Melanie was silent the while way to Hogwarts, she and Ethan were taken by a muggle car belonging to the Australian Aurors and drove into London, and then walked five minutes to the Leaky Cauldron. They floo'd to the Headmasters office and waited in silence as the Aurors talked to Albus.
"Melanie, are you ok. Did they hurt you?" Albus asked, kneeling before the young girl.
"I just want my brothers," Ethan twitched slightly at this, and Melanie turned to him. "Who the hell are you?" she demanded angrily.
"Melanie please, this is something we should discuss with the family," Albus said, he turned to the Aurors. "I'll have to deal with this issue, can you please give me the name of Mr Potters carer."
"Sarah Yardly, she's the orphanage owner." The Auror said, Melanie looked sadly at Ethan.
"What do you mean orphanage, Ethan was sent to a family?" Albus asked.
"They gave me up. Reminded them too much of what was lost, I do believe," Ethan said somewhat bitterly, and for the first time Melanie saw Albus looked truly shocked.
"What do you mean they gave you up?" Albus asked.
"About ten years ago, they put me in an orphanage," Ethan said.
Silence fell for a moment then Albus spoke again.
"Melanie, I would like for you to go to Madame Pomfrey, and have a check up." Albus ordered Melanie nodded, got up and left.
Walking silently she made her way towards the hospital wing, she didn't realise the strange looks she was receiving from passing students. She was locked away in her own thoughts.
She walked into the hospital wing and walked to Madame Pomfrey office.
"Ma'am." Melanie said blankly.
"Oh Merlin!" The nurse exclaimed looking up at Melanie's bruised face.
The nurse led Melanie to a bed and got her to change out of her rags and into a medical gown.
"Do you mind, I have to make sure there's no serious damage," The nurse said, Melanie nodded numbly and let her do the check up.
"You're got several bruised ribs, and a sprained wrist. I don't know if there's anything else you want checked out?" Madame Pomfrey asked.
"No," Melanie said, then pulled the covers up to her chin and rolled away from the older lady; she closed her eyes, and waited until Madame Pomfrey was gone until she let her tears fall.
Harry ran to Dumbledore's office, he was called there, and Harry hoped they had found Melanie. When he fell into the office it was to find the headmaster sitting there with a boy that well looked like him, Harry, that is.
"Have you got Melanie?" Harry demanded, looking between the boy and the headmaster.
"We have Melanie, she is in the hospital wing, but I would like to introduce you to Ethan," Albus said. Harry nodded shortly at the boy then looked to Dumbledore.
"What he got to do with any of this?" Harry demanded.
"Harry, Ethan is your twin." Albus said softly.
"You have got to be bloody well kidding me." Harry said with a slight laugh. The boy in question had unruly black hair, slightly tanned skin and the strong jaw line that both Harry and Christopher had. (Ok Christopher's hair was tamed like his mothers, but that's beside the point.)
"Harry I'm afraid that this is really Ethan Sirius Potter, he is your twin," Albus said with a tone Harry couldn't place, but he could tell that he was being totally serious.
"How many more brothers do I have?" Harry yelled.
"You have no more brothers Harry," Albus said, but from his tone Harry knew there was more, then he thought back to what Helga had told him.
"'The tale is far from over, and there are still many secrets to be recovered.'" Harry muttered. "There's more, I deserve to know!" Harry demanded.
"I'm afraid Harry that I need you to find out, or one of your family members, I can't produce the answers for you," Albus said.
"Ethan, this is Harry, excuse him, it has been a difficult few years for him." Albus said.
"What the hell am I meant to do now?" Harry demanded.
"I think maybe that some time alone with your twin would be ideal, then Christopher will need to know, I will be calling the family here, they need to know Melanie is back." Albus said, Harry nodded curtly then left the room, Ethan trailing after him.
"You didn't know either then?" Ethan asked.
"No, I-I didn't even know about Melanie or Christopher. They just appeared." Harry said as he sat down on the stairs, not caring to continue on.
"Christopher?" Ethan asked.
