★ ★ ★

It was a rainy evening down at little whinging and for the house of five it was a busy one at that, they had a guest tonight.

The twins walked down the stairs and into the living room where their uncle was sitting. Hope leaned against the counter as they spoke amongst themselves about how excited they were to go back to Hogwarts.

Hope was about to reply to her brother when her uncle interrupted her, "Will you two be quiet? I can't hear the television!" He shouted making them both sigh in unison before reluctantly doing as told, turning to look at the tv.

"Sirius Black has escaped prison and is on the loose. He is extremely dangerous and insane. If you have any information on Black, please contact this number . . ."

Hopes head shot up at those words, her eyes looking straight at the tv.

Sirius Black?

Why does that name sound so familiar to me? She wondered to herself as she fiddled with one of the many rings on her finger.

The teenage girl was knocked out of her thoughts when her uncle spoke up, "Look at that guy," He grumbled, "He looks awful. When are they going to learn that the only way to deal with these people are hanging?" The man scoffed making them hold back the urge to do the same, just at him instead of in agreement.

Typical Vernon. She rolled her eyes at the man, ignoring his words as she sent Harry a look of annoyance, him sending a matching one right back.

The twins were are able to communicate without speaking, just their facial expressions. Something they had taught themselves to communicate in a place like this. Sometimes when they were in a stressful situation they are even able to talk through each other's minds. The twins could never find out how though, even took the chance to ask Dumbledore but even he couldn't find anything.

Her hazel eyes widened at the sight of the man who was shown on the television. If I ever looked like that I would never show my face in public, she couldn't help but think to herself, almost feel sorry for the guy.

"Do you think he looks familiar or is it just me?" Hope mumbled to her twin brother who looked over at the tv where it was showing the picture they had of the man, his gaze intense before he shook his head, pausing when a thought appears in his mind, "maybe it's your hyperthymesia?" He wonders, whilst studying at his sister's face.

"Hm. Maybe. That would mean I've met him though— that wouldn't be very comforting." Hope muttered back, her expression in denial.

"Not sure then." He shrugged to which she rolled her eyes in response to his unhelpful response.

"Thanks for all the help." She says sarcastically making him crack a smile.

"You're welcome, little sister." He says cooly with a smirk.

"Only by 5 minutes!" Hope replies with a groan.

"Five best minutes of my life." Harry says with a smug look to which she responded with giving him a sharp flick on the arm.

"Don't lie Harry. No one thinks like that after knowing me— I'm the best and everyone loves me!" She boasted with a smirk making him roll his eyes but before he could retort at his smug looking sister his uncles voice interrupts the conversation.

"Petunia, I've got to go pick up Marge from the train station," Vernon said before adding, "I'll see you later!"

The twins choke on their water they had just taken out the fridge, the sound causes the adults to look their way, Vernons gaze staring intently as Petunia rolls her eyes and looks away.

Vernon raises his eyebrows at them, his face dropping into a scowl at the twins question next question.

"Aunt Marge?" Hope and Harry chorused in shock and slight disgust.

They both absolutely hated her. She hated them right back of course. She despised Hope more though. The girl did after all get so annoyed at the woman's comments, she pranked her aunt by turning her hair pink with wandless magic — her punishment for that prank was fine, due to the woman's reaction.

That was the last time they had seen her— and now she is back.

"Yes, Aunt Marge," The man repeated in the same tone the teenagers had spoke in before adding, "You two are going to behave yourselves, and no signs of your freakishness!" He says before turning to the girl, looking straight at her, "Especially you Hope! Don't need a repeat of last time, I hope you had learned your lesson."

She rolls her eyes at the man, sniggering quietly at the memory and the unintentional pun he had made towards her.

"Understood?" He says firmly making them both reluctantly nod at the mans words.

"Good. Now we have told Marge that Harry is going to a school for troubled boys whilst we have sent you Hope to a boarding school for delinquents," The uncle informs the two, "You will stick to that story." He tells them, leaving no room for complaints.

"What?" They both say at the same time making the girl turn to him with an annoyed pout.

"Stop talking at the same time as me." She whined, throwing her arms up in the air.

"Well you shouldn't speak at the same time as me then." He grumpily retorted back, folding his arms over his chest.

"You are copying my words that's not my fault! If anything I'm an innocent victim!" Hope defended herself, her tone sassy before turning stern, "You should be ashamed of yourself—" She added b it before she could say anything else, Vernon stops her, earning a dramatic sigh from the girl.

"Enough! I'm leaving now, remember what I told you two or there will be trouble!" The man warned.

With that, Vernon stormed out the house, slamming the door shut.

Harry and Hope look at each other with identical smirks, the same idea going into both their heads.

Hope took ahold of Harry's wrist and strutted out the house, ignoring her aunt shouting over at her.

