Twin Madness - FOLIE À DEUX

iv - jumelle

It took Harry a few moments to process what the boy had just said. As soon as he did, he lunged at him, razor extended, vision red with rage.

His blade was parried with a beat of confused hesitation by an umbrella, and two pairs of small hands wrapped around Harry's biceps and he was yanked backwards. He struggled against Jackie and Jin with the delusional focus of someone high on adrenaline and anger.

"Harry! Harry, stop!" Jin yelled, trying to tug him away from "Magnus", who was half-leaned against a pew, watching him struggle in half interest-half concern.

"You would've died!" Harry screamed in reply. He slashed his razor uselessly across the air. "We all would've!"

"But we didn't!" Jackie said. He finally managed to get the razor out of Harry's hand. Harry looked for it with a wild glance, but it was nowhere to be found. "We're all okay, Harry!"

"No thanks to him!" he roared, pointing at Magnus. "You bloody coward! Making my sister do your dirty work, with you all safe and comfy up here!"

Magnus raised his hands in a placating gesture, his umbrella hanging off the crook of his elbow. "Look-"

"No!" Harry yelled. "I want you to leave my sister alone!"

"Harry, would you shut up!" Jin snapped. "I chose to work for Magnus! I wasn't forced!"

"Like hell you weren't!" Harry said.

Magnus took a hesitant step forward. "Look, Harry, isn't it?" Harry glared at him. "Harry. I'm not forcing Jinhai to do anything she doesn't want to. It was just a drop, right, Jinhai?"

Jin looked down, almost ashamed. Slowly, she reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out the thick pack she had shown Harry and Jackie early that day.

Magnus stared at it. "They said they would take the trade," he said numbly, almost to himself.

"Yeah, well, they lied!" Harry snapped. "They're a bloody gang! They would've tortured Jin for information on you if Jackie and I didn't step in!"

Magnus registered the butterfly knife still in Jin's other hand, and the dust and soot stains on Jackie and Harry's faces and clothes from climbing through the wall. "That wasn't mean to happen."

Jin nodded solemnly. "They wanted to know your name. I don't think they even brought their part of the trade. I didn't tell them anything," she added.

"Thank you, Jinhai," Magnus said heavily, leaning against another pew, looking exhausted. That was fucking rich, coming from the bloke who did absolutely nothing.

"What was it for?" Jackie asked suddenly. Three pairs of eyes swiveled to him. He cleared his throat. "I mean the trade. What did you want?"

"I can't tell you that," Magnus said. "Official gang business."

"'Official gang business'?" Jackie asked skeptically. "What, you mean you and Jin? Buddy, that ain't a gang. That's not even a club."

Magnus shifted uncomfortably. "Have to start somewhere."

"A ten year old girl and a tall loser with an umbrella does not a gang make," Jackie pointed out.

Magnus' gaze sharpened. "Would be four if you and the other Potter joined. Not many can say they've survived a drop gone south with the Red Wings,"

"You're joking!" Harry burst out. "Who would ever want to join your gang! You can't protect your members, you've no cred or respect, and the Red Wings think you're a joke!"

"Not after today, they don't," Magnus argued. "They were just humiliated by you three. Gangs have been started on less cred than that."

"We are not in your gang," Harry stressed. "So we don't bring you any cred,"

"It'd be better if you were, and not just for me,"
Magnus explained. "You just made a lot of very powerful enemies, Harry. You'd do well to find someone to protect you,"

"What, you?" Harry demanded. "Haven't we established you can't protect a housefly from a swatter?"

"I can," Magnus promised. "Give me another chance, I'll know what I'm doing this time. You won't regret it, I swear on my parents' graves,"

"I can't believe this," Harry said, looking at the ceiling as if it would give him strength. "On your parent's graves? You think that's going to make me feel bad for you? News flash, all our parents are dead." Harry paused. "Except for Jackie,"

"It's not supposed to make you sympathize with me," Magnus said, although Harry didn't believe him. "It's to show how serious I am. I swear to you, Harry, I will protect you."

Harry was saved a reply as sudden thunderous footsteps pounded down the fourth floor corridor. His heart leapt into his throat. "Red Wings," he managed.

Magnus was in front of him in a flash. He grabbed him by the shoulder and forcibly turned him towards the altar. "Hide! Go!"

Harry clambered up to the altar, Jin and Jackie behind him. His heart was pounding out of his chest, but behind the altar was a a big oak chest. With the tallest of them being Jackie who was only nearing five foot, Harry knew all three could fit inside that chest - but would be sitting ducks were it opened.

Harry hesitated, but Jin flung the lid open and lowered herself in. She reached out a helping hand to Jackie, who folded his legs and ducked his head, just barely making the height. Jin stared at him. "Move, Harry!"

Harry clambered into the box, and the lid slammed shut.