#leo babbit

Gabrielle stood, swiftly picking up the parchment and intercepting him before he could retreat. "Here." She felt a strange ripple in her usual composure. What to call him? 'Leo' felt entirely too familiar; they weren't friends. 'Leonard' was too formal, and 'Babbit'… that felt abrupt, almost rude. So she had settled on nothing at all. He stopped, his expression immediately guarded. His eyes flicked from her face to the parchment in her hand. She pressed on, getting straight to the point, her hand holding out the translation. "I finished my half. And yours." Her index finger tapped the rolled parchment. "Eldridge's lecture is on Wednesday, and he is known for cold-calling students to analyze syntax. I assume you'd rather not be humiliated, so it's best if we meet to go over my translation." He still didn't take it. His voice was low. "Why?" His suspicion was plain in his eyes: he was expecting a transaction. Perhaps he hadn't actually believed she would complete his portion of the assignment, or perhaps he expected that it would come with a price. It almost made her falter, but she anchored herself in logic. "Because we're partners for the entire semester," she said, her tone business-like. "This translation was the 'appetizer,' and you were..." She cut the sentence short. She could be cold, but she wouldn't be cruel to someone who hadn't earned her wrath. "I told you I'd take care of it," she continued, her extended hand feeling heavier. "We have to present a unified effort, and I can't speak for you in class." She watched him process this. She could practically see the gears turning as he filed her words under a definition he could understand. He finally gave a short, clipped nod. "I have a second practice this evening. I can meet after. Eight o'clock." Gabrielle fought the urge to roll her eyes. Eight. After he'd been battered on the pitch for hours, when he'd be physically exhausted and his mind would be even foggier. It was, objectively, the worst possible time to review something as complex as linguistics. She understood instantly: this meeting was a duty for him, another miserable task to check off his list. He was simply dealing with an obligation. It stung, just a bit. Her hand finally dropped, the roll of parchment lamely hanging by her side. Her fingers threatened to crush the paper out of frustration, but she forced her hand to relax. She inhaled deeply, resigned. "Fine. Meet me in the small study room off the common room. The one with the maps." She met his gaze. "I'll see you then." He nodded again, grabbed two pieces of toast from the platter on the table, and walked out of the Great Hall, leaving her alone with the parchment once again and her half-drunk coffee, now cold.

· · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·

Gabrielle stood at the tiny worktable tucked into the far corner of the Slytherin common room’s side study—her preferred space, where she could be without interruption. A borrowed copper bowl rested in the crook of her arm, and she worked batter with an easy rhythm, the spoon gliding through the pale mixture. The zest gave off tiny bursts of fragrance every time she stirred, little sparks of home carried on the back of memory.

Her hands knew this recipe by feel, by instinct. It was the first cake her mother had ever taught her to make.

She paused for a second, listening to the small crackling sound of lemon oil blooming against sugar. The sound always soothed her.

The cake wasn’t for Leo—though she could already see his expression if it had been, that boyish astonishment he tried to hide behind composure.

This was for Eloise.

A spark of protectiveness had flickered in Gabrielle when she’d watched his younger sister over a few weeks—quiet, observant, sensitive, carrying herself with a sort of softness that Hogwarts rarely rewarded. And earlier that day during their pre-lab revision, Leo had mentioned off-hand, that Eloise adored lemon tarts. He’d said it with a fond roll of his eyes, pretending it was nothing, but Gabrielle had caught the undertone—affection laced with worry.

Because Eloise had been spending a lot of time with Sebastian Sallow.

None of Gabrielle’s business, really. But something in her chest tugged with the gentle instinct to reach out—to a girl who might someday become important to her. So here she was, pouring batter into a small tin shaped like a ring, the one she used for almost every cake she made. She tapped the pan lightly, letting the mixture settle. Then she whispered a quick heating charm under her breath, low and steady, guiding it carefully so it wouldn’t scorch the edges.

The ring pan glowed faintly as the batter began to bake. Gabrielle leaned against the stone wall as she waited, rubbing her fingers together to release the last of the lemon scent. She always felt calmer when she cooked—like she was stitching the parts of her life together with spices and warmth.

Footsteps sounded down the corridor, reaching the study's door; she straightened.

Eloise stepped into the room, wrapped in her green-trimmed cloak, cheeks still flushed from the cold. She was holding a stack of books pressed to her chest, and her expression shifted from weary to puzzled the moment she smelled the air.

"Oh, I'm sorr—" Eloise blinked, as though she wasn’t quite convinced the scene before her was real. "Are… are you baking?"

Gabrielle blinked softly, tucking loose tendrils behind her ears. "I am. Only a little something."

"For someone?" The question wasn’t suspicious—just surprised. Eloise always looked like she expected bad luck before good. Gabrielle hesitated, then decided that sincerity had always served her well.

