The Snake Twins || Book Two: The Chamber of Secrets

XXII

Eden walked down into the classroom, expecting to see her children there, waiting for her, but the room was empty. Worry crept it's way into her mind, making her 'mama wolf' instincts tingle. Setting down her book on her desk, she walked back up into the common room, noticing the Invisibility Cloak the twins used was hanging up like normal, and Archer's book was up on the shelf. The common room was normal, but everything was off, in a way. Eden opened the door to the bedroom the twins shared, and she saw that Archer's bed was empty, the covers thrown aside slightly. The worry was getting worse, Archer always makes her bed in the morning, without fail somehow.

She glanced over at Harry's bed, and saw he was holding someone, his back facing her. Eden walked closer, moving the comforter slightly, and saw he was holding onto his sister, who's arm was over him protectively. Eden looked closer, and saw he was holding onto her like he used to when she first met them, when they were scared, and Harry was always carried. She automatically knew something was wrong, as he was learning to be away from his sister, but it looked like he forgot everything.

Eden put the blanket back, and Archer stirred, her bright eyes snapping open in an instant. The two looked at each other for a moment, neither breaking eye contact, neither one blinking. There was something behind those ruby eyes that made Eden feel on edge, and she felt like Archer would do something if she moved even an inch. Harry moved closer to his sister, and Archer held him tighter, still not looking away. Eden felt like what she was looking at wasn't her daughter, but she knew that she was. Archer just stared at her like an animal watching a hunter, but there was no fear.

"Archer?" Eden whispered, still not looking away. The ruby-eyed girl didn't say anything, she didn't even move. "Archer, wee one, it's just me," Eden tried again, moving a little. She saw something click in Archer's eyes, and the odd feeling was gone, and her daughter blinked. "Mum?" She asked, her voice sounding tired. "Hey wee one, you feeling okay?" Eden asked, moving closer to the bed. "Just tired, why? What time is it?" Archer yawned, rubbing her eyes. "You were acting. . . Off." Eden said carefully. Archer yawned again, and Harry started to stir as well. "Mm. What time is it?" Archer asked again, and Harry rubbed his eyes, still clinging onto his twin. "Almost seven-thirty." Eden said, looking at her watch.

Archer nodded, sitting up, yawning once again. Harry moved his head to where it was laying on his sister's lap, not wanting to part from her. "Breakfast should start soon," Eden said, sitting down on the bed. Archer nodded again, and laid her brother back on his pillow, sliding out of bed. Eden watched as she went to her closet and pulled out a normal outfit; black leggings, a grey tank-top, and one of her hoodies. "Not your school uniform?" Eden asked, confused. "It's not like they're letting us be with the rest of the school." Archer replied tiredly.

After she changed, she walked over to Harry's closet and pulled out some blue sweatpants, and a black, baggy long sleeve shirt. Something about those outfits seemed off, like she was grabbing clothes they felt were familiar to them. Eden watched silently as Archer made her bed, then woke up Harry, helping get out of bed fully. She watched as her daughter waited until Harry was dressed, then picked him up, his already small frame looking smaller in the clothes. Archer walked out of the bedroom and she sat Harry down while she grabbed her book, sticking her wand in her pocket, then picked her twin back up.

Eden watched as they left into the halls, and was left wondering what was wrong to make them act as if they never left the Muggle's house.

With the Twins

Archer held Harry tightly as they walked to the Great Hall for breakfast. Other students watched and stared at them, not used to see them like this. "Archer, what happened to my teddy?" Harry asked, his voice soft and a little scared. "Don't worry, I never got rid of it, I can give it to you when we get to the Hall." Archer told him soothingly. They made it to the Great Hall, and they sat down at the end of the table, like the first time they came to Hogwarts. The other Slytherins looked at them with odd looks, but they ignored it. Archer set down her book and took out her wand, muttering a summoning charm and Harry's teddy bear flew into her hand. Archer handed it to her brother, who grabbed it and hugged it tightly.

Ginny saw this and walked over, curious. "What's all this?" She asked, sitting across from the two. As soon as Ginny sat down, she felt something was wrong, and when she looked at Archer, she almost jumped up. Archer was staring at her, not blinking, or moving. Ginny didn't dare move or break eye contact, for fear Archer would do something that could get her hurt. Ginny watched Archer, and she felt as if it wasn't really Archer, but something else. "Archer? Mate, you okay?" Ginny asked, making other look at them. As soon as they saw what was going on, some moved, being unnerved by Archer.

Eden walked in and saw what was going on. Harry was sitting facing his twin, playing with his teddy, and Archer was just watching Ginny, the same way she had watched her a few minutes ago. Suddenly, Eden felt something that wasn't there before. A memory, but it wasn't hers.

A little girl was holding a boy much smaller than her as he played with his teddy, a large man was towering over them, his face red. "What are you looking at, brat?" He snapped. A crack was heard, and the girl had a mark that painted her snowy cheek a flushed red. The girl just looked blankly, as if she wasn't even a real girl, but something of unholy origin. The man just looked even more upset. "Vernon, supper's ready." A woman with a long neck said, walking over. She saw the little girl staring, and looked uneasy. The man, Vernon, slapped the girl again, and droplets of blood shone on her cheek. Her eyes no longer held any sign of her being human. She just stared as the small boy played. All she did was stare.

Eden knew that the little girl was Archer, she had the same stare, and the boy was Harry, who was playing with the same teddy bear. It seemed like what they were doing was remembering their past, and going through the motions that they did when they were younger. Eden shook off her thoughts and walked over, putting a hand on Archer's shoulder. Her daughter tensed up, and Harry stopped playing, and they both sat there, frozen.

"Wee one?" Eden asked, crouching down. Harry looked at his mum, his red eyes dim and lost. "Archer? Mummy's trying to talk to you." He mumbled, shaking his sister's shoulder. Archer blinked, and Ginny no longer felt like something was wrong, and she sighed. Archer turned around and looked at Eden, her eyes also dim and lost. "What's wrong, mum?" She asked. Eden sighed slightly and stood back up. "Nothing, wee one, I just have something to do." Archer nodded, and grabbed some toast for her twin, who took it eagerly. Eden looked around the Hall, then left swiftly. She had some Muggles to visit.