Disclaimer: Not mine, anything else you recognise probably isn't mine either but I never know for sure since I've read so many stories that I can't tell anymore whether or not it was my idea in the first place.

Author's Notes: Well, I know I'm not what you call reliable when updating but for all those out there who don't believe me ... I am going to finish this - all seven years of the twins schooling ... it might just take some time. ^_^

As for not updating, I have been really ill for two whole weeks and couldn't even walk straight without needing to support myself on something to keep me from swaying and blacking out. Now I'm better and can actually start working on fanfiction again.

Too bad that I have to work eight hours a day *sigh* Real life sometimes sucks but hey, the money got to come from somewhere right? Sorry but I'm not going to do any Review Responses this time or until I know what's going on with that being forbidden from now on.

Therefore I just wish to say thanks to all those who left me a comment. I love you guys, really made my day.

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Chapter 11 - Duelling Club and Revelations or Parsel and Attack No.2

"You ought to ask them about that. They did it!" Filch all but shouted at them.

Once again Carya said something rather strange and shocked everyone with the nickname for their feline friend.

"Professor Dumbledore, I swear we didn't do anything to Norri," she said firmly and earned surprised and curious looks, "She's been a very good friend to us whenever we got lost during the last two years. We would never do anything that would mean any harm to her," she said with a sad tone in her voice.

Harry and Draco nodded but Cat just stared ahead. She didn't know what this was about at all.

"I see, Miss Williams, do you have something to add?" the headmaster asked but Cat shook her head.

"I don't really know either Mister Filch or his cat that well, professor," she said.

"Would you four care to explain what you were doing up here when you should have been down at the feast?" demanded McGonagall sternly.

"That is quite an interesting question Minerva. Can you tell us?" added Dumbledore a bit more gentle than his deputy.

"We've been in the Survival Room. Doing a bit of additional training as a kind of stress reliever because ...," Carya started but suddenly was unable to continue, so Harry did.

"... because of the day this one is. I think you're all aware what we're referring to. We just aren't in the mood to celebrate Halloween like anyone else. It has always been this way," he told them.

"Yes, and I seriously doubt this will change until we know that 'Mister I-want-to-rule-the-world' aka 'Ugly Snakeface' is gone for good," Carya put in sarcastically but with a pained look on her face.

The teachers were shocked at this since they had never considered that the mere date would bother the children so much. They had after all only been one year old when their parents died. Draco told his professors that he had been with them as their adopted brother and best friend.

Cat didn't have a really good explanation. She had gotten lost when the staircases had changed on her. The girl still had some problems of getting around in the castle and when she'd finally reached a familiar corridor Peeves had appeared and chased her through the hallways.

But she told them anyway. This got her some raised eyebrows but no one said anything. Severus immediately thought about setting up a recording spell to the Survival Room. That way they would know who had been in there and for how long as every entry and exit would be recorded.

Harry continued their own explanation, "We were just on our way down to the dungeons and to the kitchen too because we were and still are pretty exhausted. And we didn't really feel like going into the Great Hall where everyone was cheerfully celebrating Halloween, sir," the boy said.

"Well I see that you have a good reason for being here but I must ask you to return to your Common Rooms now and stay there until tomorrow morning.

Luckily we can cure Mrs. Norris quite easily as Professor Sprout has been successful in procuring some mandrakes," the headmaster told and Snape quarrelled with Lockhart about who would make the potion.

The children left towards their Common Rooms and the twins contemplated whether they should or should not tell Dumbledore about the voice they'd heard.

/It sounded strangely familiar, Harry. Just like Parsel, don't you think/ she asked her brother.

/Yeah, you're right. But as Draco has already told us. We can't reveal this to anyone. They would instantly suspect us. Remember, although we do have a witness, namely Draco, and a reasonable excuse for being there we were at crime's site,/ he relied.

/Okay, you win. I still think it would have been a good idea to tell them now and not later. Well, we can think this over, can't we/ she said not really expecting an answer.

