Two brothers, two orphans, two paths but one single journey

"What the hell was Rodulphus Lestrange doing in Hogsmeade when he is supposed to be rotting in Azkaban with Bellatrix and Rabastan Lestrange?" Harry fumed. It was past midnight, and Harry sat with Ron, Ginny, Hermione, Tonks, Remus, and Sirius.

"I'm willing to bet there has been an Azkaban breakout," Sirius said.

"Either the Ministry is trying to hush the Daily Prophet and hide this info, or the Ministry has lost control over the Dementors and Azkaban prison." Remus shook his head.

"I had just finished my night shift near Smeltings and had just gotten home when I heard of the Hogsmeade attack! I immediately rushed to fight. That Malfoy boy, I'm ashamed to call him my cousin, is a bloody Death Eater just like his bloody father, that Lucius bastard!" Tonks raged.

"Aye, aye! So am I!" Sirius agreed with Tonks about Draco Malfoy and his father.

"Harry, you said last year that Rodolphus was sentenced to Azkaban with Rabastan Lestrange and Bellatrix Lestrange." Hermione had a dark scowl on her face. Harry nodded.

"The three of them are out there in the open! That's what it means! Not to mention they're some of the most loyal Death Eaters out there!" Ron glared at the sheet covering him up to the waist as he sat on the bed as though the sheet had done him personal wrong.

"Poor Neville! The bastards who tortured his parents to insanity are out there, and the Ministry is doing nothing about that!" Ginny's tone was the exact dangerous tone of Molly Weasley during one of Molly's tempers.

"How's Luna? Last I checked, she was being knocked out cold by… What was that bastard's name? Ah, Travers! After Luna defeated Travers in that duel." Harry asked the room in general.

"The Lovegood girl has regained consciousness and is recovering. And don't let Mum hear you use such words." Bill Weasley's gentle voice carried across the room. "Bedtime, guys! And, Remus, Sirius, Tonks. Can I have a word with you? Won't take long."

Harry took his time to get off the bed and leave. Ginny, Hermione, and Ron were quicker but still went out slowly. Being the last to leave, Harry heard most of what Bill was saying in a whisper. "That Smeltings school is unguarded now. Because the Death Eaters attacked Hogsmeade, all the Aurors and Order members are focusing on Hogsmeade, Hogwarts, and such other places. There could be more Azkaban escapes, and we might not know!"

Harry kissed Ginny goodnight, and Ron kissed Hermione goodnight. Harry's mind, however, reeled. Three more Death Eaters on the loose! What on earth was going on?

Miles away, in the Smeltings courtyard, stood Dudley Dursley in his Smeltings uniform that was singed and torn in places. Dudley was panting heavily. "W-Who are you? Why are you after me?"

A masked woman stood in the shadows. She had cold laughter and an insane look on her face.

"You wait and watch!"

Dudley's body contorted as he was hit by the Cruciatus Curse for the second time in his life. His screams were silent because of the Silencing Charm placed on him.

As she pulled back the curse, Dudley seized his chance and threw the nearest stone pillar in her direction. It crashed with an almighty sound as it hit the woman in her knees. She let out a number of curses that would've made a sailor proud. Thankfully for Dudley, the entire school awoke and assembled.

The intruder had no choice now but to escape. But she made a blunder as she escaped. She sent the Avada Kedavra flying at one student, one member of staff, and the Confunded watchman at the gate.

Both the muggle policemen and the Aurors showed up instantaneously. The Aurors recognized what had happened to Dudley and took him straight to St Mungo's, which they told the others was a muggle hospital they knew nearby.

As Harry got into bed, Bill Weasley came running and banged on his door, "Harry! Harry! Oh, my God! You ought to know!"

"And now it has become a scandal in the muggle world too. In the muggle world, the scandal is that intruders could break into Smeltings and get away with torture and murder! In the wizarding world, well, it is public that the said intruder was none other Bellatrix Lestrange!" Bill completed, and Harry sat shell shocked.

"How's Big D? I mean, how's Dudley?"

"He is fine but is reconsidering if he wants to go to Smeltings. It's only November now, and the school year ends in June for them just like at Hogwarts." Bill said.

