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 Twenty-Seven – Bloody, Broken and Battered

Leo didn't know what was going on with his twin connection to Draco. He was noticing, Draco's emotions influencing him more and more. He figured it probably didn't help that Draco was so emotionally confused and out of it, he could no longer control his emotions. Leo would start feeling tears form in his eyes out of nowhere. He could feel his brother on the verge of breaking. He was a mess of anger, fear, and overwhelming sadness. Leo had to learn how to quickly block the connection during Quidditch Practices or he would've done something stupid. They were happy that Katie was back from St. Mungo's, Ron was out of the hospital, and McLaggen was gone. They were all preparing for their final game against Ravenclaw. They still had a chance to win the Quidditch Cup.

Leo was sitting at dinner and noticed that Harry had yet to show up. He was eating his mashed potatoes when his body flashed with a horrible pain. He started to shutter and shake, he felt sick, as sweat beaded up on his face. Hermione took one look at him, "Leo, are you okay?"

He shook his head and gasped, "I think something terrible has happened to Draco." He managed to look over at the professor's table and noticed that Snape wasn't present. Perhaps he was keeping an eye on Draco or busy making sure the cabinet remained unfixed.

Hermione stood up, "Come on, let's get you to the Hospital Wing."

Leo nodded as fear gripped his heart. Something horrible had happened to Draco, and it felt like he was dying. He continued to shake, as they made their way to the Hospital Wing, but something was happening that made him feel a bit stronger. They had made it to the wing when Draco was being led there by Snape. Snape looked at the condition of Draco and at Leo. He raised an eyebrow.

Hermione explained, "He just had some attack at dinner."

Snape sneered, "He's just been attacked by a nasty curse. Madam Pomfrey, please help him to a bed. I've reversed the effects of the curse but he needs some rest, a blood replenishing potion, and to take some dittany to prevent permanent scarring. I have to go back to deal with the perpetrator."

Hermione helped Leo to a bed right next to Draco's and left the room. Leo looked over at Draco as Pomfrey gave him two potions. Leo could feel himself getting better after Draco drank the potions. He muttered, "He must've been hit with one hell of a curse."

Draco closed his eyes, "Yeah by Potter, but what are you doing here?"

Leo stared up at the ceiling, "Well, first I had a horrible pain in my chest. Then I felt cold and started to shake. On my way up here I started feeling better. Of course, I've been having these weird mood swings recently. Like when I punched the wall after the Hufflepuff Quidditch game. Well, that could've had something to do with McLaggen's stupidity, and that slag Pansy not understanding that I wasn't interested in her. I mean really! She should just stay with her new boy toy instead of trying to hang all over me because she saw me as some substitute for you."

"Pansy was hitting on you?" Draco gasped.

"Face it Draco, you're not giving her the attention she desires. Plus your family has lost some prestige with your father in Azkaban, and you're not even one of Slughorn's favorites. You've got dark circles under your eyes, you've lost quite a bit of weight, and your skin has a gray undertone to it. You look very sickly, you fly into a rage whenever you see Harry, and you spend a great deal of time crying to Moaning Myrtle in the boys' bathroom."

"You have no idea what's going on," Draco mumbled.

"You underestimated him in the bathroom, didn't you? You got angry and tried what an Unforgivable on him? He shot back with a Half-Blood Prince curse that he didn't know what it did. I saw the blood on your shirt, so whatever it was caused you to lose quite a bit of blood. You probably thought you were going to die. What were you thinking before Professor Snape came to your rescue?"

"It doesn't matter what I was thinking. My life was flashing through my eyes, but he came and stopped the bleeding. I'm here and still alive for the moment," his voice quivered.

Leo could feel the tears building in his eyes. Draco was trying to control his emotions, but he was so broken down, he no longer could control them. Leo sniffled, "I'm experiencing one of those mood swings right now. For some reason I feel the overwhelming need to cry." He cleared his throat, "Well, I'm sure if my mother's life was being threatened I'd be a bit of an emotional wreck."

"You don't have any idea how you'd feel. You're mother's life isn't in danger, now is it?" Draco rolled over so his back was facing Leo.

"Well, Narcissa's life is in danger, so I think I'd know what it feels like," Leo closed his eyes.

Leo wasn't sure how it happened, but he stood in a room full of masked Death Eaters. He looked down and saw a kneeling Draco before the snake faced Dark Lord. He couldn't hear what was being said from the beating of his own heart against his eardrums. It took him a moment to realize he was in one of Draco's dreams or memories. Soon Draco raised his left hand and the Dark Lord raise is wand marking the forearm. The branding burned and hurt like a superheated ice pick was etching the mark into his skin. Leo closed his eyes and put his head between his knees, as the pain overwhelmed him. The pain seemed to go on for an eternity. He felt the sweat beads forming on his forehead and threatening to spill down. He wanted to scream and cry because of the pain, but something told him it was a test. To show weakness like tears or to cry in pain would only lead to more pain and possibly even death. This was the initiation into the inner circle of the Death Eaters.

