Disclaimer: I do not own HP. I repeat, I do NOT own HP. But, of course, you lot know this, right? If not, whack yourself repeatedly in the head with a blunt object until you do.
Chapter 12 – Opened Up My EyesThe fifth year ended without a hitch. No more letters from Voldemort, no more Death Eater's appearing in the Great Hall, no more anything. Not even a glimmer of movement from Voldemort, either, which worried both Harry and Ethan. But now the year was ending and both boys were wondering what was going to happen to them.
They found out the day before they went down to Hogsmeade to catch the Hogwarts Express.
McGonagall came up into the boy's dorm as all six of them were packing and ordered, "Thomas, Finnegan, Longbottom, Weasley – out. Now."
The four boys looked at each other then at Harry and Ethan, who shrugged. They then left, closing the door behind them with an almost ominous click.
"Don't tell me," joked Ethan, "Voldemort has decided to attack the Hogwarts Express as it is heading back to the Platform and kidnap the both of us."
"No," said McGonagall, lips twitching to suppress her laugh.
"Damn," said Ethan, snapping his fingers and grinning at Harry. "I was so sure."
Harry chuckled at that then said seriously, "What is it, professor?"
"I am sad to say you will be returning to the Dursley's, Harry," said McGonagall, giving him a sad look.
Harry sighed, shoulders sagging. "I expected that," he mumbled.
McGonagall resisted the urge to hug the slight boy and turned to Ethan. She said, "And you, Ethan…"
"Let me guess," interrupted Ethan, "I'm being sent to the Malfoy's."
"No," said McGonagall with a smile. "You are being sent with Harry."
"What?" exclaimed both boys.
"Professor, he can't!" cried Harry. "The Dursley's…they wouldn't allow it!"
"That," said McGonagall sternly, "is why I am going to be going delivering the two of you to their home and having a little chat with them. I'm sure we can come to an arrangement of sorts."
Ethan smirked and quipped, "You sound like a Slytherin, Minerva."
Harry jabbed Ethan with his elbow and whispered, "I'm the only real Slytherin here, dolt," to which Ethan rolled his eyes.
McGonagall smiled mischievously and said, "I must have picked it up from you. Until tomorrow, Mister's Potter, Snape."
"Goodbye, professor," chorused the two, watching as she disappeared down the stairs then was replaced by the other four boys.
"What was that about?" asked Ron, echoed by Dean. Seamus and Neville only nodded.
Ethan chuckled and said, "It seems I'm going home with Harry here."
"And you'd better not cause any trouble," warned Harry, waggling a finger at the other boy. "Don't mention anything about Hogwarts in my relatives hearing either."
"Oh," said Ethan, "they're those sort of Muggles."
"What sort?" asked Seamus as he threw his last few things into his trunk and sat on it to get it locked.
"The sort that refuse to believe magic exists," replied Ethan as though the answer was obvious. He sat down on his packed trunk and heaved a sigh. "I always hate to leave a place."
"You're going to hate it even more after you spend two months with my relatives," remarked Harry.
Ethan smirked at the other boy and quipped, "Then we'll just have to liven up their dreary lives, won't we?"
"Madman," said Harry, with a shake of his head.
* * * *
"The both of you had better write me," said Hermione sternly as she hugged both Ethan and Harry close the next day on Platform Nine and Three Quarters.
"We will," grunted Harry.
"Promise," mumbled Ethan.
Hermione released them then kissed Ethan on the cheek. She smiled in an almost coy way then disappeared through the barrier to King's Cross.
Harry chuckled and said to Ethan, "Now that's a side of Mione I've never seen."
Ethan grinned and quipped, "I bring out the worst in people."
Harry snorted then was abruptly leapt on upon the lithe little form of Ginny, nearly being bowled off of his feet.
"Easy, Gin!"
"Sorry," murmured the girl, pulling back from him and grinning sheepishly. She then jabbed her finger at his chest and ordered, "And I want lots of letters from you! If I don't get one at least every week, I'm sending Dad after the both of you."
"Yes, ma'am," said Harry, bowing. "Letters every week. Yes, yes."
"Shut up," snapped Ginny good-naturedly, smiling at him. She glanced at part of the Weasley clan standing a few feet away then whispered, "I'd give you a goodbye kiss but then Fred and George would never shut up."
