees the level of detail in Charley's notes, looks back at his own, and resolves himself to do better.
Charley eventually allows him to study off his notes, but that's when he's 15, and that's another story.
They meet Rodolphus and Rabastan Lestrange officially when they are 11 as well, all four of them in the same Potions class. As purebloods, they've talked before and have spent time with each other before, but they have never been friends. Something about them binds them together, and they are inseparable from then on.
Along the way, Alecto Carrow is added to their group, and though they don't say it, each member is fiercely protective of the others.
Charley and Leo have these conversations sometimes:
"Let's lock Robert McKinnon out of the Common Room."
"I have never heard a better idea."
"Why has Alecto approached me with another one of her harebrained schemes?"
"Should I be offended she didn't approach me?"
"That is the answer you choose to give me?"
The other conversations consist of lengthy discussions on texts, some Dark, some not, but they are not interesting enough to note.
They never talk about their feelings.
At 15, the OWLs consume their lives, and Ravenclaw turns into a tower of stress and anxiety, frantic revision and dramatic rows. Charlemagne silences them all with a glare. Leo is immeasurably thankful. His notes aren't good enough still, even after five years of practising, and he has still forgotten important bits and pieces. He tries to subtly glance over at Charlemagne's entire collection of notes, hoping he is distracted long enough so he can borrow them for just an hour, but as always, Charlemagne is too alert for his own good.
The subtle looks pass for a few seconds before Charlemagne, irritated and unamused by Leo's complete lack of subtlety, grinds out, "If you need to use my notes, just ask. Your idea of subtle is about as subtle as the tricks Rabastan uses to seduce women."
Leo instinctively stiffens, disappointed at himself for letting himself get caught so easily, but relaxes a few minutes later. "Charlemagne," he says, very politely.
"Yes, Leonidas?" comes the bored reply.
"I am taking your notes. Expect them back within the hour."
"Much better."
Leo wants to hex that hint of a smirk off his friend's face, but he settles for putting his notes in a different order. That will upset him more.
(It does.)
They are 17 and done, done with Hogwarts, done with classes, done with the incessantly annoying presence of Robert McKinnon and Josephine Proudfoot. (So they think.) All five of them head off into different paths to begin their careers, but meet up every Saturday night at a pre-arranged place to catch up. (They start meeting up more often, especially after certain situations start changing.)
Each one of them is inducted into the Death Eaters sooner or later.
There's one part of the story that hasn't been told, but it is hard to tell. Leo doesn't know when he realizes he sees Charlemagne as more than a best friend, but it happens somewhere along those points. It is after they meet at 11, before Charlemagne courts Lettie at 22, and perhaps centered around 15.
He doesn't know what to do with himself when he comes to this realization, so he avoids Charlemagne for a week and a half. Thankfully they have their OWLs to deal with, so his disappearance is not that noticeable.
(Of course, if Charlemagne notices the disappearing act, he says nothing. They don't talk about the whys.)
To make things appear as normal as possible, Leo conveniently pushes aside these thoughts, and moves on with life as per usual. Charlemagne only gives him a blank stare when he sits by him again at breakfast. Nothing is passed in conversation. Leo is relieved.
Let's return to 23. Leo talks to him again after that week, and they never speak of the reason. (It's a mixture of choosing Leticia, even though she doesn't want to be chosen, and choosing Leticia and not --) A few weeks later, Charlemagne complains bitterly about Lettie's attitude, and Leo sighs. They won't last, he thinks; they're much too different.
(Two years later wipes that thought away.)
Lettie is too independent for Charlemagne, but isn't that part of the appeal as well? She challenges him, even though he insists he doesn't like being challenged; she is intellectual and beautiful and able to fight back jab for jab, and Leo is usually amused. They're beautiful to the public, if just a bit distant, but each play their part well.
23 isn't a good year, but 24 begins better --
(until, of course, it doesn't, and what is he doing, deluding himself)
"I suppose I'm meant to marry your sister," Charley says one day over drinks in his study. Leo looks over, bemused. He doesn't know what's happening, a slight fogginess clouding over his train of thought.
"Oh," he merely says, frowning a little. "I suppose so. It has been a long courtship." He says this like the fact it is. He takes a drink and sets down his glass when it's empty, staring at it.
"That is what my mother says," comes the response, and Leo doesn't even have to look at him to know that he has a scowl at the mention of his mother and the inevitable marriage. Neither of them want to be married. That is the saving grace.
"All mothers say that," Leo replies airily, pushing his glass aside and turns his head so that he is looking at him. "When do you listen to your mother?"
Something that passes as a chuckle comes out of Charlemagne Travers' mouth, and they sit in amusement. "I try not to."
