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 Seven – Dementors in Little Whinging

Leo was busy looking through the books in the Black library with Hermione while Ron was off somewhere with Fred and George. Though Sirius had gone through and removed most of the dark artifacts including books from the library, there were a few borderline dark texts left. Leo still couldn't figure out how he'd managed to witness Draco's conflict with Lucius before Draco went to bed. He was trying to find any information on the magical link twins shared. He had come across the concept at the academy's library in his third year, but had chalked it up to nonsense. It wasn't a heavily studied magical subject like transfiguration, charms, potions or ancient runes.

He found a book discussing a study done in the 1950s on twin witches. They exhibited a connection both mentally and magically, which included identical magical auras. The healer examiners concluded that the two were able to perform a unique magic only shared between two with the same magical auras. Since an aura was as unique as one's finger prints, so it was unusual for even identical twins to have identical auras. He looked up from the book when Fred and George apperated into the library with two loud cracks.

"Did you hear?" One twin asked his brown eyes twinkling.

Before anyone could respond or register the first twin's question the second one answered, "Harry's been caught using underage magic; the Ministry has expelled him, and threatened to break his wand."

"Dumbledore rushed to the Ministry and managed to get them to allow him to keep his wand and decided whether or not he's expelled at his disciplinary hearing," the first twin remarked.

"I don't know what Harry was thinking using his magic when he still has the trace."

Hermione held up her hands, "Wait, why would Harry use magic when the Order's watching him?"

Both twins shrugged.

Her brows furred in concern, "Unless, the person watching him wasn't there to protect him and he was forced to use magic. Wasn't Mundungus assigned to keep an eye on him tonight?"

"Yeah, but you know Dung." The first twin smiled.

"He probably left his post because he had a business opportunity he couldn't pass up." The second twin shrugged.

"Yeah maybe someone had stolen dragon eggs."

"Or long lost and valuable artifacts he could sell for a fortune."

"What the hell was he thinking? If the reason why Harry's facing a trial is because of his stupidity, I don't know what I'll do, but I'm sure it would involve testing some of your products!" Hermione squealed as her hair frizzed out of the pony tail she kept it in.

Leo understood her concern because without "Dung" Harry was left with a squib watching over him requiring him to use underage magic. Sure she knew about the Wizarding world but she had no way to report back to the order or protect him. The Ministry was out for blood, as was apparent with the trial Harry was now facing. He cleared his throat, "I really hope that Harry doesn't get expelled because with Dung at fault, I'll end up in Azkaban for murder." Everyone turned to him with wide eyes.

"You wouldn't have to do anything for that to happen," one of the twins joked.

"Yeah because it's likely you'll end up there someday because someone's mistaken you for that git twin of yours," the other smirked.

Leo rolled his eyes and tightened his pulled back hair, "Yeah, because we all know that Draco's so evil that there's no hope he'll change."

The twins looked at each other and then at the book open in Leo's lap, "What are you reading?"

One of the twins grabbed the book when he ignored them, "Why are you reading up on the magical bond between twins?"

Leo crossed his arms, "Hmm, I don't know. Maybe I think it's an interesting topic with having a twin."

"It says that identical magical auras are rare. They can't be that rare, I mean George and I have identical auras. Why do you think it's so difficult for even our parents to tell us apart? It also makes for the best sort of pranks," Fred grinned handing the book to George.

"Hey, maybe that's why we finish each other's sentences so much. It says here that those with the same magical aura tend to have strong magical and mental connections. It's like we communicate without the use of Legilimens. Well that makes sense…hmm Leo where'd you find this book?"

Leo smirked, "The Black Family Library."

George demanded, "Don't do that!"

Fred elaborated, "You look exactly like Malfoy when you smirk like that!"

Hermione laughed, "I have to agree. I prefer when you have a full smile on our face than one of those Malfoy smirks. Though George, you have to admit that was a rather stupid question. I mean where else could he have found it?"

Ron walked into the library with two small scrolls in his hand, "Hermione, Hedwig just arrived with three letters and this on is for you."

She took the letter from Ron and whispered, "Harry," as she unrolled it while Ron did the same to his. They read their notes with wide eyes causing Leo to ask, "What's happened?"

Hermione read her note aloud as Ron stood there with his mouth agape, "I've just been attacked by Dementors and I might be expelled from Hogwarts. I want to know what's going on and when I'm going to get out of here."*

Ron cleared his throat, "Dementors, blimey."

Leo crossed his arms, "Who wants to guess he's in trouble for casting the Patronus Charm."

"Mundungus has some explaining to do!" Hermione huffed.

"Are you going to answer him?" Leo took the book back from George before continuing to read.

"We still cannot tell him anything per Dumbledore's request," Hermione blew a loose curl out of her face.

