Author's Note: The tale is coming to a close. This section, and another, and that shall be all. Hopefully the extreme time lapse since the last update hasn't put any of you few 'regular' readers off. But this section, I think, shall make up for the time spent away from my typing.

Admissions: HP chars belong to J. K. Rowling, Leiko to me, and Ravindra to my soul-sister Rave.

Section 25: Perilous Games

Voldemort sat back on his 'throne', an old chair that had seen far better days, and let his mind roam. As usual, his thoughts turned to the Potter boy. He so wanted that troublesome brat to die, but at the same time the Dark Lord was hesitant to kill the boy hero, lest the child's death hurt him through their link. Still, perhaps killing Potter wasn't what needed to be done. Perhaps inflicting never-ceasing pain on the boy was sufficient. If only he could capture him.

Now the Dark Lord's thoughts took on a new subject. The lady gryffin. He had managed to infiltrate her mind directly. Although he'd not been able to take her over as he'd planned, the reports his sources gave him had been interesting. If only he could find a way to get her to go after Potter. Chances were good that she'd be stopped before the boy could be torn to shreds, but anything that put Potter in the Infirmary was worth trying. Voldemort allowed himself a smile as he began formulating a plan.

Ravindra looked around the room at the Order members. Everyone except Leiko and Snape was crowded into the room. Rave didn't like being there with everyone watching her, but she knew that there was no other choice. She had to be there. She had to tell them. But that didn't mean she had to enjoy betrayal. This was, in the end, Leiko's problem and under other circumstances it would have been left to Leiko to find a solution on her own. But this went far beyond Leiko herself, and Rave knew it.

"Dumbledore was kind enough to agree to this meeting even though I refused to tell him why it was so important. Your goal is the defeat of Lord Voldemort, and only my pledge to help you with your cause has brought me here to say what I'm about to tell you. I want that understood. If not for my hatred of that snake and the fact I've allied myself with you, I'd not have opened my beak at all.

"This is about Leiko. You all know she was kidnapped by the Dark Lord, and you know what our report on that was, so I won't bother going over it again. What this meeting concerns is the previously unknown side effects of that event. Basically, we're here because of what the kidnapping did to Leiko.

"It changed her, that stay with Voldemort. It wasn't something drastic, this change. It's subtle, so that no one would notice except one who knew her well. That self-styled Dark Lord didn't know about me at the time, and it was unlikely anyone at Hogwarts would know Leiko well enough to notice such small changes. She's been corrupted…or, rather, the Guardian has. It's become easier for that force to surface and take control. Leiko is dangerous. She's unstable and doesn't even realize that anything's wrong. My sister has always had a knack for seeing things in a third-party mind frame, even when looking at her inner self, but she's lost that neutral outlook.

"The only positive thing about all this is that she is still a human. I can handle her like that, but if she returns to gryffin form, I can't do a thing against her. She's larger than I am and, while she herself is not necessarily more powerful, she has more power to draw upon. I'm sure you all see the problems involved. I told you about how the Guardian operates, and I think you understand it well enough to realize what a threat its constant awakening can be to all of us. Now that you wizards know of the corruption, I'd like to know if anyone has a way of countering it and getting my sister back to normal. Well… normal as she gets."

The room was silent. So, Voldemort had done something to the black gryffin. Rave was right about this being a true danger to them all. From what they'd learned, the Guardian force would destroy anything in the way of its immediate goal. They couldn't afford to have that sort of danger looming up at awkward moments. Something had to be done, but no one knew what. After several minutes of thoughtful silence, Dumbledore spoke up.

"It would seem that while we know there's a problem, none of us is capable of dealing with it. I'm afraid our only choice is to keep Leiko under constant surveillance."

"She won't like that…"

"I'm aware of that fact, Ravindra. But having someone watch her is preferable to locking her in her rooms. I'm sure even she will see the reason in that."

"Then you'd best organize a list of who's to watch her when. I can keep an eye on her most times, but I can't be her shadow. I've got a life of my own, you know."

"Hrm…I think it would be best to have Hogwarts' staff watch her at the school. A teacher is not so obviously a guard. And it might be prudent to keep Harry Potter away from her. I worry that Voldemort might find a way to get Leiko to attack Harry, and we all know what a tragedy that would be. Now, if there is not further business I think we'd best attend to our own affairs."

The room emptied quickly as many of the wizards had had other plans for this night. As it was the turnout for this meeting had not been high. Ravindra knew the absent members would be informed, and that Dumbledore would see to recruiting Leiko's watchers. Knowing how viciously the black gryffin guarded her privacy, Rave couldn't help but think that the only person who'd be allowed to keep a constant eye on Leiko would be Snape.

Snape. Now that was another issue Rave had to keep in mind. Leiko had been uncharacteristically kind to the Potions Master since her attempt to kill him. To his credit, the man was taking this change in behavior rather well. He ignored Leiko's public overtures of benevolence, and in private…well, Rave had it on good authority that nothing in his behavior had changed from what it had been prior to the attack. Although, now that she thought about it, Rave suspected that Snape was more cautious than he had been around Leiko. That was all to the good as far as Ravindra was concerned.

