Two's Company
by Teddylonglong
All recognizable Harry Potter characters belong to J. K. Rowling, and I am not earning anything by writing this story. I am merely borrowing the characters to play with them.
I am not a native speaker of English. Please excuse my mistakes.
Warnings: Completely AU, partly OOC, magically powerful Harry. Dumbledore/Weasley bashing.
Susan and Sandra were the first pupils to arrive, and they were accompanied by none other than Sirius Black.
"Padfoot!" the twins shouted in excitement, as they stormed up to the trio, hugging their godfather, before they – a little more gently – hugged the girls as well.
During the following fifteen minutes, fifteen more six-year-olds arrived on the grounds, and the two couples of twins happily greeted their friends.
There was Hannah Abbot, a friend of Sandra and Susan, Fay Dunbar, who arrived together with an old wizard, who seemed to be her grandfather, as well as Tracey Davis and her best friend Daphne Greengrass. Both girls had attended the twins' parties a couple of times and had already become good friends with them. Neville Longbottom immediately came over together with his grandmother and remained close to the twins, and Draco Malfoy quickly joined them together with his mother. Padma and Pavarti Patil arrived accompanied by their mother, followed by two boys, whom Draco brought over to Harry and Henry and introduced them as Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle. There was Theodore Nott and – much to the twins' chagrin – Pansy Parkinson as well as a girl and a boy, whom the twins had never met before – Sue Li and Blaise Zabini.
Minerva introduced the teachers, Theresa Pomfrey and Remus Lupin, and informed everyone that they would sometimes oversee the class together and take turns teaching at other times.
The children, who had visited the twins before, happily greeted the older witch, who was very gentle and thus popular among the kids.
'They will like Uncle Moony too,' Harry thought to Henry, who was just dragging Neville and Draco over to introduce them to their honorary godfather.
'I know,' Henry thought back, smiling, just when another boy arrived together with his mother and what seemed to be his younger sister: Ronald Weasley.
The twins had to try had to hide their groan at the sight of the redhead. "He could at least have come punctually," Harry whispered to Neville, who returned a nod of agreement.
"Minerva," Mrs. Weasley addressed their grandmother. "I know that she's not on the list, but Albus advised me to let Ginny attend school together with Ron, so that I can teach my twins separately. They…"
"No Molly," Minerva interrupted the witch's tirade in a firm voice. "The primary school is for children from six years onwards, and Ginevra is only five. I am sorry, but that is not possible."
"Oh, I shall ask Albus then," the redhead had the gall to reply, before she grabbed her daughter by the arm and strode in the direction of the entrance doors.
Shaking her head in apparent annoyance, Minerva motioned everyone to follow her inside.
"The parents or grandparents accompanying the children may return home now; however, if you are interested to see our new primary school wing, you are very welcome to accompany us to the classroom," she addressed the adults, who without exception chose to curiously follow the class inside the castle.
'Oh well, they've probably all lived here for seven years and want to know, where the primary school is,' Harry thought in understanding.
HP
Only after Minerva and the parents had left and Theresa and Remus ushered the children into the classroom, the ghosts arrived to say hello to the youngest students that Hogwarts had ever seen.
The twins immediately busied themselves introducing the ghosts to their classmates, who were sitting behind their desks with expressions ranging from fear to amazement.
"The ghosts are all very nice," Harry told them, reassuringly.
"And they know many interesting things," Henry added, grinning.
"Thank you for introducing us to everyone," the Bloody Baron added. "And now, have fun, little ones."
"Thank you," Neville spoke up in a small voice, giving Harry an uncertain look, who nodded at his friend in appreciation.
"Why is he all bloody?" Vincent Crabbe blurted out, once the ghosts had retreated.
"He probably murdered someone," Ronald Weasley replied, wearing an expression of pure disgust. "He's the Slytherin ghost after all."
"Ronald!" Remus immediately scolded the boy. "I do not want to hear anything against one or the other Hogwarts house. Is that clear?"
