Slightly sad chapter in which Demi and Justus learn the truth. Review!

Chapter 3: The Letters.

As Demi and Justus watched, the ribbons slowly, as if they were feathers, floated down not a foot in front of them. Just as they reached almost knee height, they each transformed into what looked like vintage strongboxes. The one on the right – Justus's – was engraved with the initials G.W.O.R.P, while the one in front of Demi's was engraved with LAREV.

"What – what are these?" Demi wondered in a whisper.

"I don't know…" said Justus slowly, reaching out to run a finger over the side of it. To both the twins' surprise, the strongbox suddenly popped open. Inside were several things – books, scrolls, smaller boxes, and a letter on top.

"These must be from our parents," Demi said in awe, touching her own box and then looking inside. "Look – my letter is addressed 'my dearest daughter'. It's – it's from mum."

The twins shared a look for a moment, and then simultaneously opened the letters.

Demi's was written in bouncy handwriting and read:

My darling Demitria,

The spell I have set on this strongbox should cause it to appear to you a few weeks before you start at Hogwarts, in the case that I have died. If Gideon and I are correct in thinking, then your father and Krystal are now married and Sierra and Jayden have been called The Children Who Lived.

Let me explain: when the prophecy concerning one of you four children was made clear to the Order, a small group consisting of myself, Gideon, Sirius, Fabian, Hestia Jones, Andromeda and Ted Tonks, Alice, Frank, and Augusta Longbottom, Charity Burbage, Senora Sinistra, and Emmeline Vance thought out several possibilities for how the prophecy might end up. The most likely seemed to be that Voldemort would target all four of you, just to be safe. Gideon and I did the research and knew that the only way to protect you four was to enact old Love magic. So, in other words, we died to protect you.

But don't feel guilty, my dear! It was our decision, and at least two of you were worth it. It was our time. I want you to remember that.

At any rate, what we believe would have happed than night is this: Voldemort elected to kill Jayden and Sierra first (I'm sure they were screaming and generally causing a fuss), and that you and Justus protected them with your magic, empowered by Gideon and I dying to save you two. Thus, you and Justus are the true Chosen Ones. We believe – and this is all purely theory mind you! – that the symbols Jayden and Sierra received in the form of curse scars (perhaps a heart, star, sun, cloud – we were never sure on that front) were a mark of being touched by love-magic, which saved them. The scars you and Justus have (assuming that you do indeed have one) – perhaps a flame or a corkscrew? – are a mark of where Voldemort's dark magic touched you rather than your twins.

It took a lot of research on our part to guess through that much. Hopefully we weren't to far off the mark.

I know James and Krystal have probably kept you from most human contact. I'll wager that Sirius is likely the only person you're allowed around on a regular basis, but know that you can always contact any of the people in that group I mentioned – except Fabian, Alice, or Frank, of course. They care for you both and would love to talk to you or help you with anything you need.

Gideon and I have also discussed what would happen when you and Justus started Hogwarts. Unless we're horribly mistaken, Krystal and James have had your last names changed. We know this because we thought that if you went to the school under the same names as the 'Special Twins', you might possibly get at least a fraction of the attention you two deserve. Krystal and James wouldn't want that – then it would come out that you two had been hidden for years. Perhaps, however, it will be better this way. Who would want to be related to those four anyway?

I know, love, that you must wonder why Gideon and I chose Krystal and James in the first place – or at least I hope you do. The truth is, James had a few good years. At first in Hogwarts he was an unbearable snob who picked on everyone he felt like. From our seventh year on to about when you and your sister were born, however, he was actually kind and caring. Krystal, on the other hand, had always been a gold-digging brat. Gideon owed her brother a favour and…well there you have it.

My dear Demi, how I wish I could protect you from the pain of an unloving family. How I wish I had lived long enough to impress upon you and Justus (who I always felt was more of a son to me than Sierra was a daughter) your worth. At least I know that Sirius and all the others remaining will help you. In fact, Charity and Senora are teachers at Hogwarts.

Anyway, my dear, just know that you both are and were loved, even if not by your so-called parents.

One last thing: I want you two to know the prophecy that concerns you. Here it is:

'The ones with the power to vanquish the dark lord approach, each born to one who has thrice defied him, each born as the seventh month dies…and the dark lord shall mark him and her as his equals, but they shall have the power the dark lord knows not…either side must perish by the hands of the other for neither can live while the other survives…the ones with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord shall be wrongly betrayed….'

Of course, Dumbledore changed it to suit his needs. The last part about betrayal has been conveniently left out at the Order meetings. We think it's quite obvious that it points to you, but please know that you and Justus need not act on it. If you decide not to ever interfere with the possibly upcoming war, I will still be proud of you. You do not owe the Wizarding World anything after how it has treated you.

But that is a descision for a later time. You don't need to worry about that now. Just have fun at Hogwarts and do your best. No matter what, I will always be proud of you.

Love,

Mum.

[From the desk of Lilian Rochelle Elizabeth Evans Potter]

Gideon's letter to Justus was the same, for the most part, except that the signature at the bottom read 'Gideon William Oliver Rodmen Prewett'. Gideon told about the group from the Order, the prophecy, what they thought had happened that night, and how proud he was of Justus. By the time both twins had finished their letters, they were leaning against each other, crying quietly.

It took a few minutes, but eventually Demi and Justus got around to looking at the other things in the strongboxes. Demi's contained a small jewellery box with a beautiful silver and gold antique set of jewellery: it held a necklace, earrings, and a ring, all matching. Demi, too choked up to speak, put them on immediately. In a smaller box under she found a blue cameo necklace on a gold chain with a note:

Demi,

I had this made right after you were born. I was planning to give it to you on your fifth birthday but alas…

This is supposed to be you and I together.

I hope you like it, my dear.

Mum.

Demi put it on immediately. It fell just below the aquamarine necklace.

Justus, meanwhile, was looking through his own items. Gideon had left him a gold ring with ebony and diamonds on the top, a silver chain for his wrist, and an antique pocket watch with his grandfather's initials on the back.

Then, at the bottom of both twins' boxes, they found leather journals. Justus's was read accented in gold with a pressing of a lion on the front, under the initials JLAAP. Inside was Justus's full name – 'Justus Lithlinn August Auroras Prewett'. Demi's was similar, but dark green with gold, and a picture of a sun was pressed into the front under her initials, DDFOP - Demitria December Fabia Oriona Prewett.

Both children stayed up late into the night looking through the books inside and re-reading the letters over and over again. Demi and Justus fell asleep at dawn together in their net hammock, still clutching the letters and journals.