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 Seventeen – The Lion, Death Eaters, and the Deranged

They stood in the Hall of Prophecy surrounded by shelves upon shelves of what resembled crystal balls with wisps of memories in them, and Sirius was nowhere. A knot formed in the pit of Leo's stomach and he knew that the vision Harry had seen was a lie. They stood in row ninety-seven and as dread bubbled within Leo, Ron pointed to one of the crystal balls with Harry's name on it. Leo let out a shutter as everything fit. Voldemort was after a prophecy. Something he didn't have last time and Harry was the only one who could retrieve it. Soon the drawl of his father confirmed it, as Lucius Malfoy approached with more than ten Death Eaters in masks behind him.

Lucius' slow drawl demanded, "It's good to see you found it. Now turn around and hand it over."

Harry only demanded, "Where are you keeping Sirius?"

Leo knew the truth but was afraid to speak it, as the others spoke behind their masks. One female voice caused chills to run up Leo's spine, he realized she sounded too much like his Aunt Dromeda, except with a screw loose. He didn't have to see her face to know it was his other aunt who'd recently escaped Azkaban. The woman Sirius grew up with and hated because of her dark art ties. Neville would always carry a grudge for her because she was the one who put his parents into St. Mungo's.

Leo couldn't hear what was going on around him as Harry and the Death Eaters spoke. He was too busy thinking and trying to figure out a way to get them out alive. Soon Hermione was whispering in his ear to destroy the shelves so they could escape when Harry told them to. Leo locked eyes with his father as Lucius continued to make his demands from behind his mask.

Harry yelled, "Now!"

Leo turned to one of the shelves and yelled, "REDUCTO!" He heard five other people yell it at the other shelves. He heard Harry order them to run and he followed behind Ron, Luna, and Ginny. Somehow in the process of trying to escape the collapsing shelves filled with glass balls, they were separated from Harry, Hermione, and Neville. They continued to run trying to escape from the death eaters running through the maze that was the Department of Mysteries, what was aptly named.

They ended up in a dark room full of planetary full scale models and Leo pointed his wand at the door and gasped, "Colloportus!" As he paused to catch his breath, he didn't have the time to cast it at the other doors leading into the room, so before they knew it there were five people in the room with them.

He pointed his wand at the approaching masked figures in an attempt to prevent them from harming the others. He heard defensive spells sounding around him and they were taking as good as they were giving. Leo was hit with the Cruciatus Curse and as the hot white pain shot through him and he lay on the floor curled into a little ball, he heard Ron yell, "PETRIFICUS TOTALUS!"

Soon he was being pulled up off the floor as he helped cradle a laughing Ron who had to been hit by a curse as Leo was dealing with his pain. Ron looked pale and was laughing about everything. Ginny was limping as if her ankle was damaged. He and Luna ran for the doors as they dragged along their injured friends. They made their way through another room and continued toward another door. They heard many loud noises sounding from one of the doors and continued on. Soon they wrenched open a door and the fell into the circular room where their journey into the Department of Mysteries had begun.

Luna quickly explained what happened as Leo tried to keep a joking and slightly drugged Ron calm. He still couldn't hear what was going on around him and Leo knew he was suffering from shock. There was too much going on to not be. He quickly followed Harry and Neville who were dragging an unconscious Hermione back into a room that had a tank full of brains. They had been in the room previously as they were searching for the right way to where they ended up before his father showed up. Something continued to gnaw at the pit of his stomach. In Ron's blissful stupidity, he summoned one of the brains from the tank and soon was being strangled by it.

Neville and Ron tried to get it off of him, when more death eaters piled into the room. Harry was still holding the Prophecy. Luna and Ginny continued to pop off spells, until they were both knocked out by Death Eaters. Leo knew that he should fight but he wanted to make sure Ron wasn't killed by the tentacle brain, and he was still in too much shock to fight properly. He could feel his heart pounding and he felt light headed. Soon Harry was holding the prophecy over his head and leading the Death Eaters out of the room. Neville quickly ran out of the room after them with the continued blood pouring out of his nose.

Leo stared down at Ron and tried to remove the inky black tentacles choking Ron. Finally in pure desperation he pointed his wand at Ron, "Petrificus Totalus." Ron stopped squirming and the brain stopped squirming. Leo knew he needed to somehow rip them from Ron's body but he didn't have a knife or anything to cut with. He also didn't want to attempt a slashing hex with a fear that he'd cut Ron by mistake. Instead he put his wand away and transformed. In his lion form he used his sharp claws the tear at the black tendrils and soon he was able to pull the still petrified Ron away from the brain. He left him that way figuring he'd be a less danger to himself or others. He quickly ran out the door both Harry and Neville had run through earlier. He decided against changing back and figured he'd just attack with tooth and claw. The Death Eaters deserved to have their blood spilled as much as they'd spilled his friends'.