"For you."

"For me?"

"Yes." Gabrielle motioned her closer. "Come, you’ll see."

Eloise approached the table gingerly. She peered at the pan, then at Gabrielle, then back at the pan. Her eyes widened.

"Is that lemon?"

"Lemon olive oil cake," Gabrielle said. "My mother taught me when I was small. I remembered Leo mentioning you liked lemon tarts."

A pink flush crept across Eloise’s cheeks. She clutched her books tighter. Gabrielle didn’t add I think he worries about you. Or, He loves you very much even if he's god-awful with words.

Eloise stared at the glowing pan, "Why would you make something for me?"

Gabrielle tilted her head. "Why not?"

Eloise opened her mouth, then shut it, unsure of the answer.

The warm citrus scent deepened as the cake finished baking. Gabrielle touched the rim of the pan lightly with a testing finger, then whispered a cooling charm—gentle, feather-light. When the tin was ready, she flipped it carefully onto a plate, releasing a perfect golden ring. She dusted it with lemon zest.

Eloise stared at it with slight apprehension. She swallowed. "May I try it now?"

"Of course."

Gabrielle cut her a piece—thin, respectful, letting Eloise decide if she wanted more. Eloise took it with both hands, and brought it to her mouth.

The first bite melted.

"Wow," she whispered. "this is…” She looked down at the slice as though she'd never tasted anything like it. "This is so good."

Gabrielle let out a relieved laugh. "I’m glad."

"I didn’t know you cooked," Eloise said, taking another bite—larger this time, confidence growing. "This tastes... like sunshine."

"Sunshine is rare in these dungeons," Gabrielle teased.

Eloise startled into a laugh. A real one—quick, soft, unguarded.

Gabrielle watched her, feeling an ease settle in her chest. A quiet understanding passed between them: You matter to someone I care about. That makes you matter to me.

Eloise wiped a crumb from her lip. Then, after a moment’s fidgeting, she asked shyly:

"Would you… maybe sit with me while I eat the rest?"

The question was so tentative, so carefully offered, that Gabrielle felt her heart warm protectively.

"Of course I will," she said.

They sat at the small table, Eloise nibbling her way through the slice, Gabrielle resting her chin on her tired hands. Eloise relaxed more with each bite, her shoulders dropping, her expression softening.

When she finished, she glanced toward the remaining cake. "Do you think…" She paused. "Would it be all right if I brought a piece to my friend Anne? She likes lemon too."

"Absolutely," Gabrielle said. "Take as much as you’d like."

Eloise’s eyes shone—grateful, touched in a way she didn’t know how to articulate. They sat together a little longer, warmth building quietly between them, gentle and unforced. Eventually Eloise stood, gathering the books against her chest again.

"Gabrielle?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

Eloise hesitated at the doorway, then added:

"Leo’s lucky."

When Eloise left, Gabrielle stayed a little longer, watching the last wisps of steam curl from the cake’s center. She didn’t need an audience for kindness. It was enough to know the gesture had found its mark. Somewhere down the corridor, she heard Eloise’s laughter—lighter than before—as she shared the news of the cake with someone unseen.

Gabrielle closed her eyes, breathing in the citrus sweetness.

Thank you for the ask!!!🫶🫶🫶

3) What was the first thing you decided on: the character’s name, appearance, personality, or their role in the story?

His role in the story!!!

Honestly, when I came up with my overall story (almost a year ago now😳) Leo was supposed to be TERRIBLE😔 I had a really vague idea that his story would be intertwined with the Sallows’ already, because I wanted the juicy drama of Sebastian realizing that Eloise is his ENEMY’S SISTER😳😳 & I thought it could be interesting to explore a dynamic where Leo was really influenced by his parents’ views and also rejected Eloise.

But then…as I thought about the story more…I realized I wanted Leo to be a sweetheart😭💓 I love the thought that he was always there, trying his hardest to protect his sister, and the emotional ramifications and turmoil of knowing thst he COULDN’T really do anything to help her.

So, when he returns to Hogwarts his second year (right after his sister is almost killed & now he’s supposed to pretend she never existed??😭 poor boy was SO excited to show her off to all of his friends etc and it was all taken away from him), I think it’s quite obvious that he would latch on to the Sallow twins as Eloise’s “replacement”

Maybe this is too studio ghibli of me (😆) but I just wanted the conflict between Leo and Sebastian to not be because Leo’s a bad person, but because both of them are so consumed by their OWN problems that they can’t see the other’s perspective, emotions run high and misunderstandings arise.

And also, Eloise was given a big brother because I think it’s more interesting for her to have a sibling vs being an only child🫶 I just love thinking about different personalities and the dynamics and interactions that arise from these things😭💓