Two of a Kind? (Danny)

[Maryn Livley]

Maryn hadn't made it to the hospital yet. She hadn't even visited Nate yet. It was all so hard. Maryn didn't know what to say to him or how she would act normal. Everything wasn't normal. Her brother was very ill and could someday die. How could Maryn pretend everything was normal? Nate was her brother and Maryn loved him dearly. It was easy to talk to Mercy and Tommy about Nate, but how could she talk to Nate about himself? She needed to talk about it. Maryn knew she did, but it was all so hard. Mercy and Tommy seemed to adjust to everything already while Maryn was still in a whirl wind of thoughts. At Hogwarts, the thoughts had depressed her, but there was little time to dwell on it. She had exams to study for and packing to do. As horrible as it sounds, she didn't have that much time to think about Nate. So, now it was all coming back to her. So far in the summer, Maryn only went to take care of Casey for a week and helped her parents in the book store. Mum wanted to take care of Tommy for awhile before she went back to the store. Maryn only had three days before she would stay in the hospital. She was already dreading it.

"Mercy, do you know where my jean skirt is?" Maryn asked her little sister. Mercy nodded while heading to the dresser. "You left it here over Christmas." Mercy said handing it to Maryn. Maryn nodded. Mercy sat on Maryn's bed. "Where are you going?" She asked curiously. Maryn shook her head. "I don't know really. I figured I'd get out for a bit since I can't in a few days." She explained. Mercy stared at her big sister. "You know I told mum and dad I'd go instead, but they insisted you had to go." Maryn gave her an odd look. Mercy was Maryn's only sister and she really adored her. But, sometimes Mercy had a way of unintentionally making Maryn feel unworthy. She had a way of making Maryn feel a bit dumb and odd. Mercy hadn't taken Maryn's witch news very good from day one. It was just too weird for her to think about. It seemed to Maryn that Mercy didn't like her sister being a witch too much. But, little did Maryn know that Mercy really wished she would get a Hogwarts letter herself. "I can do it if that's what your thinking." Maryn said walking to the bathroom which was connected to her room. She left the door open a crack so she could still hear Mercy. "I know, but I thought you'd rather just have fun this summer." Mercy said trying to take back what she said. "Last summer I had enough fun for a life time." Maryn replied.

She walked out of the bathroom out of her nightclothes. She was wearing one of her favorite outfits. Lately, fashion didn't matter to her that much, but today she just felt like dressing up a bit. She was wearing her jean skirt with light gray leggings underneath. She had on a pink and red short sleeved tunic and her pink converse. Maryn topped it off with some red hoop earrings. Maryn's style could really be called punk, but she just thought of it as her style and nothing more. Mercy eyed it with distaste. She was much for of a simple pastel type of girl. Maryn walked over to her mirror in the corner. She took her wand out of her dresser as Mercy eyed her. Maryn gave a few spells to put her hair up in a high side pony tail which was unusual for her. And then she put a pink ribbon in it herself. Mercy laughed. "Well, that's a new hair style for you." She said knowing that Maryn usually wore it down. "What can I say, I like change." She said calmly. "So, do you know where you're going now?" Mercy asked. Maryn thought for a moment. "Um, Hogsmeade I guess." Mercy's eyes lit up. "Can I go I've never been?" She shrieked in an excited voice. Maryn laughed. "Ask mom." Mercy immediately ran down stairs and it only took a moment for her to return with a grin on her face. "Get ready." Maryn said playfully throwing a pillow at her.

