Guardian of the Order

by Leo M. Panther

This story has haunting my every waking moment. This story isn't about the order of the phoenix. Harry needs to be protected but the Ministry is short on reliable staff so they call in a favour, let's hope they did the right thing...HIATUS

6. Chapter 5 Underestimation

CHAPTER 5

Underestimation.

Harry walked over to one of the tables and sat down. He smoothed out the newspaper clipping and began to read:

DRAGON-MASTER DEFEATED BY COUREAGOUS WIZARD TEAM.

by our Chinese correspondent Fushon Mai.

As Harry read the writers name he suddenly gut an urge for some Chinese food.

The news of the defeat of the feared Dragon-Master has brought great relief to the local population as they no longer have to fear being turned into snacks for his pet dragons. The Dragon-Master (his real name is unknown) had been terrorizing this particular piece of land for close to thirty years and it was believed that he was an ally of He-who-must-not-be-named. Being fearful of a possible future alliance the Ministry of Magic of England sent their most experienced team of wizards to put a stop to this terror once and for all. After a gruesome battle which lasted for several hours, details can be found on page two,

'Drat.' Harry thought out loud.

… they managed to finish him with four well placed striking spells. Although the team is definitely going to bearing the scars of this encounter, they are all in remarkable high spirits and relatively less injured than one would expect after such a fight. In particular team member Leo Panther who was impaled on one of the Dragon-Masters fangs which nearly cost him his leg says he has never felt so good in his life.
Word from the Ministry is that these four heroes are going to be rewarded with the Order of Merlin First class for this act, but this has yet to be confirmed. And by the gods they deserve it.

On a sadder note though, after this remarkable victory the parties involved in this founding and maintaining this team have decided that the amount of lingering darkness has been brought down to manageable levels and no longer have a need for a team of such expertise. The heroes are currently resting and recovering from their adventure and say that although they regret that the team will no longer be able to remain together they will always be ready to reassemble for the next challenge.

The paper stopped there. Harry shifted his gaze to the photo attached to it. It showed four people looking really elated, waving their wands in the air, standing in front of the carcass of a huge red dragon. Three of them were leaning on each other with the one the middle being supported by the two beside him. Harry recognized him immediately, that was Leo in the middle. His right leg was hanging limp, bound with emergency dressing that was soaked with blood.
To his right was a woman with blond (he guessed, the picture was black-in-white) long hair that came to her shoulders. On his left was a man with sleek black hair that for some reason reminded Harry of Draco.
The fourth was an elderly man with a beard. He was wearing a hat that hid his hair from view, the most striking point about him Harry found that he was carrying a book.

The explanation under the photo said:

Our heroes from left to right: Elena "Rash" Appleton, Leo "Rage" M. Panther, Zach "Aid" Smythe and Tobias "Bookworm" Tomewriter.

'Rage?' Hermione said. She had been reading the article over Harry's shoulder. 'I wonder where he got that nickname.'

'Isn't it obvious? He has forcefully persuaded anyone he didn't like to get lost.' Ron said who also had finished reading the article.

'Actually from what I heard from the two of you and from what I've seen myself, I'd say he has been showing amazing restraint on his part. Not really rage-like.' Hermoine said.

'I suppose if you have to kill a dragon a little rage could get you a long way.' Harry entered into the discussion.

'It's more likely to get you killed.' Hermione rebutted.

'~Yawn~, Perhaps I can look up these names. I'm sure they will lead to more answers.' Harry said. He folded the newspaper clipping and put it in his pocket.

'Why are you so determined to find out his past, Harry?' Ron asked. 'Can't you just be happy he's protecting you?'

'Some reassurance I have there.' Harry said quite cynically. 'He knows something… Something about the past as well as my parents, I can feel it. I'm not sure how but I know he was involved in the fight against Vol… against You-know-who.' Harry started walking towards their dormitory.

'Harry! Wait up.' Ron shouted after him.

'What is it?' Harry asked, he really wanted to go to sleep.

'The book. We forgot to show Hermione the book. You know. "History of the Order".' Ron replied.

'You're right Ron.' Harry said. 'Hey Hermione! Come with us. I have to show you something!' Harry shouted across the common room. Several of the male students in the room did a wolf-whistle.

'Get a life.' Harry said annoyed.

The three of them walked up the stairs into the boys dormitories. Harry opened his trunk and heaved out the book which slipped out of his hands twice. Hermione eyed the book and then looked at Harry.

'So? It's a book. Why did you have to show this to me?' Hermione asked slightly puzzled.

'You see, the book is written in such a style the Ron and I can't make heads or tails of it.' Harry began to explain.

'And…?' Hermione said although she obviously already guessed what they had in mind.

'We were wondering, since you have such excellent reading skills, if you could decipher it for us.' Harry said, trying very hard to maintain a straight face.

'NO WAY!' Hermoine said. 'With the O.W.L.'s this year I don't have time to do this… this… pointless project.' She put her hands in her side an made a stern face.

'Please, I'll do whatever you want. Unless of course you feel it's beyond your abilities.' Harry said slyly. It seemed to work as Hermione was thinking his suggestion over.

'Very well, I'll do it…' Hermione said.

'Yes.' Harry exclaimed.

'If you feed Crookshanks for a month.' Hermione finished. The expression on Harry's face dropped while Ron began to snigger.

'Two weeks.' Harry countered.

'One month.'

'Three weeks.'

'One month.'

'Four weeks.' Harry said not keeping good count as he was really tired.

'Very well. Four weeks it is. He prefers his mice alive.' Hermione said. She picked up the book and walked out of the dormitory.

'Ron? Have I just been had by Hermione?' Harry asked as he slowly realized what deal he'd struck.

'You sure have my friend, you sure have.' Ron answered who was still giggling.

Harry groaned.

After this Harry and Ron got ready for bed. Harry didn't fall asleep right away but kept staring at the canopy. He was wondering whether he was doing the right thing and if whatever he found out was worth it or if it was something he really wanted to know.
Just before he closed his eyes Harry could sworn he saw one of the shadows moving across the room. Even without his glasses but sleep had caught him and Harry didn't feel like resisting it any longer.

His sleep was deep and for awhile he was oblivious to anything, and then suddenly he began to dream again.
He was standing outside Hogwarts. Looking over the grounds towards the hills in the distance. The darkness that loomed over them seemed closer this time. The sun was setting on the horizon making everything look red. Blood red. Someone was behind him.
Leo was standing behind him, without the hood, he too was looking at the hills.

'Are we gonna continue to meet like this?' Harry asked.

'Not if I can help it. But then again I'm not really here.' Leo answered.

'It's closer this time.' Harry commented. 'How long before it reaches us?' He asked.

'Darkness is here. The wait is over.' Leo replied in an absolute calm voice.

The sun set, surrendering the land to darkness. When it returned it was small. Harry recognized it as a lumos lit wand. Leo was standing in front of him holding his wand in front of him.

'The pieces are in place, the game is afoot.' He said.

'What game?' Harry asked. Instead of answering Leo raised his wand.

'Lumos Lunas.' A bright moon like orb sprang from his wand. It moved higher and then lit up so brightly that Harry couldn't look into it directly. He averted his eyes to the ground. That's when he saw that he was standing on a chess board.

'A chess game? What is this?' Harry asked.

The four rows of pieces were all still in their starting positions. Leo was standing on the center of the board.

'This is a representation of the struggle between light and dark, fashioned in a from you are familiar with.' Leo said in a loud voice. He walked of the board and the pieces began to move. Even though it looked like a chess game, it quickly became clear that the rules were quite different. After a piece was struck it came back several moves later looking slightly different. Pieces promoted after they had struck several other pieces, but this usually seemed to put them in a position to be struck after which they came back as a lesser piece. And from time to time pieces would switch color.

The game proceeded rather fast, so Harry couldn't make out which side was winning.

'Which side will win?' Harry asked without realizing it.

'Neither.' Leo answered. Harry looked away from the game and looked at Leo who didn't avert his eyes.

'You mean this will go on forever?' Harry asked in a non-believing tone of voice.

'Yes. You see neither side may claim victory in this struggle for that will upset the balance. Without balance between them there is chaos.'

'What's so bad about a light side victory?' Harry asked turning his sight back to the game.

'If light were to claim victory there would still be darkness, and it would just be more pronounced, deeper because of all the light. It can never be removed completely.'

The game slowed down somewhat and Harry felt familiar with the scene on the board. Two white bishops were located near the center of the board. The black king had been moving in on them. The bishops were protecting a small pawn behind them. Another white pawn stood between them but as the black king moved in on it, the pawn changed color and moved out of the way.
As this happened a white knight moved towards the location of the former white pawn. Then the black king struck the first bishop which fell apart in a green explosion, the other bishop still stood between the king and the white pawn. The knight had arrived at the location of the former white pawn and now turned to move towards the remaining bishop.

But the black king already moved onto the bishop and it too exploded in a green flash. The knight and a rook were now both moving towards the location of the little pawn. The black king made his move on it but was in turn struck by the little pawn which now had a mark in the form of a lightning bolt carved on it.

The game proceeded in a faster pace now and it looked like white was gaining the advantage.

The Harry-pawn was moved backwards, almost off the board. Then Leo made a wave and the game stopped, for the moment. Then he walked onto the board towards the Harry-pawn. Harry followed him.

'We're closing on the present but the near past is still very much unknown to you.' Leo said as he stopped next to the pawn.

