Chapter One
"One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."
Proverbs 18:24
If there was one person on this Earth that hated crowded spaces more than he did, Wolfbane would love to meet them. He hated the feeling of people breathing down his neck, and he just couldn't bring himself to think about how many germs and pathogens were floating around in the air right now. He clutched Atropa's hand tightly to ensure that he didn't get lost in this endless sea of people.
By the time the Shadow family reached Platform 9 ¾, Wolfbane was about ready to start throwing elbows. Atropa noticed how tense her twin was and began to calm him once again by taking two of her fingers and rubbing them in a circular motion around his palm. Like earlier that morning, he almost instantly calmed down.
"Alright! Off you get!" Said Wolfbane's father, pointing to the barrier with a huge smile on his face.
Belladonna, being the big sister that she is, went first. She clutched her hands around the handle of her trolley and began to run at the brick wall. Her pet rabbit, WitchHazel, made a small noise of surprise when it saw that they were running at a, supposedly, solid brick wall. Wolfbane was a little shocked at this, seeing as Belladonna had had that rabbit for as long as he could remember, and she always took it to Hogwarts with her, so the rabbit should be used to it now. Apparently not.
Belladonna slipped through the barrier and his mother motioned for Atropa to go next. Atropa ran up to their mother, her brown hair flowing like a banner behind her, and gave her a hug that could have easily been compared to getting a hug from a bear. While Atropa was hugging their mother, Wolfbane noticed a small spot of green on the sweater she was wearing. He gave an amused huff as he instantly recognised it as Pike, Atropa's pet Bowtruckle.
Wolfbane rolled his eyes and started for the barrier before his sister could notice. He would have Peppermint (who was sitting in her ornate cage on top of his trunk on the trolley) deliver a letter to his mum and dad while he was on the train.
Everything was like a competition between the three siblings. Every morning it was a race to see who could get ready first, who could finish their breakfast first (Atropa or Belladonna always won that one), and who could get out the door first. Of course, this was during the summer. Now that they were going back to school, it would be who could get to class first, who could get the most points for their house, and obviously, who won the Quidditch Cup. It was a little unfair, seeing as Belladonna was Head Girl and a Prefect for Slytherin, but this just made the twins try harder. Last year, Ravenclaw won the Quidditch Cup, and Wolfbane obviously got big points for that, considering he had beat Hufflepuff during the last game. Atropa had been so mad at him. Wolfbane walked over to Belladonna, who was talking to her friend Abbey Vencie.
"Hallo!" Abbey said to Wolfbane as he approached the two girls. She turned to Belladonna and said, "Isn't he just too cute! Look at those gorgeous eyes!" Then, in a whisper, she added, "Is he single?"
Belladonna looked as equally surprised as Wolfbane did at the question. Wolfbane's face flushed so much that you could see it over his mocha complexion. He gave his big sister a look that said, "Gryffindor. Help."
Belladonna was about to say something to save her poor brother from anymore embarrassment, when Atropa walked over to them slung her arm around Wolfbane's shoulders and with a huge smirk, said, "Yes, he is. This stud muffin stand is open for business. But not for you. You don't exactly have the right..." She paused, looking at Abbey suggestively. "Equipment. If you know what I mean."
Wolfbane hid his face in his hands, not entirely covering up the blush, which had spread like a wildfire to his ears and forehead. Belladonna quickly said goodbye to Abbey and ushered her two younger siblings onto the train. She found an empty compartment and put all of their luggage on the rack above the seats. She then sat down across from the twins and gave Atropa a sceptical look.
Belladonna gave a sigh and said, "Atropa, you know how sensitive Wolfbane is about that topic."
Atropa hid her face in her sweater and said something illegible. Belladonna raised an eyebrow and asked her what it was that she said. Wolfbane, however, sighed and said, "It's fine."
His older sister gave him a look and said, "No, it is not fine."
Belladonna grabbed Wolfbane underneath his arms and lifted him up to set him next to her. She put his head on her shoulder and gave him a hug.
She then said, "Honey, you're too light. Are you eating alright?"
