HPNG Chapter 4

Chapter Four: The Twins

     After the drama of the sorting was over, Rose was in Gryffindor too Scorpius in Slytherin, Albus and the other first years were led up to their common room. Once there, Albus walked groggily towards the couch at the center of the common room and collapsed into it.

“Oi, watch where you are sitting Al!”

“Sorry” Albus said, blushing. He had accidentally planted himself right in Rose’s lap. After he got up and seated himself more carefully next to her he turned to stare at the fire. He began to reflect on his day when he was interrupted by an all too familiar voice.  


“ So how was the ride up you two?” asked a voice from behind them.

Both rose and Albus jumped. It was James.

“W..Why do you ask?” asked Rose unnecessarily nervously. James shrugged.

“Just wondering.” he replied nonchalantly. He stood there a moment staring at Rose, waiting for an answer. Then Rose abruptly stood up and yawned overly dramatically.

“WOW, I’m sure tired. Well, see you guys in the morning.” Rose said before sprinting up the stairs to the girl’s dormitory.

“What’s her problem?” James asked, bewildered. Albus shrugged. “Anyway, how was YOUR ride up mate?”

Albus paused a moment and then said “ Oh, nothing special.” James raised his eyebrows.

“Come on Al you were white as a sheet when you went up to the sorting hat earlier today.” James said. “What was bugging you?”

Albus blushed. “ Just nervous I guess” he mumbled.

“Hm? Sorry mate, didn’t catch that,” James said with a mischievous grin. Albus looked at the floor.
“ I guess I…was kinda worried I might be put into Slytherin.” he said, a little embarrassed.

James burst out laughing and then clapped his little brother on the shoulder and smiled.
“ There’s no need to worry mate. You’re a Potter aren’t you?” he said, smiling. “ Besides, you are in Gryffindor now right?”  Albus nodded.

James yawned. “Well, I’m beat. See you tomorrow Al.” he said just before heading up to the boy’s dormitory. Al got up a few moments later and followed.


     The next morning was Saturday so there were no classes in session yet. Albus took this opportunity to explore the grounds a bit. It was a gorgeous sunny morning with the slightest breeze that made each individual blade of grass sway lazily back and forth. Albus took a deep breath as he took in the scenery and then proceeded to stroll down the path to Hagrid’s hut. On the way there Albus noticed two boys a few feet off the path. They looked remarkably similar, both with bright blonde hair and Ravenclaw robes. They were leaning against two aspen trees that grew beside each other in a very peculiar way. One tree was slightly curved to the left while the other adjacent one was slightly curved to the right. They seemed to almost meet at their trunks so they somewhat resembled the letter “V”. Each of the boys was slumped against the inner side of the respective trunks so that they were facing each other. Their eyes were closed and arms folded as if they were both deep in thought. Albus stared at them for a moment or two. Then, all of a sudden, both boys simultaneously opened their eyes and turned towards Albus.

“What are you looking at?” they asked in unison. Albus jumped.

“N..Nothing,” he stammered.  The two boys gave him a very serious stare and then burst out laughing.
“What the…” Albus began.
“Sorry, we didn’t mean to scare you” the boy on the right said.
“ We just don’t like being spied on you know?” the boy on the left added.

“Wha-I wasn’t spying!” Albus exclaimed indignantly. “ You just looked rather odd standing there like that.”

The boy on the right smiled. “You look kinda odd yourself staring like that.” he said, grinning. “Hey, you look like the James kid, you related to him?”

Before Albus could utter a word in response to this, the boy on the left answered, “ That’s a stupid question Lysander, you heard that his last name was Potter at the sorting yesterday didn’t you?

“Lysander…” Albus muttered to himself “ where have I heard that name before?”

The boy on the left head him and replied “ Oh, I’m sorry, how rude of us. I’m Lorcan Scamander and this is my brother, Lysander Scamander. You might have heard of our mother, Luna Lovegood? I think she knew you dad as a girl.”


Right. He had heard his mom and dad mention the Lovegoods-er the Scamanders once or twice in the last year or so. He couldn’t remember much about them though….

Albus snapped back to reality. “ Right…I’m Albus-“

“-Potter.” Lorcan finished. “ Yeah, we know.”

“ Don’t be so rude Lorcan” Lysander groaned.

“ Right”, Albus said. “ Well, I have to be going now…”

“ Where are you going?” Lysander inquired. “ Can we come along?”

“ Sure, why not?” Albus said. He then proceeded to continue down the path to Hagrid's hut, the Scamander twins following close behind.


     Albus knocked lightly on the large wooden door of the hut. A few loud footsteps followed by the creak of the door opening revealed Hagrid. He was as large as Albus had imagined, if not larger. The sun shown on his face and made his silvery beard seem to shine just slightly when the sun reflected off of it. Hagrid’s mouth drew up into a warm smile as his eyes fell upon Albus.  

“You must be Albus eh?” he said in a rather deep, husky voice. “ James told me all about ye'..and oh ello' there Lorcan, Lysander.” The twins nodded at Hagrid.  

     “ Well come in make ye selves at home you three.” Hagrid said, beaming. “ I got a little surprise for ye’.”   The twins looked at each other with a strange combination of  wary concern and excited anticipation.  Albus shrugged it off and went inside anyway, the twins following suit soon after.