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

8. Chapter 7 Quidditch Conundrums

Chapter 7

Quidditch conundrums.

The next morning Harry woke up on his bed, in the same clothes he was stunned in. His memory failed him beyond that point. His body had simply given in to the relaxation the stun beam provided. He did appreciate Hermione's effort to keep him from duelling and he made a mental note to thank her for it.
The fact that he was still wearing his clothes also meant that she had the decency not to use that undressing charm she had boasted about.
Harry took a quick glance at his watch. It was still early. Neville was still snoring loudly. Harry figured he should get up immediately, he also wanted to change clothes because the ones he was wearing smelled like sweat and smoke.
After a quick shower, a change of clothes and combing his hear (to no result) Harry did a head count. Ron wasn't there.

Maybe he went downstairs already. He thought.

Harry made his way into the common room. Like he thought Ron was sitting there reading a book, although from the slouched position Harry could tell he was just staring blankly at the pages.
As soon as Harry stepped of the stairs Ron looked up, sleep was still very present in his eyes.

'Oy Harry. How did it ~Yawn~ .go last night?' Ron asked.

Harry thought for a moment how to properly phrase it. 'I gave Malfoy a sound thrashing. He is in the hospital wing right now because of it.' Harry said with a winning smile which Ron returned.

'Too bad I couldn't be there with you. Must have been a good fight.' Ron said a bit dreamily.

'You wouldn't have wanted to be there. Believe me.' Harry said sincerely. 'Where is Hermione?'

'She is fixing her hair, so we should have.' Ron suddenly looked up.

'You would have what Ron?' Hermione asked from the overpass.

'Nothing Hermione.' Ron said evasively. Hermione quickly made her way downstairs.

'I'm not in the mood Ron. Watch yourself.' Hermione snapped. Small bags under her eyes indicated she hadn't slept much last night.

'That time of the month again.' Ron said out loud, although he intended to keep the comment to himself. He ducked quickly, narrowly avoiding Hermione's backhand slap.

'You can't say I didn't warn you.' She said still a bit miffed. 'As for you!' Hermione said suddenly turning to Harry, who had been watching to two of them with mild amusement. 'Despite my warning you went to have a duel anyway and you didn't even wake me.'

'If I had woken you, you would have stunned me before I could leave.' Harry said in defense.

'My point exactly!' Hermione said with a warning index finger to Harry's nose.

The logic escaped him for the moment. 'Well. Anyway I wanted to thank you for trying to stop me. It might have saved me some trouble.' Harry said and Hermione's expression lifted.

'What you mean mate? I thought you said you thrashed Malfoy so badly he'll be in the hospital wing for at least a month.' Ron said not really thinking at usual speed.

Hermione first gave a mean look to Ron and than turned to Harry and gave him a I'm-a-Prefect-and-you-are-in-trouble look. Harry tried to sooth the tension. 'Ron. No need to exaggerate. I only knocked him unconscious.' Harry said with a tremble in his voice.

'You did what?!' Hermione said positively fuming. Harry rather faced the wrath of Voldemort then the wrath of Hermione any day.

'Hermione. please calm down. Malfoy didn't suffer any serious injuries.' Harry continued.

'Ohhh! Boys!' Hermione said.

'Hermione please. Would you rather have me in the infirmary?' Harry said.

'No! It's just that. Do you always have to settle your differences with violence?' Hermione asked with that disappointed undertone only she could use.

'Of course not. It's just that.' Harry started but he shut up as he saw that no answer would satisfy Hermione in this case.

'Hermione. What is your problem? I thought you couldn't stand Malfoy's guts.' Ron said not feeling a need to be sensitive about this.

'I do but I don't feel that every time he challenges you, both of you. That you should come running with wands blazing.' Hermione said looking sad. 'It will get you killed someday.'

If only she knew. Harry thought.

'I'm sorry Hermione. I'll think about that next time. 3. 2. 1.' Harry said. As he finished the countdown he looked around for something.

'Harry? What is it?' Hermione asked.

'Nothing. I guess I was wrong about something.' Harry replied.

'Not really, but I anticipated your actions.' Leo said from far corner which was hidden in shadow. He stepped forward into the light. 'He was trying to figure out my response time. At least you're alert.'

'Why is that?' Hermione asked.

'It's always a good idea to be able to predict your allies while remaining unpredictable to your enemies, even if they suddenly be reversed.' Leo said.

'Are you expecting us to become enemies?' Harry asked.

'One should never exclude the possibility.' Leo said.

'If you ever try to harm Harry you'll have to go through me first.' Ron said defiantly and he stepped in front of Harry.

Leo didn't really act disturbed, he gave a casual glare to Ron and then said. 'Take a good look at me kid. If I wanted to kill him you wouldn't be an obstacle to me.'

'You really get a bang out of this big time mysterious man act, don't you?' Harry said.

'It's one of the few things that make my life worth living.' Leo replied. 'But I really have to talk to Harry.' He slowly looked at Ron and Hermione. 'In private.' He added.

'Hey! Whatever you want to tell Harry you can tell us.' Hermione argued.

'You couldn't be further from the truth Miss Granger. Join me in the shadows when you are ready, Harry.' Leo turned around and stepped back into the darkness which swallowed him whole.

Harry was about to follow him when Hermione pulled him back by his arm. 'Harry you can't trust him. He could be a Deatheater.' She said.

'Somehow I don't think so. I trust him, to a point. Trust in my judgement. Okay?' Harry said.

Hermione released him and Harry walked over to the dark corner.

'This sucks. What could be so important that we aren't allowed to hear it.' Ron said.

'Don't be like that Ron. If we can't be in the conversation then at least we can eavesdrop.' Hermione said with a smirk.

'Hermione?! You've been hanging out with Harry and me too long.' Ron said with mock surprise.

'I know. Now be quiet.' She took out her wand. 'Amplify audio.' She then put the base off her wand against her ear and pointed the tip towards the corner.

'Does that work?' Ron asked as he guessed what she was trying.

'It should, I read it in that book that Leo had given to Harry.' Hermione answered.

She aimed and re-aimed her wand to get a clear reception. After a bunch of crackle and strange pounding, which she identified as someone's hart beat, she finally got voices.

'...really necessary?' Harry's voice said.

'I'm afraid so. This is about last night.' Leo's voice answered.

'What are they saying?' Ron asked impatiently.

'Be quiet. I'll tell you when they are done.' Hermione snapped and she swore a bit because she lost her aim. She found it again quickly.

'Why can't the others here this?' Harry asked.

'Have you forgotten your promise already?' Leo asked in return. 'Excuse me Harry. You really shouldn't use Order tricks against me Miss Granger. Stop trying to listen in or I will take offensive action. Silenco.'

Loud static and a high beep replaced the voices and Hermione dropped her wand before she blew her eardrum. 'Damn.' She said.

'What happened?' Ron asked.

Meanwhile in the corner.

'What did you do?' Harry asked concerned for his friends.

'I erected a silence field around us. We can't have unauthorised ears.' Leo replied.

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

'Just a check-up that you will keep your promise, also I have something which needs to be returned to you.' Leo answered.

'I haven't told them about the truth. But it feels wrong to lie to them.' Harry sighed. 'This all feels wrong. Voldemort apparating into school. Can't I be safe anywhere?' Harry exclaimed.

'No one is safe all the time, but that not important. Overall you are safest here. Relatively anyway.' Leo answered.

'Relatively? Why can't I be absolutely safe?' Harry asked though he knew the answer.

'You wouldn't want to life completely safe. That's boring.' Leo said.

'Forget it. You said you had something to be returned to me? What is it?' Harry asked.

'You dropped this just before the duel with Malfoy. By all rights it belongs to you.' Leo said as he pulled a large piece of cloth out of his pocket. It seemed way too big to fit in his pocket. 'Magical pockets.' Leo commented as he saw Harry's astonished look. When Leo had almost pulled it out completely Harry recognized it. It was his father's invisibility cloak.

Harry felt an urge to hug Leo for keeping it safe but decided not to. 'When did you get it?' Harry asked in amazement.

'I picked it up just before I entered the room and Voldemort locked the doors. You really should take better care of your things. You never know what might happen with them if you leave them out of your sight.' Leo said and he handed the cloak back to Harry.

'I put it there to protect it from damage it might get from the duel.' Harry countered.

'These cloaks are designed to last. I know, my family was. is stockholder in the company that makes these cloaks. This one is no different.' Leo said while pointing at Harry's cloak.

'Maybe. But if you picked it up before the duel that means that you had it with you last night. Why didn't you give it to me then?' Harry asked.

'I forgot.' Leo replied.

'Liar.' Harry said.

'Okay. I wanted to know more about it. It's just a stupid quirk but I like to know more about old things, weapons, armour, cloaks and other things.' Leo said a slight blush on his face.

'Really? I didn't think this cloak was that old. No more than 20 or 25 years. So what did you find out?' Harry asked with interest.

'25 years? No Harry that cloak is at least 150 years old.' Leo said with laughter in his voice.

'...'

A thousand thoughts and questions popped up in Harry's mind. Again a surprise in his life with an item he thought he knew well enough. The most important questions stuck, "How did my father get this cloak?" and "How can Leo be so sure it's that old?".

'Erm. How can you be.' Harry began but Leo cut in.

