A/N: Thanks to all who reviewed. I'm glad that none of you are plotting to kill me because of my seven mediocre chapters.

I'm sorry to those who voted against Harry and Sophie getting together, but they eventually will need to get together. Not now, but eventually. It won't be awkward with the trio, seeing as there's still Ron and Hermione. Don't ask, just stay tuned, it's part of my plot. For the Harry/Ginny shippers, I promise to start a fic on them sometime soon. I'm also a H/G shipper, but what I'm writing now isn't exactly romance. It's not meant to be a fluff fic. The Harry/Sophie thing will be very "on the side" if you know what I mean. Their feelings will have some weird Voldy effect. I can't say anything else, I might spoil it.

Thanks again for bearing with me. I've warned you guys before, I'm going through writer's block, so it's really hard.

This chappie's about Sophie's little brother who arrives two weeks earlier than expected on Sophie's birthday. He's about to start going to Hogwarts. He receives his letter, along with Harry and Ron's O.W.L. results and the new booklists. Oh and someone else will be arriving. Someone's brother, the brother you haven't heard of in a while.

I'm going back to school tomorrow days from now, so you might be hearing less from me. Don't worry, I'll try to post everyday. To make up for it, I'll make this chapter longer and I'll post another one after this. I promise I'll try to come often, if I'm not busy.

Thanks,

Kristie

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Chapter 8 – The Arrival of Two Brothers

When Harry opened his eyes, he was lying down on the couch. He did not know how he got there. The last thing he remembered was Sophie's crying. He must've fallen asleep on the steps of Grimmauld Place with her. It was really dark. On one of the armchairs was a figure. It was making an odd, scratching noise. When he focused on it, he realized that it was Sophie, and the scratching noise was her pencil on the sketchpad.

"You're finally awake," she said.

"Whatymizit?" Harry mumbled.

"Excuse me?"

"What time is it?"

"Close to midnight. You really crashed," she said, smiling wryly. It was relieving to see her smile again.

"Well, I'm not tired, I'm kinda hungry."

Sophie's smile widened. She flicked her wand and a roast chicken leg appeared on the plate with corn and mashed potatoes on the side, gravy and all. She handed it to Harry.

"Here you go," she said.

Harry ate it hungrily. "How did you learn to conjure food?"

"I taught myself Conjuring spells when I was in the fourth year."

When Sophie said this, Harry nearly choked on the corn he was eating. She was worse than Hermione.

"What?!"

"Well, I was bored living in the Muggle world, so I decided to teach myself so that I wouldn't get too left behind once I got back. When I found out that none of you knew how, I didn't tell anyone."

"Why do you keep holding yourself back?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, no one knows how smart and incredibly talented you are. You don't share anything with anyone, and you waste most of your time and energy pretending that you're average and typical."

"That's who I desire to be."

"Eh?"

"I don't want to stand out," she said. "I don't want to be this talented and intelligent creature that everyone adores. I don't want to be the teachers' favorite, have half the people idolizing me, the other half jealous of me."

"You don't want to be yourself?" asked Harry, incredulous.

"Who does? Are you happy being the Boy Who Lived? Don't you sometimes wish that you were an unmarked man? Are you proud that you're being forced to learn Occlumency so that nobody else dies on your expense?"

"But that's different!"

"It is different, but it's just as real. Everyone wants to be somebody else. Hermione wants to be the most intelligent being anyone has seen, when she's probably as smart as Parvati Patil. Ron is at one point happy to be a prefect, but he's not against rule breaking. Ginny is known as the girl with many boyfriends, but the truth is that she's really a demure person at heart. I'm a Legilimens, Harry, I know all these things. I can break into their minds, as well as yours. Your desire not to be the Boy Who Lived is different from my desire not to be the most intelligent, talented student in Hogwarts, but that doesn't mean that what I want is less real than what you want. Ginny, Hermione, Ron and I have managed to project who we want to be, the mere illusion, the persons everyone else thinks we are. Unfortunately, you can't do that. Refusing to be you would mean the end of Wizardkind."

"But that's exactly my point! The person I don't want to be can't be changed, meaning that I would really want to desire being someone else. All of you can live normally without changing yourselves, but I'll have to either kill or be killed. I don't enjoy that burden. I'm sixteen, for Pete's sake!"

"True, but what I'm trying to say is that human nature is human nature. People will always want something else. Others want more, others want less, but it comes down to this: Very few people have learned to truly accept and like whom they truly are. I'm not ready to accept who I am yet, I doubt that anyone our age is."

