The Potter Twins and the Innocent Ex-Convict

Chapter One: Another Crazy Year

"You know… If we don't finish this, we're dead." Harry held up his half-finished Potions essay, which had many ink marks and crossed out words on it from when Melanie had edited it.

"Yeah, but if we get caught, we're worse than dead," she whispered back. The two of them were crouched under a blanket on their bed, which was being held up by heads and arms. The only source of light was an almost heatless flame that was hovering by Melanie's ear.

It seemed to her that arguing that maybe they should work on it some other time (even if 'another time' meant 'another night') was useless. Her brother seemed determined to finish it, though she didn't know why he was so eager to do summer work.

She examined Harry's essay. "You'll have to re-write that, by the way."

Harry rolled his eyes. "I know. Anyways, why was witch burning pointless?"

"Did you even read the book?"

"No," lied Harry. He actually wanted to see if Melanie knew something that they learned during the school year, when she was petrified.

"Uh, something about a Flame-Freezing Charm. Though," she said with a smirk, "I wouldn't need that."

"Right." How does she know that? Harry was aware that Melanie knew more than she should, but Harry still wasn't sure how and to what extent.

Having their books and homework locked in the cupboard under the stairs had been a problem until Melanie managed to melt the lock temporarily so they could grab their stuff. The two of them managed to grab one of each book, some ink, some quills, and some parchment, all of which they'd hid under a loose floorboard in their room.

Being caught meant something worse than the detention or two they would serve for not having their homework done.

For one, Harry wasn't one hundred percent sure that their relatives would drive them to King's Cross Station (though if he needed to get on his broom and under the Invisibility Cloak, no problem). The Dursleys were in a bad mood with him and Melanie, as always, but their mood was worsened with Ron calling their house.

Apparently, wizards didn't realize that they didn't need to YELL into phones.

Ron, however, did realize that he got Harry and Melanie into trouble. He didn't call again, and probably told Hermione not to call either. Adding to that, the only two people Harry and Melanie got letters from were Ron and Draco, and sparingly at that.

With Ron, it was because their family owl, Errol, was old and slow. As well, because he was a family owl, Ron could only use him every once in a while.

With Draco, it was because if his father were to find the letters… it wouldn't be good. The older Malfoy was very irked with Harry (something to do with Dobby, but shouldn't he have gotten over that by now?). Because of that, Draco had to sneak the letters he sent to Harry and Melanie with a letter he sent to Blaise or Theodore, and not even every time at that.

But between getting detentions at Hogwarts and losing their main connection to the magical world through the summer, the possibility of getting caught was worth it to Harry. Practically cut off from their other world, he resorted to doing summer work and dragging Melanie into it with him.

Homework.

At least Hedwig's allowed out of her cage, Harry thought bitterly, remembering how the cage door had been padlocked last summer.

This summer was about the same as the last one in levels of horribleness. Hedwig and Ash were allowed out of their cages, but the Dursleys knew that they weren't allowed to do magic. Hedwig was allowed to fly, but still not allowed to bring letters to or from others. Ash had been condemned to their room when he 'accidentally' ruined all the flowers.

Harry sighed, wiping at an ink spot on his parchment.

"Oh," whispered Melanie. "It's one o' clock."

"Happy birthday," replied Harry.

"Happy birthday."

The two of them came out from under the blanket and leaned against the window sill. Harry could feel the wind tickling his cheek and brushing his hair away from his forehead.

Subconsciously, his fingers brushed against the scar on his arm where the basilisk fang had punctured the skin and nearly killed him. Below it, on the wrist, was the silver bracelet with the moonstone, which buzzed as a breeze brushed against it. He saw Melanie narrow her eyes at where his scar would be and raised an eyebrow.

Does she know about that?

His thought was interrupted as he saw a silhouette of something against the moon. Harry almost dived for his wand before he realized that it was three owls holding something, not a beastly creature.

They landed on the bed, and the oldest one, Errol, collapsed into a feathery pile. Quickly, Harry untied the parcel attached to the owls while Melanie handed them a bowl of water.

There was an envelope, which contained two pieces of paper: a letter and a newspaper clipping.

Harry grinned at the newspaper clipping, thinking of no family that deserved the vacation more than the Weasleys.

Inside the actual parcel were two objects: one was a Sneakascope, for Harry, and the other was a small pocketbook of runes, for Melanie.

Melanie thumbed through a few pages. "Awesome!"

