Adrian-Charlus Sirius Potter has a strange younger twin brother, Harry James Potter. While Adrian struggles to justify (“enjoy” as his father says. “Enjoy your fame”) his title of Chosen One: he gives hours-long interviews after which his tongue hurts; he goes to boring parties with so many adults crowding around him; he takes so many pictures that his head hurts from the bright flashes. His younger twin brother is weird. His little brother is called spoiled, broken, almost a squib. All his little brother does is stare at one point, or read books. Or rather he tries to read books by running his finger over the letters. Adrian-Charlus only shrugs his shoulders. After all, someone in the family has to be smart. For example, mom and uncle Remus are the smartest in the family. They know a lot of many things. If his brother is smart, he'll be the one to worry about grades. He'll let him cheat if something goes wrong. That's it. His little brother is not a dumb.
Adrian-Charlus surreptitiously brings Harry candy as he runs his finger over the letters in the book. A smile blossoms on his brother's pale face. Adrian-Charlus has nothing against Harry joining another department. Harry's a clever boy. Ravenclaw would be fine for him. It's a good faculty. He's quiet, behind his glasses there's danger, cunning, cruelty. Adrian-Charlus knows how Harry takes revenge on the younger Weasleys for their shenanigans. Adrian-Charlus knows that the younger brother hides a snake under his bed. Adrian-Charlus knows how Harry begs money from Uncle Sirius for presents, but is actually secretly ordering books he shouldn't even see. Adrian-Charlus knows. Adrian-Charlus closes his eyes. He knows he won't be believed. His little brother has the demeanor of a yard boy. His little brother will protect his cowpokes. Those qualities are not present in Gryffindor. Harry is almost always silent. He only answers if asked, and he is rarely asked. He only hangs out with Uncle Sirius. It's the only time you get to see the true Harry. The boy smiling from the bottom of his heart. Adrian-Charlus is jealous in the smallest way. Sometimes Adrian-Charlus wishes he could become invisible and spend the day flying on his broomstick in silence. Sometimes Adrian-Charlus locks himself in his room to get a break from the overly loud happy voices in the living room. His life is one big party. It's exhausting.
Hogwarts is close. Adrian-Charlus receives so many presents and sweets that they don't fit in the house. Adrian-Charlus goes to the Ministry parties more often. That's where the children of the bright side hang out, the children of the officials who will be going to school soon. He has to talk to them, smile at them, be polite and kind. He has to smile for the camera. He should be a naive Gryffindor. He must not be the disappointment of the family. The parties take over. The food is amazing, but it doesn't go down your throat. Adrian-Charlus feels nauseous, dizzy, and tired. He can barely stay on his feet. His eyes slip shut from lack of sleep. Adrian-Charlus continues to squeeze his mother's hand as she talks to the big shots at the Ministry. It's important. He doesn't have to be a cranky boy.
When Adrian-Charlus receives the letter, the party begins. His father smiles proudly, rubbing his brown hair. His mother hugs and congratulates him. No one congratulates his brother except Uncle Sirius. Late at night, Adrian-Charlus brings his brother a piece of cake.
The hike to Diagon Alley is horrible. Adrian-Charlus feels nauseous. There are so many familiar faces around. Children and adults from the Ministry. Parents smile and immediately start giving interviews to all comers.
Adrian-Charlus can be quite a bit bothered with a face-to-face meeting with Draco Malfoy.
“Going to Hogwarts too? А... it's you two,” obviously Malfoy hadn't expected it to be the two of them. He just wanted to start a conversation with a random future student. Maybe make a friend outside of his social circle.
“We're going to Hogwarts too, yes,” Adrian-Charlus speaks for the two of them. Harry is a quiet boy, inconspicuous, not outgoing. Harry is the disappointment of the family. Harry doesn't play Quidditch, he doesn't eat at the communal table, he doesn't get presents for holidays, God forbid Merlin remember that he has a birthday too.
“Gryffindor, I presume?”
“I have no choice,” Adrian-Charlus shrugs. Maybe he's jealous of those with more freedom. Maybe he envies those who have the right to choose. Adrian-Charlus is obligated to enroll in Gryffindor. But he's not brave. All he does is take pictures and give interviews. For Merlin's sake, he defeated that Voldemort years ago. And wizards can't forget that. Muggles often forget the victors, let them fade into oblivion. Muggles go on with their lives. Muggles have a simpler outlook on life.