"Oh, Uncle Vernon!" The girl called out in a singing tone as she walks confidently over to him. He looks at her with a nasty look, Hope giving him an innocent smile in return.

"What do you two little brats want now?" He sneered.

"Well, third years at our school are allowed to go to the village on some weekends—" Harry began as he awkwardly smiles, hoping the look he is giving his uncle is enough to show what they were attempting to ask of him.

"—and we need our permission slips signed to go." Hope finished her brother's words, the innocent smile still plastered upon her lips, her brows lifting up slightly.

They hoped that he could have a sudden change in heart and sign it, they were wrong, "I'm not signing it, now move before I run you two over." Vernon snapped, leaning back into the car and starting it up.

"Oh but uncle Vernon.." Hope started this time, her tone light and slow, "It'll just be such hard work remembering where we go to school when Marge visits.." She batted her lashes after she saw him pause on his actions.

Harry took that as a sign to do his part, "What's it called again, Marls?" Harry continued, a smug smirk tugging on his lips as he couldn't help but continue to mock his uncle, "The school for troubled. . wizards?"

"Oh yes," She nodded, "It was definitely something like that Jamsie!" Hope stifled a laugh as she goes on whilst the man in front of them turns into a dark shade of scarlet.

"You know.. we might just let something slip." Harry trailed off, the lazy drawl in which he spoke kept the suspense and anxiety up for his uncle.

"Purely accidental, of course!" Hope added, her expression sickly sweet whilst Harry nods along, his smirk not wavering. That was until his uncles next words.

"If you do, I'll knock the stuffings out of both of you." Vernon pointed a finger at them, his eyes flickering to Hope, "You've already gotten it once this month girl, I'm sure you don't need another."

She scowled, opening her mouth to retort but she was silenced by her brother who nudged her in the stomach before taking it to himself to reply with forced manners, "Well.. if you sign our permission slips, we'll make sure to remember everything you've told us!" Harry quickly spoke as he saw the scowl on their uncles face grow wider.

Vernon hesitated, his purple face screwed up as if he was debating something.

"I'll think about it, but you better be on your best behaviour when Marge arrives." He said finally, giving the two one last look before he climbed into his car, shutting the door and had drove off.

★ ★ ★

The twins were currently getting ready for their guest who was coming round. Well, more Harry waiting at the door, sighing in annoyance whilst he waits for his sister to finish doing her hair and makeup.

Hope finished with her eyeliner on the bottom waterline of her eyes, curled her lashes before finishing her mascara too and had been putting her eye stuff away when she suddenly was reminded about who is coming round tonight.

Aunt Marge.

"You know, it's not too late to get out of this? We can just jump out a window and run off?" Hope suggested after finishing up with the natural lipliner she placed upon her lips before applying some lipgloss, "I can take the fall for both of us it's fine—" She said as if it was nothing but either way he wasn't going to go through with it this time.

"No Hope it's too late. Come on let's go." He shook his head and grabbed her wrist, tugging her out of their room and shutting the door behind him.

Hope let out a sigh of annoyance as she lets her brother drag her out of their shared room, "Fine." She mumbled but couldn't help the scoff that escaped her lips at his next words.

"Play nicely Hope." Harry told her, not wanting her to get into too much trouble since she always seems to get the short end of the stick between the two and he hates it.

"Excuse me?" Hope held her hand to her chest in mock hurt as if she was surprised by his stern words, "I always play nice. It's not my fault she's a real bit—" She added, getting cut off when Harry covered her mouth with his hand.

"Really?" He gave her a look as he held back a grin of amusement that wanted to shine across his face badly.

"Fine okay!" Hope said after he took the hand of her mouth, dragging out the e and the y, "Don't ask me to be nice if she says anything though."

"That's all I ask." He replied with a sarcastic smile making her laugh as they carry on walking down the stairs.

As soon as they get to the bottom of the stairs, the bell rings making them both sigh in unison, "I think I might regret not taking your suggestion now." Harry mutters to his sister.

"As you should, my advice is the best! I mean why wouldn't it be? It's from me!" She flipped her hair over her shoulder dramatically, a smug smile on her face.

"Oh bloody hell." Her brother muttered to himself through a laugh, "What did I do to deserve an arrogant sister like yourself?" He sarcastically spoke but he was more amused than annoyed if anything.

"I'm not arrogant, it's called confidence darling." She stated, holding her hand to her hip.

"Maybe a little bit too much confidence, darling." Harry mocked her words, his tone just as sassy but before she could say anything, their aunt Petunia interrupted the conversation.

"Harry! Open the door!" She shouted making the older twin roll his eyes whilst his sister giggled to herself at the boys facial expression as he opens the door. The amusement was immediately dropped when she watched as the woman came in as if she owned the place.

The woman turned around after greeting the twins aunt Petunia, scowling after coming face to face with the Potters, trying hard to forget what the girl especially did to her.

