Prologue: Hogwarts Train (Year One)

A tall, gangly teen boy dressed in Ravenclaw robes ducked frantically in and out of various compartments. He was obviously searching for someone or something; a worried expression marked his countenance and quiet mutterings attested to his growing concern. Finally, toward the end of the train he located a familiar face.

"Kaden!" he cried.

"Kody," returned the blonde boy quietly. Unlike his Ravenclaw counterpart, Kaden appeared calm and relaxed. Only a mischievous grin marked him-for the moment-as the Slytherin he was.

"Kaden, have you seen our sister?"

"Am I my sister's keeper?" Kaden retorted. The first-year boys behind him burst into laughter. Kody ignored them.

"Kaden, I'm truly concerned. Its Rachel's first year and-"

"Out of my way, Halfblood!" a sharp voice commanded, and equally sharp little elbows smacked Kody's stomach when he failed to move. A blonde first-year, newly-bedecked in Hogwarts robes, shoved his way into the cabin, followed by two other larger boys. The effect was that this boy appeared to be the leader, while the other two were apathetic followers. Judging from their empty expressions, Kody assumed their appearance was fairly accurate.

Kaden grinned at the younger boy fondly. "Finally figure out how to wear robes properly, Malfoy?"

"Shut it, Kaligras."

Kaden, however, seemed to have no intentions of following the younger boy's orders. "Or what?" he challenged.

"My father will hear about this!"

Kaden's grin grew larger and more taunting until he resembled a shark. "Your father doesn't scare me." A loud throat clearing from the compartment door drew the boy's attention back to Kody, standing awkwardly in the doorway.

"What do you want, Blood Traitor?" Malfoy queried.

Kody ignored him, staring only at Kaden. "You never did answer the question," he responded, as though it was Kaden who had addressed him.

Kaden sighed and then said, "I haven't seen Rachel. I'm sure she's fine though, Kody. Don't worry so much."

"Worry will make your face as ugly as your blood," Malfoy sneered.

Kody glanced at him impassively for a moment before addressing Kaden again. "I will continue searching the train. Thank you for your help." To his credit, only a bit of sarcasm slipped into his voice with the last statement. He turned to leave the compartment but ran into something human.

It was a first-year girl who bounced enthusiastically into the compartment. "Hullo, Kaden! Hullo, Kody! You'll never believe what I've found!" She didn't give them a chance to respond before barreling on. "Look, I've found a toad!" She produced a toad from one of the many folds of her Hogwarts uniform and thrust it forward eagerly. A girl in the compartment shrieked and promptly fainted, while the boys following Malfoy looked ill.

"Rachel, where did you find this toad?" Kody inquired.

"On the floor." Rachel's expression said it should have been obvious, especially to someone as intelligent as her brother.

"I believe this particular toad belongs to someone else."

As if summoned by Kody, a timid male voice said, "Excuse me, have you seen a toad anywhere?"

Rachel spun and held the toad out in her palm. "Is this is?"

"Trevor!" the boy exclaimed happily. "I've been looking all over for you!"

"He's a lovely toad," Rachel told the boy. "Sat quite still in all the time that I was holding him. What's your name?"

"Neville Longbottom."

"Oi! What is this, group meeting in our compartment?" Malfoy commented angrily. "Fattie, you have your toad, now leave. And you, Halfblood" here he spared a glance at Kody, "take your sister and get out now."

Neville turned to leave, but was stopped by a hand on his shoulder. He glanced in confusion at Rachel, but she wasn't looking at him. Rather, she had locked eyes with Draco. "Well, you're certainly an arrogant prat," she stated. "Who died and left you in charge of this compartment?"

"Muggleborn!" At Rachel's sharp intake of breath, Malfoy smirked victoriously. "Were you believing you could claim to be a Pureblood and nobody would know? Kaden told us about you-his muggleborn sister who is a disgrace to his family." Rachel's jaw tightened as Malfoy continued. "At least you're not as bad as Kody. Talk about a disgrace; the adopted Halfblood who believes he can sully our race with his unfaithfulness."

