Chapter Two

"I'm going to find Draco," Michael stated.

"I thought that Granny said you weren't to play with the Malfoy boy," Louise said.

"Shut up, Louise," he snapped. "And stay of my business."

Louise shrunk and looked anywhere but at Michael. "Now," Michael started, "you can join us in our compartment or you can find your own."

"I'll find my own," she half-squeaked, half-stated.

Michael glared at her and opened the compartment door to sit with his friends. Louise sighed and moved on, trying to find a compartment.
She tried to find her cousin, Edwarda Holden, but she preferred Ned. Michael always skitted her for being called Ned, but she didn't care what Michael said. Ned was the kindest person (and the most annoying person) Louise had met.

She finally found her in a compartment with a bushy haired girl and a black-haired boy with a toad. Louise slid open the compartment door and peaked her head in. She was about to ask could she sit in there when Ned piped up, "Louise!" she greeted bubbly. "I thought you missed the train!"

The train had only just taken off. "I was just trying to find you," she closed the compartment door and sat beside the black-haired boy.
"Oh," she said. "Well, this is Hermione Granger," she gestured to the bushy haired girl and then to the boy beside her, "and this is Neville Longbottom."

"What's your name?" the girl - Hermione - asked her.

"She's Louise Holden," Ned introduced, "my only girl cousin."

Louise sunk in her chair, almost sulkily. She was upset she didn't get to speak for herself. Ned didn't seem to notice, which annoyed Louise greatly.

"Nice to meet you," Hermione said. "Which house do you want to get into?"

She opened up her mouth to speak, but Ned spoke for her, again. "Gryffindor. Our whole family, well, most of them, were in Gryffindor."

Hermione gave Louise a look, an almost pitiful one. Louise sighed, being passed over, yet again.

Ned's father hadn't been in Gryffindor. He was in Slytherin, but Ned would never admit that. Her mother was in Gryffindor.

"How are you too related?" Hermione asked.

This time, Louise was going to speak, but Ned got there first. Louise felt her anger boil inside of her. "She's my cousin. My dad-"
It was Louise's turn to speak, she decided. "-Her dad was my mother's brother. I'm a Holden because I have absolutely no idea who my dad is. I have a brother too. His name's Michael, he's my twin too."

Everyone stared at her in shock. Louise bit her bottom lip to stop herself from laughing. Ned looked sort of offended. Serves her right, Louise thought.

Ned had the dark hair of her father and grandfather. It wasn't as black, but it was a very dark brown. She had chocolate brown eyes like her mother and her mother's tanned skin. Her mother was from Spain, so Ned inherited the look of a Spaniard. Her father, Hebron Holden, had black hair, blue eyes and pale skin, the signature looks of the Holden family. Michael had black hair and pale skin, but his features didn't look like Granddad's.

Ned quickly got out of her depressed state. "I have a younger sister, Gwen," she told them. "She's nine and a whiny bugger, if I must say so myself. And my other sister, Agatha, she's six. She's alright, I suppose. Gwen was begging me to stay home with her until she could go to Hogwarts."

Louise had always liked Gwen, Agatha, or Aggy, was lovely too. Both of them were like Ned's clones. Both were mischeivious, like Ned. And both could be extremely annoying. Like Ned.

"I'm an only child," Hermione declared, almost whinily. "My parents are muggles. What about you, Neville?"

All of their eyes drifted over to Neville, who was trying to speak, but in came out in a mumble, "I live with my nan, my parents-um-well, they...um..."

Louise and Ned shared a knowing glance. Neville's parents had been tortured to insanity by some Death Eaters. Granny had told them.

"Do any of you have pets?" Ned asked everyone, trying to relieve Neville of the pressure placed upon him.

"Unfortunately not," Hermione said sadly. "I didn't know what to get!"

"I have a cat," Louise began. "I've called him Merlin, after the great wizard."

Ned smiled. "I wanted to bring my rabbit, Bouncer, but I didn't know if they'd be alright with it. So, I bought a cat. He's called Salem."

"I brought a toad," Neville spoke up from his seat in the corner. "He's called Trevor. My uncle gave him to me."

Louise smiled at Neville, who shyly smiled back. "Oh, I wish I got a cat now," Hermione sulked. "Or even an owl. Am I the only one without an animal?"

Louise shrugged. "Probably not," she replied. "I'm sure there are loads who don't."