'I've studied the cloak closely and the creator's mark.' Leo pointed at a pattern below the collar on the inside. '. was used up to the middle of the 19th century. It could be older but there is no way to tell without a potentially destructive time search spell. Which would require a piece of the cloak to perform. And I think you'll agree with me that that is a waste of good material.' Leo explained.

'Do you know how my father got the cloak?' Harry asked.

'No. The only one who can tell you that is your father.' Leo said with his back turned to Harry.

'But he is dead! He can't tell me anything.' Harry protested with the suspicion that Leo was avoiding the question again.

'There is a way in which he could.' Leo started. Harry wanted to know how and why but Leo shushed him and continued. 'He could have written it in a journal or told his friends. Question them first before asking me a favour.' Leo said as a warning.

'But you are here. There is no time like the present. Please, tell me what you know.' Harry pleaded.

'Patience is a virtue. You talk to your father's friends first, if that doesn't satisfy you I might reconsider.' Leo replied.

'But... but... FINE!' Harry yelled rather pissed off.

'Ow. please don't yell Harry.' Leo said as he grabbed his head as though afraid it might come off. 'I've got a terrible head-over. I mean hang-ache. Argh! Ow!' Leo stammered.

'You were drunk last night?!' Harry said, seriously considering to harm Leo for some reason.

'No... only a little. What?! You don't really think I would face Voldemort head-on sober, do you?' Leo said shifting the blame away from him. Harry thought of a snide remark which fit Leo's question perfectly. 'If you value your health you'll not reply to that.' Leo warned. Harry decided it wasn't worth it.

'Anything else?' Harry asked getting fed up with Leo.

'Only a message from Professor McGonagall. That is, unless you have any questions you want answering first.' Leo answered.

'Yes, there is something I wanted to know. Why did you stick up for Draco? He could have been expelled for what he'd done. Why did you say you could sense the imperius curse, when it was clear to everyone there that you lied about it?' Harry asked.

'For that you must consider the future.' Leo said.

'Huh?' Harry said in return.

Leo squeezed his eyes and adjusted his glasses. 'Okay, let's take the hypothetical situation that Malfoy had been expelled. Tell me what would have happened?' Leo asked.

'Draco would not be here anymore, his wand would be broken, Draco would be out of my life and he'd be forbidden from using magic forever.' Harry summed up.

'Be serious Harry, if Malfoy were kicked out his father would continue his training. Can you guess what would happen then?' Leo said sternly.

'Instant Deatheater.' Harry muttered.

'Exactly.' Leo said.

'So what?! He has already decided to join with Voldemort.' Harry argued.

'As long as he is here we give him a choice. Something he wouldn't have if we threw him out now. Besides it isn't certain he has chosen already.' Leo said.

'Maybe, but still.' Harry began.

'But what? You wouldn't even give him a chance? What if Dumbledore hadn't given Snape a chance? Would Voldemort be defeated as easily as he was the first time?' Leo asked.

'As I recall it was my mother's love that saved me and defeated Voldemort. What does Snape have to do with it?' Harry countered.

'It was because of information he and others supplied that you parents went into hiding in the first place. Setting in motion a series of events that led to Voldemort's defeat.' Leo said. 'That's why the traitor is still alive and not in prison.'

'I give up. Why do you call Snape a traitor?' Harry asked.

'Because he is a traitor, to both sides.' Leo said with anger. 'But that is not important right now. This conversation has gone on long enough.'

'So now what?' Harry asked.

'A message from McGonagall. I went downstairs already. You and Miss Granger are to report to her as soon as possible.' Leo said.

'Why are you so formal about my friends? You're going to be around them for a while, you can speak to them or about them by their first name.' Harry wondered.

'Because calling people by their first name is a privilege earned by friendship. I don't have that. See you around Harry.' Leo said and he stepped out of the shadows and walked over to his room.

Harry too came out of the shadow. Ron and Hermione ran over to him.

'This has got to stop.' Ron said.

'What did you talk about?' Hermione asked.

'Another time.' Harry answered. His friends stared at him but accepted his answer for now. 'Hermione we have to go to Professor McGonagall right away.' Harry stated.

'Lead on.' Hermione sighed, she didn't really feel like seeing the head of her House right now.

The two of them walked over to the portrait hole and Ron yawned something about getting ready behind their backs. A few minutes later they were at McGonagall's office. McGonagall explained about the accident in the entrance hall and what consequences it would have. The two of them were to maintain order in the area and keep rumours to a minimum. This struck Hermione as a bit odd but she agreed anyway.
Afterwards they returned to the Gryffindor tower to get their school stuff together and wake Ron up as he had gone back to bed. Then the three of them set out for breakfast.

On the way down they couldn't resist the urge to check the devastation. Even though Harry had seen it last night already, it looked even worse in daylight. To prevent students from wandering paths had been set with cordon barriers. Boards had been laid down over the biggest craters so that no one would fall and break something.

'Whoa! How did you say this happened?' Ron asked.

'Peeves set off fireworks that had been delivered here.' Harry answered. He felt a stab of guilt about lying to Ron but he told himself that it would be better all around.

'Filch must be fuming about this. Maybe he'll get Dumbledore to get rid off Peeves for this.' Ron said. They continued their way to the great hall.

'I doubt he'll be able to catch him.' Hermione said. Then Peeves zoomed out of the wall and hovered in front off them.

'Filchy catching me. Hehehe. Because of what? Those fireworks? I really wish it was me but didn't find fireworks when I came by here last night. Do you want to know what I did find?' Peeves said teasingly.

Please shut up. Don't tell them anything. Harry thought.

'Liar. Professor McGonagall already told us that you did do it. Get lost!' Hermione said.

'Ohhh, Miss perfect Prefect wants to get rid off me? I don't lie about these things. Where's the fun in that? Don't you want to know what really happened?' Peeves made a lazy looping and then floated upside-down in front of Ron who seemed interested.

'All right then. I'll bite what did you see?' Ron asked.

Ron! NO!

'Come closer, they mustn't hear.' Peeves whispered.

Ron eyed him carefully but did step closer. Just before he came close enough Peeves looked up in horror and flew away through the ceiling at full speed. The trio turned around to see what was there. but there was nothing. Ron and Harry turned to Hermione to ask what could scare a poltergeist but she told them, with a blush, that she didn't know.

Phew. The secret is still safe.

Just before entering the great hall Harry stopped in front of the plaque with all of Voldemort's victims names. He wondered what name Leo had looked at, then suddenly Harry noticed the name he had heard Leo tell Voldemort the previous night.

Marinus Panther. There was a subscript beneath it. In fact all of the names had one but that was near impossible to see unless you were standing with your nose against the plaque. For some reason this text stood out.

Died while protecting a balance lost. His pride claimed his life, his sacrifice saved his soul. An ally and friend will be missed but not forgotten. -Albus Dumbledore.

'Come on Harry, I'm hungry.' Ron moaned and he dragged Harry into the great hall.

A little later they were well into their breakfast when Leo staggered in. He had his hood up and he slouched. Walking looked like it hurt like hell. He sat down next to Harry and he pulled his hood back. Leo had darkened his glasses.

'Anyone who makes a sound louder than this dies.' Leo threatened.

'Good morning to you as well.' Ron said loudly so the whole table heard.

Harry kicked Ron under the table when he felt his scar burning, Leo wasn't bluffing.

'House-elf! Ow!' Leo said a bit too loud for his head-ache. There was a popping noise behind him.

'Yes, sir?' The house-elf said with a squeaky voice.

'Bring me a large pot of coffee. Muggle-brand if you have it.' Leo whispered.

'All right, sir. Back in jiffy.' The house-elf said and disappeared with a pop.

'You could have been nicer to him.' Hermione said a bit angry.

'Why?' Leo said not looking up to meet her gaze.

'Because house-elves are beings too, they deserve more appreciation.' Hermione explained.

'Slytherin's are beings too. Are you nice to them?' Leo asked in return.

'That's different.' Hermione said, but she realised that she couldn't win this argument.

'I don't see how, until you can justify why you can't be nice to fellow beings I suggest you don't tell me how to act to creatures I have more knowledge off.' Leo said as closing argument.

Hermione was just about to counter that when a glass jar filled with coffee appeared in front of Leo.

'~SIGH~ House-elves.' He said. Then Leo pulled out his wand and transfigured the jar into a thermos. This made most of the wizard born students to look up to the thing, which they had never seen before.

'You're going to drink all of that?' Ron asked.

'Yep.' Leo replied.

Leo then turned a goblet into a large mug, filled it with coffee, added sugar and powered milk (which he had with him) and after stirring it he gulped it down in ten seconds. This earned him more curious looks from those sitting around him.

'Dragon-scale oesophagus.' Leo said and everybody returned to their breakfast.

Hermione had lost the comment she made up to counter Leo's so she decided to drop it, for now. For a while the table remained quiet. Slowly conversations started again an inevitably the topic came to Harry's duel.

'So Harry. I heard you gave Malfoy a good walloping last night.' Dean Thnomas said.

'Erm... Well yes I did.' Harry said hesitantly. It was bad enough lying to Ron but the entire Gryffindor house would hear this and the rest of the school soon after.