"I understand," said Harry, still not really used to having Ginny as his girlfriend (her family didn't actually know they had declared this). "Maybe next time, eh?"
"Maybe," said Ginny, giving him another hug then one to Ethan before she trotted off to join her family. Mrs. Weasley waved at Harry, who waved back before turning to Ethan.
"Where's Professor McGonagall?"
"Right here," replied McGonagall, stepping up behind the two boys. "Let's get going. Remus is waiting outside."
"Now you never said anything about Remus," remarked Ethan as they pushed their trolleys out into King's Cross.
"Did you expect me to drive?"
"Yes, Ethan," mocked Harry, "did you expect her to drive?"
"Shut up, you," growled Ethan. "You've got to deal with me all summer, remember?"
"Mmmhmm."
"Boys," warned McGonagall as they exited the station and headed towards Lupin's old car. Snuffles was hanging out the front window, barking joyfully as they approached. McGonagall eyed the dog and ordered, "Backseat." Snuffles let out a slighter bark then pulled back into the car and jumped into the backseat, making Lupin laugh uproariously.
"I've been trying to get him to do that since we got here," he explained as he opened the boot, helping the boy's lift their trunks inside. "Your going with Harry, S-Ethan?"
"Yeah," replied Ethan. "And stop stumbling."
"Sorry," said Lupin as he slammed the boot shut. "Habit."
"Heh," was all Ethan said before he climbed into the backseat, shoving Snuffles over. The dog snapped at his fingers, causing Harry to sharply reprimand him.
"Snuffles, stop that!"
The dog whimpered and looked mournfully at Harry as the boy slid into the backseat, Hedwig's cage in his lap. Harry looked at the dog and said, "That's not going to work."
"Woof," said Snuffles, ducking his head.
* * * *
An hour later Lupin pulled up into the drive of Number Four. Harry sighed heavily before he grabbed the door handle and pushed it down, shoving the door open. He stepped out, Hedwig's cage in one hand and looked about at the neighborhood.
"Hello again Privet Drive," he murmured. As Ethan stood up beside him, he said bitterly, "Welcome to my home away from home."
"Home away from home?" asked Ethan quietly as they walked to the back of the car as Lupin opened the trunks.
"Hogwarts is more a home to me than here," said Harry, nodding at the house. When they reached the back of the car, Lupin said, "You two go with, Minerva. I'll get your things."
"Take a right at the top of the stair," said Harry, nodding. "Last door." With that he sat down Hedwig's cage and let her out. As she flew out and landed in a tree overhead, he walked over to where McGonagall stood on the stoop, Ethan tailing him.
"Are you ready?" asked McGonagall as Harry stood beside her, his emerald eyes locked on the door.
"Ready as I'll ever be," came the reply. "Just…just be ready, professor."
McGonagall gave him an odd look then rapped gently on the door. There was a crash from inside and then the sound of yelling, which made Ethan wince. That sound reminded him far too much of his aunt and uncle's. Thank Merlin the both of them had kicked off a year after he had graduated.
After a moment of more yelling, the door opened and Ethan was repulsed to see the hulk of flesh Lily's sister called her son. His lip curled instinctively at the sight of the tub of lard, who, at the sight of Harry, turned and fled into the house, screaming, "Muuuum!" It did not help that he was holding his very large bottom in both hands.
McGonagall stared after him for a moment then looked down at Harry, who waved a hand as he shook his head and said, "Don't ask."
A second later Petunia Dursley nee Evans appeared in the doorway and Ethan's upper lip (if possible) curled even more. Where did the genes go wrong and allow Lily to be related to THAT?
"Hello," said McGonagall. "Mrs. Dursley, I presume?"
"Yes," said Petunia slowly. "And you…" Her voice trailed off as she spotted Harry and her eyes snapped back up to McGonagall. "You're one of them," she growled.
"Yes," said McGonagall, not at all put off by Petunia's manner. "Professor Minerva McGonagall. Could I perhaps come in and have a chat with you and your husband?"
"I think not," said Petunia coldly, starting to close the door. "And you can keep that little pest."
