Chapter 37

Harry's Point of View

Earlier on, when Percy told me he had a bad feeling about our Astronomy lesson, I didn't believe him. I mean, of all the things that the Potters and Poseidon were known for, Divination is definitely not one of them. And yet, here we are, sitting in the Hospital Wing watching the white ceiling as the clock ticks ever closer to midnight, desperately trying to fall asleep.

In the bed next to us, Charles mumbled in his sleep. We sighed, and turned to face our twin with a soft smile on our face. Charles' shoulder was wrapped tightly in white cloth, and he screwed up his eyes slightly in pain as he shifted in his sleep, still mumbling some nonsense about Quidditch or something.

We heard the soft pad of footsteps, and turn sharply round to see Madam Pomfrey staring at us with sympathetic eyes.

"Can't sleep?" She asked in a soft voice, so not to disturb any of her other patients. We shook our head, and she sighed softly, sitting on the edge of our bed. "What exactly did happen? I have no less than five of your class members in here, and not one person has manage to inform me just what occurred during your lesson to land you all in here."

We grimaced, thinking back to a few hours earlier.

Draco grinned at us as we walked out into the crisp air of the astronomy tower. We were early, and so chose the best places to set up our telescopes and sheets ready for the class to begin. Our classmates trailed in slowly in twos and threes over the next five minutes, until all twenty of us were ready waiting for our teacher – Professor Sinistra – to arrive. Crabbe and Goyle, accompanied by Pansy, were mocking Ron as he set up his rather battered and slightly dented second hand telescope.

"Can't your parents even afford new equipment every other year?" Pansy sneered. "It's a miracle you can even see through that."

Ron blushed red, and ducked his head. It was a point that many Slytherin's chose to mock him on, because Ron rarely ever retaliated, and it gave them a sense of authority over him. But while Ron wouldn't retaliate, Charles had not such qualms.

"Shove off, Parkinson. Just at least the Weasley's understand what a heart is. That's worth way more than money!" Charles snarled.

Pansy laughed. "Oh really? Well, if brains were bread, I can honestly say that you two would starve! You think that everyone doesn't know you copy little miss know-it-all mudblood's homework?"

Percy and I growled slightly at that comment. Pansy heard us and turned to see who had growled. Upon spotting us she paled slightly.

"Pansy." Percy warned, our eyes narrowed to practically slits. "We've warned you about using that term before."

"Percy…" Pansy trailed off, dropping her head. "Sorry."

Charles and Ron shared a look, watching us. Charles looked slightly confused, but Ron burst out laughing, drawing everyone's attention to him. Hermione narrowed her eyes slightly in thought, looking between Ron, Pansy and us. She had nodded at us first, for stepping it as the term mudblood was used, but was now deep in thought over something.

Ron gasped for air. "By Merlin, Potter. If Draco's the Ice Prince of Slytherin, does that make you his pet Lion? Enforcing his rule, but then lashing out when angered?"

Charles realised what Ron was saying and his expression cleared of all confusion. A smile tugged at his lips at the image, but it was soon replaced by a frown at the realisation of Ron was implying.

"A Gryffindor?" Ron huffed. "I think you must have confused the Sorting hat. After all, no Gryffindor can willingly live and get along with slimy Slytherins! You're really just a pet kitten, who only raises his claws when absolutely necessary."

Draco moved to our side, his icy glare on full power, having an almost Medusa effect on all that met it. As one, both Percy and I drew our wands, pointing them directly at Ron. Ron paled, not a hint of his bright red blush remaining in his deathly white cheeks. Our magic was swirling around us as our control on it began to weaken. Papers began to fly up in the air, scattered in all directions. The Slytherin's, who'd seen our loss of control before, quietly made their retreat back down to the floor below.

"Are you implying we can't think for ourselves?" We said quietly, but still only just audible over the waves of energy flying off us. "Are you implying that we are cowards?"

Ron gulped, but nodded, trying to look brave.

"Percy! Harry! You need to calm down!" Charles begged us, diverted our attention off Ron for a second. Our control a slipped little more with our attention, and the heightened energy ripped Ron's already bashed up telescope from where it was clamped to the wall. It flew up, hitting several of the Gryffindor's present before the jagged edge from where it had been ripped sliced deep into Charles' shoulder.

