Harry Potter 'sTwin Brother

Chapter 18:The Letters

Middle july 1991 – Privet Drive, Little Whinging

The summer air was thick and still. Birds chirped lazily from the garden hedge as Harry walked barefoot across the gravel path, rubbing sleep from his eyes. He yawned, opened the small metal postbox, and began sorting through the mail.

A dull stack of bills. One carpet ad.

And then… something strange.

A thick envelope—far heavier than the rest—slipped into his hands. It was made of creamy parchment, the kind Harry had never touched before. The ink was deep green, handwritten in a fine, curling script. It smelled faintly of wax and something older—like old wood and fresh leaves.

His eyes widened when he saw the address.

---

Mr. H. Potter

The Cupboard under the Stairs

4 Privet Drive

Little Whinging, Surrey

---

He swallowed, glanced around, then pulled the rest of the post out.

Another envelope. His fingers froze mid-motion.

It was identical—the same parchment, same green ink—but the name was different.

---

Mr. Hardwin A. Potter

Bedroom 2B, Upstairs Left Window

4 Privet Drive

Little Whinging, Surrey

---

Harry stood frozen for a second, staring down at the two envelopes. The wax seals were pressed with a coat of arms—a lion, an eagle, a badger, and a serpent curled around a large capital "H."

He bolted back into the house.

---

Inside the House – Morning Light

Hardwin sat at the dining table, quietly sipping water while flipping through a thick botany book he'd bought last week. Petunia was still upstairs doing laundry. Dudley's game blared from the living room.

Harry rushed in, barefoot, clutching the letters.

"Hardwin!"

Hardwin looked up. "What is it?"

"You won't believe this—" Harry's words stumbled over themselves. He handed over one of the envelopes. "Here. Read this. You and I got the same kind of letter."

Hardwin took it, brow furrowing as his fingers traced the envelope's texture. It was thick, fine parchment—unlike anything the Dursleys ever touched.

He studied the wax seal. Deep crimson. The H looked familiar somehow—archaic, heraldic.

"What is this?" Hardwin asked softly.

Harry was already tearing open his own. "It says… Hogwarts. Some kind of school."

Hardwin slid his finger under the seal and broke it cleanly. Inside, he found two folded pages:

---

> HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin, First Class; Grand Sorc.; Chief Warlock; Supreme Mugwump; International Confed. of Wizards)

---

Dear Mr. Hardwin A. Potter,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.

Sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

---

There was a second sheet—a detailed supply list, mentioning wands, robes, cauldrons, and spellbooks with names like The Standard Book of Spells and Magical Theory.

Hardwin stared at the parchment, his heartbeat quickening.

Harry looked over at him. "It's real, right? This isn't a prank?"

Hardwin nodded slowly, still reading. "This… this is real."

"They sent it to both of us," Harry said quietly. "They even knew exactly where we sleep."

Hardwin exhaled, his hands trembling faintly.

He looked at Harry and saw the same mixture of awe and confusion in his eyes.

Harry held up the envelope. "Witchcraft. Wizardry. Do you think that's what… all those weird things were?"

Hardwin nodded again. "Yes. I think that's exactly what they were."

---

They Fell Into Silence

For a few long moments, the kitchen was filled only with the quiet hum of the refrigerator and the dull tapping of Dudley's buttons in the next room.

Hardwin's mind whirled.

> Hogwarts. The name he knew from his past life—but now,it was invitation. It was purpose. It was the thread of fate pulling taut.

Finally, Harry broke the silence. "What do we do now?"

Hardwin folded his letter carefully and said, "We don't show them yet."

Harry looked toward the hallway. "Uncle Vernon?"

"They won't understand," Hardwin said quietly. "Not yet."

Harry nodded slowly.

Then they both looked down at their letters again, parchment glowing slightly in the slanting morning light.

And somewhere in the distance, another owl landed silently on the roof.

...

The house slept in heavy silence. Only the soft ticking of the clock and the occasional rustle of leaves outside marked the passing time. The moonlight poured gently through the open window, casting silver shadows across the floor and walls.

Harry sat up in bed, still fully awake. Across the room, Hardwin was flipping through a small notepad, pretending to doodle, though his eyes kept returning to the folded parchment on the desk.

"Are you awake?" Harry whispered.

"I am now," Hardwin said, smirking.

"I… I want to read it ."

Hardwin didn't answer right away. Then he reached for the envelope on the table and passed it to Harry without a word. Harry unfolded the parchment carefully, like it might dissolve in his hands if he touched it too quickly.

They sat shoulder to shoulder on Hardwin's bed, the dim light from the desk lamp glowing softly over the paper as they read together once more.

---

✉️ HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

---

Dear Mr. Potter,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on 1 September.

We await your owl by no later than 31 July.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

---

Harry whispered, "She sounds... serious."

"She sounds powerful," Hardwin said, nodding slowly. "Strict, maybe. But fair."

"Dumbledore," Harry said

But instead he said, "He must be really important. All those titles. Grand Sorcerer, Chief Warlock… Mugwump?"

Harry snorted. "Sounds like a frog."

They both laughed, then flipped to the next page.

---

📋 First-Year Students' Required Equipment

---

🧥 UNIFORM

First-year students will require:

1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)

2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear

3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)

4. One winter cloak (black, with silver fastenings)

> Please note that all pupils' clothes should carry name tags.

