When Norman woke up he felt strange. He felt like he was still half asleep or if he was underwater. As he sat up from the uncomfortable white bed he saw that he was secluded from the rest of the room by an ugly teal curtain. He tried to call out for someone, but no one answered, so he decided to stand up and look for an adult himself. When his feet touched the ground he felt unusual, his entire balance seemed really off and his hair kept blocking his sight. He noticed that he was taller than usual, it was a weird feeling to him, since Norman was always insecure about his height. It didn't make him feel better that both Charlie and Elizabeth were taller than him despite them being younger.
When Norman got somewhat used to the changes in his body. He opened the curtains, the room he was sleeping in was almost completely empty the only thing Norman could identify as another person was hidden away behind curtains just like he was originally. He tried to contact Elizabeth, but she didn't answer back to him.
Just as the other concealed bed left his view, Norman's head started to spin. He no longer felt week, but all of a sudden new senses hit him out of nowhere.
His vision split out of nowhere and he started to gain similar, but still a somewhat different feelings. He could see that he was looking at his own hand, when he pinched his hand he could feel the pain even though he was certain that he didn't do any of the things he saw. When he looked down to inspect his hand he didn't notice any mark left by the sudden pinch. His second vision looked suddenly down out of nowhere just like he did.
Norman was feeling like he was on a roller coaster, he was standing perfectly still, but he felt that he was moving non the less. Before he could even think about throwing up, his mind suddenly gained new thoughts that were definitely not his.
???: 'Where am I? Why am I... Where is Norman?!'
Suddenly Norman saw the person jump out of the bed not caring about the apparent nausea they caused to them selves and Norman. This was when Norman heard strange noises coming from the second secluded bed, and in both of his visions he could see a figure bulldozing through the teal barrier. The pain and nausea sent him down on his knees, so he lost sight of the mysterious figure. His second vision while also a bit teared out due to the pain slowly looked up and than they got up on their feet.
Their sight suddenly locked on Norman's kneeling form. Norman almost didn't want to believe that it was him, he looked so different even in his 'own' eyes. When he put up his hands on his head to try to alleviate his headache he could see it from the different perspective that it was indeed him, who was somehow in his own vision.
???: 'What the... Who-!'
???/Norman: "Norman!"
For some reason he shouted out his own name, like he was naturally wanted to do it. Just as he thought he was truly loosing it, the new person started to run towards him in desperation. They tripped more than once and they also threw up together with Norman, but when they finally crashed into each other. He felt at peace, he no longer cared about the nauseating rush of thoughts or the confusing double vision.
The moment the arms of the mysterious person closed around him, Norman knew who it was. No matter how much he or she changed he will always recognize his clingy sister.
Norman/Elizabeth: "I missed you too Betty."
The tranquil moment was promptly interrupted when he felt Elizabeth pulling his hair, unfortunately she forgot that due to the now stronger connection she felt the pain as much as Norman did. She looked conflicted happy, sad, angry and ecstatic at the same time.
Elizabeth/Norman: "I thought we talked about that nickname before! You can't call me Betty and Charlie as Chara until you married the two of us!"
When Norman thought it through he didn't see a problem with the name, so he just shrugged and replied.
Norman/Elizabeth: "Well we got married didn't we? I am sure Charlie will understand if we talk to her. Maybe we could write to her about it and ask her permission just to be sure?"
Norman could see all the emotions disappear from her face before she angrily started punching him while she was crying her eyes out.
Elizabeth/Norman: "DON'T JOKE ABOUT THIS! I know that you only did that out of convenience not because you love me. Don't you dare give me hope, you...!"
Norman didn't defend himself, he only tried to stop punches that would hurt Elizabeth too much. He listened to every word she and he were shouting out. He felt like he deserved it, but he wanted to stop Elizabeth from hurting herself anymore. Norman could only thing about one thing that might calm down Elizabeth, so out of nowhere he interrupted Elizabeth's ranting and gave her the deepest kiss he could muster up from his soul.
Elizabeth/Norman: "Why? Why! WHY NOW?!"
Norman/Elizabeth: "Because I saw it!"
Elizabeth/Norman: "Saw what?"
Norman/Elizabeth: "When we were singing, I saw some of your memories. I always thought you were just joking, but I saw what you saw, I felt how you felt. I had to watch as you died alone in pain, I felt how lonely you were in your last moments and I heard how you cried out for help to me, but I wasn't there! I promised to you and Charlie that I will always protect you two, but I couldn't! I promised to you two that I will be always there for you, but I wasn't! I am a total failure!"
