Twins of Destiny: The Chosen Two

Chapter 3 - Aloise

The escape of the Brazilian boa constrictor earned the twins their longest-ever punishment. By the time they were allowed out of their cupboard again, the summer holidays had started and Dudley had already broken his new cine-camera, crashed his remote-control aeroplane and, first time on his racing bike, knocked down poor old Mrs Figg as she crossed Privet Drive on her crutches.

Despite the fact school was over, there was no escaping Dudley's gang, who visited the house every single day. Aloise missed school, at least she could hide in the library, Piers wouldn't be caught dead there. Dudley's gang consisted of Piers, Dennis, Malcolm and Gordon. They were all big and stupid, but as Dudley was the biggest and stupidest of the lot, he was the leader. The rest of them did not like Piers' favourite sport (failing miserably to seduce Aloise) but were all quite happy to join Dudley's favourite sport: Harry-hunting.

This was why the twins spent as much time as possible out of the house, wandering around and discussing the end of the holidays, where they could see a tiny ray of hope. When September came they would be going off to secondary school and, for the first time in their lives, they wouldn't be with Dudley or Piers! Those two had a place at Uncle Vernon's old school, Smeltings. The twins, on the other hand, were going to Stonewall High, the local comprehensive. Dudley thought this was very funny.

"They stuff people's heads down the toilet first day at Stonewall," he told Harry and Aloise. "Want to come upstairs and practise?"

"No thanks," said Harry.

Aloise continued. "The poor toilet's never had anything as horrible as your head down it – it might be sick." Then they ran, almost doubled over laughing, before Dudley could work out what they'd said.

One day in July, Aunt Petunia took Dudley to London to buy his Smeltings uniform, leaving the twins at Mrs Figg's. Mrs Figg wasn't as concerning as usual. It turned out she'd broken her leg tripping over one of her cats and she didn't seem quite as fond of them as before. She let Harry watch television, Aloise play with her cats and gave them both a bit of chocolate cake that tasted as though she'd had it for several years.

That evening, Dudley paraded around the living-room for the family in his brand-new uniform. Smeltings boys wore maroon tailcoats, orange knickerbockers and flat straw hats called boaters. They also carried knobbly sticks, used for hitting each other while the teachers weren't looking. This was supposed to be good training for later life.

As he looked at Dudley in his new knickerbockers, Uncle Vernon said gruffly that it was the proudest moment of his life. Aunt Petunia burst into tears and said she couldn't believe it was her Ickle Dudleykins, he looked so handsome and grown-up. Aloise couldn't trust herself to speak and looking at Harry she knew he felt the same. The twins could barely contain wheezes looking at Dudley.

"At least two of my ribs have cracked already at this point..." Aloise whispered to Harry, biting her lip in effort not to laugh.

"No kidding," Harry whispered back, hiding snickers.

*

There was a horrible smell in the kitchen next morning when the twins went in for breakfast. It seemed to be coming from a large metal tub in the sink. They went to have a look. The tub was full of what looked like dirty rags swimming in grey water.

"What's this?" Aloise asked Aunt Petunia. Her lips tightened as they always did when one of them dared to ask a question.

"Your new school uniform," she said.

The twins looked in the bowl again.

"Oh," Harry said. "I didn't realise it had to be so wet."

"Don't be stupid," snapped Aunt Petunia. "I'm dyeing some of Dudley's old things grey for you two. It'll look just like everyone else's when I've finished."