It was several days before Leiko started looking over her shoulder in the hallways. Rave watched with an amused look as her sister started to show signs of paranoia.

"Something on your mind, sis?"

"It's probably just me, but I swear that creepy Filch is following us."

Rave snickered as Leiko's suspicious gaze turned to her.

"You know something. Spill it."

"Well…since that Snape incident they've been a bit worried. They decided to keep a watch on you, just in case you lost it again."

"I'm insulted, but I'd probably do the same in their shoes. Well, since it's unlikely they'll give up the watch, could you see that Mr. Filch is a bit less obvious? He's making me edgy."

"Sure…while I'm at it I'll convince the cat to let me shave it."

Leiko gave Rave an unamused glare as they walked in silence through a throng of students. Rave was thoughtful, and when she finally spoke Leiko was surprised at the subject.

"Do you want to see the quidditch match later this week?"

"The what?"

"Don't tell me you've been here this long and don't know what quidditch is! It's a game played on brooms by two teams. The kids try to get balls through hoops and such."

"Sounds wonderful."

"Don't be sarcastic. It's actually supposed to be pretty fun to watch. So, do want to go?"

"Rave, you will never, in a million years, get to attend a human sports event."

Ravindra just smiled and chuckled.

Leiko sighed as she took her seat between Snape and Rave. After a week of badgering, she had reluctantly allowed her sister to talk her into attending the Slytherin-Gryffindor quidditch match. She knew very little of the sport, other than it was played on brooms and ended when someone caught a little gold ball. She hadn't allowed her true feelings to show, but deep inside Leiko was envious of the young wizards. She was used to having wings and taking flight whenever she wished, but now she was condemned to the ground. It was almost enough to make her growl.

"Hey, stop looking sour and enjoy the game. That Potter kid is playing. I figured if nothing else you'd be interested to see him fly about on a broom. You always were interested in watching the kits practice back home."

Leiko did growl. Rave would remind her of that now. True, watching young gryffin kits learn to fly was great entertainment, but that didn't have much to do with teenage humans on brooms. Especially when the teenagers in question were trained athletes, and not awkward fledglings. Before she could think of a properly sarcastic retort, silence fell and the game began.

For a few moments, as Leiko watched the aerobatics of the players, she forgot her bitterness. But only for a moment. As the students continued to display their prowess the gryffin grew more sullen. This game only served to remind her of what she'd lost. In her true form she could have outflown every one of those children. She could have soared and dipped and spiraled through the clouds. But now she was stuck in a human body that had no 'magic' to fly a broom. Until she regained her old form, she was flightless and couldn't do a thing about it. It just wasn't fair that Potter could reach the clouds that she had once occupied.

That stab of envy led to a stab of pain as Leiko's vision blurred. The darting figure she'd been watching was lost in a haze of green as another electrifying wave hit her. Ravindra and Snape both noticed as Leiko gasped with the intensity of the mental attack. He was at it again, no doubt, but why did the Dark Lord have to choose now? Leiko realized that she was not strong enough to fend off this latest attack, so she did the only thing she could.

Ravindra and Snape watched in shock as Leiko screamed and lunged for the railing of their seating platform. She was clawing at her head in such a way that Rave had no doubts about what was happening. Snape was just as quick with his own conclusions. The two of them reached the grab Leiko's arms, but too late. The woman hurtled over the railing and fell as they watched. Her screams turned from human cries to the screeching of an eagle. As she fell, Leiko's body was surrounded by a familiar purple mist.

By this time all eyes were upon the falling figure of the screaming woman. Even several of the quidditch players had paused in their game to stare at what was certainly going to be Leiko's death. After what seemed an eternity Leiko hit the ground. Several people screamed in horror and at least one Hufflepuff student fainted.

Before even the referee could react, an explosion of purple light erupted from where Leiko had fallen. The sphere of electric mist faded slowly, revealing a sight that sent chills down the spines of those who understood the implications.

Leiko stood, in all her gryphonic glory, where the human had died. The fangs lining her open beak gleamed, the long purple tongue twisted, and the red eyes glowed with a murderous rage. Snape was frozen with shock. He was one of the few that knew what Leiko really looked like, but even he had no idea that she could be so feral. The gryffin he'd met in the woods had been very civilized, but this creature that now stood on the quidditch pitch was the embodiment of animal bloodlust.

With a scream that ripped through the very souls of those nearest, the huge beast lunged into the air and flew straight towards Potter. Ravindra cried out as her sister hurtled towards the boy. She forced herself to concentrate as she jumped out of the stand. Instead of falling as Leiko had, however, Rave transformed into her gryffin form and managed to turn the fall into a speeding swoop. The red gryffin was airborne, and her only goal was to keep Leiko from doing something she'd regret.