'Come on don't be modest. When I came by the infirmary this morning I saw Malfoy there with bandages around his head.' Neville commented. Several of students looked at him for a moment.

'Why did you have to go to the infirmary in the first place Neville?' Lee asked.

'No... no reason.' Neville said a bit panicked. They dropped it and resumed with Harry's duel.

'So what hex did you use to get him like that?' Dean asked.

Harry racked his brain for a hex which could do that. 'Er... Rictusempra.?' Harry's answer was too much of a question not to be noticed.

'You were there weren't you? How could you not remember what spell you used?' Dean asked. The others shifted closer so not to miss his explanation.

'Well, I was tired and it all went so fast. I... I... I just forgot.' Harry stammered quickly.

'Ridiculous. Try harder, tell us which spell Harry.' Dean urged.

'Well I... uh... It's erm...' Harry uttered.

'He used a displacement hex.' Leo said off to the side. Immediately everybody looked at him.

'A what? And how would you know?' Lee Jordan asked.

'A displacement hex is a powerful spell which if placed correctly can blow a fully grown man across the great hall. I was a witness.' Leo said not looking up to meet the others gazes.

'A witness? You mean you were there?' Dean asked surprised. Ron and Hermione sighed just out of hearing range.

'That is what being a witness means isn't it?' Leo replied.

'Harry I thought the deal was just you and Draco?' Dean asked.

Harry felt a bit shaken by this question. One of his friends was openly questioning his integrity. Harry could lie about why Leo was there, or maybe stay quiet and avoid the question, but he didn't want to lie anymore. Fortunately for Harry Leo stepped in to pull him out of the fire.

'By now it is no secret that I'm looking after Harry's health.' He started.

'Yeah, so?' Lee asked in a tone that he didn't care.

'And we all know how bent on winning the Slytherins are.' Leo continued.

'And?' Came from multiple people at the table.

'I figured that Malfoy would cheat. So I made sure that he couldn't.' Leo replied.

'Did he cheat?' Someone further down the table asked.

'Yes. He called in the help of a fellow Slytherin. A seventh year I think. I gave him a good scare.' Leo said.

'What was his name?' Fred and George asked with a vengeful look in their eyes.

'I didn't quite catch it. Ehh Tom something I think. I doubt he will show himself openly like he did last night though.' Leo answered. Harry felt like smacking Leo in the face. Even though there few at the table who knew about Tom Riddle, he knew that Hermione did and that she would figure it out if she had been listening.

'Could you describe him for us?' George asked.

'Tall and stringy, a real snake.' Leo replied. 'Sorry but I don't recall anything else and like I said, it doesn't matter. He is too scared to make a move for a while.'

'We'll find him.' Fred said.

The table returned to normal and soon after regular conversation took over. Life at Hogwarts returned to normal as well. As normal as Hogwarts can be of course.

The incessant mysteries stopped. Mostly. Hermione remained silent about she had found out in the book. Leo remained tight-lipped and there were no more anonymous notes. Which was just fine with Harry, who wanted to concentrate more on schoolwork and less on things that were not really his concern anyway.
Draco wouldn't come out of the infirmary for a week and afterward he remained cautious around Harry.
For a time there was peace. I suppose I should tell you about the other classes that they had and I will.
First, herbology. It hadn't changed much, they were still learning plants and their uses. Leo however had a hard time fitting in because he had black thumbs instead of green ones like Neville. After he had managed to permanently kill Lazarus weed. twice, professor Sprout asked him to help her keep the place in order rather than touching anymore of her precious plants. Leo conceded and would spend the remainder of the time cleaning up. It would be some time before he would touch another plant in that greenhouse.

Second, care for magical creatures. This was rather enjoyable. Hagrid was teaching with full confidence and brought some interesting creatures to class. Harry sincerely hoped that he would stay as long as possible.

And finally defence against the dark arts class. These classes would prove interesting but not really educational. Professor Doodle's memory was. How can I properly phrase this? It was worse than Neville's.
Any lecturing he gave was interesting but completely incomprehensible. Because part way into a sentence he would forget what he was talking about and he continued with the first thing that popped into his mind. This kept the students on their toes but rarely taught them anything.
As forgetful as Doodle was he was never late for class or forgot to take tests. As a rule he took a pop quiz every Friday. And then another and another because he kept forgetting he'd already taken one.
After two of such lessons the prefect counsel gathered and they figured that a solution was necessary. They decided that the top two students of each year would tutor their fellow house members minus a year. So the 7th years would teach the 6th years. The 6th would teach the 5th and so on.
Harry was chosen to be tutor as well as Hermione and he wasn't really looking forward to it. Mainly because of all the extra work it would need. He was very relieved when he heard that some exterior help had been called in with authority off Dumbledore.
Harry didn't know who it was until he found a little note in between the lesson material that had been provided.

Good luck with the tutoring lessons. If you need any help. Write me.

R.J. Lupin.

P.S.
Snuffles says hi.

One more thing I didn't mention about defence against the dark arts. After the first lesson ended Leo stepped up to Professor Doodle and asked. 'Excuse me professor. Have we met before? You seem familiar somehow.'

On which Doodle answered. 'Uhmm Met you say? Sorry I don't recall seeing your face before.' There was a certain tension in the professor's voice that defied explanation.

Time progressed and a steady rhythm set in. After the first week a rumour was released into the school gossip system. There was talk of the Gryffindor quidditch team and that it may not be able to play because they had no keeper.
This kept going on until it had become a story of how Gryffindor would forfeit their chance for the quidditch cup because the entire team didn't want to play. Three weeks had passed already.
So when Harry caught wind of this he summoned the rest of the team for an emergency meeting.

And so, on that Friday after classes, the remainder of the Gryffindor quidditch team assembled in the common room to discuss where to go from here.

'Gryffindor comrades, friends in quidditch. You are summoned here today to answer the threat of rumour.' Harry began theatrically. 'Our team stands upon the brink of destruction. None can escape it. We will decide or we will fall.' Harry couldn't keep his face straight after this.

After a few snickers from the others the meeting truly began.

'Seriously though, we need a new keeper fast.' Harry said. The others nodded in agreement.

'We also need to start training soon as well.' Harry said. Again there was no argument. 'Does anyone care to say how we will do this?'

'We could spread the word that we need a new keeper.' George said. 'We need the practise in advertising.' Fred finished.

'I know several people who are interested in the position.' Angelina commented.

'Hmmm. I'm not sure that is fast enough. But it's a start.' Harry said. A small worry line on his forehead.

'Something wrong Harry?' Katie asked.

'Not really. I just realized again that the majority of this team is in their seventh year. We may need to keep a look out for people who can take your positions when the time comes.' Harry didn't flinch as he said this.

'Hey wait just a freaking minute!' Fred yelled. 'We're not out of the game yet.' George then cut in. 'And another thing. Who made you captain? Something Wood neglected to tell us when he left?' They both stood up ready to make more arguments with an excessive amount of swearing.

In background more students came in to do homework or relax.

'Sit down!' Angelina shouted across the table. 'He isn't captain he is just providing leadership until we do have one.'

'Why do you two care? You think you can do better?' Alicia, who had been silent until now, asked.

'Well.' Fred said cautiously. 'I...I... I'm just a little unnerved. I. We don't want it to end and Harry just reminded me of it.' The twins sat down again. 'I'm sorry.' George said to Harry. 'We both are.' He added.

The meeting continued without further disagreements. The twins were put in charge of promoting a high attendance and defusing the negative rumours, the chasers were send out to make sure they had all the equipment they needed. Harry would take care of the official business, such as making sure that the pitch was theirs for as long as it took.

Early next morning. Harry was dressed in his quidditch outfit and his firebolt on his shoulder stepped into the cool and moist air of a typical Saturday morning. It had rained during the night and the pitch was muddy. Harry didn't mind this so much as anyone who fell would have less chance of getting hurt.

The weather was unpredictable and in exact balance between sun and drizzle. In short it was dry at the moment but the clouds promised rain later. Harry looked up and spotted some sheep clouds. They were bleating. He quickly made a mental note to himself to sleep longer next time.

Harry mounted his broom and was about to kick off for a quick flight over the pitch when behind him the door opened and Leo stepped out. He too had a broom with him.

'Don't tell me you are going to try out for keeper? Are you?' Harry asked over his shoulder towards Leo. He then kicked off and turned around.

'No, I'm not going to try out for anything. I don't even like quidditch. But since you are going to fly, I will have to be able to fly.' Leo yelled towards Harry.

'Do you even like flying?' Harry asked.

'I'm not very fond off heights but I'll fly with the best of them if it's necessary.' Leo replied as he stopped in front off Harry.

'Right. How do you manage to get up this early anyway? If I recall right you went to bed after me.' Harry asked.

'I simply never went to sleep.' Leo replied.

Harry raised an eyebrow and said. 'O-kay.' With a long emphasis on the "kay".

Harry then turned around and began a series of exercises. A couple of loops, several corkscrews and a fast turn around a goal post (a quick evasive manoeuvre). After a fast sprint and dive Harry returned to the entrance of the pitch. Leo was still there leaning casually against the wall.
No wait not just standing. He was asleep.

'Leo.' Harry said softly to see if Leo was truly asleep. When no response came Harry became agitated. 'Some protector. Falls asleep on the job.' Harry grumbled.