"Yes," the redhead replied, seemingly grumpy.
"He can be glad that Uncle Severus is not teaching us," Harry whispered to Henry, who smirked.
"Yeah. He'd have told him that it's 'Yes sir' and ridiculed him for his insolence," he whispered back in shared amusement.
HP
At first, Theresa asked everyone for their names and invited them to tell the others about their families, whatever they wished to tell.
Harry and Henry listened with interest, happy to get to know the others better, even if they had already met most of them one or the other time.
Once, they were through with the introductions, Theresa let her eyes wander around the classroom, which – to the twins' surprise – did not have charmed windows like many other rooms at Hogwarts, but it had real windows allowing the view onto the path leading to Hogsmeade.
"Do you think something is missing here?" she asked, smiling.
Sandra raised her hand. "I think we need some decorations," she replied, once Theresa had called up on her.
"Very good," Theresa acknowledged, and with a flick of her wand, colours for window painting spread out on the tables in front of the children. "Please go and decorate the windows, so that the older students can admire your art on their way to and from Hogsmeade," she instructed them, only to add, "As we have ten windows, we always need two of you to work together on one window."
The children eagerly grabbed their utensils and headed to the windows.
"If you get colour onto a spot, where you don't want it, you may tell Theresa or me, and we shall get rid of it," Remus informed them in a soft voice.
Harry smirked at Henry, knowing that they would easily be able to cast 'Scorgify' at the specific spot.
After telepathically communicating for a moment, they set to work. Neither Harry nor Henry were talented at drawing or painting, but they did their best, and when they were finished, Theresa was able to recognise two small boys with lightning bolt scars on their foreheads standing behind a cauldron, in which they were creating a lime green concoction that was bubbling vividly. Severus Snape was hovering behind them wearing an indifferent expression.
"A brilliant use of magic," she commended them in a small voice, knowing that the other children – apart from Susan and Sandra – were probably not able to efficiently use their magic yet.
"That's us," Harry explained, unnecessarily.
"But Severus was supposed to smile," Henry added, only to conclude, apologetically, "We're not good at painting."
"Why not use magic to make him smile then?" Remus suggested in a small voice, causing the boys to cast him a thoughtful look, before Henry nodded in determination.
An instant later, a small smile was playing on Severus' lips.
"Well done," Theresa commended Henry, before she proceeded to inspect the next window together with Remus.
The boys quickly followed them, looking at their classmates' windows with interest.
Susan and Sandra had painted the four of them playing with a red ball right next to the Hogwarts lake. The two couples of twins took turns catching the ball and throwing it again.
"Thanks Sandra and Susan," Henry blurted out, grinning broadly.
"It's brilliant," Harry added, looking at the painting in admiration.
"Fantastic use of magic again," Theresa said in a small voice. "I wonder what they will still have to teach the four of you once you will become students," she added, seemingly more to herself than to them.
Ronald Weasley had painted a bowl with colourful dots all over his half of the window.
"What are these?" Remus enquired, curiously.
"Bertie Botts Beans," Ronald replied, seemingly indignant.
"May I?" Remus enquired and, when Ronald nodded, pointed his wand at the dots changing them to recognisable sweets.
"Thanks," Ronald said in apparent gratefulness.
"They're disgusting anyway," Theodore commented, pointing to his half of the window, where a chocolate frog was sitting in the grass.
"Well done," Remus commended the boy, "shall I make him jump?"
"Oh yes please," Theodore replied with apparent excitement.
With a flick of Remus' wand, the chocolate frog was slowly hopping around.
"Cool," Harry and Henry added, simultaneously.
"Thanks," Theodore replied, grinning.
The most surprising window was that of Daphne and Tracey, which was completely covered by flowers. The whole class was standing in front of the window in admiration, when all of a sudden, the flowers slowly and barely recognisably began to move in the small rhythm of what seemed to be a little breeze.
The two artists let out a collective gasp; however, Harry smirked. 'Was that your doing?' he thought to his twin.