Harry smiled and understood. He continued to eat what Sophie had conjured for him. He looked at her and saw her in a very different light. She wasn't ordinary. She was a girl who was almost too intelligent for comfort, trying her best to hold herself back, and constantly failing at it. She still stood out. He knew he shouldn't say anything; this was one of the moments when they knew perfectly about things, but didn't say anything, not because neither of them knew, but because these things would be better left unsaid. He looked at the clock, it was already one in the morning. He remembered what Sophie had told him that night she sat with him on the very couch he was seated on, the "irrelevant" information about herself.

"I'm fifteen, turning sixteen two days from now…"

It was already her birthday. He looked up at her and she didn't seem to notice that it was already her birthday. She actually didn't seem to care. Harry smiled at her once he swallowed his mouthful of mashed potatoes.

"Happy birthday, Sophie."

Sophie looked bewildered when he said this, then she looked at the clock. When she saw that it was already one in the morning, she seemed to realize that, yes, it was her birthday.

"Gosh, it already is my birthday! Thanks, Harry. You're the first person to greet me."

"No problem, Soph," he said. She laughed at the name he gave her. "I mean, it's the least I can do. You've been really good to me. You taught me Occlumency, gave me a portrait of Sirius, helped me move on and cope. You've got this way of lessening the intensity of my emotions when I'm really close to blowing up. You teach me stuff about life and stuff. You've made me understand the feelings that Hermione's been telling me about. I'm the one who's supposed to be thanking you."

Sophie smiled. "Thanks, Harry. You've become a part of me, too."

Harry then realized precisely what he was trying to tell her. He was trying to tell her how much she made an impact in his life. How she changed things. She didn't make things better or worse, but she made things different, and somehow, he knew that he was going to like this change. He then admired her for saying what he knew she knew was going on his head. He admired her for saying it fearlessly and straightforward, but she didn't sound like those heroines in the Muggle soap operas. She said things that meant so much very nonchalantly that they had a lighter feeling. He, of course, didn't say this. He didn't need too, for he knew that she knew.

Instead he said, "Yeah. You too."

When he finished what he was eating, they both went up in silence. Sophie brought Harry to his door.

"Er – goodnight," Harry said awkwardly. "And happy birthday – again."

Sophie laughed. "Thanks – again. Goodnight."

Harry got into bed and fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

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When Harry woke, Ron was almost dressed. Harry was still sleepy, but woke due to the fact that Sirius was shouting "WAKEY WAKEY LITTLE HARRY!!!" Harry got dressed and they both went down. Everyone was at the table and for once, Sophie wasn't drawing. Everyone (including Sirius' portrait) was singing "Happy Birthday". Ron, Harry, Ginny, and, to their surprise, Hermione joined everyone in singing. When everyone was done, Harry saw Hermione go near Sophie. He and Ron went near them.

"Sophie, I'm sorry for being such a know-it-all. I'll try to be better next time," Hermione said timidly.

"It's alright. I'm sorry for being mean. I'd like us to get along, seeing as we'll most probably be spending the year together."

"We are?"

"Yeah. I'm Harry's guard. I'll have to be with him the entire year. With the instructions Dumbledore gave me, I'm only this" she brought her forefinger and thumb so close together "close from being surgically attached to him."

They all laughed when she said this. Harry felt relieved. At least he wouldn't have a problem once they all got back to Hogwarts.

"I also feel sorry for you, you don't hang out with other girls," Sophie joked.

The sound of everyone's laughter made Harry feel good. It helped that there was no more tension in between Hermione and Sophie.

After hearing everyone happy, listening to Sirius' jokes, Harry felt so good that everything seemed better. Food tasted better, house looked cleaner, smell of flowers sweeter, that kind of thing. He ate more than the usual for breakfast, and had a broad grin on his face when everyone was done and just listening to Sirius. It was as if his godfather was still alive, just lost in a portrait. He was now telling everyone stories about his days with the Marauders, Lily and Sophie's mother, Serena. Lupin was also telling the story, and Harry was glad to see him with such a broad grin. He felt that after him, Lupin was the most affected by Sirius' death, seeing as they were friends since Merlin-knows-when.

Sophie looked very happy, she wasn't her usual mysterious self. She was laughing and reacted when Sirius would tell her what antics her mother used to play.

"…Serena and Lily may have been the best of friends, but they couldn't've been any more different. Serena was like a female James. She loved pranking everyone. She was the only one who was able to get all of us. I remember…"

After about half an hour, somebody entered Grimmauld Place. It was Professor Dumbledore. He was with a very small boy. He was olive-skinned with very dark hair. His eyes were oddly familiar…

They looked just like Sophie's.

Sophie ran to the little boy and embraced him. "Alexander! I wasn't expecting you for another week!"