The cry of pain from Charles knocked the anger right out of us, leaving us weak and empty as our magic dissipated. There was a large splash as the lake (which had been rising up to hover over us when we weren't looking) fell back into itself. Draco threw an arm round our shoulders and pulled us into a firm hug and tears flowed silently down our cheeks. I'm not proud to admit we cried, but we did. We cried until Professor Sinistra arrived and sent us all down to the Hospital Wing. I learned a short while later that Pansy had ran off to find her, and had claimed all the blame for herself, landing her in a week's worth of detentions for us. Never let it be said that Slytherin's are heartless.

Madam Pomfrey looked kindly down at us. As we blinked, coming out of our daze from explaining it all to her. For all her reputation for being a strict and fussy Mediwitch, Poppy Pomfrey was a kind young soul, caring for all of her patients, no matter what they had done.

"No wonder your cores were so low. Does this kind of lack of control happen much? This is my third record of it at Hogwarts, but at the start of last year… You mentioned you were sometimes punished for magical outbursts. Do didn't just mean small slips did you?"

We sat up, drawing our knees up to our chin. "No. It wasn't real punishment. Not truly physical. But the House-elves were trying to help us maintain complete control over our magic. Since the helped raise us, they assumed we should have the control that they have over theirs. So every slip… We would have to… we'd have to clear up our mess, and then… well. They'd usually get us to help with one of their chores. Usually the washing up. With boiling water or something..."

Madam Pomfrey shook her head shocked. "They can do that?"

"Well… I think they punished themselves for it, but they thought they were helping us, so it's the thought that counts, right? Besides, we'd been… distancing ourselves from our parents around the time and… well. We kept it hidden." Our voice was barely a murmur now as we glanced pleadingly up at Madam Pomfrey. "Please don't tell anyone? They stopped years back, when we gained control. There's only the few occasion we really lose our temper now."

Madam Pomfrey hesitated. "I won't tell unless I see the signs of it happening again. Then I will tell your parents."

We nodded eagerly. We didn't want the house elves to be punished. They had just been trying to raise us, but what do they know about raising humans? It was a fair mistake. The kind Mediwitch beside us began to hum a soft tune to us, and in no time we were drifting slowly in sleep, feeling much lighter for having spoken to Madam Pomfrey. The last thing I remember before the dark of sleep was the light feeling of a hand smoothing down our hair, and the shift of the bed as Madam Pomfrey stood up.

The morning dawned far too bright and early, the already bright sunlight dancing around the white walls of the hospital wing to stab our eyes as we hesitantly opened them. Beside us, Charles was still snoring softly in his own bed. We grinned and slowly shifted out of our bed to sit on the edge of his. Percy begged me for control, so I shifted aside and watched gleefully as Percy levitated the water out of the glass by our bed and dropped it over Charles.

"Ah! What?" Charles moaned, clawing his wet hair out his eyes. "Percy!"

We glanced down at our white hospital gown. "How did you know I was Percy?"

"Your eyes." Charles blinked. "I've been watching for a while now, to tell the difference when you're at home. The change colour slightly."

'Hades!' Percy cursed playfully. 'He's figured us out.'

'We could always get coloured contacts.' I suggested. 'Then our eyes would stay the same colour.'

'Or use a glamour charm.' Percy chuckled. 'We have magic to use as well.'

Charles struggled to sit up, stifling yelps of pain as he jolted his hurt shoulder. We winced, and Percy sent him an apologetic look.

"Sorry about that, Charles. We really lost it."

Charles waved us off. "I was annoyed too. I just couldn't exactly fly off the handle like that. I have Gryffindor's Golden Boy image to uphold."

"While apparently we're just Draco's pet kitten." Percy scowled. "I'm going to pay Ron back for that. Get a potion to turn him into a kitten for the day!"

Our brother laughed softly. "That would be quite funny actually. I could tie a ribbon round his neck and have him follow Hermione round all day like a love-sick puppy because she's scold him if he when anywhere else."

"Well then Charles." We said triumphantly. "Looks like we're partners in crime."

"Just this once, though." Charles warned. "And only because he insulted you."

We nodded, holding out a hand for Charles to shake. He took it and laughed as we tried to imitate Draco's 'I'm-plotting-evil-deeds' look.

Madam Pomfrey entered the medical wing then from here little office, smiling when she saw us talking to Charles. She sent us an irritated look upon spotting Charles' wet head, but she didn't look annoyed for long as she checked up on her other patients, all of whom were still peacefully sleeping.