Draco was musing over the person that really could've done it. It had to be someone who's family supported the Pureblood theories - like his father did. But he didn't have access to the school or did he? As much as Draco thought about that he didn't find a clue.

The rumours started flying around the very same evening. Many believed that they were indeed guilty of the whole petrifying thing but didn't mind that much because almost everyone except the friends hated Filch as well as his cat.

Over the next week people kept giving them odd glances but they simply ignored them. Hermione often stayed with Cat now supporting the girl. The three Slytherin's were more worried about Ginny than about the rumours. She had become even paler and looked as if she were sick all the time.

Of course no one could get her to go to the infirmary. She plainly refused to go, stating that she was just tired from studying so much. The friends just shook their heads at Ginny's stubbornness. Not even the Gryffindor's were this stubborn when it came to their health but then again, this was Ginny Weasley.

During the week the teachers decided that they would open a Duelling Club for all students who wanted to participate. Carya, Harry, Draco and Hermione of course went there on the next Saturday which was November 6th.

Everyone was assembled in the Great Hall and they were shocked to find out that Lockhart had been the one who opened the Club. He lamely told them that Snape was 'assisting him'. At that most students but especially all Slytherin's snorted.

After an impressive display of the disarming charm between Snape and Lockhart they were paired up and told to duel each other with harmless spells. Carya worked with Draco and Harry with Hermione. They did quite well or so they thought. That is until Lockhart thought they weren't doing it right.

He wanted a pair to duel with each other and unfortunately called Ron Weasley and Harry Potter to show the others. They were told to just disarm their opponent but when Ron started throwing different curses Harry retaliated. He had been able to dodge the first few and now he fought back.

One of the seventh year Gryffindor's whispered something towards Ron and the boy started smirking. Harry wasn't exactly worried. He was god at duelling and had all advantages on his side. But he still wasn't prepared for the particular hex Ron used next.

"Serpensortia!" the Gryffindor yelled and a huge black snake shot out of his wand.

It slithered straight into Harry's direction but stopped midways when a Hufflepuff was pushed close to the podium. It was Justin Finch-Fletchley and he was frightened to the core. Harry then did something unexpected.

Instead of standing calmly like he had when the snake came his way he started talking to it. But not in English, no he used Parsel to lure the furious animal away from Justin. Of course no one noticed anything than him speaking Parsel or else they would have seen the snake calm down before it was banished by Snape.

They just gaped at Harry and started whispering. Carya was looking slightly concerned and Draco did the same. Snape just stared with his usual unreadable expression. Harry stepped down and everyone backed away from him as if he had a disease.

Carya then proceeded to glare at those students. Hell some of them even were Slytherin's. She and Draco as well as Hermione accompanied Harry outside. They went towards the Quidditch pitch to talk.

"Holy Slytherin, Harry. Did you really have to do that?" asked Draco.

"He had to, Draco. You didn't understand what she was saying. She was going to strike and would've killed Justin if Harry hadn't calmed her down. You already know how Parsel sounds and the two of you should have noticed the soft undertones Harry used to calm her," Carya explained,

"Although I wished he hadn't had to reveal this, you know? Have you seen them? Even the Slytherin's looked at us strangely," she continued.

"Well, let's go to the library and relax a bit, okay?" Hermione suggested and together they went inside.

On their way towards their usual table they overheard some Hufflepuff's talking.

"... you know, Justin is pretty scared right now. He slipped once and told Potter of him being a Muggle-born," Ernie McMillan said.

"Yeah and we all know what happened to Filch's cat. I think the animal got it because Potter had some trouble with Filch and just wanted revenge on him ...," Hannah Abbott told her friends.

"And where is Justin right now?" asked another one.

"Told him to hide in the dorms and lie low for a while. No one knows who's next ..." Ernie replied.

That was enough. Carya asked Madam Pince if they could come later that day to retrieve the books they'd wanted and when she agreed the friends left the library towards the dungeons for their new extra course.

It was Advanced Potions which was required if they wanted to participate in some of the later stages of Survival Class. They didn't get into the dungeon. On their way there they found the ghost of Gryffindor and - Justin.

