The 21 December 1980 at Mile End Hospital, Olivia Jones gave birth to twins. She was really happy, her sons were healthy after all. The building blackout was unexpected. At that moment she feared for her and her children's lives. Followed by strong tremors, the accident could have destroyed the room's walls.
A warm pair of hands took the kids from her arms. " Look, Olivia dear, how cute they are. They are little pink potatoes, aren't they ? ", her husband Daniel Jones swung his kids while singing a lullaby. His broken voice by years of smoking contrasted with his gentle tune. Yet, the twins started crying. Accepting his failure, he put them back in their mother's embrace.
As soon as the twins were in contact with their mother, they calmed down. Olivia caressed the child's head on her left side, then she did the same for the one on her right. " He has your eyes, blue, just how I love it. I love him. He will be a tiny you. ", she didn't hear her husband protested. She was sleepy, but she wanted to name them before slumbering. " His name is Jacob. I know you truly loved your father so, in his homage... "
Daniel's eyes moistened at his father's name. The man died during the second World War, but the time they spent together, were precious memories for him. He sat down next to Olivia, whispering a thank. Watching Jacob junior, he could superpose his father's face. He smiled. His son will never be Jacob senior, but they share the same eyes, forehead and nose. Will he become a lady's heart breaker ?
Olivia felt a great relief. She wasn't alone, she had her husband's support. She wanted to be a good mother. At twenty-two years old, she, as a middle school teacher dealt with teens all day, but babies were not her domain. Seeing her love one, agreed with her was a huge morale boost. With confidence, she examined her other son. They were twins, but this one had black eyes. Strange, both her and Daniel's families were blond with blue eyes, members had just different color shades.
He was sleeping, so small, so fragile. " Mikhael ", not knowing why, the blond mother declared its name with a bad feeling.
At one year old, Mikhael's head hair sprouted dark. Unlike his brother, mother and father, he was different. Why was he often left alone while Jacob was hugged. His small person couldn't understand why. Crying didn't change anything. Trying to speak neither, nor any other actions he tried. He was just, normal. Mikhael saw how his mother loved his brother, even more when Jacob levitated the teddy bear to him. Jacob was special. That's why they preferred him.
Mikhael wanted to be like Jacob. He also aimed at the teddy bear, one arm outstretched. The child toy never moved. No matter at what time he did it. At day, at night, the fluffy animal stayed at the same place. Why couldn't he make it floated. Mikhael wanted to be special too. He hated it, when he was left alone. Maybe, he needed to have his stomach full.
Once again he failed. After dinner time, the teddy bear stayed still. Once again, he got only a small kiss on his forehead before sleeping. If he moved the toy, could he be hugged too ?
Today was the day, thought the black eyes kid. He could do it. At morning, before his father went to work, Mikhael made baby scream to get attention. Daniel was angry to be interrupted before going to his service company. Why was that kid always making troubles. Couldn't he behave like his perfect magical brother.
Mikhael waved his arms at the teddy bear next to his brother's side. Today, things would change, the plaything would no longer be un-responding. He shouted gibberish. His parents sighed. This wasn't the first time he tried that. He waited for them to look away, like always. When they did, he picked up his spoon and threw it with all his might. The wood object rotated in the air.
Jacob's face was hit, the child started crying.
Wrong target, he would not fail the next time. Mikhael's small hand grabbed his plastic goblet, ready to shoot again. The trajectory has to be more at the right, where the teddy bear was. His body was lifted up before he could continue his action. He felt his father's hard knees on his belly. What was that, it was a strange way to hug him. He felt pain as Daniel's iron hand slapped his butt. Mikahel couldn't control the tears and cried, the pain was stronger. What was wrong ?
No one notice that the teddy bear tilted at the kid first shout.
At night, someone knocked on the house door. Olivia greeted an old man who presented himself as Albus Dumbledore. She wanted him to leave. This wasn't a proper hour to receive guests, even more for an unknown grandpa. Yet, the headmaster convinced her, with his voice and presence. She felt she could trust this man's every word. Even her husband trusted him, Mr.Dumbledore only wanted the best for them.
Dumbledore sat in their kitchen, drinking a cup of tea before starting. " My dear Olivia, I know this is strange for you, but could you bring Jacob and Mikhael, please. ", his blue eyes shined with power.
While she went upstairs to get her twins, Daniel asked about the headmaster's intentions.
" Well, Daniel, did you ever witness 'strange' events ? Like objects moving when no one is touching them. ", as Daniel nod, Albus continued. " As I am in the neighborhood, I felt magical ripples. I know you might not believe, but magic is real. ", the old man made sugar levitated into his cup.
Daniel was overjoyed, his son Jacob, truly was special. The father hugged his favorite child when Olivia brought the twins downstairs.
" You don't know how happy I am Mr.Dumbledore. I knew magic exists the first time Jacob moved his teddy bear without touching it. Knowing, now, that there are others like him. This is wonderful. ", the father put his sons on the table. " Could you, please confirm to us. If, our second son is similar ? ", maybe Mikhael was special, but Daniel doubted it.
The wizard scanned the two kids and felt the magic inside both. " Young Jacob's magic was what, that took my attention. He would become a great wizard. His brother, also has magic. However, it is small in comparison. Mikhael, will never reach the same level of magic. If you were magical, young Mikhael would be called a squib. A person born from magical parents, but with very little magic in him. Jacob, is a fully muggle-born, a wizard born from a non-magical family. ", Dumbledore asked for more biscuit before continuing.