'This is me?' Harry asked, he stretched out his hand to touch the pawn and as he did he felt someone touching his face. He quickly pulled his hand back. 'I'm just a pawn.' He said a bit disappointed.

'The value of the piece doesn't matter. Even a pawn can strike a king. You saw that.' Leo said in a tone of voice that made it clear that Harry shouldn't be so let down by his role in the world. 'Besides as you get older and learn, you grow. Be glad you're not that important, price targets are always sought out first.'

The game resumed although quite slowly this time.

'Do you see them?' Leo asked. Harry glanced over the board but saw nothing out of the ordinary.

'See what?' Harry asked.

'This is just an image to make it understandable but it does not show all ends.'

'Such as?'

'In reality there are more boards, more games some of them distant and unrelated. Other overlap with this one their pieces hidden in shadow. If you look closely you will see them. Do you see them?' Leo asked again.

Harry closed his eyes to slits looking sharply at the board when he saw several other pieces in transparent gray. One of them, a small bishop, felt familiar.

'Is that you?' Harry asked.

'Possibly, but then again I'm not here.' Leo answered. Harry ignored the comment and looked further around the board. There was another king close to the white king, they looked equal to each other, close friends. And then all of the sudden it exploded and faded away.

Then across the board the black king, in a ghost like haze, moved on a white pawn that was out of sight of the other white pieces. Instead of striking it, he devoured the pawn becoming one with it. The head of the pawn changed becoming half-white, half-black.

'Professor Quirrel.' Harry said. The game sped up again, until it reached a point that symbolized Harry's first year. The Quirrel-pawn was close to the white side of the board when the Harry-pawn moved in on it. It changed color becoming completely black. Then the Harry-pawn struck expulsing the black king's essence back to the other side.

The second year the Harry-pawn defeated a miniature black king and he promoted to a bishop.

The third year there was a chase between a white knight and several gray/black rooks. The Harry-bishop interfered and the white knight managed to escape to the edge of the board.

Then the fourth year. A white rook kept close to the Harry-bishop when it suddenly changed color and the Harry-bishop was suddenly moved into the area next to the ghost of the black-king. It moved on the Harry-bishop and become solid again. The Harry-bishop was moved back into the light area. During these four years the transparent bishop which had been promoted to a rook was never far from the Harry-piece.

And now the fifth year. The rook became solid white with several black stains on it and an ominous red light emanating from it.
The black pieces reorganized themselves with the black king at the center lined by eight pawns in a V-formation. With several of the other pieces next to him or behind him and the black rooks off to the side of the board on the flanks. In all it looked like a military parade. The white side however did not look so prepared for a fight. The king was standing in the center next to the Harry-bishop and the stained rook was standing diagonally across from him trying to fend off all the pieces by itself but leaving an obvious opening for the black pieces to go through. The other pieces were scattered across the board in a hopeless position. The white king took a step forward as well as the black king, putting them in an impossible chess position (Kings cannot stand right next to each other as they put themselves in a check position by doing so.).

Several other pieces moved behind and in front of Harry and then the game stopped.

'We have reached the present. The pieces are set and the next move is at hand.' Leo said.

'Whose turn is it?' Harry asked as he had not kept track of that.

The light of the lunar orb began to fade and Leo, who had walked back to the edge of the board disappeared out of sight.

Leo began to answer but his voice became different, deeper, harder, more menacing, more evil. 'It is the dark side's turn.' A pair of bright red eyes became visible at the dark edge, where Leo stood. 'Who knows what will happen next?' The eyes of the black king lit up with red light. The moon orb faded as the black king began to move. 'The future is in motion, you try to anticipate your enemy but unless you're him you never now what happens next.' Leo said and a deep growl was heard. Harry caught a glimpse of creature that struck fear into his hart but he couldn't discern what it was. Only that it was near.

He did not come to rest until morning, when he was woken.

'Harry! Wake up!' A female voice said but Harry being as drowsy as he was didn't recognize it.

'In a moment Aunt Petunia.' Harry moaned. Then he turned over and pulled his blanket over his head.

Wait a minute! Aunt Petunia never calls me by my name. Then who is it? I suppose I could wake up and see but that would involve opening my eyes and I'm just not ready for that.

Someone pulled the blanket of Harry and tugged him on his back. 'Rise and shine, Mr. Prefect. Or else you're going to be late.' Hermione's voice was now very close. Harry carefully opened one of his eyes and stared at her for a while.

'Okay. ~Yawn~ I'll rise, but I refuse to shine.' Harry said. Then he rolled himself of his bed and pulled himself up on the nightstand. 'What time is it?' He asked as he put on his glasses and began to fumble for his clothes in his trunk.

'It's late and we have to pick up the timetables at Professor McGonagall's office. You know how punctual she is.' Hermione answered. Harry started to regret his decision to become prefect.

A few minutes later he was dressed and ready to go. Ron was waiting for them in the common room.

'Are you alright Harry. You look like you didn't have much sleep last night.' Ron said and he walked with them out off the portrait hole.

'Had a bad dream.' Harry answered not able to go into it. Professor McGonagall was waiting outside with a stack of timetables under her arm.

'You were supposed to come to my office five minutes ago.' She gave them an angry look. 'Well? Why weren't you there?' She asked.

'Sorry Professor. I… I overslept.' Harry said a little nervous.

'Humph.' McGonagall said. 'Don't let it happen again. Your fellow Gryffindors might get the wrong idea. Here.' She held out the stack. 'Be sure that everyone gets one.' She said before she turned around and left.

Harry shuffled the stack until he found his timetable. He studied it briefly and almost instantly his face turned sour.

'What?' Ron asked seeing Harry's expression. Harry passed him the card. Ron read it and his expression matched Harry's. 'Double potions with Slytherin! First thing in the morning! What sadist made this schedule?' Ron asked.

Hermoine gave him a foul stare. 'Get a grip. Now lets go to the great hall, shall we?' She said. The three of them went down to the great hall, they were among the first to arrive except for Leo who staring at the plaque near the entrance. He was touching one of the names on it but when he noticed Harry and company approaching, he quickly walked into the hall.

Harry walked over to the plaque to see where Leo had been looking but he couldn't pinpoint it.

'Come on Harry.' Hermione said. 'We should go in.'

'Just a moment. I want to know what name Leo was looking at.' Harry said as he ran his finger by every name on the plaque.

'Come on. If you want to know, why don't you ask him. That certainly seems more polite.' Hermione said.

'You're right.' Harry replied. They walked into the Great hall, the other prefects were also there already, and slowly the flow of students began to increase. Harry walked over to Leo and sat down across the table. Leo was holding a mug with brown liquid with two hands.

'Coffee?' Harry asked to open the conversation.

'Yea, you want some? You look like you didn't sleep al night.' Leo answered and he took a sip.

'No thanks, I'll manage. I just had a bad dream.' Harry said.

'Did you? Well I can't protect you from that I'm afraid. Can I have my timetable?' Leo asked.

'Sure.' Harry handed him the timetable. 'Why do you wear that glove?' Harry remarked as Leo took the timetable.

'Battle scar.' Leo answered as he silently read the schedule for the day.

'Back there at the entrance you were reading a name on the plaque. Who did you lose?' Harry asked with as much tact as he could manage.

Leo put the timetable down sighed and gave Harry a soul stare. 'That's personal Harry. The grief goes too deep for me to tell you. Please don't ask me again.' Leo said in a calm and controlled voice.

Harry made an attempt to apologize, Leo however just drank his mug of hot coffee, which was still ¾ full, in one continuous swill. Then he got up, picked up his timetable and left.

'See you in class!' Leo yelled to Harry at the end of the table.

'Sorry.' Harry muttered under his breath.

'He is not angry with you, Harry.' Dumbledore said behind him. Harry, startled by Dumbledore's sudden appearance, turned around and stared at him.

'PROFESSOR! You startled me!' Harry said a little out off breath. Harry recollected his nerves. 'Professor, do you know who he lost?' Harry asked.

'Alas Harry. I cannot tell you that. I can tell you however, that when Leo feels he can tell you, he will.' Dumbledore answered while sitting down.

'Why does he act like that? It's not as though I killed the person he lost.' Harry said.

'Harry. Have you ever truly cried when you learned that your parents were dead?' Dumbledore asked. Harry looked down trying to remember when Uncle Vernon told him his parents were dead. Vaguely he remembered being in his cupboard crying his eyes out for hours. How old was then? 5? 6? Harry didn't remember exactly, his mind was blurry about that event.

'Yes. But that was long ago.' Harry answered.

'Did you feel responsible for their deaths?' Dumbledore asked.

'I suppose not but I thought they died in a car crash at the time.' Harry replied.

'Ah, but you see that is not the point. Wasn't there ever a doubt in your mind that told you that you could somehow have prevented it?' Dumbledore continued.

'I was one year old when that happened. How could I have prevented it?' Harry countered.

'Again that is not the point. After you learned you were a wizard wasn't there ever a time that you thought that you could use that to prevent their deaths from happening?' Dumbledore asked Harry. Harry was really starting to feel bad about this, when a thought struck him.

'Are you trying to make me feel guilty for my parents death?' Harry asked.

'No Harry, I'm trying to give you an image of what Leo feels about his loss. He feels responsible for the loss of this person… As do I.' Dumbledore said with a sad look in his eyes.

Dumbledore stood up. 'Harry, I must ask you not to look to deep into his past. If you open any of his wounds he will strike out at you.' He turned around and walked back to the teacher's table.