As he ran down the steps, streaks of white light appeared. Leo would've sighed in relief had it been possible in his lion form. He sat on his haunches as he watched everyone fight. Once Sirius yelled for Harry to get out of there with Neville, Leo ran to them to help them out. However, it didn't end as planned when the prophecy was dropped and smashed. Dumbledore showed up giving them some time. The one horror that captivated his mind, the same look of terror appeared in Harry's eyes, occurred when Sirius was dueling Bellatrix. Leo's insides clenched as he watched the shock hit Sirius' face and he fell through the empty archway. Only after he fell through and disappeared, the archway was no longer empty. Leo could hear whispering from it with his acute cat hearing. He'd just seen his cousin die and his beloved Dora had fell before Bellatrix dueled Sirius.

Leo ran to check on Dora. He'd just lost Sirius and he couldn't imagine losing his savior. He transformed back into his human form as he took in her injuries. He found she had a pulse. He sighed as he picked her up to carry her back to the brain room when he heard Harry bellow about killing someone. He scrambled up the stone benches away from Lupin and after Bellatrix. Leo wanted to stop him, wanted to make him find his happy place. Leo wanted him to think and not do, but he knew he wouldn't get through the blind rage he saw in Harry's piercing green eyes. Harry was lost to his pain, anguish, and fury.

Soon he realized that he was running through the same room that he was headed with Dora. He watched from the doorway as he ran by, leapt over his friends, and chased Bellatrix out of the room into another one. Leo laid Dora down next to the unconscious Hermione and noticed Ron was unfrozen, and Ginny and Luna were awake.

Ginny gasped, "What was that about? Why was Harry chasing after her like-"

Leo groaned, "Like he wants to kill her?" She nodded. "Because that's exactly what he wants. He's so full of pain and rage right now, he cannot see straight. We just watch Sirius die at her hands and all he wants revenge. He wants to make her feel the pain he's experiencing at the loss of another loved one."

Ginny whispered, "Sirius is dead?"

Ron laughed, "Snuffles got snuffed."

Leo groaned lifted his wand and whispered, "Stupefy." The red streak hit Ron in the chest and he was out.

Luna looked at him, "Why'd you do that?"

Leo shook his head, "Now is not the time for him to make jokes about a loved one dying. Sirius was a great man, an innocent man, and he was Harry's Godfather. He was Harry's closet link to his father and now he is dead. He's my only Gryffindor cousin. I can't help but feel a great loss and if I didn't do that I might've caused Ron harm."

Dumbledore quickly transported everyone in the brain room with a portkey to the Infirmary at Hogwarts, except for Dora who was sent straight to St. Mungo's. Leo's stomach continued to knot as Madam Pomfrey was patching everyone up. Hermione was lying in the bed still unconscious as Madam Pomfrey checked over her wounds. Leo couldn't help but stand there wondering if he did well enough on his O.W.L.s to become a Healer. He and Luna were quickly released as the two of them had minor, easily mended, injuries. He was just pale from the Cruciatus Curse and Luna had some minor scratches.

As soon as they walked out of the infirmary, Leo swished his wand transforming his robes to Slytherin. He walked down to the dungeons and found the entry to the Slytherin Common Room behind the marble Basilisk Statue. He muttered the password he'd overheard the night before when he followed Draco down there while dream walking. He entered the common room, which was located under the lake and thus green light illumined the room during the day. It was dark and a few torches were lit around the room. The ceiling resembled a stone cathedral right out of the dark ages. The couches were overly regal leather and the room had an overly formal and cold feeling. It wasn't as warm and comforting as the Gryffindor tower. He soon ran into the pug faced Pansy, who latched onto him and pulled him toward one of the couches. He cleared his throat, "Pansy, I'm not in the mood." He pulled his arm away and walked up to the boys' dormitory. He quickly found the dorm room that housed Draco, Theo, Goyle, Crabbe, and Zabini. He walked into the room and found Theo sitting on his bed staring down at his potions book and no one else in the room.

Leo cleared his throat and Theo looked over at him, "What do you want now, Malfoy?"

Leo smiled, "Wrong twin."

Theo's eyebrows furrowed, "What are you doing down here, Leo?"

Leo sat down on Theo's bed, "You see, we just got back from the Department of Mysteries. Basically I fear your father was left behind in the Hall of Prophecy and was likely caught along with Lucius, Crabbe, Goyle and a few other Death Eaters. I wanted to tell you what was happening before the whispers started. I know that Draco's going to want to take revenge on Harry for the embarrassment." He shook his head, "I know he still idealizes him, but I fear that since Lucius failed to obtain the prophecy that the Dark Lords vindictive nature will come out. I'm sure Draco's in for a world of hurt next year. I know that you prefer to spend time alone, but I'd like it if you'd keep an eye on him." Leo ran his hand through his hair as Theo stared up at him. "I'm the stronger one of the two of us. I fear he can't handle the pressure, so I might have to make him disappear and take his place. I just want your promise that you won't sell me out to the Dark Lord."

Theo's gray eyes widened, "You think that he's going to assign Malfoy something?"