The following morning, Harry went to St Mungo's for the first time in his life. He was directed to Dudley's room, where Dudley was eating a banana.

"Big D!"

"Harry! Oh, my God, I hope you didn't have to miss out on your classes just to come here!" Dudley said.

"I haven't been attending classes at Hogwarts since Monday, Dud. I'm not the only one excused from classes this week. We anyway have so much going on, and we even have people moving into Potter Manor. Things are getting serious, Dudley. The Aurors are trying their best to redirect the attention of the Death Eaters away from your school. Unfortunately, the Death Eaters were one step ahead this time. They attacked our local village whilst keeping a Death Eater or two ready to ambush you."

"Your local village?"

"Hogsmeade. Anyway, what were you doing at eleven in the night at the courtyard, Dudley, if I may ask?"

Dudley went red in the face. "Aimee Jones is a year younger than me. Today, I found out that her parents are withdrawing her from Smeltings. She will be writing the end-of-year tests in April instead of June and will be leaving. I-I fancy her, Harry. That night, I thought I saw her shadow, I was mistaken, of course, in the courtyard, so I followed it. To my shock, I heard a cold voice saying, 'Ah, I knew you would come! You are that Potter brat's brother, are you not, you scum!' I was shocked at her rudeness, but before I could say anything, she did that thing my aunt and those evil people did on me the night Mum and Dad were killed."

"Dud! Oh, no!" Harry was upset. He didn't want anybody to suffer on his account, and yet it so happened that people continued to suffer just for being associated with him.

"Like Jones, I too want to take my end-of-year tests in late April and be done with Smeltings once and for all, Harry. Then, I want to focus on physical training, combat skills, and martial arts." Dudley declared.

"W-What?" Harry said, shocked. He thought the name, 'Jones' sounded familiar but could not quite place it.

"Dud, it's your decision what you want to do, of course. But I would still say…"

"No, Harry!" Dudley looked every bit determined and stubborn like Uncle Vernon at this point. "I want to do this! In any case, I am not much of a studious person! I have decided I'm going to put all my effort into my end-of-year tests in April and then join you at Potter Manor. You wizards have a war going on, and I want to be part of it!"

"But what about this Jones girl?" Harry asked Dudley.

"Harry, I'm not stupid, you know. I know more about people than they give me credit for. Aimee is from your world. Her mother and father studied at your school. Aimee herself can't do magic, but her parents can. Her parents are heavily involved in this war!"

"Aimee is a Squib?" Harry was astonished.

"A what? Harry, if you don't mind, I'd rather you not call her names!" Dudley said indignantly.

"She is a Squib, a nonmagical kid born to magical parents! Kind of the opposite of Muggle-born. A Muggleborn is a magical kid born to nonmagical parents. For example, my mum, and my best friend, Hermione! You've met her!" Harry explained.

"Okay, Harry. I need to ask you something." Dudley said.

"Shoot." Harry said.

"Does the soulbond concept apply to Muggles, Squibs, and Muggleborns?"

Harry sat there in deep thought. Why had he never thought of this? He closed his eyes for a minute.

Dudley was sipping his juice when Harry suddenly jumped. Inside of Harry's head, Ginny was screaming, "Harry, what the hell? I am completing my Potions essay for that greasy git of a professor, and you're suddenly occupying my brain with something random!"

Harry was shocked. "Ginny, you're miles away at Potter Manor. How are you able to sense my thoughts?"

"Because you're concentrating too hard on whatever you're thinking! Weren't you supposed to be with your cousin?"

"Yes, in fact, he was the one who made me think about this. Listen, Ginny. Can you do me a favor? When you see Hermione…"

"Hermione is right here! Tell me what it is quickly, love."

Harry repeated Dudley's question and waited for a moment when he was sure Ginny was repeating the same question to Hermione. Then, Ginny's voice filled his mind, "Hermione says she will look into it! I really need to work on the properties of Moonstone, so, for the love of Merlin, please let me concentrate."

"Right, sorry, Ginny," Harry said sheepishly.

"What was that all about? Dudley asked Harry and Hermione asked Ginny simultaneously.

