Two of a Kind

DISCLAIMER: We do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters therein. We do, however, own Persiopeia Black and all other original characters created for this story.

AN: I know that Ron and Harry have different birthdays in the series. For all intents and purposes, my version of events assumes that Ron was physically born on Harry's birthday, yet in honor of his uncle, his birth is celebrated on his uncle's birthday. Sorry that I didn't mention that in Molly's explanation.

Brenna

Chapter 13: Now What?

Sunday morning

Pia's pov

I woke up early Sunday morning wrapped in Draco's arms; my nose snuggled deep into his neck. I rolled over to look at a clock before I realized that I wasn't in my room at Hogwart's or Black Manor, I was in the Burrow. As such, there was on clock on a bedside table. There was not even a bedside table at this point, just a chest with some clothes Molly had scrounged up for me. I poked Draco in the chest to wake him.

"Get up, you. You have to get back down to where Arthur and Molly set you up last night before Bill and Ch" I started to say, but the door to my room slammed open and Charlie burst in, wand held high.

"Malfoy!!" he bellowed, shooting sparks at Draco. "Get out of my cousin's bed!"

"Charlie, hush up! Molly and Arthur will hear you. Nothing happened last night. Calm yourself. Draco's getting out of bed this instant, and then we can all go to Black Manor," I said, sitting up in the green shift Charlie had conjured for me my first night at the Burrow.

"Pia, Malfoy's not going with us to the Manor. Bill and I are taking you, and just you. Now get up and get dressed while I escort lover boy here out of the house," Charlie said in an exasperated voice.

"No, Charlie. I was Malfoy's before I belonged to this family. I don't want to have to choose, and you really don't want me to. You know who I'll choose, don't you, and it scares you. Who in their right mind would anything over the legendary warmth and kindness of the Weasley clan?" I said bitterly.

Draco was rousing, and he took my arm to try to calm me. "Pia, this really isn't the time or place," he said gently.

I shook him off. "I can tell you who chose something else over the Weasley clan: my mother. I wonder if it was really a plan, or if your mother and father scared her. Why else would she have left such a wonderful specimen of a man?"

"Pia, I refuse to fight over this. You can check the family registers; your mother was long married to Titus Black before she even met my uncle. But if you're not careful, people will start to assume that her roving eye was passed on through the womb to you," Charlie said before Bill stepped in and stopped him.

"Charlie, you're not her father. Pia, Charlie is not your enemy. Draco, you're dead if I catch you in here again. Everything settled? Good. You two get dressed so we can go to Black Manor," Bill said easily, shooing Charlie out of my room.

"Thanks, Bill," I said quietly. Charlie was charming, but Bill was quickly becoming my favorite cousin.

"So you know, Tonks will be coming with us. She is your maternal cousin. You are aware that you two are distantly related right? I mean, if you were to get married, no-one would stop you because it is such a distant relation, but" Bill left it hanging. What was it with all these people that they kept trying to marry me off? You'd think that they'd want me to get as far away from him, but I guess if I marry him then they'll stop trying to keep us apart.

"Look, it isn't that I don't want to marry Pia. I just have to cut through her engagement, my engagement, family animosity, and the whole 'not old enough to marry without parental consent' thing. Pia's parents are dead, so Arthur and Molly would have to agree. My own father or mother would have to consent to me getting married. How likely is that?" Draco said, getting out of the bed and throwing his robes over his day-clothes. He gave me his hand and helped me out of bed. I grabbed some clothes and headed for the bathroom to get changed. I definitely didn't need to hear about how impossible it would be to ever marry Draco. It would just make my nightmares worse.

I washed my face and applied some makeup that Molly had left out for me. Silver eye-shadow and forest green liner with navy blue mascara. I put it on quickly before I slipped on my gray skirt and stretchy cream top. My eyes glowed in my face, and my hair seemed redder than ever. I pulled half of it up from my face and secured it with a copper clip that had magically appeared in my pocket. I headed back to my room for robes and found that Draco and Bill had gone downstairs. I grabbed the robes and headed for the kitchen.

"Eating without me?" I teased. Charlie glared at me as Draco poured himself and Bill coffee from a steaming pot. I nodded and Draco poured a cup for me, black. I accepted it and gulped down half without waiting for it to cool. The only way to drink the stuff, if you ask me. And tea? Forget it. I need high octane to start my morning right.

POP!

"One for me, too, cousin," Tonks said after apparating into the Weasley kitchen. I sent her a look, and she smiled. "Some people are able to clear the wards that Molly set."