"Did Michael bring one?" Ned asked.

"He brought an owl. He called her Morgana," Louise replied.

Ned nodded. The compartment door opened. "Anything from the trolley, dears?"

Ned stood up and purchased a lot of sweets. Ned's parents allowed her pretty much anything. It wasn't that she was spoilt, her parents just... awarded her with money. She had to mind Aggy a lot during the summer so Louise supposed she deserved it.

Once, the trolley passed, Ned practically threw all of her sweets on the seat shared by her and Hermione. Ned smirked at their faces. "Dig in."

#2#

The train ride passed with a lot of food. Hermione and Neville left the compartment to find his toad, and Hermione returned, blabbering on about meeting Harry Potter.

There chat was interrupted by Michael and his friend.

"So, what's going on in here?" said the arrogant voice belonging to Draco Malfoy.

Louise had met the boy once or twice. He was an arrogant fool who placed way too much importance on blood purity. Michael was an idiot for being friends with him. They had a lot of arguments about it, each of them more intense than the last. Michael changed since he befriended Malfoy. And it annoyed Louise endlessly to see her brother turn into a bigot.

"None of your business, Malfoy," Ned snapped. "Why don't you just save us some time and leave?"

His smirked at her. "But what would be the fun in that?"

"You heard her," Louise glared at Malfoy. "Leave."

"Or else what?" Malfoy asked, the corners of his mouth twitching. "You're going to make me?"

Louise lost all fighting spirit. Ned stood up threateningly. "I might," she spat. "If you make me."

Louise saw Malfoy cower, though he quickly hid it. "Ned," Michael said from behind Malfoy, "leave him alone."

"Shut up, Michael," Malfoy said angrily. "I can handle Ned," he laughed at her name. "Isn't that a boy's name? Should I call you Edward?"
After years of being teased because of her masculine name, Ned was unfazed by his petty, common insult. "No thanks, I prefer Ned if you don't mind."

"Come on, Draco," Michael spoke up again. "They're not worth it."

"Oh," Ned said scathingly, "we're not worth it," her eyes rested on Michael as she stepped back from Malfoy. "How wounding. But I suppose he's right, you should leave."

Malfoy huffed. "I bet you all want to be in Gryffindor," he said in disgust. "The 'brave' and 'noble' house?"

"Better than being with the snakes," Ned replied with just as much distaste.

He ignored her and looked at Louise and said, "too bad you don't know who you really are, isn't that right, Michael?"

Michael didn't nod, or laugh, or do anything, he just urged Malfoy to leave, which he eventually did.

They all stared at her, expecting some sort of explanation. She didn't know what to say. What had Malfoy meant? Michael had looked guilty and nervous when Malfoy addressed him. He knew. She'd pester him next time she saw him. By the look on his face, he wasn't too happy about 'who they were'.

"He's Malfoy, I'm sure you caught that," Louise told them. "Draco Malfoy. His father works in the ministry with my granddad. My brother's friends with him. He's the skinny one with the black hair."

"Who are the two fat ones?" Ned asked.

Louise shrugged. "I've never seen them before."

"Well," Hermione cut in, "I think we should stop talking about them. They're obviously pompous idiots. We shouldn't let them occupy our thought for more than a split second" - she looked around at them all, urging them to bring up something to speak about, but ended up continuing the conversation herself - "Have any of you read the books?"

They all shook their heads and Hermione sighed. "I glossed over one of them," Ned said. "The Defense Against the Dark Arts book."

"I was busy," Louise said. "I went to Barcelona during the summer."

Ned smiled at her. "I went with you, stupid," she skitted. Louise smiled sheepishly. "And I still had time to look over a book. And I was the reason we went to Spain. My mother's the Spanish one!"

She looked sorry as soon as she said it. Everyone was so careful with her on the mention of a mother. It was like she was a child. It was always like that, Granny was the same. Everyone had mothers, except for her.

Her and Michael. The poor little orphans. She was sick of everyone pitying her. She was fine. She didn't miss her mother. How could she? Her mother died soon after she was born. She didn't know her! The only reason she knew what she looked like was because of the photos on the fireplace.

"I'm sorry-" Ned tried.

"No," Louise said firmly. "I'm okay. Stop treating me like a baby."

Ned was taken aback. "Okay. Um... Sorry?"

Louise laughed. "It's alright."

