Harry Potter and the Secret of the Twins

April 2002

Another two weeks passed and both the O.W.L.s and the final exams were over. In fact, they'd just finished their last exam- Defense Against the Dark Arts- and the five of them were lounging by the lake. Ron and Hermione looked a little bored, as did Neville, but Rose and Harry were in a silent- and very entertaining- conversation.

:But Harry, Norwegian Ridgebacks are one of the most dangerous types of dragons!:

:Hagrid most likely knew that.:

:Oh, I believe you.: Rose shot Harry a very amused look. :After Fluffy I'll believe he'd make a pet out of anything. Besides, I used to want a dragon- miniature, so it would fit in the apartment and I could hold it.:

:You wanted a Dragon?!?!:

:Of course! And a Phoenix, and a Salamander... Not the little ones, either. A BIG Salamander. The ones that are about two feet long. And can tell the future.:

:Fire creatures. And a Seer, of course.:

:I'm all there.:

:Even the honest and loyal and all that.:

:Gryffindor through and through.: Her tone was joking, but Rose blushed at her brother's compliment.

Harry gazed silently over the lake. :I wonder...:

:Ginny's playing Exploding Snap with Colin.:

Harry gave his twin an overly patient look. :That wasn't what I was wondering about.:

:Oh. I'm sure she'd agree to meet you if you explained.:

Harry glared. :Nothing about Ginny. I was wondering if Sergio was going to fall in the lake.:

:Oh.: Rose was very disappointed. Then she brightened. :He is getting pretty interested in the Giant Squid.:

"Potter! Black! Longbottom! Granger! Weasley!" snapped Professor McGonagall suddenly from behind them. Each of the five jumped as their name was called. "Professor Dumbledore wishes to see you in his office."

Then she swept off, the five fifth years following her up to the castle, all of them but Rose and Harry looking guilty and scared. Neville and Hermione had never had to see Dumbledore before, and Ron only in one case when he and Harry had almost been expelled. Harry knew that it could as easily be good as bad, and Rose had only ever been there to meet Sirius. To Harry's surprise, Professor McGonagall didn't leave them at the entrance hall, but went with them all the way to Dumbledore's office. Outside the door she turned to them.

"Harry, Rose, please come in with me. The rest of you, wait out here." Harry glanced at his twin, who shrugged, and they entered with the professor.

The room was dark, the only light coming from a few scattered candles and Fawkes's soft glow. Five chairs where set in a semi-circle for Sirius, a very pregnant Maralin, Remus, and Snape. Professor McGonagall took the fifth.

Then Fawkes let out a wavering cry and Dumbledore entered. "Are the Five present?" he asked formally.

"All save Lily and James Potter, who died in the fight against Voldemort and in protection of their son," Remus answered calmly.

"Who sits for them?"

"I sit for James Potter," Snape said slightly sourly.

"I sit for Lily Potter," Professor McGonagall said promptly.

Dumbledore nodded, then continued the obvious ceremony. "Why have the Five called?"

"To review the suitability of Rose Potter, daughter of James Charles Potter and Lily Evans Potter, to join the Order of Phoenix and succeed her mother, as she willed," Maralin said stonily. "And to announce to the Council that Harry James Potter, son of James Charles Potter and Lily Evans Potter, has been twice-wounded and twice-healed."

Albus Dumbledore nodded again. "Do any object?"

"By the Law of the Order, they must be of age before they may sit on the Council of Five," Maralin said harshly.

"I will sit Regnant for Rose Potter and teach her of her duties," Snape said quickly.

Everyone turned to him, then Dumbledore nodded. "As you wish, Severus, if Rose will allow you." It was obviously no part of the ceremony.

"I will," Rose said venomously.

"If no one objects, I believe Harry knows enough to take his seat among the Five if he has an advisor," Sirius said cautiously. "They're technically not supposed to be allowed in the Order until they're sixteen, anyway."

Maralin looked at him incredulously. "Harry may have faced Voldemort- something I hope none of the rest of us ever have to do- but he is too much like his father to take his seat at fifteen. Everyone here knew James at fifteen: I don't think a single one of us would have trusted him to do this."

