Chapter 11
Alex stared at the spot his twin had stood a few seconds ago. Everyone was shocked speechless. Alex walked forward quietly and knelt down in front of Hugo, who was trembling and clutching his head still. Alex tilted Hugo's head up so their eyes met and entered Hugo's mind gently. He checked if there was any damage. He knew all too well what Harry's Legilimency skills had the capability to do, but luckily, he couldn't find any damage. It looked like he had erased the memories, replaced them, and then altered the replacement memories to match the original memories. It seemed like a hassle; Alex could never understand how his twin's mind worked sometimes.
Alex exited Hugo's mind and stood up.
"Alex?" Hermione asked hesitantly from behind him.
"There's no damage; don't worry," he muttered.
Hermione rushed forward and picked Hugo up, hugging him closely.
"What the hell is going on, Alex?" Hermione demanded. "How is Harry alive?"
Alex looked at her.
"Not now, Hermione," he said.
He turned on his heel, but just before he Apparated away, Hermione was grabbing his arm, Hugo still in her arms. The three of them disappeared in a crack.
They landed outside Alex's house. Hermione released Alex's arm and rubbed Hugo's back.
"What are you doing?" Alex asked coldly.
"I want to know the truth, Alex. I want to know why Harry is alive after he got hit by a killing curse fifteen years ago," Hermione said just as coldly. "You're suspicious already, Alex; if you don't tell me what exactly is going on, I will turn you in to the Aurors."
"You can try," Alex said.
"I am not the naïve witch you knew at Hogwarts. I know you and I will not let you manipulate me like you did back then," Hermione glared at him furiously.
Alex stared at her before turning towards the cottage. His disguise dropped as he walked through the door, Hermione and Hugo close behind him. Alex walked into his bedroom to the far corner. He snapped his fingers and a trapdoor appeared. He opened it and walked down the small staircase.
"Where are we?" Hermione asked.
"This is where Harry lived," Alex said.
They entered a dimly lit lab with potions equipment cleanly stacked on the table. There were two shelves of books and another shelf that held potions. Alex walked quickly to the bookshelves and scanned them. He frowned when he saw what he was looking for was missing.
"Alex, what's this?" Hermione asked.
Alex turned to see Hermione pointing to a small familiar black notebook on another table. Alex walked over and picked up the notebook. He opened it; everything was written in Parselscript.
"I've never seen any language like that," Hermione said.
"It is Parselscript," Alex said quietly, reading through the notes. "Harry always writes top secret things in Parselscript and he...charms it so it can't be translated into anything else."
"Charm?" Hermione raised an eyebrow. "You mean he cursed the notebook so if anyone tried to translate it, something terrible would happen to them."
Alex remained silent, which only confirmed Hermione's statement. He turned the page and his eyes narrowed when he saw a sketch of something he had never seen before.
"Any clues?"
Alex glanced up.
"Everything in this notebook is very vague," he answered.
"What is it about?" Hermione asked.
"Are you sure you wish to know?" Alex asked, turning the page.
"You owe me that much," Hermione said, glaring at him.
"Very well," Alex said. "It is about Horcruxes."
Hermione's eyes widened.
"Horcruxes?" she asked incredulously.
Alex lowered the book for a second.
"You should be able to put the pieces together by now," he said. "How do you think Harry survived a killing curse?"
Hermione inhaled sharply as realization hit her.
"Harry...he had a Horcrux this entire time..." she breathed.
"Indeed," Alex said. "When I first found out what Harry was planning fifteen years ago, I never thought he would stoop so low, to do the very same thing our father did. He told me he would never do it and yet...by the time he told me what he had done, he had already split his soul in half."
"But nobody even noticed it, not even Dumbledore!" Hermione exclaimed.
"You think Harry isn't capable of hiding the fact he basically shattered his soul? He is not our father, very far from it." Alex said.
"Hang on, the cat, Shadow," Hermione realized. "She looks identical to Hedwig except for the eyes...!"
"Correct again," Alex said. "Hedwig is still alive and well. She contains the other half of Harry's soul."
"Did Harry have you get Hedwig because he wanted to turn her into a Horcrux?!" Hermione exclaimed.
