Hello thank you again for the reviews.
This is my favourite chapter I've written so far so I'm quite happy with how it turned out so enjoy.
Oh, and from now on Harry is going to be called Caelum.
~PureBloodSnake x
The Best Birthday Yet
"How dare you? You've taken it too far this time, Potter!" The last word was spat out as if it tasted bitter.
"I'm sorry Malfoy, I forgot that you have a weak disposition when it comes to your hair." The bickering was only over a small prank. Caelum had charmed Draco's hair to make it gradually get darker, the opposite of his own hair. Draco was less than happy about it. However their arguments seemed to always stray from the original point.
"Well if you weren't such a Gryffindor, you'd understand what it's like to take pride in your appearance!" Draco looked his brother up and down taking note that his sense of fashion had improved since they had been forced to spend time together, but it was still awful.
"Well at least I'm not a Slytherin, I care about making my own decisions, something that you wouldn't know, as we all know you're practically drooling for the dark mark on your arm." Caelum realised that what he had said was uncalled for, yet he refused to take it back, especially when Draco became scarily quiet, it was the most reaction he'd ever got out of him.
"I'm glad you were taken, I'm happy that I wasn't raised with you as my brother. I didn't think it was possible to hate someone as much as I hate you." The words were sneered with such malicious intent that Caelum felt each individual word stab him in the heart. Silence suffocated them as both boys refused to look away from each other and tempers continued rising. The pain and betrayal that Caelum felt quickly turned into anger that boiled over the top and lashed out with his magic. Wave after wave crashed into Draco and he staggered back feeling the emotions in the magic. He never knew anyone's magic to portray their emotion, maybe it was something unique about Caelum or something to do with the fact they were twins. It was then he realised what he'd said and felt sick. The windows rattled before shattering and showering the two boys with a fine spray of glass, cutting their skin in multiple places, but still the magic kept lashing out. Draco felt the hate, the anger, the sorrow, the guilt all mixed together and all that negative emotion was crippling him, it hurt a lot more than the cuts or the physical aspect of the magic. One more painful wave of magic hit him right in the stomach, this one so full of longing that Draco sunk to the floor, his head in his hands as he tried to hide his face from his brother. Caelum didn't need to feel guilty for the fact he was crying. Another wave of magic filled the room but it didn't hit Draco like he thought it would. This wave filled the room with a feeling of worthlessness, so much so that Draco thought that the weight of it might just crush him. Caelum seemed to have calmed down, his chest was heaving, blood sprayed across his face and arms from the glass, and his eyes were watery. He looked so young and troubled that Draco just wanted to go and cradle his brother against his chest, but knew that wouldn't be welcomed just yet. Instead he made things much worse for the two of them.
"Freak," he didn't know why he said it, the word slipped past his lips before his brain had caught up. He was feeling guilty for what had just happened but here he was making it worse again.
"What did you call me?" Caelum was quiet and sounded broken, as if those words had destroyed all his fighting spirit. Draco was pleading silently that Caelum would just punch him in the face or ignore him, anything would be better than the pained tear-filled eyes Caelum was looking at him through.
"Caelum, please I don't know why I said it, I'm sorry I was just a little shocked and angry." He may be a Malfoy but he wasn't above pleading for his little brother's forgiveness.
"You said it because it was true, don't try to lie to me Draco, don't try to spare my feelings because I know it's true." Caelum seemed to be back to his normal strong willed self, but Draco felt heartbroken at the words pouring from his lips. "I mean I was told everyday I was a freak and for a few years I thought that was my name." Caelum laughed coldly. "Then I found out about magic and Hogwarts and I thought maybe I was normal, but then it turns out I'm supposed to be this sort of hero, I've got this impossible task on my shoulders and everyone seems to want me dead. Everyone around me does as well, I'm only fourteen and a week before my fifteenth birthday I've seen more death than most adults." Caelum didn't know why, but it was easy to spill his heart with Draco around, he didn't want to trust his former school rival yet he couldn't help but feel like he was safe around him. Draco was shocked by Caelum's revelation and this time didn't abandon the urge to go comfort his brother. He got up ignoring the pain in his stomach and walked towards his brother, who was purposefully looking away from him.