Leo gasped, as his eyes burst open. He went to sit up but realized he had something in his hand. He looked over and noticed that Draco had stirred as well, and it was his left hand he had in Leo's right. He quickly dropped it and his left forearm still burned. The pain wasn't as blinding as it had been in the dream but it still felt hot. He looked down at his arm in the early morning light, which was spilling in from the windows. He felt his stomach knot, as he stared at a newly burned Dark Mark. "Crap, how did this happen?"

"What are you complaining about now?" Draco's cold drawl penetrated the silent room.

Leo glared, "Apparently, it's contagious." He held up his left arm, so Draco could see it.

Draco jumped out of bed and demanded, "How did you get that?"

Leo raised an eyebrow, "Do you still have yours?"

Draco turned white, "I don't know what you're talking about."

Leo gritted his teeth, "I shared that stupid dream of yours. We were holding hands and thus our spiritual energy was connected. For some reason our twin connection acted as a conduit, and I managed to catch the Dark Mark from you."

Draco muttered, "Twin connection."

Leo glared, "I felt the pain of getting marked in that dream. I felt all of the emotions you were feeling that day. How could you serve someone who causes that much pain just to become a member? I'm sure he's a sadist and enjoyed watching you trying to contain the pain, so you didn't give away how much it actually hurt."

Draco sighed, "I don't have a choice. I have to serve him or he'll kill me. He'll kill my whole family."

Leo grimaced, "Well, he wouldn't kill me because he doesn't know about me." He turned on his right side to face Draco, "So, do you still have your mark?"

Draco rolled up his left sleeve and the black mark was still there, "Seems so."

Leo murmured, "Damn, I guess I'll have it as long as that man still lives."

Draco's gray eyes glistened as he stared at Leo, "So, you're really my twin brother?"

Leo nodded, "Yeah, I'm your younger twin brother, Leo Abraxas Malfoy. I was named after our grandfather like you were named after father. Our first names are both constellations following the Black family tradition. We are a melding between Black and Malfoy in both blood and custom."

Draco mumbled as he closed his eyes, "So, that's why you know so much about my family. You're a part of it. You're the brother I've always wished for, or perhaps somehow knew existed."

Leo yawned, "That's the twin connection for you. You could sense that I was out there even though you never knew me or about me."

A cold feminine voice awoke Leo from his pleasant dream, "What's going on here?"

Leo opened his eyes to find that he and Draco were facing each other, and were holding one another's hand. Leo tried to break the hold but Draco squeezed tighter. Leo looked toward the foot of the bed, where the white-blonde Narcissa Malfoy stood with her hands on her hips. He looked around and noticed Dumbledore was in the room as well. "Professor, he won't let go. Can you please send a message to Dora and have her and Dromeda come here. I think it's time Mother and Draco both knew the truth."

Two Phoenix corporeal Patronuses flew from his wand and through the walls of the castle. Narcissa seemed to pale as she looked from Leo to Draco, "Did you just refer to me as Mother?"

"Yes, but a full explanation is in order and we can't do that without my aunt and cousin," Leo once again tried to pull his hand away from Draco but the other boy just wouldn't let go. "He's holding onto me, as if his life depended on it. It's like he's afraid I'll disappear if he lets go."

Narcissa walked over to the side of Draco's bed and shook his shoulder, "Draco Darling, It's time to wake up. You need to let go of Leo's hand."

Draco's eyes popped open and he dropped Leo's hand as if it were burning him. He sat up and demanded, "What were you doing holding my hand?"

Leo smirked, "I don't know, but you're the one that wouldn't let go when I tried to break the connection."

Draco's eyes narrowed, "Why would I do that?"

Leo shrugged, "You probably felt whole for the first time in your life."

He crossed his arms, "Why would holding your hand make me feel whole?"

Leo ignored the question and rubbed his temples hoping Dora and Dromeda would arrive shortly, and as if he'd summoned them at that exact moment, the two walked through the door. Dora had the same mousy brown hair, "Dumbledore, you said it was important that we arrive?"

Dromeda took one look at Narcissa and the two boys lying in hospital beds next to each other and gasped, "Leo, what happened?"

Narcissa stared at her older sister in shock, "Andromeda, you know this boy?"

Dromeda rolled her dark brown eyes, "Yes Cissy, apparently it's time for you to know the truth."

Narcissa gasped, "They're both mine."

Dora approached, "Yes, you had twins almost seventeen years ago, but Leo had a week constitution. It was during the height of the first Wizarding War and Lucius was afraid of what the Dark Lord would think if he found out that you two had a sickly son. So, he attempted to kill him and wipe any trace of Leo's existence away. He felt you two only needed one son and heir. We didn't allow him to and wiped his memory of Leo's existence instead. We told you what happened and you begged us to wipe your memory as well. You couldn't stand the idea of knowing the truth. We stashed Leo with a loving family. He grew up knowing about you and why he was raised separately."