Harry stared after him for a while before being interrupted by a stream of anxious Gryffindors who wanted to know what they would be facing after breakfast.
The mood at the Gryffindor table sank when those who had double potions first thing that morning found out about it. Most were quiet as everybody felt a certain gloom hanging in the air which just wouldn't lift.

Hermione was the first who spoke up. 'So, what was the name Leo was looking at?' She asked.

'He wouldn't tell me.' Harry answered.

'So what did Professor Dumbledore say?' She continued.

'That I shouldn't dig to deep in Leo's past. He said it could be dangerous.' Harry replied.

There was a brief silence.

'So what are you going to do?' Hermione finally asked.

'Be very careful when I ask him about something.' Harry replied somewhat absentminded, he kept thinking about the glimpse of beast he had seen in his sleep.
Somehow Leo had gotten into his dream, and Harry wanted to know why and how.
He checked his watch it read : "Time to get your stuff and get to class, sleepyhead."

This ended breakfast and everybody went to get their stuff, back in the common room Harry found Leo leafing through the potions book.

'I didn't see you at breakfast.' Harry said while passing by.

'I ate before you came down.' Leo said, not looking up.

'How early did you get up then?' Harry asked.

'On time.' Leo replied. He got up, put the book in his bag and walked out the portrait hole.

A few minutes later Harry, Ron and Hermione also stepped out the portrait hole, to find that Leo had been waiting there.

'You're not gonna be walking with us are you?' Ron asked.

'No, but I have to be able to keep an eye on Harry at all times. I'll just be trailing behind you.' Leo said.

And so they set out for the dungeons, Harry felt uncomfortable being watched, every time he looked over his shoulder he could see Leo walking behind them. But as they arrived at the potions classroom he saw that Leo had managed to get there before him.

How on earth did he do that?

A small crowd had gathered at the door, because Snape hadn't arrived yet and the classroom was locked.

'Hey, Ron.' Harry said while looking in distance to the staircase that lead to the deeper dungeons.

'Yes, Harry?' Ron replied following Harry's gaze.

'What do you suppose is down there?' Harry asked, with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

'I don't know. Want to find out?' Ron said, with a growing smile on his face.

At this Hermione stepped in. 'OH NO, You don't. Harry you're a prefect for crying out loud. You shouldn't be looking for trouble.' Harry's face fell, mainly because he knew she was right. 'And you…' She said to Ron. 'Why do you encourage him?'

'He started it.' Ron said in his defense.

'That's not the point. You should have talked him out off it not ask him if you can come with him.' Hermione argued.

Just then Snape came up the hall looking rather angry with something.

'Harry. Which one of you gets picked on the most by him?' Leo asked.

Harry looked briefly at Ron and Hermione before they answered together. 'Neville!' While pointing at him.

'I thought you were monitoring me for the past four years?' Harry asked.

'My surveillance mostly covered your after class activities.' Leo said.

Snape opened the door made an angry gesture for his students to get in.

'However, I was especially impressed by how you managed to distract Snape so Hermione could sneak out and "borrow" some ingredients from his private supply.' Leo said with a grin.

'SHHH!' Hermione said. 'Snape must never know about that.' She whispered as they shuffled towards the door.

'Don't worry. I wont tell him.' Leo whispered back.

'Get in!' He bit at the last students to enter the classroom.

The students quickly took their place and Leo set up next to Neville, who didn't look to happy about that as he was about as afraid of Leo as of Snape.
Snape slammed the door shut and, at a furious speed, paced towards his desk and began to check names. The Gryffindor's names were all shouted while the Slytherin's names were spoken in a slightly friendlier tone. Something or someone had definitely stepped on Snape's toes this morning. Harry briefly glanced at Leo wondering if it was him.

Finally he got to the last name on his list. 'PANTHER!' Snape shouted.

Leo responded with a relaxed "yes".

Having vented most of his rage with the names, Snape continued somewhat softer but still very high-strung.

'CLASS. Today you will be making an advanced healing potion. THAT, if brewed correctly can heal the most severely injured people almost instantly and cure most known poisons. BUT, if you're off by so much as a pinch of salt, the potion will become a very potent poison.' He stopped to gauge the fear level in the class. 'You will be making it for the school supply in the infirmary, so you'd better do your best, for your own health. You'll taking the some of the potion yourself when you're done.' He eyed Neville who cringed under his gaze.

'Understood?' Snape said. Everybody nodded.

'Then what are you waiting for? An invitation? Open page 326 of your books for the recipe.' Snape bellowed.

Everybody flipped open their books and began with the preparations, while Snape began patrolling. After scrutinizing Harry and Ron he skipped Hermione and went straight to Neville but ended up bumping into Leo.

'Well, well. Mr. Panther. I think you'd better move over there.' Snape said, pointing to a spot between some burly Slytherins. 'You might unnerve Mr. Longbottom by standing this close to him.'

'That's alright. I'm perfectly fine over here. And I am sure Neville will adapt to my presence.' Leo replied.

'That WASN'T a request!' Snape snapped at him.

'I know.' Leo replied.

'You DARE to disobey me?!' Snape yelled at him. Leo stared him straight in the face.

'You DARE to presume you can give me an order?!' Leo yelled back, mimicking Snape.

'15 POINTS from Gryffindor.' Snape bellowed. 'Now get over there! Or I will take 10 more!'

'You take as many points as you want. I care not.' Leo replied.

'This will not make you very popular among your fellow Gryffindors.' Snape said slyly.

'If I gave a rat's ass I might consider what you're saying… but since I don't. Bugger off "Professor".' Leo said giving a dismissive wave to Snape.

Snape wanted to say something else, perhaps even take points but he knew he had lost this skirmish. 1-0 for Leo. He moved on and gave Leo a wide berth for the remainder of the class. And since Neville was standing next to him he too was avoided, giving him the peace that he needed to properly mix the ingredients.

So that's why needed to know who was picked on the most. He may not get popular for losing house points like that but he definitely scores points in my book. Harry thought.

Unfortunately Neville was still terrified of Leo and so his potion ended up thick blue instead off transparent light green.

And all to soon Snape called them to his desk for testing the potions. Three Gryffindors had already needed the antidote Snape had prepared for this, as well as five Slytherins. Harry and Ron's potions had been graded fine and Hermione's above average. Draco's potion was excellent and now it was Neville's turn to take a sip of his poison… I mean potion.

'Come on Longbottom. I don't have all day.' Snape said angrily while impatiently rapping his fingers on his desk.

'I… I… I don't want to.' Neville said looking scared at his vile smelling concoction. This didn't mean anything though as all the potions were exuding a foul odor. It was the obvious wrong coloration that made him worry.

'Take it now OR I will Force it down your throat.' Snape yelled. He got up and advanced on poor Neville.

'P..Please sir. I know it's wrong can't we just throw it away?' Neville pleaded.

'And what lesson would you learn from that?' Snape asked now towering above Neville.

'Enough of this!' Leo said behind Neville. He stepped forward grabbed Neville's potion and gulped all of it down in one swill.

For a short moment it seemed as though nothing was going to happen to Leo but then suddenly doubled over in a violent coughing fit. He arched his back and made some awful hacking sounds. It sounded like he was throwing out his entire stomach but fortunately for him he didn't. Then suddenly the coughing stopped and Leo pulled himself up on Snape's desk. He and Snape locked gazes for a moment and it appeared that something on Leo face scared the hell out of Snape. Leo then grabbed his own potion from the desk (which had been graded good enough.) and took a sip. Peace returned to Leo's body and after catching his breath he patted Neville on shoulder.

'That was without a doubt the best poison I had in years.' He forced a smile on his face and Neville relaxed.

'10 points from Gryffindor for skipping in line!' Snape yelled.

Leo wanted to say something but a violent rumbling came from his stomach and he made a break for the door.
After Snape had graded the last potions he dismissed the class. Hermione, Ron and Harry went on to the next class.

'What do we have next?' Ron asked.

'Transfiguration.' Hermione bit at him for not memorizing the schedule yet.

'Where do you suppose Leo went?' Ron asked Harry.

'From the sound we heard from his stomach, I'd say the nearest bathroom. I think I'll go look for him.' Harry said.

'Why?' Ron asked. He didn't like Leo one bit.

'He stood up for Neville and possibly saved his life, the least I can do is check up on him.' Harry said.

'Okay but please hurry. You'd better not get late to McGonagall again.' Hermione said. They took the next turn while Harry kept going straight ahead to the nearest bathroom.

The door to the bathroom was ajar. Harry walked in and could hear someone talking. It was strange though as the person seemed to be talking to himself. As Harry walked in further he heard it was Leo.

'I'm not gonna be doing that again anytime soon.'

'What were you trying to do anyway? Get popular?'

'Stupid boy! How hard can it be to make such a potion?'

Harry's estimation of Leo dropped and he wanted to say something about it, but in the back of his head an alarm went off telling him to keep quiet.

'Ugh. That potion completely removed the effects of the blood I took these last weeks.'

BLOOD!?!

'I'm almost out off it too. How am I going to replenish my supply off… WHO'S THERE?!' Leo suddenly yelled.

Harry stood frozen to the spot. His scar began to burn slightly.

'I KNOW SOMEONE IS OUT THERE!!' Leo continued. 'COME OUT NOW AND I WONT HURT YOU!'

The burning in Harry's scar got fiercer.

