Harry did not want to believe that the twins' parents were more or less like his own relatives. He only stared uncomprehendingly at Ariana for a moment. Her countenance was stoic, though.

"Ariana?"

A small frown. "Call me Ana, Harry. You've earned it."

Emotions poured into her face then, but too many for Harry to glean. "They are busy, Harry," she said. "Hiding takes a lot of effort. We've learnt to live without them for long anyway. They keep the family safe, and we can do things without being known."

Questions popped up in Harry's mind. One of the undercurrents he caught formed another impression entirely. The parents' current absence was somehow related to him, he was sure of it. But what about? Would they bar him from going to Hogwarts? Or would they safeguard his schooling there instead?

Ariana shook her head. "If you know, the Headmaster would know. We cannot afford that. Sorry."

What about Albus Dumbledore and the "Ar twins" – as he dubbed them privately? What made them distrust him so much? Should Harry do the same? If so, he had to work particularly hard on his mind-shielding…

Still, there was another thorn to address – and hopefully, pull out.

"It all felt different in the stone," he accused grimly.

She did not deny it.

"I don't know what Dila put in it," she said, "but it's indeed to lure you to us, sort of. We couldn't convince you in person, so we had to be convincing with that little thing. It's genuine, though. We only show it differently."

Harry's heart sank. So, after all, he was only… prey?

Was he being an ungrateful brat, like Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia had always accused him? Did the twins – and their family – really deserve being barraged by all the negative feelings he had unknowingly piled since early childhood?

– "What are your parents?"

It was safer to just change the topic altogether.

Apparently Ariana agreed, for she answered promptly, "They are in the military, Harry. We've got some cover in that way, but that's also why they… aren't often home."

What was wrong with saying "seldom" or "rarely," if it was indeed the fact?

"You and Dila can cope with the truth better than I."

Criky. His mental defences must have slipped again. He would have no chance of digging more secrets from this family if he went on like this.

But – oh, he had meant to fish out secrets that would help him survive in the Wizarding World, right?

"How if you were accidentally seen by people?"

Ariana snorted. "We'd be carted to the Ministry of Magic and dissected by the Unspeakables. They want to know how we got inhuman powers."

The heavy sarcasm was hard to miss.

Harry frowned. He only stared moodily at the gleaming cascade of water before them for some time. His mind and heart were in turmoil. Should he pity them? Should he hate them? Should he—

"Where's Ardila?"

But Ariana was silent. – Gah.