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 Fourteen – King Weasley
Leo followed the directions Harry had given him with Neville and Dean following him. They quickly found the door on the seventh floor opposite the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy that hadn't been there before. They walked in to find the perfect place to practice. There were bookshelves of defense books and a center area where there were large silk cushions. When everyone arrived Harry locked the door. They quickly decided that Harry was their leader and decided on the name Dumbledore's Army or D.A. for short. It was after all the Ministry's worst fear and the reason why they had sent the toad to Hogwarts to begin with. Harry then explained that he was going to start with the basics and thus they were going to start with the disarming spell. Zacharias didn't seem too keen on this idea until Harry explained that it had saved his life against Voldemort the summer before. Everyone paired up and Leo chose Neville and they practiced while Harry went around the room and made suggestions.
After a few meetings, Hermione came up with some fake Galleon's that warmed up and would change with the date and time of meetings. Some of the Ravenclaws were shocked that she performed a N.E.W.T. level Protean Charm and wanted to know why she wasn't in their house. Hermione admitted that the sorting hat had considered her for Ravenclaw but thought Gryffindor would be the best fit for her. Leo thought back to the hat considering him for Slytherin until it considered his bravery and boldness. The meetings were put on hold while the Gryffindor Quidditch team had more practices to prepare for their first game against Slytherin. Leo quickly noticed what his brother was up to in singling out and attempting to psych out Ron. By the day of the match he noticed crown shaped badges which said Weasley is our King. A knot tightened in Leo's gut as he stood next to Hermione and Luna in the crowd watching the game.
The game wasn't going well as the Slytherin crowd being led by Pansy was singing a horrible song about Ron growing up in a bin and always letting the Quaffle in, thus making him Slytherins king. After letting four goals in, Katie Bell finally managed to score against the Slytherin team. It was forty to ten when Harry spotted the Snitch. There was a battle between Harry and Draco trying to capture it. In the end Harry managed to get to it first and Gryffindor one. However, as he was landing Crabbe sent a Bludger right at Harry hitting him in the back causing him to land flat on his back on the frozen pitch. Leo looked over and noticed the scowl on Draco's white, furry filled face and knew nothing good would come of it. It started walking toward the pitch. He heard Draco loud and clear.
"Saved Weasley's neck, haven't you?" He spouted off at Harry, "I've never seen a worse Keeper…but then he was born in a bin…Did you like my lyrics, Potter?"* Harry didn't rise to Draco shouts and headed toward the changing room. Leo knew it wouldn't stop Draco. He knew his brother would continue until he got a rise out of someone. "We wanted to write another couple of verses!" He called as Katie and Alicia hugged Harry, "But we couldn't find rhymes for fat and ugly – we wanted to sing about his mother, see-"* Leo walked toward the yelling Draco. "- we couldn't fit in useless loser either – for his father, you know-"*
Leo watched as George and Fred realized what Draco was saying. They both stiffened and turned around to gaze at Draco. Malfoy continued to sneer, "-but you like the Weasleys, don't you, Potter? Spend holidays there and everything, don't you? Can't see how you stand the stink, but I suppose when you've been dragged up by Muggles even the Weasley's hovel smells okay-"*
Leo's eyes widened as he noticed that Angelina, Alicia, and Katie were all holding Fred back while Harry grabbed a hold of George. Draco started laughing openly at the reaction he was getting. He leered backing away, "Or perhaps, you can remember what your mother's house stank like, Potter, and Weasley's pigsty reminds you of it-"*
Leo knew Draco had gone too far as Harry lost his temper. Soon both Harry and George were running straight for Draco. Leo crossed his arms to see what would happen. He figured there was no point in trying to stop it. Harry started by punching Draco in the gut and continued punching anywhere he could reach in his anger. He was soon stopped by Madam Hooch and sent to Professor McGonagall's office.
Leo approached the curled up Draco who was busy whimpering and moaning. His nose was bloody and Leo couldn't help but shake his head, "Draco, you brought this on yourself. You know what they say about sticking your fingers in the lion's cage. Why are you such a sore loser anyway?"
