(Hello, party people. Okay, I've got a lot of questions about how this is gonna turn out. So, here's a taste at how it will end: Spoilers ahead. Skip the next three lines if you don't want to know anything about the future.

One - Harry will end up with Hermione...sort of.

Two- Ron will be scarred forever

Three- Something will happen to Leto, but not what you are expecting.

So, there you have it. For those of you who don't like Leto, just wait. For those of your who want to see Harry become a Hero, just wait. The saga of the King is far from over.)

FIRESIDE REVELATIONS

"And cast the spell!" Lupin called out. Again, Harry found himself in Defense against the Dark Arts, training for duels.

"FORCIFICUS NATURALIS!" Harry roared, casting forward his wand. Ron, at the other end of the dueling platform, waited patiently. It seemed as if nothing had happened.

"Good try, Harry. It is a particularly difficult spell..." Lupin started, but as he did, tree roots burst up from under the platform and wrapped themselves firmly around Ron, locking him in place. Ron gave a little yelp of fear, and the crowd of students gasped in amazement.

"Wonderful, Harry! Of course, we'll need to work on speeding up that spell a bit, but all the same, wonderful! 10 points for Gryffindor." Harry smiled.

The owls screeched and the bells tolled. Time for classes to change. "Alright, see you next time. Same place, students." The class left Lupin to putting his equipment away...all but Harry. Lupin noticed Harry had stayed behind and turned to face him. "Hello Harry," Lupin said, smiling warmly. "Don't you have a class next?" Lupin asked.

"No...actually, Professor, I wanted to speak with you."

"Naturally, naturally." Lupin said, chuckling. "Everything always seems to happen to you, Harry." Lupin's smile faded slowly. "I hear you and Stormrage are becoming...pals." Lupin looked downward. "Are you sure that's wise?"

"What do you mean?" Harry asked.

"Well, first he attacks you in class..."

"We were dueling, that's what you do." Harry said.

"Then he pushes you off the school roof," Lupin continued, ignoring Harry.

"He didn't push me! I fell!" Harry said.

"Then, the day after, he doesn't come to my class. Out of fear I suppose? His family has never cared much for my kind." Lupin lifted his face to meet Harry's. Harry could see a real sadness. Not the anger that had been burning usually, but sadness and despair.

"Why do you hate him so, Professor?" Harry asked.

Lupin summoned a chair with his wand and sat down. He then summoned one for Harry. "This is going to be a long story, Harry. You may sit if you want." Harry did, but he never took his eyes off of Lupin. "Back when I was a student here, your father was very popular. One of his good friends was a pure-blood Gryffindor by the name of Duncan Stormrage." Lupin frowned at the name. "He was quite good friends with James, and he eventually became friendly with me, as well. However, we never felt comfortable enough to tell him our secret...my secret." Lupin was beginning to sweat. "Wizards can change over time Harry. Duncan became...darker. He had always hated Dark Wizards, and he had always wanted to be an auror...but aurors can go too far, Harry."

"Hunters..."Harry whispered.

"Yes, Hunters. Or Demon Hunters, as they're commonly called. They don't arrest Dark Wizards...they slay them. Regardless of consequence, without a respect for life. Leto's parents were both great wizards at one point."

"My...my mom...and-" Lupin silenced Harry.

"Jessica and Lily were great friends. Inseparable. Of course, Jessica and Duncan were always an item, unlike Lily and James. Jessica followed down Duncan's path." Lupin smiled sadly. "Duncan and Jessica joined the Order, but only unofficially. They never met with us. Only with Dumbledore, or occasionally James and Sir-" Lupin cut himself off as Harry hissed in breath.

Harry let the air out slowly. "Say his name, Professor. It can't stay locked away forever." Harry said.

"Sirius." Lupin said. "Anyway, we always thought they were just spies, or rogue Aurors. Ha...they had us all fooled." Lupin laughed bitterly. "They were Demon Hunters. They were slowly thinning out Voldemort's ranks, getting us in striking range of the Dark Lord himself." Lupin smiled. "Once you have a taste of that kind of power, Harry...the power to strike any wizard you choose...you get reckless. It was only a matter of time before they got caught. They escaped, and were caught again. Finally, they were able to quit hunting after what happened while Jessica was pregnant. It was...at that point...that Duncan found out my secret." Lupin's hand curled into a fist. "He immediately began to distrust me. He never liked werewolves, thought they were all evil creatures. We're not, Harry. It's a curse we must all live with." Harry nodded understandingly. "Well, after your parents...well, Duncan suspected me. He almost convinced Sirius, until Sirius caught onto Pettigrew's filthy trail. Even after what happened to Sirius, Duncan was still convinced I did it. Jessica had died giving birth to Leto, so Duncan brought him along with him on his..." Harry looked for an answer, which Lupin gave with rage in his eyes. "His wolf hunts."