When Norman stopped talking Elizabeth gently hugged him and started brushing his hair just like he used to do for her. She felt Norman trembling in her arms. It reminded her about the earliest memories that she could recall. Just after their mothers death the family started falling apart, their father buried himself in work to escape the grief, Michael their brother pushed everyone away and changed into a bully. Only Norman stayed by her side, only he cared about her, only he loved her.
She has no clear memories of their mother, but deep down she started hating her for causing so much pain for her brother. She can remember the gloomy nights when she heard Norman cry himself to sleep. She can remember all the time when Norman got hurt trying to care for her, when he got burned or cut when he tried making food for her. When he collapsed out of exhaustion after multiple sleepless nights filled with nightmares.
She reminisced about the jealousy she felt towards Charlie when Norman played with her. The hate she felt when Charlie made Norman promise to marry her. The ecstatic relief when Norman promised to marry her as well. The close bond and friendship she forged with Charlie over the love towards Norman. The promise between the two of them to keep Norman happy by any means necessary.
Her happy smile and tears of relief stopped when she remembered 'that night'. The night when Michael started bulling Norman. It was the second anniversary of their mothers death, the tension was palpable in the air. William has already shut down and barley reacted to anything. Usually when the family ate together William would just order some pizza, but he was in no state to do now, so once again it was on Norman to make some kind of dinner for the family.
Just as he finally finished making some grilled cheese sandwiches Michael stumbled into the house, clearly drunk. Elizabeth could feel her Norman's mood drop bellow a dangerous threshold. She could see that each step Michael took made him clench his fist harder and harder. To calm her brother down she tried to signal their father at first, but he was not paying attention at all.
At last she was too late.
"Sooo~ what's for dinner...?" Michael took seat at the table nonchalantly and looked around for some food. "Ew~ was this the best shit you could come up with? I should have ate more at the party." After throwing his plate of food to the side Michael was pretty much just gloating about the party.
Eventually Norman snapped. "Just stop talking you disgusting piece of shit, no one cares about your stupid fucking party!" At first Michael was just simply surprised that Norman talked back to him, but soon that surprise turned to drunken anger.
"What gives you the right to talk to me like that huh?! Just because mom kicked the bucket it doesn't mean that you can start playing the victim!" Soon a plate of grilled cheese narrowly missed Norman's head and hit the wall behind him.
Normally this would make Norman back of, but today managed to push him far enough. "No! What gives you the right to play the victim when you are the farthest from it! You didn't even come with us to visit mom, no you just decided to go with your stupid friends to that party!"
Initially this managed to shock Michael enough to shut him up, but it wouldn't last and everyone knew this, so Norman quickly tried to take Elizabeth back to her newly finished room, but he was not fast enough. Just like last time in his anger Michael amidst incomprehensible shouts threw a plate towards his brother.
Unfortunately this time he was a lot more accurate.
Norman could see the plate flying towards him, he wanted to duck so he could have a chance to make it back to the safety of his room. This however was not an option for him.
He knew that it was a very high possibility that the plate would strike Elizabeth instead of him if he moved out of the way. Without any better options and no time left, Norman pulled Elizabeth close with one arm and shielded his head with his other.
The plate struck Norman's back and broke into smaller fragments, some of them pierced and cut into his back. He couldn't even scream since the impact pushed almost all the air out of his lungs. Elizabeth was tearing up, since she saw the agony and pain written in her brothers expression. She wanted to help him and look at what actually happened, but when she wanted to move away his embrace tightened and she got pulled into Norman's lap after he lost his balance and collapsed.
No matter how hard she wanted to move away he didn't let her. She could hear the painful coughs of his and she could feel the sudden jerks of movements if she accidentally touched his back. She could feel that her hands were getting wet and stained with something.
William and Michael were arguing in the mean time, the sudden loud sound of a slap broke Elizabeth out of her panicked trance. Norman's grip became weaker and weaker, his pain filled groans and sobs started to quiet down. A loud bang rang through out the house after Michael retreated back to his room.
The hurried footsteps of their father came closer and closer. She couldn't hear what they were talking about since Norman blocked her ears with his last remaining strength, but suddenly she was picked up by their father and rushed inside her room. The only thing she managed to get a glace of was Norman's unnaturally pale figure kneeling on the floor with puffy red eyes.
Without any words William just brought Elizabeth back into her new room and rushed out after he shut her door close. She wanted to just follow her father, but she froze in place when she noticed the bloody footprint her father left behind on the carpet floor.
Slowly she raised her hands and saw that both of her palms were covered in blood. She slowly tried to piece together what could have happened, but she was panicking too much to come up with any solution. When she heard the family car start up and leave the driveway Elizabeth decided to finally leave her room and look for Norman.
