Title: Twins
Author: Kiarene
Pairings: none yet
Rating: G
Summary: The Malfoy twins start Hogwarts. Totally AU. Protective!Lucius and sweet!Draco.
Published: 13th December 2005
Disclaimer: Not mine sighs

A/N and warnings: Will be slashy eventually. Twincest hints. Sap overload. Turn back now if any of that offends you.

Twins

Chapter 4

In which there are fun happenings and puzzling events.

As Draco rounded a corner, another body slammed into him. The blond stumbled against the wall, and when he saw who had knocked into him, he snapped. "Watch where you're going, Potter."

Potter's red-head sidekick appeared, indignant and angry. Of course. "Watch where you're going yourself, Malfoy," he spat.

Draco ignored Weasley and turned back to Potter. "Maybe you should get new glasses," he drawled, staring pointedly at the spellotaped rims. "And as it was your fault you were hurtling round a corner, I believe it is you who should apologize."

"Ron," Potter started to say, but Weasley was like Longbottom's cauldron. Within two blinks, he had worked himself up in a fine fury. "How dare you! It was your fault—"

Granger hung back, fretting. Potter was utterly useless in restraining his friend as well.

Draco eyed the red-faced, red-haired boy warily. An explosion was definitely imminent. He thought quickly. Neither Lucius nor any of the friends were around, and Draco was not in a mood for a physical fight. Strike first, he decided.

Whipping out his wand, Draco hissed out a hex that left Weasley dancing like a lunatic.

"Malfoy!" Potter had his own wand out, his expression furious.

"I'd consider that a fair apology for your clumsiness Potter," Draco sneered, lowering his hand but keeping his wand out. And before the situation could get worse, he stalked off, imitating Snape at his best. He realized he was counting on Potter's odd sense of Gryffindor chivalry not to hex him while his back was turned and hoped he wouldn't regret it.

"Malfoy! Stop right there!"

Weasley's curses blistered the air but there was little else he could do while bouncing like a madman.

As soon as Draco rounded around the corner, he sprinted and dived into a mostly empty cupboard along the corridor. He crouched down beside piles of dusty old schoolbooks and held his breath.

"Shit, where did he go?"

"Harry, forget it! We're going to be late for class! And I have to see if I can remove the hex on Ron."

"But… aw shit!"

Draco sighed in relief as their footsteps fade away. Then he snickered quietly to himself. He who runs away, lives to hex another day. When they were gone — he took a peek — he stepped out calmly and cleaned his robes with a spell.

Then he turned in the direction the Gryffindors had gone and stuck out his tongue. Slytherin 21, Gryffindor 19. Nyah nyah.

Lucius touched down, and swung his broom over his shoulder with a lusty sigh. His pants and shirt were soaked in sweat, his face ruddy from training. In the distance, Marcus was yelling out for the other members to collect the quaffles and return their bats. The sun was low in the horizon.

Suddenly, he realized that someone was nearby.

"Mr Malfoy… Or may I call you Lucius?"

Lucius spun around. Quirrell stood beside the tall posts, half-hidden in the shadows.

"It's the opening game this Saturday, is it not? Slytherin against Gryffindor." Quirrell sounded different; his stutter was gone.

"Yes." Lucius gave a curt nod. Why was Quirrell here?

The turbaned teacher apparently realized his unease. "Don't be so suspicious, young Lucius. I merely wanted to observe you."

"Why?" Lucius took a step back warily.

"Well, like I'd mentioned before, I knew Janus Malfoy." Quirrell smiled, but it wasn't a nice smile. Lucius didn't believe Quirrell knew his father at all.

"And so I was just interested in seeing how his son turned out." Lucius kept silent, his mind whirling in confusion at the teacher's odd behavior. He did notice though that Quirrell didn't seem to have noticed Draco and for that, he was extremely thankful.

"Would you like to know more about your father, Lucius?"

"I know all about my father," Lucius said coldly. Don't use my name so familiarly!

"Really?" Quirrell didn't seem perturbed by his rudeness. "I haven't seen your family for many years. Janus… changed a great deal after Narcissa was pregnant. It was a difficult pregnancy for her, carrying twins."

Lucius held still, feeling like a rodent caught before a swaying snake. He was mentally screaming at himself to move away, yet he was drawn to what Quirrell had to say. Mother did have a difficult pregnancy, he remembered his mother telling them. And his father changed…?