"Oh. You two are still here, are you?" The woman spat, her mocking voice clouded with venom as the twins couldn't help but scowl back.

"Yes?" Hope replied, her answer sounding more like a question than an answer as Harry doesn't even bother responding, the boy too busy glaring at the woman.

"Don't say yes in that ungrateful way, Damn good of my brother to keep you," The older female scoffed to the girl before turning to her brother, "The both of them would have been straight to an orphanage if they'd been dumped on my doorstep!" She murmured over to Petunia who secretly felt uncomfortable already and wanted the night to end, "Especially that girl."

She stormed over to Dudley, fawning over him whilst their uncle ordered them to put the guests suitcase upstairs which they did as told but not before reminding him of the signature they needed to which they got told to get a moving but it was clear their uncle knew what they were talking about.

Sooner or later it's dinner time, the family of four are eating away whilst Harry and Hope are in the kitchen, tiding things up for them as if they were the cleaners.

"Can I tempt you, Marge?" Vernon enquired, a small smirk appearing on his lips making his sister grin back.

"Just a small one," Marge responded as if she didn't want it much and as he poured the drink, she took her time to turn over to her sister in-law, "Excellent nosh, Petunia." She praised making the other awkwardly smile.

They continued on their conversation as the twins picked up each plate and put them in the sink. Hope felt someone looking at her, turning away from the small bowl she was cleaning to see one of that bloody woman's dogs staring right at her, watching as Marge then begins to feed said-dog some alcohol. She couldn't help but pull a face.

The woman looked up to see the two teens staring making her scowl at them, "What are you two smirking at?" She spoke up making them both look at each other, not realising they were both staring, before looking back at the woman.

"Nothing." They shrugged which only got a mph in return, Hope looked away from the woman and held back an eye roll, seeing the look her uncle gave her to be good as she did so.

"Remind me, where did you send the boy, Vernon?" Marge curiously asked, turning over to her brother who turned back over to his sister and away from Hope who rolled her eyes to herself as she continued to wash up.

"St. Brutus'," Vernon reminded with a thin smile, "it's a fine institution for hopeless cases." He added, hoping she would take his lie which she luckily did,  he wasn't also surprised much, she wasn't that bright.

"What about the girl?" She asked, looking over at the girl who is drying a glass quietly, staring at the teenager as if she had done unmistakable deeds.

"A boarding school— for delinquents!" The man explained brightly making Hope scoff under her breath at the obvious lie that the woman seemed to not notice of.

"Oi you, boy, Do they use a cane at St. Brutus?"

Harry looked between all the faces peering at them. His sister seemed to be flashing her usual grin as she watched the conversation, finding humour in it as she is curious as how he is going to go with his answer. His aunt is watching with a calm expression with some underlying feelings and Vernon is gesturing to go along with it, seemingly pleading.

Harry knew they would be able to get their forms signed if he did this and oh how he wanted it, Harry just wanted to experience as many normal wizard experiences as one deserves.

"Oh yeah, I've been beaten loads of times!" Harry couldn't help the sarcasm that was dripping from her voice, mock nodding along as he plasters a fake smile across his face.

Hope couldn't help the laugh that escaped her lips at his attitude which caught the woman's attention.

"What about the girl, hm? Does she get the cane too?" Marge wondered, asking her brother before turning back over to the teenage girl without waiting for her brother's response, "Do you?" She asked Hope, the disgust towards her is clear in her eyes as she does so.

"Do I what..?" Hope feigned confusion, tilting her head to the side in mock condescension.

Marge scowled even wider at the teenage girl, not find her attempts to play ignorant amusing, "Do they cane you?" She repeated her question sharply.

"Who caned me?" Hope asked with a faux concerned expression, holding back a smile as she ignored her brother who snickered to himself as he was almost finishing with the washing up for the both of them.

Marge seemed to be getting even more annoyed, it was clear in her tone and the way she presented herself, "The teachers at the school! Do they cane you?!" She was so close to snapping.

"Ohhh!" Hope clicked her fingers together, her words dragging on the h as she pretended she didn't know what her so called aunt was talking about, finding it more entertaining then washing up, "you should've said so!" The young girl scoffed as if it was the other's fault.

"I did!" Marge exclaimed, her skin turning a more scarlet colour.

"Yeah okay. ." Hope muttered as if she didn't believe her 'aunt,' "Well to answer your question, yes I do get beaten by them." She answered her question, her gaze flickering to Vernon before looking away from his uncles beady eyes, "You would be very proud of them." She sent her uncle a faux smile before looking back to his sister.

"Hmm," Marge hummed, "I'd be more proud if they got rid of you for good." She darkly retorted, turning away from the girl who was nothing but trouble after a moment.

"One can only hope . ." She muttered quietly, only loud enough for Harry to hear before laughing silently at her pun, her brother sighing at the joke.

"That was so bad em." He sighed but he couldn't help but also laugh along with her.