'Must kill him. Must kill Potter.' Leo said drowsily.

What the f...? Harry thought.

'He has become a nuisance. He knows too much about me.' Leo continued. 'But there is one thing he doesn't know.'

Yes?

'He doesn't know that... that...'

'Say it!' Harry thought out loud.

'...That I don't talk in my sleep.' Leo said with his eyes wide open.

Needless to say Harry was startled by this. 'You bastard. Don't ever do that again.'

'I do what I feel like doing. It keeps you sharp. Besides you got better problems. You booked the pitch from dawn till lunch, right?' Leo said and he pointed to the door behind Harry.

The Slytherin quidditch team was coming out in full gear lead by Draco. Feeling a flashback of the event in his second year coming up, Harry stepped towards them.

'I booked the pitch for today Draco. What are you doing here?' Harry said loudly. The Slytherin entourage stopped in front of him.

'I have been given special permission by Professor Snape to break in the new team.' Draco answered.

'I'll break your face if you set so much as one foot onto the field.' Harry snapped at him. The door opened again and the rest of the Gryffindor team came out carrying several cases with quidditch supplies. They stopped when they saw the Slytherins.

'Really Potter?' Draco said haughtily. 'Unless you have some more compelling argument I suggest you get out off our way.' Draco stepped forward. Harry drew his wand.

'I warned you. I booked the pitch for today and you're not getting on the field.' He said angrily.

Leo then stepped forward and he pushed Harry's arm down. 'Now, now Harry. There is no need for violence. If Mr. Malfoy here has permission to train than I'm sure he doesn't mind proving it.' He said.

'Yeah, show me some proof Malfoy.' Harry said.

'As you wish.' Draco answered and he pulled a note out off his pocket. He held it out to Harry but Leo grabbed it out off his hand.

Leo studied the note for a while before saying something. 'An impressive forgery Mr. Malfoy. Impressive but not good enough.' He crumpled the note and threw it back at Draco.

Now Draco blew up. 'This not a forgery! Now step aside! The field is ours.' He shouted.

'Without permission you may not go near the field.' Leo said in return.

'This note is our permission.' Draco said while holding it up.

'What note?' Leo asked innocently. In a flash the note turned to ashes and fell apart in Draco's hand.

Draco kept staring at his empty hand. He just couldn't believe that someone had dared to do something like this, especially because it had been done to him.

'You will pay for that.' Draco said in cold rage. 'You destroyed an official document. That should be enough to suspend you. Or if I push it, expel you.'

Leo didn't reply to this and put his broom on his shoulder. He was just about to step onto the pitch.

'DID YOU HEAR ME?!' Draco yelled at full strength. He then pulled out his wand and pointed it at Leo's broom. 'You'll pay for this! Shocka!'

An electric discharge erupted out off Draco's wand. Time almost seemed to slow down and Harry followed the spark all the way to it's target. It didn't hit though as Leo had turned around and blocked the spark with his hand.
Harry had seen this type of spark ignite books and send students to the infirmary. Leo didn't do so much as flinch, as if he had been struck by a feather rather than a high voltage spark.

'You Malfoy inbreeds must have lousy memories.' Leo began calmly. 'I can ignore insults, I CAN ignore threats, BUT I NEVER, EVER IGNORE ATTACKS!!'

He threw his broom on the ground, drew his dagger and made a step towards Draco.

Draco couldn't speak, he was still to flabbergasted by the ineffectiveness of his hex. He did maintain his composure though and assumed a duelling stance. The Slytherins behind him made an educated guess about what would happen and ran for cover.

'Are you ready for this?' Leo asked slyly.

'Have at you, Panther.' Draco answered.

Harry thought for a split second of intervening. He had seen what Leo could do and he didn't want the pitch to suffer the same. But a wink from Leo told Harry enough. Draco was slowly backing away, maybe even hoping that his comrades would come to help him.

'Come on Malfoy. Where is that backbone you just showed?' Leo taunted.

Draco didn't answer.

'Maybe I should make it easier.' Leo held his dagger horizontally in front of him so light reflected off it, showing all it splendour. 'If you can disarm me, you win. If I slit your throat, I win.' Leo said.

Draco gulped and moved his free hand to his throat. Then a twinkle came into his eye. He had an idea. 'How about we raise the stakes?' Draco said with a growing smile.

'This could be interesting.' Leo murmured. 'What do you propose?'

'If I win you give me your knife.' Draco said resolutely.

Leo laughed out loud. 'You got more spine then I thought but you can't handle this dagger.'

'Are you afraid you might lose it?'

'Not at all. Just so we are clear, what would you offer if you lose?' Leo asked.

'I wont lose but say that you lucky, I'll allow these Gryffindors onto the pitch.'

'Hardly a fair deal, but since you have nothing else I want. I accept.' Leo said.,br> 'Good.' Draco made a fast 360 turn and cast expeliarmus.

Leo dodged it and said. 'Accelerati.' His body became a blur. Draco who was getting seriously upset with the miss started a rapid fire of stun beams. Leo, who was moving impossibly fast, ran towards Draco and managed to get missed by all the beams and when he was just a foot away from Draco he dropped in to a crouch and jumped.
Leo was somehow able to jump twice his height. He landed behind Draco and turned around slowly moving one hand to Draco's neck.
This was happening to fast for Draco to respond. All off a sudden someone shouted behind them. 'Malfoy! Get down!'. The members of the Slytherin team had regrouped and now that Leo had his back turned they made their move. All six of them cast stun beams at Leo. Draco fell down on all fours and the beams hit nothing but air. A small cut on Draco's cheek gave away that Leo had almost managed to get to his throat.

'Where is he?' Draco cried as he got up.

Leo had jumped away, he landed several feet off to Draco's right.

'Scared yet?' Leo asked. He broke into another run. The speed difference was clear. Leo was moving in fast forward while Draco turned to face him in slow motion. A few feet before reaching Draco Leo jumped, made a half turn in mid air and grabbed his opponent by his armpits. He lifted Draco of the ground making a vertical circle which ended with Draco slamming with his back into the stand.
Leo then made another half turn in mid air, placed his feet on Draco's chest and kicked off hard.
This knocked whatever breath Draco still had left in his lungs out. Leo made soared through the air and landed feet first in a crouching position a few yards away.

Draco was leaning half dazed and very badly hurt against the stand, his vision was wobbly and his mind a blur. He tried to focus on his opponent who was slowly walking towards him.

'Wha- areeee youu?' Draco muttered.

'Ask your father. He should know.' Leo answered.

With great effort Draco lifted his wand and pointed it at Leo. 'Ava- Avada.' Draco muttered.

Leo made a quick dash, slammed Draco in the stomach. Then he grabbed him by the throat and held his dagger against the artery.

'You really shouldn't have done that.' Leo bit at Draco. 'If I were allowed it would have cost you your life.' He removed his dagger and let Draco fall to the ground. 'Your ambitions will be the death of you Malfoy.'
Leo pulled out his wand 'But not today, Vitae.' Draco's cuts healed instantly.

'Why did you heal me?' Draco asked in surprise.

'Because I don't feel like explaining your corpse to Dumbledore.' Leo said coldly. 'Now get your sorry carcass of the field, you lost the duel.'
'You'll regret this.' Draco said. 'I will get you for this.'

'Just go Malfoy.' Harry cut in.

Draco stumbled away supported by two other Slytherins. Harry watched them go through the door and see the door close before turning to Leo.

Leo was just standing there, as if he'd turned into a statue made out off flesh. Harry wasn't sure he wanted to ask him anything or to reprimand him on his behaviour. But then suddenly Leo cringed and grabbed his right hand as though it had been put on fire.

'Leo! Are you alright?' Harry asked with great concern.

Leo didn't answer right away and turned his back to Harry. 'I'm fine. I indulged myself too much in that fight. That's all.' He finally answered. 'The pitch is yours again. I'll watch the events from above.' And with that he mounted his broom and flew up to the stand where the teachers usually sat.

Harry didn't get a chance to go after him since the first candidates for the tryout started arriving. The tryouts themselves were rather uneventful. Students from second till sixth year applied for the keeper position. Even a couple of first years tried to apply with the argument that the rules were bent for Harry so why not for them.
Among the competitors was Ron who was standing out among the crowd because a rumour was going around that he would be picked for the position because of his friendship with Harry and his brothers.
To keep things fair several rules were implemented. To give no one a speed advantage everyone had to tryout on the same broom. The tryouts would have to be done in full quidditch gear and everyone had to run the same tests regardless of gender or age.

When they had reached lunchtime everyone who had applied had been given their turn and the weary Gryffindor team made arrangements to choose their new keeper. While the others packed up the spare quaffles and bludgers Harry went one last time around pitch to make sure they had found all the quaffles that had not been caught. After he had made sure that the pitch was clean he swung by the teachers box. Leo was gone, this didn't surprise Harry in the slightest.

Later in a secluded and silent classroom.

'I know we're all tired but we all agreed not to leave this room before choosing our new keeper.' Harry stated with a loud yawn at the end.

'They were all very promising. It's so hard to choose one over the others.' Katie yawned in reply.

'Well not all of them.' George said. 'Yeah. What about that 3rd year? What was his name?' Fred mused. 'Paul I think.' George answered. 'That's it Paul "Fumble-fingers".' Fred said with a snigger.