Neville had a brief moment to realize that the hand restraining him was gone before a loud crack echoed through the compartment. Everyone's mouth gaped open in shock as Draco howled and dropped to the ground screaming "My nose!"

Rachel yanked him to his feet and slammed him against a wall. She had pulled a knife from her robes and rested the blade against Malfoy's throat. However, when she spoke her words were surprisingly calm. "Do not ever insult my brother like that again."

Malfoy gargled some imperceptible words. Fear had rendered him incapable of speech for the moment, and it didn't help that his nose was broken and gushing blood into his mouth. He turned his head to spit blood and Rachel applied more pressure to her dagger, drawing a thin ribbon across his pure white skin.

"Rachel, stop," Kody ordered.

Rachel stared at her brother with fire in her eyes. "I should cut out his tongue for what he's said."

"Let him go, Rachel. He's not worth it."

Rachel abruptly dropped Draco-he slumped weakly to the ground-and spun on her heel and stalked out of the cabin. Neville followed in her wake. Kaden pulled Draco up and repaired his broken nose.

"Kaden, a word, please."

Kaden left his friends and followed Kody down an empty corridor. After checking to be sure they were along, Kody said, "What do you think?"

"It went better than expected, overall."

"She broke his nose and nearly cut out his tongue!"

"Yes, well, that's to be expected. Remember whose child she is."

"Hades commissioned us to protect his daughter and the Malfoy boy. Allowing one to break the other's nose is not a part of that!"

"No, we were commissioned because he knew we are strong enough to protect them both. As a Ghost Twin a lot of people-and gods for that matter-want her dead. You're a child of Athena and Zeus, and I'm a child of Aphrodite and Hephaestus. Together, we are strong enough to protect the Ghost Twin and Draco Malfoy."

Kody half-smiled. "Ghost Triplets," he corrected.

"What?!"

"Why do you think Hades suddenly needs another child protected? He protects Thanatos himself, we protect Rachel, but who guards the third?"

Kaden was shaking his head emphatically. "There's not a third child, there never was! I hate to break it to you, son of Athena," he mocked, "but you're wrong!"

Kody frowned thoughtfully. "I suggested to Hades that there be a third child, of course, but I was under the impression he never followed through. Now it appears he did." Kaden opened his mouth to argue again, but Kody continued. "Think, Kaden! A new child shows up needing protection. Rachel nearly kills said child approximately two minutes after meeting him for the first time, with minimal reason. Don't you recall why the gods are so nervous about the Ghost Twins? If they were to unite their fury and turn against the gods, the odds are statistically against Olympus." Kaden looked blank. "Olympus would crumble, Kaden." This Kaden understood.

"Furthermore, add in the fact that I myself suggested to Uncle that he create a child and hide them in the mortal world-where they could hide safely for many years under the gods' very noses-and the idea that by attending Hogwarts Draco's magic will change from mere mortal to, at the very least, powerful half-blood, it makes sense why Hades would need us guarding two people instead of one. Thanatos, Rachel, and Draco-presto! Ghost Triplets!"

Kaden stared at him, face drained of color. "Holy Hephaestus! You're right, of course. Our job just got a whole lot harder."

"Do not breathe a word of this conversation to anyone, not even Rachel. Draco's life will be in grave danger if the gods discover his existence." Kaden agreed. He and Kody clasped hands, then separated and headed back to their respective compartments, content to play the role of grudging enemies forced to live together once again.

…

Meeting Mr. Malfoy (Year Two)

Rachel Kaligras wandered the streets of Diagon Alley, bored. She could hear her brothers calling behind her, both yelling "slow down" but she wasn't about to listen. There, in Flourish and Blotts, Rachel had spotted a head of dark hair behind some tall man with blonde hair. Dark hair typically meant Harry Potter, and wherever Harry was there was also an adventure, which was wonderful news when one was as bored as Rachel.

Without paying attention to her brothers, she promptly barreled into Flourish and Blotts, and shoved the blonde man out of the way. He went flying against a rather large stack of books, and Rachel smiled in relief. Sure enough, the boy he was blocking was Harry, and he was with the Weasleys! "Hullo, Harry!" Rachel exclaimed enthusiastically, throwing her arms around him.

