Disclaimer: The Harry Potter Series (1997-2007) and any characters and original locations within the books belong to JK Rowling. I own my original characters and my plot twists. I am not trying to pass any of these characters or copyrighted ideas off as my own and therefore it isn't plagiarism or copyright infringement.

Chapter Three – Return to Hogwarts

Draco watched as Leo prepared for their return to Hogwarts. He was busy carrying on a conversation with Theo via their charmed bracelets. He was congratulating Theo on his new Head Boy position, however they didn't know who the Head Girl position was given to, as the Death Eaters had taken over the school. Draco pulled away from this brother's mind as he prepared for his long journey. He couldn't figure out why, but he had a feeling that at some point Harry might return to his destroyed home in Godric's Hallow. He knew that if he were facing someone like Voldemort and looking for something as elusive as bits of the evil git's soul, something would draw him back to the place where the Voldemort fell.

He didn't even look at Elaine and Luke as he walked out of the cottage into the French countryside. He walked toward the forest that would give him cover. He practiced his transformation into his Animagus form so that it was as easy as raising his eyebrow or smirking. He took to the skies and beat his wings against the autumn winds. He made sure to fly high enough to where he wouldn't be spotted by either Muggle or Wizard. He really wasn't ready to meet the dragon taming Weasley in his current form. He could just imagine how something like that would go.

Leo's voice laughed in his mind. I've met Charlie. I think he'd be a bit jealous that you could transform into a dragon when he has such a love for those creatures. However, in the current environment it might not be ideal for you to be shipped off in that form. We don't know if Voldemort is trying recruit dragons for his armies. Also, I've noticed you've been using his name a bit in your mind. Make sure not to speak it aloud because it's been made Taboo. We don't need them finding you before you've decided to battle against them. It's best for you to be prepared.

Draco nodded his big triangular shaped head. I agree with you, however do you know where I'm going right now? He could tell that Leo was aware. I'm going to sign my message of hope: Goldilocks, Midnight, and Scales.

Leo made an indignant noise. Why did you get to assign your own nickname?

Draco mentally chuckled. Probably because I don't have any friends to give me one, now get back to packing for Hogwarts. You would want to upset father during these stressful times, now would you?

As he continued flying north he soon recognized the familiar mountains that surrounded the muggle and wizard intermixed village of Godric's Hallow. He remembered the many times his father spoke ill of the town not only know as the birthplace of the founder of Gryffindor, but also where Dumbledore lived for a good portion of his life, and where the Potter's lived for generations. He landed outside of the town and transformed back into his human form. He pulled up the hood of his black cloak and walked out of the woods. He kept an eye on his surroundings as he approached the still partially destroyed house. A shiver ran up his spine as he realized that this was the place where the killing curse rebounded on Voldemort and gave Harry his scar.

He stood before the rubble of the remaining home and upon touching the gait a sign arose from the ground through the entangled weeds and flowers. Words were written upon the wood sign in gold:

On this spot, on the night of 31 October 1981,

Lily and James Potter lost their lives.

Their son, Harry, remains the only wizard

ever to have survived the Killing Curse.

This house, invisible to Muggles, has been left

in its ruined state as a monument to the Potters

and as a reminder of the violence

that tore apart their family.*

Draco read through the magical graffiti that shone brightly and some of it was carved into the wood of the sign. He took out his wand and cast a spell that would burn his message into the sign like an engraving. He went along the line of the more recent messages added since the fall of the ministry. However, his words were more familiar than something written by a fan.

Harry, we understand your journey is challenging and at some

point you may wish to give up, however we request that you never do.

For you are our final hope and though you travel your current

journey with but a few, when the final confrontation comes, you

will be surrounded by many. Those who chose to fight

tyranny and find hope within the green eyes of a Gryffindor.

Your friends,

Goldilocks, Midnight, and Scales

Draco, when did you become sentimental? Leo's voice snickered in his mind. He wanted to poke his brother's eyes out for making fund of his message; however he knew it was just in fun. He wanted to shoot something back but he noticed someone walking down the street. It would be best if he weren't seen so he quickly disapperated back to the forest outside of his French home.

Leo escorted himself to Kings Cross as his parents weren't allowed to leave the manor. He popped onto the landing and quickly looked around. He walked onto the train and noticed many missing faces as he stored his trunk in the Slytherin compartment. He noticed Theo sitting in a compartment by himself and walked inside. He sat down with a book and decided to continue communication through the bracelets so that no one would overhear it.

He was sadly joined by Crabbe, Goyle, and Pansy Parkinson. He growled at Draco in his mind for being friends with such annoying people. Pansy went straight to smoothing out his hair and caressing his cheek. As soon as she used her high pitched whiny voice to announce, "Drakey I missed you. Why didn't you visit me this summer?"