The parcel that Hedwig had brought was from Hermione. After reading the letter, they opened the package. Inside was a Broomstick care kit for Harry, and an advanced Potions book for Melanie, who abandoned the book of runes to look at the various potions.

Finally was Hagrid's package, which quivered and moved.

"Uh oh," said Melanie as the package flopped onto the ground. Cautiously, she opened tore the paper off to reveal two…

Books? Oh no… Between the two of them, they managed to chase and secure the two books. When Melanie's hand 'accidentally' brushed against the spine and it fell still, Harry did the same to his. He still tied it up with an old belt like he'd been originally planning. Just in case.

~.~.~.~.~

The next morning, Harry got the worst news that he could get (other than Hogwarts burning down).

"Aunt Marge? She – she's not coming here, is she?" He turned to look at Melanie, who had a face full of disgust, but not surprise.

Thanks for the warning, he thought sarcastically, shooting her a glare.

"Marge'll be here for a week, and while we're on the subject, we need to get a few things straight before I go and collect her," said Uncle Vernon angrily.

Beside Harry, Melanie sighed quietly. They both hated Aunt Marge, who seemed to think that they were the banes of her existence. Dudley turned away from the television to watch Uncle Vernon yell at Harry and Melanie, which was much more entertaining than whatever mind-numbing show he was watching (in Dudley's opinion).

"First, you'll keep a civil tongue in your head when you're talking to Marge."

Melanie snorted, and Harry snapped, "All right, if she does when she's talking to me."

"Second, as Marge doesn't know anything about your abnormality, I don't want any – any funny stuff while she's here. You behave yourselves, got me?"

"I will if she does." What I wouldn't pay to see Melanie set her on fire…

"And thirdly, we've told Marge that you attend St. Brutus's SecureCenter for Incurably Criminal Boys," he said to Harry. "And you," he turned to Melanie, "attend St. Agnes's SecureCenter for Incurably Criminal Girls."

"What?" Harry jumped up, furious.

"And you'll both be sticking to that story, or there'll be trouble." And that was that.

Harry fumed silently while Uncle Vernon stood up to leave.

Center for Incurably Criminal Boys? Shouldn't Dudley be going to that school? Harry scowled. His mood was slightly brightened when Melanie went to join said budding criminal on the sofa, making Dudley squish himself against the far side.

Suddenly, Harry had an idea. Maybe I could use this…

"I'm not taking you," Uncle Vernon snarled. Harry nearly laughed out loud, but stopped himself.

"Like I wanted to come. I want to ask you something…"

~.~.~.~.~

Harry sighed. What had he gotten himself into? Still, it would be worth it if they got their Hogsmeade forms signed.

"Do something about your hair!" Aunt Petunia snapped at him. Harry wearily placed a hand over his hair and tried to flatten it. If Aunt Petunia really expected Harry's hair to cooperate, she was sadly mistaken.

"Get the door!" With a very loud sigh, Harry pasted a fake smile on his face and opened the door.

"Where's my Dudders? Where's my neffy poo?" Aunt Marge yelled. Beside him, Harry could see the Melanie had collapsed against the wall, nearly doubled over in laughter. Aunt Marge threw her suitcase at Harry, who managed to catch it with his stomach.

The two Potters managed to escape, carrying the heavy suitcase up to the spare bedroom.

"Neffy poo?" said Melanie in a voice that sounded like Aunt Marge's. Harry and her both starting laughing, muffling the sound with their hands. When they were both calm enough, they walked down the stairs.

"-poor old Ripper. He pines if he's away from me."

I'd pine if I were with you.

Harry winced when Ripper growled, alerting everybody else in the room of his arrival. Aunt Marge's head snapped towards him and Melanie.

"So! Still here, are you?"

"Yep," said Harry and Melanie together, exchanging a small smile.

"Don't you say 'yep' in that ungrateful tone!" Harry tuned out as Aunt Marge went into a rant about why he should be grateful. When she finished talking, Harry gave a small, forced smile as though he understood what she was talking about, which only made her go into another rant.

Harry jumped as he realized that Aunt Marge was looking expectantly at him. Did she ask a question?

"Er-" Behind her, Uncle Vernon nodded. "Yes."

That seemed to be a sufficient answer for Aunt Marge, who started talking again.

Eventually, they managed to escape Aunt Marge's presence and went back to their room to have a good laugh about the whole thing.