"You shouldn't be out of bed yet, young misters." She rebuked us gently, guiding us back to bed. "Your core isn't half full yet, so you should rest up so it will refill faster."

We pulled a face and looked pleadingly up at the Mediwitch. "Please, Madam Pomfrey. Bed rest is horrible."

Charles nodded in agreement, but Madam Pomfrey still tucked us firmly into bed, shaking her head. "Just until dinner, then I'll let you go."

We sighed, but resigned ourselves to a boring day in the hospital wing. Luckily, in the short hours after breakfast but before lessons began, Draco, Theo, Blaise and Marcus came to see us, carrying a small stack of waffles for us. We grinned at them.

"Thanks guys."

Draco nodded, leaning down to hug us. "When are you to be released?"

"Tonight." We replied, sniggering at his choice of wording. "Then we may be 'released' into the Dinner Hall for our revenge…"

Blaise and Theo burst out laughing, nudging each other and grinning. Marcus grinned to. "There's already a betting pool on your choice of revenge. My money's on some kind of set up."

Draco shook his head. "No. Percy might have thought of that, but they aren't that cruel. I'd say some kind of potion making its way into Weasley's drink or food."

We kept a poker face, letting nothing tell. Charles looked surprised at how well Draco knew us, but luckily Marcus wasn't looking at him.

"You'll be up for our match come Saturday, yes? We're playing Gryffindor." Marcus grinned viciously. We laughed, spotting Charles' terrified face out the corner of our eye.

"We should be." We said. "And if not, there's always Terrance."

Marcus nodded his acknowledgement and his expression softened slightly to that of minor concern. "Be careful, yeah? I witnessed two of these little 'slips' of yours, and I know they certainly aren't pretty."

I nodded, Percy mentally grinning alongside me. "Will do Capt'n. Never fear!"

Marcus paled a tiny bit but quickly hid it. After all, he had been the reason for one of our 'slips' as he put it. We laughed, and Draco punched the fifth year's shoulder.

"Ah, Harry and Percy will be on their feet in no time!"

Theo and Blaise nodded in agreement. "Exactly."

"Percy's got his revenge to plot and execute."

Charles looked from Slytherin to Slytherin, trying to work out what he was seeing. He rested his eyes on us, blinked, and then looked between us again. He sighed, then shook his head.

"Just as soon as I think I understand you snakes again, you come out with something like this. Firstly, you're actually showing public affection for my brothers, and then you seem to be able to read his mind." Charles blurted out, quickly slapping his hand over his mouth as four pairs of hard eyes turned to start at him.

Draco glared for a second, then burst out laughing. "Ha! Told you he was planning a potion not an ambush!"

Flint groaned. "Why did I ever bet against you?"

"Because you didn't yet know better." Blaise and Theo chorused. They smiled widely at each other.

"Of course," Theo continued, "we did and therefore seconded Draco's bet."

Suddenly the doors swung open with a large bang, and we caught sight of a streak of blond. Leaping up, we cowered behind Marcus, ignoring the taller boy's amused look as we hid from the terrifying menace that was an angered Luna and Annabeth Chase.

"You stupid idiot!" Annabeth snarled, trying to reach round Flint to get to us. "As if getting stung by a pit scorpion wasn't enough for you last month, you decide to go and do this! Don't think I don't know you were behind this Percy! At least Harry has some brains to speak off when it comes to thinking! On that note, Harry, care to explain why you didn't stop you're brother! As for you Charles!"

Annabeth spun around to face a previously sniggering Charles. His smile soon fell from his face, however. "Don't you dare think I'm above blaming you as well! We may not know you, but you should've shut you friend up! I don't care if it goes against you're little feud against Slytherins – blood is all! You better learn that sometime soon!"

Flint raised an eyebrow at us. "Were did you meet a girl like this, Potter? And where can I find an older one?"

'Bad move,' we mouthed to him, seconds before Annabeth jumped on our bed to slap Marcus round the face. Their protective fury was burning alongside their disgust for such derogatory comments.

"How dare you?! My sister's wouldn't so much as look at you, let alone consider dating you! We require our friends to at least have half a brain, preferably a fully functioning one." Luna and Annabeth had merged now, their eyes almost glowing with an other-worldly light as they glared down at the taller boy from their advantage point on the bed. We noticed their hand reaching round their back, inside their robes, grasping an object concealed there, and decided to step in.