"I stick to my first assumption that keeping things from Harry is only going to drive him crazy. He's the one who was in that graveyard when that despicable excuse for a wizard returned. He was the one who watched Cedric Diggory die. He's the one who lost his parents to that fowl git. How can keeping him from what's going on help anything? I know it would only drive me bonkers." Leo stared down at the book not really reading. He was isolated in his childhood but was able to read about the outside world. He knew he'd be a nutter if he didn't have access to information to the Wizarding World. It had to be worse for Harry as he just witnessed the return of Voldemort, the man responsible for the death of his parents and who's out to kill him.

"Yes, but one shouldn't question what Dumbledore requests. He's only trying to protect him," she defended.

Leo ignored the conversation after that, only concentrating on the book and trying to keep the images of Dementors running rampant like during the previous Wizarding War, those horrible beings sucking the happiness out of all places. The memory of his brother using underage magic flitted through his mind. He wondered if his brother was facing an inquiry or if his father had used his connections with the Ministry to squash it. He mused it was different for an underage wizard in a Wizarding home rather than one living with muggles.

Draco hid from his father in the Malfoy Library. It rivaled the library at Hogwarts except that its restricted section was hidden in a secret room that could only be opened with Malfoy blood. So, even his mother couldn't open the restricted section of the library. He tried to avoid his father as much as possible as he tried to figure out how Leo could be his twin and why they had such a unique connection. He was searching through the family history books for any entry that could back up his suspicions. Without evidence, he was only speculating, and Leo could only deny the truth.

He slammed the book shut. He had been at it for days and hadn't found one speck of evidence. Either the people behind his twin's disappearance were that good, or his assumption was incorrect. He wanted to believe it was the former. He felt a warm tingle run through him at the idea that he wasn't alone, but Malfoy's never showed weakness. No matter how much he desired having a twin or someone he could confide in because he was of the same blood and thought pattern. Well, except that he didn't grow up with everyone shoving their blood supremacy beliefs down his throat. Leo really was what Draco was capable of becoming if he didn't grow up in the venomous environment of Malfoy Manor. He shook his head returning the family tree book. He realized it was getting late; he rubbed his eyes, and made his way to bed.

His father stopped him in the hall and Draco groaned inwardly, but kept all his feelings hidden behind the mask of indifference he learned growing up in that overly large and cold home. His father raised an eyebrow, "Were you in the library all day?"

Draco shrugged, "Getting a start on next year's studies. I plan to put that Mudblood in her place."

His father smirked, "I'm happy to hear you're finally taking your studies seriously. With being the only Malfoy heir, it's important for you to do your best. Well, since you isolated yourself in the library, I'm guessing you haven't heard the great news."

"What news?"

"Harry Potter has been expelled from Hogwarts for the use of underage sorcery and has a disciplinary hearing on the 12th of this month for breaking the International Statute of Secrecy. That no good half blood will finally be out of ours and the Dark Lord's hair and it's all thanks to the Ministry of Magic. I always knew having Fudge in my back pocket would benefit our lord. Just think how easy it will be to hunt down the boy once he no longer has a wand and isn't protected at Hogwarts. Soon, his little Mudblood will be put in her place and you will be where you belong."

Draco just nodded his head before continuing down the hallway toward his suite. His thoughts were spinning. What would he do without his rivalry with Harry? Wasn't he defined by being the golden boy's arch nemesis? What would he be without Harry there to goad? He sighed lying in bed and closed his eyes. He hoped sleep would come quickly and that perhaps Leo would visit and solidify his beliefs. He really didn't want it to be a onetime occurrence.

Leo stood over his twin's bed knowing his thoughts. He couldn't invade his dreams as he hoped Draco would just forget about his epiphany, but he knew him too well. Draco was as stubborn as any Gryffindor could be, but he lacked the trusting and loyalty to be one. Leo lifted his wand to his brother's head. He wasn't there in a physical form but he was testing the limits of his dream walking state. He whispered, "Obliviate." He watched as the white light shot out of his incorporeal wand and struck Draco. "You don't remember having the dream of Leo or you're assumption that he is your twin. Tomorrow you will return to the library to prepare for the upcoming school year like you told your father."

Leo spent the next three days in the library, avoiding Hedwig, who remained at the headquarters and took to randomly attacking people. She'd managed to attack Ron, Hermione, and Sirius. None of them wanted to hurt the bird and they all wondered what had gotten into her. He smiled as he wondered for a moment if Harry had requested Hedwig to bug them until they responded to his letter. He continued to flip through the new book he'd found wondering if his memory charm had worked. He hadn't revisited Draco yet, and was a little afraid of getting caught. He would just have to see how he would react to him at school and if need be he could do the charm in person to make him forget.

