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 Fifteen – Platinum Lion

Leo had spent his holiday with his Aunt Dromeda and his uncle Ted. He visited the manor at night to see what was going on while Draco was there. He couldn't help but wonder if his father would spill anything about the Death Eater's plans. However, Draco seemed to be a bit of a liability as his father wouldn't tell him anything even though he asked. He could tell that Lucius was afraid though he seemed to hide it well enough for Draco not to notice. Leo couldn't help but think his twin was oblivious to his surroundings. Though Draco did complain to his father about how Leo had been transfiguring his robes and hair to make an exact copy. Lucius seemed very interested in that and it concerned Leo.

After Christmas, he flooed over to Grimmauld place to spend the rest of his break with the Weasleys, Harry, and his cousin Sirius. Who he was looking forward to asking him questions about Animagus transfiguration. He walked up to the room where Sirius had been hiding out with his hippogriff. He knocked on the door and when Sirius yelled to go away he walked in anyway. "Sorry, but I hear those with Black ancestry have difficulty listening to other's requests."

Sirius smirked, "What do you want Leo?"

"Well, I've been studying the transfiguration spell for becoming an Animagus. I understand it took you and the rest of the Marauders three years to learn how to transform into animal forms. I have to admit that I'm older than you in researching it. I was wondering if you had any tips."

Sirius shrugged, "Practice the spell several times before attempting it, but then again that doesn't sound a thing like me. Just go for it. The risk is part of the reward."

Leo sighed, "You're not feeling well are you. You hate being stuck in this house. You're not meant to be domesticated or forced to stay in a house you hate. The thing is that Harry needs you, so please don't do something that will cause him more pain. Someday the ministry will find out that you are innocent and you'll be free."

"I didn't think that optimism was a trait of the Blacks or the Malfoys," Sirius snidely remarked.

"Well, look at the family homes. Do you think someone could look on the bright side in a house that's so dismal?"

"So why don't you give the spell a try?" Sirius smirked.

"You forgot that I have the trace on me? I'll have to wait until I get back to Hogwarts."

"Yes, but after you've mastered it you'll no longer need a wand to do it. I don't believe the trace would recognize it then."

The night before they were to return back to Hogwarts by the Night Bus, Harry and Ron had been playing wizard chess in the Parlor while Leo and Hermione read. He again was looking into twin connections. He couldn't help but think that somehow his and Draco's connection was similar to the connection Harry had to Voldemort. It was almost as if the reason why he and Draco had the same magical aura was because they were one soul split into two, but he only wondered how that was possible. Then he came back to the Harry and Voldemort conundrum. They weren't twins, so they couldn't have been one soul at one time. However, Lilly's love for Harry had caused Voldemort's curse to rebound and created Harry's scar. Leo stared at the book in quiet contemplation as the pieces began to fit together. He tapped his finger to his lip. He knew that when Harry was feeling the connection to Voldemort his scar burned, so the connection seemed to originate from his scar. What if Harry's scar was somehow infused with a piece of Voldemort's soul? Leo's concentration was broke when Molly came into the room and announced to Harry, "Professor Snape is here to see you Harry."

Leo felt an eyebrow raise as at first Harry didn't hear her because he was too busy concentrating on his Wizard's chest game with Ron, and then when he finally heard her the confusion was set in his face. Ron couldn't help but question what their beady eyed potions teacher would want with Harry and Harry was flabbergasted at the concept. He slowly left the room as waves of apprehension rolled off of him. Leo turned to Ron and Hermione, "You don't suppose Dumbledore would assign him the task of teaching Harry Occlumency, do you?"

Hermione's brow furrowed, "You're the one who thought Dumbledore would suggest he learn that skill."

Leo shut the book, "Yeah but I didn't think he'd assign that man. I mean Snape cannot let go of his past hatred to see who Harry is. All he and Sirius see's is James Potter. I think both of their skewed views of Harry are harmful to them. Sirius sees the fool hardy friend who'd run around the castle with and would pick on others because it was fun, and we all know Harry is not that way. I fear that Snape may have been a victim and thus he see's Harry as an arrogant git and doesn't realize it's really Draco who's more like James."

Ron's eyebrows disappeared into his red hairline, "How do you do that?"

Leo shrugged, "Do you mean analyze another person's behavior?" Ron nodded and Hermione looked at him with curiosity in her brown eyes. "Well, I didn't have the traditional education before heading to the academy at eleven. I started studying the Muggle Science of Psychology at the age to ten and continue reading books on it every summer. I managed to develop some excellent people watching skills. So, I guess I'm a bit of a profiler."

Hermione laughed, "Well that makes sense. I mean I've been wondering for a bit now how you always seemed to know something that no one should know. I mean we found out your reasoning for knowing Draco so well, but you couldn't possibly be everyone's twin."