Mercy came out coughing from the floo network. "Ok, I've seen you use ours a billion times, but I didn't know I could use it." She said giving an odd smile. Maryn was waiting for her as she had gone first. "Well, you are my sister so I guess that's why it works for you." Maryn said smiling. They both started walking to the center of the village. They looked so odd together. Mercy had kid like eyes looking at everyone and everything around. Besides, her clothes didn't exactly match Maryn's. Mercy was wearing a light blue cotton skirt with a matching top with pink flowers on it. She wore pink ballet flats and her hair was half up, half down with butterfly clips throughout it. They had completely different styles and personalities, but Maryn and Mercy were sisters. Mercy was almost nine and still she acted more grown up than Maryn. Maryn had never thought of Mercy as a little kid. "Ok, Merc. Where do you want to go?" Maryn asked saying her sister's nickname. Mercy glanced around. She pointed at Zonkos. Maryn laughed. "Bless you child." She said walking towards the candy store. Mercy laughed catching up to her. Upon entering the store, both of them immediately started picking out candies. Maryn flinched as she watched Mercy run in to someone by accident.

[Danny McKay G5]

Danny woke up to the sun coming through his window and the sounds of his mom yelling for him and Danny just put the pillow over his head and closed his eyes again. "Wake up!" Now it was impossible to go back to sleep and he knew it so he just got up. "I'm awake already..." He said pulling himself out of his bed. He slowly walked down to the kitchen almost like a zombie would and grabbed some cereal for breakfast. "What are you going to do with your summer just sleep it all away?" His mother asked from behind him. "No never... that would be to prefect of a summer." Danny said and soon after his step father started laughing from behind his newspaper and his mom sighed and started cleaning things as she always did. "So what do you plan to do today?" His mom asked from over by the sink. Danny thought for a second and came up empty.

"I'll probably just walk around and see some old friends." Danny said getting up after finishing breakfast. As Danny left the table he could hear his mom complain about he had become lazier at Hogwarts. Which wasn’t really true Danny just wanted to rest this summer but his mom wouldn’t have that. Danny went back up to his room and got changed into his everyday muggle clothes. Which was just a black shirt and somewhat baggy Black jeans which his mother hated to no limit but it was comfortable so Danny liked it. He was about to just go around London and see some muggle friends but halfway to the door his saw him mom and step father by the fireplace in they're robes. "Where are you guys going?" Danny asked and William looked over then his mom. "Hogsmeade." William replied. Danny ran back up stairs and grabbed the pouch of wizard money he had left after some school shopping. "I'm coming to." Danny said going back down the stairs.

With in minutes he was in Hogsmeade he liked this place a lot more then Diagon alley only because it wasn't in a stuffy alley. At Danny’s first change he ditched his parents He made sure to tell them he was leaving when they were both distracted so they wouldn't really notice what he said. He kept walking about Hogsmeade for a bit before stopping and Zonko’s and then walked right in. After Some time of walking around in the shop Danny had come up with a check list in his head for stuff he needed for this school year. Danny was looking at one of the displays of candy they had till something hit him on his side and he turned over to see a girl that seemed too young to be a student. "Are you ok, not hurt or anything are you?" Danny said looking down at the young girl who seemed to look just fine but he had to ask.

[Maryn Livley]

Maryn watched Mercy curiously as the boy asked if she was okay. Maryn looked him over. The face was somewhat familiar, but Maryn didn't know his name right away. He two years older than Maryn? Yea, that seemed about right. He was a Gryffindor. Maryn was sure of that. She had seen him around the common room for the past three years after all. Mercy gave the boy an odd look. It was weird for her after all. Maryn had never taken her to anyplace where wizards would be so this was pretty scary for Mercy. The only wizards she had ever met were Maryn and Tommy. And since Tommy was five, Mercy never saw him do magic unless he was truly angry. This was a completely new world for Mercy and Maryn was quite curious as to how her little sister would react. Mercy looked at the boy with an odd expression on her face. She wasn't exactly a people person to begin with so talking to a wizard was way out of her comfort. "I'm fine." She said in a shaky voice. Maryn had never thought of herself as the kind of person to just go up to a stranger and start talking, but sometimes she did. Mercy was the complete opposite. She would much rather stick to her few friends, her family, and her beloved violin and books. That's where she thought she belonged. Mercy didn't like random people at all.

