Aurelia and Astrid followed Professor Sprout through the halls towards Dumbledore’s office. After a long trek, they stopped in front of two stone gargoyles as Professor Sprout commandingly said “Jelly Slugs.” and in front of them, the wall opened to an ominous spiral staircase, and they ascended behind their teacher. Professor Sprout stopped so that they could walk in front of her, and they took a few steps towards Dumbledore’s desk. He looked down his nose, through his half-moon spectacles at them. “You may leave us, Pomona.” Dumbledore said. “It was her fault, not mine! If she had just followed what I said nothing would have happened!” Aurelia burst out. ”That’s not true! You were being pig-headed! Sue me!” Astrid yelled angrily. ”That will be enough!” Thundered Dumbledore. It seemed all went quiet. No clocks ticking, no gears whirring, just. Pure. Silence. Dumbledore massaged the bridge of his nose before starting his sentence. ”You will both have detention with Professor Sinistra, cleaning trophies in the trophy room tonight. Kindly follow Professor Sprout downstairs to lunch.” The girls nodded solemnly and turned to march out the door behind their teacher. When they got down to the Great Hall, Aurelia and Astrid turned opposite ways to the Slytherin and Gryffindor tables, respectively. When Astrid sat down at her table next to Essie, she immediately started complaining about her punishment. “Aurelia got me a detention for tonight! All because she decided she wouldn’t follow the instructions for Herbology!“ she huffed angrily. “Ugh, I’m sorry. That sucks.” Essie said poking at her grilled salmon. “Where’s Lizi?” Astrid asked, cooling down. ”She‘s over there talking to Ander Fizman.” Essie complained, rolling her eyes. Astrid snickered as she looked over to see Lizi twirling a strand of hair around her finger and giggling at a probably humorless joke. “If every joke is as funny as Lizi acts like it is, she’ll die of laughter a month into going out with him.” Essie said bitterly. “What’s YOUR problem?” Astrid asked. “I was complaining to her about my potion earlier today and how Draco almost ruined it, when Ander came over, and immediately she switched sides and defended Draco! Just because he’s in Slytherin!” Essie finished angrily. ”I’m sorry, Ess. That sucks.” Astrid answered. The girls sighed and went back to their food. ”Alright, what were you saying?” Lizi asked Essie sitting down, “Oh it was just a stupid, funny story, I’m sure you won’t want to hear it after talking to Ander though, I’m sure he told you such hilarious things, nothing will compare!” Essie‘s voice cracked, and she ran crying out of the Hall. >>>>>>>>>>>> continued below !!
That night after dinner, Astrid started to follow her fellow Gryffindors up the stairs, when Essie said behind her, “Don’t you have detention with Aurelia?” Astrid groaned. “I forgot. Wish me luck, I’ll need it.” She said turning around on the stairs. By the time she got there, she was ten minutes late. “Trying to get us ANOTHER night of detention by being late?” Aurelia said tauntingly. Astrid rolled her eyes and said, “Oh shut it. Let’s just get to work. The sooner we clean up, the sooner I can get to bed.” They set to work, polishing trophies and glass cases. Astrid saw an array of names: Ramonda Rillwin Triwizard Champion 1791, Ferdall Fendon Peace Award 1799, Herdar Ovshiep 1804, Nara Paulsey 1868, Andonna Mandossay 1889, Landon Pillman 1917, Tom Riddle 1943. All the names started to blend together. At long last, they were done with the trophies. All that was left was an old tapestry. They looked at each other. “I’m sure as heck not doing it!” Aurelia exclaimed. “Oh you sure as heck ARE. I’ve been cleaning trophies for forever!” Astrid yelled. “Oh come on, we’re BOTH in this detention! We’ve BOTH been cleaning old, dusty trophies for random people who everyone’s forgotten!” Aurelia countered. Professor Sinistra entered the room. “Stop this at once! You’ll both do half.” The girls glared at each other and sat down at either side, and their teacher left the room. “Stop pulling it so far, I can’t clean it if it just stays on your side.” Aurelia grumbled. “Well now you’re doing it!” Astrid replied angrily. Both girls were pulling on it now, but from either side. There was a loud RIP! and the halves separated. They gasped as they looked down at the ripped tapestry in their hands. “Who’s tapestry is this, anyway? Maybe no one will notice, we can stow it in…” Aurelia trailed off as she looked around the room. “Maybe that chest over there?” Astrid looked at her incredulously. “We can’t do that! We’ve vandalized school property!” She said. “No, this is.” She paused to look at the top of the tapestry. “Tom Riddle’s tapestry.” She finished. “Okay let’s stop dilly-dallying and get to work on this.” They looked at the bottom of the tapestry and gasped, for the universe had left them yet another surprise. For at the bottom of the tapestry, there were two names below two pictures, with the names Aurelia Riddle and Astrid Riddle. “W-we’re…” Astrid stammered. “Sisters.” Aurelia mumbled. “More than that. We’re twins.”