#2#

Michael Holden

McGonagal had just left them to see if the hall was ready for them. Michael wasn't sure which house he wanted to be in. Ravenclaw was his favourite, but Draco would surely be in Slytherin, and he didn't want to be separated from his only friend.

He couldn't help but look at Louise and envy her. His sister was so pure and kind. He was sure his grandparents prefered her to him. She was obedient, unlike him. He was rebellious and sometimes insulted his grandparents. Louise reminded them of their mother, while Michael reminded them of... of their 'father'.

Draco had been cruel enough to tell him. He didn't want to know. And Malfoy told him everything. His father, the brother of Voldemort, had kidnapped his mother and got her pregnant with them. And then, when his Uncle Hebron left with them to Holden Manor, how his father, Mordred Riddle, killed his mother.

His grandparents never talked about their father. They had a good reason, in all fairness. He wouldn't tell Louise. Louise was too innocent, too lovely, to have to deal with being You-Know-Who's kin. It would break her. Even though he fought with Louise and was sometimes mean to her, he had to protect her. He was her big brother, and he cared for her.

Michael realised Draco was talking to someone from beside him. He shifted his gaze over to the boy. He had black hair and bright, green eyes.

"It's true then, what they're saying on the train. Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts," all students began whispering (-"Harry Potter?" -) "This is Crabbe, and Goyle," Draco nodded to them, "that's Michael Holden and I'm Malfoy...Draco Malfoy," A red-haired boy snickered at the name. From his appearance, Michael guessed he was a Weasley. The Weasley's were a pureblooded family who associated with muggles and were, according to Draco, 'blood traitors'. "Think my name's funny, do you? No need to ask yours. Red hair, and a hand me down robe? You must be a Weasley. Well soon find that some wizarding families are better than others, Potter. Dont want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there."

Draco extended his hand to Potter, who eyed it.

"I think I can tell who the wrong sort are for myself, thanks," he replied.

Draco glared at him. McGonagall returned and smacked him on the shoulder with a paper. He retreated with one last glare, Michael, Crabbe and Goyle close behind him.

"We're ready for you now," she announced.

The other students seemed to in awe and, if Michael was being honest, he was himself. Draco was smirking. "Look at the others," he said. "It's as if they haven't seen a bit of good magic in their lives!"

Michael laughed awkwardly, trying to hide his awe from Draco. He didn't want him thinking he didn't know good magic. What Draco thought of Michael meant a lot for some reason. All his life, Michael seemed to be searching for the approval of others. Nothing else mattered as long as he was excepted. He hoped that it would go away in time.

All right, will you wait along here, please?" McGonagall said. "Now, before we begin, Professor Dumbledore would like to say a few words."

A man with a long beard rose from his seat at the table.

Draco scoffed from beside him and whispered into Michael's ear, "they think he's so great. Father says Dumbledore's father killed a few muggles when Dumbledore was a child," Michael look at him in shock. Draco nodded. "It's true. S'pose the ministry don't know. I'd like to be the one to tell them. 'Oh great Dumbledore, protector of muggle-borns, kin of muggleslayers,'" he laughed and smirked.
McGonagall gave them a glare, silencing Draco.

"I have a few start of term notices I wish to announce. The first years please note that the dark forest is strictly forbidden to all students. Also, our caretaker, Mr. Filch" - he gestured to a ragged old man with a cat with red eyes - "has asked me to remind you that the 3rd floor corridor on the right hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a most painful death. Thank you."

From the corner of his eye, he saw Draco roll his eyes.

"When I call your name, you will come forth, I shall place the sorting hat on your head, and you will be sorted into your houses. Hermione Granger."

"I don't know any Grangers," Draco whispered. "Must be a muggle-born."

Michael nodded. He'd be hearing all of the people's blood statuses during the sorting.

"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat cried.

She hopped off of the stool and made her way to the Gryffindor table.

"Draco Malfoy."

Draco sauntered up to the stool cockily. The tattered hat looks scared before being put on Draco's head. Michael tried not to laugh.

"SLYTHERIN!" it said, barely even touching his hair.

Draco smirked down at them and walked over to the Slytherin table. He gave Michael a nod when he sat down.

"Susan Bones."

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Edwarda Holden," Professor McGonagall said.