~.~.~.~.~

Really, she deserves this, Melanie thought as she calmly watched Aunt Marge inflate like a balloon. She lifted into the air, only stopping once she hit the ceiling. An invisible current battered her around, into all four walls like a game of pinball.

Melanie followed Harry as he stood up and headed towards the cupboard under the stairs. The door of the cupboard swung open magically, and the two of them reached in for their belongings. Within a minute, they were both packed and ready to go.

"COME BACK IN HERE!" yelled Uncle Vernon. "COME BACK AND PUT HER RIGHT!"

Harry brought his wand out of his trunk and pointed it straight at Uncle Vernon. To add to the effect, Melanie set a nearby napkin on fire.

"She deserved it. She deserved what she got. You keep away from me." Melanie opened the door for him and the two of them retreated into the quiet street. "I'm going. I've had enough."

Harry and Melanie walked in silence, heading as far away from their 'home' as they could without getting lost. Eventually, they had to stop because their hastily packed trunks opened and everything spilled out. Ash let out a pitiful mew from his cage, which Melanie lowered to the ground. She took him out and he immediately went to jump onto her head.

"Where to now?"

Harry shrugged, starting to look panicked.

I guess we could signal for the Knight Bus again, but with two of us it'd be kind of obvious who we were. But if we just wait here for the Ministry of Magic, they'll make us go back to Privet Drive. Yeah, we should signal the Knight Bus. But…

She had to wait for Harry to do it.

"Harry, you don't need to panic," said Melanie once they had repacked everything into their trunks, more organized this time.

"I'm not panicking," he protested. Melanie raised an eyebrow, and he admitted sheepishly, "Maybe just a little bit."

They stood there for a while longer before Harry looked around, eyes fixed on a shadowy figure. "There's something here."

Melanie followed his gaze, although she knew exactly where the 'something' was. Her eyes landed on the outline of some large creature with gleaming eyes. Sirius Black. Quickly, she stepped in front of Harry to protect him.

"Don't touch my brother," she growled under her breath, one hand keeping Ash balanced on her head and the other stretched in front of her.

There was a deafeningly loud BANG, and Melanie turned just in time to see Harry narrowly avoid being turned into a human pancake.

"Your luck, dear brother, is horrible."

"Yeah, well-" Harry's response was cut off as the conductor of the bus, Stan Shunpike, stepped out of the door.

"Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard. Just stick out your wand hand, step on board, and we can taken you anywhere you want to go. My name is Stan Shunpike and I will be your conductor this evening." When Harry didn't respond, still looking into the darkness for the mysterious creature, Stan asked, "'Choo lookin' at?"

"There was a big black-"

"Nothing," interrupted Melanie. She stepped on Harry's foot and pointed at her forehead. Nodding, he flattened his black hair over his scar before Stan could see it.

"Woss your name?" asked Stan.

"…Neville Longbottom."

"Lavender Brown." And he doesn't even question our different last names… Melanie shook her head, slightly exasperated.

"So, this bus," said Harry, "did you say it goes anywhere?"

"Yep, anywhere you like, 'long it's on land. Can't do nuffink underwater." He narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "Ere, you did flag us down, dincha? Stuck out your wand and dincha?"

"Yes," Harry said quickly. "Listen, how much would it be to get to London?"

From her trunk, Melanie extracted her money bag, toppling over a pile of books. I'll have to organize those again. Sighing in exasperation, she handed the appropriate amount of money to Harry, who gave it to Stan.

Between the three of them, they managed to load the two trunks onto the bus with Hedwig's and Ash's cages balanced precariously on top of the trunks.

"You 'ave this one," whispered Stan, not wanting to wake up any of the other passengers. "This is our driver, Ernie Prang. This is Neville Longbottom and Lavender Brown, Ern." When both of them were seated on the bed, Stan said, "Take 'er away, Ern."

Knowing just how fast the Knight Bus went, Melanie gripped onto a nearby pole to prevent herself from being thrown backwards. She laughed as Harry picked himself off the ground and grabbed the same pole. Ash, on the other hand, jumped down from her head and stumbled around before crawling back into his cage.

Sirius Black and Dementors this year… Oh, joy. Melanie scowled to herself. Can't we ever just have a normal year? Honestly, with Harry's luck, I wouldn't be surprised if somebody dies this year.

She sat there, re-watching what would be happening at the beginning of this year up until Christmas (the worst time to find out your parents died because their best friend betrayed them).