Leo chuckled, "Well, no I can't be everyone's twin. However, something you all should know about Draco and anyone else who put up the false shield of arrogance. Usually a large ball of insincerities and inadequacies hide behind that cold wall of arrogance."

Ron furrowed his brow, "So, you're saying the reason why Draco's such a git is because he's both insecure and inadequate?"

"Think about it. It takes someone sure of him or herself to accept defeat. What did Draco do when Gryffindor's Quidditch team beat Slytherin's fair and square?"

Ron's face turned red, "He insulted Harry for beating him by insulting our family. He got a rise out of my brothers and Harry."

Leo shook his head, "He was a sore loser because he bases his own worth on his achievements. He couldn't stand the fact that Harry was once again basking in glory and that he once again failed. He attacked your family because he was trying to get someone to react. He was trying to get others to look at him. He continue to say the right things knowing it would get a rise out of someone, and I'm sure he wasn't expecting the physical nature of the attack but he succeeded in his plan. He was successful at getting three very good members of the Gryffindor team kicked off and now Slytherin has a chance at winning the cup." Leo locked eyes with Ron, "Look, he knows that you're a good keeper and he fears your ability. Ron you come from a long line of Quidditch players. However, he also knows how to play on your inadequacies. That's the only reason why they came up with that Weasley is our King song. He's trying to keep you rattled so you won't play at your optimum level."

Ron's face paled, "You've seen me play keeper. I'm awful."

Leo shook his head, "You're not awful when you don't think people are watching. You have skill. You just need to find a way to control your emotions so that you can focus." Leo jumped up, "Hey, I've got an idea. I can teach you breathing exercises as well as a way to control your emotions. If I teach the D.A. Occlumency then we'll shut down Draco's ability to bait you and give you the ability to focus."

Leo got up and noticed that Ron and Hermione were following him out of the room. Also soon he noticed that Arthur was standing in the entry way. Leo's heart sped up as he realized what it meant. They all walked into the kitchen where they noticed a standoff between Snape and Sirius. They're wands were raised and Harry was in-between the two trying to stop it. Soon they noticed the visitors and Arthur announced he was cured. Snape pocketed his wand and swept out of the kitchen. His low emotionless drawl sounded, "Six o'clock Monday evening, Potter."

During dinner Leo sat at the table near Harry, Ron and Hermione when Harry dropped the bombshell and let them know under his breath that he had to take Occlumency lessons with Snape. Hermione was supportive whereas Ron blatantly stated he'd rather have nightmares than have to see Snape outside of potions class.

Leo cleared his throat, "I was thinking that maybe we should incorporate a bit of visualization exercises and allow me to teach that art at D.A. meetings before we jump into the jinxes." When the others stared at him with open mouths he added, "Well I was telling Ron that he needed to learn how to control his emotions so that Draco can no longer bait him. I really think by learning how to clear one's mind and control one's emotions allows one to concentrate better."

The Night Bus ride was hell and Leo quickly vowed to never take that form of Wizard transport in the future. They were first separated with Ginny, Fred, and George on the first floor of the bus with Lupin and the rest of them accompanied by Dora on the top deck. The conductor of the bus was busy chatting to Harry about all of the newspaper articles. He was a big eared young man with a bad case of acne. Every time the bus jumped the loose chairs would topple over. Leo was ecstatic when they finally stopped right outside of the gates of Hogwarts and they were able to walk up toward the entrance. As soon as they walked into the castle Leo made way to the boy's dormitory in Gryffindor tower. He was looking forward to trying out that transfiguration spell.

He pointed his wand at himself and followed the specific gestures; he'd been practicing for months. He spoke the incantation and soon he felt his body tingle. His body twisted and quickly formed an animal shape. He was a lion with fur the shade of his platinum locks. He had a large golden colored mane instead of the usual red. The end of his tail was the same shade as his mane. He knew instantly that his Animagus form wouldn't help him achieve stealth. It might frighten a few people, but he wouldn't succeed in fooling anyone, unless the news announced an albino male lion escaping from the local zoo. He quickly thought how to turn back and soon his body tingled once more. Leo shook his head and realized that he'd try to practice it until he no longer needed a wand. Perhaps he could successfully run around outside at night and not get spotted.

The first D.A. meeting after their return from school arrived. Harry quickly turned the group over to Leo at the beginning. He cleared his throat, "I have made the suggestion that I teach you all Occlumency. I believe that it will not only teach you how to prevent people from entering your mind or attempt possession, but it will also help you control your emotions like anger. I understand quite a few of us here are quite hot headed when particular topics are broached. Also with the escape of the Azkaban prisoners who prefer torture, it wouldn't hurt to learn. So, Harry has agreed to allow me to lead you through a few visualizations, which will help you strengthen your mind. I know some Occlumens prefer the concept of shutting down ones emotions, compartmentalizing and I agree this is effective for Slytherins. However, we're Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs, and Ravenclaws. The intellectual nature of Ravenclaw may allow the same emotional detachment, but Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs tend to wear their emotions on their sleeves, mainly anger."

