Chapter 9
The Aurors looked at Harry in shock.
"H-how did you get past our wards?"
Harry chuckled lightly.
"You call those wards? Please," he replied cheerfully. "I could break those in my sleep!"
"Call the Magic Congress now! Put the bank on lockdown!"
There was an abrupt wave of magic. It felt like it was grating against their skin, brushing through their hair. Ginny shuddered and looked down; the sensation had felt rough against her skin but her skin wasn't red.
"What was that?" she asked, looking at Hermione.
"I don't know," Hermione said.
Ginny inhaled sharply; she was looking at Alex.
"Alex," she hissed.
"I know," Alex said quietly.
Alex's disguise had dropped. He inched towards the side to reapply the disguise. Luckily, the Aurors were too focused on Harry, whose disguise had also dropped.
"Well damn," Harry said, looking down at himself.
"I-It's him! Alexander Riddle!" one of the Aurors exclaimed in shock.
"What...?" Eric breathed, his wide eyes glued to Harry's form. "But...that's impossible..."
Harry sighed in resignation, tugging his ever present scarf down slightly.
"Oh well," he said. "I didn't really want to reveal myself since it would cause so much trouble, but I can work with this."
"Alexander Riddle, put your wand down now! We're taking you in for your crimes!"
Harry looked at them, unconcerned. Alex rejoined the group, having reapplied his disguise.
"Alex...what's going on?" Hermione hissed. "Please tell me this isn't some kind of illusion."
Alex didn't answer. He was staring at his twin, trying to figure out why he would do this. A second Auror waved his wand over Harry.
"Relinquish the object in your pocket now!" the second Auror demanded.
"What, you mean this?" Harry asked, pulling out the pendant.
The old woman gasped and tried to rush forward. Eric and Ron held her back.
"You need to stay back, ma'am! It's too dangerous!" Ron exclaimed.
"That's my pendant! The one my husband gave me!" the old woman exclaimed in a panic. "I can't let that man take it! It's a precious gift!"
"Oh, don't worry, I will give it back when I'm done with it," Harry said, smirking slightly.
He frowned thoughtfully.
"Although it may be a little destroyed afterwards," he said. "It is a rather special pendant after all."
Harry tucked the pendant back into his pocket.
"Think of it as my payment for lifting the curses on the other objects in the room," he said. "It was child's play really."
"Reinforcements are almost here, Riddle. Your days are numbered," the first Auror said. "Surrender now; don't make this harder than it has to be."
"Yeah...you keep confusing me with that guy. Tell me something, Aurors; can Alexander Riddle do this?"
Abruptly, Harry lashed his hand out and magic blasted towards the entrance of the bank. Everyone hastily erected shields to protect themselves, but the magnitude of the nonverbal spell rendered the shields ineffective. Everyone was throttled backwards, landing painfully on the hard marble floor. They coughed, trying to regain their breath, which was hard due to the dust clouds and debris in the air. A few wizards waved their wands, filtering the air. When the air cleared, Harry was gone.
"Holy..." An Auror gasped at the sheer amount of damage. Half of the bank had been destroyed and left in rubble on the ground.
"The entrance of the bank...it's...it's gone!" another Auror exclaimed.
"We have to lock down the alleyway now!" A third Auror shouted. "Go after him!"
"You three, stay back! It's too dangerous!" Eric ordered Mark, Rose, and Hugo.
"We'll stay with them," Ginny said, holding Mark close.
Hermione gripped Rose and Hugo's shoulders. Eric, Ron, and Alex dashed after the Aurors.
"Damn it! He's too fast!" An Auror exclaimed.
"Search every inch of this alleyway!" the first Auror barked. "Riddle got away with a priceless and cursed object; we can't afford to take risks right now!"
The Auror looked at Alex.
"Mr. Sanders, do you know why Riddle would pose as you? Any reason at all?" he asked seriously.
"I know nothing of this," Alex said truthfully.
"He must've been watching you for some quite time. He knew you very well. He knew how you walked, how you spoke, everything. We didn't suspect anything until you came walking in," the Auror said, gritting his teeth in frustration. "We were played well."
The Auror sighed.