"Caelum." The words were soft and inviting and Caelum looked to see his brother with arms open inviting him to embrace him. Draco wasn't going to do anything he didn't want, he was safe. Caelum threw himself forward and finally broke down in his brother's arms, his head tucked under Draco's chin. Draco felt a little unhappy at Caelum's lack of height, but sighed in contentment with how right this felt.
Narcissa found her two boys in an old transfiguration classroom an hour later. She entered the room hesitantly, she had understood why Dumbledore had suggested they stayed at Hogwarts for the summer, it was a neutral ground that all of them knew well, especially as Draco and Caelum seemed unable to stop fighting since they found out. Narcissa shuddered as she thought about how the fights would end if they were back at Malfoy manor where Draco had the advantage. To her relief, when she stepped into the room she saw that her twins weren't fighting but were curled up against a wall, Draco's arms around Caelum's shoulders as they talked heads bent close. A cold draught caused her to wrap her robe tightly around her, and she saw the amount of glass on the floor and the missing windows.
"Boys. Would one of you care to explain the mess and the cuts?" She was curious to see if they would automatically pin it on the other, even if they looked like the epitome of family.
"It was my fault I got upset over something silly-"
"I said something just to get a reaction out of-" both boys immediately started talking trying to convince her it was their own fault. Narcissa smiled, she had honestly thought that her boys getting on was a fantasy she'd only ever see in her dreams, but here it was, a reality.
"One at a time. Draco I raised you to be polite, Caelum started talking first so you should have let him finish before starting to speak yourself."
"Sorry Mum, but Caelum was blaming it on himself when it was my fault." He seemed to be upset and Narcissa was surprised at the amount of emotion her son was showing willingly.
"I don't think I need any explanations, I think I can guess what happened here. Caelum darling, go back to your room and have a shower and get a change of clothes. Draco I'd like to have a quick word with you before you do the same." Caelum immediately followed her instructions and walked towards the door at a sluggish pace, just before he left the room, he turned back to Draco and sent him a questioning gaze. Draco nodded and Caelum seemed content enough to leave.
"Draco," Narcissa didn't get anything else out before Draco barrelled into her arms, tears flowing down his cheeks, now wetting her robe.
"He thinks he's a freak, that he's not worthy of living a happy life." He babbled, his whole body shaking in anger and sorrow. "His whole life he was told he was a freak by those awful muggles he lived with before Hogwarts. And he talks about it like it was no big deal. I couldn't get much about his previous home out of him, but he let slip something about a cupboard and bars on his window." Narcissa tightened her arms around he son feeling the rage swirl through her veins at the mistreatment of her baby.
"We'll deal with this properly, but for now focus on becoming brothers, maybe he'll tell you the whole truth when he's ready." Even as she said this, Narcissa was deciding whether to tell her husband or go straight to the headmaster and demand to know why he allowed her son to be placed with such monstrous people.
? ゚ミノ? ゚ミノ?
Caelum's birthday arrived a week after and he was glad that it was just him and his family. They had all decided that his birthday wasn't to be a big deal, especially as it wasn't his actual birthday. Caelum was happy enough to just ignore his birthday and wait until his next birthday to celebrate properly as it felt wrong to celebrate his birthday on the wrong day but Lucius had insisted. Caelum hadn't had much to do with his father since he ceased being Harry Potter, but it was clear that Lucius loved him dearly. He had asked Caelum for forgiveness regarding the way he had treated him during his second year and had proceeded to spoil him as much as possible. For his birthday, there was the usual food packages and gifts from the Weasleys and Hermione along with a few new products from Fred and George who were well under way to making their own joke shop with the money he had given them. Lucius and Narcissa had bought Caelum an entire wardrobe's worth of clothing, from muggle all the way to incredibly posh wizarding robes in some foreign silk, they had given him the opportunity to design his bedroom at the manor however he liked and bought him an annual pass to the Tutshill Tornados Quidditch matches, which Caelum was pleased about. The Tutshill Tornados were his favourite team and were currently top of the league. Draco, however had gotten Caelum a pendant that had the Malfoy crest on but it was more than just that, Draco had had charms placed on the pendant to protect and aid Caelum slightly and it was also a portkey. Caelum was incredibly happy with his birthday, it was the best he'd ever had, all down to a family he didn't know he had or wanted.