"Harry was speaking to his cousin, and he asked Harry this question, Hermione. When Harry concentrates too hard, he can easily access my mind even from that distance! I didn't know it myself!" Ginny explained as she buried her nose in her potions essay.

"I didn't know this myself, Dud, but somehow I'm able to access Ginny's thoughts all the way from Potter Manor. All these days, I thought that was possible only when we were physically closer. Anyway, I've passed on your question to Ginny, who has passed on your question to Hermione. We go to her whenever we need answers. We'll let you know what we find." Harry assured Dudley.

Dudley wondered why Harry was asking a Muggle-born girl to help find the answer to his question when the so-called Purebloods supposedly knew everything. That was when Dudley realized how stupid, outdated, and irrelevant the idea of Pure Blood supremacy was.

As Harry stood up, he suddenly felt exhausted. He understood. He had focused so hard that his mind had connected all the way to Ginny's mind. The distance, time, and effort had drained Harry of lots of energy. Harry had to wait in the hall for a good twenty minutes before he left.

As expected, Hermione was ready with an answer for him when he arrived.

"I have started looking around at Potter library for answers about whether muggles, muggle-borns, and squibs also have soul bonds like wizards and witches. So far, the only answer I've received is that two people very much in love have a kind of soul bond regardless of their magic or nonmagic. However, the kind of soul bond between you and Ginny that enables you to talk to one another mentally even over a long distance is rare. Why was your cousin curious to know, anyway?"

"Yeah, so there is this girl called Aimee.. Her last name was something… Uh, I forgot. But this Aimee.. Dudley really fancies her. Aimee is a Squib, and her parents are from our world. Aimee is a student at Smeltings, and she will be taking her end-of-year tests in April instead of June, after which she will be leaving Smeltings. Now, you can imagine, Dudley wants to do the exact thing! He wants to write his end-of-year tests in April and leave Smeltings for good! He insists that it's because he wants to be more involved in the war and, you know, undergo training for combat, etc. But I think the real reason is Aimee."

"Ginny. Aimee. Do you and your cousin share a particular type, Harry?" Ron teased Harry. "Both of you fancy girls with names ending with an 'e' sound."

"Ron!" Harry admonished him but laughed.

Hermione looked scandalized. "How can he play around like that? That's his education! Harry, your aunt, and uncle wouldn't want their son to be doing such things! Leaving school because the girl he fancies is leaving! Aren't there are other girls at Smeltings or anywhere across the world for your cousin?"

"I tried talking to him, but he seems adamant. I can't blame him, Hermione. He spoke about my parents and his parents. He spoke about our grandparents. He was dead sure people have died and have been dying every other day in this war, and he is determined to do his part."

This wasn't a lie. Dudley had told him these words just as Harry left the hospital. Ginny was amused to hear about this 'Aimee'.

"Seems like we have another lovestruck guy now!" She laughed.

Despite the events of the past week, Harry and Dudley were able to focus on school. Harry, however, noticed something odd about Malfoy. Ron and Hermione told Harry and Ginny one afternoon that Malfoy has been neglecting his Prefect duties despite several warnings and that Professor McGonagall told Malfoy during detention the previous evening that Malfoy's prefect badge will be taken back if this continues.

Malfoy had even stopped bullying the Trio and had taken to giving a Snape-like sneer at them sometimes. But during the few times Harry saw Malfoy, Malfoy definitely looked weary, exhausted, drained, and upset about something.

Saturday's Gryffindor-Ravenclaw match went well. Harry, however, noticed how sullen and withdrawn Cho Chang looked. He felt sorry for her. Even when he caught the Golden Snitch and won Gryffindor the lead, he felt terrible for Cho.

"I feel sorry for her too." It was Ginny. Harry looked at her, "Yeah, poor Cho. Poor Cedric."

"Chang and Diggory were soul mates." A dreamy voice declared from behind Ginny. Harry looked over Ginny's head and looked into Luna's dreamy eyes.

"Diggory and Chang were so in love. With Diggory dead, I sense Chang won't live long." Luna continued.

"That's a very rude and insensitive comment, Lovegood!" Harry was outraged! How could somebody talk like this? Luna, however, stared at Harry with a mildly curious expression as though Harry was dim not to understand that this wasn't rude or insensitive.

