Chapter 9
Phil ignored Dan and his consistent, “What’s taking them so long?”.
He didn’t want to be mean and tell him to be quiet, so he simply continued on with his thinking out loud, “I really hope Chris can get into Gryffindor. I mean there’s nothing wrong with Hufflepuff and being one. His parents are just being rude and they can’t actually just abandon him. Can they? Can wizards abandon their kids? Because…um… muggles can’t. They’re muggles right? That’s the word for it, ri-“
“Yes Phil, sheesh, you’re my best friend but you ask way too many questions. Seriously, I’m saying this as your friend and I’m not being mean!” Dan explained, ”And no, they can’t just abandon their children like that, just like muggles. There would be a huge issue with the Wizard Council and everything.”
When it seemed like Dan was finished, he simply took a deep breath in and continued, surprising Phil. “It’s just a great burden if you come from a long line of a specific house and don’t get into it. You feel like a disgrace, you feel like you’re doing something wrong if you can’t be the perfect child. Coming from a perfect wizarding family and making a mistake, even if it’s something you cannot control. It-”
“Dan?” Phil asked, cutting Dan off. Concern clearly present in his eyes.
Dan gulped, upon realizing what he had just said. “Uh, yeah Phil?”
“Are you alright?” Phil questioned.
“Yeah, I’m fine, sorry Phil” Dan said, looking down at the ground with a frown.
“Are you sure?” Phil began, “Because you can tell me anything.”
“Yeah, I know. It’s just-“ Dan said and for the second time in just a few minutes, got cut off. But this time it wasn’t because of Phil.
“Daniel!” A voice said, and the two looked up to see two people. Identical and most likely twins.
It took Dan a few seconds to put names to each of the identical faces.
Well, actually not quite, he does not know which was which of the brothers and simply knew them as the Harries twins. Jack and Finn.
“You’re seeing two too. Right?” Phil whispered into Dan’s ear and Dan nodded, suppressing a laugh.
“Hello Jack, hello Finn” Dan said, not quite looking at one as he said their names, but at both. In case he says the wrong name to the wrong boy.
The two identical boys looked to the boy next to Dan and smiled at him, though they may have seemed a bit forced. “Hey, um..”
Dan noticed the look on their face and sighed, “Phil. His names Phil”
“Ah yes Phil” one of the twins said and the two friends both took quick mental notes to remind themselves to learn their names, “so, what are you guys up to?”
“I don’t mean to be rude” Dan lied, he was starting to get annoyed of these Slytherins that think they’re better than everyone, “but what do you guys want?”
“We came here to talk to you more and be your friend” said the other twin.
Dan raised an eyebrow at them, they had to be joking. Did they really just say that in front of Phil? They knew he was there and that was incredibly disrespectful! If they want to be his friend, then they’ll need to be nice to the rest of his friends.
“I’m sorry, I’m pretty busy at the moment.” Dan said, pointing to the boy next to him.
“Oh well, it's alright. We can always come back” the other twin said and they both turned around as if to walk away.
“Wait” said Phil and the two turned around, confused.
“I’m sure you guys can sit with us for a bit” Phil added and now it was Dan’s turn to be confused. But he chose not to question Phil’s decision in letting them join and simply stared at the two. Awaiting their response to see exactly what kind of people the Harries twins really are.
“Wow” Said one twin, as they both sat down, grins plastered on their faces “Really? That sounds great! Thank you Phil”
Phil grinned back, feeling accomplished, “no problem”
Dan sighed in relief; maybe the Harries twins weren’t like the rest.
Upon thinking of that a question crossed Dan’s and he knew he had to ask it, “Quick question though guys” Dan said and the three, who were in a conversation stopped mid sentence.
“Yeah?” Said… they really need to learn their names, and quick.
“How did you guys find us?” Dan asked, though he was fairly sure he knew the answer to that.
“Draco told us!” exclaimed one twin and as if on cue, Dan saw a figure run from behind one of the pillars of the school and disappear into the castle.