Leo removed her hand from his head and spoke in clipped tones, "I didn't visit you because I wasn't allowed to leave the manor because of a house guest we had all summer. However, I'm not disappointed that I didn't visit you. I thought my ignoring you last year explained that I wasn't interested in continuing any relationship with you. Why don't you chase after Blaise like you did last year? Perhaps you could take these two oafs with you. The only friend I have in this compartment is Theo."

Her scrunched up pug face took on an indignant look before she did an impression of a fish. Her voice got even more high pitched as she almost screamed, "How dare you treat a childhood friend in such a way? I don't understand why you're not stretching our bonds now that everything is going our way. Soon all of the Mudbloods will be gone and Slytherin will rule the school."

Leo spoke through clenched teeth, "Apparently you only have an idealistic view of the world under Death Eater rule handed down from you by your father, however I assure you things will not fit the vision you have. You haven't met the Carrow brother and sister, so you are unaware of the disciplinary actions we may face this year. We may all wish to keep our noses clean so that we won't suffer physical punishment or the torture curse. It might be best to study this year. I plan on spending quite a bit of my time in the library knowing you'd three would never set foot there. Again if you all would be on your way, I'm sure that Zabini is missing your presence in his compartment."

Leo's assumptions were validated with the opening dinner. Instead of the twinkling blue eyed Dumbledore, a cold and stoic Snape stood at the podium. His voice was emotionless as any good Death Eater. There were only a handful of first years that year, so their sorting went by quickly. Snape sneered, "I see several familiar faces and others are missing even though attendance is mandatory this year. I guess we should be relieved because we won't have to deal with Potter this year, however he's wanted by the ministry for the death of Dumbledore. If he does appear at this school at any point, you are all expected to notify me, immediately."

He paused for a moment as his dark eyes scanned the great halls and fell upon each student. Leo knew he was doing his usual job of trying to instill fear in each one of them. He continued, "The forbidden forest is just that forbidden. Anyone found within its tree will have detention. I'd like to introduce the two new teachers this year. Professor Carrow is your new Muggle studies teacher and her brother Professor Carrow will be teaching Dark Arts. Everyone will be expected to take both of these courses even those who didn't do well enough on their O.W.L.s. Mind your manners because these two are in charge of discipline. "

He didn't give the usual warm starting of the meal and the food appeared as soon as he was seated. Leo looked around the Slytherin table and the rest of the great hall. He noticed the darkness that'd set in around Hogwarts. Snape had failed to mention the Dementors hanging out around the school, but Leo could sense their presence. The school felt colder and just all wrong. He sighed and placed items on his plate. He tapped his wand against his bracelet underneath the table to converse with Theo. I have to admit that I'm frightened. I know this year is going to be horrible at Hogwarts, and I have a feeling that the DA is going to fight against the tyranny. I fear what may happen to my friends.

He went back to eating ignoring the excited chatter around him. The Slytherins were excited to be learning the Dark Arts in class. They were excited to have everyone learn the truth about muggles and that their lord had finally gained power. Leo's stomach churned. They had no idea what living with the Dark Lord was like. They had no idea the true evil, the civil war that was coming or the mass genocide reminiscent of Germany's atrocities during the muggle World War Two that went along with Grindelwald's rampage. Leo saw all of this and hoped to help his friends from behind enemy lines. His bracelet heated up and he looked down at it. Theo's response was strewn across it. You have the heart of a lion. You may be afraid but you have the courage to stand up and face that fear. We shall help them and in the end only the chosen shall remain.

Leo walked down to the seventh year boys dorm rooms after dinner with Theo. He couldn't shake the cold filling from the Dementors. He couldn't stop the dread from growing in the pit of his stomach. Would they be able to make it out of the war unscathed? Would he lose any of his friends? He knew that he'd be watching Dora like a hawk because he couldn't fathom the idea of her dying. He knew that Bellatrix was looking to take her out, but he wasn't going to allow it to happen. He would kill the bitch if he had to. He'd make sure to hit her with something as horrible as what Draco was hit with last year. He'd make sure she died a most painful death.

He quickly changed before climbing into bed. Just being at Hogwarts was draining. He closed his eyes. Draco, do you think we'll make it through this year?

His Twin chuckled in his mind. One thing Malfoys are known for is our survival. I do believe that we'll make it through this; however, it will take quite a bit of work on my end. I'm already looking for my opportunity to abandon France and join the Golden Trio. You'll just have to hold up the fort while we're gone. If you're worried about your DA friends then maybe you should find a way to contact them. Why not explore the castle as Goldilocks. I'm sure the presence of a lion would be rather disconcerting, however no one will know who's exploring the castle except for those who know your Patronus. I think several DA members will be shocked to discover that you're impersonating Draco Malfoy again. However, be careful we don't want the wrong person to figure out that you're not really me.

