The Brothers Meet
Charlus Potter, recent graduate of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, sat at the table outside of the café.
He had to admit it was a beautiful area. He had spent most of his life in Magical Britain and this area in Houston, Texas, in the United States, had a definite difference in feel.
He felt the table move a little and he looked over to see that the other chair was now occupied. For all that he had been preparing for this, he was a little startled at how much the young man looked like himself.
"Harry," was all he could say immediately
The other teenager smiled and said, "Hello, Charlus. Sorry it took so long – I had to make certain that no one followed you. I haven't decided I'm, ready yet to meet the rest."
Charlus nodded. "I have to say looking into my own face is quite odd."
Harry laughed. "Tell me about it." Harry's face took on a smirk. "But not quite the same. Obviously, I'm the better looking twin."
Charlus rolled his eyes. "I've heard enough of that type of thing from Fred and George Weasley – always going on about who is smarter or better looking. Most people can't see the difference."
Harry shrugged. "Anyway, how are you doing?"
Charlus shrugged. "Pretty well. Things finally settled down."
"Oh?"
Charlus chuckled. "When I was younger and everyone thought I was the Boy-Who-Lived, it seemed so great. And then I got to school and I found that just as many disliked me as liked me. The traditional families couldn't' stand me, and a lot of others were resentful of all the attention I got. And I no longer had parents and others shielding me – it was a lot less fun than I thought it would be."
"I can see that. I hope it wasn't too horrible."
Charlus shrugged. "I got over it. When it came out that I wasn't really the Boy-Who-Lived, a lot of people threw it in my face. It was a good thing that I had tried to be as normal as possible after I first arrived. If I had kept the big head, it would have been much worse."
Harry looked apologetic. "I wasn't trying to ruin your life. I just didn't want anyone – like Dumbledore – taking dangerous steps to find me. The only way I could be kept out of the games is if the games were already over."
"How did you learn about Voldemort? There were a lot of things that came out that even Dumbledore didn't know about. Yet you seemed to be perfectly aware." Charlus was really curious.
Harry shrugged again. "It was a Wizard who found me and the rest when I was almost four. He is the one who told Mom all about what was going on. He helped get that ass that Mom was married to put away and got us out. He made sure that I was taught the whole story. He's the one who arranged for me to be able to get rid of Riddle finally. Where he learned of it? Don't know. Don't really care. All I know is that it helped me out a lot."
Charlus had a pained look. "It's really strange to hear my twin refer to another woman as 'Mom' – our Mum and Dad were heartbroken when they learned about it. I don't think Mum stopped crying for a month."
Harry sighed. "I know. But remember, I didn't grow up with them. And while it was easier for me because I had been taught the truth from as early as I could understand it, all I knew is that the woman who raised me and loved me – at least after Vernon was gone – was Petunia Evans. Lily and James Potter were just names to me."
Charlus sighed himself. "Are you ever going to go and see them?"
Harry said, "I've been considering it. I just don't want to forced into a life that isn't my own. I've had a decent life. I don't need a new one."
Harry then noticed something and looked over at someone behind Charlus with a bright smile. Charlus looked over his shoulder even as Harry called out, "Hermione!"
Charlus noticed the beautiful girl coming over and stood up. The girl, as soon as she saw Harry, moved more quickly over and gave him a warm hug. She then looked at Charlus with her arm still around Harry. "Hermione, I would like you too meet Charlus, my biological twin."
Charlus reached out to shake her hand. "It's wonderful to meet you. Are you his girlfriend?"
The two looked at each other and laughed. Charlus was curious. The girl, Hermione, said, "That would be kind of weird. Though I think Harry is quite dishy, I've known him since I was five. We grew up and went to school together. He's closer to being my brother than anything else. Dating him would be weird."
"So you're a …" he left off the end.
They all sat down as Hermione said, "Yes, I'm a witch. Like him, and you I guess, I just finished school. As soon as the summer is done we're going to move on with things but we're on vacation and I'm old enough to travel on my own and young enough to be able to have fun doing it."
Harry looked over at her. "You aren't doing anything with any boys, right? Remember, I have to approve of them first!"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "You're almost as bad as Hugh!"
"Hugh?" Charlus asked.
"My older brother and the only one closer to me than Harry here. He's twenty one and joined the service. He offered to come back with his whole unit and make certain any boy who wanted to date me knows the consequences of breaking my heart. It's all very dramatic – and unnecessary. I can take care of myself!"
Harry grinned. "I don't know. I'm with Hugh on this."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "You would be."
Harry looked at Charlus. "Though she is right: She can take care of herself. She was known far and wide in school as the brightest witch in the place and the most inventive." He looked at Hermione. "Your name still makes Billy Plimpkin shake when he hears it."
"It's not my fault that the hoser decided to cheat on me after asking me out." Hermione's answer was said in quite the superior tone.
Harry laughed. "He promised almost immediately never to make that mistake again."