Harry felt the air knocked out of him. Lupin's head dropped his, body falling limp. "Yes, Harry. Duncan Stormrage chased after me for three years, trying to kill me." Lupin shivered. "There is prejudice in the world, Harry, and sometimes it doesn't take the form of loud mouth activists or the government. No, sometimes it's much more fatal." Lupin saw right through Harry. "You're thinking about Voldemort...yes, I suppose it's true...Duncan and Voldemort shared many similar qualities. Just as Leto does now."

"But Professor, Leto isn't at all like that! He spent time with Giants, he speaks all kinds of magical languages, he's not prejudice against anyone."

"Is he, Harry?" Harry looked confused. Lupin smirked, and said "Ask him to show you his club. He let me catch a glimpse of it before the first dinner." Lupin chuckled cynically. "There are more notches than his father already. I guess in an attempt to scare me into submission." Lupin looked outside the window and said, "Follow him outside tonight Harry, the moon should be full. I'll be hiding here under my desk, transformed, so I can't go with you." Lupin looked back at Harry. "The snakes Harry, they will not listen to you...nor Voldemort. They have found their King."

That night, Harry, using his invisibility cloak, followed Leto into the forbidden forest. He found Leto in a small clearing. There was a roaring fire in the center. Leto began to chant, and dance around it. Harry had heard these words before....sort of. It sounded like Irish Gaelic, but it was somehow different. Harry wondered what it was, until Leto took a small wooden club, about 2 feet long, from his pants. He waved it over the flame, and the fire burst out into a green flash. Harry fell back, and noticed he was not alone. There was a centaur standing next to him. Harry got up to run away, but the centaur held out his hand.

"Peace upon you, Human. You need not fear. As you know, we have sworn an oath of peace with this one and his companions." The centaur said.

Harry looked back at Leto, then at the brown horse-man. "Um, yes, I know...thank you." The centaur snorted and turned his head back to the bizarre ritual. "Why...um...did you promise a peace treaty?"

The centaur stared, a bit confused. "He spoke of a future of red...we have seen it as well. Mars is angered. Of course, we will do nothing to help your kind. But we can offer sanctuary." The centaur smiled. "Especially to a druid. There kind was always the most likeable to us."

Harry again stared at Leto, who was now dancing furiously around the green fire. "So, that's what this is? A Druid ritual?"

"Why, yes." The centaur said, clearly confused. "If you were truly one of the Druid's companions....you would know this." The centaur's face began to change from one of serenity to anger. The centaur's hands began to curl into fists.

"Wait, I am a friend of his. Harry Potter." Harry took a step back just incase.

The centaur relaxed enough for Harry to breath again. "Ah yes...Harry Potter." The centaur smiled. "I am called Califax by your kind." The centaur laughed deeply. "I remember you, friend of the traitor, Firenze. How is that old fool, anyway?"

"He's fine, actually. Well taken care of." Harry said, still being sure not to be heard by Leto.

"Pitty." The centaur grunted. "He should be treated like an animal, as that is how he acted." The centaur grunted in frustration. "Such a fool....such a fool. To carry a person on his back...to protect a human from danger...such a fool." The centaur kicked at the ground, without real anger or astonishment, but sadness and dissapointment.

"Did you know Firenze personally, Califax?" Harry asked.

"Yes...he was my younger brother." Califax grunted. "Even though I am not my brother, I am still shamed, forced by my people to sit and watch over the Druid to make sure he only prays to the Mother Earth, and nothing else." Califax looked at Harry with sad eyes. "You...you are taking care of my brother?" Harry nodded. Califax smiled, and bent down to Harry. "Don't tell the herd," he whispered, "But I'm glad you are."

Harry smiled at the centaur and weakly said, "Your welcome." He then returned to look at Leto. Leto continued his dance, with the fire growing larger and larger. Harry looked at the ground...it seemed to be moving. The fire light grew bright enough for Harry to see, and he sucked in his breath. Hundreds of snakes and joined Leto in his dance. They were hissing and slithering as Leto jumped and chanted.

"The snakes..." Califax said. "That is why we can't fully trust him." Califax muttered. "There was another who spoke to snakes, and he was only concerned with destruction, never nature." Califax again ground his hoof into the dirt.

"But aren't snakes a part of nature?" Harry asked.

"Did I say they weren't?" Califax asked, clearly frustrated. "I don't know what my brother sees in you...so shallow. Snakes are fickle creatures. Incredibly obedient, very dangerous. They can be a deadly force in the right hands...and in the wrong." Califax slowly turned around, walking into the forest.

"Where are you going?" Harry asked.

"Home...he's done." Califax answered without turning.

Harry spun around quickly to see Leto and 300 snakes staring back at him. Harry stood frozen, not knowing what to do. Leto waved his club and hissed, "Leave." The snakes bowed to him, lowering their scaly heads, before slithering into the woods at a lightning speed. The fire was no longer green, it had returned to the normal orange.

