Disclaimer: The Harry Potter Series (1997-2007) and any characters and original locations within the books belong to JK Rowling. I own my original characters and my plot twists. I am not trying to pass any of these characters or copyrighted ideas off as my own and therefore it isn't plagiarism or copyright infringement.
Chapter One – Death Eater Invasion
Draco was busy reading an advanced transfiguration text specializing in achieving the very unpredictable and sometimes harmful Animagus status. Over the past few weeks, Draco had evolved greatly from the scared little boy who allowed other's to talk him into running and hiding. His time in France had brought back his understanding of the French language and he was soon conversing with the Delacours frequently. He was even considering attending Bill and Fleur's wedding in disguise. He couldn't show up as Leo because he looked too much like Draco, and it would be even madder to show up as himself. It would be like a snake walking into the lion's den, and he knew he'd be the one on the menu. He may have embraced the Gryffindor courage he and his twin shared, but he was still very Slytherin. There was no way he'd stupidly put his life in danger. He was still waiting for the right moment before he crossed the channel and drew the line in the sand that placed him on the opposite side of Voldemort and his Death Eaters.
He continued to study the incantations and the necessary wand movements. He sighed realizing the spells were challenging, but luckily not as unpredictable as charms could be. He scowled as he bitterly remembered how he'd allowed that stupid old git fawning over Saint Potter distract him from his levitation charm. If he'd maintained his concentration, maybe just maybe he could've been in N.E.W.T. level Charms. Not being able to achieve an N.E.W.T. in charms was going to limit his career options. He scowled, there was no way he could ever be a Healer or Auror because of that stupid error. It wasn't like he wanted to follow his father's footsteps by being a ministry official, so that he could pull strings behind the scenes. He had no interest in being corrupt and power hungry like his father. Sure he was probably good for being a potions master and perhaps he could create and brew new cures. The vibration of his journal brought him out of his brooding. He flipped the cover open where the golden lion gated all around, as if excited to gain Draco's attention. He quickly read what his twin Leo had written.
You must join me tonight. I've been informed by father that we're all expected to attend. I fear that our home will once again be invaded by them. However, it will be a good way for you to gain information. You may wish to eat well before, I have a feeling we'll be graced with their highest lord. I fear what we shall witness. I only hope that things will improve after we return to Hogwarts.
Draco shut the journal and set it on the nightstand before he gave into his rage and threw the blasted thing against the wall. His childhood home was being occupied by the vilest of swine. His aunt Bellatrix, the queen of them, and Draco wasn't quite over his last visit. He couldn't help but wonder how the hell his brother was keeping his sanity. Draco could only liken Leo's situation to the muggle book he'd recently read. It was about a bunch of mentally ill muggles living in an insane asylum. One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kasey. Well except that the dictator was an evil mastermind instead of dictator in the guise of a nurse. Leo was like the rebel protagonist in the novel, however he had to fly under the radar or he'd end up dead. Also the crazies like Bellatrix were welcomed instead of being treated by causing major pain. Well perhaps the electroshock therapy described in the book is the muggle equivalent to the Cruciatus Curse. Draco still didn't understand the muggle concept of sending basically lightening through a person as a form of treatment. He closed his eyes and prepared for the true horrors that awaited him. He distracted himself by contemplating the barbaric nature of muggle medicine.
Leo sat at the long table that had been placed in the middle of the drawing room. He had his father on his right and his mother was on his father's right. He couldn't help but stare at the woman who previously taught Muggle Studies at Hogwarts suspended over the table, passed out, and contorted in painful pose. He stared past her hoping that no one would notice his dazed stare as he fought with himself not to jump up and demand the atrocities to stop. It caused his gut to churn and his skin crawled being surrounded by so many horrible people. He had to mentally remind himself that he was doing this for the greater good. If everything worked out, Voldemort would be dead by the same time the following year. The Death Eater's would be disbanded and the ministry rebuilt. He couldn't help but wonder where the Malfoy's would stand within society, if they all managed to survive.
