Usual disclaimer applies – I don't own Harry Potter etc.
Notes – Okay, I've told you before I never did French at school. In fact I've talked to a French person in English either so I haven't a clue what their accent sounds like. With this chapter I just added as many 'v's instead of w's as I could and 'z's instead of 'th's. I also missed off letters and changed a few words into French using that online translator I talked about. If it doesn't make sense I'm really sorry!
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Chapter 5 – Christmas and Madeline.
As soon as the Hogwarts Express stopped at platform nine and three quarters Danny pulled his trunk quickly off the train and dragged it as fast as possible to where his Uncle was stood with Dudley and Petunia. Danny dropped the trunk no less than ten feet away from them and ran to give them each a hug. Once Danny was finished he went looked at his uncle with a questioning frown.
"Where's Harry?" Dudley sighed gently and put his arm around Danny's shoulders whilst Vernon went over to Danny's trunk and dragged it with them to the car.
"Harry had a major thing this morning and couldn't come here. Madeline is looking after him at home." Was the explanation for Harry's absence. The family made it to the car with Danny speaking loudly over all the events that had happened so far and Petunia saying how the family had missed Daniel dearly. In all the letters Daniel had received from his family they had said how much they missed the boy but now Danny could see the sincerity in their eyes and completely believed them.
When the car pulled up on Privet Drive Danny ran out of the car and burst through the front door yelling out for Harry. The younger twin took a few moments to appear but as soon as Danny saw him at the top of the stairs the was bounding up them to give Harry the most bone crushing hug either twin had ever received. Harry smiled tearfully into the hug and gripped onto his brother.
"Oh my god I've missed you so much!"
"Careful Danny, you're crushing me." Danny slowly and very reluctantly released Harry and stood back to look over the shorter twin. Harry hadn't changed that much. The emerald eyed boy was still an inch or two shorter than Danny. Harry had been growing his hair however and it now brushed his chin in lose black curls. Harry was just as thin as ever if a little thinner.
Danny, in Harry's eyes, had changed a lot. The older twin had grown at least an inch taller in just those few months. Danny's black hair was still as messy as it had always been and was sticking out in random directions. Danny was also more muscled than before which, Harry mused, was probably because of Quidditch training. What Harry also noticed on a more subconscious level was that Danny's magic was a lot stronger than it had been before. There was no doubt that Danny was powerful.
"Wow, the boy-who-lived got muscles at school!" Harry teased poking Danny's arms. Danny laughed then glared.
"That's such a stupid nickname." He protested making Harry laugh weakly.
"Yeah."
"You okay? Dudley said you had another thing this morning." Harry nodded and Danny looked over his brother's pale face for any hint of information.
"It was just like normal except it lasted longer…a lot longer."
"Oui, a lot longe'. Und 'Arry, vat did I say abou' you leavin' zee bed?" Danny looked to his right and saw a young woman about nineteen years old standing with her hands on her hips. The woman had long straight blonde hair that flowed gently to her waist and she had soft blue eyes that were narrowed into a disapproving scowl. She had her hands on her hips and her body was elegantly curved and thin. She stood at a good 5 foot 8inches and wore a formal fitted blue shirt and a white skirt.
"Oh Danny, meet Madeline. She's my tutor, my friend and sister." Harry introduced. Madeline let her angry posture fade away slightly and looked towards Danny. Harry noticed that as Madeline relaxed her stance the air in the hallway became less tense. Madeline smiled easily at Danny and held out her hand to shake Danny's.
"Bonjour. Enchanté d'avoir fait votre connaissance." She greeted happily shaking Danny's hand. "Je m'appelle Madeline Eloise Tremaine."
"Daniel William Potter." Danny said greeting her in kind. "Call me Danny, everyone does. It's nice to finally meet you; Harry's talked about you often." Mentioning Harry perhaps wasn't the best thing to do however as the air immediately became tense and Madeline's friendly manner became angry again.
"Oh. And speakin' of 'Arry. In to bed wiv you petit monsieur." Madeline then shooed a very reluctant Harry into his bedroom. "Come wiv me mousier Danny, 'elp me put your brother in to bed."
Danny followed the pair into his and Harry's old bedroom as Madeline made Harry climb back beneath the covers and rest all the while mentioning his health and how he should be resting. Danny waited until she was out of the way before sitting on Harry's bed and looking at his younger twin with evident concern.
"What happened?" Harry rolled his eyes and sighed.
"Nothing out of the usual. Madeline just likes to fuss."
"Et is not fussi'g! Et is being 'areful." Madeline protested putting the back of her hand against Harry's forehead to check for a temperature. "You have fever. Eef I catch you out of bed, zer vill be trouble."
"Okay Madeline." Harry said to pacify the blonde. Madeline seemed satisfied and left the room with a fond smile to Danny. Once Madeline was gone Harry continued talking. "It was just the same kind of thing as normal except it lasted for longer and was worse apparently. Madeline told me that it was more violent and now I feel really weak and tired."
"Hm." Daniel hummed brushing Harry's bangs out his eyes and smiling affectionately at his younger brother. "Well don't think about it, you'll get better and we'll sort it out. Madeline seems kinda scary."
"Moi! You find moi scary? Vhy, I'm 'urt by zose vords. I am not scary!" Madeline's voice protested from the door making Danny jump and Harry laugh up at his brother.
"She isn't scary really. She's just rather protective. She said it was because she misses her younger sister and so she has to take care of me instead. See she misses her sister and I missed my brother. Madeline's really nice normally." Danny looked at Harry curiously with a glint in his eye that showed he wasn't going to believe Harry's words until he saw for himself what Madeline was like. "Anyway, tell me about school!"
