The Forgotten Twin

Chapter 1 - Year 3 Begins

And he threw the receiver back onto the telephone as if dropping a poisonous spider.

The fight that followed wasn't pretty, but Delilah was used to it. She stood by Harry with her hand on his arm as Uncle Vernon yelled at him.

"HOW DARE YOU GIVE THIS NUMBER TO PEOPLE LIKE — PEOPLE LIKE YOU!" Uncle Vernon had roared, spraying them with spit.

Yes. How dare Harry give his number to his friends.

Luckily Ron was smart enough to realize that he had gotten them into trouble, because he hadn't called again. Hermione didn't call either, which was a bummer. Hermione was a Muggle-born and knew how to use a telephone and would have enough common sense not to mention Hogwarts.

So Harry hadn't gotten any word from his friends. Delilah, on the other hand, had gotten letters from Draco, Daphne, and even Lyra, but mostly Draco. She had even sent him a birthday gift the month before.

Delilah finished the essay and looked at Harry, who was asleep with his parchment in his lap.

Delilah screwed on his ink bottle cap, and put the ink, quill, and parchment under a loose floorboard with all of Harry's school stuff.

She turned to look at the clock. It was two o'clock in the morning. Delilah had been thirteen years old, without realizing it, for two whole hours.

Yet another unusual thing about Delilah was how little she looked forward to her birthdays. She had never gotten a birthday card, unless you included the ones Harry and Delilah had exchanged in first grade.

Delilah walked to the window and stared out. The bars from last year were long gone, and she pushed it open, enjoying the cold air rushing past her face.

In the distance a lumpy shape that kept moving up and down erratically was flying in her direction. Delilah gave a start when she realized what it was. Owls. Delilah hurriedly moved out of the way as they all flew in.

"Harry, wake up. We've got a flock of owls on our desk."

Harry groggily woke up, confused.

"Wut?" he mumbled before sitting straight up, surprised. "What are all those owls doing here?"

"Well, it is our birthday," Delilah mused.

"But we never get birthday presents!"

"True, but that was before we had any friends."

Harry shrugged and took all the presents off the owls. Delilah separated them into two piles.

Harry started throwing off the wrappings while Delilah got their Hogwarts letters from an owl. The letters seemed thicker than usual.

Delilah opened her gifts. Draco's was a pouch and included a letter and note. The note read in Draco's surprisingly neat handwriting,

This pouch has an Undetectable Extension Charm so it will hold anything and feel weightless. Hope you find it useful.

Love Draco

P.S. Inside there's a book, I think you'll enjoy it.

It was remarkable, even if he probably had one of his parents do the charm. Delilah opened the bag and saw a book titled, Jinxes and Hexes - Extended Edition. Delilah grinned. Now that would definitely be useful.

Delilah looked back at the note, studying the letter's closing. It was... new.

Lyra's was a book about what made the relationship between Wizards and Muggles what it was today, that'd be an interesting read.

Fred and George got her some pranking supplies to try on Dudley.

Daphne's was some eyeliner and Hagrid had gotten her a Monster Book of Monsters. Delilah stroked the spine to calm it down and then belted it. She had read about it in a random library book she had grabbed.

Delilah saw Harry who was opening his and watched. This should be entertaining.

Harry pulled off the wrapping and jumped back. The book had tried to bite him. Delilah contemplated helping him, but knew he'd figure it out.

Harry got on his bed and the Monster Book of Monsters followed him. He jumped on it and belted it shut. Huh, guess he did have some common sense.

Harry turned to Delilah.

"Why did he send us these monstrous books? Is he trying to kill us?" he exclaimed.

"Be quiet, we should read our letters, maybe they're on the list for Care of Magical Creatures, it is about magical creatures," she reasoned.

Harry nodded and grabbed his letter, Delilah did the same. The first page read:

Dear Ms. Potter,

Please note that the new school year will begin on September the first. The Hogwarts Express will leave from King's Cross station, platform nine and three-quarters, at eleven o'clock.

Third-years are permitted to visit the village of Hogsmeade on certain weekends. Please give the enclosed permission form to your parent or guardian to sign.

A list of books for next year is enclosed.

Yours sincerely,

Professor M. McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

Delilah opened the list of spellbooks.

Third-years will require the following books:

Intermediate Transfiguration by Emeric Switch

The Standard Book of Spells, Grade Three by Miranda Goshawk

The Monster Book of Monsters by Edwardus Lima

Beginners Guide to Alchemy by Silvena Dulno

Ancient Runes Made Easy by Laurenzoo

Rune Dictionary by Yuri Blishen

Magical Hieroglyphs and Logograms

Advanced Rune Translation by Yuri Blishen

She pulled the Hogsmeade permission form out and decided to ask Aunt Petunia to sign it later, she would be more easily convinced than Uncle Vernon.

Delilah looked at the clock, it was already two thirty. She put all her books on the nightstand, and lay down.

For the first time ever, Delilah Potter felt just like everyone else — glad that it was her birthday.