"No it wasn't, it was hilarious!" She whisper shouted back through her silent laughter.

"It was bad." He argues with a scowl, trying to cover his smile.

"You're just jealous that your name can't make any puns like mine." She smugly said, sticking her tongue out childishly at her brother in a playful manner before listening back into the adults conversation, ignoring her brother's faint whatever.

"Hmm.. well, as I was saying," The woman got back to her point, "I won't have this namby-pamby, wishy-washy nonsense about not beating people who deserve it!" Marge explained sternly towards her brother, giving him a look.

"Yes yes it's just—"

"You mustn't blame yourself about how these two turned out." She gave him a sympathetic look.

Hope silently scoffs at the woman's words towards the man. I could've done without the several beatings I had gotten from the man.

"Neither of you are at fault," She corrected looking between the two adults, "It all comes down to blood. Your sister Petunia, she was the bad egg of the family. She ran off with some wastrel and these are the results." Marge said, her lips curling into a cunning smile making the twins listening from behind the island table grip it, trying to control their uprising anger.

shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up—

"What is it the kids father do anyways? You never told me?" She couldn't help but ask, looking over at Petunia.

"Nothing, he didn't work—" Petunia paused for a quick second, "He was unemployed." The twins aunt lied smoothly.

Yeah because he was too busy saving lives, The twins both thought with a mental scoff.

"And a drunk too, no doubt?" Vernons sister allowed a cackle of laughter to escape out her lips which caused Hope's blood to boil at the way her father was being spoken about, even in death.

Harry obviously felt the same way since he had spoken up, his temper obviously getting the better of him, "That's a lie." He snapped which earned their attention, the two that raised him looked at each other worriedly whilst the other adult turned over to the boy, oblivious of what was to come.

"What did you say?" The woman questioned, her tone eery and low, her grip tightening on her glass but not enough for it to break.

Hope took it as her chance to add on, "Our dad wasn't a drunk." Hope angrily retorted which earned a firm nod from her brother stood beside her.

The next thing they knew is that in response to their claims, her glass had suddenly shattered in her grasp making Hope hold back a gasp. She looked over to Harry who was already looking over at her, knowing where and who it came from.

Yes Hope was known to do accidental magic but she hadn't expected it to happen in this situation. Then again, her uncontrollable tempter can get the better of her sometimes.

Hope turned back to the woman and away from her thoughts when she heard her speak, "Don't worry.. don't fuss, Petunia," She drawled, "I have a very firm grip."

That wasn't you, ya bloody idiot it was me! Hope mentally scoffed, Next time I'll transfigurate you and have you fly high away.

She again was knocked out her thoughts when she felt a nudge from Harry who gestured for her to come, flickering her gaze over to see Marge ordering the twins to clean up her mess for her.

Stupid oaf.

"Well actually, now that I think about it, it's nothing to do with the father." Marge began again as the twins were beside her whilst brushing away the shards of glass, "It's all to do with the mother." She explained to the people at the table, "You see it all the time with dogs." Marge purposely rose her voice a little to allow the Potters to hear who had walked back over to the counter, "If somethings wrong with the bitch, then something's wrong with the pups." The woman recalls with a sly grin.

Petunia pressed her lips together at that, only forcing the fakest of laughs after her husband's sister had turned to her.

The twins on the other hand were furious, they looked at each other as the same anger running through their veins, "Shut up!" Hope and Harry snapped in unison, turning over to her in a flash of lividness.

"Shut up you little—" Hope was silenced when the woman suddenly turned into a balloon and floated away, her initial anger turning to disbelief before not being able to help the laugh that escaped her lips.

Hope laughed heavily as the woman floated out the room, into the garden and up into the air, just as Hope had said before. Harry laughed just as loud.

The twins watched as Vernon tried to help his sister whilst Petunia just watched in shock. They decided to stop laughing and took it as a chance to run upstairs and pack, knowing what their uncle would do to them if they stayed.

They quickly packed up all their belongings before zipping up their case; their clothes, shoes, makeup, hair products, school supplies, Hope's teddy bears that she never leaves behind — her wolf teddy, her black dog teddy and her favourite which is her stag teddy.

They storm downstairs, Hope in front but they were stopped at the bottom of the steps by their uncle.

"Where do you two think you're going?!" Vernon shouted at the Potters who both scoffed in response.

"Away from you!" Hope retorted back, her voice clouded with nothing but anger at this moment due to the adrenaline pumping through her body.

"Shut up!" He roared, striking her around the face for her comment which made her involuntarily flinch but then again she kinda expected it.

Petunia, who was with her son by the door, gasped at the actions, having not expected it so suddenly.

Hope couldn't help the humourless laugh she let fall from her lips in return to the hit as she forced the initial reactions to the pain she was feeling back whilst Harry pushed the man back.

