Chapter 56

No...

It couldn't be...

Dumbledore watched his savior collapse to the ground dead.

"No!" James shouted, rushing forward. "Remus!"

James grabbed Remus's limp body, clutching at his dead friend tightly.

"No, Remus! Why?!" James cried, tears streaming down his face.

Lily was crying, her eyes wide in shock.

"Remus..." Dumbledore breathed. "Why would you do this...?"

"He can't be dead!" James exclaimed, shaking his head furiously in denial.

Eric crumbled to the ground, shocked and speechless. Hermione was sobbing; Ron was struggling to hold his tears back as he comforted Hermione.

"Hmm...wasn't expecting that," Harry said.

Harry lowered his arm, gazing at Remus's corpse, still in James's arms.

"A pity really," Harry said. "I was actually really fond of him. I considered him an actual friend. I didn't think he would actually sacrifice himself...a miscalculation on my part."

"He chose to do it," Alex said. "Why do you even like him? All you did was have conversations with him."

"You can learn a lot about someone through conversations of various topics," Harry said. "Try it sometime and you'll understand what I mean, Alex. And they weren't just conversations...they were rather meaningful. Remus was quite intelligent. He could keep up with me easily. Sometimes, he helped me figure out some problems, even if he didn't know what it was for. I was going to spare his life, but then he goes and does this...oh well."

Harry sighed. Eric got to his feet, gripping his wand tightly.

"You'll pay for this, Harry!" he shouted.

Eric pointed his wand at Harry, hatred filling his eyes.

"Crucio!" he shouted.

Harry held up his arm, a full-body shield forming. The curse shattered the shield.

"Finally worked up enough hatred to cast the torture curse? It was certainly powerful enough to break my shield. In order to truly make that curse create excruciating pain on someone, you must mean it," Harry said, chuckling darkly. "You're well on your way to the Dark side."

"Never! I'll never be like you!" Eric spat. "You're a monster!"

Harry gave a fake pout.

"That's not very nice. Didn't you ever learn that it isn't very nice to call people names?" he asked.

"Stupefy!" Eric shouted.

Harry batted the red colored spell aside like it was nothing.

"How boring," he said. "Going back to Light spells already, Potter?"

Harry tched, shaking his head in mock shame.

"You should know better by now. You won't defeat me using just Light spells."

Harry lunged forward, claws stretched out lethally. Eric ducked just in time. He aimed a kick towards Harry's stomach. Harry's other hand caught his leg and threw him back. Dumbledore took the chance to fire a stunning spell. Harry ducked under it quickly and leapt towards Dumbledore. Lily rushed forward, having overcome her shock. She aimed her wand and Harry abruptly changed directions. He kicked her back and stabbed her shoulder with a clawed hand. Lily shouted out in pain.

"Lily!" James shouted.

He set Remus's body on the ground before shooting forward to catch Lily before she could fly too far back.

"I'm fine," Lily gritted her teeth, clutching her bleeding shoulder.

Harry hummed cheerfully as he effortlessly dodged a fire spell shot by Ron. The fire spell flew at where Lily and James were. Eric casted the water spell, extinguishing the fire quickly. He directed the water at Harry. The water crashed into Harry, sending him stumbling back.

Harry frowned as he observed his drenched clothing.

"I hate being wet," he grumbled.

With a flick of his hand, he was dry again. He glared at Eric.

"You should learn manners, Potter. It isn't nice to drench someone in water," he said.

"I swear, you're like a cat sometimes," Alex said. "You never did like water."

"Everyone, cast the water spell!" Hermione exclaimed.

Everyone pointed their wand at Harry.

"Aguamenti!" they shouted.

Harry hissed as he was hit by streams of water.

"Incarcerous!" Dumbledore exclaimed.

Harry put up a shield, avoiding the binding spell. He leapt out of the way of the water jets. He landed to the side and growled as his clothes were once again wet. He dried himself quickly.

"You guys really know how to annoy me," Harry said irritated. "Enjoy this chance while you still have it; it won't last for much longer. I won't let you overpower me."

Harry flexed his claws and a clear substance leaked out of his claws.

"Now you've really pissed me off," Harry said, his smile gone.

He leapt forward.

"There's something in his claws! Watch out!" Eric shouted.

Lily barely avoided a swipe of Harry's claws. A red colored spell hit her in the stomach, sending Lily flying back. She crashed into a large piece of stone, stunned.

"Petrificus Totalus!" James exclaimed.

Harry practically threw the spell aside as he stalked forward. He lunged forward and tackled James to the ground. His pupils slit as he raised a hand above his head, intent on tearing James's throat out.

"Sectemsempra!"

Harry's snapped to the right as the deadly cutting curse flew at him. His eyes widened; there wasn't enough time to dodge it.

Suddenly, there was a blur that rushed in front of Harry. The cutting curse hit the blur and there was a grunt of pain. Harry's lips parted in shock as he recognized Alex.

Alex stumbled back, the cuts on his body bleeding nonstop. He collapsed to the ground.

"Alex...?" Harry gasped.

For once, he didn't seem so dangerous. He looked like a young lost child.

Harry crawled over to his twin and hesitantly reached out to touch him. Alex huffed and smiled at him, blood staining his teeth.

"I guess we're even now...since you saved me from being killed...by our father," he said, his breathing becoming ragged.

Harry frantically searched his pockets.

"No, no, no...I-I don't have it on me!" Harry exclaimed in a panic.

Alex grabbed Harry's hand weakly.

"Don't worry about me, Harry," he muttered. "I'm glad to die for you."

Alex coughed, blood spilling from his lips.

"After all...I'm your older brother," he choked out. "It's my job...to look after my little brother...right?"

Harry's eyes were wide in fear and horror. He grasped Alex's hand, his mind racing too fast for him to think clearly.

"I-I can still heal you! I just have to remember the counter spell! Damn it! Why can't I remember what it is?!" Harry exclaimed, tears spilling from his eyes.

Everyone watched in silent awe and shock as Harry clutched his twin's hand tighter, almost sobbing now.

"Harry," Hermione started.

Harry turned to look at them slowly.

"Who did it?" he asked, his voice strained. "Who did this to Alex?"

Everyone was silent. Eric looked down, gritting his teeth in shame. Harry's eyes locked on him.

"You...you did it...didn't you, Eric?" Harry asked.

Harry dropped Alex's hand. He stepped around his twin and walked forward, his eyes blazing in a sudden psychotic rage.

"I'll kill you...I'LL KILL YOU!" Harry screamed.

Eric's widened in fear. Harry pointed his wand at him.

"Crucio!" he shouted.

Eric lunged to the side. Harry appeared next to him abruptly. He grabbed him by the throat and threw him back with abnormal strength. Eric coughed out blood. A disturbing laugh broke free from Harry's lips as he stalked forward; he sounded almost hysterical. His pupils were slit, the green color of his eyes was the exact vivid color of the killing curse. Harry's laughter grew louder. Everyone could hear the insanity within it. It made their blood freeze.

"Oh god...what have we done?" Lily gasped, too paralyzed to move.

"This...this isn't Harry," Dumbledore said, his tone holding a tinge of fear. "I'm afraid we've unleashed a terrible monster...and there is nothing we can do to stop him."