'COME OUT I… ghnm. NO! NOT NOW. Focus Leo, FOCUS.' Leo yelled in agony, then he gave a loud cry and Harry spun on his heel and ran out the bathroom. His scar burning like it was on fire.

Harry just ran, the sound of footsteps behind him. No, not footsteps something similar but different like there was padding attached to the feet or the person behind him was running on his toes. He dared not to look behind him in fear that he might stumble over something while he wasn't looking in front of him.
Harry's fear gave him wings and the footsteps were growing distant. Then Harry took a sharp turn and a little later there was a loud crash as something knocked over a suit of armor. A bone chilling roar reverberated through the hallway Harry was running through, but it gave Harry ease as he knew he had lost his pursuer. The pain in his scar had died down as well leaving a faint tingling sensation as sweat dripped off his forehead.

He didn't want to stop before he had found Ron and Hermione though and he set off in a brisk pace towards the transfiguration classroom.

His run had brought him quite close to the classroom and in no time at all he arrived there. As he turned the corner he got even more at ease as he saw Ron's flaming red hair and Hermione's overweight bookcase. Then his fear rose again as he saw Leo standing there as well.

WHAT?! How could he have gotten here before me? I heard him in that bathroom, if that was him chasing me, how could he have gotten past me without me noticing?

'Harry.' Ron called as he saw Harry standing at the corner. 'Looks like you just missed Leo.'

'But how… How did you? How?' Harry stammered.

'I walked over here after tossing my stomach. I've been here for five minutes. Your friends can verify that.' Leo said.

'That's right. He was already here when we got here.' Ron said.

'But I just heard you in that bathroom. Then something happened and I was chased by something.' Harry said rapidly. Hermione and Ron gave each other a look and then turned to Harry.

'Show us.' Hermione said.

The four of them walked back to the spot where Harry heard the crash but couldn't find any evidence of one. There wasn't even a dent on the suit of armor there.

'Are you sure about what happened?' Hermione asked Harry skeptically.

'Yes.' Harry replied, while looking closely to the floor for some sort of evidence that something had occurred there but beside a film of filth that had to be cleaned up, there was nothing out of the ordinary.

'You know Harry. One of the side-effects of a slightly misbrewed potion is hallucinations. Perhaps you imagined the whole thing.' Leo said slyly, a little Snape-like.

'I did NOT imagine this. My scar doesn't hurt because of illusions.' Harry said agitated.

'Are you sure about that?' Leo asked.

'Well, yes. I think… I mean, I'm sure that…' Now Harry started to have doubts about this.

'Isn't it possible you imagined that your scar hurt?' Leo asked.

'I… I suppose but still.' Harry tried to give a reason but without proof he couldn't even believe it himself.

'Come on. Let's get back to class. Professor McGonagall should have arrived by now.' Leo said.

As Leo turned around Harry saw that several sweat drops were coming down the side of his face.

What tired him out so quickly? Perhaps he ran a long way. He is lying. Harry thought.

The four of them walked back to the transfiguration classroom. Harry kept looking at Leo who didn't seem to take notice of this. They arrived just as Professor McGonagall was coaching the last students into the classroom.

'You're not going to make "coming late" a habit, are you?' Professor McGonagall asked Harry.

'No. No Professor, I just… got distracted on the way here. It wont happen again, I swear.' Harry replied, while switching his gaze between Leo and McGonagall.

McGonagall noticed this but didn't say anything. 'Very well. Get inside, we've got an interesting lesson ahead of us.' She said.

Harry and Ron took a bench at the front of the class as that was the one the few left. Hermione sat behind them next to Dean. Leo sat down by himself at the other desk at the front of the class to Harry's right.
McGonagall's desk was full of stuff Harry recognized to be things they had to transfigure during their first year. Professor McGonagall stepped up to the front of the class.

'CLASS!' She began, everybody snapped to attention. 'By being in the fifth year you have proven to have talent and skill in transfiguration. However!' She stared into all the students faces. 'This year, we are not going to be changing other animate or inanimate things.' Now everybody was hanging on her every word. 'This year, we'll be studying SELF-transfiguration.' Hermione began to furiously flip pages. Several hands shot up.

'Please. I will answer your questions in a moment. For now, just listen.' The hands dropped again.

'Professor! We're not supposed to get self-transfiguration until our sixth year.' Hermione cried.

McGonagall shot her a look that showed that she was not pleased with the interruption. Hermione shrank in her seat under McGonagall's gaze.

'As I was about to explain before Miss Granger's interruption.' Hermione, if possible, shrank even further. 'The regular schedule has been changed because Professor Dumbledore felt it was important for the current fifth years to be able to do this. In particular for the angel's flight he has planned for Christmas.'

Several voices said "Angel's flight?!".

'That's correct. But I'll get to that in a moment. We will begin small, transfiguring limbs then we will move on to larger parts of the body. At the beginning of November we will start with adding limbs to your body.' She looked around the class for a moment letting her eyes linger on Harry for a moment. 'Five of each house who have mastered this will then be selected for the Angel's flight. Which will involve conjuring wings on your back and taking to the air. You will be instructed by Professor Hooch in this.' The class didn't look as enthusiastic as she had hoped.

'Extra credit will be earned for this of course.' She said a little let down by the lack of enthusiasm.

'And after that? Will we be instructed to become Animagi?' Ron asked a little overzealous.

'NO!' McGonagall said quickly. 'That would require a lot of Ministry red tape. Which will not be taking care of by the school.' Ron's face fell. 'After new year we will go even further in self-transfiguration and by the time of the O.W.L's you will be required to handle a full body transfiguration. Any questions?' She asked.

Nobody asked anything, this was not because there weren't any questions but more because the students were too stunned to pose them.

'Very well then. Open your books on page 253 the chapter on Basic self-transfiguration. And take it easy. This is a tricky subject.' She said. Some students gulped.

'Why is it so tricky?' Dean asked as he read the preliminary warning at the top of the page.

'Well, that's because… How do I put it into words you'd understand?' McGonagall said. She thought on that for a moment but it was Leo who answered.

'Because of the feedback.' He said. McGonagall scowled.

'Feedback?' Dean asked.

'Yes. When you use magic on yourself you create a loop which flows faster the longer you use it. This can cause you to overshoot your objective and can cause permanent damage.' Leo explained, however Dean looked even more confused than before.

Professor McGonagall stepped up to Dean. 'The explanation is in the book Mr. Thomas. Mr. Panther I have a different assignment for you.' She said. She then walked up to her desk picked something up and walked over to Leo.

She dropped a matchbox on the table in front of him. Leo looked at the matchbox and then at McGonagall.

'I appreciate the offer but I don't smoke.' He said with a raised eyebrow. McGonagall took a stern stance.

'This is not for smoking. You're to turn all these matches into needles.' She said in a matter-of-factly way.

'Wha.. What?' Leo said stifling a laugh.

'You heard me. Let's see if you can do this.' McGonagall wanted to turn away but Leo wouldn't let her get away with this so easily.

'I could turn a man the size of "professor" Snape in pink bunny slippers at the age off six. This is hardly a challenge.' Leo said getting pissed off.

'Be that as it may. You are in MY class and you will do as I say.' McGonagall said with authority. She turned around.

Leo emptied the matchbox in his hand and threw the matches in the air. He then made an elaborate wave with his wand and all the matches-turned-needles landed point first in a straight line on his desk.

Leo looked up at McGonagall and said. 'Is this what you had in mind, "Professor"?' The annoyance dripping of his voice.

'Hmm.' McGonagall said, clearly a bit taken aback by this skillful display of magic. 'Very well. Let's move on. Next you will turn this hedgehog into a pincushion.' She said.

Leo closed his eyes and began to rub the bridge of his nose. Probably to prevent himself from making an outburst which didn't belong in the classroom. Harry felt his scar beginning to itch.

Professor McGonagall had just opened the cage holding the hedgehogs when Leo said. 'No!' He said it more calmly than he was.

'What did you say?' McGonagall said determined to remain the authority figure in this discussion.

'I said "No". Which part of that didn't you understand?' Leo sat up straight and stared directly in McGonagall's eyes.

She didn't get intimidated by it though and took a step towards him. 'You will do whichever assignment I give to you. Am I clear?!' She said sternly.

'I will not suffer this. What's the point of making me do first year assignments if you know I'm capable of seventh year ones.' Leo said.

'That's irrelevant. I decide what things you get to do in my class and I am the one who decides when you can move on.' McGonagall said, not giving way to the insubordinate student.

'ENOUGH!!' Leo yelled. He threw over his table as he got up. Harry grabbed his scar as the pain stuck him again. McGonagall saw this and wanted to tell Leo to sit down but she didn't get a chance as Leo continued. 'I've had it with this. I've turned mountains to rubble, oceans to deserts and cities to ruins. GIVE ME A CHALLENGE!' Leo yelled. Harry found Leo's boasting somewhat exaggerated but agreed that giving first year's assignments to a fifth year was a little stupid.

'Mr. Panther, calm down. There is no need to get angry. Can't we discuss this peacefully?' Professor McGonagall said trying to sooth the tension. Leo however didn't care what she said.

'NO!' He pointed his wand at McGonagalls desk. 'Give me a challenge or I'll show you how fast I can turn your desk into a blazing inferno.' As Leo said inferno a few licks off flame sprung from his wand. He wasn't bluffing.

McGonagall had no patience left. 'Mr. Panther. Restrain yourself or get OUT!' She snapped at him.

