Chapter 2: Tale of Two Brothers

Matthias exited his room and flipped over the wooden plate hanging over his bedroom door from 'Knock before you enter' to 'Do not attempt to enter' before continuing on his way downstairs. The sign served no actual purpose but Matthias enjoyed having his new bedroom mirror the way how his old one, the one he had back when his mother was still alive, looked like.

He smiled somberly at the memories it brought back as he passed by Johann's door, which was colored black as opposed to the white colored ones; so much so, that made it stood out from the rest and clashed with the Glidden water chestnut colored walls.

Matthias isn't really sure why Johann insisted that his door be black, but the former supposed the older just wanted to be different; as he always does. Johann practically made 'being different' a brand of his own at this point.

Upon reaching the balcony overlooking the lobby, Matthias glanced at the window overhead and wondered if it was that, that made the loud shattering noise earlier. He had no good explanation for it, but he supposed someone tried to break it with a shoe or something. No one in their right minds would deliberately destroy private property. But Matthias wouldn't be surprised if say… a Muggle who had a motive behind breaking others property, broke through their window.

Matthias wasn't here when Ollie was discovered, but he understood the Muggle's intentions of wanting to prove her existence. He would do the same too if he never found out about his secret magical parentage four years ago. Although he'd probably do it less conspicuously, and not break someone's window.

Speaking of dealing with the problem, wasn't Johann supposed to take care of that Muggle by now?

Matthias proceeded to step down the curving, carpeted staircase. He fired out a quick greeting to Tweek, yet another of their house-elves aside from Pliers and Gilly, as he cleaned the small reading area holed up in the wall left of the stairwell.

Tweek paused his dusting and curtly nodded at Matthias as the latter skipped the last two steps and darted for the lounge where Johann and Rhaegis were enjoying each other's company.

"G'morning brother dearest," Matthias playfully sang as he grabbed the entire tray of cookies Gilly made from Pliers, and kicked his brother's outstretched legs off the table to pass through.

Johann rolled his eyes and placed his feet back on the table before saying, "Morning. You got mail."

Matthias looked over to the pile of opened stationary at the lamp desk to his right and rolled his eyes, amused. "Couldn't you at least have waited for me before you decided to read through them?"

Johann shrugged and raised his wand to gather the ripped remains in midair and form small origami like birds from them. "I got bored."

He guided the paper birds to flock around Rhaegis, who was now nestled near Matthias and nibbling on a cookie, and snapped her jagged snout irritably at the birds that dare disturbed her peace.

Johann snickered and continued annoying the wyvern until he got her to follow after the jinxed birds around the room. "And besides," he continued, "you got nothing to hide in those letters. Is it really that bad if I read through them?"

"It's called giving me privacy."

"Do you even know who you're talking to?"

Matthias rolled his eyes again, finding it almost comical that he found this behavior typical from his brother. He wasn't even angry at the lack of secrecy between them. It's like Johann, in his own different way, is saying that he has completely accepted Matthias as his younger half-brother. And considering the lengths they went through to get to this level of mutual trust, it was all worth it to lose some semblance of privacy.

When Matthias first met Johann, he could easily tell that the older Braun held nothing but pure and utter disgust for him. Both Johann and his mother Emilia shared most of their ideologies with most prejudiced pure-blood families. They found Muggles and Muggle-borns as filth and a disgrace to the wizarding community. They especially loathed them. They hardly even regarded Matthias as a person existing in their house when he first arrived.

Matthias didn't really understand this magical racism thing at first, but once he put it in a context he can understand, it was fairly easy to see where they were coming from.

That didn't mean it hurt any less to be discriminated by his supposed new family at that time.

Over the following days after he moved in, Johann practically released any pent up anger he had over his father's unfaithfulness towards his mother at Matthias. He was cold, bossy, and relentless in treating him like just another house-elf he can kick around. He hardly even treated him like a decent human being. And never once has he called Matthias by his name. It was just 'half-blood' over and over.