When he went to bed, he was surprised to see Draco follow him into his room.
"I wanted to make sure this was the best birthday you'd ever had." Silence fell over them for a second, Caelum confused by his brother's sudden interest and Draco trying to find the words to explain.
"By the way you reacted today, it seemed that you have never been treated that much. I was wrong to assume you were the spoilt Gryffindor golden boy." Caelum smiled warmly and it made Draco feel like the most important person in the world.
"There's still a lot you don't know about me big brother. Let's try to fix that yeah?" Nodding Draco turned and moved to straighten the picture of Hermione, Caelum and the Weasleys, before heading towards the door. He had only just past the door frame when Caelum called out for him.
"Stay, please. You don't know anything about my friends and I'm not sure how I'm gonna react to the letters." Caelum sounded a little guilty, but Draco wasn't going to push him too far yet.
"Okay, move over then." He slid into the bed next to Caelum, threw his arms around his shoulders and was immensely pleased when Caelum leaned into his touch slightly whilst unfolding the first letter.
Harry
Happy birthday mate! Mum's being going a little mad this year trying to tell Fred and George they can't open a joke shop, especially as they keep using us as their test subjects. Haven't seen Hedwig so far so I'm guessing the Dursleys have more bars on your window? Mum's made loads of food- all with some sort of charm that'll make it edible even after a month or something. Hope you enjoy the sweets.
Write soon, Hermione will definitely be upset if you don't write her. When will you be able to come to The Burrow? Mum's looking forward to fattening you up.
Ron
Caelum sighed, that wasn't too bad. However the fact that Draco was reading over his shoulder made him slightly embarrassed, Ron had to mention the bars on his window didn't he?
"Do those muggles not feed you?" Draco was almost growling.
"I had enough food not to starve."
"They should pay for that. That's child abuse, let alone the fact that you're a Malfoy and we don't stand for that treatment."
"I don't really care Draco, I just want to move on." Caelum opened the second letter from Hermione, which was a lot longer than Ron's.
Dear Harry
Happy Birthday Harry. I was trying to think of something that came with being fifteen, but I couldn't find anything muggle or wizard. I hope the Dursleys are treating you better this year, but I'm hoping that as I didn't see you on the train home, Dumbledore allowed you to stay at Hogwarts instead of going back to that awful place. Mum and Dad have said that if you want you could come to France with us next week, surely that'll be long enough for the blood magic to renew. My parents are very keen to meet someone else from the wizarding world properly, that short time in diagon alley wasn't really enough time for them to ask all the questions they had and they don't always believe me. Plus I don't think you've ever had a holiday right? It would be good fun. If not I'll see you at the burrow soon. I hope you enjoy the books I've sent, one is about the history of the Tutshill Tornados, in slightly more detail than Quidditch through the ages, and the other is about the dark arts. (I thought I'd tell you as I know you probably haven't unwrapped them yet, too busy eating the sweets than Ron undoubtedly sent.) I hope this year's birthday has been better than the last and I'll see you soon.
Please try and write, I miss your letters.
Hermione xx
Caelum smiled, trust Hermione to get him books and to know him too well.
"You should probably write to your friends and tell them you're staying at Hogwarts so they don't worry too much." Draco's voice startled him, he had forgotten he was there he was so comfortable.
"Yeah, remind me tomorrow morning. But now I'm gonna get some sleep. All this celebration has worn me out." Caelum didn't even wait for Draco to get out of his bed before turning over and falling asleep. Draco marvelled at how comfortable his little brother seemed to be around him now, he sat smiling for a little while before he too fell asleep in Caelum's bed.
The next morning Narcissa went to wake Draco but found his bed empty. Confused she went to Caelum's room, but found both twins asleep together, both looking quite content. Narcissa couldn't let this moment become just a memory so she quickly ran to her husband and dragged him with her and summoning a camera all in one movement.
"Look Lucius," she whispered.
"That's how it should be." He whispered back as Narcissa raised the camera and took a picture. "Let's leave them be Cissa, they look happy." And with that the two adults walked out of the room to have breakfast.