Harry thought that Leo would snap and put McGonagall's desk on fire but instead he lowered his wand and pulled his desk upright.

'Fine.' He said a bit calmer than before. 'I'll wait for you outside then.' He picked up his bag and walked calmly out off the classroom, being stared after by everyone in the room.

McGonagall resumed her stern stance and said. 'Alright. Begin with the first assignment in the textbook. I have to handle this.' Walked outside as well and shut the door. The door however didn't shut completely and the conversation she had with Leo could clearly be heard.

'What do you have to say for yourself?' She began.

'I am right, you are wrong.' Leo replied with a comical note.

'Don't make fun of this situation. Do you have any idea how much trouble you made?' McGonagall asked.

'Sure. But I know you're going to tell me anyway.'

'You disobeyed me, you threatened me and you nearly lost control. I will have to recommend to the Headmaster that you be expelled. I thought you would show more discipline.' McGonagall summed up.

'He wont expel me, his debt is too high. And I only show discipline to superiors. You barely rate as my equal.' Leo snapped at her.

'YOU!!… I will make see reason, I will keep opposing your enrollment. Your father will hear of this as well.' McGonagall said.

'By all means, please do tell him. Oh, and we have unauthorized ears.' Leo said. Immediately afterwards the door was slammed shut.

A few minutes later McGonagall came back in the classroom. She was dead quiet but her face had an angry color on it. Whatever the outcome of that discussion was she hadn't won or not by enough.
After that she resumed the lesson as though nothing happened. No explanation given, no outcome told. The class didn't ask either as soon they were to busy trying to transfigure their left hand into a right hand. At the end of the class most of them had succeeded and were getting it reversed while Neville had managed to turn his right hand into a left hand, giving him literally two left hands.

Harry, Ron and Hermione got up and went to the great hall for lunch. Outside the classroom Leo was waiting for them.

'Hello Harry. How was class?' He asked. Harry wasn't sure how to respond to this.

'If you hadn't acted so strangely, you might have known.' Harry said after thinking about what to say.

'I already apologized to McGonagall for that.' Leo said averting his look from Harry.

'You're not going to do that to every teacher we have. Are you? I mean, I understand that you behave like that with Snape but McGonagall.' Ron said.

'I'll only act the way I feel appropriate for the situation. Besides. How would you react if you had to do things that are way too easy for you?' Leo asked.

Ron didn't answer. They got to the great hall and took seats. Ron and Hermione sat down next to Harry and Leo sat across from him. Most of lunch the four of them remained quiet. Harry especially remained quiet, thinking deeply about what had happened. He wanted answers, complete disclosure about what was happening. But at the same time he feared to ask. Not sure that what he would find out would be what expected or that he would like it.

About halfway through lunch he had gathered his courage and made the attempt.

'Why?' Harry asked, looking straight at Leo.

'Why what?' Leo asked, faking ignorance.

'Why everything. For instance, why does my scar hurt when you get angry?' Harry said softly making sure that only Ron and Hermione would be able to overhear what he said.

'Interesting. Your persistence in finding out the truth is only surpassed by your father's.' Leo responded. Harry felt the urge to jump over the table and to strangle Leo. He knew something about his father.

'You… You… You…' Harry was at a loss for words. Hermione and Ron got up. They too were itching to wring the information out off Leo.

'I met your father only once. At least I only remember meeting him once. I caught him looking into confidential files on my 5th birthday. As to answer your previous question. The reason you feel my anger is because we share something in common. What that is exactly, I have to keep a secret for now.' Leo said. Ron and Hermione sat down.

'I'm getting tired of all those secrets.' Harry said.

'Until it becomes relevant or important for you to know, it is better that you don't know. Some parts of the past are better left in the dark than remembered.' Leo said. Harry didn't reply to this and continued with his lunch when he saw that Draco had come up to the table.

'Need protection from your lunch, Potter?' Draco said like it was the funniest joke in the world.

'Sod off.' Harry said not wanting to get into an argument with Draco.

'Is that the best you can do? HA! You're weak. You even need a bodyguard to protect you.' Draco said with a smirk. Harry felt anger growing. Both in him and in Leo. He knew it was better to ignore Draco, eventually he would get bored with teasing.

'Does he have to hold your hand if you want to take a walk outside the school?' Draco sneered.

Harry had had enough. 'Do you want to fight?! Fine.' Harry whipped out his wand. Draco just stood there, looking smug with himself. Like he had achieved his goal.

'I'm not stupid Potter. I'll not face you here in front of the teachers and your…' Draco looked at the Ron and Hermione with a degrading stare. '… Friends. No, if you have the guts than I challenge you to a duel. Tonight, at midnight. Meet me at the entrance hall. Just the two of us no arbiters, no seconds.' Draco said.

'Harry, don't do it.' Ron said.

'Of course, if you don't show up I will tell everyone who wants to hear that you're a coward.' Draco said.

'Fine. I will be there.' Harry said. 'Now get lost.' Draco walked away not looking back.

'Harry, have you gone completely crazy!' Ron almost shouted. 'There is a reason they have seconds and arbiters at duels.'

'Harry, you are not going to meet him.' Hermione said sternly. 'I will tell McGonagall if you try.' She added.

'No you wont Miss Granger.' Leo said. 'Even if you tell McGonagall, Harry will still go out to face him. And the only thing you'll end up doing is costing Gryffindor house-points. Is that really worth one little duel and your friendship?'

'I…' Hermione said but she couldn't think of a proper argument.

'You needn't worry. I will see to it that no harm will come to him.' Leo said, Harry stared at him.

'You wont be there. I'm going alone.' Harry ordered.

'Indeed? Of course you are, you wont even notice I am there.' Leo said.

'I'm going alone. What part of that don't you get through your thick skull?' Harry said angrily.

'~Sigh~ Do I have to repeat myself Harry? I don't take orders from you.' Leo replied.

'Very well. But you'd better remain out of sight.' Harry said but as he looked up to see Leo's reaction he saw that Leo had disappeared. 'Where did he…?' Harry asked but he stopped as he felt a hand on his shoulder.

'It's time for class Harry. This discussion can wait.' Leo said from behind Harry.

They exited the great hall and set out for the next class, charms. They walked in silence. Harry was hoping nothing would happen like during transfiguration. No such luck, no luck at all. He could see the storm coming when upon entering the classroom he saw that singular feather on a book stack next to professor Flitwick's own stack.

Please God. If you care the slightest bit. Please don't let Professor Flitwick use that feather.

His prayer fell on deaf ears if anyone was listening at all. Flitwick began explaining the procedure for a basic protecting charm, when he turned to Leo.

He picked up the feather. 'Except for you Mr. Panther. You will be practicing the levitation charm.'

UH-OH!. Harry thought as he felt the anger growing in Leo.

'Why does every teacher in this school keep giving me these stupid assignments? I'll not be doing anything you say unless you give me a very good reason.' Leo said biting back his anger.

'Now, now Mr. Panther. There's no need to act like this. I have a good reason. Your father wrote us that…' Flitwick answered but he was cut off by Leo.

'MY FATHER WROTE…?! Well that explains a lot. It also means words aren't going to set this straight.' Leo said. He then stood up and walked towards the door, stopping there and tuning to face professor Flitwick. 'This will show you what I'm capable of.' Leo said.

He closed his eyes stood completely still. Heat was draining out of the room and one by one the torches on the walls got dimmer.

'What is he doing?' Harry asked.

'He is summoning power for a spell.' Hermione answered.

'Why?' Ron asked.

'Ask him!' Hermione replied.

'Mr. Panther. What on earth are you trying to prove?' Professor Flitwick asked Leo who responded without looking up.

'I'm proving my abilities before more of you give me ridiculously easy assignments.' Leo said.

The temperature in the classroom dropped below room temperature and several students began to shiver. Then all of a sudden air in the room became statically charged. Harry could feel his hair standing on end, but luckily for him his hair was short enough not to be noticed. This was not so lucky for Hermione with longer hair, it made her look like a bushy, brown dandelion.

'What is happening?' Ron asked stifling his laugh as he saw Hermione's hair.

'He is reaching the limit of power he can hold.' She answered with a scowl towards Ron.

Leo suddenly looked up, raised his wand and shouted. 'WINGARDIUM…'

'NO WAIT!! You can't put that much power in…' Professor Flitwick shouted but he never got end that sentence.

'… LEVIOSA!!' Leo ended the charm with a huge swish and flick, that looked more like a slash and whack. And as he raised his wand, everyone and everything in the room not bolted to the floor or walls began to float.

'WHOA' Was the common reaction of the students who were floating weightlessly through the room bumping into other students and other objects such as books.

Professor Flitwick was having difficulty keeping away from flailing arms and feet. He finally managed to find relative safety at the wooden chandelier where he grabbed hold of the iron bar that was bolted to the ceiling.

'Mr. Panther you have proven your point. Now please STOP!' Flitwick said ducking barely in time to dodge a foot.

'Very well. You will convince your colleagues that they should do same, right?' Leo said.

'Yes, yes! Please end the spell, please.' Flitwick practically begged, because he had been hit by several books that strayed towards him.

Leo slowly lowered his wand so that everything slowly dropped to the floor. The remainder of the lesson was spend to put everything back into place. The homework they got consisted of making a foot long essay on possible variations on the protection charm. After class Leo thanked professor Flitwick and made a reluctant apology for the trouble he caused and then they were off to the next class. Divination.