Quirrell's smile widened. "Janus was a very strong wizard, particularly adept at working with magical objects. He made a few charmed objects for me… a few cursed objects too."

Lucius recoiled, goosebumps rising on his skin. What was Quirrell saying? A cool wind blew, abruptly shaking him out of his stupor. Clutching his broom tightly, he turned and ran away.

Halfway across the pitch, he turned to look back. Quirrell was gone.

"Bye Uncle Sev. Thanks for helping me." Draco packed his homework and stood up. He hated it when he was separated from Lucius but since Lucius couldn't help the fact that he had extra Quidditch practice, he might as well do something useful and finish his homework.

Snape shook his head, scowling. "Get out of here, cheeky brat. I've work to do, and it doesn't include your homework. And don't call me Uncle Sev in school!"

"You know you love me." Draco grinned and gave a cheery wave as he exited Snape's office. Walking along the corridors that ran outside the potions classrooms, he heard quiet voices. Curious, he tiptoed silently and peered around the corner.

The Gryffindor trio was standing in the next corridor, looking terribly suspicious. Potter and Weasley seemed to be arguing in hushed voices with Granger. Draco heard 'Snape' mentioned a couple of times, and he strained, trying to make out what they were saying.

The sound of footsteps and voices suddenly filled the corridor as a door burst open and another class headed down. Granger's head snapped up, a guilty, harried look on her face. "We'll settle this later. Let's go!" She hissed loudly.

Draco stood there for a moment, then hurried back to Snape's office. Snape looked annoyed when Draco told him what he overhead. "Idiotic brats. They're probably planning to steal my potion ingredients. Every year it happens," Snape grumbled, shaking his head.

"But…"

"Don't worry Draco. I know this would happen and I always set up wards on my supplies. But now I know who to keep an eye out for." Snape grinned darkly. With a wave of his hands, the wards around the cupboards of the room shimmered. He then turned his attention back to the labels on his desk, picking one up and writing neatly on it.

"Potter and his sidekicks." Draco wrinkled his nose. "Granger is a know-it-all, but at least she has some sense of discretion. Weasley is stupid, low-class and violent. Potter is the worst. He doesn't say much but he has this smug, superior attitude… no, that's not right. It's a kind of self-righteous attitude."

Draco hitched his nose up loftily. "Like, I'm a Hero you know? The Boy Who Lived? Also, I am a Gryffindor. I am Right. You Slytherins are Evil. I Must Spy on You to Save the World."

Snape snickered. Draco had a very sly wit.

He listened to his godson rant, relaxing. He always enjoyed a good complaint about Potter. He would join in but these days, he was just so tired from the extra tasks he had to handle on top of his regular teaching duties. The extra work was all Potter's fault as well.

"I can sneak around at night because I am doing it for The Good of The World. But you Slytherins must be sneaking around because you are doing something Bad," Draco ranted on. "Oh get off your moral high ground!"

"How do you know he sneaks around at night?" Snape raised a brow, labeling another jar of ingredients and setting it aside. "Unless you were also sneaking around…"

"Well, Luc and I were hungry," Draco grinned naughtily. "A couple of times we heard voices that sounded very much like Pot and the Weasel." He snickered. "Pop goes the Weasel."

Snape shook his head. Draco also had a rather juvenile wit at times.

"We never saw them though," Draco mused. "Perhaps they got something that would make them invisible. What would make you invisible, Uncle Sev?"

"Lots of things. There are charms like Disillusion or Notice-me-not charms, potions, objects like invisibility cloaks or a Hand-of-Glory," Snape said absently. "And no, I am not getting any of that for you."

Draco looked crushed. "Why not?"

Snape stared at the hopeful looking boy sternly. "Because I know you. Now off with you unless you wish to help me label jars."

Lucius was noticeably quiet that night. When Draco asked, he would only shake his head and say he was thinking. Draco left him alone, knowing he would talk when he wanted to. After dinner, Lucius did his homework while Draco, having already finished his, started a letter to their mother.

Lately, the Qudditch team had begun hanging out in the first-year dorms. That night, Nicholas and Evenlina had showed up with a tray of snacks, and were of course happily welcomed by the first-years.

"Evenlina!" Pansy opened her Charms textbook, pouting. The first-years knew the older students were there because of the twins, but they were only too happy with the 'tutors' that popped by almost every night.