Matthias tried to endure the abuse to get Johann to like him. He wanted his new brother to like him, so he remained unyielding. But Johann had other plans to break his stubbornness.

He started tripping him in the halls and practicing self-made jinxes on Matthias as though it had no possible life-threatening implications. It never really did reach that point, but it didn't mean Matthias had to like it. He just needed someone to notice, and he knew everyone in the house did.

Stiefmutter Emilia noticed but she purposely kept a blind eye to it just because Johann is her first and only born. The house-elves noticed, but they were all employed by Johann, so unless they wanted to be handed a piece of clothing, they kept their mouths shut. His father noticed, but he didn't act to make it stop; he simply told Johann it was wrong and left it there.

Johann has never been a stickler for rules even back then, but he had a heart still. He decreased his antagonistic streak with Matthias, but the latter could tell that Johann was frustrated about not being able to do much more.

The change in their relationship to what it is now was slow. It first started when Matthias got his letter of admittance to Durmstrang. Johann jokingly said he'd only get himself killed, something their father agreed too – slightly – and suggested they train Matthias to a certain level that will keep him afloat in the new environment.

Johann was less than enthused about it, but Matthias liked the prospect of spending time with his brother and practically begged to be thought how to duel. Sometime along the way, the two of them grew closer. It was still not in the same level of trust or acceptance they had now, but Matthias held a new found respect for Johann, and vice versa.

The biggest change happened during Matthias' rather unfortunate stay in Durmstrang. Halfway through the first semester, Matthias got involved in an accident that prompted his and another student's parent to be called. Hendrik was not available at that time so Johann had to be the one to act as legal guardian. Consequences were laid out before them and Johann had to cunningly use his power as an alumni – even though he really dropped out – to get Matthias out of it.

Once the deal was struck, both with the office and the other student's parents, Johann confronted him about what actually went down and Matthias somehow told him everything that he had desperately tried to bottle up inside. All the pent up frustration, anger, and hatred for this hell forsaken place.

When he finished, the eyes that looked back at him were ones he's never imagined seeing in Johann back then. They were soft and understanding, eyes that pitied him, but showed actual, and genuine, concern.

That was the first time Johann embraced him as his brother and the first time Matthias ever actually felt accepted. He may hate Durmstrang, to a lesser extent now than he did back then, but Matthias is grateful that, that experience allowed him to have this relationship with his half-brother.

"So," Matthias started as he broke away from his thoughts, "since you've read over them, might as well save me the time reading them."

Johann hummed whilst he flicked his wand to dodge Rhaegis' aggressive dive after the origami birds. "There was one from Theodore," he reported. "Said he's sorry again for nth time about getting you in trouble with his father –" Matthias chuckled darkly "– he asked you to get him a souvenir from the World Cup and," Johann slurred, "asked if you'd allow him to take care of Rhaegis while we're out."

Rhaegis then finally caught after the jinxed birds and ripped it to shreds with her teeth and talons without remorse. Johann whistled and applauded the vicious creature. Rhaegis did a flip in the air and brought the piece of paper to Johann's lap as though asking for recognition.

"I'm not sure if that's a good idea considering his dad hates me." Matthias noted. "Anything else?"

"Draco sent a letter with empty threats," Johann added. "The usual."

"How else do you expect him to react after you threatened his owl?" Matthias humored him.

"Not threaten my owl in kind," he drawled as though it was the obvious answer. "I just sent him articles on owl shootings so he can be careful, you know?"

Matthias laughed, knowing full well Johann's intention isn't to inform Malfoy but to antagonize him. He knew both wizards were at odds with the other, but watching it happen before his eyes is rather amusing.

"Oh! One more thing," Johann quipped.

Matthias' eyes grew wide at the familiar stationary Johann raised. His face suddenly felt warm in embarrassment when he realized who it was from.

