IREDELL COUNTY, N.C. -- The Iredell Fire Marshall's office hasn't officially released the names of the two victims. Because the fire burned very quickly, there is little left of the old Pine Wood house. Ashley Lowe is trying to come to terms with her twin brother's tragic death this weekend.

Ashley Lowe is mourning because she says she knows it's her brother and his roommate that were in the house fire in Iredell County.

"Brandon was a genius. He had so much potential," she said.

Twenty-year-old Brandon Lowe was the Valedictorian of the class of 2002 at North Iredell High School and a talented musician.

"He played several different instruments. He played by heart and whenever we went to look through the rubble, we could still see some sheets of his music," said Lowe.

Lowe and his roommate, 19-year-old Matt Wilkerson, who also graduated from North Iredell, both died when the century old house they were renting, went up in flames following a New Year's Eve party with friends.

Fire investigators have yet to pinpoint a cause.

On Monday, the high school remains on holiday break and campus is quiet. But custodian and bus driver Michelle Settle remembers both young men fondly and can't believe they're gone.

"I mean, I've got a 15-year old and I could not even imagine someone telling me my child was burned in a house. My heart goes out to that family, both families," said Ms. Settle.

Ashley Lowe lived right next door to Brandon in a mobile home. She says the bond between twins is very real. She says she will miss many things about her brother, who was just two minutes older.

"I won't have anybody to share my birthday with anymore and that's hard to do after having someone there to celebrate with every year," said Lowe.