The older girl laughed and sat down beside Pansy. "Yes dear?"

The Slytherin dormitories were extremely spacious; beds and wardrobes took up one half of the room while desks and bookcases occupied the other half. There was even a large drape separating the two halves, though it was hardly used. This way, anyone burning the midnight oil wouldn't disturb the rest.

Nicholas crossed the room over to the twins' desk. They shared a large table and were seated across each other. He noticed that Lucius was busy with homework, so he decided to disturb his favorite Malfoy instead.

"Letter to mummy?" Nicholas peered over the small boy's shoulder. "My word. That's not a letter; that's a novel."

Draco flushed slightly in embarrassment. "Well, Mother gets lonely. And Lucius doesn't write long letters."

Nicholas laughed softly, pulling up a chair beside Draco. Mmm, Draco is always yummy but especially so after a bath. Fruity and fresh. "What does your mum do all day?"

"She's practices the piano. She's a professional musician, you know?" Draco's face lights up whenever he talked about his mother.

"She is?" Nicholas was surprised. He didn't know anything about music, not that Quidditch-crazy teenage boys usually do.

Draco nodded. "She doesn't have to play for money and she only accepts the invitations that she really wants. So she only gives concerts a few times a year."

"Oho! So do you or Lucius play the piano then?" Nicholas grinned.

Draco shook his head, his fine hair flying up. "Not me, but Lucius—"

"Draco!" Lucius' head snapped up.

Draco stuck out his tongue naughtily. "Uh uh. Pay attention to your homework Luc."

Nicholas' curiosity was piqued. "What? Does Lucius play the piano?" He squinted at the other blond, trying to imagine him in front of a grand piano.

"Lucius plays the violin," Blaise announced loudly, as Lucius whined at the same time. "Blaise!"

"Really!" Evenlina joined in the conversation, eyes alight with interest. "Does he play well?"

"No, it's like cats caterwauling," Vincent said, and everyone laughed. Then he grinned. "Draco sings like an angel though."

"Ooo!" Nicolas rubbed his hands in glee. "Sing something, Draco!"

If there was anything Draco wasn't, he wasn't shy. The blond boy sighed theatrically in mock-reluctance, and thought for a few moments. Then he burst out in a quick jig, the kind you sing along too about some maid and rogue while drunk in a pub. The bawdy words soon had everyone in stitches. The young boy had a wonderfully clear voice and good lilting rhythm.

"Draco Malfoy!" Nicholas gasped. "Where ever did you learn such a song?"

Lucius smirked. "From Uncle Severus."

"You're joking!" Evenlina cried out. "Professor Snape?" They all knew he was the Malfoy twins' godfather — intellectually — but to reconcile the image of the dark, stern professor with the doting godfather was hard for the Slytherins.

"He wouldn't!" Nicholas shook his head.

"Well, normally he wouldn't," Draco's smirk mirrored Lucius.

It took a moment for the words to sink in, and then everyone broke out in gasping laughter. "You're having me off!" Blaise wiped his tears.

"Professor Snape? He can get drunk?" Nicholas asked gleefully.

"Three sheets to the wind," Lucius and Draco chimed solemnly. Draco held up a finger to his lips, winking. "But shh. You cannot tell anyone else, ok? Especially not anyone from other Houses."

"Of course!" Nicholas smirked. "But is it ok if I tell Marcus and Sam?"

"Only Marcus and Sam!"

"Yeah, yeah." Nicholas sat back, clutching his sides. "Who would have thought?"

"Sing something else," Pansy urged Draco. She smiled with a sigh. "I always love hearing you sing. I'm so envious."

Draco thought again, and then broke out in a mournful song about losing one's love and drowning one's sorrow in a pub. It was also the kind you sing in a pub or bar, usually at three in the morning.

"Draco, is there any reason why you particularly like drunk songs?" Evenlina mock-scolded. "Have you been hiding in a pub, or is Snape that bad an influence?"

Draco and Lucius were giggling. "No no," Lucius explained. "Draco knows lots and lots of songs but he just likes the, er, drunk songs."

"They're fun." Draco looked slightly embarrassed and slightly proud. His eyes were bright and cheeks flushed as he enjoyed the merriment he brought his friends and basked in their attention.

"Lucius, don't you sing at all?" Nicholas asked curiously.

"Nah. Lucius' singing is as bad as his violin playing," Gregory told him. "All the musical talent went over to Draco, it seemed."