"This one I'm sure you'd like to read on your ow –" Matthias quickly grabbed the letter off Johann's hand and walked over to the corner of the lounge.

Gutten Morgen, Braun!

These new books you sent are very insightful to read. I didn't know Muggle fashion had so many styles! I can't wait to get my chance to make them. Thank you for getting me that fabric too. They are simply exquisite. Your brother must know a lot of people to have gotten some of these. I had our elves look everywhere for it but they couldn't find any. Truly, I am thankful for you both.

As for the novels… While I appreciate your attempt to get me to read literature we can both appreciate, I'm certain pulled them out of Theodore's recommendations. He mentioned that he's making you read more of what he likes over the break and well, I just didn't peg you for the drama kind and guessed away.

Matthias cursed. He should've followed his instincts and wrote titles he was interested in, instead of what Theodore wants him to read. Why did he even do that? He already found some even ground that he and Daphne can talk about that didn't concern reading – why is he still trying to fake interest in literature?

Oh right.

He wants to impress her by being interested in the same thing she does…

Anywho – I heard from Pansy that it was your birthday last 28th? I'm a little shocked you didn't tell me considering I was once the eye of your affection once and that you'd probably want something from me.

Matthias held unto his dear crumbling heart in both shock and chagrin. Foul Greengrass! Foul! His feelings for her, while not as strong as it was back then when he first laid eyes on her, are still perfectly valid and despite accepting the fact that they might never be an item, he still did not like this new found flirtatious nature of hers that appeared when they began writing to each other.

I attached a package to this letter and dutifully hope it makes it to you in time before you leave for the Cup. I'm sure you'll love it. Happy belated Birthday, Matthias. See you in a few days.

Yours truly,

Daphne Greengrass

Matthias let out a breath he'd been holding on for too long and clutched the letter close to his chest. His heart won't stop pounding – Merlin – why does Daphne have this effect on him? Seriously it's pathetic.

"You alive there, little brother?" Johann suddenly said to bring him back to the present.

Matthias inhaled and nodded. "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. Daphne says thanks for the fabric you got."

"Aw, that sweet girl. She'll make it big in the industry," Johann cooed.

"I hope she does. She also said the letter came with a package?"

"Ah, yeah." Johann snapped his fingers. "It's with Tempest. She wouldn't let go of it earlier so I let her have it."

"You what?!" Matthias stormed straight for Tempest's coop on the garden outside and peeked inside the unlit bird house. He saw the snow owl sitting and kneading her clawed talons on a shriveled knitted scarf, and Matthias paled.

"You stupid bird! Stop destroying it!" Matthias cried as he tried to steal the scarf back from her.

Tempest squawked at him and aggressively fluttered her wings while keeping her claws planted on the scarf, successfully preventing Matthias from retrieving it. She snapped her beak at Matthias' hand and the latter quickly pulled his hand back in horror.

"JOHANN!" – Johann peered out from the windowed door looking exasperated –. "GET YOUR BIRD UNDER CONTROL!"

Johann walked over casually, with Rhaegis following after him, and asked, "What's the problem?"

"Your pet, is being problematic again," Matthias hissed. "And she's using Daphne's gift like its some scratcher. Make her stop."

Johann mouthed an inaudible 'oh' and peeked inside Tempest's coop. She shrieked at him rather fiercely, an unusual sight since she's usually so affectionate towards the older Braun. "Wow, you must've really angered her. She doesn't look like she'll part with that scar – oh hey! That looks really nice."

"Johann!"

"Okay, okay," Johann mouthed. He lowered himself a bit to peek inside Tempest's coop and began talking to her in an attempt to calm her down. It took a couple of minutes before Tempest hopped out of her nest and hobbled unto Johann's outstretched arm. She chirped affectionately at him, urging her feathered head unto his hand.

"Yes, who's a good, smart, and brave girl," Johann cooed. "That's right you are. You're the best owl I can ever wish for." He kept on showering her with praises until Tempest's attention was diverted away from her prize.

