AN: I guess this can sort of go along with "Wasn't Meant To Be," I wasn't planning on that happening, but I guess it sort of do. I don't know.

Anyway, his was written for the story beginning challenge and round 11 of Quidditch league which was all about twins. I ended up writing about Lorcan and Lysander :)

Prompts: Dialogue: "What do you mean not your fault?", "I thought about how there are two types of secrets: the kind you want to keep in, and the kind you don't dare to let out," – Ally Carter and trickery.

Word count: 1,487

Blood Brothers

Flurries of blinding white snow fell to the ground, slowly covering the grounds and Black Lake, marking the beginning of winter. The first signs of the weather change meant that most of the students were inside studying or trying to keep warm by the fireplaces in their common rooms.

He was doing neither; instead, he stood, leaning against the wall towards the back of the Hogwarts Library, staring at the blond sitting at a table by himself with his nose stuck in books. That was his way of avoiding his problems and feelings which only made everything time worse.

For the past couple of weeks, Lysander had been distancing himself from everyone – especially Lorcan.

No matter what he tried to do, Lysander wouldn't open up to him.

He slowly made his way towards the table near the far edge of the library under the high window. He came to a stop a few inches away from the sixth year Ravenclaw who sat on the opposite side.

"Are you ever going to talk to me?" Lorcan asked, loosely crossing his arms over his chest.

Lysander didn't look up from his textbook. "Why should I?"

Lorcan had to suppress a scoff. Of course he still blames me. He's stubborn that way.

"It wasn't my fault," Lorcan replied. He's lost track of how many times he's tried to tell Lysander that – not that it mattered anyway.

"What do you mean not your fault?" Lysander hissed.

Lorcan shook his head. "I can't believe that you believe some girl and half the Hogwarts population over your own brother."

"Lily's never lied to me before," Lysander stated, matter of fact.

Lorcan couldn't stop himself from rolling his eyes. "I've known you far longer than that girl and I've never once lied to you about anything and you still believe her over me? Why do I even try anymore? It's obviously you don't even care."

He turned on his heel and walked out of the library, not looking back.

As much as Lorcan loved his brother, there were times when Lysander just annoyed him to death and he couldn't stand to be in the same room with him. Lysander was just so stubborn sometimes.

He just let his feet lead him where they pleased through the corridors and he ended up near his favorite alcove on the seventh floor. It was nice and secluded – one wouldn't realize it was there unless they knew where to look.

He quickly climbed up and settled himself into his familiar spot. He leaned his head against the cool pane of the window that overlooked his favorite tall oak tree by the Black Lake.

This was his favorite spot out of the whole school; there was just something about it that was calming to him. The alcove gave him a place to think when he needed it and he always found himself coming whenever he had something on his mind.

Why would he think it was my fault in the first place?

It was as if he didn't know his own brother anymore and he hated it. Ever since Lysander had started dating Lily, he started acting different. He wasn't himself anymore and Lorcan couldn't understand how one girl could make him so different from the Lysander he knew.

Lorcan had only wanted to warn his brother and stop him before he did something he would regret. That's what brothers did – they looked out for one another, but Lily had somehow gotten Lysander to believe that it was all lies and he was just jealous because he was in love with her.

He shook his head. How could Lysander believe that he would do something like that to his own brother?

Lorcan wasn't interested in Lily Potter and he never would be. She just wasn't his type. Besides he knew about her reputation around Hogwarts – whether it was true or not - and he was sure to stay away from that. He didn't want to be another one of her toys and he was shocked that Lysander let himself fall victim to her.

Maybe she was just sneaky and was able to trick him like she did everyone else.

Why didn't you just listen to me and everyone else, Ly?

How can you be so damn stubborn and not even realize it?

Lysander was just that type of person. The guy who saw good in everyone – no matter what they've done in the past. He was also the type of person who gave anyone a second chance.

Lorcan couldn't help but wonder if Lysander sometimes gave people too many chances. He was always the one who ended up hurt in the end and Lorcan hated seeing his brother go through that.

He took a deep breath and slowly released it, trying to clear his head. Of course, it didn't work. There was far too much on his mind.

Maybe Lorcan should have just kept his mouth shut and let Lysander figured everything out for himself. Maybe he should have just not worried so much with it.

Lorcan realized that he should have just kept everything to himself. Not that it was a secret but he should have treated it like it was and not dared tell Lysander. It would probably have saved him a lot of trouble.

"Are you okay?" a familiar female voice asked.

Lorcan didn't have to look to know that it was Dominique. She was one of the only people besides him who knew where the alcove was and she was always the one who found him hidden away in it.

Despite everything, he gave a small smile before pulling his head away from the window. He stared down at her and shook his head.

"Sibling drama," he finally said.

"Lysander will eventually realize he's being stupid and come around," she told him with a smile. "Trust me. It's been a couple of days; he'll be over it eventually."

"Maybe," Lorcan replied. But he didn't really believe it even though he wanted to.

"Just give it some time," Dominique said after a while.

Lysander was logically – he was in Ravenclaw for a reason, but sometimes his stubbornness stopped him from thinking clearly and his judgment became cloudy.

Lorcan stayed in his small alcove long after Dominique had left, lost in his thoughts.

Eventually he was forced to retire back to this house dormitory before he got in trouble for being out of his dorm room after hours.

Maybe Dom's right and Ly will come around eventually.

He slowly made his way towards the Hufflepuff Common Room when movement out of the corner of his eye caught his attention. He turned his head to see none other than his brother leaning against the staircase.

He wanted to just keep walking to his dormitory and his nice, warm, homey and comforting four-poster, but something made him stop.

"Can we talk?" Lysander asked, slowly moving away from the staircase.

Lorcan had to force himself not to scoff. He fought to swallow his anger before he snapped at his brother and made everything worse. "Are you sure about that? Because as I recall, you didn't want to talk to me earlier."

"I was stupid," Lysander replied, shrugging. "I'm a right git sometimes, we both know that."

The two brothers stood, staring at each other in silence for a few moments. Lorcan felt the tension in the air – from their situation and the thought of getting busted by Filch.

"You might want to get on with it before Filch runs around and yells at us both," Lorcan stated. The last thing he wanted was to end up with detention with Filch. "How did you even know where I was?"

"I have my ways," Lysander simply said. After a moment's pause, he took a breath and continued. "I shouldn't let anyone come between our friendship – you're my twin after all and you know me almost as well as I know myself. I'm stubborn and sometimes that's not a good thing…What I'm trying to say is, I'm sorry I was such an ass to you over a petty reason."

"You always were kind of terrible at apologizes sometimes," Lorcan gave his signature one-sided smile. "No matter what, you're my bother. You always have been and always will me. Nothing will change that."

Lysander playfully slapped Lorcan on the shoulder and pulled him into a headlock. When he finally released Lorcan, both of them started laughing.

"Let's never let anyone else, especially a girl, come between us again," Lysander said.

"Agreed," Lorcan replied.

They may have their ups and downs and want to rip each other's throats out most of the time but Lorcan and Lysander were still brothers. They would always be there for the other.

Despite everything, Lorcan was glad to have a brother like Lysander and he wouldn't trade it for anything. No matter what, they would always be blood brothers.