"Only because Mum had Dumbledore clear you through this warding," Bill laughed. He and Tonks were old friends, I noticed, but I also noticed Charlie glaring at his older brother. Things were clicking into place.

"Charlie, calm down. Bill won't steal Tonks. But I think a certain lycanthrope would object to you ogling her," I laughed. Bill and Tonks both glared at me. Draco coughed and took another sip of his coffee. I shot Bill a 'what'd I do?' look and Tonks sighed.

"The past is past, Pia. We have to get to the Manor and back here in time for you to head back to school with Snape. Let's get going," Tonks said, averting her eyes as Charlie looked at her indignantly.

"Sure, the past is past when you're the one who was doing the leading on, Nia," Charlie said forcefully.

"I never led you on, Charlie," Tonks said softly. "I thought Remus wasn't coming back, and I really did care for you; in fact, I still do. Don't do this, now; I thought you were over this. Surely your actions with Sioned McCain were proof that you had moved on!"

"No, Nia, I was rebounding. And now where has waiting for Lupin gotten you? You're lonely, I'm lonely, and we're too proud to admit it and get back together, give it another go," Charlie said bitterly.

"Charlie, I belong to Remus. If I tried to give it another go, I'd end up hurting you again when he did show up. You'll find another love. Give Sioned a chance; she is a lovely girl, and a muggle-born witch to boot. Your family would be so pleased," Tonks smiled slightly as Charlie blushed.

"Ahem," Draco cleared his throat. "Can we go? We're burning daylight, and I don't want to be at Black Manor when night falls, in case Titus and Necromana decide to haunt the damn place."

Fifteen minutes later, we were apparating to my childhood dwelling.

Draco's pov

That morning I learned more about Tonks, Lupin, and Charlie Weasley's love-life than I had ever wanted to know. At least Charlie wasn't pining after Pia. His actions had me wondering earlier, but now I know why he disapproved: he thought I was leading Pia on, the way Tonks had led him on, waiting for someone better to come along, someone with more to offer. I felt bad for him, but I happened to know that Sioned McCain was a truly talented witch with great connections. Tonks probably felt she was doing him a favor by turning him down.

All in all, it was somewhat sickening.

We managed to get to Black Manor by about eleven o'clock Sunday morning. The MLE was still there, but they cleared us to gather Pia's personal effects, which included a stash of muggle things that would have certainly gained her a beating from Titus. Perhaps that was why she kept them. To know that she could do something to spite him without being caught.

Bill, Charlie, and Tonks stayed with the MLE downstairs while I helped Pia pack all her things. They were discussing how the estate would be broken down, as Tonks and Pia were the only close members who had access to the Manor.

It took us about two hours to pack everything that Pia wanted to take with her. We went downstairs to talk with Tonks about getting the stuff to the Burrow and a decision had been reached.

"Half of my half of the estate will go to the Weasleys, to help with the rearing of Pia. Half of Pia's half will go into a trust until she comes of age, the other half will be available to her from today on. Just exercise some discretion, will you?" Tonks smiled at Pia.

"Are you trying to be my friend?" Pia asked.

"Yup. We're each all the other has, so time to get close, I guess. I'd offer to have you live with me, but I never know when I have to go on assignment. You can stay with me when I'm here, though," Tonks said hesitatingly.

"Can I call you Nia?"

"Ya."

"So we'll be Pia and Nia?"

"Yup."

"Sounds like it was meant to be."

Pia leaned forward, tentatively, and if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't believe it. She hugged Tonks as if they were close sisters for life. Tonks stiffened, but softened as she realized the tears were not only in her eyes, but also in Pia's.

"My Nia," Pia said, and even though it was outrageously inappropriate, I felt a laugh bubbling up inside of me. Bill caught my eye, and from the twitching at the corners of his mouth, I could tell he found it as amusing as I did. Charlie looked as if he would cry, but as he turned to leave, a tall raven-haired beauty trotted over to him and slapped him.

"Charluh Weasluh," she said in a thick Irish brogue, "'Ave ya fergot 'ow ta use a phone?"

"Sioned, I have been home for a short time. I was going to call you later tonight, after I got back to the Burrow," Charlie said, rubbing his cheek. "Did you have to do that? We're in public, and you're working."

"Ah doona care, Charluh. Ya neaver called me after I got reassigned to tha area. Ah thoot ya'd call when ya were 'ome ta visit yer family. Boot now I know wha' ya dinna call. Ah, tha infamous Nia, are you?" I had surmised the raven girl to be the Sioned McCain. I backed away from the group, not wanting to be caught in the legendary McCain whirling dervish.

