Chapter 34
A week passed by quickly. Soon, it was time for the twins to leave.
"Are you sure you have to leave?" Hermione asked.
"Yes," Alex said. "Don't worry; we'll stay in touch."
"And we'll see you next year," Harry said.
Hermione sighed and hugged the twins.
"I'm going to miss you guys," she said. "I know it'll only be for a couple months, but I'll still miss you."
"Take care, you two," Remus said. "And be careful; Death Eaters are out there and could attack anywhere at any time."
"We know," the twins chorused.
"Professor, will you be at Hogwarts next year?" Harry asked.
"Yes, I'll still be teaching DADA with Sirius," Remus said, smiling. "After all, Sirius is terrible when it comes to teaching."
"Oi! I did just fine when these guys were in first year!" Sirius protested.
Remus rolled his eyes. Harry chuckled.
"If you need any Wolfsbane potion and Professor Snape isn't here to make it, just owl me," Harry said.
"Will do, Harry," Remus said. "But you don't need to go that far for me. You're still a child."
"A genius child," Harry said. "And professor, I have taken a liking to you and I consider you a friend now. That's very rare for me."
"We should be going now," Alex said.
"Got everything?" Lily asked.
"Yes," Alex said, nodding curtly.
"Yep!" Harry said cheerfully.
"Where are you going? Is anyone picking you up?" Lily asked.
"Our parents are meeting us at Diagon Alley and then they'll Apparate us home," Alex said.
"All right, stay safe, be careful, don't get involved in anything dangerous," Lily said sternly.
Lily hugged them tightly.
"We'll see you two next year," she said, smiling.
The twins nodded. Alex took some Floo powder.
"Diagon Alley," he stated, throwing the powder down.
He disappeared in a flash of emerald green flames.
"Bye bye!" Harry said cheerfully as he stepped into the fireplace.
"Bye!" everyone chorused.
"Diagon Alley!"
Alex dragged Harry away from the bookstore entrance. As soon as the younger twin had dusted all the ash off his robes, he had made a mad dash to the bookstore.
Harry whined as he struggled.
"Shut up," Alex said. "I know a better place you can get books from."
That got Harry's attention quickly.
"Where?!" he demanded.
"Where else? Knockturn Alley," Alex said, rolling his eyes. "But we'll have to go there later; we have to get back to the manor. Father is expecting us."
Harry pouted but nodded. They ducked behind some boxes and in unison, they Apparated out of the alley, unseen by the crowds.
They appeared in the hallways of the large dark Riddle Manor.
"Home sweet home," Harry deadpanned.
"Let's go," Alex said, ignoring his twin's comment.
They went to the throne room. Voldemort was speaking to his Inner Circle. The twins kept to the shadows. Nagini saw them and hissed something to Voldemort. Voldemort glanced over.
"Dismissed," he said.
The Inner Circle swept out of the throne room and the doors soon slammed shut.
"Alexander, Harrison," Voldemort said.
The twins came out of the shadows and walked forward. Once they were in front of their father, they bowed.
"Rise and give me your report," Voldemort said.
Alex and Harry stood up.
"We've successfully infiltrated the Order, father," Alex said.
"I suppose that's where you've been for the past month," Voldemort stated.
"Yes, father," Alex said.
Alex stepped back slightly, glancing at Harry. Harry stepped forward, digging the locket from his pocket. He held it up, the small green jewels sparkling in the dim light. Voldemort's crimson red eyes widened slightly.
"Where did you get that?" he asked coldly.
"Number 12 Grimmauld Place," Harry said. "It is one of your Horcruxes, isn't it, father?"
"I never told you about my other Horcruxes. How did you find out about this one?" Voldemort demanded.
Harry hesitated.
"Just tell him, Harry; no use keeping it secret now," Alex said.
Harry nodded, albeit he was still a little hesitant.
"Father, I know about all your Horcruxes. I have from the very beginning," Harry said. "Part of the reason why we infiltrated the Order was to retrieve this locket before the Order found out about it."
"I see...you truly are too smart for your own good, Harrison," Voldemort said, disdain clear in his voice. "And what of the diadem?"
"Oh, I almost forgot about that," Harry said.
Harry summoned the diadem and it appeared in his hand.
"Here it is," he said.
"Anything else you wish to report?" Voldemort asked.
"That is all for now, father," Alex said.
"Leave the diadem and locket on the ground. You two are dismissed," Voldemort said.
Harry set the diadem and locket on the ground before following Alex out of the throne room. They walked to the lab. Once they were in the safety of the lab, Harry burst out into laughter.
"Did you see his face, Alex? He looked almost frightened!" Harry exclaimed.
"We need to be careful from here on out," Alex said. "Father now knows that we know about all seven of his Horcruxes."
"Still, his expression... so vulnerable," Harry said darkly.
Harry cackled, his sickly green eyes glowing vividly. Alex just watched him, emotionless.
"Father is very easily manipulated, don't you think, Alex?"
Alex huffed and looked away, but Harry knew his twin agreed with him.
"I have decided we are not going to do the House Cup this year," Dumbledore said.
"What? Then what are we going to do?" James asked.
"The Triwizard Tournament," Dumbledore said.
"Triwizard Tournament?" Lily asked. "Didn't a student die last time?"
"Er...I'm pretty sure they just got severely injured...they should still be alive," Dumbledore said, looking away awkwardly.
"Albus," Molly said, crossing her arms. "This tournament is highly dangerous. You're going to have children participate in this?"
"Of course not, Molly dear," Dumbledore said. "There will be an age line. Students under 17 will not be allowed to enter their names into the tournament."
Molly scowled but seemed content with the restriction.
"The students won't like this," James said.
"Two other schools will be coming to Hogwarts to participate in the tournament. I've already sent out the invitations and they've accepted," Dumbledore said.
"Already? And you're just telling us this now?!" Molly exclaimed, slightly angry.
"Yes," Dumbledore said, avoiding the angry woman's glare.
"Well, I just hope nothing goes wrong this year," Lily said, sighing.