"Good." There is an inquiring quirk of Charley's eyebrow, but Leo ignores it, getting up instead to refill his glass.
Leo kisses him right before he heads home, tentatively, without much force. Charley doesn't respond, and whether it's because he doesn't want to or is too shocked, Leo doesn't care to stick around to find out.
He blames the alcohol.
It forced him.
The avoiding lasts two weeks, and the rest of the group wonders what happened.
"Sorry," he offers, quiet and solemn, his heart racing.
"There's no need." Leo knows it must be killing him not to ask questions, but is, once again, relieved.
Either intentionally or unintentionally, Charlemagne drags Leo out to shop for wedding rings. He hates the task, but Leo hates it more. It's not even his wedding. They harass ten shop owners before settling on an eleventh store, a glittering silver band with three diamonds, snug securely in a velvet blue box.
In an alleyway, Charlemagne pushes Leo up against the wall and kisses him, and it is not tentative or without force, but hard and insistent. He returns the kiss (was there any doubt) and they only break apart when they hear the velvet box drop to the ground. Leo looks down and feels consumed with guilt, picking it up and shoving it into Charley's hand. He leaves first, leaving Charlemagne stranded in the alleyway.
(There are a few more kisses from then on, but we're not here to talk about those.)
Charlemagne Travers asks Leticia Yaxley to marry him and they hold a large engagement party. Rabastan drinks, Rodolphus is unbothered but happy, and Leonidas is sullen (which is a normal state of reaction).
The wedding occurs, but the newlyweds aren't happy.
On his 29th birthday, Charlemagne puts Lettie in St. Mungo's, tortures her, gives her a stroke, and there is nothing Leo wants to do more than to kill his best friend and brother-in-law. He is so blindingly enraged that he punches him, and it is only after that he wonders why he didn't do more. He spends days by her bed, and he vows never to talk to Charlemagne Travers again.
He's never been good with promises.
Lettie recovers and has not lost her spirit. Leo loves her for it.
Leo is intrigued by Junia Meliflua. She has long red hair and a sharp wit, a fierce belief in purism, and an ability to make him smile. She is years younger than him, but he doesn't care. Junia Meliflua makes him happy, although he won't admit it. They don't court, or at least, they don't do it under that title. They date. They date for a long time. He entrusts her with his most important secret -- that he's a Death Eater -- and he asks her to marry him.
They get married and have four children.
That happens years after Lord Voldemort falls.
The world is turned upside down.
Their first meeting after Charlemagne was taken to Azkaban is not successful. There is no reunion. There are only threats and powerplay. There are no positive feelings. Leo hates him for it. Charlemagne isn't the same.
Azkaban changes a man.
Leo becomes ruthless.
They are not young anymore.
Leo and Charley fight together at Hogwarts, never straying too far from one another, busy taunting the young, poor, defenceless students. He turns away for a second and he hears the "Avada Kedavra" too late.
Charlemagne Travers' body falls, and Leo doesn't think about anything else but the Avada Kedavra as he sees the bright green hit the attacker.
Lee Jordan and George Weasley defeat him, and he doesn't know what to feel. He goes to Azkaban. The Dark Lord falls. Harry Potter is the saviour of the world. Hogwarts rebuilds. His family makes do.
He is 25 when he steps into the bridal party's reserved room. His breath catches in his throat when he sees his sister in the brilliant, innocent white, the long train carefully placed behind her, her hair intricately designed, the glittering diamonds of the engagement band shining at him. The girls don't notice him until he clears his throat, and Lettie turns around, inquiring at the arrival -- as always, she is alert and suspicious, but relaxes when she see that it is only her brother, who, despite his surly frown and faint hints of wrinkles on his forehead, cuts a stark figure in his dark dress robes, the material carefully pressed and the style custom-made. She gestures for him to walk closer, because it's clear that she has been told to not move unless absolutely necessary, and he obeys. Leonidas Yaxley is cautious, but steady, as he walks, and Lettie's bridesmaids and maid of honor discreetly leave the room. The door closes and engulfs the two in silence.
They do not break into tears or hug; it has never been their custom. She gives him a slight, but genuine smile, and he eases out one of his own, a rare one reserved for his closest friends and family. She touches his hand and they stand there in comfortable silence, before there is a knock on the door. Leo brushes aside the strand of hair that has escaped her hairstyle and leans down to plant a kiss on her forehead.
"You look beautiful," he says, a bit haltingly, though he means it completely. Leticia Yaxley whispers a thank you before he leaves.