Draco's tear filled eyes looked at him, "They shouldn't have attacked me."
Leo held out his hand to his beaten and bruised brother, "Come on Draco, what would you have done if someone had said something about our mother and father?"
Draco stood up and leaned on Leo's shoulder, "What did you just say?"
Leo gritted his teeth realizing his slip, "I said how would you react if someone said something horrible about your parents? Now let's get you to the infirmary."
"You're going to make me walk?" Draco complained.
Leo raised his eyebrow, "I think suffering through the painful consequences of running your mouth would be a better way for you to learn than anything else."
"Why are you helping me?"
"I'm helping you because you're not a bad person, you're just spoiled rotten. When you don't get your way you automatically provoke others. However, I don't think you were expecting such an outcome. Unless you had ulterior motives and you are a Slytherin, so I guess you were trying to somehow prevent Gryffindor from winning the cup this year. However, as long as Harry is Seeker you don't have a chance of beating Gryffindor."
Draco smiled, "Exactly, you see the Minister has granted Umbridge with the power to punish and step in when she disagrees with the punishment given. After that display, Harry, George and Fred are probably all banned from playing Quidditch."
"I take back what I said earlier. You're a horrible person. You provoked them knowing this, didn't you?" Leo accused as they reached the infirmary.
"Of course, a Malfoy will do whatever it takes to win," He smirked.
"Yeah well, I bet you didn't bargain on me being the backup Seeker. So, I guess I'll be seeing you in the sky Draco," Leo turned leaving a openmouthed Draco standing in front of the infirmary door.
Monday came soon and the Grounds Keeper and Care of Magical Creatures Professor had returned to Hogwarts. Leo was excited to see what Hagrid might have for a lesson. Tuesday was there before he knew it and walked to Care of Magical Creatures with Neville. Hagrid stood waiting for them near the edge of the forest with a half dead cow over his shoulder.
"We're workin' in here today!" he happily called to the approaching students, jerking his head back at the trees behind him. "Bit more sheltered! Anyway, they prefer the dark…."**
"What prefers the dark?" Draco's voice was sharp with a trace of panic. "What did he say prefers the dark – did you hear?"** Leo shook his head realizing just how much of a coward his twin really was.
"Ready?" Hagrid smiled looking around at the class. "Right, well, I've bin savin' a trip inter the forest fer yer fifth year. Thought we'd go an' see these creatures in their natural habitat. Now, what we're studyin' today is pretty rare, I reckon I'm probably the on'y person in Britain who's managed ter train 'em-"**
"And you're sure they're trained, are you?" The panic in Draco's voice was more pronounced. "Only it wouldn't be the first time you'd brought wild stuff to class, would it?"**
Leo looked around the area and noticed several Slytherin students murmured and some Gryffindors looked as if Draco had a valid point. Leo shook his head and raised an eyebrow when he met Draco's fear soaked gray eyes.
"'Course they're trained,"** Hagrid scowled and hoisted the cow higher on his shoulder.
"So what happened to your face, then?"** Draco demanded.
Leo took a good look at Hagrid's face for the first time. He had plenty of green and yellow bruises and some still bleeding cuts. He only figured that it must have happened on his way back from whatever mission he was on for the Order. He chuckled, "Yeah Draco, he brought us to wrestle with bears."
"Mind yer own business!" Hagrid growled. "Now if yeh've finished askin' stupid questions, follow me!"** He turned and walked into to the forest. Everyone followed him and after a ten minute walk they reached an area where the trees stood close together. He threw down the cow.
"Gather roun', gather roun'," Hagrid encouraged. "Now, they'll be attracted by the smell o' the meat but I'm goin' ter give 'em a call anyway, 'cause they'll like ter know it's me…"** He turned and gave a shrieking cry that echoed through the dark trees like the call of a huge bird or an flying dinosaur. He gave the cry a second time and another minute passed where everyone looked around nervously.