"Don't touch my little sister!" Harry roared, pushing the man back which made him fall to the floor before his wife helps him up, backing away after, her actions were more of a reflex if anything.

"We are twins Harry!" Hope shouted, matching her brothers angry tone in his voice to hers making the aggravated boy sigh.

"Not the time Hope!" He calls back with the same tone.

Before she could respond with her usually sassy response despite the situation, she was cut off when their uncle shouted, "You bring her back! You bring her back right now!" Vernon screamed in their face trapping the twins from leaving the house just yet.

"No," Harry denied, shaking his head almost immediately, "She deserves what she got!" He allows a sly smirk to appear on his lips which he shamelessly allowed upon his expression as his uncle took it in.

"Well in my opinion that snobby old wrinkly bat deserves lots more but sure sure . ." Hope mumbled with complete honestly making her twin laugh in agreement, she wasn't wrong.

Vernon, not happy with that answer, screamed in the teenagers face and attempted to grab them by the shoulders but he paused when they whipped out their wand, pointing it at their uncles neck for protection.

"If you don't get away from us, I swear to Merlin, you will regret it." Hope threatens menacingly and in return, Vernon backed away in despair, whilst the twins start to slowly walk towards him still holding up their wands.

"You're not allowed to do magic outside of school." The man reminded them both making Harry's smirk falter before making it grow again as Hope shrugs carelessly, her smirk never disappearing.

"Yeah? Try us." She challenged making the man shiver with fear, looking down to the wand at the wand pointed to his neck.

"They won't let you back now," Vernon reminded, not giving up just yet as he composed himself, growing more confident with his words, "you've got no where to go." He finished with a big smirk on his face, pointing his finger to the girls face to try trip her out.

"I don't care, anywheres better then here." Harry retorted, grabbing his sister's hand and pulling her out the house, stopping when they get to the park.

Hope was silent the entire way, allowing her brother to take the reins for this one but she couldn't help but break the silence that was forced upon them after almost a minute of silence, "Well.. that was something, wasn't it big brother?" She jokingly spoke but Harry didn't find it funny this time around.

"How can you just make jokes about them hitting you?" He spat with anger, "Does it even upset you?"

"Of course it bloody hurts me Harry it's not like I wait excitedly for my weekly hit!" She retorts with the same anger, "I've learned how to deal with it! Crying about it, makes me look pathetic and the way I cope is fine for me and that's that."

"You shouldn't be making those snarky comments towards him 24/7, sometimes I truly wonder if you really are asking for it!" He couldn't help but say, his tone with complete honestly but it had came out the wrong way, despite that it was too late for him to take it back since she had already responded to his claims.

"You really think I deserve getting abused by my uncle due to the fact that I made a joke?" She seriously asked, forcing her hurt into anger which he saw through immediately making his heart clench, guilt swirling through his chest.

"No no no—" He attempted to apologise but she wasn't having any of it.

"No tell me Harry! Really! I mean I'm not going to let them control me I want to live however I should live. If they don't like it I don't care really." She states before adding, "You're welcome for taking them for you, it's not like I saved you from more childhood trauma."

Before Harry could retort, he heard a noise making him instinctively look up, noticing how the lamppost above him had a broken light which was flickering down the street they were in. Hope watched his actions, about to open her mouth to say something when her head snapped over to the actual playground as the equipment began moving on its own due the wind picking up. The twins share a look before hearing a twig snap from in front of them so they both look forward.

Hope turned back in front of them and to their surprise, they saw a dog. Through the bushes there was a literal dog. It was a dark, large shaggy dog. It looked between the two children, the animagus eyes softening at the sight of his nephew and his goddaughter.

Hope turns her head to the side before moving forward to see it more clearly which caused the moonlight to shine across the girls face which cleared up her face more.

Sirius' soft eyes harden at the sight of the bruise on her cheek, letting out a growl as he impulsively took a couple steps closer, not realising the way he acted could come off as aggressive to them until she stood up whilst Harry held his wand out. Hope suddenly had the urge to look away from it for one second and in that second, they had both been knocked down onto the floor.

They looked up quickly, just to come face to face with The Night Bus.

There stood a scruffy-looking man with a piece of paper that he began to read out whatever was written on it, "Welcome to the night bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard," Harry and Hope sat up whilst the man continued with his speech, "My name is Stan Shunpike, and I will be your conductor for this evening." The man the twins have now found out is called Stan finishes.

Stan pocketed his note back into his front pocket before looking down at the twins just to see them on the floor. What the hell?

He stared at them in pure confusion for a moment before speaking up when they just stared back at him, "What you doing down there?" He questioned.

"We fell over..?" Harry answered with a confused tone.

"Whatchu fell over for?" Shunpike answered in the same tone as he did before causing them both to roll their eyes.

"We didn't do it on purpose!" Hope defended herself, her tone spiking with agitation as she stood up to avoid anymore hassle, Harry following at foot.