"I knew you would come tonight." Leto said. He brought a finger to his eye. "I foresaw it."

"What were you doing Leto?" Harry asked.

Leto smiled and said, "Praying to the Mother Earth. For strength in the coming battle."

Harry was still puzzled. "Mother Earth?"

Leto shrugged and said, "I don't worship invisible gods, Harry. I only know two gods, and they are visible beneath me and around me at all times. Mother Earth, and Father Magic." Leto smiled. "Others may pray to whatever Gods they choose, but I at least know who I am praying to."

Harry couldn't help but stare at Leto's club. "What is the Leto?"

Leto gripped his club tightly. "I'm guessing Lupin told you what this was, right?"

Harry shook his head. "He told me to ask you." Harry looked down at the ground. "Why weren't you in class today?"

"Talking with Dumbledore. He doesn't want anybody to know yet, and I agree. No need scaring anybody. We have until Christmas at least, maybe longer. I just can't see that far." Leto smiled. "The eye's time is shortening. The King comes soon."

Harry nodded, tired of the old rhetoric. He was more interested in what Leto was holding. "What is that club for, Leto?" Harry asked.

"It's a druid's club." Leto said. "Pretty useful tool. Helps us not only in combat, but it can teach us to communicate with the Earth Mother." Leto held it near the flame. The flame jumped and sparked wildly. "It also serves as a focal point for my power. When connected with the Earth Mother, my power can leave my body uncontrolled. With my club, a can manipulate it more." Leto gripped it even tighter.

"What are the notches, Leto?" Harry asked.

Leto shuffled his feet uncomfortably. "It was something my father used to do...even when he was a boy. When he was younger, he would scratch a notch in his own druid stick when he won a duel."

"Leto, what are they." Harry asked, afraid of why Leto was avoiding the question.

Leto took a deep breath, and looked down at the grown. "They're my debt."

"You're debt?" Harry asked.

"To Mother Earth and Father Magic. Everybody has a natural flow, Harry. They are created from Earth and Magic, and then they return to that same state. Of course, some deaths do not follow they're natural flow." Leto looked into Harry's eyes. "The notches are Dark Wizards I have terminated."

"Terminated?" Harry asked. "You say that...with no emotion...like a monster..."

"Don't you dare call me a monster, Harry." Leto growled. Harry took a step back, and felt in his back pocket for his wand. "They're the monsters. They're the killers."

"And they should spend the rest of their lives in Azkaban, living with that guilt!" Harry said.

Leto stood in front of the flame. The fire burned around him, his rage fueling the orange flower that never fills, always hungers. "They feel no guilt, Harry! There is no conflict within them! Do you think Pettigrew feels sorry for what he did? Well, do you?" Leto roared.

"Yes I do!" Harry yelled back.

"You what?" Leto asked, in total disbelief. "You think he feels ashamed? He's a villain! He will do it again if you give him the chance! Better not to let him have it!"

"I believe in the power of redemption, Leto." Harry whispered.

Leto paused. The fire behind him died down again, his calm composure returning. "Harry...there is no such thing as redemption. We are what we are. We can't change our destiny."

"I refuse to believe that." Harry said.

Leto smiled. "Naivety." He stroked his club. "I never had a chance to experience it." Leto smirked. "My father found out about my power to see through Basilisk Blood when I was three." Leto lowered his head. "Can you understand it Harry?" Leto chuckled. "Of course you can't...nobody can." Leto looked into Harry's emerald eyes with his sapphires. "I have always been connected with the Magic. The Nexus has been my sanctuary. I have always been a collective." Leto smiled. "That's why I'm a mage. I'm little more than Father Magic himself." Leto took a deep breath. "There is very little humanity left in me. Voldemort...when he poisoned me in the womb...he gave me a great gift...and a great curse. He gave me the power to help save humanity...but to never really connect with it." Leto pointed at Harry. "He did that to you, too." Leto lowered his hand, and tears welled up in his eyes. Not tears of sadness, but of fury. "There are 131 notches on my club, Harry." Leto pointed to the heavily scratched piece of wood. "And every time I kill one of those bastards, I get a piece of my humanity back. So don't tell me Demon Hunting is wrong." Leto waved his hand and the fire went out. Harry was left is complete darkness. He heard footsteps, and a whisper. "I thought that you would understand more than others." Then a sound like gunpowder, and Leto had phase-shifted somewhere else.

Harry slipped on his invisibility cloak and headed back to his room. It seemed much colder outside then when he first saw the fire.

(I know I said I would get to the ball, but this chapter ended up being really long. So, I hope I can catch you guys later. Keep leaving reviews, positive of negative. Just let me know your reading. And hey, feel free to leave your ideas or suggestions. Thanks.)

The REAL Demon Hunter