Both had been petrified just like Filch's cat. Peeves spotted them and began yelling around and screaming bloody murder. Immediately people were coming down the hallways and spotted the friends at a similar site than the last one.

Only difference - this time Hermione was with them. Everyone eyed the twins suspiciously, especially those who had witnessed the snake-incident not even half an hour ago. Snape was one of the teachers who had been there the fastest.

McGonagall managed to somehow get Justin and the ghost to the infirmary while Snape and Dumbledore were bringing the students towards the headmasters office. Each of the teens felt uneasy even though they knew that they were innocent.

"Harry, Carya, Draco and Hermione. Can you explain what happened down there?" Albus asked with a solemn expression on his face.

"We don't know sir, we were on our way to Advanced Potions when Hermione stumbled and the next thing we saw was that Justin lay right in front of us. We didn't do anything and we haven't seen him since the Duelling Club, sir," Harry said.

No one got to say anything more because an out of breath librarian cut them short, "Headmaster those four can't have done anything, sir. Not even five minutes before they found Justin Finch-Fletchley they had been in the library asking me about the books they'd wanted to take out," Madam Pince said in their defence and the kids gave her a small smile.

"I don't think the children had anything to do with this Irma. You can go back to the library. There is nothing to worry about," Albus soothed the woman.

She gave the children one last smile and left the room.

"Do you have something to tell us?" Albus asked the four but they shook their heads. There wasn't anything they could tell right now.

The headmaster dismissed them and they went down towards the Great Hall because it was time for lunch. Since they hadn't had Survival today because of the introduction they should have gotten in Advanced Potions it was still early.

~*~*~ The Great Hall - near Gryffindor table ~*~*~

When he heard the Hall go silent Ron looked around. He immediately spotted the twins, Draco and Hermione by the entrance of the Great Hall and he lost it then. Justin might have been a Hufflepuff and he was a Muggle-born wizard but he was still a fellow student.

"I bet it was you! Just like you did with Filch's cat! What else to expect from someone like you. Stop denying that. You can't be anything as Slytherin's heir. You even speak Parsel," the boy yelled at Harry.

"And you had already tried to kill Justin in the duelling Club. You ..." Ron had to stop when he was interrupted by a furious female voice.

"You think you know so much Weasley? Let me tell you something. We aren't at fault, yes we. And Parsel is just another language by the way. You have no idea. Want to know how it sounds when you're threatened in Parsel, eh? Well, I can show you that ..." Carya suddenly shouted at Ron Weasley.

She was scowling and glaring at the red-head all the time and looked quite menacing that way but the language she used next made her flat out scary, even more so than at the time when she had red eyes from a potion.

~You Gryffindork ssssorry, good for nothing excusssse of a wizzzzard! Just wait until I find a nicccce cursssse to throw at you. You'll get yourssss, that'ssss for ssssure!~ she then yelled venomously in Parsel.

The surrounding people were shocked to the core. Even Snape who had been there the last time hadn't missed how different it sounded from what Harry had said during the duelling club. This sounded more than scary.

And they were equally shocked to discover that Carya as well was a Parselmouth. They had assumed that it was only Harry.

"What did you just say, Carya?" asked Draco gaping at the revelation of her talent.

"I basically told him that I can't stand him and that he's an idiot. Only a bit more colourful and with a little threat thrown into it." Carya answered smirking evilly and then glared at Ron.

She knew that hadn't been the best idea but she also knew that she couldn't let anyone insult her family and especially her twin-brother like that. Draco just shook his head and grinned at his adopted sister.

He could imagine what she'd said but didn't voice it. The onlookers were still too stunned to do anything when Carya spoke next.

"You coming Draco? You should go find Ginny and I'll go with Harry and Hermione, okay? We'll meet in our usual place then," the girl told him and left with her head held high since she was anything but ashamed of her gift.

"I can't believe that she's just ignoring all of them. That girl has nerve ..." Draco muttered under his breath and did as she'd asked.