Ron and Harry said goodbye to Hermione as she turned around and set off for arithmancy. Then two of them, trailed closely by Leo, set off for the north tower. On the way there they ran into Peeves who was making rude remarks at anyone who was walking by.

'Why! If it isn't Potty and the Beast.' Peeves said followed by a fit of cackling. Ron, believing Peeves meant him with Beast, paced towards Peeves.

'WHO are you calling Beast?' Ron said. He pulled his hand back for a swing at Peeves. Peeves didn't answer and stuck out his tongue. Ron in answer to that threw Peeves a punch, Peeves saw this and made himself intangible. This resulted in Ron "almost" losing his balance.

'Stupy firehead. You cannot touch me. Na na na.' Peeves cackled while making a loop in the air.

'Come on Ron. Let's just ignore him.' Harry said.

'NO! I want to know why he called me beast.' Ron said.

'Yeah, Peeves why did you call him beast?' Leo said menacingly and he stepped towards Peeves.

'I…' Peeves tried to say something but Leo grabbed him by the throat, for some reason Peeves couldn't make himself intangible.

Leo mumbled something close to Peeves' face which Harry couldn't quite catch. Then Leo flung Peeves at the floor. Peeves instead of impacting the floor went through it and a moment later there was a crash, coming from a few floors below them. Almost immediately Filch's voice shrieked through the school as he yelled 'PEEVES, I HAVE YOU NOW!!'

'Why did you do that?' Ron asked, a little disappointed he didn't get to do that to Peeves.

'He annoyed me.' Leo replied. 'Shall we continue?'

'What did you say to him?' Harry asked.

'I warned him not to insult people like that again.' Leo said. Then they went on to the divination classroom.

'You think Professor Trelawney will be a bit more down to earth this year?' Harry asked Ron as he stepped onto the ladder to the classroom.

'Not a chance.' Ron replied.

The room was still overheated and under ventilated, the air was thick with incense or something similar. Harry felt himself being overcome by the air as his head started to swim. He quickly sat down on a pouffe next to Ron.

Leo came in last and closed the trapdoor behind him. He sat down across from Harry and Ron.

Professor Trelawney sat in her chair wearing a purple robe and her huge glasses were still enlarging her eyes several times.

'Greetings students. My inner eye told me that our group of enlightened people has been enlarged.' She said in dreamy way.

'I think her external eyes just confirmed it for her.' Ron whispered to Harry.

Harry chuckled in response.

'What is your name, child?' Trelawney asked Leo. Who in return struggled not to laugh.

'You know, it's questions like that, that make people question your abilities, Miss.' Leo said. Several people laughed. 'Besides, if you checked the student roster for this lesson you wouldn't even have to pretend that you needed to ask.'

'Us enlightened people don't need such mundane things. Just tell me your name and I will predict your future.' Professor Trelawney said, undisturbed by the students who were trying to suppress their laughter.

'Even the most devoted seers need to keep records of some things and I'd prefer not to hear my future again. I've been tutored by a divination specialist.' Leo said.

'Then you have come to the right place to finish your studies of the divining arts.' Trelawney said fiercely proud of her profession.

'I don't intend to make future gazing my major.' Leo said.

'Then let me read your past AND future. Give me your right hand.' Trelawney said. Leo stuck out his left hand. 'I asked for your right hand.' She said a bit surprised as though she didn't see this coming.

'We don't always get what we want. This is all you'll get from me.' Leo replied.

Professor Trelawney suddenly grabbed Leo's right hand, pulled the glove off of that hand. This caused Leo's signet ring to fly through the room and landing near Harry.

Leo instantly changed from humorous to enraged. 'WATCH WHAT YOU ARE DOING YOU HAG!!! THAT RING IS PRECIOUS TO ME!!' Leo yelled in fury.

Harry picked up the ring. It felt heavier than he expected, but the most surprising thing was the voice which Harry heard inside his head but which he knew came from the ring.

"Master? You not master. Give me back to him. Give me back to Master Leo!"

'What the…?!' Harry said.

"Give me back. You not him. I must be with master. Give me back to him.!"

'WHERE ISSS IT?!' Leo hissed with a hoarse voice.

"Master will kill if he not has me. Kill you first he will!"

'Leo! Here!' Harry said hurriedly and he cautiously held out his hand.

Leo paced over to Harry and snatched the ring out of Harry's hand. He held the ring close to his chest, this seemed to calm him down.

Leo then slowly turned to Harry and whispered. 'Thanks.' Then he turned to professor Trelawney who was sitting dumbstruck in her chair still holding Leo's glove. 'Give me that!' He said grabbing while his glove back. As Leo pulled it over his hand Harry saw that there was a huge dark stain like mark on the back of Leo's hand.

Leo had just put his ring back on his finger when professor Trelawney snapped out of her trance. 'You are evil!' She said to Leo. 'You caused suffering in the past and you will do so in the future.' She stood up and stared Leo straight into his eyes. 'I've looked into your soul. I know what you are.'

'And we haven't been properly introduced yet. You're probably right though.' Leo stuck his hand out to her. 'Leo M. Panther, at your service.' Professor Trelawney cringed and stepped away from Leo.

'You!?' She said.

'What's the matter? Didn't your inner eye tell you that I was coming?' Leo said airily. He turned sincere. 'If you truly know what you say you know, you'd better keep it a secret. Or you might find your future cut short. Are we clear?' He asked.

'Crystal.' Professor Trelawney said completely terrified.

'Good. Now pretend I'm just another student. I assume you know how to pretend someone is something they're not.' Leo said.

'Huhmpf.' Trelawney said indignantly but she did as Leo said and resumed the lesson as if nothing has happened.

'Students. We will begin this year with the examination of the near present as we will delve deeply into the art of scrying. After that we will continue with the techniques to detect illusions. After Christmas most of the school will be confined to bed because of a flu epidemic, so we will be revising during that time. After new year, in a joint session with charms class, we will be learning the skills needed to remove illusions and after that you will be tested regularly before you will be taking your O.W.L. exams. Although I foresee that studying will be hard due to a catastrophe that will involve Hogwarts. I foresee many people will not make it to the O.W.L.'s.' She sadly glanced at Harry. 'Stay away from him Harry Potter' Trelawney said while pointing at Leo. 'He will be the instrument of your death this year.' Some people gulped and nervously stared from Harry to Leo. Who was not really paying attention to what Trelawney was saying.

There we go again. Harry thought with a sigh.

Professor Trelawney switched back to what was normal for her and resumed with the lesson. 'Students please come by here and pick up a map and a pendulum. When you've returned to your places open your books on page 402. Chapter …' She put her hand open her eyes like she was thinking very deeply or she was reading something on the inside of her hand. '21. Basic scrying instructions.'

All the students came to her and picked up a piece of parchment from a small table and a pendulum from a dusty chest next to her chair. The pendulum was basically a chain with a rough crystal on it. The map reminded Harry of the Marauders map, except that it had seen less action and didn't show any secret passages.

Once all students were seated professor Trelawney spoke up again. 'Scrying, like most divination techniques is best learnt by trying. So, I want you to write down the names of a friend, an enemy and a teacher. I expect you to at least have found two them at the end of class. And for those of you who think they're smart. You may not scry for anyone in this room.' Some students muttered something Harry couldn't quite catch.

All of them began to read the chapter Trelawney had indicated and a few moments later some of them were furiously swinging their pendulums over their respective maps.

Harry and Ron got into a discussion about who would scry for Hermione.

'I thought of her first. I'll scry for her.' Ron said

'I like her more. I should be the one to scry for her.' Harry countered.

Ron cocked an eyebrow. 'What has that got to do with it? She likes me more than you.' He said.

'How would you know whom she likes more?' Harry asked raising his eyebrow as well.

'That doesn't matter.' Ron said turning slightly red. 'We can't both scry for her. How about you do me a favor and let me scry for her.' He added.

'Really crafty of you Ron. Considering we both know where she is. I outrank you.' Harry said.

'That is low of you to use your prefect status.' Ron said slightly ticked off. 'I would expect that from a Slytherin, not from you.' Ron whispered.

'I ran out of ideas to settle this.' Harry said apologetic.

'Are you two quite finished?' Leo asked.

'NO!' Harry and Ron said at the same time.

Leo continued undisturbed by their rudeness. 'Either toss a coin or have a duel or something. This argument is getting on my nerves.' He said gruffly while crunching a quill in frustration.

'What are you so worked up about?' Harry asked not sure why Leo was so upset.

'Nothing. Just having a bit of a problem with this task.' Leo answered.

'What kind?' Harry asked wondering what possible problem one could have with this.

'Never you mind. Ms Trelawney?' Leo said.

'That's Professor Trelawney for you.' She said rather uncharacteristically compared to her usual behavior.

'Professor Trelawney. I got… a problem.' Leo said.

'Which would be?' Trelawney said.

'I was wondering if I could scry for two enemies or two teachers.' Leo said.

Professor Trelawney looked up in surprise. 'Why?' She said.

'Because I don't have any friends in Hogwarts at this time.' Leo answered.

'Figures.' Trelawney said. 'Very well. You may.'

The rest of divination was rather boring and uneventful. Ron and Harry had decided who scyed for Hermione with a coin toss which Ron won. Harry wanted to see if Ron hadn't tampered with the coin but didn't push the issue as Trelawney was coming by their table to check on their progress. At the end of class most students had found three people or they pretended they did. Either way Professor Trelawney didn't notice.