Relief washed over him for a moment, when he recognized the energy of Draco. He couldn't help but draw some strength from the spiritual presence of his older brother. Soon his mind was filled with his brother's disgusted thoughts. They are truly losing it if they're torturing our Muggle Studies teacher as a form of entertainment at a bloody meeting. Did I miss anything?
Leo continued to stare passed the visibly tortured woman, who he knew wouldn't survive to see the end of the meeting. No, we all just arrived and took our seats. If you noticed father is quite sickly looking. I really think he's grasping at ropes and straws with hopes to regain favor with the evil snake faced git.
Just then Leo's attention was drawn to the opening of the heavy wood doors that separated the room from the hallway entrance. Through the doors walked the long haired and strong faced head of the Magical Law Enforcement Department, Yaxley, and the ever indifferent looking Snape with his long, black, billowing robes. Draco's thoughts interrupted his observations. Ah so, the meeting shall start now that the last two guests have arrived. So, do you think we're going to hear about their plans for Potter?
Leo hid the grimace from his face as he mentally slapped Draco. Don't tell me that you're still harboring ill intent for him. I would've thought some time away would give you an opportunity to think. Have you decided which side you're on?
Leo didn't hear Draco's response as he was too busy listening to the conversation going around while he continued to stare past the woman. He tried to trick himself in believing that it wasn't a human there but some muggle animatronics device they used in their movies. Ah so, Snape was feeding them factual information. Leo couldn't help but wonder who his source was, and why the Order was moving Harry Saturday after next. He commended them for leaving a false trail, but unfortunately they didn't know the resourcefulness of Snape and Dumbledore. Leo couldn't help but wonder if he was expected to participate in the attack. He knew they'd be planning on an attempt to attack the group moving Harry so that Voldemort could end his life before he becomes of age. He tuned out the conversations after they started to discuss their infiltration of the Ministry of Magic. He fought the urge to shake his head. He knew that Death Eater's had infiltrated the Ministry many years earlier. His father and Yaxley were two Death Eaters never caught after the Dark Lords first rein.
A scream caused him to blink and Draco to question. Who's their guest?
Well a couple of weeks ago Ollivander was brought to the Manor. I don't know if you remember that he went missing last summer.
Leo and Draco's conversation was interrupted when Voldemort stated that he needed to borrow someone's wand as his wouldn't work to kill Harry. Leo's eyes flitted to the side where he could barely see the red eyed snake man pacing back and forth behind his family. Leo clenched his fist under the table when he heard the vial creature demand Lucius' wand. He would've tested his skill with the killing curse if he didn't know that Voldemort was immortal until Harry finished the job that Dumbledore gave him. At the same time since he'd been spending most of his time in the library at the Manor looking for anything that would explain the comment Dumbledore had made about the connection between Voldemort and Harry being one of souls rather than just minds. He also had to find the answer to the question of how Voldemort achieved immortality. He knew it had to be some really dark magic and that it would have to have something to do with souls.
Leo's attention was drawn again though he continued to stare past the contorted woman. Voldemort had addressed a question to Draco and his family about feeling put out. He was fishing for their loyalty. He listened to his father's half hearted and fear filled response. He turned his eyes from the body and quickly glanced at the man. He refused to make eye contact with the monster for fear that his anger and defiance would show behind his usually well constructed mask. He was far too livid at the moment to fully play the part he needed to play. He turned his attention back to staring at the spot on the wall behind the woman. Leo felt like he was going to lose what little food he had eaten when he heard his aunt Bellatrix verbally lick the bootstraps of her vial master.
Draco's drawl sounded in his mind. I'm pretty sure she'd do much more for that man than lick his boot straps. I fear I've witnessed the type of relationship those two have by mistake. Let's just say those two act like vicious animals when their physical.
Leo prevented himself from letting the disgusted noise he was about to make to slip from his lips. Draco, you really shouldn't have painted that picture for me. You forget that I'm the innocent one out of the two of us. Just being here is corrupting me and then you add something that grotesque to my sentence.