He is 25 when he stops by the groom's reserved room. Rodolphus is lounging on the provided couch and Rabastan is still drinking. Charlemagne has his trademark displeased scowl as he observes the twins in their natural state, and his eyes move up to meet Leo's as he walks in. The three of them spend the remainder of the time before they have to walk up the aisle attempting to convince Rabastan to stop drinking long enough for him to walk up the aisle, and they are almost very nearly unsuccessful. Thankfully, with a few minutes to spare, they wrestle the flask away, and Rabastan sullenly leaves the room to take his place. Rodolphus follows his brother, amused.
Leo moves to follow them, followed by Charlemagne, and the group walk to the main chamber in an easy silence, broken up only by the requisite teasing of Charley. Charley's only response is his patented death glare, and they all chuckle. They take their place on the altar, Charley on the highest step, and the music starts. Leo takes his place next to Charley, and they are close enough to pass a conversation between them without having to whisper. When the crowd stands up for the arrival of Leticia Yaxley and her father, Leo turns to Charley and asks, "Are you ready?," devoid of an emotional attachment, and the groom only responds with a glare. Satisfied, Leo turns his attention back to the procession, and makes up his mind that he will deny it to the day that he has tears in his eyes as he watches his sister get married to his best friend.
He is 23 when Charlemagne tells him he is courting Lettie. Leo doesn't talk to him for a week.
He is 11 when he studies with Charley for the first time, the two quiet, anti-social, pureblood outcasts of the Ravenclaw dorm. They do not talk at all, both of them too involved in their own work, and even Madame Pince nods approvingly at the silent concentration the two of them use. Leo looks up once and sees the level of detail in Charley's notes, looks back at his own, and resolves himself to do better.
Charley eventually allows him to study off his notes, but that's when he's 15, and that's another story.
They meet Rodolphus and Rabastan Lestrange officially when they are 11 as well, all four of them in the same Potions class. As purebloods, they've talked before and have spent time with each other before, but they have never been friends. Something about them binds them together, and they are inseparable from then on.
Along the way, Alecto Carrow is added to their group, and though they don't say it, each member is fiercely protective of the others.
Charley and Leo have these conversations sometimes:
"Let's lock Robert McKinnon out of the Common Room."
"I have never heard a better idea."
"Why has Alecto approached me with another one of her harebrained schemes?"
"Should I be offended she didn't approach me?"
"That is the answer you choose to give me?"
The other conversations consist of lengthy discussions on texts, some Dark, some not, but they are not interesting enough to note.
They never talk about their feelings.
At 15, the OWLs consume their lives, and Ravenclaw turns into a tower of stress and anxiety, frantic revision and dramatic rows. Charlemagne silences them all with a glare. Leo is immeasurably thankful. His notes aren't good enough still, even after five years of practising, and he has still forgotten important bits and pieces. He tries to subtly glance over at Charlemagne's entire collection of notes, hoping he is distracted long enough so he can borrow them for just an hour, but as always, Charlemagne is too alert for his own good.
The subtle looks pass for a few seconds before Charlemagne, irritated and unamused by Leo's complete lack of subtlety, grinds out, "If you need to use my notes, just ask. Your idea of subtle is about as subtle as the tricks Rabastan uses to seduce women."
Leo instinctively stiffens, disappointed at himself for letting himself get caught so easily, but relaxes a few minutes later. "Charlemagne," he says, very politely.
"Yes, Leonidas?" comes the bored reply.
"I am taking your notes. Expect them back within the hour."
"Much better."
Leo wants to hex that hint of a smirk off his friend's face, but he settles for putting his notes in a different order. That will upset him more.
(It does.)
They are 17 and done, done with Hogwarts, done with classes, done with the incessantly annoying presence of Robert McKinnon and Josephine Proudfoot. (So they think.) All five of them head off into different paths to begin their careers, but meet up every Saturday night at a pre-arranged place to catch up. (They start meeting up more often, especially after certain situations start changing.)
Each one of them is inducted into the Death Eaters sooner or later.
There's one part of the story that hasn't been told, but it is hard to tell. Leo doesn't know when he realizes he sees Charlemagne as more than a best friend, but it happens somewhere along those points. It is after they meet at 11, before Charlemagne courts Lettie at 22, and perhaps centered around 15.
He doesn't know what to do with himself when he comes to this realization, so he avoids Charlemagne for a week and a half. Thankfully they have their OWLs to deal with, so his disappearance is not that noticeable.
(Of course, if Charlemagne notices the disappearing act, he says nothing. They don't talk about the whys.)
To make things appear as normal as possible, Leo conveniently pushes aside these thoughts, and moves on with life as per usual. Charlemagne only gives him a blank stare when he sits by him again at breakfast. Nothing is passed in conversation. Leo is relieved.