Divination was the last class for the day, and now Harry and Ron went to the Gryffindor common room to relax for a while. Or they would if Hermione wasn't there already to remind them of the O.W.L.'s.
Reluctantly they got out their textbooks and started with potions homework. With an attitude like: "Let's get that over with.".

While looking up the various properties of some exotic herb, Harry saw Leo entering his room. But instead of pushing the door open he pulled it open. Harry couldn't see much from where he was sitting but the room behind the door was not the same one as where he had been in the night before. Harry pushed the chair he was sitting on backwards so it was standing on its two hind legs, this way he could see a few more inches of room. Just before chair reached the point of falling over the door slammed shut and Harry moved his weight forward again. The chair resumed use of its forelegs with a loud thud.

Hermione looked up from a complex diagram, with symbols Harry faintly recognized as arithmancy symbols, and gave Harry a scowl for disturbing her.

'Was that necessary?' She asked before diving back into her homework trance.

'No.' Harry answered softly. His thoughts were far away, he was still trying to make sense of all the things he had seen and heard today.

Leo has some history with Snape. There is something not human about him. He has a great range of skills and is very powerful. He dislikes his father. He knew my father! Dumbledore knows something about him. Why is that ring so important to him? These were some of the thoughts that went through Harry's mind.

Then suddenly he snapped out his thought cycle because Ron had been snapping his fingers in front of Harry's face.

'What?!' Harry said a bit disturbed by the wake up call.

'Come on mate. You don't want to have another Hermione-speech about not focusing on your homework.' Ron whispered, hoping that Hermione wouldn't hear him. She had heard him in fact, but she was just so consumed by her work that she didn't feel like having an argument with Ron about her sage advice.

Harry returned his eyes to the parchment he was using. What he saw surprised him. While he had been thought wandering, he had been writing on the parchment. In the center of the parchment he had written the word "Order". He had then circled it and put a big, though slightly crooked, question mark next to it.

Why did I write that? Wait Leo mentioned he worked for an Order and that book he gave me was also about an order. Maybe my father and Dumbledore both had dealings with this Order. I don't suppose Hermione has had enough time to decipher that book but there is no harm in asking. Harry thought.

'Hermione?' Harry said cautiously.

'What?' Hermione asked in return, not at all happy about being disturbed again.

Okay, so there is harm in asking.

'I was wondering… well I was hoping that…' Harry wasn't sure how to be polite enough to her.

'Spit it out already.' Hermione said, anxious to get back at her diagram.

'Have you had a chance to decipher that book I gave you?' Harry asked.

Hermione gave him an incredulous stare. 'I've only had it for one day. Who do you think I am? Wonderwitch?' Hermione snapped at him.

'Nope you are bookworm Hermione Granger, the mortal enemy of slow reading students. An encyclopedia with a badge.' Ron said jokingly.

'RON!' Hermione said a bit embarrassed by that description of her.

Harry was suddenly reminded of the newspaper clipping he had swiped from Leo's scrapbook. He took it out of his pocket and read the names of Leo's former teammates again so he wouldn't forget them. They may hold answers as well. He wrote the names down on the parchment he originally intended to use for potions homework.

Elena "Rash" Appleton
Zach "Aid" Smythe
Tobias "Bookworm" Tomewriter

'Harry!' Hermione called across the table for third time.

'What?' Harry replied.

'Now that you mentioned that book. I feel I should remind you of our agreement. Wait here.' Hermione said. Then she ran off to the girls dormitory.

'What agreement?' Harry said, racking his brain to remember.

'You agreed to feed her cat for a month, remember?' Ron said.

'Four weeks. No more.' Harry said suddenly remembering the deal.

'Big difference.' Ron said.

Then Hermione came out off the dormitory carrying a jar with what looked like white candy mice. But when she got closer Harry saw that they were real mice, all of them with their eyes closed. The label on the side read: "Suspended animation mice. They stay fresh indefinitely.".

Hermione put the jar on the table and opened the lid.

'I thought you said he prefers his mice alive?' Harry asked.

'You just wait and see.' She gently picked up a mouse from the jar pulled out her wand and said. 'Enervate.'

The mouse opened its eyes and tried to wiggle out of her grip. Hermione then yelled. 'CROOKSHANKS. DINNER.' And the ginger cat came running. The mouse tried even harder to get out of her grip but Hermione held it firmly in her hand. 'Ready?' She said to her cat. Crookshanks took a ready stance, Hermione then stooped to the ground and said. 'Get it.' As she released the mouse.

The mouse shot across the room and Crookshanks went after it. Within a minute he came back to show his prize to his master.

'Good boy.' Hermione cooed and she scratched him on the head. Then Crookshanks went of to a quiet corner to devour his meal in peace.

Hermione turned to Harry. 'He is going to come back for another one in a minute or so.' She picked up another mouse, handed it to Harry and then closed the jar. 'Think you can handle it?' She asked.

'Sure.' Harry said as looked at the cute little white mouse he held in his hand.

A minute later Crookshanks came back to Hermione and meowed angrily that he wanted another mouse.

'Go to Harry. He will feed you while I work on a project of his.' Hermione said to him. Crookshanks gave her a look that meant something like "Are you kidding?". 'Go on.' She said while gently nudging him in Harry's direction.

'Enervate.' Harry said. The mouse awoke and almost wiggled out off his grip. 'Okay. Are you ready?' Harry said to Crookshanks who was staring at him in disbelief but jumped off the table anyway and got into a ready position. Harry held his hand with the mouse and then released the mouse. A repeat of the previous scene took place and Crookshanks went to Hermione to show her he had caught it. She patted him and then Crookshanks fell asleep on the chair next her.

Hermione pushed the jar with mice to Harry. 'Feed every other day or else he'll get fat.' Crookshanks looked up for a moment to make sure he wasn't being offended and then resumed his nap.

'Okay.' Harry said as he picked up the jar and got ready to take it his dormitory.

'Oh… and don't forget to close the jar immediately after you've taken the mice out. Or else the mice might spontaneously wake up and you would have a serious infestation problem.' Hermione quickly added.

'Thanks for the heads up.' Harry said as got up. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Fred and George with mischievous grins on their faces. Harry tried not to think about what those two were up to now.

As he plunked down the jar next to his trunk he noticed a note had been placed on his pillow. He picked it up, it read:

DON'T! I REPEAT DON'T TRUST LEO PANTHER. HE IS HIDING HIS TRUE NATURE. DON'T ALLOW HIM TO GO OUT OF YOU'RE SIGHT OR HE WILL KILL YOU. HE HAS KILLED BEFORE AND HE WILL DO SO AGAIN.

A CONCERNED INDIVIDUAL.

Harry didn't recognize the handwriting and he was getting pretty fed up by these warnings. 'WHY wont anyone give me a useful tip?' Harry thought out loud.

Harry crumpled the note threw it out of the window and went back downstairs to continue with his homework. He went on for about twenty more minutes before he had enough and asked Ron to play a game of chess.
Hermione frowned at this but didn't say anything.

Harry and Ron continued with playing games and talking about quidditch until it was time for dinner. Just then Leo came out of his room looking like he had run the marathon.

They went down to the great hall in silence. That is Harry, Hermione and Ron didn't talk to one another. They entered the hall in silence, they sat down in silence and ate their dinner in silence. Harry got unnerved by Hermione being silent to him. He expected her to tell him he should try harder to finish his homework, that he should read more or, in relevance to tonight, that he should not sneak out in the middle of the night to have that duel.
Ron's silence was more understandable. Ron and himself had been talking for so long that they had temporarily run out of subjects to talk about. Plus that Ron was stuffing his face so badly that you couldn't get a word in between.

And then there was Leo. The king of silence.

Harry threw a glance at Draco who was enjoying his dinner. No doubt boasting that he could take on Harry with a blindfold and two hands tied behind his back. For a moment Harry thought it would be fun to go over there and tell them that Draco might be able to beat him if Harry was the one with the blindfold and the arms tied behind his back.

Finally at desert Hermione spoke up. 'Don't go Harry. Draco is probably going to set you up again.'

Harry was so relieved to hear her speak that he almost forgot that he had an opposite opinion. 'I have to go. I can handle myself in a duel and I am certain that Draco will be there.'

'But… but… There is nothing I can say that will talk you out of this, is there?' Hermione asked.

'No. But I appreciate that you tried anyway.' Harry answered.

Desert was concluded on the students returned to their respective common rooms. Once they were back there Hermione made a last ditch effort to prevent Harry from going out that night, by trying to exhaust him with his homework. Her plan failed though because Leo came up the table and requested to speak to Harry in private. A little later Harry was back in Leo's cramped room.

'You're not going to drag me in here every day are you?' Harry asked. He wasn't completely sure why Leo wanted to talk to him so badly but he had some ideas.

'I prefer not to bring anyone in here at all. Since this is my only sanctuary. However, this is also the only place I can be sure that no one is listening in.' Leo replied.

'So what did you want to talk about?' Harry asked.

'Last night I noticed you took a newspaper clipping from my scrapbook. I would like to have it back.' Leo said, stretching out his right hand for Harry to put it in.

How? 'If you noticed me taking it then… why didn't you ask for it earlier?' Harry asked in bewilderment.

'Because I didn't think there was any harm in it. But it seems you're curiosity is greater than I expected. I realized that as you almost caught me in that bathroom this morning. I just can't have you looking into my past, that's all. Now hand it over.' Leo said in a firm tone.