But one of the surrounding had heard him. It was Severus Snape. He was currently trying to figure out whether or not to think that the twins had been behind the attacks. It was unlikely because one of their best friends was indeed a Muggleborn and they themselves had a Muggleborn mother.

~*~*~ Severus Snape POV ~*~*~

'Now I know why they bought those snakes in Diagon Alley their first year. They could simply talk to them. It's slowly making sense. I wonder how long they could do this. Did they even know what they were? Perhaps I should talk to Albus about this.

The twins didn't seem ashamed of their abilities, especially Carya. Harry seemed more shocked that he'd slipped than ashamed too. I 'm curious if the girl knows just how frightening she sounds when she's threatening someone like that Weasley boy in the hallway a few minutes ago.

Harry sounded more gentle than her in the duelling club. Now I understand his explanation better. It does sound different. I don't think they were lying on this. That's just not their style. A remnant of their Gryffindor father, I presume.

Well, it certainly is good that those two have a Muggleborn for a best friend. It takes away some of the pressure,' I thought and decided to pay Albus a little visit. I walked up to the headmasters office when he came walking into my direction.

"Ah, Severus, just the person I was looking for. Do you think we could talk for a minute?" Dumbledore asked and I followed him towards his office.

"Tell me Severus, what do you think of this?" Albus said once they were seated.

"I don't know headmaster. I don't think the Potters would try to kill their fellow students let alone only the Muggleborn ones. You have to remember that one of their best friends is a Muggleborn too.

But then there is the fact of them speaking Parsel. I know that it is highly uncommon and that people will think the worst. Especially because they seem to be proud of this trait too. It might probably be the best to inform their guardians," I told him spitting out the last word.

"That has already happened. Sirius and Remus will be here after breakfast tomorrow. We'll have a little chat with the children after dinner tonight.

Would you mind being present on both occasions? I know you don't like Mister Black and Mister Lupin but the twins are in your house, Severus," the older wizard remarked matter of factly.

"Fine, I'll be there. Good day, Albus," I said stiffly and left the office.

I wasn't very appealing to meet the two canines but I had no choice. Later I realised that we didn't see the twins or one of their friends again for the whole afternoon. They must've found a really good hiding place.

~*~*~ End Severus Snape POV ~*~*~

~*~*~ Meanwhile in the Founder's Chambers ~*~*~

"I can't believe it. They're so ... arrgh ... stupid idiots. As if we would do such a thing. And to Norri of all beings. She's our friend. Even that Hufflepuff is not that bad. What do they think we are? Voldemort's grandchildren or something like that?" Carya ranted and paced the library.

Hermione was sitting on the couch next to Harry and the boy had his right arm around her back. Draco sat on an armchair to their left. Ginny wasn't there. They hadn't seen her since breakfast. The Weasley girl was acting really weird since they'd returned to school.

She had become even more withdrawn than before and refused to talk to them when she separated herself like that. When Draco heard Carya's last statement he flinched slightly. He hated the Dark Lord more than anything but still couldn't bear hearing his name spoken out loud.

"Eh, Carya, I know that too but would you mind not saying his name out loud?" Draco inquired carefully. It had been a bad idea since she was pretty angry right now.

"Draco, for Slytherin's sake what your problem! It's just a stupid name, okay? There's nothing special about it. You of all people should know that. It's stupid to fear someone because of a name, isn't it?

You fear your father for what he's capable of not because his name is Malfoy, right? ..." Carya yelled and immediately regretted it when she saw Draco's pale face.

"I ... I'm sorry Draco, terribly sorry. I really shouldn't have said that," she told him softly and pulled the shaking boy into a sisterly hug.

This was still a sore spot for Draco. He still hadn't told them about his escape and she strongly suspected that it hadn't been a smooth one - quite the opposite.

"It's okay. I ... I should've told you already but I ... can't. I'm not ready for ..." he said but Carya cut him short.

"I know Draco. Don't worry. You're as much my brother as Harry is. I can wait until you're ready. If someone should apologise then it's me. I'll try and refer to, eh ... the Dark Lord as 'Snakeface' or 'Voldie' okay?