"I can sense things like soulbonds and life spans." Luna drifted off in a dreamy state.

"Harry," Ginny shook her head, "Even her friends can't understand her sometimes. But trust me, she is very kind, loyal, sweet, caring, smart, and helpful deep down."

As Cho Chang walked away, Draco Malfoy was telling the Slytherin Quidditch Captain that he no longer wants to be part of the Slytherin Quidditch team. Harry distinctly heard Montague question why and Malfoy replied "I have bigger tasks to do so leave me alone!"

Harry's note to Dudley after his Quidditch match (Included "All that matters for the 'soul bond' is how much you both love each other, Dud. That soul bond is in everyone regardless of magic or nonmagic") resulted in a reply from Dudley, which Hedwig has brought, "All good here, Harry. I'm well adjusted. Aimee even asked me the other day how I was doing! Anyway, I see tightened security here, and occasionally I even recognize some of those uniformed people. For instance, that creepy man with a glass ball for an eye and that bubblegum pink-haired woman. I'm glad your House won the match, Harry. I hope you're doing good."

"Tonks and Moody are some of the Aurors stationed around Smeltings." Harry had told Ron and Hermione over the din and mentally told Ginny the same.

After the Quidditch match, Harry was busy once again in his Occlumency and Horcrux lessons, DA meetings, classes, Quidditch, and his evenings spent with Ginny.

However, Harry was shocked to see Malfoy with red eyes whenever he saw Malfoy! When he brought up the topic to Ron, he said, "Malfoy is a nutter, Harry. Let's just leave him alone while he has so kindly decided to leave us alone." Hermione shook her head and took a different view, though. "It is the O.W.L. exams, Harry! I'm losing my sleep over the vast syllabus to be covered, and I reckon it's the same for Malfoy! I suggest you take a leaf out of Malfoy's book and do some frequent nighttime revision."

Ginny looked thoughtful. "You said Malfoy is a Death Eater and he used the Killing Curse on Ron multiple times the day Dad died. I'm willing to bet V-Vol-Voldemort" She took a deep breath at this before continuing "has given Malfoy a mission of sorts which Malfoy hasn't been able to do." Harry, who had been patting Ginny's arm since she took Voldemort's name froze. A mission? This didn't look good! It meant Voldemort was planning something while there were innocent people totally unaware that they could be the next targets!

"Harry, I received your letter about your suspicions on this Draco Malfoy character. From what you've told me, he is a playground bully. But a death eater? Even so, please keep an eye out, because a bully will always be looking for things to screw up. However, if Malfoy is coerced or frightened into doing whatever it is Voldemort wants him to do, then that's a real problem. He needs protection in such a scenario." Dudley's reply read.

Soon, the castle grounds were covered in snow, and the Christmas Break was fast approaching. Harry wasn't staying at Hogwarts for Christmas like he did the past four years. He was going to be celebrating at Potter Manor.

Harry's owls to Dudley had become more frequent. But he always used different owls each time. Dudley had the owls directly into his dormitory at Smeltings at a time the Dormitory was empty. Owls were to be delivered only when Dudley was alone and not to be seen by anybody.

While Harry's letters spoke about Harry spending time with Ginny near the Black Lake at the Hogwarts Grounds, Dudley was elated to inform Harry that he was now seeing Aimee. Dudley wondered how much to tell Aimee about Dudley knowing of the existence of wizards and witches, being related to the Harry Potter, and about Dudley living at Potter Manor instead of living in the Muggle World.

A week before the holidays started, Harry had just finished the last DA session term. He had been making everyone revise the Reducto curse. There was a junk full of conjured items that lay broken. He collected the debris and exited the RoR, and re-entered it to hide the debris.

As he hid the debris close to a large, black cabinet, he noticed the statue of a Warlock wearing a tiara. Something about the tiara made him react impulsively. His scar tinged uncomfortably. He took the tiara and went out.

However, as Harry left, he did not notice a shadow lurking behind the Black cabinet in his hurry. Nor did Harry notice that the RoR did not close once Harry had left.

"I don't know what is it about this tiara, but I think it is something to do with Dark magic!" Harry told Ron, Ginny, and Hermione that evening.