The first thing she thought about was to look for Norman in his room. She specifically asked her father for the room closest to her and Norman's old room in case she was scared and needed her brother's comfort.
The room was empty, the warmth that Norman provided to Elizabeth was not present. The toys they played with seemed dull and boring without him. Solemnly she closed the door close after looking around for her brother without any luck. For many years there was not a single day where she felt this alone. Be it sickness or a bad day Norman was always there to help, he always made sure she was never alone.
Michael took that from her... He hurt Norman!
Her eyes filled with tears of sorrow turned into infernos filled with fiery furry. As minutes turned to hours she just stared at the blood in the hallway. Darker and darker possibilities came to her mind, in the end she feared that her brother was gone for good.
When the automated system turned off the lights in the house, she decided to avenge Norman. She couldn't stop remembering his kneeling broken form no matter how hard she tried. She headed towards the kitchen not even noticing that the broken shards of the ceramic plate were melting into puddles leaving scorch marks on the wooden flooring, before they vanished.
In the kitchen she had only one goal in mind.
One of the kitchen drawers started shaking more and more as she approached. She slowly pulled them out and inside there was what she was looking for. The knife that Norman always used to make her favorite meals.
When her blood soaked hands touched the handle of the knife it started changing. The clean metal blade became an ominous red and it now radiated pure hatred. When she slashed the air to gain a feeling for it in her hands a visible trail of pure red flames actually slashed the wall in front of her. Normally this would shock anybody, but Elizabeth was too far gone to care.
Her next steps were calculated and they lacked any hesitation. She headed towards the only room in the house where she never set a foot in before.
'Keep out! Losers not allowed.' She saw the message on the door many times over the years Elizabeth couldn't really care less about what it said, but Norman always stopped her if she wanted to go in.
This time no one would stop her. She turned the door knob and quietly entered the room. Her nose scrunched up due to the vomit inducing smell and her she almost gagged when she saw how disgusting the room looked. Elizabeth pushed through her nausea and moved on with the help of the immense hatred she felt when Michael came into her view.
Her grip on the knife tightened and the air was getting distorted due to the immense heat it radiated. Just as she was about to strike down Michael's sleeping form a hand on her shoulder stopped her.
"You can do what you want, but I would advise heavily against it." Elizabeth recognized her father's voice without any problem, but she didn't particularly cared. She had her target right in front of her, but just before she could lunge once again a simple sentence stopped her in her tracks.
"You know Norman would not approve of this, right?"
And just like that Elizabeth was lost, her mind stuck in an endless loop of contradictions. Her father simply brushed her hair in affection and led her out of the room. For the next few minutes she didn't say anything, but her mind slowly cleared out. The knife she held tightly in her hand started to lose it's hateful glow. As soon as it was not unbearable to the touch William took it out of Elizabeth's hand and locked it away in a metal box.
Soon Elizabeth started to feel exhausted, so without any questions William carried her to bed.
Much to her relief and surprise her father didn't bring her to her new room, he brought her next to the bandaged and sleeping form of her brother. He didn't seem as pale as before and his expression seemed calm.
Elizabeth didn't even hesitate to embrace her brother. She never thought that just his presence could elate her mood by such a large margin. When sleep finally managed to claim her, the last thing in her eyes were the now smiling face of her brother.
As Elizabeth slowly stopped her reminiscence she got a feeling like something was wrong. Norman's next words sent chills down her spine and invoked an unending dread inside her.
"You really did that?..." Elizabeth's green eyes locked with Norman. She could see the conflict written in his new ethereal violet globes. As if Norman could feel her worries he tried to give her reassuring smile, but that ultimately failed.
He could only think of one more thing to salvage the situation. He tried to convey his feeling in the purest way possible. A simple kiss was enough to brake the tension, but the uncertainty remained.
"Why Betty, why would you even think to do that. I wouldn't want blood to stain your hands, not for me. I am just a cry-baby, I'm not worth enough for you to throw away your humanity." When he stopped speaking and refocused on Elizabeth's eyes, for the first time in his entire life he saw something foreign in her eyes.
She looked coldly and calculatingly towards Norman. "I will never let anyone insult you anymore, not even you." Elizabeth's hands clutched his and her gaze now looked beyond strange. It was similar to love, but much more intense than that. "No one is more important than you, I would personally burn the world to the ground if it meant you are safe and happy." Her smile was unnerving it just didn't seem right.
Before Elizabeth's unhinged and obsessed rambling could continue the large doors of the infirmary opened up and a group of people walked in.
