Albus Potter and the Will of Ignotus Perevell

Confusion

—CHAPTER 14—

Confusion

Rose’s hand was trembling as she pieced all four rings together. There was a crackle and Albus, Jessica and Scorpius jumped backwards as sparks flew towards them. Rose gave a nervous laugh and put the larger rings into the hole in the journal. At first, nothing happened. The four friends looked at each other, hoping this wasn’t all it. Albus especially, desperately prayed that he hadn’t battled a dragon/snake thing, dug into graves and all the rest of the crap they’d been through just for nothing. Then, there was a piercing screech and Rose dropped the journal with a cry, clapping her hands to her ears. There was a ghostly figure that squeezed itself out of the journal. The see through figure gave Albus a smile. ‘So it happened,’ it said. It then muttered something incoherent and disappeared with a flash. In its place, on top of the journal, was a silver, shiny piece...the second half of the invention. Albus breathed out, running his fingers through his hair and then over the invention. ‘Get the other half,’ he said in a low whisper. Rose bit her lip. ‘Not in here,’ she advised. ‘Outside. In the forest. Where nobody will hear.’

The other two agreed. Albus nodded. ‘’Kay.’ He muttered a spell and the invention turned into a rubber ball that bounced into his hands. Being who they were, they snuck outside, of course alerting Dumbledore’s Army who dropped everything and followed in suit.

Once outside, Albus muttered the counter curse and the ball bounced out into the invention. Teddy, with a grunt, dropped the first half of the invention onto the forest floor. ‘Simul,’ he said, pointing at the spot in between the two halves of the invention. One flash later, they were joined.

‘Why such a simple spell for such a powerful device?’ Rose wondered.

‘You know,’ Albus said slowly, kneeling down to examine the invention. ‘I think Ignotus wanted us to destroy it.’

Scorpius’s eyes widened. ‘What? Albus have you gone mental or something?’

Albus shook his head. ‘Nah, Scorpio, think about it. He wouldn’t hand it over to the Lockwoods, I think he hid it so somebody would find it and destroy it...I just, don’t really get how..or why he’d put so much faith into where he found the Will. How did he know that whoever found it would destroy it?’

There was a clink and the sound of metal jangling together and Albus turned his head. Teddy was bent down at the bottom of the invention. ‘It’s a slot for your wand,’ he said in realisation. ‘Oh! Look, check it out!’

‘What is it?’ Avery asked, jumping to his feet. ‘Hey...that’s a time turner!’

‘What’s it for?’ Rose asked, scratching her head.

‘Maybe it’s a clue or something,’ Jessica suggested. ‘You know, to figure out the last clue?’

‘Care for me to explain further?’ a voice asked from behind them.

Albus jumped and whirled round. ‘Lockwood,’ he growled, raising his wand.

‘Oh put that thing down, boy,’ Lockwood snapped, pushing Albus aside. He seemed entranced by the invention. ‘Finally...’ he said in a hazy voice. ‘After generations...lifetimes of searching...I will bring my family glory. I’ve found Ignotus’s invention. I will be more powerful than anyone...than the Dark Lord!’

‘You said you’d explain,’ Jessica piped up. Lockwood’s head sharply turned to her and he narrowed his eyes. ‘Jessica Riddle...’ he said, a sneer appearing on his face. Albus curled his hand into a fist. ‘What of it?’ he growled. Lockwood laughed. ‘Oh shut it. You know perfectly well that you’re a descendant of Ignotus himself.’

‘Of course,’ James interrupted. ‘We were told when we were like, five.’

‘Then what if I told you that Ignotus’s heir is not the last person living through his bloodline. He chose an heir before he died.’

‘You can’t choose an heir!’ Rose said scornfully.

‘Oh really?’ Ignotus shot back. ‘Albus, do you have a scar over your heart?’

Albus staggered backwards. How did he know that? ‘Yes,’ he said uneasily. ‘I got it from an operation when I was four.’

‘Do your remember it?’

‘No.’

‘That’s because you never had it. Your father and mother know very well that Ignotus himself, a regular time traveler he was, traveled to a single night someday when you were three and whispered one of his own spells, branding you, making you his heir.’

Albus didn’t speak. ‘A...and...continue...?’

‘You’re his heir, Albus. Meaning you are the only one with the power to destroy this invention. Too bad you don’t know how. You can’t just point at it and yell Obliviate. As a time traveler, he probably used his time turner to go into the future and see what would happen if he left it at Hogwarts. I don’t know.’ Lockwood knelt down, breathed out eagerly and slipped his wand into the wand holder.

Albus gave a yell, jumping forward and toppling over his own feet, falling into the grass. Nothing happened.

‘What?’ Lockwood shouted in outrage. ‘Why isn’t it working?’

‘Albus!’ Harry shouted from the edge of the forest. He ran over to Dumbledore’s Army.

‘Eh?’ Ron yelled. ‘You found them? Thank God!’

He ran over too. Harry stepped past to grab Lockwood but somebody’s voice stopped him. ‘Stay right where you are, Harry.’

Albus looked behind him and gasped. ‘Ignotus!’

The man himself smiled.

‘The time turner!’ Rose realised. ‘He used it so that he could be here to help you! You can’t meddle with time...’

‘...unless it’s a life or death situation,’ Scorpius finished. ‘Which it is.’

‘Why in the name of Merlin doesn’t this work?’ Lockwood howled in rage. Ignotus sharply turned to Lockwood. ‘You idiot,’ he laughed. ‘I created this invention so that only two people could use it. Myself and my heir.’ He looked at Albus. ‘Albus, you are the only one who can do what’s right. You are the only one who can use the invention and the only one who can destroy it.’

‘The seventh task...’ Jessica said in realisation. “Who are you?” It was referring to...’

‘...Me...’ Albus said faintly. He stood up and gazed at the invention longingly. Imagine all the things he could do...he knelt down again, holding his wand an inch away from the wand holder. He could become so powerful. He could defeat all evil. He could finally live up to his father’s shadow that he was forced to live in. He looked up at Ignotus. ‘Perdere semper,’ the deceased inventor mouthed. Albus sighed. Defeat all evil. Live up to expectations. Power. He pursed his lips together. His father did all that without any invention. Did it without having the Elder wand as his own. Did it with no parents...did it trying to refuse help from anyone else. And then...Albus realised at that moment that he was nothing like his father. That he could do so much more...he had so much more! He had a family, he had friends, he had trust in himself.

‘Pedere Semper!’ he shouted, pointing at the invention. The invention exploded, shattering pieces all around the forest, blasting everybody meters backwards. Albus felt himself being thrown against the bark of a tree. He groaned, feeling something digging into his back as he fell to his knees. Then, he sat up quickly, blood rushing to her head. ‘Ignotus!’ he gasped. Rose cursed loudly, taking out a piece of metal from her arm. ‘He knew this would happen,’ she said softly. ‘He knew everything. He knew you’d destroy it in the end.’

‘Lockwood!’ Avery shouted, pointing. Lockwood was running. ‘Accio broom!’ he yelled. A broomstick came flying out the air and Lockwood jumped onto it, zooming into the distance.

‘No use going after him,’ Harry said. ‘As soon as he gets out of Hogwarts he’ll apparate God knows where.’

‘Bastard,’ Ron muttered.

Albus laughed. It felt good. Laughter. Something that hadn’t been real in a while.