Everyone greeted Dumbledore and Alexander. Alexander was Sophie's eleven-year-old brother. He was about to start Hogwarts. He had in his hand the letter that was given to all first-years. He showed this to his sister with pride. He also had Harry and Ron's O.W.L. results and everyone's booklists. Harry and Ron didn't open their results yet, but they told each other that they would open them together, after lunch. Once everyone had settled down, Professor Dumbledore spoke.

"I did not bring only Alexander. Somebody wanted to come and see his family and ask for their forgiveness. I hope that his family will be able to forgive him." He made a gesture to allow someone who was waiting outside to enter the house. There was a big gasp that came from everyone.

It was Percy.

His usually fixed hair seemed to be wilting, and his usually proud face looked humbled. He looked depressed. His usually fixed robes were disheveled. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out so he closed it.

Mr. Weasley, who was drinking water before Dumbledore announced this slammed his glass on the table, making a loud thud. Mrs. Weasley made an indistinguishable noise. It sounded like shrieking, snorting, sniffling, yelping and yelling at the same time. The twins, however, stood and roared with rage.

"WHAT?!"

"YOU LEAVE US FOR A YEAR, CALL HARRY AND DUMBLEDORE LIARS AND FOOLS, INSULT DAD, MAKE MUM GRIEVE FOR LIKE, FOREVER, SEND BACK YOUR CHRISTMAS JUMPER, DON'T EVEN VISIT DAD WHEN HE GETS BITTEN BY A MASSIVE SNAKE, TOTALLY TURN YOUR GODDAMN BACK AT US, AND NOW, NOW YOU ASK FOR FORGIVENESS?!"

Percy looked frightened when Fred and George roared at him like this. Everyone looked scared. Ginny and Ron looked at each other with frightened eyes. Hermione clutched her face, leaving very deep nail marks on her face. Alexander clung onto his elder sister, whose eyes were wide. Lupin was clutching onto the armrests of his chair while Sirius' portrait remained silent. It was clear that nobody there ever saw Fred and George react that way. Harry never knew that the twins felt like this towards Percy. He knew that, like the rest of the Weasleys, they felt resentment towards Percy, but an outburst like this was unexpected. Mr. Weasley broke the very uncomfortable silence.

"Fred, George, sit down. Percy, come in. Let's talk."

Fred and George looked disgusted as they reluctantly sat down and watched a frightened Percy Weasley enter the house. Percy looked nervous and frightened. He tried opening his mouth once more, but no sound came.

"P-P-Percy, l-let's talk, dear." Mrs. Weasley said, trying to stop herself from sobbing. Her face was very white, and she looked at her third son with a hurt look in her eyes. The look in her eyes was so hurt that Ginny and Hermione began to cry while Sophie clutched unto the sleeve of Harry's shirt for support. When Percy opened his mouth for the third time, sound finally came out.

"My Parents… Mother, Father… Mum, Dad… Fred, George," he said the twins' name softly. His voice became stronger when he continued to speak. "Harry, Ron, Ginny… Ginny, stop crying… I'm so, so sorry." The twins made to stand up and start yelling themselves hoarse again, but Mr. Weasley raised his hand warningly.

"I thought… I thought the Ministry was right. I-I thought that what I was doing was right. I wanted everyone to see what I thought was right. But most of all," he turned to his parents, "all I wanted was to make you proud, and I thought I did this when I got a high position in the Ministry."

Mrs. Weasley began to break down. She was sobbing uncontrollably, and Mr. Weasley began to pat her head. When he saw his parents in this state, the expression in Percy's eyes softened even more. He looked as though he wanted to put his arms around his parents, but stood rooted to the floor. When he continued to speak, his voice cracked.

"L-Lucius… He p-put me under the Imperius curse for so long… ever since Halloween… I've… I've wanted to go back since… for… ages. I-I should've fought it. He didn't realize the curse wore off that day Y-You-Know-Who was in the Ministry… An hour before he was there, Lucius tried to get me to join the Death Eaters. And when I refused… he… he t-tortured me w-with… Cruciatus…" Percy seemed to breaking down. He began shivering, as though recalling the pain of the Cruciatus Curse. When what Percy just said registered in Mrs. Weasley's mind, she ran to him and embraced him. Harry looked at Percy and realized that, despite what Percy told Ron about him, Percy deserved to be forgiven. Harry looked at Ron. He was becoming very, very pale. Ginny was sniffling while Hermione was dabbing her eyes with her handkerchief. Fred and George didn't look enraged, but Harry could tell that they weren't that ready to forgive Percy yet. Dumbledore, however, had a tender look in his eyes and somehow, Harry knew that things would be alright with the Weasleys. It wouldn't happen overnight, but slowly, Percy was going to earn the trust, forgiveness and acceptance of the other Weasleys.