That shouldn't affect you too much. But I absolutely refuse to use that 'You-Know-Who-Nonsense'," she soothed the boy and Draco nodded.

"Well, we do know that we didn't attack those students but we can't prove otherwise either. I mean, Slytherin lived over thousand years ago right? There's hardly a way to prove that we aren't descendants from his family, or is there?" Harry asked uncomfortable.

"There is, but we don't have the required objects for the spell / potion combination. We'd need a family heirloom of both Mum and Dad's family. We have Dad's invisibility cloak but we don't have anything of Mum's," Carya told them.

"Harry, look, there's an owl waiting outside," Hermione said and everyone looked to the window.

Harry went over to the window and untied the note from the owls leg. She gave a soft hoot and flew away. It had been a school owl. The Hogwarts crest had been clearly visible.

"What does the note say?" asked the Potter girl.

"We are to meet Dumbledore in his office after dinner. You know, I don't want to go to dinner. I'm not really hungry anymore," Harry explained.

"Eh, Draco, Hermione, would you accompany us? It would be good to have someone with us who actually thinks we're innocent," she asked and both her friends agreed.

"You know? I wonder when they'll inform Moony and Padfoot about this, "Hermione remarked before they settled into a comfortable silence. They didn't talk much for the rest of the afternoon. The kids just sat there and relaxed or distracted themselves by reading books.

Suddenly Carya had an idea, " Hey, why don't we ask Salazar how we could find out our family tree? I mean, his portrait is in the hallway, isn't it? And he always has some advice for us,"

The other three nodded and they left the private library.

"Hello my young friends, what can I do for you today?" the portrait asked when they stood before him. It had taken a while until he had voluntarily offered information to the group.

"Good evening, Salazar. We were wondering if you could help us. We wanted to perform the 'Familiaris Charm'. We can manage the spell and the potion but we don't have the required objects. Do you know a way to find a true family heirloom if you have no idea what it could be?" Carya asked him and the portrait appeared to be in deep thought.

"Hm, difficult indeed, young Lady. But there might be a way. It would require absolute concentration and a strong belief in magic. From what I've seen of you all you do have the required power and training. It is an incantation that has to be performed in a place free of magical wards.

Meaning you have to be outside the Hogwarts grounds to successfully complete it. Strongly picture the parent whose heirloom you are looking for in your mind and under no circumstances loose the image. Then you have to cast the spell.

The wand movement is a counter-clockwise infinity loop. The incantation is 'Appareo Heredis Mea Familia'. But be careful, it is dangerous if you don't meet the exact requirements!" explained Salazar concerned about the children's welfare.

"Don't worry Salazar. I will succeed!" Carya stated firmly and bowed slightly towards the picture.

He was quite pleased by that. Salazar liked the children who often came and visited the Founder's personal chambers as did his three colleagues.

"Well, we have to be off. Dinner is just over and our presence is required in the headmasters office. Good Night, Lord Slytherin," she added and the children left a very pleased portrait behind.

~*~*~ Slytherin's Portrait POV ~*~*~

'Ah, what a polite young Lady - her brother and friends too. It has been a long time since I met someone like them. The younger portrait of myself near my Common room once met one of my descendants but he was not what I would expect of them. Well, perhaps someone else will be ... I should meet with Godric and discuss these young ones with him sometime.'

~*~*~ End Slytherin's Portrait POV ~*~*~

(A/N: I know this was kind of, eh ... silly, but it was fun *evilgrin*. We don't know what the moving portraits really do, do we? I've never really seen a portrait's POV before, so ...! Do they even think? ^_^)

Ten minutes later the children stood in front of the gargoyle that guarded the entrance to Dumbledore's office. The children tried to guess the password and succeeded after a short time.

"Eh, Jelly Beans? ... Cockroach Clusters? ... Lemon Drops? ... Smarties? ... What, that was it? The headmaster is really weird, don't you think?" Carya said and the other three nodded.

The four children went upstairs and knocked on the door.