'It's Paul Chase. And yes he was without a doubt the worst.' Angelina corrected.

'We're not deciding who would be the worst choice. We're looking for the most talented and skilled.' Harry cut in. Although he too cracked a smile with the thought of that particular run.

Paul had been unable to dodge any bludgers and only managed to catch one quaffle.

'Let's go over this again.' Harry said with a sigh. He then stood up paced a bit and then turned around to face Alicia. 'What do you think? Who would be the best keeper in your opinion?' Harry asked her.

'Uhmm. Well. I suppose if I look at the statistics then I'd be forced to conclude that. ~Ahum~ That Ron Weasley would be our best choice.' She said this reluctantly as if the thought of another Weasley on the team would make her violently ill.

Harry himself felt fine about it but this was a democracy and it had to be put to a vote.

'I disagree.' Katie said with a raised voice. 'This 2nd year erm... Jessica Windrunner scored just as good as Weasley.'

'Hey, our brother was by far the best.' Fred and George said unison.

'People, people!' Harry shouted. 'Let's vote about this. All in favour in of Jessica Windrunner. Raise your hand.'

Katie and Alicia raised their hands. and then it was decided. Ronald Weasley would be the new Gryffindor keeper. They send out the owl they had brought with them to tell him the good news. Five minutes later a thoroughly out of breath but overwhelmingly overjoyed Ron ran into the classroom and pulled Harry into a brotherly embrace.

'Thank you, thank you, thank you...' Ron said rapidly.

After getting congratulated by all the other members of the team (although somewhat reluctantly by Katie and Alicia) he took his place at the table. Now they were ready to elect their captain.

'Alright. Now that we have a complete team again, we can pick the new captain.' Harry started.

'I nominate you, Harry.' Fred said.

'I second that.' Katie added, as though determined to beat George to it.

'I nominate Ron Weasley.' Said Leo's voice from the shadows.

A big silence fell over the team. They were baffled by the fact that their secret and secluded meeting had been breached.

'How long have you been there?' Harry asked.

Leo stepped out of the shadow with his cloak flowing behind him. 'About five minutes before you got here.' He replied.
'How... How did he? How?' Katie stammered.

'Don't ask.' Harry said with a dismissive gesture. 'Just accept that he's here.'

'So is he going to be at every meeting like this?' Angelina asked.

'Pretty much.' Leo answered.

Several grumbles erupted but no real argument started as it was futile to do so. It was Katie who made the next move.

'Why would you nominate Ron for quidditch captain anyway?' She asked.

'Yeah. What makes him so special that we should appoint him as player and as leader of our little group on the same day?' Angelina added.

Leo walked over to one of the empty chair on the opposite side of the table but didn't sit down.

'Let's take a look at his qualities. For example, he has beaten Harry at almost every chess game they played together.' Leo began.

Katie sighed. 'What does that got to do with anything?'

'That Ron has a keen tactical insight, something Harry can't match. Besides Seekers aren't known to be good captains.' Leo continued undisturbed.

'Why is that?' Harry asked mildly irritated.

'Because during a game they are to absorbed by looking for the snitch and dodging bludgers, than looking at the game itself.' Leo answered.

'A team captain has more responsibilities than that.' Angelina countered. 'He has to represent the team and plan training...' She said but was cut off by Leo.

'A blind troll could do that.' Leo rebutted. 'Why would Harry make such a good captain in your opinion?'

'Well. He has experience, leadership ability, a great charisma.' Katie summed up.

'So you want him to be captain because he's famous.' Leo concluded.

Katie huffed. She obviously didn't like the way Leo abbreviated her list of reasons. 'What does it matter? You're not allowed to vote on this anyway.' Katie said rather peeved by Leo's logic.

Leo gave every member of the team a sharp look in the eye, as if to pierce their souls. He stayed silent for a minute and then turned his speech to Katie. 'Why shouldn't I be allowed to vote? I'm a Gryffindor, aren't I?! If you're going to represent us on the pitch then I want a say in who leads you.'

The team looked at one another and then nodded in agreement. 'Fine.' Katie said still a bit upset.

The decision was made and put to a vote. That same day Ron became keeper and captain of the quidditch team. This would be received with mixed feelings by the Gryffindors and rather hostile by the opposition. That would change but for now Ron would take the heat of this decision.

Later that day, after lunch with an abundance of name calling and almost a food fight. Harry and Ron snuck out of the great hall. Behind them Leo was taking his guard position.

'Can't they even think off something more original to call me than "weasel"?' Ron complained.

'Don't let them get to you. They just have to accept it.' Harry said.

'I guess...' Ron trailed off and then sped off.

'Ron were are you going?' Harry yelled after him.

'TO... WRITE... MY... PARENTS...!' Ron yelled back and he disappeared out off sight.

Harry took a look over his shoulder to see if Leo was still there. He wasn't. When he looked forward again he was startled but not surprised to find Leo walking next to him.

'You have to tell me how you do that sometime.' Harry said casually.

'Years of practice.' Leo answered.

There was a squeak over the P.A. system, followed by a cough. 'Will Mr. Panther please report to Headmaster Dumbledore's office. I repeat Mr. Panther report to Headmaster Dumbledore. ~Boing, tweeeet~' Came McGonagall's voice.

'Hmmm.' Leo said to himself. Then he rubbed his hands together and when they parted he was holding a patch of green flames in his hands. 'Professor McGonagal!' He said into the flames.

There was a startled cry coming from the other side of the flame. 'Mr Panther don't you know it's against regulation to use this spell?' McGonagall said in a stern but strained voice.

'Irrelevant, Professor. Before you're going to tell me what else I'm not allowed to do. Tell me why I'm being summoned to Professor Dumbledore.' Leo replied in a cold tone of voice.

'You will find out when you get there.' McGonagall answered.

'Tut, tut. Professor. Unless you give me a reason I'm perfectly content to stay where I am.' Leo said without real emotion.

'Urghhh. Okay. It has something to do with the Ministry. That is all I know.' McGonagall answered.

Leo closed his hand and killed the flames. 'So the Ministry has finally found me.' Leo said to himself. Then he turned to Harry. 'Would you like to come with me?' He asked.

Harry gave him a weird look as if Leo had asked him to become a Slytherin. 'Why would I want to go anyway?' He asked.

'Mutual gain. I know that the Ministry officers wont be very insulting with you present and I know you want to know what they want me for.' Leo answered.

'Good point. Let's go.' Harry replied.

They made their way to the gargoyle in no time at all and there they stopped.

'Say the password.' Harry said after a few minutes of staring. Fully confident that Leo would know it.

'I don't know the password.' Leo answered truthfully.

'What?' Harry asked in genuine surprise. After all Leo had done, all the facts, moves, spells and secrets. Harry couldn't comprehend why Leo didn't know the password.

'I've never needed to break into his office. So I never had to know the password.' Leo replied.

'Oh.' Harry commented, due to a lack of a better word. 'Well it's usually a some type of candy.'

'I don't have the patience to guess. Open up!' Leo yelled at the statue. It promptly jumped aside and revealed the doorway.

'Strange.' Harry said.

'Not really.' Leo said. 'I think Dumbledore instructed the gargoyle to let me in regardless of what I said.'

They stepped onto the revolving stairway and let it take them up at it's speed. When they came up to the door. Leo gestured Harry to be silent and put his ear to the door.

'I can't believe that you of all people allowed this criminal to stay here.' Some voice said. It sounded eerily familiar to Harry for some reason but he couldn't place it.

'I have my own reasons for that. After all he isn't a criminal until it's proven.' Dumbledore answered.

'Humph.' Said the familiar voice.

This Leo took as a cue and he knocked on the door. 'Enter.' Dumbledore said in a neutral voice. Leo flung the door open and stepped in boldly. Harry could almost hear him say "Taadaa". This put a smile on his face. Dumbledore had one as well.

'You summoned me, Headmaster?' Leo asked, completely ignoring the Ministry agents. Harry looked at them. One of them he didn't know but the other one he did know. It was the squad leader in the Leaky Cauldron and the lead investigator when Mr. Weasley informed the ministry about the stolen car.

What was his name again? I know I know. Can't recall.

'Ah yes. Mr. Panther, these Ministry officers claim that you have been operating outside the bounds of the law.' Dumbledore said in an official voice as though he was reciting a quote.

'Really? Well then. What can I do for you?' Leo said turning to the Ministry agents.

'You can come peaceably. You're under arrest!' The familiar one said.

'On what charge?' Leo asked without stress, like he knew something they didn't.

'You know what you have done. Let's not waste more time on this than is necessary.' Familiar face said irritated by Leo utter disrespect for him.

'It only took you three weeks to find me here while you've had a warrant out for my arrest, and now you wont even tell me why you're taking me in? I'm not moving until you give me a reason.' Leo countered.

Familiar breath went for his wand but Dumbledore intervened. 'Sit down gentlemen. I'm sure that we can resolve this without bloodshed.' Everybody sat down on chairs that he had summoned while they were arguing.

'Professor Dumbledore, he is a dangerous individual. You must let us take him into custody.' Familiar said.

'Young man, you will find there is precious little I must do unless there is sufficient reason.' Dumbledore said without his smile.

