Both boys share a look before they fix their appearances and follow the Professors out into the corridors. They receive many strange looks from passing students. Why was two boys being escorted by two of the most powerful Professors and the headmaster himself?

Dumbledore stops in front of the griffin and says the password then watches as it moves aside to reveal the stairs. He motions for the two boys to go first. Not wanting to lose track of them again.

James is the first to go up the stairs. His brother following close behind him. He pushes the office door open and steps inside. It hadn't changed. The moving portraits of previous headmasters still covered the walls. He shivers. He didn't want to be here.

Luke follows close behind his brother and lays a hand on his shoulder after seeing him shiver. He knew what his brother was thinking. And he too have to refrain from letting a shiver slide down his spine.

Dumbledore removes the sorting hat from its resting place and sits down behind his desk, laying the hat on top.

"Sir. I think the two boys should be sent back to their original houses. Its only fair." Snape says coldly as he shuts the door and a click is heard as he locks it.

Dumbledore smiles softly. "I do not think it is fair, Severus. The boys have chanced so they must have the right to be resorted. James. You shall be first."

James nods and walks over beside Dumbledore. The hat is placed onto his head and it begins to speak:

"Interesting. Very interesting. In all the time that I have been the sorting hat here at Hogwarts, I've never come across a student who didn't wish to be here. But you, James, are an exception to that. You wish to be in the same house as your brother. Don't worry. Twins are usually sorted into the same house. They, after all, posses a bond that most people do not understand. But where to put you. Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw are definitely out. Even though you have a very bright mind. You do not wish to be in Slytherin because of your lack of trust in their head of house. And you dislike Gryffindor because of everything that has happened to you. But things will look up, dear boy. So it better be GRYFFINDOR!" The hat bellows.

James looks horrified as the hat is removed from his head. He joins his brother off to the side. He didn't feel like talking right now.

Without being asked Luke heads over and stands where his brother was just moments ago. The hat is lowered onto his head and it begins to speak:

"Ah. Another one who does not wish to be here. I hope this is not a growing trend. You also wish to be with your brother. Like minds think alike. Is what I always say. You also have a very bright mind. But yours slightly differs from your twin. You not only have the twin bond but you have another bond to your brother. One I have not seem in many centauries. I expect that we will be seeing great things from both of you. This is also very difficult. Again I rule out Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. You do not wish to be in Slytherin because of what you've become and you dislike Gryffindor because of everything that has happened to your brother. Loyalty is a great thing among siblings and you two have a great deal of it. So I think you will do well in GRYFFINDOR!" The hat again bellows out before it falls silent.

Luke grins as the hat is removed from his head. He bounds over to his brother. "Told ya you wouldn't get rid of me that easily, Jamie. Your stuck with me." He gives his brother a hug.

James smiles. Things were looking up. "What have I always said, Luke. Us twins have to stick together no matter what."

Dumbledore watches the scene before him. Both of the boys acted perfectly as brothers. Twins at that. Two enemies who were now closer than anyone could know. Who would of thought? The sorting hat had said that they had a bond that hasn't been seen for centauries. What could it be? Could each boy be the same yet different? The sorting hat went along with their act. Which was odd. "Your arrival will be announced at dinner tonight. Is there anything special that you wish me to tell them about you two?"

Luke nods. "We both have American Accents. I suggest that you mention the fact that we were born and raised in Salem, Massachusetts. Our mother was a muggle born Witch who was in Gryffindor and our father was from a long line of Irish Wizards and also a Gryffindor. Our mother and father left the wizarding world because they wanted us to be raised magic free. But when we were eight we stumbled upon our fathers wand and they decided to introduce us to very little magic. They died a year ago in a muggle car accident and the American Ministry referred us to Hogwarts, since Salem Institute for Magical Learning is over crowded and our parents are original from England." Luke finishes. "You can tell them anything from what I have told you."

Dumbledore blinks. They had a whole story about their lives planned out. "Is there anything else?"

James chuckles. "We are registered with the American Ministry and we check in every month. You better contact them and inform them of our stay here. Our scholarships will also have to be put on hold until we get out of here and back home."

Professor McGonagall who has been quietly through all of this speaks. "You two have your pasts planned out? That must of taken some time. And what is a scholarship?"

Luke looks at the elderly professor. "When we first left Hogwarts. We have no idea what to do. But we knew that we had to get away. So we decided on America where we met a very nice couple. They helped us out with everything. Quinn and Bridget O'Reilly adopted us as their own since they couldn't have kids. Quinn's brother is the American Minister of Magic. We check in every month because we have dinner with him and his family since he is our uncle. He makes sure that we stay on the right track. And since mom and dad died last month..he has been overly protective of us." Luke looks at his hands.

James offers his brother a sad smile. " A scholarship gives money to people to further their education if they are outstanding in something. Luke and I got two from the Ministry after we helped them out. Plus we took and finished two advanced magic courses that lasted for 3 months. We got top of our class so they rewarded us. We've also been accepted to Salem Center of Higher Magical Learning and Advanced Magical Techniques." He can't help the pride that enters his voice.

McGongall blinks. She had heard of Salem Center. It was a very prestigious Magical school. They didn't let just anyone in. The applicants went through a very strict testing system that you had to score perfect through out it all. It was damn near impossible. "May I ask what your scores were on the entrance exams?"

Luke smirks. "We both scored a straight twenty-four hundred. We are the highest scorers in over three-hundred years according to Headmaster Strawed. He came personally to our house to award us with the scores. Mom and Dad were proud. We were proud." He smiles over at his brother.

Dumbledore's eyes widen just a bit. He had also heard of Salem Center. It was rumored that Merlin himself had set the center up hundreds of years ago. He didn't feel that it was fair to exclude the others who had magical abilities. It started out like Hogwarts but it grew to include only the best and brightest students. The testing system was set up to challenge the applicants. To see if they could go beyond their boundaries, successfully.

James sighs. "We never used magic. We just studied it. We knew that it could be tracked. So we did everything that included magic but didn't need it to be used. That's why we got in. We developed a good study habit. Surprising, isn't it. Even more surprising is that fact that I like studying magic. I've learned more in the past five months than I have in the seven years that I've attending this school...or rather six years since we left before the year really began."

"Do you still see us as unable to protect ourselves, Professor?" Luke asks with a smirk on his face.

Dumbledore clears his throat. "As I have said before, you will be introduced at dinner tonight. Sadly half the student population is away on break since they did not receive one in December. Another announcement will me made in one week. When the students return. Please feel free to explore the castle. Several classes are being taught to those who have stayed here. Your welcome to sit in on any of those classes." He claps his hands and makes two complete Gryffindor outfits appear. "I suggest you change. You don't want your peers asking too many questions. You may go." He motions to Snape to unlock the door, which he does with a scowl on his face.

James walks over and picks the robe up, slipping it on over his muggle uniform. He looks over at Luke who was doing the same. Both boys exit, tie in hand.