Secrets Revealed
11 years later - 19th July, 1989
"Wake up sleepy head!"
An 11 year old boy stirred in his bed.
When he had fully awoken, he saw a girl that looked his age sitting next to him, laughing when he sat up.
"Morning Scarlet." he said. " What's so funny?"
"You are Axel!" she chuckled. "Take a look in the mirror."
Axel left the warmth of his bed and shuffled over to the mirror. It was then that he understood what his twin sister had been laughing at.
His flaming red hair was sticking up at the top, making it look like he had two strangely shaped horns on his head. He chuckled at the sight, before turning back towards his sister.
"I kind of like it like this." he stated. "Although... I may change it a little bit."
As he said this, he grabbed a comb and a little pot of hair gel, and began running it through the tendrils of his hair so it formed slicked-back spikes.
"What do you think?" he asked.
"I think it looks amazing Axel." Scarlet said. "You should keep it like that."
"I think I will, thanks Scarlet." Axel replied gratefully. "Now you need to sort out your own hair."
Scarlet laughed as she looked into the mirror to see that her own pitch black hair was sticking up in all directions.
She picked up her own comb and ran it through her hair, causing it to fall to her shoulders.
"That's better." she said. "We had better get changed. Breakfast should be soon."
No sooner had Scarlet said 'breakfast' than they heard the bell go.
Both children quickly changed and ran to the dining hall of St Peter's Orphanage so they could get their breakfast first.
When they reached the dining hall, they were relieved to find they were the the only ones there, apart from a few of the staff.
"Let's get something before everyone else gets here." Scarlet said, eager to be the first for breakfast.
"There's no need to rush Scarlet, there isn't anyone else here. Well, apart from a few of the staff." Axel replied, holding his sister back when she tried to get ahead.
Not long after Scarlet and Axel had sat down than the rest of the residents of the orphanage came in.
Suddenly, Scarlet heard a voice bellow from behind. " Oi, redhead! See you already 'ave me and me mates breakfasts. Now, 'and 'em over!"
Scarlet and Axel turned to see two strongly built boys looming over them.
"No." Axel said bluntly. "Get your own."
The one that had spoken earlier took a step towards Axel.
"What did you say?" he asked, anger clearly present in his voice.
"I said no." Axel repeated, starting to become annoyed at the way the boy was speaking to him and his sister.
The two boys moved dangerously close to Axel and Scarlet. Axel could now notice significant differences between the two.
The arrogant one was slightly taller, with pale brown hair and brown eyes, whilst the one that was silent had dark blond hair and dark blue eyes.
The one that had remained silent suddenly grabbed Scarlet and threw her on the ground.
"Right, that's it!" Axel yelled, now extremely annoyed by what had just happened to his sister.
"Ha! What are you gonna do?" the taller boy mocked.
Just then, the boy that had thrown Scarlet yelled in terror.
Everybody turned to see the boy begin to float in the air, and they could only gasp as he was hurled head first out of the dining hall by some mysterious force.
"What did you do!" the remaining boy asked Axel, anger, confusion and a hint of fear all present in his voice.
"I didn't do anything." Axel replied, confusion present in his voice as well.
"You're both freaks!" the boy yelled as he ran out of the dining room and after his friend.
Once he was sure the boy was gone, Axel helped his sister off the floor.
"I think it would be a good idea if we went back to our room." he whispered.
Scarlet merely nodded and the two children walked silently back to their room, stunned by what had just happened.
Later that day...
"Axel? Scarlet?" a voice asked. "You have a visitor."
Axel and Scarlet turned to see a woman standing with their carer, Miss Roberts.
The woman gave a slight nod, and Miss Roberts left.
"Who are you?" Scarlet asked.
"I am Professor Minerva McGonagall." the woman replied, a Scottish accent present in her voice.
"A Professor?" Axel asked curiously. "Professor of what?"
"Professor of transfiguration at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." she stated proudly.
"Hogwarts? Transfiguration? Is that some sort of joke?" Scarlet asked.
"No. I am quite serious." the professor replied sternly.
"So what kind of place is Hogwarts?" Axel asked.
"Hogwarts is a place for special children, such as yourselves, that are able to use magic." the professor explained.
"Magic?" Axel and Scarlet asked in unison.
"Yes, magic. Have either of you ever done something when you were angry or scared and not been able to explain it?"
Both children nodded.
"That was magic. Hogwarts is a place where young witches and wizards go to learn how to control the magic they wield."
"So... i'm a wizard, and Scarlet is a witch. Well that explains a lot." Axel stated. "What about our parents?"
"Both of your parents were able to use magic. Your mother was a muggle-born witch, whilst your father is a half-blood wizard." McGonagall explained.
"Muggle-born? Half-blood? What are they?" Scarlet asked.
"Well, there are three blood types for witches and wizards. Muggle-borns, such as your mother, are born to people that cannot use magic. These people are called muggles, hence the term muggle-born. This kind of witch or wizard only finds out they can use magic when they turn 11. Half-bloods, such as your father, are born to either a magical parent and a muggle, a muggle-born and a pure-blood, or a muggle-born and a half-blood. Finally, there are pure-bloods. They are born to two pure-blood parents, there are also pure-blood wizards and witches that believe in 'blood supremacy'."
"'Blood supremacy'? Axel asked.
"Yes. Some pure-bloods believe that muggle-borns and half-bloods are not as talented as they are, due to their muggle heritage."
"Can you tell us some more about Hogwarts?" Scarlet asked, curious to find out as much as possible.
"To start, there are four houses. Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Gryffindor and Slytherin." McGonagall explained. "Students are sorted into one of these houses at the start of their first year, and remain in that house until they leave."
"Professor..." Axel asked suddenly.
"Yes?"
"What did you mean when you said our mother was a witch?"
"I suppose it would be for the best if you know now rather than later..." McGonagall said sadly. "Your mother... was killed. 8 years ago by a dark wizard known as Voldemort."
"You mean our mother is... dead?" Scarlet asked, tears beginning to form in her obsidian eyes.
"Yes... however, she did not die in vain." McGonagall replied. "She died protecting her son, Harry."
"Harry? What about our father? Is he dead as well?" Scarlet asked.
"No. Your father is still alive. Harry had a different father to both of you." McGonagall explained.
"So what happens now?" Axel asked.
"Now we need to get to Hogwarts." McGonagall stated. "But we cant do it from here, follow me."
Both children followed as Professor McGonagall lead them out of the orphanage, and down a dark alleyway.
"Now, grab hold of my arm and don't let go." McGonagall said.
Axel and Scarlet grabbed Professor McGonagall's arm and held on as tight as they could.
They closed their eyes, and when they re-opened them, they were no longer in the alleyway, but standing near a giant lake.