"Robes?" Harry frowned. "Like the big cloaks in stories?"

Hardwin tilted his head, pretending to puzzle it out. "Maybe. I suppose that's what wizards wear? For spells and lessons?"

He ran his fingers across the parchment. "I wonder if they're enchanted… or just regular school uniforms."

Harry chuckled. "They sound uncomfortable."

"We'll have to see. Maybe they're more comfortable than trousers." He grinned.

"So the wizard hat is real!" Harry said, laughing.

"Looks like it," Hardwin said, feigning amazement. "Do you think we have to wear them all day? Even during meals?"

"I hope not."

"Maybe it's just for ceremonies. Or special occasions." He added innocently, "Hats can hold symbols, right? Or magical… shapes?"

Harry squinted. "Magical shapes?"

Hardwin shrugged. "Just guessing."

Inside, he already knew hats like these were tied to tradition and charm-focus. But he said nothing.

"Dragon hide?" Harry said, nearly whispering. "They're not… serious, are they?"

"Could be," Hardwin said, leaning in, pretending to be intrigued. "Maybe there are dragons in the forest near the school…"

"Whoa," Harry muttered.

"Or it's just fancy leather for potion class. Gloves sound useful. Maybe some of the magical plants bite."

"You really think that?" Harry asked.

"It's possible." Hardwin smiled, eyes bright but unreadable.

"At least we'll be warm," Harry said.

"I wonder how cold it gets at Hogwarts," Hardwin mused. "Maybe there's snow. Maybe the castle's on a mountain."

"You think it's that far?"

"Who knows?" Hardwin said with an innocent shrug.

Inside, though, he did know. Snowy courtyards, frozen lakes, enchanted fires in tall hearths. But he said nothing.

Harry laughed. "So we do magic, but still have to label our laundry?"

Hardwin chuckled. "Some things never change."

---

Their Room Fell Quiet

The window rattled faintly in the breeze. An owl glided by, silent in the dark, only visible by the moonlight on its wings.

The parchment crackled gently in Hardwin's lap as he smoothed the Hogwarts supply list and began to read it out loud with Harry.

Hardwin's heart beat steadily. He recognized many things on the list—he remembered reading them in books, but he reminded himself:

> I must not reveal too much. Not now. I'm still a child in this world. I must let it unfold naturally…

📚 COURSE BOOKS

All students should have a copy of each of the following:

1. The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) – Miranda Goshawk

2. A History of Magic – Bathilda Bagshot

3. Magical Theory – Adalbert Waffling

4. A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration – Emeric Switch

5. One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi – Phyllida Spore

6. Magical Drafts and Potions – Arsenius Jigger

7. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them – Newt Scamander

8. The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection – Quentin Trimble

---

Harry pointed to the titles, one by one. "Spells, history, potions… Even magical animals! This is mental."

Hardwin leaned over and touched the name Newt Scamander. "This one sounds fun. Beasts. You think they teach us how to tame them?"

"Or fight them," Harry whispered dramatically.

Hardwin grinned. "We're either learning to protect ourselves or… raise a baby basilisk."

"Wait—what's a basilisk?"

Hardwin blinked. "No idea," he lied smoothly. "Maybe a magical snake?"

He flipped to the next section quickly before more questions could come.

---

🧪 OTHER EQUIPMENT

1. 1 wand

2. 1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)

3. 1 set of glass or crystal phials

4. 1 telescope

5. 1 set of brass scales

---

"A wand!" Harry said, breath catching slightly.

Hardwin kept his voice steady. "You think they give them to us? Or do we pick?"

"Like… in a shop?"

"Maybe."

Harry turned to him, curious. "You think they have different types of wands? Like… long ones, short ones? Thick, thin?"

Hardwin shrugged. "It'd make sense. Different wood, different length… maybe the wand chooses you."

Harry blinked. "That sounds kind of… magical."

Hardwin gave a small smile. "Exactly."

---

🐱 PETS

Students may also bring:

1 owl, OR

1 cat, OR

1 toad

---

"I'm getting an owl," Harry said immediately. "No question."

"Useful," Hardwin agreed. "Owls deliver mail, right?"

Harry nodded. "You?"

Hardwin paused, then said with a child's curiosity, "A cat, maybe. They always know what's going on. Quiet. Observant."

"Cats don't carry mail," Harry teased.

"They carry secrets."

Harry laughed.

---

Note at the Bottom

> Parents are reminded that first-years are not allowed their own broomsticks.

"Brooms?" Harry raised his eyebrows. "For flying?"

Hardwin tilted his head. "Guess so. Like witches in stories."

"Can you imagine flying?" Harry whispered. "On a broomstick?"

"I've dreamed of it," Hardwin replied quietly. "Maybe now it's real."

---

🕯️ The Lamp Flickered

They fell silent for a while.

The letter lay open on the bed like an old treasure map, pointing them toward a place that seemed impossible—yet now felt just around the corner.

Harry looked over, voice quieter. "Do you think it'll be dangerous?"

"Maybe," Hardwin said, after a pause. "But worth it."

Harry leaned back on his elbows. "I can't believe we're going."

Hardwin stared at the ceiling, voice soft. "I've waited my whole life for this."

And he meant it—twice over.

But outwardly, he only gave a quiet, hopeful smile.

> Let it come slowly. Let magic return, step by step.

I'll protect him this time. I'll protect us both.