"My, well, I guess our older brother, he's twenty now. I flipped out when he turned up. I mean really flipped out, I fought him, drove Melanie crazy, she was the first one to come into the open," Harry explained as he held his head in his hands.
"Hmm, Melanie, tell me more about her, she didn't talk much when I rescued her." Ethan asked.
"What do you mean you rescued her?" Harry asked.
"She was being held in the same place as me, I heard her yelling when I was being rescued, so I went and got her out," Ethan explained.
"Thanks, so we all have scars, Chris on the back of his neck, Melanie on her collar bone, me on my forehead, have you got one?" Harry asked indicating you his scar. Ethan nodded and showed Harry his lightning bolt scar on his left shoulder.
"I didn't realise we all had one." Ethan said.
"Yeah, the curse hit me directly, but shattered and broke, one hitting the guy who cast it, one hitting each of my brothers and sisters," Harry explained, they were awkward that was the truth, what do you say to the twin that you're meeting for the first time in seventeen years?
"Do you wanna go check on Melanie?" Harry asked, when Ethan nodded the pair got up and walked towards the Hospital wing, well Harry led the way.
When they walked in Melanie was lying on a bed shaking, Christopher was perched on the bed beside her, rubbing her back and telling her everything would be alright. When the older man saw the pair walk in he silently swore then looked up.
"Do you realise how messed this family is? The Boy who must save the bloody world. The sister who the evil guy wants to get pregnant. The older brother who is trying to hold everything together. And now the twin that pops up from thin air," Christopher grumbled, yet he still walked up to Ethan and pulled the boy into a hug.
"It isn't quite finished there; I think there's still a lot to come." Harry said with a sigh. "How is she?" Harry asked.
"She's really shaken up; Madame Pomfrey said Melanie wouldn't let her check everything out." Christopher said pointedly. "And she won't tell me exactly what happened."
"Maybe I should get the girls; I mean she's more likely to tell them." Harry suggested.
"I was thinking maybe Emma or Molly, or both would be better." Christopher said. Harry nodded.
"They'll be along soon enough. I hope he didn't touch her," Harry said angrily.
"I'm gonna assume you're talking about the guy who took me." Ethan said.
"We'll explain everything in greater detail another time. Right now we have to get through this," Christopher said, clapped Ethan on the back then went and sat down beside the still crying Melanie.
Not even a minute later a large group of people came balling into the room. Severus, Emma, Molly, Arthur, Sirius, Remus, Belle, Fred and George, even Charlie who it seemed decided to stick around for a while.
"Madame Pomfrey I do realise your position on no more then six visitors, however I feel due to circumstances and the pure fact there will be uproar when the kids realise Melanie is back, I feel it would be best for you to just let it slide this one time," Severus said before the nurse could even open her mouth.
"How is she?" Emma asked Christopher.
"Not too good, I really suggest that just for a bit that the males step back," Christopher said, he shuffled all the men back out of the hospital wing and left Molly, Emma and Belle to talk to the young girl.
"I'm guessing you don't know what he did to her?" Severus asked thickly.
"I'm afraid that she hasn't said a word to me, just cried," As he finished speaking they heard a crash at the end of the corridor, they turned to see Draco scrambling up from beside a fallen suit of armour and running towards them, closely followed by Ginny, then Ron, Blaise and Luna, Neville, Hermione and Pansy.
"She's back?" Draco panted. Severus walked to his Godson and helped support him, so he didn't collapse.
"She's in there talking to Emma and Molly," Severus said.
Ginny was already standing in Harry's arms, her hands holding his face.
Ron was talking seriously with Charlie about how Melanie looked; Blaise and Pansy were doing the same with Fred and George. Neville was helping Severus support Draco; it was Luna that noticed Ethan.
"You look just like Harry, minus the glasses and scar!" She exclaimed, and for the first time the adults also noticed the boy standing awkwardly by Harry.
"Oh Merlin!" Sirius exclaimed engulfing a surprised Ethan into his arms.
"Who is he?" Ginny asked as Sirius pulled the boy away and held him at arms length.
"He's my, erm, he's, well, he's my twin," Harry said. Ginny looked at him like he was crazy.
"You don't have a twin." She stated.