"I'm sorry." Mercy apologized. She still looked at Maryn waiting for her to bud in and do something. Mercy knew Maryn could handle the situation better even if she was in a worse moral condition than Mercy. Maryn's head as still in a Nate headspin and yet she knew she had the strength to talk to someone random. It was much easier than talking to someone she actually knew. Maryn walked over to Mercy and the boy knowing full well Mercy couldn't take it much longer. "Umm, hi. I'm Maryn." She said calmly standing besides Mercy. "This is my sister Mercy." She explained further as to not look like someone just walking up to him for no reason. Mercy edged closer to Maryn. She didn't like this at all. She was just now getting used to wizards, but actually talking to one was a completely different story. Mercy kept looking at Maryn waiting for her to say something else, but she ignored her. Maryn was trying to remember this boys name, but it just wasn't clicking in her head. Perhaps she couldn't remember him because he was older. That must be it.

Mercy was now staring at the ground. Maryn looked at the older student. "Umm, she doesn't like people too much. Especially now." She explained for no reason at all. Mercy didn't seem to be listening much at all. This didn't surprise Maryn. Mercy was the shyest member of the Lively family. Maryn was probably the most outgoing, while still keeping a bit of shyness. Nate was just downright nice and friendly no matter the situation. And Tommy was just hyper and crazy. Maryn knew he would be a shoe in for Hufflepuff in five years. Maryn sometimes though that Mercy even needed help with her shyness. Because it sort of went beyond shy. She was more like downright afraid of people. Maryn nor did anyone know exactly why. But, Maryn knew there had to be a reason. She knew Mercy too well to think that there wasn't. Maryn looked at the older boy waiting for him to say something as Mercy continued to stare at the ground.

[Danny McKay G5]

Danny kept looking down at the young girl and she seemed nervous or something. After a few seconds and a few weird looks at him the girl replied that she was fine and Danny smiled. “Well that’s good to hear.” Danny said still looking down at her smiling glad she was ok but she still seemed nervous. Danny had never had anyone be nervous by him or around him it seemed weird to him plus the weird looks she kept giving him but that was probably because she was nervous. Then the young girl apologized for bumping into him and Danny smiled again. “There’s no need to apologize as long as your fine it’s ok.” Danny said thinking to himself. ” Was I ever like that?” He said wondering if he was ever that nervous or whatever this girl was.

Pretty soon another girl walked up next to the younger one and introduced herself and said she was the older sister of the younger girl. Danny was pretty sure he had seen her before in the common room so she must have been a Gryffindor. “Well it’s nice to meet you both I’m Danny.” He said smiling looking at Maryn. He was glad she told him her name because he honestly probably wouldn’t have remembered it or he just didn’t know it ether way it saved him from being embarrassed if he had met her before. Then Maryn Explained that Mercy didn’t like people or just right now, which Danny didn’t really understand but he knew it had to be something personal so he didn’t ask.

“Well that’s alright I’m just glad she’s ok.” Danny said smiling as always. He then looked over to Mercy and she was still looking at the ground. “Well how about I buy you some candy for being in your way?” Danny said wanting her to not be so nervous but after he said that he had a thought that he might make it worse. Danny always had second thoughts like that but tried to ignore them the best he could. He also liked being generous when he could and right now he could. Most of his school shopping was over and he still had a lot of money left.

[Maryn Livley]

Maryn glanced at Mercy. She had always been shy, but couldn't she handle her own problems. Mercy was almost nine, but that seemed pretty old to Maryn. Besides, Mercy had always acted pretty mature. She was the powerful yet silent type. However, sometimes her quietness became very annoying. Maryn remembered herself at that age. She was shy, yes, but she didn't remember being that shy. Mercy was afraid of everyone she hadn't known for awhile. She didn't particularly like it when Maryn brought home her friends during school holidays. Mercy usually justed stayed up in her room if that was the case. Little Sisters. My, they are cute and you love them, but you wish they could solve their own problems for even just a day. Besides, those boy seemed very nice and yet Mercy was still drowning his voice out by looking down and humming. Maryn felt kind of sad for her for a moment. She wasn't used to this world. She was a muggle and that is what she was used to. Mercy didn't know too much about wizards. Maryn had bought tons of books for Nathan about Wizards when she received her Hogwarts Letter. He wanted to know everything about it and eventually he knew a lot. He read different books from Hogwarts,A History to books about Quidditch. Plus every year when classes were over, Maryn would give Nate her old school books and he read every single one. Mercy read lots of books too, just not as many as Nate. But, still Maryn could never understand Mercy's shyness. But, maybe it was just one of those things you were not supposed to understand.