Leo rolled his eyes and turned onto his side snuggling with his pillow. Like I want to have to use my Occlumency skills to lie my way through Veritaserum. You know they'd use it on me if they suspected. I'm a little concerned about what they will teach us in our Dark Arts class tomorrow. It'd be beneficial for me to learn all of the dark curses and counter-curses so that we can better fight against them. Being here just feels so wrong. You will keep an eye out for me and warn me of any danger, right?

Of course Leo, I've lost you once. I will not lose you again. Before I met you, I didn't know my true capabilities. Your presence has taught me how to be a better person. I will redeem my actions last year and together we'll make up for the horrible decisions our father made in his youth. The Malfoy name may come out of this relatively unscathed.

Leo felt sleep overtake him as he whispered, "Goodnight."

Good night. His brother's voice echoed in his head as he left the waking world to join the adventures of the dream world. A world where goodness existed because of people's will. Something in his dreams told him that everything would be fine.

The first day of class was pretty uneventful until their Dark Arts class. It was a shared class between Slytherin and Gryffindor. Leo sat next to Theo as Amycus Carrow stood before the class. He was dressed in all black and had a darker aura than Snape had teaching the class the year before. Leo knew the blond man before him was more dangerous than Snape, whose loyalties lied elsewhere. The man slammed his book on his desk getting the class's attention. "Now that you brats have shut your gobs, let's start learning. This is not going to be a flowery defense class; no in this class you will learn how to perform strong magic. The only strong magic in this world are the Dark Arts. Be it working with werewolves, Dementors, or Inferi, you will learn how to serve the Dark Lord. You will learn how to execute the Cruciatus Curse, the Imperious Curse, and the Killing Curse as these are very important to any Death Eater's tool kit. However, there are a few not so well know spells you'd benefit from. You shall learn how to control Fiendfyre, which is great to set off in the center of a filthy muggle village."

"You will be expected to choose a unique spell or dark artifact to write a detailed paper. This will be your written requirement for this class. The rest will be demonstration. You will practice these spells on animals and finally work up to using the Cruciatus on younger students. We must keep the hierarchy within this school. The younger students need to learn to respect their elders. Now please take out your copies of Secrets of the Darkest Art revised edition. I want you to read the first chapter and we will then discuss the best ways of killing muggles. The person who comes up with the best way of torturing and killing will earn extra points for his or her house." The man smiled manically. His pig like face twisted that resembled a wild boar about to charge.

Draco whispered in his mind. That book discusses the creation of Horcrux. Unless that's been removed so that no one will know Moldy Short's secret. He wouldn't want anyone else to be able to follow his lead toward immortality. He's so mental. This class already seems horrible and Goyle and Crabbe are in here absorbing the information. I bet you if they learn any of the spells in this class it will be the death of them. They didn't pass their O.W.L.s in Defense against the Dark Arts and had to retake a remedial class. I doubt they'd be in this class if it wasn't a required class for all students to take. Apparently they prefer their follower's stupid.

Leo held in the laughter that threatened to bubble up. There was no point in drawing Amycus' attention. Yes he prefers them to either be stupid or absolutely mental. Think about Bellatrix, she's not really stupid but she's completely off her rocker. Goyle Sr. and Crabbe Sr. are both as dumb as dirt and they passed those genes onto their sons. Then you have the naïve youth that get in over their head and end up like father. He's neither stupid nor barmy, but he's always been motivated by power. Too bad he's lost it and put our family in such danger. Leo sighed staring down at the page before him. Do you think we'll all make it through this? I know I keep on asking that question but things are just getting so dark. I can't help but worry about everyone I love.

Draco's voice was thick with emotion. We can only do what we can do. We must never lose hope and maybe just maybe by doing the right thing we'll create enough good karma to have our whole family survive to be pardoned.

Leo laughed dryly in his mind. When did you become the optimist?

I guess it happened the same day that you became the pessimist. Perhaps one's environment does have an effect on one's perception.

A/N: I know that it's been a while since I last updated this fiction. I have to admit that I've run a bit out of steam. I see how this will end but I don't know how to get there. So, we'll see. I'll try to keep updating once a month with this one. It's really not that popular, so I'm not really that motivated to write it when I have other fan fictions that are more popular out there.

Sign wording belongs to JK Rowling as it was quoted from Chapter Seventeen, Bathilda's Secret from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (2007).