Leo looked around wondering if anything was going to come. He heard Ron whisper, "Why doesn't Hagrid call again?"**
He looked around and noticed that Harry was seeing something. Neville's eyes were wide and Nott had a look of distaste mar his features. Hagrid proudly announced, "Oh, an' here comes another one!"** Causing Leo to look at the cow and notice it was being consumed by an invisible creature. "Now… put yer hands up, who can see 'em?"**
Leo looked around as Harry raised his hand along with Neville and Nott. Hagrid nodded at Harry, "Yeah…yeah, I knew you'd be able ter, Harry." He added seriously, "An' you too, Neville, eh? An'-"**
"Excuse me," Draco sneered, "but what exactly are we supposed to be seeing?"**
Hagrid pointed to the cow carcass on the ground. Bits of flesh was stripped from it and disappeared. Many members of the class gasped and Parvati squealed. She demanded terrified and retreating behind the next tree, "What's doing it? What's eating it?"**
"Thestrals," Hagrid's chest puffed up with pride. "Hogwarts has got a whole herd of 'em in here. Now, who knows-?"**
"But they're really, really unlucky!" Parvati looked alarmed as she interrupted. "They're supposed to bring all sorts of horrible misfortune on people who see them. Professor Trelawney told me once-"**
"No, no, no," Hagrid chuckled, "tha's jus' superstition, that is, they aren' unlucky, they're dead clever an' useful! 'Course, this lot don' get a lot o' work, it's mainly jus' pullin' the school carriages unless Dumbledore's takin' a long journey an' don' want ter Apperate – an' here's another couple, look-"**
Leo didn't even try to look around knowing he wouldn't be able to see them. He hadn't seen anyone die before, so he wouldn't have a reason to see them. Parvati, shivered and pressed herself closer to the tree she was hiding behind, "I think I just felt something, I think it's near me!"**
"Don' worry, it won' hurt yeh," Hagrid showed his patients. "Right', now, who can tell me why some o' you can see them an' some can't?"** Hermione raised her hand. Hagrid beamed at her, "Go on then."**
"The only people who can see Thestrals are people who have seen death."
"Tha's exactly right," Hagrid looked down solemnly, "ten points ter Gryffindor. Now, thestrals-"**
After that Hagrid's lesson was interrupted by the toad faced inquisitor. Leo wasn't happy with her appearance and her making Hagrid out to be a dolt because he was half-giant. She then walked around asking questions of the Slytherin students who were busy laughing at Hagrid's expense. She then rounded on Neville. By this point Leo had enough, "You shouldn't be bringing your biased beliefs against half-breeds. Hagrid is more intelligent that you and you know it. I think you fear what you don't understand and apparently there are many things that you don't understand including children."
"I think you'll serve a week's worth of detention with me," She smirked.
"Ah, but how will you know which one of us is me?" Leo asked quickly transfiguring his robes and hair to match Draco. He turned around in a circle with Draco. "You better choose correctly because you wouldn't want to upset my father. You know him quite well don't you, Lucius Malfoy?"
Draco's eyes widened, "Don't go impersonating me now!"
"Leo, you should really stop pretending to be me or I'll tell my father. He's quite interested why there's a student here that looks so much like me and he did at my age," Leo smirked.
"She knows that I'm the real Draco. You can't just impersonate someone," he huffed.
"Yes, well she couldn't give us both detentions because she knows that would upset my father," Leo furrowed his brow.
The toad of a woman looked back between Leo and Draco. She huffed, "Fine. No detention." She turned to Hagrid and told him with horrible hand gestures that he'd get the results in ten days' time. She left the forest.
Leo transformed back and smirked at Draco, "I guess I can fool some people when I pretend to be you."
Theo spoke up, "Yeah, I've know Draco all my life and I couldn't even tell the difference between the two of you."