A familiar face lit up with joy from the group and stepped closer to speak.
"Ah Norman, Elizabeth you two are finally awake." Dumbledore's calming and kind voice was a breath of fresh air, that Norman desperately needed.
"Good morning, sir. I hope we didn't inconvenient you too much." A strange chuckle left the headmaster before he responded. "Well, I would be untruthful if I said we didn't have problems while you two were asleep. Am I right to assume you are Norman?"
When he nodded an older woman from the crowd of adults gave a sigh of relief. Seeing the confusion on Norman's face Dumbledore began to explain.
"You see Norman for the last two weeks you two were unconscious. We had no idea what was wrong with you two, and your current condition didn't help with identifying you two either." Norman glanced down and he saw that the medical night gown that he was wearing had multiple crossed out names between him and Elizabeth.
"You see as time passed you two became more and more similar. Poor Madam Pomfrey had to keep checking on you two to decide who was who. Since last week the only clear indication to tell you two apart was your eyes. That was the only semi constant distinction between you two." A sudden fear gripped Norman's heart.
After a large gulp and with some trepidation he looked inside his pants, much to his horror he saw nothing. Where once his little brother was there was just smooth skin without any indication that there was ever even something there.
Seeing his brother's reaction Elizabeth also wanted to checked herself out, but the moment she let go of Norman's hand they both felt the nauseating double vision return. Fortunately before they made a bigger mess of the room Norman grabbed onto Elizabeth for balance and they both managed to get in sync with their own bodies.
"Well that is somewhat new, the only similar thing we saw was you two mysteriously switching places without any indication about how. Now I thing we may have gone down a path drawn by an incorrect assumption." With that ominous note Dumbledore fell silent and let the others do the talking.
First it was McGonagall who inquired about their health since she felt somewhat responsible for them, after all it was her who introduced them to their magical heritage and brought them into the wizarding world. When she was somewhat satisfied she left them with a warm get well message and a promise to help them if they needed it to catch up to the rest of her class.
After she left their head of house, Professor Flitwick informed them about generally important tidbits and the current situation in Ravenclaw. Apparently after the professor went to deal with Luna's bullies he decided to take a deeper look into the everyday culture of his house and what he found deeply disturbed him.
The house over the years changed from a shining example of wisdom and creativity to a pit filled with jealous and cruel snakes. Vanity was always a problem in Ravenclaw, but Flitwick didn't think that it could spiral out of control this badly.
He brought some well needed reforms into the lives of the students and even asked for help from the other teachers to knock down the overinflated egos' of more problematic students. Overall the house still had some issues that ran deep within it's core, but hopefully time and harsh discipline will fix them.
When Flitwick felt he said everything he wanted he bowed in gratitude towards Norman than he left the Hospital Wing as well.
For the next couple of hours Madam Pomfrey with the supervision of Dumbledore ran multiple test on Norman and Elizabeth. It was awkward and difficult since whenever Norman and Elizabeth were apart it was difficult to even speak or walk without nausea.
Whenever they were together however the Veela charm became much stronger, thankfully Madam Pomfrey was a highly trained professional, so she could counteract the charm for a little while with the help of some potions.
It was only a temporary solution, but for now it was good enough.
When she was satisfied with the results she left the twins alone with Dumbledore. "Well you two become more and more intriguing as time passes." His voice suddenly became a lot more serious. "I don't know how and I won't ask how you got the Resurrection Stone it's none of my business, but know this if you let this information spread your life won't be easy especially now after that otherworldly event in my office."
He placed a hand on Norman's heart and looked in his eyes. "You became something different, something not fully human, but please never forget your heart or you will stop being you." Next he turned towards Elizabeth. "Please protect your brother he has a good heart it will no doubt cause him problems, but it would be a tragedy if the world lost a person as great as him." His face now sported a knowing smile.
"For the foreseeable you two will learn occlumency from me, currently you are so deeply connected that it became a risk for you. I didn't went deep, but when I looked inside Norman's mind I could also see yours as well Elizabeth." She gripped Norman's hand ever so slightly more, but the headmasters next words calmed her down a bit.
"What you almost did before coming here is not my concern, you didn't break any laws that I need to report to the Ministry, but know this you if you try to do something similar here there will be consequences. Am I clear?" Elizabeth gave a weak nod.
"Very good. When Madam Pomfrey allows you to leave we will start." Just as he was about to leave as well, he gave a mischievous grin and put two pure white porcelain mask on a bedside table. "It would be in your best interest to wear these when you leave, we wouldn't want half the school to fall over in a daze, now would we?"
With a small chuckle in his throat Dumbledore left the twins to their own devices.