“You were thinking of something else?”, Malfoy tilts his head intrigued.
“Hufflepuff, maybe. I'm loyal and hardworking.”
“I see. And your brother?”
Harry flinches when he is addressed directly. All eyes look at him.
“N-I don't know,” Harry adjusts his glasses in an attempt to hide. He wants to disappear.
“He reads a lot,” Adrian-Charlus says softly.
“Ravenclaw then,” Draco nods. 'Ravenclaw is neutral territory. It's okay if the second son of a noble family goes there. Second children rarely get the love of their parents. The main Heir and the Spare. That's the whole principle that hasn't gone anywhere. It comes from the depths of time
“Ravenclaw then,” Harry agrees.
They buy clothes and pretend this conversation never happened. Uncle Sirius says that they are all related, that connections are important. That you can offend someone with one word and all doors will be closed to you. Perhaps he says this from his own experience. Adrian-Charlus knows that Uncle Sirius is secretly visiting Aunt Bellatrix in Azkaban. House Black don't abandon each other, as Uncle Sirius says when he gets drunk.
“We've been talking to...”
“No one can find out about this, got it?” Adrian-Charlus says sternly. Father would rip their heads off. Father and Mr. Weasley hate the Malfoys. Uncle Sirius always said that family doesn't define you. But even so, Adrian-Charlus can't safely speak to the children of the dark houses in public. In a way, Adrian-Charlus belongs to the aristocracy, enjoys the same privileges, enjoys titles, position, money, goes to expensive restaurants with his parents, where ordinary commoners are not allowed. At the same time, it is customary in the family to hate the aristocracy and their privileges, to hate their bloody rituals, to hate their holidays, to hate their gods. Only Muggle holidays are allowed in their house. Adrian-Charlus thinks this is a bit hypocritical. But he doesn't say it out loud. He has brains for more than just Quidditch.
Harry, a smart boy, nods. They leave the store, getting lost in the crowd. Their parents are waiting for them outside a VIP restaurant, for special visitors. Adrian-Charlus's stomach twists. Everyone will be watching them. Everyone will watch him eat. Everyone will watch him swallow a piece of meat. They'll write about it in the newspapers. The Chosen One dined at that restaurant. Naturally, all the money will go to “charity”. Actually, it'll go into the owner's pocket. Adrian-Charlus feels nauseous. But he swallows. With a fake smile, Adrian-Charlus waves to his parents. Tonight there will be exotic magic meat for lunch and lots and lots of creamy beer in honor of his enrollment. He can take it. Harry will eat well tonight in a family atmosphere.
Departure is horrible. Everyone's staring. Everyone's taking pictures. Everyone's whispering. Everyone expects great feats from him. Everyone expects him to be the perfect Gryffindor. Adrian-Charlus feels nauseous and has a headache. He wants to shut himself away from these sights in his room. His brother discreetly leaves on the train. Adrien-Charlus is a little jealous. Adrian-Charlus wants to be invisible. Ron, acting as his personal bodyguard, shushes the crowd. In the compartment, Ron talks too much. Adrian-Charlus gives him all the candy to shut up. When Draco Malfoy himself enters the compartment, a scuffle breaks out between him and Ron. Blood feud between House Malfoy and House Weasley. Adrian-Charlus closes his eyes, wanting no part of it. Ron can handle it without him. Things quiet down quickly. The next visitor is a muggle-born girl, but Ron calls her name. She slams the door rudely. Adrian-Charlus has a headache. The rest of the ride passes in silence.
Sorting is slow. Everyone is sorted according to the traditions of their homes and political views. It's very rare if someone decides to go to a different faculty. It's usually a challenge not only to their house, but to the whole community. Sirius Black is the most glaring example. Muggleborns usually go to Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw. Gryffindor has enough of them, but still not many. The biggest boom of Muggleborns there was after Adrian-Charlus defeated Voldemort. It was fashionable. With a squeak, but Gryffindor accepted such people.
