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James Fleamont Potter and Scarlett Jackson Potter are twins. James had unruly brown hair with a pair of twinkling hazel eyes as well has crooked glasses resting on his nose. Scarlett was a thin girl and she was a brunette with stick straight hairl as well has warm hazel eyes with small flecks of gold. You couldn't tell the two were siblings, let alone twins, with looking at them closely. Even then, the only thing you might notice would be the eyes and the sort of similar face structure.
They were the best of friends. They did everything together. Everything was perfect until the summer before they started Hogwarts. They caused mischief together and worked on corrupting their younger brother Willie. But, it was all too good to last.
Our story starts on a warm summer day. James and his father had gone to look at the new Clean-sweep Seven in Diagon Alley and as much as Scarlett loved Quidditch, she was tired and had already seen the new broom.
Scarlett was outside in the garden playing with her two-year old brother. She adored him to no end. It was a wonderful day and their mother was just inside cooking lunch when the day took a dark turn.
Fleamont Potter was an auror and had made quite a few enemies. One of these enemies was hidden behind a bush while watching Scarlett teach her brother how to say new words. How better to destroy Fleamont then to hurt his children?
"Say dog Willie," said Scarlett and right as Willie opened his mouth to say something, she was blown backwards. A man appeared. Scarlett couldn't see his face but just by the way he walked she could tell that he was an extremely cruel man.
"Well, well well," said the man. "Two little Potters. I'll take mercy and get rid of the little one first."
Before Scarlett could even react, her little brother was lying beside her with all light gone from his gorgeous green eyes. Scarlett screamed and ran over to the lifeless body of her little brother as the man chuckled cruelly.
Euphemia Potter was making sandwiches for her children when she heard her daughter scream. She glanced out the window and saw Scarlett crying over the body of Willie. She then looked up at the man standing over her daughter and unfroze.
Overcome with grief and anger, she ran out tried to stun the man. Euphemia's spell barely missed him. The man was about to fight back when he saw the murderous look on her face and he quickly apparated away. Euphemia sent a patrons to her husband and quickly rushed over to her daughter and now lifeless son.
Fleamont quickly appeared with James to next him. Both of their expressions morphed into horror. All four Potter shred at the scene for what seems like hours.
"What happened?" asked Fleamont his voice cracking at the end.
"Scarlett was out here with Willie when this man attacked. He got to Willie when I noticed him. I tried to stop him but he appeared away and I couldn't see his face," Euphemia said stopping every few words to cry.
"Did you see his face, Scarlett?" asked Fleamont as tears streamed down his face.
"No," said a still sobbing Scarlett.
"Children, go inside for a bit."
James and Scarlett quickly went inside where they sat in shock.
All of a sudden, James said, "How could you not stop the man and how could you not see his face as you were right there! Somebody could have found him if you had actually paid attention. This is all your fault!" James actually didn't mean a word of it. He just needed something to take out his frustration on and Scarlett was right there. If James was in the position that Scarlett had been, he most likely would have done the exact same thing. If given the chance to take it back he would. He would have taken it back right then or at any moment in the future. But, he was too proud. He couldn't just apologize.
Scarlett was most defiantly hurt by the words that left James' mouth. And worst of all, she believed him. She believed every word from James' mouth that he most defiantly did not mean. She was hurt and sad. He was sad and guilty. These feelings got in the way of the most amazing friendship they had ever had.
Both Potters were never the same again. Scarlett grew introverted and forced her mischievous side away. No more witty comebacks and pranks from her. And, while Scarlett grew introverted, James, if possible, got more mischievous. He pulled pranks constantly and was filled with witty comments. But, this time there was no Scarlett with him. They acted as if they hated each other and they soon began to believe it.
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The summer was over and James and Scarlett were on their way to Hogwarts. Euphemia and Fleamont were of course worried about their two children but they obviously thought that it would over soon. How wrong they were.
Scarlett and James, although not speaking, both came to the same thought. They wouldn't mention Willie to anyone. Wouldn't even think of him. Too painful.
James entered the train first and found himself in an empty compartment. But it wasn't an empty compartment for longs. James soon found himself with three boys. The first to come in was Sirius. When James found out he was member of the dreaded Black family James was shocked but had already decided that he didn't care. After all, Sirius had a wicked sense of humor. Remus Lupin was also in the compartment. Remus was obviously quite serious but had a good sense of humor and was extremely smart. Peter Pettigrew was the last to join them and he seemed to look at the other boys in all. But, James liked him. He was laughing and smiling, for real, for the first time in a long while.
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Scarlett entered the train looking for an empty compartment. But she had been jostled by the crowd so by the time she made it to the train all the compartments were already full. She decided upon opening the nearest compartment door. Unluckily that was the compartment where her brother was. He was with three other boys. One boy was tall with sandy brown hair and many scars. The boy next to him had silky black hair and startling grey eyes. And the last boy. Well, to sum it up, he was short pudgy and round. But, he looked sweet.
"What are you doing here?" sneered her brother.
"Wrong compartment. Sorry. I'll just be going," she said quietly but with the same sneer in her voice.
She turned on her heel to leave when the boy with silky black hair called out, " Wait, who are you?"
Who was she? Well, Scarlett of course. Scarlett Potter. But, why did she hesitate to say Potter? It had never happened before. Then it hit her. She didn't want to be James Potter's twin anymore. He had hurt her too much. And all though, after she had thought about it all summer, the incident wasn't her fault. James was just showing his true colors to her. The bond they had was gone. So, why should she have to deal with people who would ask her why she and her brother didn't get along? She didn't want to get compared to him. She could use her middle names, which was actually her grandfather's name, as a last name and she wouldn't have to deal with James at all. She could be her own person. It was about time anyways.
"Scarlett Jackson," she said with a huff and left in one quick motion, not even noticing James' shocked and somewhat hurt expression.
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James was in shock. Scarlett had just changed her last name. She obviously hated him now. Well, he could he return the favor.
"Are you okay, mate?" asked Sirius. "Do you know her?"
"I am perfectly fine and I have never seen her before in my life," said James with a huff.
Luckily, the other boys had let it drop. James had spent all summer convincing himself that he right when he said those things to Scarlett. And he had finally convinced himself of this when she had refused to be known as a Potter. And, well, over the years James continued to believe that he was completely right.