Johann nudged his head towards the unprotected nest, and Matthias lowered his head in silent understanding of the gesture.

Slowly but surely, Matthias walked around the pair and reached his hand inside the bird house. Once he felt soft fabric brush his fingers, Matthias pulled and quickly ran for cover behind the glass door of the veranda.

Tempest screeched the moment she saw Matthias dash around Johann and flew over to forcefully retrieve the scarf she claimed as hers from him. Johann could only yell for Matthias to run even though his concern remained contradictory with his laughter.

Rhaegis quickly blocked Tempest's advance and held her head high. She stretched out as wide as she can and released a high pitched roar, commanding the other avian creature to back away.

Tempest shrieked defiantly at the wyvern's display of dominance and made herself appear more dangerous by mimicking the latter's disposition. Unfortunately, due to their size difference, it didn't have the same effect and Tempest was forced to fly around the wyvern instead.

Rhaegis is quick to cut off all her atempts and soon enough the persistence of both creatures morphed into a playful game of tag, and the scarf lay forgotten.

"Never thought I'd see Tempest playing with another creature that isn't me," Johann mumbled as he watched the two animals soar around the field.

"I never thought I'd want a new owl," the younger mumbled as he assessed the loosened fabric in his hands.

"Pardon?" Johann blinked.

Matthias looked up at his brother and sternly declared, "I want a new owl."

Matthias impatiently pinched the bridge of his nose while he waited for Johann to come down from his room. It's been exactly half an hour since Johann agreed to accompany him to Diagon Alley to buy a new owl; and it's been exactly half an hour since he began preparing for it.

Clothing preparations – that is.

Matthias really had no problem with Johann's self-care routines and fashion choices, but just this once, can he not spend an hour getting ready for a quick trip in the shopping district?

In his boredom, Matthias fixated his attention on Daphne's scarf instead. He marveled at its rather intricate color design which starts off as dark blue on one end then slowly turned into a navy blue color, until it became bright blue in color. White knitted fabric separated the blue from the gentle purple that came next until it darkened into black on the other end.

Matthias wouldn't even call it an amateur work and felt his heart flutter just thinking about how much time and effort Daphne put into making this present for him. He pulled the scarf closer to his face and relished at the soft warmth it brought around his cold neck.

His thoughts lingered on Daphne a little too long that he didn't notice Johann finally saunter into the room wearing a brown trench jacket on top of a white tee-shirt and black pants.

"Watching my brother lovestruck is so weird," Johann said to make his presence known.

Matthias blinked and blushed embarrassingly. "I – I'm not lovestruck!" he stammered.

"Right?" Johann rolled his eyes, unconvinced "Doesn't Matthias look like he's in some far away land right now, Pliers?"

Pliers fidgeted nervously beside Johann and nodded slowly. "T-th-they-y-y-young–g-g-essss-sst mas-mas-master has has has indeed been admire-admire-admiring the-ss- the-s the -s –"

"Okay, that's enough." Johann interrupted, once again showing little patience for Pliers' stuttering.

Matthias would've called his brother out for disrespecting the poor elf's neural tick, but remained neutral. "Oh shut up Johann," he chided.

Johann chuckled and clapped Matthias' arm twice. He grabbed a handful of Floo powder from the bowl on Pliers' hands and ducked under the fireplace. He threw the powder down to his feet and simultaneously shouted, "Diagon Alley!"

Matthias watched as his brother's figure was eaten by ethereal green flames and disappear from sight. No matter how many times he's seen it, Floo transport will always be mesmerizing. He moved to follow after Johann until he heard Rhaegis cry and perch on his shoulder, whimpering.

She wanted to come along.

"Sorry, Rhae," he apologized while he grabbed the Wyvern from his shoulders and carried her at eye level. "It's dangerous for you to be out there. Smugglers would want to capture you and take you far away from here. You don't want that, do you?"