Not a single spectator moved as the quidditch players and gryffins flew above them. It was as if a spell kept the audience in motionless silence. All they could do was watch as the death of Harry Potter unfolded before their eyes.

Leiko was chasing the Gryffindor Seeker by the time Rave caught up to them. Harry was doing a good job at avoiding the black one's talons, but it was obvious that only his smaller size and greater agility was keeping him alive. Rave had to find a way to stop her sister without hurting her.

Harry went into a downward spiral as Leiko's deadly beak snapped at him. The broom lost a few bristles, but the boy remained unharmed. Rave knew full well that she was too small to win in a fight against her larger sibling, but she was large enough for some aerial sabotage. As Leiko plunged after the boy, Rave closed her wings against her body and plummeted like a stone. Harry pulled up sharply as he neared the ground, and Leiko swerved in an attempt to follow. Rave spread her wings just enough to guide her fall and crashed into her sister.

The pile of red and black feathers hit the ground with a thud, but the enraged predator quickly untangled herself from the smaller gryffin. The Guardian was in full control now, and hungering for carnage. From the look in Leiko's eyes Rave knew that she'd made a mistake. There was no way she could beat Leiko, especially a Guardian-controlled Leiko, in a physical battle. Ravindra was equal to her sister in skill, but the Guardian and sheer size took any advantage Rave's slightly superior agility would have granted.

"Hey, you stupid gryffin! What's wrong? Too fat to fly?"

Rave watched, stunned, as Draco Malfoy hovered overhead and taunted Leiko. It the single most suicidal action the red gryffin had witnessed. All Draco was accomplishing was making the Guardian even angrier. The black creature hissed, shrieked, and took flight before Rave even noticed she'd moved. Draco had the sense to look scared at that point, but he didn't attempt to evade his attacker.

As Ravindra took to the air she noticed Leiko jerk to one side as a ball hit her squarely on the head. Another shortly followed, hitting her right wing and doing some damage. Rave caught sight of the Beaters of both teams hitting those balls towards Leiko, who was now crashing once more into the grass. Rave took advantage of Leiko's stunned state to cast a small binding spell. When the black gryffin tried to rise, she found herself unable to do more than lift her head slightly. Rave approached, cautiously, to see if the Guardian's rage could be quelled.

"Leiko? Can you hear me?"

There was no response. The black gryffin just glared at Rave, looking very annoyed and ready to bite if the red one got too close. Draco landed and stood proudly near the fallen beast. He wasn't paying attention to the large beak, or to the sudden movement of black feathers. Rave lost her concentration as Leiko's fangs sank into the young Malfoy's arm. The blond boy screamed in terror as Ravindra wrapped her talons around her sister's beak, trying to pry it open. The binding spell was now broken and the Guardian was quick to realize it. The beak released its human prey and turned on the red one who dared to attack it.

Ravindra managed to avoid the powerful slashing talons and snapping beak, but she did lose a few feathers. The quidditch players were quick thinkers and soon bludgers once again started flying at the black gryffin. The balls surprised Leiko just long enough for Rave to get under her. From there, the red gryffin sank her clawed toes into the larger creature's flesh. Leiko screamed, but Rave had to concentrate. There was only one possible way this fight could be won, but it was dangerous. Rave had never attempted such a move before, and the outcome was uncertain for both herself and her sister.

A golden glow surrounded the two gryffins. Even Draco paused in his screaming long enough to watch them. The glow grew blindingly bright as the larger struggled to get free of the smaller beast. The animal screams turned to human shouts, and those shouts turned from angry cursing to cries of pain. As the light faded, the wizards of the audience regained control of themselves. A roar of confused shouting echoed through the quidditch pitch as the Hogwarts teachers rushed to the place where the gryffin's fought.

All were amazed to find two women laying on the ground, unconscious. One was obviously Ravindra, but the other was only somewhat familiar. It had to be Leiko. The face looked like Leiko, and the hair was still long, but the complexion of the skin was a shade darker, the hair black, fading to brown, then gray, then blue at the tips. She was not nude, but wore an odd skin-tight outfit of black leather that faded to blood red at the legs. Yes, this had to be Leiko, but a Leiko that more closely resembled her gryphonic self.

Snape was perhaps the most stunned at the change in the woman he'd come to appreciate. He helped Madam Pomfrey get the two women, and the wounded Draco, to the hospital wing. Dumbledore and McGonagall stayed behind to calm the shocked students and spectators. Harry landed and was joined by Ron and Hermione as he headed for the hospital wing. His thoughts were spinning and the vision of Leiko the gryffin with those murderous red eyes kept flashing in his mind. A look at the faces of his friends told him that they were sharing the same thought. Leiko really had meant what she said about those eyes, and how they should attack her before she got close enough to hurt them. And he had frozen. He hadn't been able to take that advice to heart, and it had been Rave who'd saved him by fighting her own sister. That final flash of gold had seemed to take a lot out of the gryffins. Harry hoped that Leiko and Rave, and even Malfoy, would be alright.