"Now I do." Harry replied.
"Ethan, you've grown well, look just like your brother, you were the lucky one though, no need for glasses, mothers site. James was as blind as a bat, Harry got that one." Sirius said.
"Well then I guess we should introduce ourselves," Hermione said sheepishly. "I'm Hermione Granger, erm, welcome to the family."
Ethan paled.
"You're all family?" He asked.
"Practically. Erm, me, Melanie, Christopher and Emma are our only real family," Harry explained. "The Weasleys kind of take us all in, help Emma raise us, Sirius is my Godfather, Remus is a close friend, Belle is his fiancée, and Severus is Melanie's godfather, dating Emma, who is also Melanie's Godmother. And er there are also most of our friends that, well, live with us."
"This is really confusing..." Ethan said feebly.
"Yeah. But you get used to it, kinda," Ginny said, not so reassuringly.
After about an hour Belle left the room, she smiled sadly at the people waiting outside the hospital wing.
"Melanie wasn't awake for the most part, and can't remember much, she's doing fine though, it might be best if you don't mention the last two weeks," Belle said. Everyone nodded in understanding, and Draco rushed in before anyone else. He kissed the top of her head and perched beside her on the bed.
Ethan still felt slightly uncomfortable around these people that obviously knew each other well.
And to be honest he wanted to be back home in Australia. He didn't feel like he belonged here, he was raised from the age of one in Australia; it was home, even if this was where his family lived.
And now here he stood watching an emotional time between his family and their friends, and he just wanted to go.
Melanie sat up and looked directly at Ethan; she smiled lightly at him and beckoned him over.
"Thank you," She whispered as she pulled him into a hug. Ok so maybe I'll stick around. Ethan thought as he hugged his sister for the first time.
Emma smiled at him as he pulled back and walked over to him, wrapping an arm around his shoulders.
"Just give them a chance," She whispered to him. "This is as weird for them as it is you."
Days later and Ethan was sitting in a living room, watching TV, Christmas was in a week, he hadn't a clue what to get anyone, so he settled for letting Pansy take him out. She wanted to go shopping, but Hermione wanted to stay in and read a new book she had bought, Ginny wanted Harry and Melanie time, Draco wanted Melanie time, Blaise was going to visit a friend in France, Ron was busy with Luna, and Christopher was little too old for her to hang out with. So she settled for dragging Ethan out. They were of course going with an adult, Belle.
He was lucky though, because an hour before he left with Pansy and Belle the kids had decided to do a secret Santa, muggle thing. The kids were told not to get the adults anything, but just work it out between themselves. Ethan received Ron.
Pansy told him she had Harry, and the pair decided to get theirs when they went shopping.
Belle grinned as Ethan went red, Pansy had only gone and dragged him into the underwear section of the clothes shop, and was asking his opinion on different lacy undergarments.
"What do you think of this?" Pansy asked holding up a sexy pink bra and thong set, Ethan looked towards Belle for help.
"Erm." Ethan said in reply.
"Pansy do you want some help?" Belle asked finally taking pity on Ethan, he had not signed up for this.
"Yes. I like this guy, but well I don't know what he's into," Pansy groaned.
"Then why are you buying underwear?" Belle asked, a bit bemused by what the younger girl was getting at.
"Oh, well, I'll sleep with him won't I?" Pansy said.
"Oh dear, don't sell yourself short," Belle said and Ethan started to choke. "Who is it?"
"Neville, he's a sweet guy, I just want to I dunno..."
"Pansy sweetie, first you don't have to sleep with a guy to get him to like you, if he can't see the great person you are he doesn't deserve you. And second I don't think Neville is a guy like that. I certainly don't think he's going to be doing anything until a third date, and that will most likely be only a kiss."
"There are actually guys who don't think of sex?" Pansy asked as if she didn't believe it.
"Help me out Ethan, you're a guy."
What had he gotten himself into?
"Well, yeah, erm, guys, erm, do y'know, think of sex, but, erm, the decent guys, erm, don't need to have, er, sex with you to, erm, like you..." Ethan stammered.
"Oh, but the boys I know, I mean, even Draco before..."