"Luna." We warned in a quiet voice. "I strongly advise that you don't go there. You are in the medical wing – I highly doubt Madam Pomfrey would approve of you spilling blood in here."

Luna and Annabeth sighed, but released their dagger. They then pulled us into a deep hug, their breathing slightly unsteady. Pulling away, Annabeth slapped us.

"We were so worried!" She said. "Don't ever to that again."

We shuffled out feet. "Well, we can't promise, but we'll certainly try."

Madam Pomfrey poked her head round her office door and that moment and sighed. "Off you go all of you! Shoo! Get to class and let my patients rest, you can see them all later."

Groaning, our visitors all trailed out slowly, grumbling slightly to each other as they left. Percy laughed as Charles let out a sigh of relief as the last of my Housemates left the medical wing.

"Merlin, you two. Luna could probably talk Voldemort into agreeing muggles were good if she used that tone!"

We nodded in agreement and laughed, before settling back into bed for a boring day of waiting.

Dinner couldn't arrive early enough, but by the time it had, we (along with Charles) had already managed to owl our father, who had owled us back the appropriate potion. Why he had it to hand was a mystery to us, but we were grateful none the less.

If Madam Pomfrey noticed us receiving the potion, then she didn't mention anything. And so, when we were released just before dinner, Charles and we got changed, and then our brother pocketed the potion and we headed our separate ways for dinner.

The Slytherin table was especially fidgety tonight, constantly passing glances at the Gryffindor table. Professor Snape noticed this and sent us an inquiring look, his eyebrow raised. We shrugged nonchalantly, to signal that we didn't know. Oh, we had our suspicions but that was something different entirely.

'And in three, two, one…' Percy giggled as a loud screech came from the Gryffindor table, and a new ginger kitten sat on the table, caterwauling its despair to the high roofed ceiling. Our housemates all burst out laughing, and we joined in. Draco nudged us with a wide grin.

"Nice. It's fitting."

"We thought so to." Percy replied. "Now he can be our brother's 'pet kitten' for the next twenty-four hours. See how he likes it."

Ok! Yeah, I don't think I'll be able to update every weekend, life is just too hectic at the moment. I will aim for 4 updates a month though, so please bare with me. I also have half-term the week after next so, hopefully I can get two updates in then, if not more :D The first attack will be occurring next chapter, with a bit of a time skip, so yay :)

animegirl2728: Charles got the credit for being the boy who lived because Dumbledore didn't actually know, so he told the press it was Charles just to get them off his back and to uphold his 'I know all' thingy. Harry and Percy will eventually get the credit back around about book 4, when Voldy returns.

aviendhaphiragon: Do all the Slytherin's know what? Sorry, I don't quite understand... :( As for your point on Luna - I agree, they're just so hard to write! I've gotten my head round Harry/Percy in the first tense, so writing Annabeth/Luna from Harry or Percy's point of view in the third tense is really confusing... :/

Matt: That pink toad sounds horrifyingly familiar... ;) Attacks start at Halloween next chapter (time skip) :)

Random Person: Yes... That summer would be the Titan war... Occlumency would be for Charles mainly - Harry/Percy already know the basis, and while Charles and Harry/Percy will know that Charles isn't the boy who lived, Dumbles won't give up his opinion of Charles being his 'Golden Saviour' so yeah... Just Charles :)

Guest: Travis/Dennis, Connor/Collin... That would be creepy! More trickster twins at Hogwarts... However I'm not sure their personalities match really. No offence to Collin, but he seems like a bit of a boy-who-lived minion, which doesn't really fit the devil-may-care attitude that I imagine the Stoll twins having.

lovepercy76324: Harry's with Luna... Otherwise that would get them into some serious fights over why so-and-so's boyfriends was kissing another girl...

Ghostunderasheet: Yeah, the astronomy tower was made up, just for fun :) As for camp... Leo will find out. Chiron wouldn't exactly let a nine year old boy run off to the location were a monster is though, so I can see Harry/Percy and Annabeth/Luna getting some very shifty packages in the mail after Halloween... :D

SassyDoe: Urm... The rest of the seven may appear earlier, but they won't really be properly in the story till the seven have their prophecy. :)

Alright! My next update will be hopefully on Saturday, if not next week sometime :) As my girlfriend loves to remind me, I only have 50 days left till my exams... :( So yes. Hectic school life :/

Until next time,

Smartiepants :D