" If I am here tonight, it is not only because of Jacob. ", he saw the surprise on Olivia's face and the excitement on Daniel. " There is a war on our magical side with terrorists who believe in blood supremacy. In short, people like you, are killed because you aren't considered worthy to live. Those senseless murders also reduce the number of wizards, which is truly sad. "
Jacob cursed thinking about what his father fought for.
" I, with the help of brave companions are resisting as best as we can, but we can't be everywhere. ", Dumbledore's expression saddened.
" While we can't protect everyone. I can put wards around your house to hide your son's magic from the outside. There is always a risk for your family to be targeted, but you will be safer, if you aren't actively searched because of Jacob accidental magic trace... ", conversing a bit more about the magical word, the old wizard started working on the wards. Those wards would last for a few years. Dumbledore would come back to replenish the wards, if the war wasn't finished by that time. He speeded up. He had other duties to attend. This single pause was worth it, it allowed to install a protection for a future Hogwarts student.
He bade them farewell. Informing them to keep it secret, all their questions would be answered at a later time, when a teacher would come to fetch Jacob for school. The old wizard didn't notice the sad face of the other child.
Years Passed for Mikhael. He stopped trying to do magic like his freak brother. He hated him. Every night, he prayed to god. He prayed to be loved by his parents. He wished that he was listened. He wished that, one morning, his mother hugged him by her own free will. That, his father patted him on the head, congratulating him for his high scores. At school, even when he did better than Jacob, it didn't count. Jacob could do magic. That alone bested every single thing Mikhael achieved.
Soon the black eyes twin would be six years old. For him, all the acts of kindness he received, were faked. He knew it. He just had to compare it with what Jacob received. Mikhael's brother was the favorite. He was blond, had blue eyes, like his parent and he could do magic. No school kids believed it when Mikhael told them.
It hurt him, to see what he sought but never reaching it.
Today at the park, the whole family reunited. The normal twin hated it. All the attention was for his brother. The three grandparents and the single uncle loved Jacob. When they talked to him, they tried to change the subject back to the only wizard in the family again. They were more interested in the brother's magic prowess than Mikhael's life.
That freak amused the family. Olivia laughed at Jacob's ability to change his uncle Ferdinand's hair to pink. She never laughed like that to any of Mikhael's jokes nor tales he made up. If Jacob was normal, he too would be treated the same.
This was too much. This was also his birthday. Again, he received the same gift as Jacob. If Jacob liked something, he was supposed to like it too. If he didn't, Daniel would ground him for his behavior. He was, always at fault.
Jacob amused the family making the cake floating in the air.
Today, Mikhael needed real answers.
The sad twin took his mother's hand and walked away.
Mikhael didn't want interference. The talk was private, just between him and her.
Olivia was quite upset to be deranged. " Come on Mikhael, make it quick. I want to celebrate with Jaco. ", she put her hands on her hips. She did it every time she was talking to him now.
Black eyes stared in her own blues. " Why, can't you love me, mother ? ", the child didn't lower his gaze. She had to respond. This was important, a heavy burden right in his heart. He was tired to make excuses, to push it, for a later time. He was afraid. He wanted the truth. Even, if it hurt, a lot.
Her body stepped back, she wasn't expecting that. " What are you... ", she composed herself. " What are you saying Mikhael ", her voice trembled. " Why are you saying this ? I'm your mother for god's sake. ", she was angry, how dare he asked it.
The son gritted his teeth. " Don't lie to me. ", he prepared himself for this moment, for months. Nothing had changed, he had to make the change himself. " Why, why don't you love me ? Is it because of my eyes ? ". She talked, but he cut her down and continued. " Because of my hair ? No, I always knew it was because of Jacob. "
" This is... complicated. ", how could she agree with his statement. " Jacob is special. I really love him. He can do magic. He needs my attention. ", she turned her head to watch Jacob lighting the candles with magic. She hoped to end it fast. She was unease.
Mikhael kicked a stone. His mother didn't answer as he wanted. He would have continued the conversation if he wasn't interrupted by strong a bang. Jacob did a firework with magic, blue and yellow short explosions. His father wore a huge grin, drinking wine with his brother.
As soon as the firework started, a new explosion resonated, different, stronger.
A man in a black robe with a silver skull mask appeared, standing next to Jacob.
No one knew how the intruder popped up.
The stranger waved the stick in his hand. A transparent dome covered the whole park. Color light beams escaped the man stick toward Olivia's grandparents. They screamed of pain, falling from their chairs to the ground. Jacob was frozen by fear, but not his father. The latter took his son, running to the forest, toward Olivia by pure instinct. Mikhael recognized the stick or wand as the old man told him years ago. The appearance matches death eater outfit. Why now ? The war had finished long ago. Was it god judgement ?
Legs on fire, only a few seconds passed. Daniel pushed himself to his limit while running. His wife and second son shouted at him but why ? The pain of all his nerves on fire stopped him straight. He fell on the ground to see a green light moving toward him. By luck his brother Marc threw the wine bottle to the stranger, hitting his lifted arms, deviating the light aim.
The green light was thrown again, to the other family members.
The uncle, the grandpa and grandmas never stood up again.
Mikhael saw all this and shouted to his brother, he knew it, that was his fault, " It's your fault. Your FAULT ! THIS IS YOUR FAULT, FREAK !!! ", he was slapped by his mother and father.
They would have continued if the stranger's voice didn't stop them. " How charming, I'm never bored of watching you, trashes. Face death, like animals that you are. ", he laughed. Flames on the other side of the park ate the grass, the trees, the family members.
" You have a choice to make muggles. ", the black robe watched amused the surviving family.
" Only one of you will live today, but who ? "