"No," Sirius said definitely. "New times call for new laws, and James could have done this at fifteen without guidance. He might have seemed not to care, but his noble streak was always there. Harry can do it, but if he doesn't have an advisor until he's of age people will reject anything the Order suggests."

Maralin gave her husband a very pointed look. "James did some pretty stupid things."

"Though nothing that ever endangered anyone else. How many of us wouldn't be here if it weren't for him? At sixteen he saved Snape from me doing exactly what you've accused him of, Maralin! He always came last! James could have done this at eleven, and Harry probably could have to!"

There was stunned silence for several minutes, then Harry cleared his throat awkwardly. "Nobody needs to be doing something like this at eleven."

Dumbledore gave Harry a searching look, than nodded. "Harry is already a member of this council, with less ceremony and more real danger than any of us. Choose an advisor Harry."

"Sirius."

Dumbledore nodded again. "Then let Rose Potter be initiated to the Order of Phoenix and the Council of Five."

The six adults turned expectantly to Fawkes, and the phoenix flew from its perch. Rose whimpered slightly as he slashed her right arm, and a gasp escaped as the phoenix cried his healing tears. Then she gave a second, muffled whimper as Fawkes tore her other arm, which he also healed.

There is no scarring at all, Harry thought, touching the place on his arm where he had been pierced by a basilisk fang. Not to the body, when a phoenix heals. It cannot heal the mind, only ease pain with its voice. He touched the crook of his elbow on his other arm lightly. There he had another scar, from Voldemort's rebirth, a simple knife wound.

Dumbledore relaxed as Fawkes flew back to his perch and Snape moved to the seat that Professor McGonagall vacated. "Rose, you're supposed to stand behind Severus. Harry, you take the seat where Severus just was. Minerva, would you send in, oh, Miss Granger on your way out?"

Professor McGonagall nodded curtly and left. Moments later a terrified Hermione joined them.

"Why have the Five called?" Dumbledore asked as soon as the door closed, not giving Hermione a chance to sum up the situation.

"To review the suitability of Hermione Granger, daughter of Derrick Frederick Granger and Madiline McBeth Granger, to join the Order of Phoenix," Remus said formally, and Hermione gasped.

"But... You have to be sixteen!"

"I was technically a member at twelve," Harry said lightly.

Hermione gaped and open her mouth, but no words came out.

"Do any object?" Dumbledore asked, his blue eyes bright with laughter. He glanced at Hermione, then at the Five.

Snape looked sour, but Rose touched his shoulder lightly and leaned down to whisper something in his ear, and he nodded.

Once again Fawkes flew from his perch. He ripped Hermione's right arm, tearing a scream from her, and healed it.

"Go, Hermione Granger, and fight the Darkness," Maralin said hoarsely, attempting to blink back her tears. "Speak of your wounding and healing to none who are not of the Order." Then she smiled, her tears flowing. "Send in Ron, won't you dear?"

Hermione nodded mutely and left.

"What is it, Mara?" Sirius asked gently as soon as she left.

Maralin swallowed, then answered. "I was remembering when I was brought into the Order." Sirius nodded. "I was as much in awe as Hermione was. Afterwards I was so upset that I would never get to share it with my parents because they had refused to join the Order!" She paused and closed her eyes, then went on in a calmer tone. "She won't be able to share her experience with her parents any more than I could."

Sirius smiled softly. "Your parents made their choice, and you made yours," he said sadly. "At least they're still alive."

Just then a furious Ron entered. "Why did Hermione scream?" He demanded.

"You are not to ask any questions," Snape snapped. Rose touched his shoulder again, softly but pointedly, and he pulled himself back in.

"Why have the Five called?" Dumbledore asked again.

"To review the suitability of Ronald Anthony Weasley, son of Aurthur Philip Weasley and Molly Macmillan Weasley, to join the Order of Phoenix," Snape grated.

Ron's eyes widened. "The Order?" he asked. "But... Fred and George and Percy aren't members yet. What about them?"