"Rachel," Harry replied, grinning like mad. "Glad to see you."

The blonde man Rachel had rudely shoved out of the way sputtered. "What is the meaning of this?"

"Who's that?" Rachel questioned the Weasley clan. "Looks sort of like Malfoy, the way he's got his hair and all. Have you seen Malfoy yet this year, Fred and George? His hair looks even stupider now, if that's even possible."

"Hey!" Rachel turned to see Draco Malfoy was staring at her with an indignant expression on his pinched face.

"Oh, here you are! I was just talking about you! So then I assume this man is your father. Pardon me, sir, but I was quite sure I had seen Harry and I wanted to say hello."

"Yes, I know you." Malfoy Senior glared at Rachel. "Draco's told me all about you."

"Ah, then you've probably heard nothing worth repeating. He and I are-well, we're not friends," Rachel said diplomatically.

"That's because I'd never lower myself to be friends with a filthy little mudblood like you." Draco spat.

The entirety of Flourish and Blotts got dead silent as they waited to see what would happen. "What did you just call me? Say it again, I dare you."

Draco's face twisted into a sneer, and he moved forward so he was directly in Rachel's face. "Filthy little Mudblood," he said enunciating each word clearly.

Rachel held her palm up in the bit of space between her and Malfoy, and licked her own hand. Then, with no further warning, she leaned forward and planted it on his cheek. "You've got mud on your face, you big disgrace" Rachel sang cheerfully.

"RACHEL LYDIA KALIGRAS!" In the silence following Rachel's song, Kody's voice was abnormally loud. He and Kaden had been standing outside Flourish and Blotts, but when they saw their sister lick her hand they automatically knew something bad was going to happen and entered the store. "What is the meaning of this?"

"Malfoy called me a Mudblood," Rachel reported.

"She knocked over my father and called my hair stupid!" Draco defended.

"You knocked over Mr. Malfoy? Did you apologize?"

"Yes."

"Good. Malfoy, you should apologize as well."

"I will not. You're a blood traitor, you don't have any power over me," Draco taunted.

Kody turned to Mr. Malfoy. "Control your son," he muttered, eyes flashing. Then he turned to his sister. "I want you outside. Now."

"Oh, no, let her stay." Kaden argued. "I want to see what else she could do. I mean, the bookstore's still standing, why don't we burn it down before leaving?"

"Kaden, Rachel, outside, now!" Kody pinched the bridge of his nose. "Sorry for interrupting your day, everyone," he called to the shop in general before leaving.

The Weasleys left behind him, and instantly Fred and George were at Rachel tugging her arms. "Come with us," they both said, leading her away.

Before Kody could argue, his hair was grabbed roughly and he was dragged into an alleyway. Fortunately for his abductor, the alley was dark, and Kody was shoved down it far enough that no one could walk by and happen upon him by accident.

"What are you doing here," a low voice snarled in his ear. "Have you come to take my son? You may not have him! I'm not ready to give him up yet!"

"What would I want with your whelp of a son, Malfoy?" Kody responded.

There was a pregnant pause for just an instant, but it was long enough for Kody to know he had correctly identified his attacker. "You know what you would want with him. You may not have him, not yet," Mr. Malfoy responded.

"I'm here for his protection at the moment."

"How soon until you take him?"

"That's not my call. That decision is made by someone with a lot more authority than I have."

"I mean it, Kaligras. If you take my son before I am ready I'll-"

"You'll what?" Kody challenged. "There is nothing you can do against the power of his father. Anyway, like I said, I'm not the one who makes that decision. When his father commands it, your son will be taken, and not a moment before."

"I'm not ready to lose him, not yet." Mr. Malfoy releases Kody's hair, and steps into the sunlight. He turns for just a moment, and Kody can see the emotion on his face which the proud man won't admit to. Love. Malfoy loves his son, and he would be heartbroken if Draco were taken from him. Then Malfoy disappears, and Kody sets off to find his siblings.

…