Let's return to 23. Leo talks to him again after that week, and they never speak of the reason. (It's a mixture of choosing Leticia, even though she doesn't want to be chosen, and choosing Leticia and not --) A few weeks later, Charlemagne complains bitterly about Lettie's attitude, and Leo sighs. They won't last, he thinks; they're much too different.
(Two years later wipes that thought away.)
Lettie is too independent for Charlemagne, but isn't that part of the appeal as well? She challenges him, even though he insists he doesn't like being challenged; she is intellectual and beautiful and able to fight back jab for jab, and Leo is usually amused. They're beautiful to the public, if just a bit distant, but each play their part well.
23 isn't a good year, but 24 begins better --
(until, of course, it doesn't, and what is he doing, deluding himself)
"I suppose I'm meant to marry your sister," Charley says one day over drinks in his study. Leo looks over, bemused. He doesn't know what's happening, a slight fogginess clouding over his train of thought.
"Oh," he merely says, frowning a little. "I suppose so. It has been a long courtship." He says this like the fact it is. He takes a drink and sets down his glass when it's empty, staring at it.
"That is what my mother says," comes the response, and Leo doesn't even have to look at him to know that he has a scowl at the mention of his mother and the inevitable marriage. Neither of them want to be married. That is the saving grace.
"All mothers say that," Leo replies airily, pushing his glass aside and turns his head so that he is looking at him. "When do you listen to your mother?"
Something that passes as a chuckle comes out of Charlemagne Travers' mouth, and they sit in amusement. "I try not to."
"Good." There is an inquiring quirk of Charley's eyebrow, but Leo ignores it, getting up instead to refill his glass.
Leo kisses him right before he heads home, tentatively, without much force. Charley doesn't respond, and whether it's because he doesn't want to or is too shocked, Leo doesn't care to stick around to find out.
He blames the alcohol.
It forced him.
The avoiding lasts two weeks, and the rest of the group wonders what happened.
"Sorry," he offers, quiet and solemn, his heart racing.
"There's no need." Leo knows it must be killing him not to ask questions, but is, once again, relieved.
Either intentionally or unintentionally, Charlemagne drags Leo out to shop for wedding rings. He hates the task, but Leo hates it more. It's not even his wedding. They harass ten shop owners before settling on an eleventh store, a glittering silver band with three diamonds, snug securely in a velvet blue box.
In an alleyway, Charlemagne pushes Leo up against the wall and kisses him, and it is not tentative or without force, but hard and insistent. He returns the kiss (was there any doubt) and they only break apart when they hear the velvet box drop to the ground. Leo looks down and feels consumed with guilt, picking it up and shoving it into Charley's hand. He leaves first, leaving Charlemagne stranded in the alleyway.
(There are a few more kisses from then on, but we're not here to talk about those.)
Charlemagne Travers asks Leticia Yaxley to marry him and they hold a large engagement party. Rabastan drinks, Rodolphus is unbothered but happy, and Leonidas is sullen (which is a normal state of reaction).
The wedding occurs, but the newlyweds aren't happy.
On his 29th birthday, Charlemagne puts Lettie in St. Mungo's, tortures her, gives her a stroke, and there is nothing Leo wants to do more than to kill his best friend and brother-in-law. He is so blindingly enraged that he punches him, and it is only after that he wonders why he didn't do more. He spends days by her bed, and he vows never to talk to Charlemagne Travers again.
He's never been good with promises.
Lettie recovers and has not lost her spirit. Leo loves her for it.
Leo is intrigued by Junia Meliflua. She has long red hair and a sharp wit, a fierce belief in purism, and an ability to make him smile. She is years younger than him, but he doesn't care. Junia Meliflua makes him happy, although he won't admit it. They don't court, or at least, they don't do it under that title. They date. They date for a long time. He entrusts her with his most important secret -- that he's a Death Eater -- and he asks her to marry him.
They get married and have four children.
That happens years after Lord Voldemort falls.
The world is turned upside down.
Their first meeting after Charlemagne was taken to Azkaban is not successful. There is no reunion. There are only threats and powerplay. There are no positive feelings. Leo hates him for it. Charlemagne isn't the same.
Azkaban changes a man.
Leo becomes ruthless.
They are not young anymore.
Leo and Charley fight together at Hogwarts, never straying too far from one another, busy taunting the young, poor, defenceless students. He turns away for a second and he hears the "Avada Kedavra" too late.
Charlemagne Travers' body falls, and Leo doesn't think about anything else but the Avada Kedavra as he sees the bright green hit the attacker.
Lee Jordan and George Weasley defeat him, and he doesn't know what to feel. He goes to Azkaban. The Dark Lord falls. Harry Potter is the saviour of the world. Hogwarts rebuilds. His family makes do.