Draco laughed in his mind. You innocent, you forget that I'm staying in your room. I've found your stash of Wizarding and muggle pornography magazines.
Leo chose not to respond as he picked up the barely veiled insults Voldemort was throwing toward his family because of their relationship to Dora. Apparently they were supposed to be appalled that their disowned cousin had married Lupin. Leo was secretly happy that his cousin finally achieved the love she'd sought. The comment about their family tree needing to be trimmed and Bellatrix whole hardly agreeing set Leo's teeth on edge. I will kill Bellatrix. There's no way I'm allowing her to lay a hand on Dora. I really think Bellatrix plans on hunting her down.
Draco's response almost stole Leo's breath. I'm with you. I would rather see the vacant stare in eyes of that lunatic than any harm come to our cousin Dora. She might've been a Hufflepuff, but she's still family. Family that protected you, and she wouldn't sell us out to the Dark Lord to save her own skin or if she felt that we were not loyal enough to the cause. Yep I'm sticking with the family I can trust. Bellatrix is on my hit list, and she's up there with that vial Werewolf Greyback.
The former Hogwarts professor had awoken and her pleading broke through their conversation. Voldemort decided it was time to play with Nagini's food. He asked Snape if he recognized the woman. Everyone stared up at the woman and Leo stared down at the table. He couldn't watch this. The woman pleaded with Snape and he responded that he did recognize her. Voldemort then directed his question to Draco and Leo just shook his head no keeping his eyes on the table.
Leo felt his stomach twist and bile rise in his throat, as he listened to the hate filled propaganda spewing from the psychopath's gob. Leo saw nothing wrong with relationships between muggle-born wizards and witches and pure-bloods. He saw no reason for discrimination based upon "blood purity." He was never raised that way. He believed in the power of love, and if a pure-blooded witch fell in love with a muggle man, there was nothing wrong with it in his eyes. Also, he couldn't help but want to scream and yell at the hypocrisy before him, since the man spewing the hatred was a product of a witch and a muggle. Voldemort himself was a half-blood and he was being served by pure-bloods who thought they were superior to half-bloods.
The sound of the killing curse and the bright green light shot from Snape's wand caught his attention. Leo couldn't help but wonder if Snape had killed her because it was a quicker death then, allowing someone like Bellatrix who would use the Cruciatus Curse on her until she was insane before killing her. Then Voldemort spoke to his snake and the horrible serpent was on the table devouring the former Hogwarts professor. Draco whispered in Leo's mind. Wow, that's ghastly to watch.
Leo was once again looking through the darkest books in the Malfoy Library. Their family name meant bad faith for a reason. Their line had been full of dark wizards since the first one was recorded in history. It was in a very ancient text full of dust written in runes that Leo found the answer to his question. The darkest of dark magic requiring the ripping of one's soul, and one could contain the piece of it into an object called a horcrux. So, if a piece of Voldemort's soul broke off of him and latched onto Harry, then it would be a connection of two souls. Crap! That means that Harry's going to have to die so the final horcrux can be destroyed, but how does one destroy them? The diary, Tom Riddle's Diary, how did Harry destroy that?
Draco's voice interrupted Leo's thoughts. I don't know the full details but I believe the monster in the Chamber of Secrets was a Basilisk and he may have used a fang. Basilisk venom is quite poisons and apparently strong enough to destroy an evil piece that monster's soul trapped in an object. So, Dumbledore really sent Harry on a hunt to destroy pieces of Voldemort?
Leo sighed wondering if the book could give him any other information about how they could be destroyed. I assume so. It's not like I was privy to the private conversations between Harry and Dumbledore. Hell, Dumbledore even kept some things from Snape, and I have a feeling this particular fact was one of them. I overheard a conversation while I was trudging through the Forbidden Forest as lion. Dumbledore had said something about Voldemort not trying to possess Harry again because when his tattered soul came in contact with one like Harry's, it hurt. It was that comment that had me wondering what Voldemort could've done to ensure his immortality that would have anything to do with one's soul.