'What are you talking about I just gave you a list of charges against him.' Familiar said.

'Innocent until proven guilty. I believe that still applies in law today. Mr. Panther stands accused but nothing has been proven.' Dumbledore replied.

'Thank you, Headmaster. But you really needn't stick up for me. What I would like is to see that list of charges.' Leo cut in.

'Certainly.' Dumbledore answered and he handed over a scroll to Leo. Familiar tried to take it away from Leo but a stare from Dumbledore was all that it took to put him back into place.

'I've been over the ministry records twice for a list such as this but I could never find it.' Leo explained as he began to read the contents of the scroll.

'You've invaded the Ministry twice?' Familiar asked with great surprise.

'No just once but I double checked to make sure I didn't miss anything.' Leo answered. Familiar gave him a foul look. 'No wonder I couldn't find it. This entire list is mostly bogus.'

'Don't deny it. You deserve the Dementor's kiss.' Familiar hissed at Leo.

'Jason, please... Are you still upset about your nose? Get over it.' Leo said while still reading the scroll.

'You have met?' Dumbledore asked mildly surprised.

'Not like this but I had to read his profile when I found out he was assigned to my arrest.' Leo replied. 'Does your wife still complain about your snoring?' He added towards Jason.

'Why you insolent...!' Jason said loudly but he calmed down under Dumbledore's gaze.

Harry tried to read over Leo's shoulder but every time he caught a glance of the words Leo shifted so that Harry couldn't completely catch what it said. So far he had made out "Ra-", "Mur-" and "Ars-".

Leo read the entire scroll thoroughly with the occasional acknowledging hmmm, and the surprised ahem. When he finally finished he put the scroll on his lap and gave Jason a strange look. He wanted to say something several times but stopped himself again.

Finally after a few minutes Leo made up his mind. 'Did you make up this list before you left?' He asked Jason, who now eyed Leo strangely in return.

'What are you implying?' Jason asked.

'Just answer the question Mr. Chase.' Dumbledore said to prevent Jason from straying.

Chase? His last name is Chase? He couldn't be...? Harry thought to himself upon hearing that name.

'No I did not make up that list before I left. My superior gave it to me.' Jason answered. He stood up. 'This has gone on long enough. I have direct orders to take him in.' Jason said with a finger pointed at Leo.

'Not until your superior tells me how he got this imaginative. Some of these charges, such as...' Leo took a quick peek at the scroll. '... murder, theft and arson may or may not be true. I'll not be stupid enough to confirm those to you, but when did I ever steal a car?' He asked.

'When you kidnapped Mr. Potter and took the Weasley family hostage, until we arrived. Then you fled away with us on your heels.' Jason said with full conviction. He obviously drilled himself to tell that version of what happened.

'I never kidnapped Harry or held a family hostage and I returned the car which the Ministry had already designated to be scrapped anyway.' Leo said to defuse Jason's lie. 'Maybe I should ask where you get your imagination. However the prime charge of ra...' Leo stopped and glanced at Harry. 'Of invasive intimacy. How on earth did you come up with that?'

'That one you can't deny. We have a witness.' Jason answered truthfully.

Leo's eyes went big. 'You've found Elena?' He asked.

'No.' Jason said curtly with a hint of ignorance. Like he had no idea who Leo was talking about. 'Our principal witness is Mr. Zach Smythe. Current head of the Health Department. I believe you know him personally.' He said smugly.

'Zach.' Leo said disdainfully. 'Correct me if I'm wrong but the principal witness in this type of cases is usually the victim herself, isn't it? How come you believe the word of the pervert listening at the door?' That hurt Jason visibly.

There was a silence. Jason could not think of something useful to say and Leo felt he'd done enough damage to the accusations. It wouldn't be Dumbledore though who would get the situation moving again but Harry.

He had been listening carefully and made a mental note to tell Hermione about this. Hermione! She had been working on that book for three weeks now. Harry felt it was time for her to show what she's found out.

'So... Mr. Chase. Erm... Do you have any relatives in Hogwarts at the moment?' Harry asked cautiously.

Jason turned to Harry with a surprised look and then said. 'Why yes. I have a brother in Gryffindor. Little Paul. He tried out for Keeper today didn't he? He was one of the better ones, wasn't he? It wouldn't surprise me at all if you have already chosen him as Keeper.' He gave Harry an attempt at a smile.

You would be surprised if I told you the truth.

'He did eh. okay. But he didn't make Keeper.' Harry half-lied. If the family theory held any truth like with the Weasleys than Harry wondered if Jason too was a Gryffindor. 'If your brother is in Gryffindor than you also were.' He asked, but he stopped as Jason shook his head.

'No. I was a Slytherin. The fourth in my family. My brother is the second Gryffindor.'

'That is also why he wants this arrest so badly. He feels his promotion is long overdue.' Leo said before Jason could brag some more about his family.

Jason focussed his attention on Leo again. He pulled out a set of golden handcuffs. 'Leo Panther. I put you under arrest for numerous charges.' He made a grab for one of Leo's hands.

Leo exchanged a look with Dumbledore and then held out his arms in the "cuff me" position. Harry couldn't believe it. After all that trouble, all the hiding, fighting and running, he gave himself up for dubious charges. Jason slapped the cuffs on, in what he felt was a rough way. They stayed on his wrists for a brief moment and then they fell to the floor.
Of all the things officer Chase expected to happen, this wasn't one he thought could happen. He just stared thoughtfully at the handcuffs before having his colleague pick them up.

'How did you do that?' Jason asked Leo. 'Once I put those on no one can take them off but me.'

'I didn't do anything. Magical cuffs can only be used on people where the law allows them.' Leo answered. Jason didn't comprehend this though.

'How did you do it?' He asked a little more aggravated.

'I made a deal. Or rather a deal was made with me. By someone very high in the Ministry.' Leo said mysteriously, which from Harry's point of view he did to provoke a certain reaction.

'Who would possibly commit such treason?' Jason asked while pulling out some parchment and borrowed a quill from Dumbledore's desk.

'The most important person in a sense. Your boss, Minister Fudge.' Leo said coolly. Jason's reaction to this was incredulous. Like Leo had told him that his promotion would never happen. He dropped the quill and paper and stared for a moment.

'You lie!' He finally said. 'Unless you have proof.'

'All right.' Leo simply replied and he fumbled in his robes and pulled out a piece of paper that looked official even when folded. 'Besides my signature and the one of the head of my Order. You'll find that the third one is the Minister's.' He said while pointing them out. Jason checked it thoroughly to make sure it was genuine. 'If you still don't believe me you should ask Fudge personally. He has a copy of this document as well, probably on his person.'

'I will. I'll just. ~ahem~ This is enough to warrant an investigation. We'll be back shortly.' Jason said trying to maintain as much authority as possible in the situation. He asked Dumbledore whether the fireplace was still connected to the outside world and then left through it.

'They'll need at least twenty minutes to get to Fudge.' Leo said as if speaking from experience.

Dumbledore stood up and picked up the list of accusations. 'Then we have ample time talk amongst ourselves.' He said.

Leo sighed deeply and gazed at Dumbledore. 'It's too late to stop trusting me, old man.' He then also stood up and stepped into the office and leaned against a beam, with his back turned to Harry and Dumbledore.

'I never said I didn't trust you. I just want to know if what this list says is false.' Dumbledore paused. 'Did you commit "invasive intimacy"?'

'No.' Leo said. 'No I didn't do that. Elena and I. We both wanted what happened. The accusation is based upon the testimony off a jealous suitor.' He explained.

'That's all I wanted to hear.' Dumbledore acknowledged. 'Weren't you afraid of what might happen or might have happened?' He asked as he put down the scroll.

'Yes. I'm terrified that it might have happened. There is nothing I can say or do that will change that. But Elena and I. We were very drunk that evening. I had drunk enough so that I could confess my feelings to her and tell her my secrets.' Leo said. There was a sadness in his voice.

'What happened?' Harry asked. Dumbledore gave Harry a stern stare. He was not yet allowed to know.

Leo scraped his throat. 'I cannot tell you everything Harry. Suffice it to say that after we defeated the Dragon Master, we had a little, big party. Elena gave me a subtle hint and I followed her to her room. You can figure out the rest.'

Harry's eyes grew big. 'You had s...!? Erm... Right.'

'The next morning she was gone. All her belongings as well.' Leo continued. 'She had been recalled by her parents. I never had a chance to follow her though because the local Ministry agents were already banging down the door.' A single tear fell of Leo's face.

'Don't blame yourself.' Dumbledore interrupted. 'She was recalled because her parents had received some disturbing news.' The beam Leo was leaning against groaned under the strain he was putting on it.

'What's so special about a recall?' Harry asked.

'Leo is referring to parental recall. Paranoid parents can instantly summon their children from across the world back home through a magical ritual. The practice is practically obsolete nowadays though. Miss Appleton was furious about it.' Dumbledore said.

Leo's ears perked up. 'She was here?' He asked in utter amazement.

'She came to ask whether you had been here lately. For some reason she was afraid of going to your home.' Dumbledore answered.

'When was this?'

'Around two weeks before Harry started at Hogwarts.'