A Muggle-born girl enters Slytherin. No one knows that last name. No one knows how to react. Is it a challenge? Is it an insult? It's weird. The older Slytherins clap her awkwardly under Professor Snape's stern gaze. Everyone knows Slytherin is for purebloods only. At most, a half-blood from the oldest bloodline can be sent there.
“Potter, Adrian-Charlus.”
The hall is momentarily silent. Something in Adrian-Charlus's stomach turns over. He slowly walks towards the Distributing Hat.
“Hmhmhmhmhmhmhm... You have a lot of courage and faith in your friends.”
“Gryffindor, Distributing Hat.” He doesn't want to disappoint his family. He knows what happens to those who disappoint his father.
“Don't you want to go to Hufflepuff? No?”
“Okay....Then..... GRIFFINDOR.”
“What's taking so long?” whimpers Ron to the loud clapping of the students.
“It's a Hat tradition, you know that,” Adrian-Charlus shrugs. His ears hurt from the noise. “You've been sitting for a long time too.”
An exasperated Ron sniffles.
“Potter, Harry.”
“Another Potter? ”, that's how everyone reacts. Everyone looks perplexed. Some look on with curiosity. Some take bets. It's normal for a second unassuming child to go to another faculty and not interfere with the older Heir. The traditional houses for such children are Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff. But Harry exceeds all their expectations.
“SLYTHERIN.”
The Great Hall is enveloped in silence again. Adrian-Charlus covers his eyes. He knows the hatred Ron is looking at Harry with right now. They have never gotten along. Ron thinks books are a waste of time. He wants to be a professional Quidditch player. The other Weasley's don't share Harry's fanaticism about books either and so they socialize less with him. The Slytherin begins to weakly clap for the newcomer. This will create a confrontation in the family. This will intensify the rift even more.
“Your brother's a freak,” Ron hisses as they change in the bedroom. Adrian-Charlus puts on red-and-gold silk pajamas with a lion print.
“My brother is not a freak. The hat was wrong. He wanted to go to Ravenclaw.”
“He belongs in Hufflepuff. Your brother can't even read properly,” Ron snaps back.
Adrian-Charlus doesn't say anything back. This will lead to an empty argument. Adrian-Charlus doesn't want trouble with his father and Uncle Arthur. Ron has a prejudice against all the other faculties. Adrian-Charlus knows where it comes from. From his father and Uncle Arthur. They both despise the other faculties. Uncle Sirius is the only one who grew out of that mindset. Uncle Sirius always says that faculty isn't important. What matters is what happens after school. Uncle Sirius says that usually aristocratic children go to school to make connections for a future career or to find a spouse.
The next morning, Adrian-Charlus sees a flying red envelope during breakfast. It's monstrously fast.
“HARRY JAMES POTTER HOW DARE YOU YOU VILE PUPPY? WE RAISED YOU SUCH A VILE SQUIB AND HOW DO YOU REPAY US? SLYTHERIN? SO YOU WANT TO BE WITH YOUR SNAKES? OK. THEN I RENOUNCE YOU. YOU WILL NO LONGER BE SEEN ON MY DOORSTEP. YOU WILL NO LONGER BEAR MY HOUSE NAME. YOU WILL NO LONGER HAVE MY BLOOD IN YOU. GO AWAY, TRAITOR.”
Oh. Oh, this is not good. Dad's having a tantrum. This will go on for a month or more. Depending on how long they let him. At times like this, Dad is very scary. At times like this, Adrian-Charlus hides in his room and doesn't let his brother come out. Now there is no room to hide in. Now there is the Great Hall and the anger of his father. It's a good thing he didn't come in person. Good thing Professor Snape's favoritism is famous. Everyone is staring at Adrian-Charlus and Harry. It's just a scandal. It's a show for all the students. It'll be talked about for at least a month. I can't get food down my throat. Adrian-Charlus can hardly bring himself to eat a fried sausage.