Draco's voice was filled with disbelief. You went into the Forbidden Forest alone? You do realize there are horrible creatures in there right? I mean Harry and I came across this horrifying hooded creature our first year.
Leo shook his head and chuckled. I'm talking to you about Voldemort achieving immortality through creating dark magic and containing parts of his tattered soul in objects, and you're concerned about me running through the forest alone? Oh, I believe that hooded man feeding off of Unicorn Blood, you and Harry came across your first year, was none other than Professor Quirrell with Voldemort sticking out of the back side of his head.
Leo felt Draco shudder. Gross.
Leo decided it was best to change the topic. So, how has your studying been going? Have you been able to transform into a very large dragon yet?
Draco chuckled. You'd be the first to know because you'd hear about a Ukrainian Ironbelly being spotted in Muggle France. No, I've been studying the incantations. Plus, I've been distracting myself with Muggle Literature. I've moved onto the more modern works. Though, I have to say that I understand the society depicted in Jane Austin's novels.
Leo shook his head. You've always loved flying. I'm guessing that's the first thing you'll do once you transform. Of course, I shouldn't be talking. I loved running through the woods at school in my lion form, which by the way Nott has name Goldilocks. I wouldn't dare attempt that here because we're all being watched. I can only get away with reading in the library because I'm studying to achieve Head Boy status. Of course, I have a feeling that it's going to go to Nott, since his father is still in good standing with Voldemort. I fear that we're going to be losing more standing in school because of our father's failure.
Draco sighed. I guess it would be we since you're pretending to be me at school in the fall. So, do you think that they're going to make you be a part of the attack on Potter?
Leo rolled his eyes. Well, I'm an honorary Death Eater with a Dark Mark. I'm pretty sure it's expected of me. Will I be aiming curses at him or anyone else? The answer to that is no. However, I will have horrible aim and might hit a few Death Eaters by mistake with perhaps a few less harmful curses. So, have you chosen a side?
Draco growled. Of course, I've chosen a bloody side, you sodding prat. There's no way, I'm going to pick the losing side. I know that Voldemort is on the way out and rightly so. He's a complete nutter, and an evil git that ripped his soul to shreds in an attempt to achieve immortality because he fears what's behind the veil. Well, that and he's solely motivated by power and his achievement of it.
Leo mocked. Ah my darling brother is growing into a muggle profiler. I'm surprised that you didn't mention his sadistic tendencies or narcissistic compulsions. Perhaps there's still hope for your future career. If all else fails you could always go to muggle university and become a psychologist.
Draco's voice sounded melancholy. Thank you for reminding me that I don't have a future thanks to my less than stellar O.W.L. in Charms. I couldn't be a Healer or an Auror if I wanted to because I didn't score high enough to take N.E.W.T. level charms. Of course, I still have no idea what I want to do for a career. I guess I've been concentrating on living through the war that's at our doorstep before I put my full focus on a future I may never see.
Leo roared. Don't you dare think like that! You're a Malfoy and Malfoys are survivors. You're going to take your time in France to learn everything you can to insure you're the best duelist possible. Also, you're quite talented with fixing things. You would've had that Vanishing Cabinet fixed much sooner if Snape wasn't sabotaging your work. Your intelligence, ingenuity, and new found courage might just be the building blocks for your perfect career. Have you ever considered being a Curse Breaker?
A/N: I'm not sure if this is the best start, however I will be loosely following Deathly Hallows. I don't plan on quoting much dialog in this fiction. Also, I'm hoping to show more of a symbiotic relationship between the twins now that Leo doesn't have to use subterfuge with Draco. He still has to pretend with this family and their guests. I also want to add the same warning I did to this fiction's predecessor The Obliviated Twin, I'm American and thus may make some blunders with the British slang I'm using.