'Yeah, but don't tell,' Henry thought back, unaware of the knowing look that Theresa cast them.
HP
The teachers realised very soon that they would have to teach the class on several different levels, considering that the children had so far received various kinds of education.
However, Harry and Henry were very happy with their class, as all children were well behaved.
"Everyone is nice…"
"… maybe apart from Ron…"
"… and Vincent and Greg seem a bit stupid…
"… but it's much fun…"
"… to have a class together with everyone," the twins told their grandmother in excitement, when they returned home in the afternoon.
HP
Before the students arrived with the carriages, Remus cast a light charm at the windows of the primary school classroom, so that everyone could see the children's paintings – much to the older students' amazement.
"I'm not an artist of course, but I believe that at least Daphne Greengrass or Tracey Davis, if not even both, are extremely talented at painting," Theresa informed her colleagues upon hearing students at the nearby Gryffindor table talk about the window paintings. "Perhaps we should consider setting up a voluntary Arts class for the students."
"That's a good idea, and it could be an elective from, for example, second year onwards," Filius immediately voiced his consent.
"Who would be able to properly teach Magical Arts though?" Albus spoke up, questioningly.
"There is that School for Magic, Scuola di Magia, in Venice," Remus informed him, "and they are teaching Magical Arts after Tiepolo, who was a professor there during the eighteenth century. That's about all that I know about it though. Perhaps we could hire one of their graduates."
"I shall contact them and ask for an advice," Albus agreed – much to Minerva's surprise.
'After making such a fuss about the primary school, he easily agrees to hire someone who has not even attended our school for a new subject of Magical Arts?' she thought, incredulously, when a sudden thought crossed her mind.
"Theresa," she addressed the older witch. "May I see the windows after the feast?"
"Of course," Theresa replied, smiling. "If anyone else wishes to see them, you're free to come."
'I hope the twins will obediently return home and get ready for bed,' Minerva thought, even if she doubted it. 'They'll want to come and tell us all about the paintings.'
"Your grandsons painted a scene of themselves brewing a potion and Severus standing behind them watching," Remus spoke up, smirking.
"Severus, you must have taught them well," Pomona turned to the Potions Master. "Is that why they're sitting at the Slytherin table tonight?"
The Slytherin head merely smirked, while Minerva noticed that several of her colleagues, including the headmaster, turned their eyes towards the Slytherin table looking for the twins in apparent shock. Harry and Henry were sitting among what she knew to be the Quidditch team, enjoying themselves in their conversation with the older students.
"They asked me if they could sit with the students from now on, considering that they were now students themselves, and I agreed," Minerva informed her colleagues. "I merely told them to change tables every now and then, considering that they're not sorted yet."
"They're much too progressed for the rest of their class, just as the Bones girls," Remus said, letting out a deep sigh. "For us, it's fine, because we're two teachers and can simply teach the class in two groups, but I don't envy any of you having them in your class in a few years' time."
"You won't be able to teach that class together for the next five years," Albus spoke up. "Next year, we'll have to have a first and a second years' class and, while Molly Weasley has agreed to teach one class, the following year, we're going to have a third class."
"Molly Weasley?" Minerva gasped in disbelief. "With all her shouting and fussing, she won't make a good teacher. We should better find our teachers out of our graduating students."
"Minerva, Molly is a very nice woman," Albus lightly scolded her, causing her to scoff. "She even invited the twins to visit her over Christmas."
"They will not go there," Minerva replied in a firm voice, inwardly rolling her eyes at the headmaster. "They absolute detest Ronald Weasley."
"It is important that we keep the boys who lived firmly on the side of the light, and the Weasleys are a light family," Albus insisted. "We must see that they become friends with Ronald Weasley."
Quietly shaking her head in annoyance, Minerva gave up and proceeded to concentrate on her desert.
"Good luck, Albus, trying to send these twins somewhere they don't want to be sent," Theresa spoke up, smirking.