"Well come on then," He exclaims, waving his hand to urge the teenagers to go onto the bus as he grows impatient, "let's not wait for the grass to grow" Shunpike added just for the twins to dillydally. Ugh. Kids.

Hope and Harry couldn't help but look over to where the animal they once saw before the bus came was there, just for nothing to be there. Stan looked down at the boy, then towards the girl, then finally where they are looking.

"Whatchu lookin' at?" He scrunched up his face after noticing them staring at a literal bush.

Hope didn't answer, Harry on the other hand was the first to notice nothing was there except the bush so he ignored the question, "Nothing."

"Well come on then," The older guy repeated for what felt like the one hundredth time, "In." He points inside the bus to which Harry moved over to grab their luggage but the man quickly declines his actions, "No, no I'll get that," he picks up the luggage, "you get in." He repeats the statement to Harry with a stern look which makes him do as told with a small nod, following after his sister who had already been slowly venturing inside.

He headed inside the train, taking in what he can see. There's a man on the bed where he slowly but quickly moved past, hiding his laugh behind his hand when Hope jumped at the sight of it. She got some old man's feet in her face. She came past too and to the end where Shunpike showed them to go before being given his ticket by the man.

He then suddenly knocked on the window as Hope sat down, "Take her away Ern."

The small face repeated what the man said in a louder voice, "Yeah! Take her away Ernie!" The head called out to which the driver sat up, getting ready to drive, "It's going to be a bumpy ride!" The small face cackled when the bus began to drive with its seemingly usual speed that made Harry fall into the bed behind him where Hope was already sat.

"Woss your names?" Stan Shunpike asks, staring intensely between the two of them.

"I'm Neville Longbottom and this is my sister— er. . Ginny!" Harry answered, ignoring the way his sister held back a laugh that was desperately trying to escape.

He nodded before looking over to the girl, "What happened to 'choo?" The man asked, scanning over the girls face.

"What?" Hope asked with her usual poker face in situations like these as she acted as if she has no clue exactly what he is talking about.

"You've got a big ol' bruise right on your left cheek." Stan told her which made her pause for a small second as Harry looked down at the man's words.

"I fell over— I play quidditch. Rough sport." Hope responded, lying through her teeth. The most quidditch she had been doing was reading through quidditch magazines but that was about it. It also was definitely not the reason for a bruise on her cheek.

"Hm." The man mumbled faintly, inspecting the mark with his eyes for a moment longer before looking away, "Whereabouts are you headed?" Shunpike tilted his head to the side, continuing the conversation with the two teenagers and moving it away from the last conversation despite not believing her words properly.

"The leaky cauldron," Harry explained, thinking he was being helpful by his next words, "that's in London." He added but the man he was speaking to just smirked at his words.

"D'you hear that Ern?" He yelled over the glass, moving closer to the window, "The leaky cauldron, that's in London" he mocked the boy, finding what Harry said funny.

"The leaky cauldron. If you have pea soup.. make sure you eat it, before it eats you." The small face joked which caused Shunpike to snigger as the small face cackled at its own joke. The driver speeds up even more as Hope rolled her eyes at the laughing pair before looking out the window, noticing the lack of sight from the muggles despite what was right in front of them.

"The muggles," Hope called out over the noise whilst continuing to look outside the window, "Can't they see us?" She asked curiously.

"Muggles?" Shunpike repeated as she finally turned her gaze from out the window and back over to him, lThey don't see nothin' do they?" He gave her a knowing look to which she couldn't deny his words.

"If you jab 'em with a fork they feel." The small face quipped, laughter spilling out his lips until he realised the sight in front of them, "Ernie, little old lady, 12 o'clock." The small face said with a strained tone causing Harry to look up at the scene with a worried look on his face. The bus came to an abrupt stop causing harry to fall face first onto the window with a smack. Ouch.

Hope on the other hand held a tight grip onto the pole on the bed, watching as her brother fell into the glass.

Ouch.

"Are you alright?" She asked her brother but couldn't help the laughter that escaped her lips.

Harry shoved her arm in annoyance at her laughing fit after sitting back down, "Yeah." He nodded, rather embarrassed, but Shunpike doesn't even seem phased.

"Ten. Nine. Eight. Seven. Six. Five. Four. Three..
Three and a half.." He drawled out, counting down as the small face waits for the old woman on her walker to pass so he can give the order, "Two. One and three quarters"

Harry fell back onto the bed when the bus started going back to its original speed before looking up and seeing Stan reading the newspaper. On the front was a man screaming before being pulled back by guards.

"Hope," He whispered to his sister, "That's the guy from earlier, Sirius Black." He added in disbelief that a wizard would be reading about a muggle escapee. Or was he a muggle?

"Oh, Merlin!" Hope stifled a gasp, "What in the bloody hell is he doing in the paper?" Hope questioned.