"Fred and George still need to prove they can do more that joke around," Sirius said dryly. "I didn't get in for the same reason until I was eighteen. And Percy has chosen to side with Fudge, as you know."

"But... we all wanted to be members of the Order!"

"Ron, people want different things than they used to, sometimes," Maralin said softly. "Your brother wants to be Minister of Magic, and so he has to be in the Ministry. It was offered to him, and he refused. The Order has a way of keeping people who aren't right for it out, a way that none of us understand. If you are meant to be a part of Fawkes's group, you will be. He wasn't right for it any more than my parents were." Ron was staring down at the floor, and Maralin reached out to touch his arm gently. "It still hurts, but it's true."

"Do any object?" Dumbledore asked a few moments later, his tone not one that Harry had ever heard before from him. It was respect, which he had heard, but this time tinted with a touch of awe. Awe at Maralin's deft use of her power of speech.

No one did. Fawkes flew over and slashed Ron's right arm, bringing forth only a sharp inhalation. Then Fawkes cried onto Ron's bleeding arm, washing away the blood and healing the wound.

"Go, Ronald Anthony Weasley, and fight the Darkness," Sirius said evenly, almost grimly. "Speak of your wounding and healing to none who are not of the Order." He grinned suddenly. "Send in Neville on your way out."

No sooner had Ron left then Neville entered, white and worried. "Are you alright, Rose?" he asked as soon as he spotted her.

Rose smiled. "I'm fine, Neville."

Dumbledore cleared his throat meaningfully and gave Rose a pointed look. She looked suddenly abashed, and he asked once more, "Why have the Five called?"

This time Sirius answered. "To review the suitability of Neville Frank Longbottom, son of Frank Jeremy Longbottom and Julianne Murphy Longbottom, to join the Order of Phoenix."

Neville choked, and Rose smiled encouragingly at him. He nodded, and Dumbledore asked, "Do any object?"

Snape looked like he dearly wanted to, but Rose had a death grip on his shoulder. She whispered something in his ear again, and he scowled, but nodded in agreement.

Fawkes flew from his perch and cut Neville's right arm with a delicate claw, pulling a low moan out of the boy. Then the phoenix healed the wound, and Harry realized he could somehow feel that Neville- and everyone else in the room- was part of the Order of Phoenix.

When he mentioned it to Rose later, she shrugged. :Maralin always said you could tell who they were when you were one. She says Peter never felt quite like the rest, but they all assumed it was a personality difference.: She grimaced. :I suppose you could say that. Anyway, I'm surprised you never notice before.:

Harry returned her shrug. :I never thought about it. The people I know in the order... I trust them.:

* * * * *

Hermione and Rose had tied in the classes they had top marks in. Rose had they highest Potions score ever and Neville had managed to both pass potions with a decent score and receive the top marks in Herbology, thanks to Rose's encouragement.

After a bit of discussion Rose and Harry decided to go to Privet Drive over the summer. It was mostly because Rose wanted to meet her only living relatives other than her twin, but also partially because it was the safest place for Harry.

Harry didn't mind going back very much since Rose was coming, though he assured her she didn't really want to meet her aunt and uncle and cousin. She had insisted that she did.

The five members of the Order shared a compartment, and they had permission to use magic over the summer. For most of the trip Ron and Rose played chess and Harry, Hermione, and Neville played Exploding Snap. Ron occasionally complained that the noise was detracting, but not very often, because Hermione gave him a Look.

About halfway through the trip Ginny and Colin came in.

"Mind if we play?" Ginny asked, grinning.

Harry wondered briefly if Ginny and Colin were going out, then decided they weren't. It hadn't been that long, and they weren't acting any differently. "Sure, we were just about to start a new game," Harry said, smiling a little foolishly at Ginny.

They played for a while, and then when Rose lost to Ron (again) she excused her self and left, motioning discreetly to Ginny, who followed quickly.

:If you breathe one word I'll tell Neville everything.: Harry's mental voice was purely threatening.