"Come in!" said a voice.

"Good evening headmaster. You wanted to talk to us?" stated Harry.

"Ah, yes, do have a seat. May I ask why Mister Malfoy and Miss Granger are with you," Albus asked but caught them staring at Professor Snape.

Carya instantly went defensive. Her indifferent mask slid into place and a slight narrowing of her eyes showed that she was a little angry as well.

"Sorry sir, but it seems we are not the only ones who invited someone else. To answer your question. We believe it would be good for us to have someone here who isn't neutral or against our case but rather stands completely behind us," she said more icy than intended.

If this shocked Dumbledore then he didn't show it. He hadn't thought that Severus' presence would disturb the children that much.

"Well it's settled then. Please have a seat. Harry, Carya, I have to tell you that your guardians had to be informed of the situation. They will be here tomorrow after breakfast. I ask you to come up here around that time too. You will be excused from your first classes," the headmaster explained calmly.

Both he and Severus noticed the change in the children. Hermione seemed uncomfortable while the twins and Draco's faces were set into stone. No emotion betrayed their facial features. Only Carya's eyes told the tale.

It was the only thing that usually gave away what she was feeling or thinking. Should she get that under control no one would be able to read her in the future. She seemed convinced that they thought her and Harry guilty. This had to be changed.

"Carya, Harry, there is no need to be afraid. I don't think you are behind those attacks but unfortunately there are some facts that point in your direction. The quarrel with Justin for instance, the fact that you are able to speak Parsel and that the two of you have been sorted into Slytherin," the headmaster said and looked at his students.

The girl was as always the first to gather up enough courage to say something. Glaring and desperately trying to stay calm and polite she told them what she thought about the whole thing.

"With all due respect headmaster. Others did fight with Finch-Fletchley too, Slytherin's at that. Us being in Slytherin is a totally personal matter and has nothing to do with our views on the world. And lastly, Parsel is nothing but just another language.

Only difference is, that it can't be learned by normal means. You are or are not able to speak it. I for one am proud to have such a rare talent. Everyone always expects the two of us to be 'special' ...," she said and spat out the word 'special' as if it was dirt before continuing,

"... and when we show something that is indeed special we get shunned. That, headmaster, is more than hypocritical of those people!"

Snape had his eyebrows raised at that. Were he a normal teacher he would have shook his head and just ignored the girls comment but he wasn't. She meant what she said and was indeed proud to be a Parselmouth.

Albus saw that too. They firmly believed in their own innocence and refused to be ashamed of their abilities. A rare thing to find but it was a dangerous attitude to have if the ministry were to find out about them just now.

Of course, the twins wouldn't get thrown into Azkaban, not without a trial, but you couldn't give them Veritaserum at this age. Therefore they would most likely be suspended from school for the time being if not expelled.

"That might be true Miss Potter but I have to ask you to lie low for the next weeks or until the culprit is caught. Do you understand this?" Albus asked the kids.

"Yes professor, I do understand," they stated in unison and Carya added mumbling angrily, "but that doesn't mean I have to like it or take all insults with a smile and ignore them completely although I'll try my best."

Both adults faces softened at that statement. They knew how much of a temper the young Potter girl had, just like her mother, and that it was difficult for her to stay calm sometimes.

"You may return to your common rooms now. Oh, and it would be wise to stay around people. Meaning either the Great Hall, the Library or your Common Rooms. That way if there are any other attacks, no one can suspect you two," Dumbledore added just before the four children left the office.

The children immediately went to their respective Common Rooms and bade each other good-night. Only the twins were conversing telepathically about the previous conversation.

/Do you think he believes us, Carya/ asked Harry.

/Don't know, Dumbledore is difficult to read. But I don't think he believes that we did do it either. This is frustrating. No founders Chambers the next couple of weeks then I guess/ answered the girl.

/You're right. Thankfully there's a Hogsmeade weekend next week. We can stay in the town all day, away from them. Perhaps we should go into the Shrieking Shack? No one would look for us there. I do hope Moony and Padfoot will be on our side/ Harry sent.