'So you were in that bathroom. How on earth did you get to transfiguration before I got there?' Harry asked as he put his hand in his pocket.

'I took a short cut.' Leo replied.

'Why did you lie about it?' Harry asked. He fumbled slowly in his pocket so he could buy more time for questions.

'That's your point of view. You and Dumbledore have the uncanny ability to see through lies. I never considered myself a good liar but I've been trained to bend and twist words without breaking them. How did you figure out?' Leo asked still holding is hand outstretched.

'You were sweating, like you had been running.' Harry said as he wrapped his hand around the paper clipping.

'Heh, amazing. Just one tiny clue like that and you concluded I lied. Now hand over the clipping.' Leo said.

Harry pulled the folded newspaper clipping out off his pocket and handed it to Leo. Who in turn put it back in it's place in his scrapbook. Harry saw that the woman in the picture blew Leo a kiss. For a short moment Harry thought he saw a smile on Leo's face. Harry returned his eyes to the scrapbook which Leo then quickly closed. Then Harry's attention was caught by a glass bell that stood over a ring-box. Something about that box made Harry want to take a closer look at it.

Harry took his eyes of the ring-box and glanced at the wall where he saw Leo's medals. Then Harry remembered the part in the article where Leo was being recommended for the Order of Merlin.

'Did you get it?' Harry asked while looking at the four medals Leo had.

'Did I get what?' Leo asked in return.

'The Order of Merlin.' Harry replied, although he suddenly realized that Leo was wanted by the Ministry. Criminals don't usually get rewards.

'Nope. Sometimes I hope it got lost in the mail but I know they will never give me recognition for what I did. Doesn't matter anymore I have these rewards to treasure.' Leo said while pointing at his medals.

'Would you tell me why you got these?' Harry asked cautiously because he felt that Leo was getting tired of these questions.

'Don't worry Harry. I don't brag about my accomplishments but I don't mind telling you about them.' Leo said with a smile.

'Tell me about this one.' Harry said pointing at the medal in the far left. It was a round golden medal with a Gryffindor Lion carved onto it. The ribbon part had a pair of crossed wands pinned on it.

'Ah yes. The Golden Gryffindor Medal with crossed wands. For showing outstanding courage in the face of impossible odds. You get that after defeating a Dragon Master with only three others to help you.' Leo explained.

'What about this one?' Harry continued to the next one. It was a hart made out off crystal.

'The Crystal Hart. For attaining critical injury in the line of duty. I almost died on several occasions. I would have a box full of these if they would've given me one every time I was injured.' Leo said.

'What is the story behind this one?' Harry asked, he was getting amused by the way Leo explained how he got these things. The third one was shaped like a broken off canine tooth of some animal. It was made out of silver. Harry put it in his hand. It even felt like a real tooth.

'I don't think you want to know how I get that one.' Leo said apprehensively.

'Why not?' Harry asked.

'Because that is the one medal I'm not proud of.' Leo said.

'Then why keep it?' Harry asked. He tried to figure out for himself what the medal represented.

'As a warning. That the events that gave me that may never be repeated again.' Leo said, his look turning sad.

'What did you do?' Harry asked.

'First you must understand that what I did was unintentional and that that medal is archaic. Dating from a period when what I did was considered a service to society.' Leo said, clearly trying to dissuade Harry from pursuing this matter.

'What did you do?' Harry repeated the question more severely this time.

Leo sat down on his bed, buried his face in his hands and sighed deeply. 'Very well.' He said. 'I… killed… NO murdered. Seventeen werewolves… in cold blood.' Harry immediately pulled his hand away from the medal as if there was some contagious disease on it.

'YOU DID WHAT?' Harry yelled. Whatever respect Harry had for Leo was flushed down the drain. For a moment Harry saw Leo standing over the brutally slain corpse of Professor Lupin. He pushed the thought out off his mind.

'You heard me. Please don't make me say it again.' Leo said, he still had that sad look on his face.

'You monster. Why did you do it?' Harry asked angrily.

'I made an error while assessing my situation. My mistake claimed their lives.' Leo said. He resumed his neutral stance and stood up again.

'How can you kill someone by mistake?' Harry asked incredulously.

'I wasn't in control of the situation at the time. Enough about this. You don't have the right make me feel guilty for that. That right is reserved for me.' Leo said.

'I'm beginning to understand why you have such a bad reputation. Is there anything else you needed to discuss?' Harry said rudely as he wanted to leave.

'Yes. I need to know what you intend to do next with the info you have.' Leo said.

'I was planning to seek out your other team members. Provided you didn't kill them by mistake as well.' Harry said. Leo just stood there for a moment with a bemused look on his face.

'Trust me. I wouldn't kill them by mistake. Since I'm in an info sharing mood, would you like to know where they are right now?' Leo asked.

'You… you would tell me that?' Harry asked in return not sure what Leo was intending to do.

'Yes. I would. Do you want me to?' Leo said.

'Fire away.' Harry replied.

'Well. Zach…' The way Leo said Zach was like hearing Ron say Malfoy. '… works at the Ministry as head of the health department and Bookworm well…' His voice became friendlier as he started to talk about his other teammate. 'He works in the Ministry Knowledge Vault as Head knowledge keeper. I think he finally found heaven there. His nose in ancient lore all day, doing nothing adventurous or unexpected.' Leo almost laughed as he thought about that.

Harry realized had forgotten about one team member. 'What about Elena Appleton?' He asked.

Leo's face dropped instantly. 'I honestly don't know. She has been missing for four years now.' Leo said.

'Missing or dead?' Harry asked suspiciously.

'Missing! And you can believe me on this. If I can't find her no one can.' Leo said angrily, because of the insinuation.

'Would it help me to find out more about you if I asked them anything about you?' Harry asked, he suddenly realized that Leo had been giving him info willingly.

'Unlikely. They either think I am dead or captured.' Leo said.

Another dead end.

'Anything else you wanted to discuss?' Harry asked as he saw that this was getting him nowhere.

'Well, there is the small matter of your duel later tonight.' Leo said slyly.

'I'm going alone.' Harry said resolutely.

'Of course you are. And I'm going with you.' Leo said in response.

'You can't come. Draco stated clearly that there would be no seconds and no arbiters.' Harry said.

'Since when do you listen to a Malfoy? And he didn't say anything about spectators.' Leo said.

Harry figured he wasn't going to win this argument. 'Fine… just stay out of sight.'

'I promise I wont even be noticed.' Leo said while pointing at his brown cloak.

Harry glanced away from Leo his eye falling on the tooth medal. 'What is the thing called anyway Harry asked in a reflex.

'The Silver Fang.' Leo said.

Then Harry felt the alluring pull of the ring-box under the glass bell again. He slowly stretched out his hand to take the glass bell off but as his fingers almost touched it, he saw his finger tips turning into stone. Harry pulled his hand back and when he took a look out it again he saw that it had returned to normal.

'Nifty ward isn't it?' Leo asked as he had been watching the entire event.

'What would have happened if I had touched it?' Harry asked slightly panicking.

'You would have been turned to stone completely.' Leo replied like those sort of things happen every day.

'What kind of thing needs such protection?' Harry asked.

Instead of answering Leo removed the glass bell, which didn't affect him, picked up the ring box and opened it. Inside was a signet ring, similar to Leo's but instead of a red background it had a mossy green background and there was a small stag underneath the lion figure.

'This ring belonged to your father.' Leo said. 'Because it was separated from him before he died, the ring yearns to be on a finger. Since you look so much like your father it thinks you are him.' He explained.

"Potter!"

'Harry. I must ask you never to try to take it or to put it on.' Leo said.

"Potter!!"

'Do you understand me?' Leo said. But Harry was barely to hear what he said because of the whisper that had been growing louder ever since Leo opened the box.

"POTTER!!!"

'POTTER! Did you hear what I said?' Leo shouted as he closed the box and then proceeded to put it back under the glass bell.

'Yes, yes… Never take it. Never put it on. Got ya.' Harry answered quickly. 'How come you have this ring?' He asked.

'I'm sorry Harry but that part of history is not yet for you to know.' Leo answered.

'Why does everyone think I can't handle a little bad news?' Harry asked a bit pissed.

'Because you can't handle this history. Yet. Now go on Harry. I'm sure you have lot's of homework to do.' Leo said while guiding Harry out the door. There he was greeted by Hermione who had come up with a plan.

'Why don't you take Ron with you to the duel with him under the invisibility cloak?' She asked.

'Sorry Hermione but I need that cloak for myself to get to and from, here to the entrance hall.' Harry said.

'Shoot!' Hermione exclaimed.

Harry resumed his homework and when he finally finished potions he had enough of homework for the day. He played some games and afterwards went to his dormitory. As he came into the dormitory he saw that there was another letter on his bed.

HEED MY WARNING OR DIE OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF YOUR BAD DESCISION. LEO PANTHER CANNOT BE TRUSTED.

A CONCERNED INDIVIDUAL.

Who is this guy? Harry thought. For a moment Harry wanted to tell Hermione and Ron about this but he decided not to. He tucked the invisibility cloak under the sheets of his bed so Ron couldn't hide it from him and then laid down himself on the bed. He went over his plan for tonight.

I sneak out 23:30. Put on the cloak, make my way to the entrance hall, duel with Draco and return here.

Ron came in looking bushed from the homework, he changed into his pajama's and said good night to Harry. Harry returned the favor.

My plan should work. Provided Leo doesn't interfere. Harry thought. He checked his watch. One hour to go.