"That man was on the muggle news." Harry spoke up, wanting to get answers, as he spoke towards the man which made Stan look over.

"Of course he was Neville, haven't you been keeping up with the news?" Shunpike retorts before seeing their confused faces making him continue, "Don't tell me you've never been hearing of Sirius Black." He added but their faces full of confusion and shakes of the head answered his question so he tells them about him.

"He's a murderer," He explained as he put his newspaper on his lap,"got himself locked up in Azkaban for it." He added, a small smirk on his lips as he moved a little closer so the siblings can try understand what he is saying, "He killed 13 people, the day you-know-who vanished. Thought he would become first in command after the little Potter twins—" He continues, not noticing the teenagers move their hair to cover the scars, "Got the best of you-know-who! Speaking of them two did you hear they blew up their aunt?"

"Really? Didn't know that." Hope drawled, her voice dripping with sarcasm before changing the subject quickly, "Well how did he escape?" Hope wondered, turning her head down to see the moving picture of the man who looked eerily familiar.

"Well that's the question isn't it?" He replied to the girl, "He's the first to ever have done it!" He raised his voice a little to make them understand his point.

Harry and Hope couldn't help the way they leaned forward a little, their attention on him as he speaks.

"He was a big supporter of.. you-know-who." Shunpike tells them, "I reckon you've heard of him." He gave them a knowing stare, already knowing the answer to his question.

"Yeah, him we've heard of." Harry mumbled, leaning back to his earlier lazed back position, looking away from the man, his temper rising with the conversation as they had continued to talk about the guy who had been trying to kill them since they were a toddlers.

★ ★ ★

"Take her away Ern!" Hope heard Stans voice which was followed by the shrunken heads voice too as they went into the building of their destination.

The twins went inside, looking around the place that already had many people inside as they followed the man who had came for them.

Hope looked over at a worker who was cleaning the tables and couldn't help but stare as they walked past.

Harry noticed this and nudged her, snapping her out of the daze, "Hope! He's like thirty!" He scoffed, she had terrible daddy issues.

"Oh shut up I would never do anything with an adult," Hope said truthfully as they walked over to the stairs, her tone matching his low tone so no one can over hear, "doesn't mean I can't stare." She watched as the man put up the chairs with wandless magic as if it was nothing.

Hm. So maybe hers is nothing either?

"Room 11." Tom told them as they made their way up the stairs and over to the room, opening the door for them.

Harry and Hope grinned brightly at the sight of Hedwig, he was technically Harry's pet but she was with her just as much as she was with Harry so they love her both the same, "Hedwig!" He gasped in happiness and they both headed over to the bird.

"A real smart bird you've got there Mr Potter," Tom complimented him as they both pet the beautiful bird, "He arrived here just five minutes before yourselves." He informed making Hope look away from the bird and to the hunchbacked man.

"Shes a girl—" Hope was about to say but their conversation got cut short as she heard a man clearing his voice, noticing it to be Fudge who was busy giving Tom a stern look making him back off.

"As Minister for Magic, it is my duty to inform you, Potters," Fudge started as he looked out the window as rain splattered down the glass "earlier this evening, your uncles sister was located a little south of Sheffield, circling a chimney stack." He explained to the two whilst the hunchbacked man pushed them into the couch, offering the boy some food and for the two to deny them.

"The accidental magic reversal department was dispatched immediately. She has been properly punctured and her memory modified," The minister continued, "she will have no recollection of the incident whatsoever," Fudge exclaimed, turning around with a smirk which shows his amusement of the situation that wasn't clear until now, "so that's that — and no harm done!" He finished his speech with a large smile on his face, holding his arms in the air for a second before putting them down.

Hope and Harry shared a look.

"Pea soup?" The man asked the two to which they both declined, she was hungry but not that hungry, she had brought some food in her bags anyway that she had bought at the corner shop from her aunt and uncles house when they had been allowed out anyway.

"Uh no thanks." Harry shook his head which made Fudge turn to his sister who did the same thing, still his grin didn't waver.

"Minister?" Harry called out as the man poured himself some pea soup.

Hope looked over at her brother in confusion as she held back a face at the sight and smell of the pea soup. Ew it looked like water.

"Yes?" Fudge replied, not yet looking at the teenage boy but he had an inkling to what he was about to say.

"I don't understand." Harry said, causing the man to finally look over at him.

"Understand?" The man repeated.

"I broke the law. Underaged wizards can't use magic at home?" He reminded the man which made Hope give him a look.

"Come now harry, the ministry don't send people to Azkaban for blowing up their aunts!" He retorted, a large smile on his face, he seemed to find humour in the situation.

Tom laughed at Fudges exclaims just for him to get silenced again by a look by the Minister.

"On the other hand, running away like that, given the state of things, was very very irresponsible." His smile dropped and a stern look took place as he spoke of their recent acts.