Leo looked around the room and made eye contact with each of the Weasleys, Neville, and Harry, "So I want everyone to take a seat on one of the silk cushion and close your eyes. We're going to find our happy place and thus mask all other emotions with happiness. This concept is similar to casting a Patronus with the need for a happy thought. I want you to picture a place in nature where you feel most at ease, be it a field by a lake, the top of a mountain, the middle of a forest, or even flying through the air on a broom. I want you to remember the feeling of the wind, I want you to smell the flowers, I want you to feel the warmth of the sun on your cheeks. I want you to concentrate on how the place makes you feel. Okay now hold onto that place and open your eyes. Raise your hand if you feel calm, focused, and centered."

Everyone in the room raised their hand. Leo shook his head, "Now, I want all of you to try to go back to practice going to that place before you go to bed at night. When you feel your anger bubbling up, I want you try and go to that place. Once you're in that place, I want you to open your eyes and look around. What I mean is by going to that place when you're angry you might hold onto your rational mind and prevent from acting too rashly." Everyone nodded. "Okay then, we will start each meeting out with that same visualization and after a couple of weeks of practice I will attempt to enter each of your minds once. I will only do it to test the strength of your control. We can talk about that more in the meeting beforehand."

The meetings continued on with Leo doing the visualizations at the beginning of the meetings and Harry instructing them in the new defensive techniques. Leo always partnered with Neville, who seemed to have a new motivation after the Death Eaters escape. Only two people were catching onto the new spells quicker than Neville and that was Hermione and Leo. Soon the meeting had come where Leo would test everyone's mental shields. He first wanted to demonstrate with Harry, as Harry had confided in him that he felt that his lessons with Snape were only making things worse. Leo looked Harry in the eye, "Okay I want you to close your eyes for a moment and breathe while you find your happy place. Once you feel secure in I want you to open your eyes and nod. Remember that you are to use whatever defensive technique you can think of to distract me and force me out."

After a few minutes, Harry opened his eyes and nodded. Leo lifted his wand and spoke, "Legilimens." Leo didn't even manage to get into Harry's happy place before his wand flew out of his hand and Harry caught it. Leo smiled, "Wow that was very well done." He turned and asked, "Next?"

Hermione stepped up and soon Leo was frozen. Neville managed to use the shielding charm and soon Leo was fighting to prevent him from entering his mind. Everyone seemed to do well with disarming him or distracting him in some way to prevent him from entering their happy place and the rest of their mind. At the end of the meeting Leo announced, "Just keep on practicing your happy placed. Also, try to see if you can use that technique during stressful situations. Ron, maybe you should try it when you're hearing the Slytherins singing that dreadful song. Neville perhaps you could use it while in Snape's class. I'd love to hear how those experiments go."

Soon the Valentine's Day trip to Hogsmeade arrived, however Leo, Ginny and Ron couldn't go because Angelina had scheduled an all day Quidditch practice to prepare for their upcoming match against Hufflepuff. Ginny was very good as a Beater but Leo had a feeling she'd make an even better Chaser. The other beater Kirke was a bit timid in the sky. Leo worked on trying to spot the Snitch as quickly as possible and tried to remind Ron to breathe. Leo was so tired from the all day practice that he only showered before collapsing in his bed.

Soon the day of the match came, while they were changing into their uniforms in the locker room, Leo pulled Ron aside, "Ron, I want you to close your eyes and concentrate on that happy place before you go out there. Now don't close your eyes while the games going but try to keep that place in your mind. It might help you stay focused."

Ron nodded his head yes and they soon took the field. Leo kept his eyes on the field hunting for the Snitch. If he could manage to spot it quickly and end the game then they might be able to win before too many goals get past Ron. Kirke showed himself to be a coward by screeching as Zacharias Smith zoomed at him carrying the Quaffle. He managed to fall backwards off his broom. Ron was still too flustered by Slytherins singing to block any of the goals. Soon, Leo spotted the Snitch and quickly dove for it. The Hufflepuff Seeker didn't even notice his move. Leo caught the Snitch but Gryffindor still lost by ten points. However, at least the match only lasted twenty-two minutes.

A/N: I know that I adapted Occlumency, but I had to figure a way that Dumbledore could've mastered it. In my opinion, he has a bit too much of a heart to just compartmentalize his emotions. I like the idea of a happy place better. Do you like his Animagus form?