:Oh, don't worry, Harry! She wouldn't believe me anyway. She wouldn't be able to. When you change your mind you'll have trouble convincing her.:

:Vision or your own idea?:

:A little of both. Let's just say that I know you will.:

:I wish you'd explain yourself.:

:I will eventually. Now Ginny's starting to wonder why I brought her out here. I just have to have a little chat with her.:

Rose broke off the conversational line, and Harry excused himself from the game of Exploding Snap. Rose was keeping a tight lock on her conversation with Ginny, but their was a mental promise to share what she thought she should. When she returned a short while later he was re-reading Human to Animal again.

:I've almost got this figured out...:

:Really? Animagi! That would be so much fun!:

:Give me a bit. What did Ginny say?:

:Mostly stuff that's none of your business. But she's not going out with Colin... Not yet, anyway. He wants her to be his girlfriend, and I think she will before too long. I give them until next year's Halloween Ball.:

Harry wasn't sure whether to be hurt or relieved. :That's... good. Colin's nice enough, when he's not treating me like I single-handedly defeated Voldemort.:

:Harry...:

:Drop it.:

Rose did, and a few minutes later Malfoy, Crabe, Goyle, and Romina walked in. Malfoy was holding Romina's hand.

Ron glared at them. "No Slytherins unless they want a repeat performance of last year," he growled.

Hermione attempted to give him a Look, but failed miserably. "Romina, you seem to have fallen into the company of the very people you were afraid at the beginning of the year."

Romina glared at her. "Draco is not a Death Eater."

Rose stretched lazily, almost catlike in her movement. "His father is, and he will be." She smiled slightly. "I can assure you of that."

Romina shifted her glare to Rose. "The future is never certain."

Rose shrugged. "I'm not worried about you. I know that you'll come to your senses eventually." She paused and shrugged. "I suppose I should worry, since the other possibility is you die. It wasn't clear."

Romina gaped. "You're a Seer!"

Rose cocked her head curiously to the side. "Rather. And really all I know is that you're not fighting with the Death Eaters. They," she glowered at the three Slytherins, "are, as well as their fathers."

Romina gave Malfoy a disgusted look. "You wouldn't."

Malfoy shot Rose a glare, then turned to smile at Romina. "Never."

Romina smiled back at him and left. Crabe and Goyle followed, but before Malfoy could Rose slapped him and spat, "Liar."

Malfoy pulled his wand on her and opened his mouth to make threats, but Rose laughed. "Never confront someone until you know what they can do," She said with a smile, a ball of flame in her outstretched hand. He turned to leave, and as he did Rose tossed her ball of flame to hit his ankle, then disappear. Malfoy yelped, glanced over his shoulder fearfully, and left, sending the Gryffindor's in the car into fits of laughter.

The rest of the trip to King's Cross was uneventful. When they left the train Ron and Hermione lingered for a bit, which threw Rose and Ginny into a fit of giggles. Ginny stayed by the train to wait for her brother.

Right before it was time for Rose and Harry to leave the platform Rose glanced around warily, then kissed Neville gently on the cheek.

"There," she whispered, blushing slightly. "Your grandmother will never know." Neville had left them, grinning, to find his grandmother, and Rose had slipped off into the Muggle world, dragging Harry with her.

Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia had been easy to find, and Rose had been the first one to speak when they met up.

"Hello," she said mildly, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Harry's said so much about you... though I had to practically force him into saying anything."

"Who are you?" Uncle Vernon asked gruffly, eyeing her warily.

"No one of consequence- Rose will do for now." She grinned mischievously at Harry. "I'm visiting over the summer."

The Dursleys opened their mouths to object, then saw the dangerous look on Harry's face and nodded. "It'll be a little cramped..." Harry said as they walked over to the Dursley's new car. "We're in the back with Dudley."

Rose wrinkled her nose and giggled, her giggled turning into laughter as soon as they arrived at the car. "That's him?" She gasped between laughs. "Harry- what you said- doesn't even begin to cover- the situation!"

Harry grinned at his twin. "I know. But he still managed to knock me around a lot before I came to Hogwarts."

"Oh, I think I know how," Rose said wickedly. "Sheer weight."

Laughing together under the malevolent gaze of their aunt and uncle, the Potter twins got into the car to go to Privet Drive.

End