"I don't think you quite understood me," snapped McGonagall, drawing her wand from her sleeve. She muttered a charm that threw the door open, leaving Petunia gaping at her. "I must speak with you and your husband, Mrs. Dursley. Now."
Petunia gaped at her for a moment, looking from wand to McGonagall's face in fear before she called over her shoulder, "Vernon!"
McGonagall smiled and waited patiently for Vernon to appear. When he did, Ethan gagged. Harry glanced over his shoulder at him and grimaced, to which Ethan nodded.
"Mr. Dursley," said McGonagall cheerfully, "my name is Minerva McGonagall. I'm a professor at your nephew's school."
"I don't have a nephew," growled Vernon, glaring at her.
"You don't have a nephew by the named of Harry Potter?"
"No," growled Vernon, grabbing the door in one meaty hand. "Go away." He attempted to slam the door in her face but it would not budge. McGonagall smiled as he scowled at the door and grabbed the doorknob, trying to get it to move.
"I'm sorry," she said without remorse. "I find I simply must talk with you. Shall we go inside? It is not polite to keep guests standing on your doorstep and I daresay the neighbors shall begin to wonder."
"Vernon!" hissed Petunia.
"Fine," growled Vernon between his teeth. "Do come inside."
"Thank you," said McGonagall, moving past him into the house. Harry and Ethan followed her in, much to the disdain of Vernon and Petunia. McGonagall turned towards them and said to Harry, "Perhaps the two of you should go upstairs. Merlin knows how this conversation could turn."
"Be careful, professor," said Harry, glancing at his aunt and uncle.
"Indeed do, Minerva," whispered Ethan. "They are a sinister looking couple."
McGonagall nodded and waved them away before she turned towards the Dursley's. Harry jerked his head towards the stairs and headed towards them, Ethan following him.
"You think she'll be able to convince them?" he asked as Harry turned right at the top of the stair.
Harry shrugged and replied, "I hope so." He stopped in front of the door at the end of the hall and slowly turned the knob, pushing it open. Taking a step inside, he turned around to Ethan and gestured at the room, saying, "Welcome to the lovely furnishings of the Heir of Slytherin."
"Looks like a storage room," remarked Ethan as he stepped inside. He peered at the shelves lined with books, toys, and other things (most of them broken) then looked at Harry. "Spare room, I suppose?"
Harry nodded. "Uncle Vernon moved me out of the cupboard up here. I guess you'll be staying in here with me as I suppose he won't be wanting to loan out one of the guest rooms."
"Judging from this being your room, I'll go along with that."
There was suddenly a shout from downstairs, during which Lupin appeared in the doorway dragging Ethan's trunk.
"How is Minerva doing?" asked Ethan as the werewolf dropped the trunk onto the floor.
"When I passed, that Vernon fellow's face was completely purple. I'm guessing the conversation is not going very well."
"Probably won't at all," remarked Harry. "Do you need help?"
Lupin smiled at him and shook his head, clapping him on the shoulder. "I've got it, Harry. Werewolves have supernatural strength, you know." With that he turned and left, quickly replaced by Snuffles.
"Oh, hello, Black," said Ethan, sitting down on the edge of Harry's bed.
"Snape," growled Sirius as he returned to himself with a pop. He glared at him for a moment then turned to Harry and asked, "Are you alright?"
"Yeah," replied Harry. "Why?"
"Well…being stuck with him for the summer." Sirius jerked his head at Ethan, causing Harry to frown.
"He's not that bad anymore, Sirius," said Harry. "Maybe if you'd gotten to know him instead of playing pranks on him during school, you'd know that!" And maybe he wouldn't have been such a bastard later in life, said Harry to himself, a thought Ethan was echoing.
Sirius frowned and said, "He was a little bastard in school, Harry."
"He was friends with mum! He bloody dated her!"
"And she smartly left him!" snapped Sirius.
"Potter stole Lily away from me, you pompous twit!" snapped Ethan, rising to his feet. "Do you know how? He told her I was a no good Death Eater and was just toying with her!"
"Which turned out to be true, didn't it?" sneered Sirius, blue eyes snapping. At that moment Lupin reappeared with Harry's trunk, Hedwig's cage precariously balanced on top. He looked from each of the room's occupants to the other then slowly sat down the trunk. Gray eyes fell upon the bristling Ethan and he frowned.