Rhaegis purred out a low whimper, her head falling low and wings dropping to her sides. She seemed to understand what Matthias said but felt saddened by the reminder nonetheless.

Matthias placed the wyvern back to the ground and crouched after her. "How about I get you something nice? A reward for helping me get away from Tempest."

Rhaegis' head suddenly perked up at the offer. She kicked off the floor in joy and soared around in circles in the air.

"Alright," Matthias concluded before he stepped under the fireplace. "Don't give Pliers and the others a hard time."

Rhaegis snapped her jaw in understanding and Matthias could've sworn he saw Pliers jump in surprise at the sound she made.

"Well, I'm off then," he said a quick farewell and mimicked his brother's actions. "Diagon Alley!"

In a burst of emerald fire, Matthias found himself being lifted off his feet and his insides collapsing on him. His entire body churned as though it's constantly being assembled and reassembled by the speck of flames burning brightly around him. Glimpses of multiple fireplaces blurred past him as watched other magical folk burn up right beside him and be pulled into the fireplace of their choice and rematerializing out of flames.

Matthias felt a strong pull to his left and his senses were suddenly on full alert. He felt his limbs return to him and choked out a little grunt as he felt something solid hit the back of his head. The burning fire blew up around him and forcefully pushed him out into the Leaky Cauldron Pub.

He slid out of the fireplace in a coughing fit and accidentally hit his knee on a nearby table. Matthias cradled his aching knee on instinct then heard the distinct laugh of his brother, mocking his misfortune.

"You can never get that part right, can't you?"

"Yeah," Matthias grumbles. "Landing on two feet after being dismantled from the inside out by fire is clearly textbook knowledge."

"We've been doing this for four years," Johann reminded him.

"Whatever," Matthias growled before pushing himself up to walk beside his brother, who waved at Tom, the owner of the pub, as they passed by him and entered through the back room with a rather misplaced brick wall.

Johann pulled out his twelve inches ebony wand from his back pocket and tapped the wall in a counter-clockwise manner. They both stepped back to let magic do its work as the center brick sunk deeper unto the wall and the surrounding bricks began folding on top of each other, expanding outward to reveal the majority of Diagon Alley.

Matthias has only been to the center of wizarding London once to shop for books, equipment, and a new set of robes for when he transferred to Hogwarts last year. He didn't really have the time to look around back then because he was in a hurry to buy what he needed literally hours before he was supposed to leave for King's Cross; so this is like his first time seeing and enjoying Diagon Alley.

As they made their way towards Eeylops Owl Emporium, Matthias couldn't help but slow his pace and look around the wide assortment of restaurants, shops, and other sights cramped up in a small shopping district. He wanted to make a quick detour, just to check out some shops before proceeding with their task – even Johann seemed to have the same idea, but Matthias remained steadfast.

After they finish what needed to be done, then they can look around.

A soft bell chimed as they entered the stuffy owl establishment, and suddenly, all the owls started hooting and shrieking at them. Matthias lurched when the foul odor of cumulative bird feces and wet avian feathers finally reached his nose.

"Now I remember why I didn't buy an owl," he mumbled after covering his nose with an arm.

"Don't be such a sissy," Johann scolded him as he checked a nearby tawny owl. "We didn't get one last time because we already had Tempest. So it'd be smart if we didn't get another snow owl. She'd feel replaced if we did."

"Oh, of course," Matthias bitterly said. "We don't want to hurt her feelings."

"Yes," Johann jeered. "We definitely do not want that."

Matthias rolled his eyes at the smirk that lingered on his brother's lips and proceeded to walk deeper into the shop. He fought the urge to vomit and pushed through the cages of various owls; all waiting to be chosen and taken home. He made a pass around the aisles three times, before coming to a conclusion that none of the owls on display fit his type.

Sure he had his eyes on a few barn owls and screech owls, but none of them really hit that criteria Matthias didn't even know he had till now.