The boy introduced himself as Danny. "Nice to meet you." She said calmly. Mercy looked up and grumbled the same things slowly. She didn't like this one single bit. Maryn smiled as Danny said he was glad Mercy was okay. She nodded. "She most defiantly gets the running into people thing from me." Maryn laughed. Mercy even managed a giggle while still staring at the ground. Mercy looked up at Danny as he asked if he could buy her some candy. Mercy looked up. Even though she was mature for eight, she still loved candy as did any kid. Maryn smiled. "Umm, are you sure? I can just buy her candy myself if you can't." She said calmly. Mercy gave Maryn a stare. She was sort of saying Let him to it while not even talking. Maryn laughed to herself. Mercy looked at Danny. She nodded calmly. She's warming up. Maryn thought to herself. This was good. This was very good. Maryn hadn't seen Mercy even be remotely nice to people in years. Maryn looked at Danny for a moment. "So, Danny I've seen you around the Common Room, right?" She asked calmly making sure he was in Gryffindor as she had thought. Maryn waited calmly for him to answer.

[Danny McKay G5]

Danny laughed when Maryn ask if it was alright. “Sure it’s alright I have more then enough.” he said looking at mercy as she looked up to her sister then nodded at him. “Anyway it’s worth it to have someone smile and not be so nervous.” He said laughing, Danny really was odd and he knew it, heck his whole family and any of his friends knew it. He looked back at Mercy smiling. “I don’t know what you like as for candies but I suggest you get some Fizzing whizbees before you go.” Danny said laughing a little, He remembered his first time trying them he starting levitating and had so much fun till he came back down and hit the floor. “Eat a few and you start floating, just make sure your ready to come back down on your feet.” He said laughing. “But there are a lot of other great things so choice whatever you want.” He said smiling again at Mercy.

As soon Maryn started talking he turned his head over to look at her. “I’m pretty sure everyone’s seen me around the Gryffindor common room at lest once with how many times I’ve run in and out.” He said smiling. “And I’ve seen you in the common room too a few times. I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting you though.” Danny said then started thinking to himself. “I think I’m beginning to talk like William more.” He thought. That was how William, Danny’s step dad, talked which wasn’t a bad thing he just didn’t know why he kept talking like him more. Probably from just spending more time around him lately, they had been around each other lot and he didn’t mind. Danny had even come to call him dad from time to time so they were getting closer he had to say. “So what brings you two to Hogsmeade if you don’t mind me asking?” Danny said looking at Mercy then back to Maryn.

[Maryn Livley]

Maryn smiled as Danny said he had more than enough to buy Mercy candy. Mercy's eyes lit up instantly. Maryn smiled at her. It would be a huge accomplishment if she began to like Danny as a wizard in general. Of course, Mercy was shy around muggles, but meeting a wizard just took all the Mercyness out of her. Mercy nodded as Danny suggested some candies that she might like. She gave him another smile as she walked away to look at the candies. Mercy had never heard of any of them. Her favorite muggle candy was red licorice but she did love tootsie rolls, and gummy bears too. However, she wasn't going to avoid these new candies. After all, they were candy. She headed over to a brightly colored rack with all sorts of candy on it. There were candies that looked like jelly beans, chocolates in the shapes of frogs, and candies in the shapes of pumpkins. She hadn't heard of any of them before. Maryn had never brought her candy sadly. Of course, Mercy knew this was her fault. She had never been supported of the whole Maryn's a witch thing. Sometimes she would be sad that Nate got wizards books and she didn't get anything, but Mercy knew that Maryn probably forgot. And she forgot because Mercy had never liked that Maryn was a witch. Mercy continued to look at all the candies. She glanced over at Maryn and gave her a smile. She then continued to walk around looking.