"Then, we should probably give it to Professor Dumbledore. He knew what to do with the ring, locket, and the cup, right?" Ginny suggested. She made to touch the tiara, but no sooner had her fingers brushed against the tiara than she suddenly drew her legs to her chest and began sobbing!

"Ginny!" Harry said, alarmed. He put his arms around her and pulled her against him.

"Are you alright, Ginny?" Ron and Hermione looked worried. "S-Sorry, this foul thing reminds me of Tom Riddle!" Ginny sobbed.

"Hang on!" Ron had a distant look on his face, "Remember that object belonging to either Gryffindor or Ravenclaw that could be a Horcrux? What if this tiara is just that?"

"Harry shouldn't even be going anywhere near this thing then, let alone bringing it here! We take it to Dumbledore now!" Hermione demanded.

Harry instructed Ginny to stay in the Common Room and ignoring the protests of Ron and Hermione, accompanied them all the way to Dumbledore's office. The Headmaster, however, met them near his office.

"Mr. Potter? Mr. Weasley? Miss Granger?"

"P-Professor! I was in the Room of Requirement after today's DA session." Harry panted.

"When Harry found an old warlock wearing this tiara!" Ron continued.

"Harry and Ginny can both sense this thing, and it's full of Dark Magic!" Hermione continued.

"So, we brought it straight to you!" The trio finished in one breath.

"Thanks for bringing this to my notice. This should clear my suspicion, yeah. Now, you need some rest. Off you go." Dumbledore smiled pleasantly. But Harry could see the shock, fear, and fury in Dumbledore's eyes as he stared at the tiara.

When the trio returned to the Common Room, Ginny sat by the fire. Ron was the first to speak. "How are you feeling, Ginny?"

"Gin, how are you?" Harry sat next to her and put an arm around her waist.

"Oh, Ginny!" Hermione patted her arm.

"I'm fine, thank you, guys. How did it go?" Ginny asked. She went to bed after the trio told her about their conversation with the headmaster. Surely enough, in his next lesson with Dumbledore, the headmaster confirmed that the tiara indeed was a Horcrux. Dumbledore had destroyed the Horcrux, and it now lay with the other destroyed Horcruxes.

As Harry returned to the Common Room, he found Hedwig on one of the couches' armrests. Hermione was near the window, Ginny was opening the note tied to Hedwig's leg, and Ron was kneeling on the floor, having just moved from the sofa on which he had been sitting. As Harry sat next to Ron, Ginny told him, Ron, and Hermione, "It's from Remus Lupin! He and Tonks are getting married on the second of January!"

As the Hogwarts Express slowed down at Kings' Cross Station, Harry saw Mrs. Weasley, Sirius, and Kingsley Shacklebolt waiting for Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Fred, and George. Until then, Fred and George had been telling the others that their joke products were a success and that they were planning to open a shop in Diagon Alley. When Hermione asked where they got the money, Harry surprised everybody by revealing that he had given his Triwizard winnings to Fred and George in June. Harry didn't need that money, and it reminded him of Cedric and made his insides burn with guilt and sorrow. He would rather that money be used for something better, which in his opinion, and he was right in thinking so, was Fred and George's joke products and joke shop.

"Where's Remus and Tonks?" Harry excitedly asked Mrs. Weasley and Sirius. Shacklebolt, however, answered, Remus is picking up Dudley from Smeltings, and Tonks has Auror duties at Hogsmeade tonight.

"Oh, Harry, dear! You shouldn't have bothered! That money was so much! How am I going to ever repay…." Mrs. Weasley began. But Harry cut her off.

"Mrs. Weasley. You seem to be forgetting that your sons are my brothers, and your daughter is my soul mate, aka my bride. We're family. Please don't talk about repaying unless you want me to repay you for everything you did to me over the last four years, and it's only fair I repay you."

"Oh, don't talk rubbish. That was nothing, Harry dear."

"Then, this is also nothing, Mrs. Weasley." Harry said.

Meanwhile, Dudley was happy to see Remus. "Remus! Oh, my God! Congratulations! I was surprised to find one of the Weasley owls in my dormitory that evening. It turned out to be such good news!"