Wolfbane stiffened immediately at this question. He wanted to tell her, he truly did, but he didn't want her to worry about him. She had enough stress as it is, with her being Head Girl and a Prefect. He didn't want to add to that.
Atropa gave him a sad look and said, "This is the third time you've been stressed today, Wolfy. What's wrong?"
His twin then began working her calming magic as she stroked his palm for the third time that day. Wolfbane teared up at this. He was just a big burden to everyone. At this thought, he could no longer control the tears that began running down his face. Belladonna laid his head down on her lap as he cried, stroking his hair, which had became un-gelled and reverted back to its curly state. Atropa patted his back and continued to stroke his palm.
All of a sudden, they went through a tunnel, and everything went black. This made Wolfbane cry even more, seeing as he hated the dark.
"Lumos!" Belladonna said, and a small light appeared at the end of her wand. Atropa did the same, and the compartment was filled with light again.
The two sisters looked down at their brother and their hearts broke. Wolfbane was clutching Belladonna's leg in a vice like grip, crying so hard that his body shook like a leaf in the wind.
Belladonna had a sudden moment of genius. She continued to stroke her little brother's hair, took a deep breath, and started to sing.
"In sleep he sang to me,
In dreams he came.
That voice which calls to me,
And speaks my name.
And do I dream again?
For now I find,
The Phantom of the Opera is there.
Inside my mind."
Wolfbane's crying slowed down a bit as he recognised the song. He sniffed a little, then decided that he would join in.
"Sing once again with me,
Our strange duet.
My power over you,
Grows stronger yet.
And though you turn from me,
To glance behind,
The Phantom of the Opera is there,
Inside your mind."
Belladonna smiled down at her younger brother as he started to nod off. She started humming the rest of the song. Atropa looked at her twin as a tear started to run down her cheek.
"Why is he so sad?" She asked, wiping away the tear before Belladonna could see it.
Her older sister gave her a sad look before laying down Wolfbane on the seat and sitting across from him.
"I don't know, Sweetheart. I don't know. But I do know that we are going to be there for him, and support him no matter what." Belladonna said, hugging her younger sister and watching Wolfbane for any signs of distress on his sleeping face.
"I'm going to find Anarchy." said Atropa. Anarchy was a close friend of hers. Both girls were in Hufflepuff and Anarchy even had a twin brother, just like Atropa did.
"Okay, but don't be long. We only have a few more hours before we are to arrive." Belladonna said as Atropa walked out of the compartment, mindfully being quiet so that she wouldn't wake up Wolfbane.
Before she closed the door, she looked back and whispered, "Sweet dreams, Wolfy."
Several, dreamless hours later, Wolfbane was being shaken awake by Belladonna.
"Rise and shine, Wolfy. Time to change." His older sister cooed. The teenage boy was truly amazed. This was the first time he had slept good in a long while, and he didn't want to get up quite yet.
Wolfbane sat up and said, "Thank you."
Belladonna's face instantly crumbled and she embraced him.
"Anything for you, brother." She said as she wiped her eyes and pulled away.
Belladonna pointed to a stack of robes on the seats opposite of him and Wolfbane got the message. His older sister walked out of the compartment and shut the door. The teenage boy stood and took of his flannel. He looked down at his bandaged wrists. Wolfbane sighed and was about to replace the bandages, when Belladonna came back into the compartment.
She instantly looked to where he was looking, which happened to be his wrists. The tears which she had been sure were gone, resurfaced again as she saw the state of his wrists.
"Oh, Wolfy." She said. Her voice quivered so much that Wolfbane could barely make out the words she had said.
Instead of yelling at her to get out, he walked over to his older sister and wrapped his scarred arms around her shoulders.
A/N: Hey guys! I just wanted to give you a little insight on how things are set up in this fanfic so that you don't get confused. I"m going to have Mcgonnagol as the Head Master, plus a couple of other OC's as Professors and such. Also, in the next chapter I'm going to introduce two other characters. One of which was created by my friend, Matt, so all credits to him for creating the glorious Maxentius. Anyway, that's all for now! Bye!
