Charley and Bill Weasley had decided to go home for the Christmas Holiday. They were going to surprise everyone as part of their gifts. Neither of them had heard anything about what had happen over the first term. So when they arrived home to find Fred and George's pictures under 'Lost' on their home clock they were confused. Everyone was out at the shop so the two caught up with each other while they waited.

The five Weasley's got home just after 3 in the afternoon. Bill and Charley had decorated the place to surprise them.

"Honey did you spell the decorations?" Arthur asked Molly.

"We put them up." Charley said coming down the stairs.

"Charley! Wait who is we?" Ginny spoke.

Bill laughed and walked over from the lounge where he had been sitting. "Hey guys."

They all hugged and greeted each other delighted. They then sat down to eat. Bill and Charley looked at the clock and then each other. Fred and George still hadn't shown. Everyone else carried on like they didn't exist. That was when Bill took a closer look at the pictures on the clock. Fred and George had been blacked out.

"Mum where are the twins?" Charley finally asked.

Everyone snorted and Ron huffed. Bill asked the question this time earning a glare from Percy. Bill and Charley were a more neutral party when it came to the family. Much like Fred and George didn't care about taking sides with their pranks. They did know that the rest were on the side of Dumbledore. Charley slammed the table and demanded an answer. That's when Ron told them his version of the story. They knew there was something else but didn't say anything for the rest of the day.

Over the next few days they tried to get more answers but to no avail. None of them would falter from the story Ron had given. Bill and Charley wanted answers and were getting angry.

*~*

Bill sat down at lunch one day after Christmas writing a letter. He wanted them all to see he was going to get the answers one way or another.

"Bill what are you doing?" Percy had asked.

"Writing a letter." Bill answered.

"But to who? We are all here." Ginny had whined.

"To Fred and George." Bill had finished the letter then and stood up sending the owl away.

Charley nodded his approval. Everyone else grumbled angrily.

*~*

"Fred, George. You have mail." Blaise called from the kitchen.

The twins rushed in. "From who?" They asked.

Blaise just shrugged handing them the letter. They opened it and decided to read it aloud for Blaise.

"Dear Brothers" (F)
"We heard a rather" (G)
"Troubling story."
"We would like to know"
"Both sides"
"If you two would"
"Please tell us where you are."
"We did not expect"
"To come to a home."
"Without the two of you."
"Your brothers"
"Charley and Bill."

Blaise grabbed the note from them and scanned it. He then immediately grabbed parchment and a quill. He wrote to Harry, Draco, Pansy and Hermione. The owl flew off without a seconds hesitation and Blaise took the twins to the table. He sat them down and made them coco. However they teased him about it not being as good as Harry's. Harry had flooed to Blaise's place as soon as he read his letter. He had of course dragged Draco along before Draco had the chance to open his. Draco was pouting as he opened the letter at the table with the twins. Pansy and Hermione showed up a little while later.

"That was fast." The twins said.

"We don't compromise for family." Harry said.

"I feel stupid Harr. You didn't even let me read mine or yours before we got here." Draco complained.

Everyone laughed as Harry kissed his check. Once they had stopped laughing Harry made everyone a round of coco as they discussed what the twins were going to do. Harry left for a few minutes and returned with Salvitor and a vail. He handed to vial to the twins.

"You kept this?" Fred asked.

Harry nodded. "I haven't seen it if you were wondering. Father reasoned that there was no need for me to upset myself after everything had been sorted out. I figured you could show Bill and Charley. Salvitor wants to go with you guys. 'Protection' he called it. I can't say I don't agree since you don't want any off us there."

"It's a family thing Harry."
"Blood family of course." They reasoned again.
"But we will."
"Take Salvitor."

Everyone stayed quiet as the twins wrote their response letter.

*~*

"How Dare You!" Ron yelled at Bill.

Charley stepped forward scolding Ron. They then told everyone what was going to happen. It had been four days since they sent the letter and got a response. Fred and George were going to meet them at the Burrow and they were all going to sit and talk. They wouldn't let everyone else try to stop them. They couldn't believe they would be disowned for being put in a separate house.

"Fred! George!" Charley hugged Fred and hesitated with George. "Is that..."

"Yes it is."
"His name is Salvitor."
"He's not as dangerous as Harry's other pet, but he does pack quite a bite." George explained.
"Wait Harry has another pet? How come I didn't know?"
"Sorry Fred I wasn't supposed to say anything." George scratched his head.

"Harry? As in the famous..."

"Don't say it!" Fred and George shouted in unison cutting Bill off.
"It's Harry" (F)
"Salazar" (G)
"Snape now"

"As in Professor Snape?" Bill asked.

"The one and only." (G)
"He adopted Harry last year." (F)
"We found out when"
"We went shopping"
"For school." They explained and everyone else gasped.

"You mean to say you knew when I asked mum!?" Ron yelled.

"Yes we did." The twins responded.

"Oh Sweety why didn't either..."

"Not a chance mum" Fred cut her off.
"You would have told Dumbles." George said.
"That old man knew."
"We heard him say so himself."

"What do you mean?" Charley asked.

"Dumb-ass-a-dore put Harry" (G)
"With muggles." (F)
"To keep his"
"Precious wards."
"He knew Harry"
"Was getting abused."
"And did nothing."

"How did you two get disowned?" Bill asked.

The twins looked at each other. Then to Bill and Charley. "It was Ron." They said.

Bill looked shocked. Charley looked angry.

"You have no proof!" Ron yelled.

"Oh"
"But we do"
"Harry sent us here"
"With a little gift." Fred held out the vial.

"That's mine! Give it back!"

"NO!" They yelled.
"That little exposure you tried to get Harry expelled for." (F)
"It didn't work because Harry had nothing to do with it." (G)
"He only found out that morning."
"It was the rest of us..."
"Pansy, Blaise, Draco and..."
"Us. Snape helped too."
"Harry just covered"
"Because he is a good friend."
"Better brother." Fred spat at Ron.

"I see there is bad blood here." Charley said.

"We decided" (G)
"Showing you two" (F)
"Was the best option."
"Snape taught us"
"How to use Occlimancy."

Bill and Charley nodded then they sat down in the lounge. Salvitor was now hanging off Fred.

"Does the snake have to be here?" Ginny asked.

"Yes."
"We cannot trust"
"Any of you."
"Here Salvitor you take care of this." George handed him the vial.

The snake nodded its head and swallowed the vial. It slithered around Fred's shoulders and rested it's head on George's shoulder. Fred and George got everyone around and started to chant a spell. After a few minutes everyone saw the memory they were projecting and they could feel the emotions the twins had from that.

It started with the memory of them finding out about Snape and Harry. The conversation that they had before Harry curled up and went to sleep.