"Hey, that's just fine by me." Lucius quirked a brow. "I'm perfectly happy to have Draco perform for me."

Nicholas doubled over in a coughing fit. Evenlina smirked, and asked politely. "All right there, Nick?"

"Yeah yeah. Just some dust in my throat," Nicholas wheezed. Merlin. Luckily the younger children seemed to always miss the innuendoes.

"Sing something nice Draco," Pansy ordered. "Not another drunk song."

"Whine whine." Draco rolled his eyes. He sat up straight and took a deep breath.

The next song stunned them. It was a Latin hymn, with a complex melody and haunting words. Effortlessly, Draco's clear countertenor soared through the register, bright as a bell. His voice still retained a boyish pitch, still sweet and high.

Nicholas wondered how Draco would sound when his voice matured. Would he be a soft tenor? Or a silky bass, like Snape?

As Draco's song drew to a close, the room was silent. There were quite a few curious onlookers by the door, drawn by his singing.

"Bloody hell," Blaise breathed. "No matter how often I hear you, it always never fail to amaze me."

Draco looked extremely pleased at their awed expression, and Lucius looked proud. Sometimes he did wish he could sing as well, if only to match his twin in a duet, but he was perfectly happy applauding from the sidelines.

Pansy sighed happily, then noticed the crowed by the door. "A sickle an entry," she called out wickedly.

"Only a sickle?" Lucius looked outraged.

Gregory leaned forward, utterly serious. "Two sickles?"

Whatever Lucius might have said next was lost when an alarm suddenly rang out through the dungeons, a heavy clanging bell. The students stood up in shock — no, not the dormitory alarm. This was the castle-wide alarm.

"Don't panic," Nicholas told the first-years loudly and calmly, his earlier playful humor gone. "Pull on a warm robe, grab your wand and follow—" his eyes sought out the older students by the door, finding a tall, sturdy year-mate. "Jules. Follow Jules. Evenlina and I will be right behind you."

Pale and silent, the students hurried out. As they poured out from the dungeons, they could see students from the other Houses gathering as well. Teachers were herding their charges to the Great Hall, and it was with relief they saw Professor Snape at the entrance to the dungeon.

Snape spoke tersely with the prefects, telling them to count the students and to lead them. Then he left with some of the other teachers, face grim and his wand held out.

"What's do you think is happening?" Draco whispered fearfully to Lucius. Students everywhere were talking in hushed tones, the sibilant sounds echoing back and forth within the thick stone corridors. The torches above cast flickering shadows. Stairs creaked and stones ground against each other as they shifted.

Lucius clutched his brother's hand tightly as they hurried down the corridors and stairs. "Don't worry. Just, don't be scared."

It was worse when they reached the Hall. The students' fear was palpable, and the teachers' expression looked anxious.

"Is it a fire?"

"I heard poisonous creatures were let loose."

"Are we under attack?"

Speculations ran wild. Draco hunched down beside Lucius, who placed a protective arm around him. Marcus appeared beside them, transfiguring rocks to blankets for the first-years. Another seventh-year conjured hot drinks.

Draco looked around and noticed that the House Heads were missing. The heavy doors were locked and warded, the tall windows shuttered. The atmosphere was very heavy, and more than a few students were crying.

"Seems like some Gryffindors are missing," Blaise noted, his eyes sharp as he scanned the other end of the Hall. Indeed, there was a small commotion over at the Gryffindor area. The doors slammed open, and McGonagall and Snape hurried in to confer with some of the Gryffindor prefects. Then they stormed out again, faces pinched and furious.

"What's going on?" Pansy whispered hysterically.

"Quirrell is not around as well," Lucius murmured softly to Draco, who gave his twin a quizzical look.

Marcus sat down beside Draco, wrapping a burly arm around the twins. His tall, solid presence was comforting. "All right there?"

The first-years nodded. Evenlina hugged Pansy.

And everyone waited nervously.

A/N: This is more for my own reference than anything else… Counting the team, I realized I forgot a Beater. Damn.

Slytherin team
Seeker – Samuel (7th)
Keeper – Lucius (1st)
Beater – Marcus (7th)
Beater – Avery (4th)
Chaser – Nicholas (5th)
Chaser – Evenlina (5th)

Thanks for the lovely and supportive feedback! Some of your suggestions were great; I hadn't realize parts of the story were vague.