"Sioned, we are not doing this here," Charlie grated, still holding his smarting cheek. He looked at his brother, then at me, and Pia shored up her cousin. Sioned had turned her attention from Charlie to Tonks, and both Pia and Bill were closing ranks to keep Sioned from doing anything stupid.

Time for the marvelous Malfoy to step in.

"Sioned, allow me to introduce myself. Draco Malfoy, descended from the Malfoy, Black, Lestrange and several other old, pureblooded families. Pleasure to meet you," I said, grabbing her hand and pressing a kiss on the top of it. I met her eyes as I straightened up and slipped my arm around Pia. "Surely you've heard that our werewolf professor extraordinaire has re-entered the picture? So you need not worry over the past. Now, we must be leaving, if you don't mind. Charlie, we'll see you later, then?"

Tonks and Bill followed Pia and me out of the manor, leaving Sioned and Charlie to one another. Tonks smiled appreciatively, and Bill just looked tired. I knew that Lupin was hidden away somewhere, but Sioned didn't need to know that he was only with Tonks in her heart.

Pia's pov

We stopped at the Burrow to drop my things off to Molly, who would be getting a room ready for me. Because Tonks was my only other relative, I would have a room both with her and with the Weasleys. I would stay with Tonks when she was around, and the Weasleys when she wasn't. It was a neat trick, but I planned on getting my own place as soon as possible. I had plenty of money, thanks to Titus and Necromana's rather timely deaths. Perhaps then Draco could move in with me . . .

Molly fed us and Tonks and Bill took Draco and me back to Hogwart's, where Ron and the rest were waiting. I expected it to be as bad as when they first found out, but they were much better at school. Probably because they'd had some time to digest the whole thing.

"Pia, we'll help you get your things up to your room," Hermione said, grabbing a bag. I ended up bringing more stuff to school because . . . I don't know why. The people I called parents up until a few days ago were dead, so I can't even think of a reason why I brought all this crap with me. Screw it.

"Fine. Are you all coming?" I asked, looking at the quad and Draco. Tonks and Bill had scurried off, muttering about assignments and whatnot. Everyone nodded, and we each grabbed something and started lugging things upstairs.

My prefect's room had been completely cleaned, with no evidence anything bad had happened in it at all. My window was open, and a stack of goodies had been left on a table.

A house-elf appeared, someone we all recognized: Dobby, former house-elf to the Malfoys.

"Dobby will get Miss Pia anything she likes, he will. Will the Master's Pia like anything now?" Dobby asked, his big eyes blinking wide. We all laughed; house-elves are such a comical sight.

"Well, Draco and I had lunch, but I'm hungry again. How about some sandwiches, meatballs, ice cream, and chocolate frogs did I leave anything out, guys?" I asked, and every pair of eyes grew wide. "Oh, stop thinking that! I was just thinking about everyone's favorite foods. I am not craving anything. Merlin, is that all you people think about when a girl orders food?"

"Sorry, Pia," Ginny said, blushing and ducking her head into Harry's chest. "It's just that it was a weird combination, and "

"And I like to fuck like a rabbit, so of course I should be pregnant?"

Ron choked on air, and he was bright red. Draco was laughing, and Hermione was slapping Ron on his back, trying to get him to breath again.

"That wasn't fair, Pia. It was a mistake. You didn't need to say that to Ginny," Harry scolded me. I stuck my tongue out at him, and then smiled.

"I think you forget that while I'm a Weasley now, we still haven't forged a friendship among the six of us. I'm still in Slytherin and I am not going to ask to be sorted again and I'm new to being a Weasley. You don't even know my personality; if we are going to create a family among us, you all need to give me some time. Then we'll see about everything else. So this meal will be our first step. Capisce?" I said, pulling out the old Italian on them.

Everyone agreed, and Ron finally stopped choking. He looked me right in the eyes and spoke.

"Pia, we're all family now. I'll overlook what I can, but Malfoy will probably always be somewhat of a problem for me. But in honor of my uncle, and our shared lineage, I'll try," Ron said, trying to do the noble thing.

"I have to give respect to your family now, Weasley. Pia will be my wife, and we'll all be family. Even my ancestor Salazar Slytherin would have respected a family as pure-blooded as the Weasley line. So I'll try, too for Pia," Draco said, offering Ron his hand.

"But we'll still hex each other from time to time."