/Are you nuts? Of course they will support us. They know that we don't go around killing Muggle-borns. They knew about us speaking Parsel and know how it sounds pretty well. We'll show them what you said to the snake should Snape be there tomorrow.

He will be able to tell if there is a difference from the last time and then Siri and Remy shall say what it sounded like. You'll see, we can convince Dumbledore that you just wanted to help/ Carya ranted in her mind.

Both of them went to bed after that and for the first time since the end of second year had their most hated nightmare. They both awoke around three in the morning unable to go back to sleep that night. Draco noticed Harry getting up and followed him to the Common Room.

It was the first time he saw the twins act like that. True Harry and Carya had had nightmare's throughout first year too, but it hadn't been this bad then. Harry sat on the couch with Carya in his arms. The girl seemed to be crying.

"It's so unfair, Harry. Why do they always blame everything bad on us? Don't we deserve a fair chance too? I hate nights like this, you know? This nightmare is going to drive me crazy one time. How I want to kick that snakefaced git's butt only to show him what I think of his ideas," she murmured and Harry continued holding her.

"It's alright, sis, we know we didn't do anything and our friends believe us. Let the others rot in hell if they can't see the truth. ... You can come down here Draco. No need to hide. You're part of our family now," Harry said softly and then turned towards the stairs.

Draco bit his lip but walked over to them. Carya now sat beside Harry and gave them a small smile.

"It's really good to have two protective brother's you know? That way I don't get into trouble as much as I used to," she joked lightly and that made the boys smile too.

"I think it's time that I tell you of my escape. I don't want Ginny or Hermione to know right now but you should know. You were right, you're my family now," Draco stated, cast a strong silencing spell and began to tell them.

"You see, at the end of last year I went to Dumbledore and told him of my fears. It took me a long time to gather enough courage for that and the process that lead there had started around christmas. You and the other two were the cause of that.

You stayed my friends when I was a total asshole. It made me think about my life. I realised that I never wanted to be like Lucius and Dumbledore helped me form a plan. I got permission to do magic a week into the holidays without my 'father' knowing of it.

At home my plans were interrupted by an evening full of Pansy Parkinson but the next day I started as unsuspicious as I could to pack my belongings. On June 20th I finally had the chance. My parents were both out of the house and I only had the house-elves to worry about.

I grabbed everything I wanted to take with me and left. But I didn't get very far unnoticed. One of the elves found me at the gates and my 'father' who had just come home heard her. He yelled at me what I was doing outside with my bags but I didn't listen. He ... he cursed me," Draco stopped for the first time and swallowed hard.

The twins only gaped slightly but looked encouraging at him without comment. He continued, "... I managed to activate the portkey the Headmaster had given me and soon after landed in 'Diagon Alley'. I quickly went into the 'Leaky Cauldron' and floo-ed over to the 'Three Broomsticks' here in Hogsmeade.

That is where the Headmaster was waiting for my arrival because I had sent him the note telling what I was going to do. He brought me here and I had to be treated in the hospital wing. It was a cutting hex, Carya," he said and took a deep breath before going on.

"Naturally my 'father' found out where I was and on the 23rd he came here. Dumbledore somehow managed to get him to sign a guardianship agreement which stated I wouldn't be going back to him but he couldn't disown me. I don't know why he can't though. Dumbledore wouldn't explain it," Draco told them.

"Let me guess, brother, he said he couldn't tell you until you're old enough?" asked Carya and Draco nodded, grinning shyly.

By then all three were smiling a bit and settled for talking about Quidditch and Hexes for the remainder of the night. Not one of them knew that in the third year dorms a girl was having a nightmare. Asking for help and begging someone to leave her alone.

The child was crying in her sleep and the only sentence one could've understood was: 'Please, someone has to stop him ... and me too.'

The next morning the twins and their friends didn't even bother to go to the Great Hall. They went straight to the kitchen and then waited until breakfast was over. They didn't really want to face their guardians but they knew they had to.

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Please Read and Review,

Carya

2005-10-01