Mrs. Weasley let go of her son, but she was still crying. Percy turned to his father. "Father, the Minister is asking – that is, if you're interested – if you'd like to take over Dolores Umbridge's post."

"I thought that he was going to give it to you," Mr. Weasley said.

"I refused last minute, because I told the Minister that someone else deserved it. I told him that that someone is you."

Mr. Weasley looked at his third son with a look in his eyes that said it all. He was proud of Percy, despite all the things that he did and said to him. Even if Percy said that the reason why they never had any money was because of Mr. Weasley's attitude, he knew that his son was worthy of forgiveness. Mr. Weasley embraced Percy, and Harry knew that Percy was finally forgiven.

"Well," said Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling, "I'd better get going. I'm still looking for a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Remus, are you sure you aren't up to it?"

Harry looked at Lupin. He knew that everyone else wanted him as teacher. Harry had every fiber of him hoping that Lupin would take the job. It didn't matter that he was a werewolf…

"Maybe I'll consider it. If you can't find anyone else I'll take the job. I need it, but I don't want to think about the parents of the students who don't want a werewolf teaching their children."

"I'll send you an owl if there's no one we can get." After Dumbledore said this, he Apparated. Everyone remained silent. No one felt like speaking after the entire incident.

"Well, why don't we have lunch? I'll cook, seeing as it's my birthday, so I'd like to choose the food… If you want, Sirius, I'll sketch food on your portrait, so you can join us in eating," said Sophie, breaking the silence.

"No, Sophie dear, I'll do it," Mrs. Weasley said, getting up, but Sophie refused.

"It's alright, Mrs. Weasley. I'd like to do it for once."

Sophie took her wand out and waved it. In a flash, the wooden table was enlarged like one of the tables in the Great Hall. The plates, silverware and goblets turned to gold. On the table were lots of food that made Harry's mouth water. There was roast beef, roast chicken, pork chops, lamb chops, steak, a roast pig, potatoes of all sorts: roast, boiled, baked, mashed and french-fried, peas, carrots and corn. Sophie then conjured a pencil and began to sketch all these food Sirius' portrait. Sirius, who looked very, very hungry, stepped aside as she drew. She then conjured oil paints. It was quite a sight to see them suspended in the air while she painted. When she was done, she said the two words that somehow brought everyone together.

"Tuck in!"

When everyone sat at the table to eat lunch, they all began to talk again. It was as if nothing happened. Percy and his father began to talk about Ministry goings-on, and everyone seemed relieved that there was no shouting. The conversations became more interesting as Moody, Tonks, Kingsley, Mundungus, McGonagall and Snape joined them for lunch. Snape looked at the portrait with loathing, but even Severus Snape could break the mood.

"I heard you're teaching Potter Occlumency. How is he?"

"Oh, he's fine, Professor Snape. He's learning pretty quick. I'm quite unable to see his memories."

"What technique did you use?"

"The meditation technique."

"Won't he have to learn the hard way after that?"

"He'll have a better start if he does this."

"What does he meditate on?"

"Quidditch."

"Typical. Just like his good-for-nothing father."

"I heard that Snivellus," Sirius said in a singsong voice. Snape made a sound of disgust and loathing before continuing with his meal. Harry smiled at his plate. The portrait Sirius was really great.

When everything was cleared up, Harry and Ron went up to their room and took a look at their O.W.L. results. They agreed that Harry would read his aloud, then Ron.

"Transfiguration, O" Harry looked incredulous when he read this "Charms, O; Defense Against the Dark Arts, O; Astronomy, A; Care of Magical Creatures, O; Herbology, E; History of Magic, P; Potions" Harry had a shocked look when he said this "O; Divination, T."

"Wicked! Let's read mine, then. Transfiguration, O; Charms, O; Defense Against the Dark Arts, O; Astronomy, A; Care of Magical Creatures, E; Herbology, E; History of Magic, P; Potions, O; Divination, T."

"Cool! We'll be together in all out N.E.W.T. classes!"

"Yeah… I thought Fred and George were only joking about the T's, though."

"Yeah, well, if T's didn't exist before, I suppose they had to make a new letter for our Divination results!"

They both laughed. Just then, there was a knock on the door. Sophie and Hermione were the ones knocking.

"We're going to Diagon Alley to get all our new stuff," said Sophie. "Would you guys like to come?"

"Alright," said Ron. He had Harry folded their O.W.L. results and placed them on the dresser. They went downstairs and prepared to go to Diagon Alley.

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A/N: Okay, I'm really sorry if that was a total waste, but I'm still going through writer's block. I hope you got to appreciate it, and… yeah… that's pretty much it.

Please review!!