HP
In the end, the headmaster won – however, Minerva was not certain about the supposed-to-be victory the old wizard claimed.
While the students were on their way home for Christmas, Albus instructed Minerva to bring the twins to his office.
"What does he want?" Harry asked, grumpily, when they walked through the empty halls of Hogwarts.
"Whatever he wants, we don't want it," Henry added in apparent annoyance.
Minerva let out a deep sigh. "Now listen boys," she said, as she stopped walking, "he probably wants to send you to the Weasleys over Christmas, and Aunt Theresa and I already told him that you don't want to go, but he's very stubborn."
The twins nodded, grimly.
"If he sends us there…"
"… what he shouldn't be able to do…"
"… as he's not our guardian…"
"… we won't stay there," they informed her, before they promised, "Wherever we go…"
"… we'll send you a note…"
"… and invite you to join us for Christmas."
Minerva pulled the boys into a group hug. "You're the best, my boys," she replied, before she hastily wiped a tear from her cheek.
HP
"Minerva, you may leave," Dumbledore said, once they reached his office.
"No, Granny…"
"… please stay," the twins quickly countered, feeling very much relieved, when their Granny took the seat next to them.
"Harry and Henry, as you know, your grandmother and I are much too old to raise young children.
"No sir…"
"… Granny is not too old," the twins contradicted quickly.
"Anyway, I wish for you to spend the Christmas holidays with the Weasleys…"
"No, Headmaster!" they interrupted the old wizard, simultaneously.
"The Weasleys are a very nice and light family, and they have seven children of themselves…"
"So no space for two more," Henry argued, once again interrupting the old wizard.
"As I was saying," Dumbledore continued, ignoring his outburst, "you will spend the holidays with them and get to know them."
"No thanks," the twins refused, vehemently.
"See here," Dumbledore replied, holding out a parchment to them.
'Don't touch it,' one thought to the other.
"No thanks," they repeated, noticing that a small smile began to play on their Granny's lips.
"Fawkes," Dumbledore addressed his phoenix, who rose from his perch and grabbed both of them by the hoods of their robes and flashed away.
HP
An instant later, they found themselves in an unknown room completely full with redheaded children.
"I thought phoenixes were light animals," Harry said to the bird in accusation.
"How come you abduct children?" Henry added, glaring at the magical creature.
Fawkes, however, chose to ignore their outburst and simply flashed away.
Before they knew what happened, they found themselves being pulled into a very unwelcome group hug by a fat woman.
"Let go!" they screamed, simultaneously, glaring at the witch, who released them in apparent shock.
"Welcome to the Burrow," she replied, smiling broadly, before she quickly began to introduce her brood. "Ron you already know, this is Ginny…"
The twins tuned out the further introductions, while they silently communicated with each other making a plan.
"You will share a room with Ron," the Weasley matron informed them, once they returned to listening. "Ronald, please take them upstairs and show them your room."
"May we please use the toilet first?" Harry asked.
"It's on the way," Molly Weasley replied and instructed Ronald to show them the bathroom.
After a flight of stairs, Ron showed them to the bathroom, and the twins set to go inside.
"Are you going to use the toilet together?" Ronald asked in apparent disbelief. "You should go in one after the other."
However, the twins merely ignored him and rushed into the bathroom, closing the door in relief to get away from the more than annoying redheads.
HP
Ten minutes later, the twins had yet to come out of the bathroom, and Ronald returned downstairs to tell his mother.
"You should have checked if everything is all right," she told him, already hurrying upstairs.
"I come in," she announced in front of the bathroom and tore the door open – only to realise that the twins were gone. "Where might they have gone?" she turned to Ron, questioningly.
Ron merely shrugged. "I don't know."
His mother let out a deep sigh. "Well, then tell everyone to help searching," she instructed him, sounding as annoyed as she could.
tbc...
Thank you for your kind comments on the previous chapter. Please tell me what you thought about this chapter and what you expect from this story. My muse appreciates the feedback.
Next chapter "Christmas Holidays".