"Severus?"
"Remus," growled Ethan. "Would you please remove this dog? He grates upon my nerves."
"And you're poisoning my godson's mind!"
"He is not!" snapped Harry, eyes flashing.
Sirius looked sadly at his godson and started to say something when there was the sound of feet coming up the stairs. There was a pop and Snuffles returned, lifting a lip to reveal gleaming fangs. Lupin grabbed the dog by the scruff of his neck and growled softly, "That's enough, Sirius." Snuffles growled and tried to move away from him but Lupin's grip tightened. As the dog's blue eyes moved up to meet the werewolf's, gray eyes flashed amber for a half second and the dog stilled.
McGonagall entered the room, leaning against the doorframe and looking rather exhausted. She heaved a sigh before looking at Ethan and Harry.
"It's settled," she said.
"How'd you get them to agree?" asked Harry, attempting to unclench a fist he did not know he had made.
"I told them that if I did not receive a letter from you every three days, I would be coming to check on you and Ethan. They agreed to allow Ethan to stay rather quickly after that."
"You had to threaten them, didn't you?" said Ethan smugly, turning his attention away from the black dog that was glaring at him.
McGonagall smiled slightly and admitted, "Only a little." She then turned to Lupin and Snuffles and said, "Time for us to go."
Snuffles let out a low growl, earning a slight kick from Lupin and a glare. He jerked his head towards the door and gave the dog a nudge with his foot. Snuffles glared at him then slowly moved out the door, looking over his shoulder at Harry before he vanished into the hall, McGonagall following him.
Lupin waited until the Animagus was gone then turned to Harry and said, "Just ignore him, Harry. I've never understood what Sirius had against Severus…"
"He's my twin," said Ethan, crossing his arms over his chest.
"He's your twin?" gasped Harry and Lupin at the same time.
Ethan nodded. "Yeah," he said, "he's my twin. Not identical, as you can tell."
"Well, what's he got against you?" asked Harry.
"The fact that he's the younger of the two of us and was given to the Black's by our father because of it. And possibly because the Snape's are thought to be just as evil or more so than the Malfoy's."
"So he's ashamed," said Lupin.
"That and he hates me. I'd like to have seen him survive our aunt and uncle." Ethan looked at Lupin and added, "And don't tell him you know, Remus. As much as I dislike him for that stupid prank in fifth year, he's still my brother. I don't want him any angrier at me than he already is."
"I'll do that," said Lupin. He looked at the two of them and said, "You two stay on Privet Drive, all right? The whole block's been warded so nothing that wants to harm either of you can get in."
"I feel so safe and loved," joked Ethan. "Its such a warm and fuzzy feeling."
"Ha ha," said Lupin as he walked towards the door. "Remember about the wards."
"I hate it when I'm given orders," remarked Ethan after the older man had gone.
"That makes two of us," said Harry, sitting down on the bed with a sigh. Ethan flopped down beside him, leaning back onto the squeaky mattress.
"Your mattress squeaks."
"At least its not a cot."
"Is that going to be my bed during my oh-so-lovely stay?"
Before Harry could answer, the door opened and Petunia entered. She leaned a cot against the wall and dropped a sleeping bag beside it before turning and leaving, shutting the door behind her. Ethan propped himself up on his elbows and looked at the cot and sleeping bag.
"My bed?" he asked, arching an eyebrow at Harry.
"Suppose it is."
"I just realized something," said Ethan as he lay back on the bed.
"What?"
"I am once again stuck with psychopathic relatives. Only this time they're not mine."
Harry reached behind him and promptly whacked Ethan over the head with his pillow.
"Shut up."
A/N: And so ends year five. Yeah, I'm doing fifth, sixth, and seventh year. Get ready for delightful evilness. It shall be the most evil story yet! *snort* Please. Lady of the Night has an evil Harry. Now THAT'S evil. I agree. They're ganging up on us! Fine then. This means war. Bring it on! Must we fight? *waves a fistful of tickets and walks around with boxes of popcorn* TICKETS! GET YER TICKETS FOR THE BATTLE OF THE MUSES!