Charlus said, "Well, it is very nice to meet you. And any bloke who would cheat on such a beautiful girl is obviously a fool of the first degree."
Hermione smiled at him and said, "Thank you. But I will admit that I hadn't quite grown into my looks when I was in school."
Harry protested, "You've always been beautiful!"
Hermione smiled at her friend. "You know that I love that you've always been on my side, but you've always seen me through the eyes of being my friend. Of course you ignored the imperfections."
Harry then rolled his eyes and said to Charlus. "She's brilliant in everything – except when it comes to her looks. She's got some weird idea of what she should look like."
Hermione decided to ignore that. "Anyway, I offered to come with Harry. We didn't get all the information from where we live. What happened with Albus Dumbledore after they received the proof that Voldemort was gone?"
Charlus chuckled. "Well, first Mum was the fastest with her wand and immediately hexed him. From what Padfoot told me, she was quite vocal about him making her lose her baby. He tried to get the others to protect him but no one else in the room except the Minister was very concerned with his safety. He had to spend a day or two under Madam Pomfrey's care in the infirmary. Amelia Bones immediately started investigating.
"Fudge really didn't want that to happen. While he was thrilled that Voldemort was gone – none of the adults can stand hearing that name by the way – he was freaking out that the Ministry would be blamed for ignoring that he hadn't actually died when we were toddlers."
Harry rolled his eyes. "Politicians."
Charlus nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it was ugly. He started to try to act against everyone who knew so that no one would believe them. After talking to me, everyone agreed that the Daily Prophet should see the memory – which Madam Bones got certified by the Department of Mysteries as valid. Fudge's attempts at lying really got him in trouble – he was ousted pretty quick. If he had just confirmed the truth he would have been really praised, but he didn't want to take a chance. Mum and Dad took a hit though."
Harry asked, "Why's that?"
Charlus shrugged. "They had been taken in by Dumbledore. Everyone thought that they had bought into being famous. Considering they hadn't really done anything except be friendly with those who worshipped us, there was nothing illegal or really even scandalous about what they had done. They even had the proof that they had ensured that there were funds that were provided for your upbringing. And Dumbledore had proven to be a real puppet master. He got hit with both wands. There were a lot of people making a lot of noise about finding you and bringing you back to Britain so that you could be rewarded."
Harry rolled his eyes. "Another reason I stayed away. The whole being famous thing was explained to me and Mom and Hermione's parents taught me exactly what kind of life you live when you're famous. They used examples of Muggles who were famous as children and the horrible things that could happen. I didn't want anything to do with that."
Charlus considered that and chuckled ruefully. "Yeah. I wish someone would have taught me before going to Hogwarts. Like I said – I finally learned the downside and luckily had been trying to just be a normal teenager. And since Dumbledore was the one who actually created the whole situation, everyone was blaming him more than anyone else. He didn't end up in Azkaban – but he's now retired and very few people look him up anymore."
Harry looked at Charlus. "So you're not upset that I got you in trouble with your adoring fans?"
Charlus laughed. "No! I was a little upset at first, but by the time I sat OWLs my reaction was 'Thank Merlin!' While fourth year was kind of bad, by fifth year everyone kind of let it go and I could be a normal student. And all the girls chasing 'The Boy-Who-Lived' stopped making my life miserable."
Harry shuddered. "Another reason I probably won't do more than visit Britain. I heard about groupies – I don't need any."
Hermione gave Harry an evil smirk. "But what about all the quiddich fans from school who tried to get you into compromising situations?"
Harry gave Hermione a flat look, but she was unrepentant. Charlus asked, "You play quidditch?"
Harry looked at Charles and said, "A bit. It's less about the game and more about flying. I even played quadpot so I could fly more."
Hermione said, "He's insane on a broom. Every game I was terrified he'd kill himself."
Harry rolled his eyes playfully. "That's only because you can't stand brooms."
"I played too. Chaser," Charlus volunteered.
"Seeker," Harry replied.
"Spectator," Hermione deadpanned.
They all laughed.
Charlus finally said, "I'd really like to get you to visit. Mum and Dad would be thrilled."
Harry sighed. "I've been thinking about it. They just have to understand that they can't treat me like they raised me – I didn't grow up with them. Yeah, we're family. But distant family at this point."
Charlus nodded, a bit let down. He added. "Also, Mum would really like to see her sister."
Harry thought about that. "I'd have to ask Mom. She might agree to it. My step-father would have to get the time off as would she. After I went to school, she found a new husband." Harry grinned. "Actually, Dudley and I have a new baby sister named Iris. She was a complete shock – completely unplanned for. Now she's five and a little hellion."
Hermione had a goofy smile. "She's always wonderful with me!"
Harry rolled his eyes. "Yeah, cause you always read to her. She knows that her big sister Hermione will always give in!"
"Like you and Dudley don't." She looked at Charlus with a wicked smile. "I should have brought the pictures of them playing dollies with her."
Harry covered his face with his hands and groaned even as Charlus laughed.