"I know darling, but you are worth much more then that, and a Gryffindor boy isn't like a Slytherin boy. Trust me; Neville will think more of you if you don't put out," Belle said hugging Pansy.
The rest of the trip went well, Pansy mentioned Ron liked the Chudley Cannons, so Ethan, luckily raised in a wizarding orphanage and actually knew a lot about Quidditch. So for Ron he got the newest Cannons jersey, it would clash horribly with his hair but if he liked the team, he'd want it.
Pansy ended up getting Harry a lucky charm; it was a small stone set in a small silver bracelet.
"Hey that boy needs all the luck he can get!" Pansy pointed out, and having heard the full story Ethan couldn't agree more.
When they got back to the house all hell had broken lose. Melanie, who was back on form after lots of pampering, was running around after Fred who had thought it would be funny to turn her hair baby pink, the girl had not appreciated it, and the adults were all to happy to let him pay, it was amusing.
"Someone stop her!" Fred screamed as he ran around the house.
"I'LL KILL YOU!" Melanie screamed as she brandished her now trademark red lipstick.
"Stay away! It was just a joke!" Fred cried out terrified.
"IT WASN'T FUNNY! I GIVE YOU TWO SECONDS TO CHANGE IT BACK!" Melanie screamed.
Fred paled, really paled.
"I'm so sorry!" He yelled.
"Fred I am only going to ask you this once more! Change my hair back!" Melanie hissed.
"I can't! It lasts a week!" Fred squeaked. Melanie just stared at him and he tried to hide his body, and then burst into tears. Fred yelped and ran forward apologising. Only when he reached her Melanie grabbed him, threw him to the floor, face down, and sat on him.
"Oh Ethan, how are you? Shopping fun?" Melanie asked innocently as Fred struggled beneath her.
"Erm, great," Ethan said, shook his head, and then left her to torture the poor guy.
When he walked into the kitchen, and sat down at the huge table, well it had to be huge to hold everyone.
Molly was rushing around cooking something that smelled delicious, Emma was laughing with Severus, touching him in a flirty way. Sirius and Remus were talking. Belle walked in behind Ethan she winked at him as she walked past.
"Kids!" Molly called, there was the thunderous sound of running and the table started to fill up, but there was no Draco, Melanie or Fred.
"WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR HAIR?" Someone exclaimed, Ethan assumed it to be Draco.
A few minutes later a frazzled Draco walked in with an angry Melanie, soon followed by a wincing Fred. She glared at everyone so they knew not to laugh.
"Nice hair." Harry said, someone had to say it.
"Harry, when is my birthday?" Melanie asked innocently.
"Erm, October 1st." Harry answered.
"So what does that mean?" Melanie asked innocently.
"Erm." Harry said dumbly.
"It means I'm seventeen," Melanie said drawing her wand. "This in turn means I can cast magic outside of school, I will hex you into next month." Melanie hissed, she waved her wand slightly, then flicked it towards Harry and he jumped, scared she'd cast something on him, she hadn't.
"Now kids, please, Melanie wand away," Emma said and grudgingly Melanie stowed her wand away.
Lunch was served and everyone settled down to eat, it wasn't until everyone was finished that anyone said anything about Melanie's hair.
"It really doesn't look so bad," Emma said quietly. She was sitting beside her god-daughter.
Melanie nodded before excusing herself; she ran to her room and sat in front of her mirror. Soon she was joined by Draco, he smiled lightly at her.
"It's different. But not bad." Draco said softly as he stood behind Melanie.
"Who are you trying to convince?" Melanie hissed.
"Hey, don't take it out on me!" Draco snapped.
"Go away." Melanie hissed.
"Fine!" Draco snapped, stormed out of Melanie's room then slammed the door behind him, it echoed slightly then silence fell.
Harry heard a door slam and realised that Melanie and Draco had just had their first fight, a silence fell for a few seconds, another door slammed, but a bit further away.
No one said anything for a bit.
"Well lunch was great, but I better check on Melanie, Severus want to join me." Emma said then got up, Severus following her.
"This would be a brilliant TV soap one day," Hermione sighed.