He'd found some interesting books on Transfiguration, which was his favorite and strongest subject in school. He couldn't help but wonder if he had an Animagus form. He had decided to study up on in wondering if he could achieve the transfiguration feat, much like his future Transfiguration professor and head of house, McGonagall. However, he also had a cousin who could transform into a dog and another who's a metamorphmagus. Perhaps there's some genetic component making someone more likely to achieve transfiguration feats. Though metamorphmagi are born and not made, so there was defiantly a strong hereditary trait. Perhaps his cousin was one because his aunt and uncle both carried the recessive gene.

At that moment Hermione entered the Library muttering, "I don't know what's gotten into that bird!"

He looked up, "Hey Hermione, I was wondering something. I know you have an interest in Muggle Genetics, and I was just wondering about Wizarding traits. You know how my cousin Dora is a metamorphmagus. I was just wondering if that was because both my aunt and uncle carried the recessive trait for it or if it was passed from father to daughter and from mother to son."

She twirled her hair as she thought, "Well, I know that some genetic traits like male pattern baldness in muggles are passed from mother to son. Also, some very rare genetic disorders require both parents to carry the recessive gene. Since metamorphmagi are so rare, one can only assume the latter is the case. Have you researched you're cousin's family trees to see if any of her ancestors have that particular gift?"

"Wouldn't I have to go to the Ministry of Magic to get my hands on those kinds of records and answer questions as to why I was researching the Black family tree? I'd rather not draw too much attention to my existence. You know the whole idea of Slytherin self preservation," he shook his head. He was no Slytherin, but he wasn't going to do something stupid that would end in his needless death. He'd fight for a higher purpose and defeating the dark lord was one cause he was willing to fight for, however dying before he could help that cause wouldn't help anyone.

She scoffed, "Your one of the most Gryffindor Malfoy's I know!"

He shook his head and chuckled, "That's because the Malfoy's have been Slytherins for many centuries. I'd say the same thing for the Blacks, however dear Sirius has already defied that tradition."

"What next you're going to say that you're best subject in school is Transfiguration instead of the family preferred subject of potions."

He smirked, "Well, yes actually. I'm quite astute at Transfiguration. However, I also do quite well in both Charms and Potions. I know your best subject is charms and Draco's is potions like our father. Of course you are still top in our year. Well, as of last year. We'll have to see how this year goes with me as competition."

"Don't start showing that pureblood arrogance for which Malfoys are known! Just because you did well at the academy, doesn't mean you'll succeed in dethroning the Gryffindor Princess."

"Is that a self proclaimed nickname because I'm quite sure none of your friends call you that?"

"Yes, well," she cleared her throat. "You were asking me about Wizarding genetics, right? Well perhaps we should start doing some testing and comparisons using samples of our blood. You come from two of the longest pureblood lines and I'm a muggleborn. So, one would think that I'd have more genetic diversity than you do. I really do wonder if the short life-spans of the Blacks and their tendency to be complete nutters stem from the generations of inbreeding."

Leo attempted his best offended face, "Are you trying to say that the pureblood elite are breeding themselves into unhealthy and instable but very attractive people?"

"Yep, complete nutters they all are." Her smile betrayed her insult, "So, what do you say? You know for scientific reasons. I'd love to someday bring the muggle science of genetics to the Wizarding world. You know, I really think they could benefit from the idea of genetic diversity."

"I have to agree. It'd be nice to have longer lives and less Bellatrix Lestrange personalities running about. Maybe someday we can figure out how magic is passed from generation to generation and explain why both squibs and muggle-bourns exist. Watch it have something to do with the fanatic inbreeding of many pureblood families. We should probably trace your family tree back as well. I wonder if perhaps you have a witch or wizard in your background. Maybe the magic ability didn't return until enough genetic diversity was obtained from the muggle world."

He considered what he just verbally spewed, "You know that's entirely an interesting concept that I think we should investigate. A hypothesis if you will. We should really start looking into people's backgrounds and historical occurrences of squibs. Wouldn't it be interesting if it turned out the more pureblood a family is the more squibs produced over the generations."

"So, we're going to take a muggle approach to explaining mental instability and early death in pureblood families." Her honey-brown eyes lit up, "I think quite a few of your ancestors are rolling in their graves."

He chuckled, "It's a good thing I don't exist to them. I'd really hate to be cause for the creation of anymore inferi."

A/N: I found my copy of the Order of the Phoenix. I am rereading it and inspiration is hitting me. I know I keep exploring this genetic aspect of things, but hey…we'll have to see how it pans out.

*These words belong to JK Rowling and are found in the first paragraph of chapter three of The Order of the Phoenix (2003). The page number varies depending on the version one owns but its page 42 of my Hardcover American copy.