The twins were joined by Dudley not long into the conversation and as Dudley entered the room Madeline threw a strop about Harry needing his rest before storming downstairs so she wouldn't have to see the "abominable be'aviour". Danny joked that Madeline was a lot like Madam Pomfrey the school matron. After about two hours in Harry's room the two older boys left Harry to get up, shower and get dressed before going downstairs. Madeline scowled when Harry appeared but Harry placated her by saying he his fever had gone and that he'd just take it easy for the rest of the day. Lunch and Dinner were anything but quiet affairs. Danny continued to tell stories and describe his friends and the teachers whilst Dudley told Danny about his own school and his friends, though Danny already knew all about Piers Polkiss. Vernon said things were just the same as normal at Grunnings Drills and Petunia described her job at the School where she had a job as receptionist. Madeline made a fuss over her job describing in her heavy French accent that her boss wouldn't let her put the daisys with the Lilies and then she went on to describing teaching Harry.
"Eet is defiantly an easy job." She said waving her fork in the air as she contemplated her continuation. "'E learns so quickly, et is amazin'. 'E 'as lots of skill wit' 'es wand. Charms are easy for 'im. And 'e seems to love potions. 'E is so enthusiastic eet is fantastique! 'e is not so good ven eet 'omes to 'erbology though and Ancient Runes are extremely difficult to teach 'im."
"Potions is my worst subject, I can't learn anything with Snape teaching. He's just so horrible and he hates me."
"'o? Severus Snape? I 'eard 'e is 'uite foul een 'is classes. In France 'is brother was our teacher and 'e told us all about Severus. Sebastien Snape is not much better I think but 'e is not vicious. Sidonie Snape 'owever ez superb!" Danny stared at Madeline in shock before a grin of mischief made its way over his lips. Dudley seemed to catch on to what Danny was thinking and grinned also whilst Harry groaned and shook his head at his brother. Madeline also seemed to understand because she shared a look with Danny with a gleam in her eyes.
"No trouble Danny!" Harry said but Danny ignored him and Madeline only spared him a quick glance before smirking at Danny.
"Pourquoi monsieur Danny, vould that be mischief you are planning? Black mail per'aps?" Danny's grin widened.
"Only a little. Why? Wanna help?" Madeline quickly put on a straight face and leaned forwards in her chair with a glint in her eye.
"'Elp? Moi! I am shocked! I never 'elp…" Danny's grin lost some of its power until Madeline smirked. "..unless I get some of ze credit."
"Of course madam." Petunia, Vernon and Harry groaned and rolled their eyes whilst Dudley snickered.
By the time it was time for bed Danny was exhausted and Harry was asleep on his brother's shoulder. As Petunia and Vernon ushered everyone up the stairs for an early night Dudley set about pulling out the extra bed from beneath Harry's and set it up for Danny to sleep on. The boys were just sliding into bed when Harry spoke.
"Danny?"
"Mm?"
"I really did miss you lots."
"I know Harry, I missed you too."
"Night."
"G'night Harry."
Christmas day came and went and it was as eventful as every other Christmas. Aunt Marge came over and brought her dog Ripper with her. The dog absolutely terrified Harry who spent most of the time hiding behind Danny whilst Madeline threatened to turn the 'orrible creature' into a door mat if Marge didn't keep the beast away from 'her' Harry. This made Danny incredibly jealous and he spent the rest of the day trying to keep Harry away from the Veela girl. Madeline seemed to notice Danny's behaviour because on several occasions when Danny called Harry over and away from her she stared hard at him. It took until just after the Christmas dinner and halfway through the afternoon until Madeline confronted Danny with a glare.
"W'at is ze ma''er wit' you eh!"
"Nothing's the matter. I just want you to stay away from Harry that's all. I mean I like you and everything but Harry is my brother, my family. Not yours!" Madeline sent him a very hard look.
"'Arry ees as much my family as 'e is yours. 'E is be'oming like my brother. I am not taking 'Arry away from you. Le contraire, I am ze sister 'e never 'ad."
"But I haven't seen Harry for months and…"
"Danny, I sought 'Arry and you talked abou' zis! Zere ees no need to be jealous. 'E ees still your brother. Now, stop being so stupid!" And that was the end of the conversation.
By the time it was the day of Danny's return to Hogwarts he and Madeline were like brother and sister too and as Danny said goodbye to his family he gave her a kiss also.
"Oh I shall miss you monsieur Danny." Madeline hugged him briefly from behind. Harry smiled at the teenage girl who he could see over his brother's shoulder. Harry kissed Danny quickly and smiled at his brother.
"See you in the summer." Harry said stepping away from Danny and taking Dudleys hand in his. Dudley grinned at the shorter twin having already said his good byes. Madeline let go of Danny and turned him to look at her. Looking Danny straight in the eye Madeline spoke again in her serious voice.
"Now, ven eet comes to Monsieur Snape, just remember Sidonie ees like my mother. Jus' une letter monsieur Danny an' ouila!" Danny grinned and hugged the Veela tightly before turning to walk away. "And come back in one piece Danny, comprendre!"
"Got it Madeline! Bye!"
"Au revoir Monsieur Danny!"
"Au revoir Danny!"
"Bye Dan!"
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I've said it before but I'll say it again anyway, I'm not planning on revealing whay's wrong with Harry until roughly the end of book 2 or in the letters sent between Danny and Harry during term time. I haven't completely decided yet but I have this whole explanation ready.
Thank you for the reviews. I never realised how good it felt to have people review on my work before. I'm glad you like this story. Please keep reviewing even if you want to criticise me, I don't' mind (too much).