"But I'm sure you feel worse right now," he said. "Having someone pose as you to get into the bank and to cursed items. We'll catch Riddle and put him behind bars for good."
The Auror hurried off to join the search. Alex watched them before walking the opposite direction.
"Damn it, Harry," he muttered. "Just what are you doing now?"
Suddenly, he was grabbed from behind and yanked into a nearby dark alleyway too fast for anyone to notice. A hand covered his mouth as he was pushed against the wall. He grunted slightly and struggled.
"Hush Alex," Harry's voice whispered into his ear.
Alex relaxed once he realized it was his twin and not some random stranger. They watched as two Aurors rushed by, not even glancing at the alleyway. Alex briefly felt the entrance of the alleyway with his magic; Harry had put up a few charms to make them unnoticeable for the moment.
Harry released him a few seconds later. Alex whipped around to face his younger twin.
"Just what the hell do you think you're doing?!" he hissed angrily. "Do you know how reckless you are being right now?! I should kill you where you stand now!"
Harry pressed a finger to his lips, silencing Alex.
"Be quiet and listen, Alex." Harry said quietly. "You killing me will have to wait until later. Just know that what I am doing is necessary. I will explain everything later."
Alex shoved Harry's hand away from him. For a second, his disguise faltered and his ice blue eyes flickered into appearance, blazing in cold lethal rage.
"How about you explain everything now!" he growled. "I've gone along with every single of your plans, Harry. I was patient; I didn't complain; I went along with your mind games. But not this! I spent fourteen years putting you back together because you were stuck in a bloody cat after you faked your death! And now, you're throwing all that down the drain like it's nothing! Either you tell me what's going on now or I will kill you and then go back to the house and kill Hedwig to make sure you stay dead this time!"
Alex panted from his rant. Harry blinked calmly, evidently unimpressed.
"You done?"
Alex closed his eyes and leaned against the wall.
"You've never lost your temper to this extent before," Harry said quietly. "It's new...well, newer."
"Just tell me what's going on, Harry. You don't need to keep everything from me, you know. I can help you," Alex said, looking at his twin again.
"No! I can't let you do that," Harry said sharply. "I never expected to be revealed so soon, but nothing is perfect. But now that the world knows about me, you have to stay out of this. I won't let you get involved."
Alex leaned in slightly, glaring at his twin.
"I'm already involved, Harry. You can't prevent that and you know it," he hissed, dangerously. "Are you saying I'll get in your way?"
"Not that, dear brother. I know you will be involved, but look at it like this: the world will be more focused on hunting me, not you," Harry said.
"Right now, everyone thinks you are me," Alex said.
"There are people who know better than to think I am you, Alex," Harry said quietly. "It is best this way; you shouldn't get more involved than you already are. It is time."
Alex's eyes widened slightly.
"You don't mean..."
"Yes, Alex," Harry said seriously. "Everything must come to light now. I cannot stay hidden in the basement of that cottage forever; they will eventually find you and then me. We'd be on the run forever."
Harry grasped Alex's hand tightly.
"Let me do this one thing by myself, Alex; after that, I'll figure something out so that we won't be hunted ever again," Harry said. "As for what I'll be doing in the meantime..."
Harry gently grabbed Alex by the collar and tugged him down slightly.
"The answer is in the lab," he muttered into Alex's ear. "It is only one part of my plan, but it should explain enough for the time being. If you must, give the others only the minimum details."
Alex nodded reluctantly. Harry smiled and released Alex's collar.
"Good, now let's put on a good show," Harry said, smiling mischievously.
Harry grabbed Alex and dragged him out the alleyway, holding his wand to Alex's neck. The Aurors spotted them right away.
"Halt! Release Sanders now!" an Auror shouted.
"I don't think you're in any position to be making such demands right now," Harry said. "One move and I will blast Mr. Sander's brains out."
The Aurors froze. Alex remained calm but didn't say anything. He didn't struggle; after all, he knew Harry's threats were just that: threats and nothing more. But to anyone else, it looked like he wasn't fighting due to a wand pressed into his throat with the threat of killing him. Harry smirked and chuckled darkly.
"That's better~"