Maybe I'll find something about Professor Snape this year. Melanie felt slightly frustrated that the mysterious Potions professor was still that; a mystery.

Her memory watching was disturbed as Harry exclaimed, "That man! He was on the Muggle news!"

"Sirius Black," said Stan. "'Course 'e was on the Muggle news, Neville. Where you been?" He chuckled again and handed the paper to Harry/Neville. "You oughta read the papers more, Neville."

Melanie, curious as to what the paper said, read as well.

BLACK STILL AT LARGE

Sirius Black, possibly the most infamous prisoner ever to be held in Azkaban fortress, (Where they sent Hagrid last year, Melanie remembered) is still eluding capture, (That's a bit pathetic of the Ministry. Honestly, this is who we rely on for our problems?) the Ministry of Magic confirmed today.
"We are doing all we can to recapture Black," said the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, this morning, (Sure you are…) "and we beg the magical community to remain calm." ('Stay calm everybody! There's only a MURDERER on the loose.')
Fudge has been criticized by some members of the International Federation of Warlocks for informing the Muggle Prime Minister of the crisis. (Well, Sirius Black is a danger to them too.)
"Well, really, I had to, don't you know," said an irritable Fudge. "Black is mad. He's a danger to anyone who crosses him, magic or Muggle. I have the Prime Minister's assurance that he will not breathe a word of Black's true identity to anyone. And let's face it – who'd believe him if he did?"
While Muggles have been told that Black is carrying a gun (a kind of metal wand that Muggles use to kill each other) (A type of 'metal wand?' Really?) the magical community lives in fear of a massacre like that of twelve years ago, when Black murdered thirteen people with a single curse.

"Scary-lookin' fing, inee?"

"He murdered thirteen people with one curse?" Harry sounded horrified.

"Yep," said Stan, "in front of witnesses an' all. Broad daylight. Big trouble it caused, dinnit, Ern?"

"Ar," replied Ern.

"Black woz a big supporter of You-Know-'Oo," said Stan.

"What, Vold – Ow!" Melanie glared at Harry, who was rubbing his arm where she had pinched him. Thankfully, neither Stan or Ernie seemed to realize that Harry was about to say Voldemort.

"A supporter of You-Know-Who?" asked Melanie, drawing the attention away from her brother.

"Yeah," said Stan. "Yeah, that's right. Very close to You-Know-'Oo, they say...anyway, when little 'Arry Potter got the better of You-Know-'Oo, all You-Know-'Oo's supporters was tracked down, wasn't they, Ern? Most of 'em knew it was all over, wiv You-Know-'Oo gone, and they came quiet. But not Sirius Black. I 'eard he thought 'e'd be second-in-command once You-Know-'Oo 'ad taken over. Anyway, they cornered Black in the middle of a street full of Muggles an' Black took out 'is wand and 'e blasted 'alf the street apart, an' a wizard got it, an' so did a dozen Muggles what got in the way. 'Orrible, eh? An' you know what Black did then?"

"What'd he do?" asked Harry in a low voice.

"Laughed." Harry's eyes popped with disbelief while Melanie scowled. "Jus' stood there an' laughed."

Here, Melanie tuned out again. She spent the rest of the bus ride looking out the window to make sure that Sirius Black wasn't running outside, waiting for Harry to get off the bus. Silently, Melanie promised to herself that she would make sure that Sirius wouldn't get to Harry.

The bus skidded to a stop, and it was Harry's turn to laugh as Melanie went flying out of her seat and crashed, face first, into the aisle.

"Thanks," said Harry.

"Thanks," said Melanie, much more sarcastically.

When they got their trunks out of the bus, Melanie felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked at Harry to see one on his shoulder too.

Oh, great.

I'm not J.K. Rowling (I AM NOT WORTHY) and I never will be so can this please just count for the whole story?

Chapter one. Yay, third year! :D

Okay, this is probably going to have less from the actual books than the last two, just because a lot of it was Draco vs. Harry, and they're friends here. I'm hoping to have some Harry POVs here, unlike the last one. So in this one, I'll try to make the POVs even from all four characters.

So, I survived a week without internet.

Anyways, thanks to ALL my readers from The Mysterious Sibling and The Not-so-Secret Chamber. Specials thanks to reviewers, followers, and favouriters! :D

I'll probably update once a week, and I'll try to make longer chapters if I can.

~ScaleneGalleons~