Maryn smiled looking at Mercy. She then looked back at Danny. "Yepp, that would be me." She smiled. It didn't really make any sense, but of course half the stuff Maryn said didn't make sense. She listened as Danny asked what they were doing in Hogsmeade. "I don't mind." Maryn started. "Umm, well I just wanted to get out of the house and Mercy wanted to tag along. She's a muggle so all this stuff is pretty new to her." Maryn said calmly. She felt no shame that her sister was a muggle. However, she had on occasion felt shame that she was a muggle born, but Maryn knew how selfish this was. She smiled over at Mercy who was still searching. "She seems to love it here, but people aren't really her thing." Maryn continued. "So, how about you?" She asked referring to why he was in Hogsmeade also. Just then, Mercy walked over with a small bag of Fizzing whizbees, those candies Danny had suggested. She showed them to Danny calmly waiting for him to respond.

[Danny McKay G5]

Danny smiled at Mercy as she ran off to go look at all the candies, Danny liked making people smile or happy so he was glad inside. Danny then turned back to Maryn who had just started talking about why they had come to Hogsmeade and it was pretty much the same reason he came to Hogsmeade. Just to get out of the house and not be so bored. Danny looked back at Mercy, who was still looking around at all the candies, and then back to Maryn when she asked why he came to Hogsmeade and Danny smiled. “Well I Just wanted to get out of the house and I was about to walk around London for a bit till I saw my parents at the fireplace. They were going to Hogsmeade so I decided to join them. Then I ditched them as they went shopping for something boring, probably buying new dishes or something.”

Danny said turning to mercy who was now next him, with a bag of Fizzing whizbees and he smiled. “Yea those are them.” He said looking at the bag then back at Mercy he was still smiling. "I just don’t remember the bag being small like that but the last time I got them I was in my second year at Hogwarts.” He said it did seem smaller but he was smaller in his second year too. “Just try one and you start floating, not that high but still its fun.” Danny then turned back to Maryn. “Do you want anything from here too?” He said to Maryn not wanting to buy something for her sister and completely forget about her.

[Maryn Livley]

Maryn smiled calmly as Danny explained why he was in Hogwarts. She nodded. Maryn wished she could take her parents into Hogsmeade. It was funny, most parents took their kids into Hogsmeade, but for Maryn it was the other way around. However, Isa and Kenneth were far too busy to tag along with Maryn and her pointless shopping. She looked at Danny. He was lucky in some ways. Well, Maryn didn't really know him, but she already wished her parents could be with her. Maryn wasn't exactly a proud muggleborn. In fact, one time Maryn and Stryder pretended to trade lives. Maryn would be the pure-blood and Stryder would be the muggle born. Of course, it didn't really work, but Maryn still wished it would happen. Nope, Maryn wasn't a proud muggleborn, but she did love her parents. She looked at Danny again. Maryn just wished that she could be a muggleborn and not taunted for it. Then, Maryn would be proud. Of yes she would. Maryn would be proud of who she was then. She would if only the Slytherins of the world would shut up.

Maryn smiled as Mercy came over. She held a bag up to Danny showing him. He would have to pay soon. If he didn't Maryn could of course, but Danny wanted to. Mercy nodded as Danny sort of explained how to use them, but she wanted to wait until they were paid for. Danny then asked if Maryn wanted anything. "No, I'm fine. I have a stash under my bed.." Maryn looked at Mercy who's eyes were bright. "That no one knew about until now." Maryn snapped her fingers laughing. "Darn it." Maryn smiled at Danny and Mercy calmly. She didn't know what else to say so she just continued laughing for the heck of it. Maryn did that often, but she couldn't help it. That was just Maryn for ya.