Leo looked down, calculating the time. 'I was still in central Europe at the time. Trying to get back via muggle means, without money.' Leo's eyes were wet with tears. 'DAMN!!' He said while punching the beam. It groaned but didn't break. 'Did she say anything else? Where she was going next? How did she look?' Leo barraged Dumbledore with questions.

'She looked fine but she didn't tell me where she was going.' Dumbledore replied.

'She always was too impulsive.' Leo mused.

'I'm sorry Leo. I really wish I could have helped you.' Dumbledore said. 'I know that you've lost many dear to you already.'

Leo didn't answer. He turned around and from what Harry could see didn't show any emotion. 'It's not against law to show your emotions you know.' Dumbledore said with a sad smile.

Leo turned to the shelves in the office and said. 'Oh look. Godric Gryffindor's sword.' The clue came clearly across and Dumbledore dropped the subject. Leo put out his hand to pick it up but stopped short and turned to Dumbledore. 'May I?'

'By all means.'

Leo picked up the sword. 'Remarkable. I knew you had it but I never dared to break in here to touch it. It's so light, the balance is perfect as well.' Leo gave it a few swings. 'Are the rumors I heard about this sword true, Dumbledore?' He asked.

'What rumor in particular are you talking about?' Dumbledore asked in return.

'Most notably that only an heir can properly wield it.' Leo replied while continuing a practice routine.

Dumbledore winked at Harry. 'Perhaps.'

What did he mean with that wink? Heir of who? Harry thought.

'It feels a bit off for me though.' Leo concluded when he finished the routine.

'Oh, really?' Dumbledore asked mysteriously.

'That rumor has neither been verified or substantiated.' Leo said. He put the sword back. 'Too bad it's yours it would have made a fine addition to my collection. Especially with two of Slytherin's fangs already in my possession.'

'FANGS?!' Harry asked. The picture of a mean looking guy with two large teeth sticking out of his mouth came into his mind.

'Daggers, Harry.' Leo explained calmly. 'Slytherin had four daggers. Each of them were poisoned to achieve a different effect. Which were, slow death, fast death, painful death and instant death.'

'He mustn't have had many friends then.' Harry remarked sarcastically.

'He had associates and allies to his cause. Not unlike Voldemort. Who needs friends when you have those?' Leo replied to that.

'How about you?' Harry asked slyly.

Leo smelled the setup and changed the subject again. 'They should be in front off Appleton's desk now.'

'Appleton?' Harry said. 'Isn't that...?'

'Elena's father.' Leo answered.

'How do you know so much about the layout off the Ministry office?' Harry asked.

'A bet I made involved me entering the Minister's office and take some proof that I'd been there. Hah! I bet that Fudge is still waiting for me to deliver that mug off coffee.' Leo replied. His face showed a rare smile.

Dumbledore walked over to Leo. 'Now that I've allowed you to hold Gryffindor's sword, I suppose you couldn't humor me and show me your dagger.' He said.

Leo looked at him for a moment. Than he pulled out his dagger and held it horizontally in front off Dumbledore. Dumbledore than grabbed Leo's left arm and held even when Leo tried to pull it away. 'Why do you draw this dagger with your left hand while you just showed that your right-handed with the sword?' Dumbledore asked. He meant business. 'What is it that you don't want me to see? What are you and your grand-father hiding from me?'

Leo's tone of voice changed. 'Mischke assomem yiurch!'(Let me go old man!) The language that Leo spouted sounded like meowing. All be it a bit more feral. Harry however couldn't make out what he was saying.

'You know that language well. I'll let this rest for now.' Dumbledore said.

'You know this tongue?' Leo asked somewhat surprised.

'I know a lot.' Dumbledore replied simply.

Leo sat back down again. 'They should have burst into Fudge's office at this point.'

The fireplace crackled and Minister Fudge's head appeared. 'Albus Dumbledore. Am I to believe that you are allowing a criminal to guard Harry Potter because he has some fake document that supposedly has my signature?!!' Fudge exclaimed.

Dumbledore stood up and turned to the fire. 'Your signature is on the document. Beyond that I owed his family a favor and Mr. Panther here has already promised me that he'll be on his best behavior while he is here.'

'You were always too trusting. I'll come over there right now.' Fudge said in return. The fire crackled loudly and a little later Minister Fudge was in the office accompanied by Jason Chase and his colleague.

There was a brief exchange of arguments between Dumbledore and Fudge before they turned to Harry and Leo.

'You are a dangerous criminal. I will have you arrested and put into Azkaban today.' Fudge said with as much authority as he could muster. Leo didn't seem to care though and he broke into a laughing fit. 'What's so funny?' Fudge asked angrily.

'You are! You actually think that you can do that.' Leo sniggered.

'I am the Minister. I can do it.' Fudge said.

'Have you forgotten our deal "Minister"?' Leo asked with a forced straight face.

'We have no deal. You made that up. I never make deals with rogues.'

'You made a deal with the head of my order. Gerard Panther. In this deal you stated that he was to arrange protection for a Mr. Harry Potter.' Leo said smugly.

Fudge face turned sour as though he'd eaten a lemon. 'Gerard you double-crosser. He wasn't supposed to send you.'

'I'll admit that he is a double-crosser but you can't blame him for sending me. Did you really think he would take the position of Defense against the Dark Arts teacher?' Fudge gave Leo a venomous stare. 'It is a moot point, when you presented the contract the position was already filled. My father didn't have another choice but me.'

'Well then I wont bother going against that. I now have a good catch, I'd rather have Sirius Black but you behind bars will appease the public as well.' Fudge said and he motioned his back-up to move in.

'Haven't you read the contract at all?' Leo pulled out the parchment he'd shown Jason earlier and held it to Fudge's face. 'According to clause 4. I cannot be arrested, prosecuted or incarcerated for crimes committed in past, present and future. For the duration of this assignment.' Leo recited from memory.

Fudge quickly read the paragraph and then gave Leo an almost happy face. 'This contract doesn't matter, I can dissolve it whenever I want.'

'Again you are wrong. We made sure that you couldn't do that.' Leo cleared his throat. 'This contract can only be dissolved by majority consensus. You only have a third. I'm sorry but this deal will remain until it's conditions are met.' He said.

'Which are?' A seriously angry Fudge asked.

'Rather simple really. Either I die, Harry dies or Voldemort dies.' Leo said so casually that it shocked Harry to his core. At hearing the name Voldemort Fudge and consorts cringed but quickly recovered.

'You-know-who is dead.' Fudge said cautiously as though he expected to be attacked for saying that. 'You have absolutely no evidence that he resurrected himself.'

'Regardless of what you believe, Voldemort is alive and killing. I know this for a fact.' Leo countered.

'STOP saying that name. HE IS NOT BACK!!!' Fudge exclaimed. Leo didn't reply to this but let Fudge catch his breath after that outburst.

Leo sighed. 'How long do you intend to keep denying it? The Dark Mark rises all over the country like demon mushrooms. The number of corpses on those locations keep piling up and already two DAM silos have been raided by unknown attackers.' Leo summed up. An astonished Fudge stared at him wondering where he got that information.

'DAM silos?' Harry asked. He was getting a little frustrated by the use of so many acronyms and talk of stuff that he couldn't translate properly due to the fact he had lived outside the wizard community for so long.

'It means Dark Arts Materials. Any Dark Arts materials found during raids or intercepted by customs is kept in secret places, known by only a few people.' Dumbledore explained calmly.

'Why do you store those things? Why not destroy them altogether and be rid of them?' Harry asked in general.

'Because disposing of the stuff takes more time and money than the Ministry is willing to invest. So they stash it, secretly hoping it will vanish.' Leo explained.

There was a silence again, Harry had to process the idea that destroying bad things is too much of a hassle to be done and Fudge needed to come up with a good excuse. The tension in the room was climbing fast.

'I should have realized that dealing with your people would be more trouble than it's worth.' Fudge spat at Leo. 'But somehow I get the idea that this is much more personal than usual.'

'It is Fudge! But somehow I doubt that you remember what you did.' Leo sneered back.

'Try me. Maybe we can come to an agreement.' Fudge pleaded, hoping that there was a way to convert Leo to his side.

'Okay. A long time ago, before you were elected Minister there was a boy born into my family, an innocent and harmless boy. Then when he reached his eleventh year of life, this was not long after you got elected, he got a letter that told him that he could go to Hogwarts and become a normal being under the tutelage of Dumbledore. Then when was already packed to leave he got a letter from you telling him that he couldn't go under threat of death. Does that ring a bell?!!' Leo said calmly but his anger rose with each sentence to the point that he almost shouted at the end.

Fudge looked down, probing his memory and then suddenly he looked up with fear in his eyes. 'The Monster's child!!!' Fudge practically shouted. Harry felt his scar starting to burn. 'That was you?'

'It still is me! You ruined my chance at normalcy with the stroke of a quill. You never cared what happened afterward, and I have never forgiven you for it.' Leo said. 'You can't win my allegiance with promises or prizes. You can't gain my support for anything you can arrange. I made a promise to end your career as soon as I was able to. Your just lucky that I can't. Yet!' He added dramatically.

'It seems I underestimated you. This is not over boy! I just understood why you brought up all this You-know-who nonsense, a smokescreen to keep us looking in the wrong direction. It has failed, I will devote all my attention to you and see to it personally that you get sent to Azkaban.' Fudge said. 'I demand that you cease your resistance and come with us peaceably.'