The day goes horribly. Everyone's staring, whispering, pointing at him. Some are brazen enough to ask for an autograph. Adrian-Charlus swallows, smiles falsely, offering to hold an autograph session for everyone on a certain day. Have the seniors contact the dean and his parents. It wouldn't be fair if someone didn't get an autograph, right? Ron's beside him, shining like a polished galleon. He gets his share of the glory, too, as the Chosen One's best friend. When people see Harry, they say mean things. The first class with Professor Snape is awful. Adrian-Charlus knows about the feud between the professor and his father. Professor Snape hisses, barbed words leaving his mouth. Professor Snape spins around him, declaring his potion disgusting. Professor Snape adds ten points to Slytherin because Harry brewed the perfect potion. Adrian-Charlus is not surprised by his brother's knowledge of potions. Mom has lots of potions books and a lab in the basement. At home, Harry often smelled of herbs and was never squeamish about cutting flobberworms as punishment.
“He really was kicked out of the family. Your father is...out of sorts. But I heard Sirius Black was treated the same way,” Draco crosses his arms awkwardly over his chest, leaning against the wall. This doesn't sound like the usual perfect Draco Malfoy.
Adrian-Charlus and Draco Malfoy meet in a dark alley where no one will see them. Adrian-Charlus thinks the whole feud is silly. Uncle Sirius ran away from his house because he went against his family. Mom said it was the hardest time of his life. His only support was the Marauders. Adrian-Charlus doesn't understand why having the example of Uncle Sirius, his father would do such a thing. The story of Sirius Black is widely known to the public. At the time, it was the most discussed scandal in all walks of life.
Some speculated that Uncle Sirius might stoop to marrying a muggleborn or might leave the magical world altogether. So why does the father act like Sirius' mother? It's not fair.
“It seems history is repeating itself, doesn't it?” Adrian-Charlus sighs tiredly. He takes off his glasses and wipes them with a silk handkerchief. In the corner of the handkerchief is the crest of the lion he hates so much. “Keep an eye on him, will you?”
Draco nods. The Blacks and the Potters are connected by a distant kinship. Draco is half Black. Harry is a quarter Black. In a way, they're all cousins here. Of course, no one talks about this out loud. No one talks out loud about rituals that can remove the effects of incest. Nor does anyone talk about adoption rituals that cut off the connection to the previous family. The secret that everyone knows and that no one knows. Maybe it would be better for Harry Potter to grow up in another family. Adrian-Charlus steps up after a long time of severing family ties due to politics. Draco appreciates it. He will pass it on to his father. The Heir to the Potter house can be dealt with.
Adrian-Charlus wants none of this. He wants a normal family, without the Chosen One. He knows the paparazzi will be waiting for him. Hours and hours and hours of inane questions about his brother. He can even anticipate those questions. “What's wrong with him? Why was a dark wizard born into a light family? Is Harry Potter the Heir of Slytherin?” Adrian-Charlus is tired.
Adrian-Charlus is sitting in the Headmaster's office in front of Rita Skitter. Nearby are the Headmaster, the Deans (Professor Snape and McGonagall), Uncle Sirius, and his parents. Harry is here. His brother looks at everyone coldly. The fireplace fire glistens in the reflection of his glasses. Uncle Sirius is as pale as Death itself. Father is furious, he curves his lips and almost hisses. Mother covers her face with her hands and cries. Adrian-Charlus can't tell if these are pretend tears for the audience or real. His mother is a good actress. Rita Skitter asks the very questions Adrian-Charlus anticipated. He doesn't know anything. Harry is the most ordinary boy. Harry is brave as a Gryffindor. The Hat must have made a mistake, you know, it happens. It's an ancient artifact. The Hat even sent that muggle-born girl to Slytherin. It's just a systemic error. Harry has nothing against Muggles. Harry has a very ordinary wand. It's prejudice.
Harry shrugs at all the questions. He points at the Hat. He just wants it to be over.
“I'm invisible.” Unexpectedly, Harry says to everyone. His green eyes burn with a cold fire, creating an ominous aura. “I was overlooked by my own family. You all only loved the Chosen One.”
“What are you talking about, you insolent puppy,” the father hisses. But Adrian-Charlus knows Harry is right. Harry has been cut off from the family. Harry is now the Nameless One. But the Malfoys are going to adopt him. Draco has kept his word.
“You gave up on me, James Potter,” Harry is cold. His father barely restrains himself from hitting him. Harry is used to it. The yelling, the beating, the aggressive ignoring, the word he's a failed specimen. Harry is more than a failed specimen. Harry has secrets. He has powers none of them know about. Snakes curl up in rings in his arms. He can make old bones move again. He can taste magic. He knows more because of the voice in his head. The voice in his head says: they are the same; you can't trust the bright side; that all Prophecies are false.