Leo looked up at him as something came to mind, "Wait, Theo what's going to happen to you? I mean if your father's being imprisoned and your mother's dead. Where are you going to go?"

Theo shook his head, "Don't worry about me. I'm used to taking care of myself. I'll be of Wizarding age in a few months. Per pureblood Wizarding laws, I will become the head of the house. I'll just spend my summer alone at home, which isn't much different from last summer after the Dark Lord returned."

Leo thought of something, "Wait, I have an idea. Would you like a house guest? Do you think I could stay with you this summer?"

He raised an eyebrow, "I thought you understood that I prefer to be alone."

Leo shook his head, "You don't prefer to be alone, you're just used to it."

Soon their conversation ended as the door to the room opened and Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle stumbled in. Draco quickly looked from Theo to Leo and crossed his arms, "What's this? Nott are you conversing with a Gryffindor?"

Leo stood up, "No, he thought I was you. You know how much I like to impersonate you, Draco."

Draco glared, "So, what are you doing down here anyway?"

"Oh, I came to see if you guys heard about what happened at the Ministry. You know that your Death Eater fathers were there under Voldemort's orders. Well, I thought you should know that they failed in procuring the prophecy. So, not only are they on the way to Azkaban pending trial for trespassing, but I have a feeling Lucius has lost favor with the Dark Lord. So Draco if I were you I'd watch my back."

"Is that a threat?" His already narrowed eyes turned into slits while Crabbe and Goyle started cracking their knuckled.

"No Draco, it's not a threat. You are too much of a coward to realize the truth in the statement. I just wanted to let you know that you're not alone."

"I know because I have my friends," Draco grumbled. He pointed his wand at Leo, "Now get the hell out of my room."

So after Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle's attempt to corner Harry and beat him up near the great hall the next day, they tried again on the train. However, they made the mistake of attempting to jump him next to a compartment filled with D.A. members. Soon the three were hexed into oblivion and levitated atop the luggage rack. Leo decided to hang around on the train when everyone left on the King Cross station. He knew that his Aunt and Cousin were likely to make him return to France after Sirius's death and with Bellatrix on the loose. However, he planned on disappearing with Nott before that demand could be issued. He waited for everyone to disappear before levitating them back down. His plan was to administer any of the counter jinxes he knew; however his mother appeared before he had the opportunity.

"Draco, what's going on?"

Leo turned around to face her, "You see, Mrs. Malfoy, your son and his friends, Crabbe and Goyle, tried to attack Harry Potter on the way to the bathroom because they blame him for the imprisonment of their fathers. Well, they made the mistake of doing it in front of a group of Harry's friends who threw every hex, jinx, and curse at them they knew. I was in the process of evaluating them so I could administrate the proper counters when you arrive."

The family resemblance between the three Black sisters was quite striking. There was something to be said about the handsome and beauty within the Black gene pool. She stared at him, "So, you're saying that Harry Potter did this to him?"

Leo crossed his arms, "No, that isn't what I was saying. What I was saying was that Draco's tendency to hide his insecurities behind a wall of arrogance and desire to maim has lead to this. His and his friends' decision to attempt to attack Harry three to one is what led to this. Draco's too much of a coward to attempt a fair fight against Harry."

At that moment she took in Leo's school robes, which he'd neglected to change out and glared, "You're as despicable as my Cousin Sirius and his band of miscreant Gryffindors."

Leo rolled his eyes and adjusted his shoulder bag, "Well, I guess I'll leave them to you. If you can't fix it yourself they might require a stay at St. Mungo's. Perhaps the visit to the hospital will help with Draco's plans for the future. I do hope the Dark Lord isn't too harsh on Draco. You don't think he'd try to punish Lucius by assigning Draco something that would surly end in his death, do you?"

He turned around and walked off the train before Narcissa could react with anything more than staring at his back. He felt her eyes burning through him as he left. He soon found Theo waiting for him on the station platform, "I wasn't sure if you changed your mind. So, what took you so long on the train?"

Leo shrugged, "I thought that Draco and his goons had received a good enough lesson. I was about to lift the curses and jinxes when his mother appeared. So, I guess he might have to spend a few days in St. Mungo's instead. He'll probably end up on the fourth floor for the extensive amount of spell damage those three incurred." He looked around and noticed the empty platform, "So, how are we getting to your place anyway?"

"How I get to and from King Cross every year. We're going to take the Night Bus."

Leo stopped him, "Wait, you've been coming and leaving here by yourself since you were eleven?"

"My father's always been a bit preoccupied to pay attention to me when he didn't need to discipline me for something. So, like I said before," he shrugged, "I've learned to take care of myself."

A/N: So, we now have the conclusion of the retelling of the Order of the Phoenix. I have to admit I didn't make as many changes as I expected to. I really wanted to kill Bellatrix off but realized that she was too important of a character to do that. I'm going to stop this fiction at the end of the Half-Blood Prince. I'll start the Deathly Hallows in a sequel and continue with the aftermath.