'Flee back to your supporters Fudge, and huddle with them in Darkness. For your actions will set us all unto Voldemort!' Leo spat at Fudge.

Cornelius shuddered again and gestured to his escort that he wanted to leave. After they had gone Leo wanted to leave as well but Dumbledore called him back.

'So that was the true reason you couldn't come. I always suspected that your grandfather lied about that.' Dumbledore said kindly as though the entire exchange before never happened.

'Yes, it was. Do you have other business to discuss Headmaster? I do have to tend to other things today.' Leo said somewhat impatiently. He was still standing with his back to the desk.

'Sit down Leo. You have enough worries. I always wanted to talk to you, ever since you arrived.' Dumbledore said gesturing to Leo that he should sit down.

'I don't want to talk. I'll handle things by myself.' Leo said and he took a few more steps to the door.

'Leo!' Dumbledore shouted. 'Alright, I'll not push you into this but just know that if you want to talk my door is always open.' He said. At this Leo turned around.

'I... DON'T... WANT... TO... TALK...!!!' Leo shouted, his eyes blazing red. Harry grabbed his scar. Then Leo broke into a run, knocked open the door and disappeared into the shadows beyond.

'Ow.' Harry said. 'What got into him?'

'He is afraid of his emotions Harry. He doesn't want people to see that he is hurt on the inside.' Dumbledore said.

'He expresses anger fairly well.' Harry said sarcastically.

'Indeed he does. But he fears that emotion as well. He fears it will overcome him.'

'What would happen if it did?' Harry asked with great interest. Maybe he could get more pieces to this jigsaw puzzle that was Leo.

'I dare not think about that Harry. If he loses control, it will consume him and he will be unstoppable. Now I think you should leave Harry. No doubt you have much to talk about with your friends.' Dumbledore said.

Harry felt a shiver running down his spine. For a moment the beast he saw in his dreams flashed through his mind. He quickly left Dumbledore's office and headed for the common room, he wanted to see Hermione. Surely by now she had found out something useful from that book it was time that it was revealed.

Later that evening in the common room. The three conspirators made sure that Leo had gone into his room before settling at the table. The room was deserted and most Griffindors had already gone to sleep. Hermione had cast a silence bubble around their position to prevent eavesdropping.

'What's with all the secrecy Hermione?' Harry asked. 'How bad is it?'

'I don't know exactly. But I'll give you a brief synopsis of the book before I tell you more.' Hermione said, she almost whispered as though she was afraid that someone could hear her through the silence bubble.

'A brief what?' Ron asked.

'Just listen.' Hermione sighed. 'This book describes in detail an organization which is only referred to as "the Order"'

'I could have told you that from just looking at the title.' Ron said. Hermione gave him a mean look and he shut up.

'From what I've read I know that their goal is to maintain continuous order in the world. Or rather prevent complete chaos.' She continued.

'What does that mean?' Harry asked. 'What is it they do exactly?'

Hermione rubbed her forehead before answering. 'That's hard to answer. If you take the idea of good and bad then they are neutral, and they fight to prevent either side from gaining superiority.'

'Huh?!' Ron and Harry said at the same time.

Hermione sighed deeply. 'Alright an example. Say that all the werewolves in the world would start a war with the magical peoples.' She paused to make sure that Harry and Ron understood what she'd said. 'Okay, now at the start of this war they would side with the wizards because the werewolves would be to unstable a faction to rule.' She paused again. Ron and Harry nodded to show they understood. 'Now the Order is very effective in it's actions so pretty soon the werewolves would have devastating losses. However as soon as the werewolves have been reduced to a point where they are no real threat anymore and the wizards wanted to move in to exterminate them, then the Order would side with the werewolves to prevent that.'

'I see. Though I doubt that would actually happen today.' Harry said.

'Yeah, besides the entire situation is ridiculous. Professor Lupin wouldn't get involved in a war.' Ron commented.

Hermione looked Ron in the eye. 'You're not thinking big enough Ron. War's aren't fought by individuals. There are individual heroes but wars are fought en mass. Besides what I just told did happen. Somewhere at the end of the Roman empire there was a rebellion of werewolves across Europe...'

'The Roman Empire?!' Harry shouted, quickly followed by his hand on his mouth before he remembered that no sound could escape. 'How long has this Order existed?'

'That's really interesting. From what I've read there are mentions of the Order in ancient Egypt. Though a structured organization didn't form until sometime during height of the Roman Empire by a...' She looked at a cheat sheet. '...Leonidas Panthras.'

'Panthras? You don't think that this Leo is related to him are you?' Ron asked.

'Well... It's quite possible. This book has been continually written by people of the same family. Anyway, the interesting part is near the end. The twenty-first century. Or to be more accurate, half way into the twenty-first century.' Hermione said enticingly.

'Why what happened then?' Ron asked.

Harry's mind already made the link. Fifty years ago. Tom Marvolo Riddle... Voldemort...

'The entries made during that time were made by Marinus Panther. From what I've read he would be Leo's grandfather.' Hermione continued. 'Even then they kept a close eye on Tom Riddle because they saw a potential for chaos in his being. When they lost track of him a slight panic occurred.'

'They lost him?' Ron interrupted. 'I thought you said they were really effective.'

'They still are just human beings Ron. They are good but not infallible.' Hermione replied.

'So what happened after that?' Harry asked, because his curiosity was spiked by what he'd heard already.

'They increased their vigilance and prepared for chaos.' Hermione said.

'And then?' Harry asked impatiently.

Hermione hesitated, something really bothered her about what she'd have to say. 'There is a final entry, made about a quarter century ago.' She opened the book at a bookmark and traced the text inside with her finger. She scraped her throat twice. '"This scout Chance... I've encountered hostiles in league with chaos potential... They have found me...! Under attack...! I'm lost, warn Master Guardian...! Voldemort has returned...! I repeat Voldemort has returned...!"' She said this quite dramatically as though she had given that report for real.

An ominous silence hung over the table for moment.

'After that there is no more. But I did some checking and came across a startling coincidence.' Hermione said after composing herself.

'What is it?' Harry asked quickly.

'There was a mention of a pact made between the Order and the Ministry a few years before You-know-who's return.' Hermione replied.

'Hermione! Please just call him Voldemort.' Harry said. Hermione nodded.

'In this pact they swore that they would help protect the populace in case of an attack.' She stopped briefly. 'They stopped aiding the Ministry not long after V-voldemort's presence had been confirmed in Britain. For no reason whatsoever.' She said. A hint of sadness entered her voice.

'So they switched sides?' Ron concluded.

'That's what I would conclude as well.' Hermione said.

Harry got up. 'NO! I don't believe that!' He shouted. 'Leo can't be a supporter of Voldemort!' Ron shuddered briefly at that.

'So far he hasn't proven otherwise. Unless you know something we don't.' Hermione said putting her hands on her hips giving Harry a look that told him that she suspected him of keeping a secret.

Harry turned around. She could be right. What if Leo has just been pretending to be on my side to lull me into a sense of security. He did say that he couldn't kill Voldemort. If he had the chance, then why didn't he take it? He turned back. 'Okay, you may have a point. But you need more evidence than this.' He said.

'Well let's look at what we have so far. He has lied to you often. Even about his age.' Hermione said.

'What?!' Harry said clearly surprised.

'On the train, didn't he say he hated Draco's dad six years before Draco was born. Now you and Draco are roughly the same age. So he must be at least twenty-one years old, not eighteen like he told us.'

'Putting him closer to the quarter century sighting of Voldemort.' Harry finished for her.

'That's right. From what I know Voldemort was first seen in Britain again twenty-two years ago. Six years before any of us were born but only just before he was born. Now I know that this a long shot but it's worth investigating.' Hermione said.

Harry gave her an auspicious look. 'What do you mean exactly by that?'

'I can't find anything else in this book or in the library that could unlock more secrets.' Hermione began.

'Oh no! I can see where this is going. I'm not going into his room, you go in.' Harry protested.

Hermione shook her head. 'I've already tried that. I can't get in. The door is charmed so that only people that have been cleared by Leo can open it. You are the only one I know that can.'

Harry sighed deeply. 'So how are we going to do this? Leo would curse me if he caught me inside without his permission.'

Hermione put on a pensive look. 'I have been thinking about it but it still needs some work. Since Leo is watching you wherever you go, we have to convince him that you're somewhere else.'

'How do you intend to do that?' Ron asked before Harry could.

'I have been working ahead and I'm able create some pretty good illusions. If I practice some more I can make one of Harry that would be convincing enough to fool Leo. If we were to do this when there is a commotion going on then that would help as well. I say we try this during the Halloween feast. Then while we distract Leo you sneak up to the room and try to find as much evidence that either proves he is a Voldemort supporter or that he isn't.'

'This plan needs some serious work.' Harry commented.

'I know.' Hermione admitted.

They spend some more time that night going over details for this spy mission. It was very late when they finally hit the sack. But Harry couldn't sleep right away. He kept going over the things that had happened. In the end he pulled out his wand and put it close to his chest. Slowly he faded into the dream world and the only thing he dreamt that night was Leo standing over the Harry's body with a bloody knife. His eyes were burning red and he was smiling.