"'The state of things' sir?" Hope turned over to the man as he stood behind their seats.

"We have a killer on the loose!" He reminded the girl if in disbelief that she said that.

"Sirius Black, you mean?" Harry looked up at the man, remembering the name from the story the man on the bus told them.

"But what's that got to do with us?" Hope asked the man, it wasn't as if everything was to do with them at this point, but a murderer?

Don't tell me he's also trying to kill us, Hope thought to herself, getting annoyed just thinking about it.

"Nothing, nothing of course! You're safe— that's what matters!" He blurted out, a suspicious laugh escaping his lips that seemed awfully nervous, avoiding the curious stares from the two. "And tomorrow you'll be on your way back to Hogwarts!"

Harry and Hope watched as he went back to his desk, pointing at something as he changed the subject quickly.

"Oh these are your new schoolbooks, I took the liberty of having them brought here for you." He tells them which may sound like a kind favour but it was just because he didn't want them going out and potentially getting killed, "Now Tom will show you to your room."

The hunchback named Tom shoved the two out their seats, guiding them by their shirts to which they spluttered at his sudden actions, "We can walk ourselves, y'know?" Hope scoffed, her sass clear in her tone as her accent comes out.

Tom lets go after that, Harry needed to get Hedwig anyway.

"Hedwig!" Harry called out making the bird perch on his arm and Fudge takes the opportunity to say one more thing.

"Oh, by the way twins, whilst you're here it would be best for you two to not wander." He gave them a look, his eyes pausing on Hope for a moment longer as if he knew she was more that type of person.

Hope just held the book to her chest, keeping the eye contact until he went back to what he was doing and Tom walked them to their room.

"Thanks." Hope thanked as he put the books he had been holding for the both of them down on the table before leaving.

"That was weird." Harry voiced as soon as they were left alone.

"Extremely," Hope nodded in agreement, "I've got something to ask you though, what the hell was that about?!" She asked him in disbelief, thumping him in the arm.

"Hope! What the hell was that for?!" Harry snarked back as he groaned which Hope rolled her eyes at, she didn't even hit him that hard.

"Oh shut your whining," Hope rolled her eyes at his comment, "you went on and on about how we broke the rules so we should be in azkaban!" Hope retorted, she was supposed to be the idiot out of the two, not the smarter one.

"But— it's true?"

"Yeah I know but you don't say that!" Hope groaned, putting her head in her hands for a moment, "it's like you wanted us to go in Azkaban!"

"What? No of course not!" Harry scoffed, shaking his head at her words.

"Just— don't be so truthful like that for Merlin's sake, last thing we need is to be in Azkaban." Hope huffed, sitting down on the end of the bed as Hedwig flew over to her.

"Fine okay." Harry reluctantly agreed, pushing back his pride, "Biscuit?" He offered her, he had gotten them out of his bag after Tom had left.

"Yes please." She grinned and they had gone back to normal, "Mkay I'm gonna go wash my face and get ready for bed." She told him after finishing the one biscuit and got up from the bed, grabbing her skincare from her bag and heading to the bathroom.

After about half an hour, she came back in the room after washing her face, brushing her teeth, doing her skincare and washing off her makeup, she came in to grab her clothes for bed.

Hope picked up a random band tee from her bag, seeing it to be her favourite band queen so she changed into it before grabbing a brush and started to brush her hair.

"Why in the hell are you brushing your hair right now?" Harry looked over, "you know it's just gonna go poofy again in the morning." He told her, they both had curly hair so they both knew what it was like when you didn't manage it properly.

"Nope! Before we went to Petunias, I got this hair product thing, it's so good." She told him making him actually get up.

"What— and you didn't tell me?!" He gaped in offence.

"Oh please you wouldn't have used it." She rolled her eyes which is true.

"Okay fair." He came over, watching as she got out a potion thing. Harry took it out her hands when she was done putting it in her hair, "Sleekeazy's hair potion." Harry read out as she applied it to her hair, she liked her curls so she didn't put too much, just enough so they don't get damaged.

"Yeah I saw there was some on sale so I just got it." She shrugged, "I was with Ginny when I went."

"Ginny?" Harry put the hair potion down and looked back over at his sister at that, "Like Ron's sister?"

"What other Ginny's do you know?" Hope snickered, looking back over at him when she was done, finally ready for bed, "Obviously Ginny Weasley."

"Calm down I was just asking." He held his arms up in mock defence, he probably shouldn't have said that since she had just gotten off of her period so she was still rather testy but still.

"Fuck off." She rolled her eyes as she went over to the bed and got in on her side which he did the same on his, "Oh how... comfy." Hope said after a moment of silence.

"It's more uncomfortable than the one at our aunts." Harry said which made her drop her act immediately.

"Yeah absolutely."

. . . ⇢ ˗ˏˋ AUTHORS NOTE ࿐ྂ

⇢ harry isn't the smartest 🙄