[Danny McKay G5]

Danny started laughing after she just gave away the location of where she was hiding all her candy. Danny used to hide everything he wanted to hide under his bed till his mom looked under there for clothes or something and there was more of this joke shop things and she toke them. “Yea I used to put all my stuff under my bed till my mom toke it all.“ He said smiling then looked over at Mercy and could tell that she was probably going to head right under to Maryn’s bed when she got home. Danny just laughed again then smiled. “Well how about I buy you something now seeing as its probably going to go missing somehow right after you get home.” He said looking down at Mercy smiling. “and I’m sure you’ll have no idea where it went, will you?” he asked Mercy meaning it as a joke.

Danny thought to himself as he talked to both of them about how it must be nice to have brothers or sisters. Danny was an only child and didn’t even have any cousins so there wasn’t even someone who was like a brother or sister, he just looked at both of them and thought it seemed so nice.

[Maryn Livley]

Maryn smiled nicely. Yepp, her candy would be gone for sure now. Maryn had a Hogsmeade weekend to cheer herself up right before school let out. She bought all sorts of things like Pumpkin Pasties, Bertie Bots' Beans, Chocolate Frogs, and more. Maryn hadn't even touched that stash. That food had just made her sick lately. Well, the thought of eating it made her sick. Maryn just hadn't been in a very happy mood and for her no happiness meant no candy. But, she was feeling better about everything. Talking to Leon helped her more than she was willing to admit. He was the only one that understood her now besides Mercy and Tommy. They were the only three people she knew that could understand. Leon had been in a similar situation with his sister being sick. Maryn was only in this nearly cheerful mood because of him. She wouldn't be if he hadn't laid out the truth for her on the train. Maryn wouldn't be the girl that just went up and started talking to Danny at the moment if it hadn't been for Leon. She felt so much better and yet just a bit more determined for everything to end up fine. Maryn looked at Mercy. What was she thinking? Maryn didn't know, but she wondered if Nate was on her mind. Because he was sure on Maryn's.

Maryn smiled as Danny talked about stashing stuff under his bed. "Well, that was my favorite hiding spot until now. I guess I will have to find a new one." Maryn's eyes moved over to Mercy who only started laughing. Maryn laughed back. Sometimes, they had nothing in common, but most of the time they were a dinamic duo. Maryn smiled as Danny asked if he could buy her some candy. "Sure, why not." She sort of joked laughing. Maryn looked at Mercy as Danny joked about the candy some more. Mercy just nodded and started laughing. Maryn gave her an odd yet cheerful look. Her sister bonding with someone outside of the family? I should bring her to Hogsmeade more often. Maryn thought to herself. Maryn smiled to Danny again. "Mercy is a crazy kid, but I love her to death." Maryn smiled rubbing her sister's head. "Hey, I'm no dog!" Mercy joked. Maryn laughed. She looked at Danny. "Well, can bye you something here or at Catalina's Cubby for being so nice to Mercy?" Maryn asked being serious. She smiled waiting for Danny to respond.

[Danny McKay G5]

Danny laughed as Maryn talked about needing to find a new hiding spot. “Just pick somewhere that no one would ever think about looking for it.” Danny said thinking about where he hid most of his stuff now at first even he had forgotten where he had put it. “I have this lamp that I found out last year is hallow. I kind of broke it on accident to find that out. Now I just put most of my stuff in there and my mom doesn’t even know.” He started laughing again. “I just kept laughing when she turns it on or something.” he added as he stopped laughing. Then Maryn said she would let him buy her some candy which was fine by Danny seeing as he had more then enough money. “Great well just pick out anything you want.” He said smiling.

He then looked down at Mercy as Maryn started to talk about her then rubbed her. Danny laughed along with all of them when Mercy yelled out that she wasn’t a dog. Then Maryn asked if she could buy him anything from here or Catalina's Cubby and he smiled. “It’s alright I should be fine.” He said smiling. “Anyway I like being nice to people so you don’t have to repay me, it’s the easiest way to make new friends.” He said laughing. Danny started looking around at all the candies seeing if there was anything in here he wanted. He completely forgot that he came in here to get some candy for himself.

(Sorry it toke so long.)