He never got on with Edwarda. Their personalities clashed. She was too headstrong, she loved arguing and proving she was better than everyone else. When she came over to Holden Manor, they'd play Quidditch. Louise wouldn't play, but Edwarda would. The matches would usually just be the two of them. They were equal players. He had more skill, but Edwarda was more aggressive.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

The hat took a little while to decide, probably confused by her many personalities. Edwarda still looked delighted with herself.
Louise'd be next. She'd probably get into Hufflepuff, maybe Ravenclaw, though she wasn't very bright.

"Louise Holden."

On her way to the stool, she tripped, nearly falling down the steps. Her face reddened, but her reddish-brown hair sort of concealed it.
He waited anxiously. He hoped she wasn't in Gryffindor, or Slytherin. She'd be ripped to pieces in Slytherin. And if she was in Gryffindor, he'd have to ignore her. Gryffindors and Slytherins didn't communicate. It was an unspoken rule.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

He closed his eyes, hoping that when he opened them she'd be walking to the Hufflepuff table, but no. She was almost skipping to the Gryffindor table, smiling brightly.

"Michael Holden!"

It was his turn now. He held his head up high, he already knew he'd be in Slytherin. There was really no point in freaking out. He was more like his father's family in every sense, it was only expected he'd be in Slytherin.

He sat down on the stool. He looked at Draco first, who had a smirk on his face, and then to Louise, who was smiling up at him. She was the last thing he saw before the hat was placed on his head, covering his eyes.

"Ah. Another Holden! It seems that this year of Hogwarts will be mostly populated by Holdens! But where will I put this one? In Gryffindor, oh no, definately not. Certainly not Hufflepuff, you'd frighten them all! You have Ravenclaw brains, but no, that's not where you belong at all! Cunning, ambitious and a knack for the Dark Arts. I know exactly where to put you...SLYTHERIN!"

He smirked as the hat was taken off of his head. His sister looked upset as she watched his join his fellow Slytherins. He felt bad, but he was a Slytherin now, he didn't feel sorry for Gryffindors.

Draco patted him on the back. "Well done, Mike. You've done your father proud," he whispered the last part and Michael couldn't find it in himself to pretend to laugh. It wasn't funny, maybe to someone proud of their murdering ancestors, but Michael wasn't.

The sorting was over. Louise seemed to be getting along well with her fellow Gryffindors, she was even chatting with Potter, who Draco was glaring at.

They were joined by Pansy Parkinson, Blaise Zabini, Grabbe and Goyle, Daphne Greengrass, Millicent Bulstrode, Tracey Dravis and Theodore Nott. Draco seemed to befriend them all quickly, boasting of his lineage and his family's influence in the ministry.

"Your attention, please," McGonagall said after hitting her cup with her spoon.

"Let the feast...begin," Dumbledore added.

Food magically appeared on all the tables, and the hall was filled with awe and chatter. Draco's eyebrowes were rose as he eyed the food, but soon he digged in as well. Crabbe and Goyle looked like savages. Michael was just as hungry, but he ate like a normal human being, like Draco was.

A ghost called the Bloody Baron appeared in front of them. "New first years," he said. "You better not ruin our chances of getting the house cup! We've gotten it seven years in a row and it's not going to be ruined by you buggers!"

Draco looked offended. "How would we ruin it?"

"Potter's here," the Baron said. "A good few of the teachers like him, so he's going to get favouritism. Don't lose your temper. Malfoy's have terrible tempers."

With that, he floated away from them. "Who does he think he is," Draco grumbled. "Telling me what to do and then gliding off like he didn't say anything. Stupid ghost."

Michael let out a laugh, but hid it with a cough.

After the feast, they were led to their rooms by a prefect. The Slytherin common rooms were amazing. They were so elegant. Even Draco showed awe when he saw the common room. They were perfect.

They went up to the boy's dormitory. Michael got a bed beside Draco. They unpacked their stuff.

"Hopefully we don't get lost tomorrow," Draco said.

Michael laughed. He liked when Draco stopped trying to be cool and acted like himself. It was the side of Draco Michael preferred. The side that most people didn't get to see. He was actually funny and caring at times. Michael knew that Draco had two personalities. The kind, caring side and the cruel, prejudiced side.

"We probably will though," Michael replied, getting into his pyjamas. "It's so big."

He slipped into bed. Soon, Draco got into his. They were joined by Crabbe, Goyle, Zabini and Nott. The room was quiet as they fell asleep, stuffed and tired.