“Ungrateful. You should be glad you weren't sent to Petunia, you squib,” Father spits. He considers Petunia the ultimate punishment for a small child. All he has done is try to make his youngest son a normal person. His sons are bound to be brave and honorable Gryffindors.
“I'm not a squib. I have a wand. I'm a wizard. I'm at Hogwarts,” Harry angrily says back. The anger he has accumulated over the years comes out of him. Adrian-Charlus can't blame him. Harry is thin, weak, unloved, walking around in old robes, his glasses broken in an old fight with Ron.
“That's enough. The interview is over!” Dad snaps in a shout.
When Rita Skitter leaves, Adrian-Charlus is still smiling on duty. His head is buzzing, he's nauseous, he wants to sleep. This is a scandal. It's a tragedy. The father walks away, pretending his second son never existed. It's as if his mother is at a funeral. Uncle Sirius is indecisive. He waits for the Potters to leave and awkwardly touches Harry's shoulder for support. House Black does not abandon its own. Does Uncle Sirius know that House Malfoy is going to adopt Harry?
Adrian-Charlus comes into the bedroom when everyone is asleep. That's good. He's so tired. He doesn't want to be questioned. Adrian-Charlus anxiously goes to bed. The whole first year is spent in anxiety and stress. Adrian-Charlus copes as best he can. He copes with the parties, the pictures, Rita Skitter, Snape's disdain, the mysterious happenings at the castle involving his brother (and the silver trio consisting of Draco, Harry, and that muggle-born girl, I think her name is Hermione). He feels nauseous, he feels a headache, he feels the pain in his scar. His muscles and thoughts are on edge as Ron drags him to spy on Harry, on Snape, tries to drag him down that very corridor. Sometimes Adrian-Charlus likes to ride his broom late at night before lights out, when no one can see. It's his outlet. But unlike his father and Ron, he has no intention of becoming a professional player. It's a hobby. He doesn't know what he wants to do after graduation.
Harry doesn't come home for the holidays. It's devastating. Harry goes away with the Malfoys. But Harry writes short letters. He's in France, visiting the local equivalent of Diagon Alley with Narcissus' mom, walking on the beach with Hermione, visiting museums with Lucius' dad, eating ice cream with Draco. Adrian-Charlus is jealous. At home, there's scandal again. Father is drinking. Mother pretends the second nursery doesn't exist. Sirius smuggles out all of Harry's things. This time there's only one party at the Ministry. Everyone around them discusses Harry heatedly, glaring derisively at the Potters. Adrian-Charlus exhales. Finally, he's not the center of attention. It brings a small consolation until his drunken father causes a scandal right at the party.
Adrian-Charlus is happy to be back at Hogwarts. He hugs his mom and Uncle Remus awkwardly. Father isn't here today. Father has a terrible hangover. Father has started drinking more often and cursing Harry. Harry looks different now. Harry's hair is now long, neatly gathered into a neat low ponytail, as is the traditional manner of purebloods, giving him a look of refined elegance. His hair is white, similar to Draco's. His eyes are crystal blue like Madame Narcissa's, but his eyes have snake pupils in them. If you look closely at his skin, you can see snake scales. Now Harry didn't look like a complete copy of James. His eyesight is fixed. He walks around in long dark green silk robes with silver runes sewn in; he has artifact jewelry on his arms, neck, and ears. Harry begins to appear at the same parties as Adrian-Charlus. Harry now goes by the last name Malfoy and is about to marry Hermione Dagworth-Granger (here's the irony that the Muggle-born turned out to be pureblood. This causes a major scandal. It leads to the old forgotten theory that muggles and mages are two different species). Harry believes in the old gods. Harry performs old rituals. Adrian-Charlus senses something different about his brother. Something ancient, something old. It makes his hair stand on end.
Then towards the end of the year, Lord Voldemort is reborn as Tom Marvolo Riddle and summons Dumbledore to court.
Adrian-Charlus's nerves can't take it. He laughs like a madman right in the Great Hall. Maybe, just maybe, finally everyone will stop looking at the Chosen One.