Narcissa pulled her niece into a hug, "But you were only seven. A seven year old shouldn't have witnessed something as horrible as that."

Dora shook her head, "It made me want to become an Auror, so I could stop evil men like Lucius."

Narcissa turned to Leo, "On the train last summer, you really were going to reverse those jinxes, curses, and hexes, weren't you? Did Draco actually try to attack Harry and people defended him?"

Leo nodded, "Draco has always idealized his father. When Lucius ended up in Azkaban, Draco was filled with anger and a bunch of other emotions. He didn't know how to deal, so his defense mechanism was to blame another person. He blamed Harry. Draco wanted to make Harry hurt as much as he felt inside, but he's a coward and wouldn't ever try to fight Harry fairly one on one. Well, I guess except for last night, but then again Draco was alone in the bathroom, and Harry had found him crying."

"I don't think I can do what is expected of me. I'm too weak, mother. I'm worthless, and everyone's going to die because of me," He stood and pulled his mother into a hug.

"Draco, you don't have to do anything anymore. You're going somewhere safe after our birthday. You'll be safe and I'll take your place. I'll make sure our mother and father are safe. I'll do whatever I have to in order to insure our family's survival. However, I will not help the Dark Lord win. I've already chosen my allegiances, and none of them are to that evil man."

Narcissa gasped, "But what if he finds out?"

Leo smiled, "We're all talented with Occlumency and there's no reason for him to try to read Dora's mind. He won't ever know that I'm not Draco. If you're too worried, we can always wipe your memory until after the end of the war."

Narcissa shook her head, "No, I don't want to forget about you again. I can keep him out. I'm quite capable of lying to the Dark Lord. I just have to keep an eye on Bella."

"We must do whatever is asked of us. We must seem broken and scared so that the Dark Lord will not expect us to turn at the last possible moment. Just know, if you're in the situation that lying to the Dark Lord will help Harry succeed. You need to lie to him. Also, Draco I'm going to request that you stay where I send you until the very end of the war. You'll know when that time has come. I've been dream walking and checking up on you in my spiritual form for years. Our connection is that strong. You should be able to find out what's going on when you're asleep."

Draco's eyes widened, "You've been visiting me for years?"

"There's more to us than a twin connection. We're each a half of the same soul and that's why we have the same magical aura. That's also the reason why I was contaminated with your mark last night."

Draco shuttered, "You shouldn't have said that in front of him," he pointed to Dumbledore.

Leo smiled, "Oh he already knows. I've been spying on you for him since the beginning of the year."

Draco sat down on the bed, "He knows what I've been assigned to do and the two attempts I've made."

Leo pulled him into a hug and whispered, "It doesn't matter Draco. You no longer have that mission. It's mine now. I'm sure in the end; everything will work out the way it's meant to."

Leo sat in the astronomy tower with Draco as the later stared out over the flowering grounds. The two of them grew closer as their seventeenth birthday approached. Leo cleared his throat, "How are you feeling?"

Draco shook his head, "I'm getting better now that I haven't been concentrating on fixing that cabinet. You're sure, you'll complete my mission. I don't want my family dead because I switched places with you."

"You keep on forgetting that they are my family too. I won't allow any harm to come to them. Well, I can't guarantee a little harm might not come to Lucius, but if that happens it's because of his own stupidity. I fear harm has already come to him. Azkaban has a tendency to change people. I don't think he'll ever be the same," Leo shrugged.

"When am I leaving?"

Leo's lips twitched, "As soon as we both pass out Apparition tests the day after our birthday. Also I think you should know something else about me. Since we have the same aura I'm sure whatever I'm able to achieve is possible for you as well." Leo transformed into a Lion and back. "I think you have the potential to become an Animagus as well if you practice."

Draco's eyes widened and his mouth gapped, "You're name is Leo after the lion constellation and your Animagus form is a lion. Does that mean mine will be a Dragon?"

Leo shrugged, "There's one way to find out. Usually one's Patronus is the same as ones Animagus form. Have you ever cast a Patronus before?" Draco shook his head. "The first step is to think of a happy thought. You must hold onto that feeling and say Expecto Patronum." Leo pointed his wand and the Lion appeared from his wand and gated around the room.

Draco closed his eyes on concentrated on something for a moment before pointing his wand like Leo, and he spoke the incantation. "Expecto Patronum." An incorporeal Patronus erupted from his wand before it dissipated.

Leo smiled, "That was great for your first attempt. It takes quite a bit of practice before you can cast a corporeal one."

Draco smiled, "I'll practice. I think for the first time in my life, I have happy things to draw from."

A/N: We do not have that many more chapters left for this fan fiction. I've enjoyed writing it and I have ideas for a sequel, but I'm unsure of its popularity. No one really seems to like this story too much. If I get enough people wanting a sequel then I might consider writing it.