Remus Lupin blushed, "Thanks, Dudley!"

As Remus got Dudley's trunk and Dudley hurried along in his wake, the two were united in thinking about one single thing. Remus was thinking about his and Tonks' romantic dinner the previous night. Dudley remembered that morning when Aimee was standing by the basketball court, and Dudley had gone up to her.

"Have a nice holiday!" Dudley said.

Aimee turned around and smiled, which made Dudley's heart leap. "Thanks, Dudley! You too have a nice holiday!" But the smile did not reach her eyes, instead her eyes slightly watered. Dudley's heart sank.

"Hey, look, I know it must be hard, what with your parents and aunt and uncle being killed by Death Eaters and you moving in with your cousin sister. Trust me, we're in the same boat. Death Eaters killed my parents, and I now live with my cousin brother." Dudley had revealed this information for the first time.

"D-Death Eaters? Who are your parents? Who is your cousin brother?"

By then, Dudley had spotted Remus Lupin at the gate. He waved happily and smiled at Aimee, "My parents were muggles. My cousin is Harry Potter!"

Dudley did not see the look of shock and recognition on Aimee's face.

Meanwhile, the party from Kings' Cross Station had reached Potter Manor. Mrs. Weasley kept updating them on the events that took place over the last few weeks. "Poor Audrey's parents and aunt and uncle were killed by Death Eaters. Of course, Percy is there for her. But she also has a younger cousin, whether sister or brother. She wasn't unequivocal on the subject. Percy said he will take care of Audrey and her cousin."

They reached Potter Manor. Bill, Fleur, Percy, and a tired-looking Tonks greeted them. Percy, however, pulled Harry aside. Audrey, of course, wasn't home.

"Harry, can I ask you something?"

"Go on, Perce," Harry said, though he privately thought he knew what was coming. He had no problem with it, however. But he waited for Percy to speak.

"Audrey's family was attacked by Death Eaters a few nights ago. Mr. and Mrs. Jones were killed as younger Mr. and Mrs. Jones, whose daughter studies in a muggle school. For the Christmas holidays, Audrey wishes to bring her cousin's sister, that is the younger Mr. and Mrs. Jones' daughter, to Potter Manor. Only if it's okay by you. Otherwise, Audrey is fine by raising her sister in a flat in London."

Harry shook his head, "Percy, I think Audrey should bring her sister here. They're orphans, and only an orphan knows what it's like to be one. I'm totally fine by that!" Percy had tears in his eyes, "Thank you, Harry! I'm so sorry!"

"Don't be sorry, Percy. The Tonks' and Grangers live here too. I'm sure the Jones' will like the company here."

That afternoon, Dudley and Harry met officially for the holidays. As the clock struck four, Audrey came to Potter Manor with a girl who looked exactly like her but younger.

"Thank you so much, Harry! I'll never forget your favor!" Audrey sobbed.

"No, please, Audrey!" Harry said pleasantly.

"Please meet my cousin sister, Aimee Jones. Aimee, this is Harry Potter!"

Aimee's eyes watered even as she looked at Harry in shock and wonder. All she could manage was a choked "H-Hello, Lord Potter."

"No, please call me Harry," Harry said. Suddenly behind him, Harry heard Dudley, "AIMEE!"

Aimee, too was loud, "DUDLEY!"

To Harry's and Audrey's shock and everyone else's puzzlement, Aimee and Dudley ran and engulfed each other in a very tight hug. Aimee broke down in Dudley's arms and Dudley patted her head.

Aimee was Audrey in miniature. The two cousin sisters shared the same blue eyes, short and stout nose, and a rather chubby face. They could very easily be confused as sisters rather than cousin sisters. The only difference apart from their ages, heights, and whether or not they could do magic was that Audrey had reddish-blond hair while Aimee had chestnut brown hair.

Dudley and Aimee? Harry suddenly remembered Aimee's surname and where he had heard it before.

Authors Note: Apologies for the mistakes, people. This is my first attempt at a long fanfiction, and I am trying to improve. By the way, how many of you made the connection between Audrey Jones and Aimee Jones? How many of you saw that one coming? Do let me know in the comments!