It didn't take Angelina too long to find replacements for Fred and George. One was a surprising choice of Ginny Weasley for one of the positions. She had grown up playing Quidditch with her older brothers, so was good at most positions. The other spot was taken by Andrew Kirke, he wasn't brilliant but he was the best compared with the rest of the idiots who showed up. Leo enjoyed the practices and being a part of the team though he wished it was under different circumstances. Soon he was attending the last D.A. meeting before the holiday break. They practiced freezing people and Neville was once again his partner. Neville's skills had improved vastly during the meetings and he froze Leo three times. Leo wondered if part of Neville's issues in class were due to his inadequacies. He couldn't help but assume that Neville would never be good at potions as long as Snape was teaching.
As they practiced Leo spoke, "Neville, you know that I'm an avid reader, right?"
Neville nodded his head, "I've seen you reading plenty of times in our dorm room before bed."
"Yeah, I don't just read texts but I've been researching the previous war. Now, I don't want to cause you to feel uncomfortable. However, I did notice how you reacted to Draco's remark about St. Mungo's, so I looked into it. I'm sorry to hear about what happened to your parents. It must be hard for you seeing them in that state."
Neville's eyes widened, "I'm proud of their courage, but I don't want people to know. I don't want them to look at me like that and I don't want Draco to be able to use it against me like he use's Harry's parents against him."
Leo understood Neville's concerns, "That's a good reason to keep it secret, however Bellatrix Lestrange is Draco's aunt. I'm pretty sure he already knows as I'm sure his family talked about it while he was growing up. It might be the reason why he made that remark. He doesn't care who he upsets as long as his words have some sort of impact."
Neville gulped, "You won't tell anyone, right?"
Leo smiled, "Of course I won't. I consider you one of my close friends."
*Break*
Leo abruptly awoke when Harry was screaming and withering in his sleep. Neville and Dean were awake staring at him as well. Ron was busy yelling, "Harry! HARRY!"**
His green eyes flashed open but he looked sick as Ron stood over him and saying, "Harry."** Harry rolled over and vomited over the side of his bed.
Neville trembled, "He's really ill. Should we call someone?"**
Ron continued repeating his name.
Harry panted, "Your dad," his chest heaved. "Your dad's…been attacked…"**
Ron's brow furrowed, "What?"**
"Your dad! He's been bitten, it's serious, there was blood everywhere…"**
Neville gulped, "I'm going for help."** He left the dormitory in a run.
Ron tried to comfort him, "Harry, mate, you…you were just dreaming…"**
"No!" Harry yelled as his anger bubbled over, "It wasn't a dream…not an ordinary dream…I was there, I saw it…I did it…"**
Soon it dawned on Leo and the conversation around him went silent as his mind circled. Harry's connection to Voldemort could mean that he really did see what happened miles away. Weasley's father could be lying in a pool of blood dying. Leo looked over at Harry and performed a silent Legilimens. Soon the dream flashed in his mind. He saw Arthur asleep in front of a door, the same door Harry had dreamt about before, he stirred. Arthur pulled out his wand and the invisibility cloak fell to the floor as Harry attacked him as if he were a snake. He quickly exited Harry's mind gasping. "That's wasn't a normal dream Harry. Ron you're father is in danger. Voldemort's snake has attacked him. He was guarding something Harry. Something at the Ministry of Magic, and Harry you do have a connection to him. You're going to want to study Occlumency to keep him out of you mind. I'm sure Dumbledore might suggest that when the time is right."
At that the door to the dormitory burst open and disgruntled McGonagall in her tartan dressing gown followed Neville into the room. Neville announced, "Over here, Professor…"**
"What is it, Potter? Where does it hurt? **
A/N: Do you think I have given Leo too much power? I am leaving plenty of things out but he would know something about dream connections as he has one with Draco.
* All of this dialog is quoted from chapter nineteen of The Order of the Phoenix (2003) and thus belongs to JK Rowling, page 412-413 of my copy respectively.
**All dialog quoted from chapter twenty-one of The Order of the Phoenix (2003) pages 443 – 465 respectively.