"Having trouble?" an elderly voice asked from behind.

Matthias looked over and found himself face to face with a heavily feathered clothed man with string like hair that mimicked – dare he say it – a bird's nest, sullen eyes, and wrinkled facial features. He supposed this was the owner.

"Yes, actually," Matthias said, switching to English to better accommodate the man. "I've been looking but… none of them quite fit what I had in mind."

"And what be those standards be, boy?" the man pressed.

"I was thinking of someone fast. And uh… I don't know… quirky?"

The man looked to his feet in thought, his eyes darting around the owls in display for a moment. "Ah…" the man sighed. "I might have just the one for you. Come, come –" he beckoned for Matthias to follow him inside his office.

Matthias trailed after him silently and found himself entering a small rectangular room that is, thankfully, far less smelly than the store outside. The man motioned for him to take a seat on the chair near the working desk, which was filled with mountains of paperwork, then excused himself to fetch something behind a door that says "employee's only".

The man came out of the backroom shortly after, his smile beaming brightly like the sun as he presented Matthias with a barn owl perched on his arm.

Matthias' mouth dropped slightly in awe as he marveled at the owl's feathered coat. This owl looked very much like the other barn owls he's seen outside. It has a pale white colored and heart shaped face, bordered by pale brown feathers that spreads out towards the proximal end of its black-and-white speckled wings, which faded into a darker, golden brown by the tip. But the longer he stared, the more Matthias figured that something about this owl's jet black eyes captured gave it a separate feel of introspection and perceptiveness that the young wizard has yet to see in another avian.

He stepped a little closer, raising a hand to pet the owls head but was met with a fierce shriek that warned him to stay away. The owl wildly flapped his wings and Matthias to back away defensively.

The owl immediately calmed down when Matthias stepped out of his immediate space and the old man laughed. "Should've warned you about that."

Matthias glowered, "A little word of warning next time, please?"

The man chuckled. "Yes, yes, forgive me young man. It has been a while since I've pulled this one out of the back room. Not a lot of satisfied customers with this one."

"What do you mean?"

"Well," the man chuckled, "you see, normally, owls aren't high maintenance pets. They mind their own business. They deliver your posts and packages without question 'slong as you feed them. Amory here is different. He works on his own time. Hardly flies to send out letters if you want him to, and begs for a delivery when you have none to send."

"That's –" Matthias started, "If that's a common complaint, why are you presenting him to me? I told you I wanted one that's fast and quirky."

"Oh, he is!" the man chuckled. "Fastest bird I have around. Doesn't really seem like it at first glance, but he can fly great distances in hours. And he's expressive too! Amory is easily one of the smartest birds I have. It used to be this one snow owl, but she was bought four years ago by a tall fat bloke."

Amory hooted and the old man laughed as though he understood what that sound meant. "See, this? Quite the jealous one. You're happy she got bought didn't you?"

Amory denied the proprietor's insinuation by turning away from him and hopping an inch away from the man's shoulders.

"Alright, alright," the man jeered. "I'll stop. So how about it young man? You want to give this bird a try?"

"Am I… allowed to return him?"

"I'd prefer it if you didn't," the man sighed. "But I wouldn't be surprised if you did. Taking care of an owl with so much needs isn't exactly what most owl owners sign up for."

Amory hooted again in offense.

Matthias hummed in thought as he studied the barn owl, who also seemed to mirror the formers interest. They held each other gaze for a minute before Matthias smiled. He already owns a problematic wyvern, what's another problematic bird to that?

"I suppose it's worth a try," Matthias sighed. "I'll take him."

A/N: Some brotherly shenanigans and a new family member (sort of). Like I said, the story will begin slowly in this one but fret not! Some semblance of story starts picking up next chapter so stay tuned and don't forget to review, favorite or follow to get your update hot, hot, hot! I'll see you in the next chapter!

Sushi OUT!