SORRY GUYS FOR THE SHORT CHAPTERS...ITS MY HECTIC JOB..I LITTERARY HAVE NO SPARE TIME.special thanks to Nymos_lvl9000 for your corrections

ENJOY @realmsinus

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Two days had passed when I woke up.

As awareness drifted slowly back to my brain, I began to experience a strange sensation in my body. I felt as if my hands were stripped of flesh and my bones were entirely exposed.

Memories of my last encounter with the twins and the final struggle as they forced the contortion toffee into my mouth came flooding back and I struggled to get up at least to look at myself. Maybe it had all been a dream.

The task proved to be quite impossible. every bone in my body seemed to be twisted the wrong way.

A gentle hand reached out and pushed my shoulders back to the soft bedsheets. As my vision cleared, the face of my twin swarmed into focus. fear and concern were vivid in her countenance.

Despite my sorry state, a SnicKer would have escaped my mouth except even my lips felt very heavy. Whatever expectation I might have had, Aster's concerns were certainly not on that list. her swollen berry eyes however brought me to a jolt. Aster had been crying...for me?

No way!..., this was weird. Maybe she had been crying for herself. yes, that is certainly the logical explanation. However judging from her pose, madam Pomfrey must have fixed her injuries, apart from her red eyes, she appeared fine to me.

which begs the question, why was she crying?

her soft hands reached and put back a stray lock of hair.

Hi bro, how are you feeling? ,

My ears which were accustomed to detecting malice in my sister's voice found non. when did Aster become this soft-hearted?.had the hippogriff somehow imparted some life lessons to my self-entitled sibling?

Because this was not the Aster I knew. she must be mocking me. my sister was a damn good actress.

Despite the pain, I suddenly felt a fit of searing anger in my brain.

"cammon Aster, drop the act, we both know you are jumping with joy. maybe you even congratulated them for doing you this favour".

"oh ...am sorry" Aster apologized with a suppressed voice.

I could see a war of emotion raging within her. Suddenly, she could hold back no more, tears burst out of her eyes as she sobbed uncontrollably.

Seeing Aster crying was at first surprising, but then I felt quite guilty. I know my sister and I have not been quite close and I have always blamed her for that. I might be right but I have not made things easy for her either.

I wanted so badly to reach out and comfort her. but my crooked bone wouldn't let me. even with her bent head, she noticed the strain in my movement and reached out to put my hands back.

a crystalline drop of tear hit my face and I felt my eyes flooding.

With a strained voice, I had to say a word that our family was not accustomed to saying.

"I'm sorry sis".

Aster was astounded for a while as if not believing I was the one who had spoken, then as the doubt abated, she reached and hugged me while sobbing hysterically.

"I am the one who should apologize, bro, I should have been there for you"Aster sobbed in regret.

I wished I could hug her as well, her comforting presence made me feel I wasn't entirely alone.

"I should have been there for you as well, but we can start over can't we?"

I enquired with hope. a new resolution was already forming in my heart to watch out for my sister. and to be me.

lately, I have been struggling to show that being a Slytherin is not evil. perhaps I was going at it the wrong way. Fred and George were doing their thing and so did the whole Gryffindor quidditch team. yet no one thought they were evil. but anything done by a Slytherin however good was always frowned upon. might as well have fun

Aster, having wiped her tears, reached out inside her robes and brought out the Gawain wand.

A lightning bolt of shock and relief passed through my body simultaneously, relief that it was not Pomfrey who found it out, shock that I had some explaining to do. Oh, why do we have to part just when we reunite?.what was I going to tell my sister?

her hand was still rampaging inside her robes and when she brought out the content I almost jumped in joy. she was holding the marauders map.

"how did you get those," I asked in curiosity

a bright smile lit her face before she answered

"Well, when they brought you in, the nurse had fixed my injury, so as she was preparing some things in her office, I checked your robes because I have lately noticed you have an extra wand which is not what father bought you.

but in addition, I found this blank parchment too. Is it special?" Aster asked with teenage curiosity.

"yes they are both special sis, please don't tell anyone about those".

her face showed concern but she accepted ."alright, it's a secret then. but will you tell me about them later?

of course, I would have to. secrets were starting to weigh me down. plus I need an ally.

"I will, I feel very tired though, please keep those for me"

my eyes were already getting heavy. but even as the light dimmed, I couldn't help wondering how the marauders had gotten inside my robes.