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My twin sister is... temperamental. Nadia can fly off the broomhandle at the slightest excuse, as I know only too well. I do try not to provoke her, honestly I do, but the amount of times I’ve heard “Aidan! Stop winding up your sister!” is astronomical, though you wouldn’t think it, what with her always being the one throwing the punches... I suppose our mother knows us only too well, too.
Oh, that’s my name, by the way. Aidan. Nadia in reverse, you may notice. Cute, huh? Well, that’s what my parents thought. Guess they didn’t know how prophetic that was... Most people comment we look nothing alike, her being fair-skinned and blonde and me olive and chocolate-haired, but that’s only scratching the surface.
We do love each other, I guess, but we’re just so different, and there’ve been sparks flying ever since I remember. Sometimes literally. Nothing, though, as serious as yesterday’s events.
Nadia had a friend over. A girl she’s known seven years, since our first day at Hogwarts in fact, and who shares her dorm in the Gryffindor Tower. I don’t know what they were doing all morning, probably gossipping up in Nad’s room, but at around midday they deigned to descend and invite me out to play Quidditch with them and the girl from next door – to ‘make up the numbers’. Usually I’d bow out of anything involving physical activity – not my forte – but I’m a fair Keeper, so I agreed.
It was embarrassing. Like I said, I like to think I’m not a bad Keeper – but this friend of Nadia’s scored goal after goal after goal single-handedly, even managing to appear bored about the whole thing. Contrary to my sister’s beliefs, I do have some pride, and managed to battle it out until the girl announced it was time for her to take the Floo home.
She had already said her goodbyes and disappeared inside to use the fireplace by the time I’d clambered off my broomstick. Laughing, Nadia came over and punched me playfully on the arm.
‘I think that was three hundred and twenty nil, our way, wasn’t it?’ she chuckled, not noticing my clenched fists. ‘Forget Yong’s the star Gryffindor Chaser, did you?’
I had, in fact, but managed to pull my face into wide-eyed surprise. ‘Oh, that was Yong Lee? Gee, I’d always thought the famous Lee was a guy. She should grow her hair long – how else are you meant to tell Chinese males from females?’ Nadia hissed furiously, and I smiled inwardly that my taunts had such an effect. ‘Or did you make the same mistake, Nads? Think you had a boyfriend, did you? What exactly were you up to all morning, huh?’
She snapped. ‘Firstly, she’s Korean, and secondly, Aidan, you are such a prick!’ she yelled, launching herself at me. I grabbed for my wand, deflecting her fists with ease. ‘You – racist – dirty-minded – horrible – ’ she paused for breath, golden curls flopping from her messy ponytail. I lowered my wand, grinning unashamedly. ‘PRICK!’
Her punch caught me on the nose before I had time to raise my wand again. The blow stung; not only because my sister has a mean right hook, but also because I hadn’t let her actually land one on me for years. So far, I’d always been able to avoid them with words, dodges, and since coming of age, magic.
We stared at each other, me dazedly touching the blood as it streamed from my nostrils, her still panting but now gazing at me with something akin to hopelessness in her eyes.
‘You know what?’ she whispered, hands by her sides, ‘There are other people in Gryffindor with siblings in your House. They always say, ‘they weren’t as cruel before joining Slytherin’, but I can’t use that excuse. You’ve always been like this – I’m not talking about just this, you’re always – ruthless and just plain cunning.’
I smirked. ‘Cunning. A Slytherin. You don’t say? C’mon Nadia, you blow up at me every week.’
I walked away, chuckling outwardly but grimacing on the inside. Because Nadia is temperamental, but she’s never – ever – said a bad word to me in anything less than a yell.