Alex sighed, suddenly feeling tired.
"Even after all these years, I could never fully understand how my twin's mind works," he said. "He knew about Horcruxes from the very beginning, from our first year, perhaps even before that. Our father only told him the mere basics and that the diadem was hidden in Hogwarts. But somehow, Harry found out about the other six Horcruxes. Using deduction and his knowledge and other questionable methods, he found out where the other Horcruxes were located. But I still don't understand how he could've found the other Horcruxes in such a short amount of time. He never did tell me that; but then again, he rarely told me anything until the last minute. He also found out Snape was a spy and blackmailed him into getting us into the Order so we could get the locket. The Black library is probably where he founded that cursed book."
"Book? What book?" Hermione demanded.
"Harry is the type of person that thirsts for knowledge. He will never stop until he knows everything there is to know," Alex said. "Just before the invasion of Hogwarts, he showed me the book. That book is the very reason why Harry erased Rose, Mark, and Hugo's memories."
"He did what?!"
"From what Harry told me, Hugo and the other two were about to find the book. Harry was forced to reveal himself in order to prevent them from touching the book. The book is heavily cursed, but being as immersed in dark magic as we are, it has no effect on Harry and very little effect on me. But Hugo, Rose, and Mark, if they had touched it, they would've been killed. Harry put them to sleep and...altered their memories to say the least. And then, Harry restored Hugo's memories earlier."
"What about Rose and Mark?" Hermione asked, tense.
"I can restore their memories if you want," Alex said. "I saw what Harry did; I should be able to replicate my twin's method and restore their memories. It'll be painless."
"If it's painless, why is my son still in shock?" Hermione growled.
"He is most likely overwhelmed by all the memories," Alex said. "Harry did it without warning and very quickly, within seconds. It'll take me slightly longer to ensure there is no damage. Harry was careful with Hugo's mind...usually his methods are more violent. He doesn't like to break down the barriers carefully; he rather enjoys just destroying it all at once. His way is very destructive and leaves his victims unable to function or think at all. I always had the more subtle approach."
Suddenly, they heard the front door slam open.
"Alex! Where are you?!" they heard Eric yell.
"We're down here!" Hermione shouted.
A few seconds later, the rest of the group was in the lab.
"Alex, you have a lot of explaining to do, starting with how Harry's even alive!" Eric growled, stalking forward.
"Stop," Hermione said, holding out her hand.
Hermione pushed Hugo into Ron's hands. She beckoned Rose and Mark forward; the two children hesitantly stepped forward. Hermione gently guided them forward towards Alex.
"Restore their memories now," she said.
"What are you talking about, Hermione?" Ginny asked, frowning in concern.
"Harry tampered with their minds. Earlier, he restored Hugo's memories. And now, Alex is going to do the same for Rose and Mark." Hermione said, looking at Alex expectantly.
Alex sighed and nodded.
"Rose," he said.
Rose gulped nervously and shakily stepped forward, her hands trembling.
"No need to be so nervous," Alex said. "It won't hurt."
"A-are you sure?" Rose asked timidly.
"Yes," Alex said. "It will be a little overwhelming though."
Rose's eyes widened in fear and she glanced at her brother.
"No, not to that extent," Alex said. "Harry did it quickly for your brother since his time was limited."
"So what, like a rush job?" Eric growled.
"Shut up, Eric," Ginny snapped. "Let him concentrate."
Alex tilted Rose's head and their eyes met. Gently, Alex entered her mind. Rose gasped slightly as Alex began sifting through her memories. He found the tampered memories and altered them to match the original memories. He checked for any more damage before leaving. Rose was panting slightly as her mind adjusted to the new memories.
"Mark," Alex said.
Mark walked forward and Alex entered his mind, sifting through his memories and finding the tampered memories and changing them. After checking for damage, Alex exited and straightened.
"All done," he said.
Hermione ushered Rose and Mark back.
"All right, now that that's done," Eric said. "Spill, Alex. How the bloody hell is Harry still alive?"
Alex sighed for what felt like the hundredth time. This was going to be a long and tedious conversation.