Albus Potter and the Will of Ignotus Perevell

The Will of Ignotus Perevell & it's First Danger

—CHAPTER 4—

The Will of Ignotus Perevell & it's First Danger

‘Dad,’ Albus said, running up to Harry in the corridor. ‘I’ve heard that Professor Irin is teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts this year! If so, who’s teaching Potions and why are you here?’
‘So you’ve heard?’ Harry asked, putting his hands in his robe pockets. ‘Do you also know why he switched subjects?’
Albus nodded. ‘Got attacked by a werewolf.’
Harry sighed. ‘Yes.’
‘So why are you here, Dad?’
‘A few reasons, actually,’ Harry said, patting his son on the back. ‘First reason is I’ve been asked to fill the spot as Headmaster until Hermione returns.’
‘Oh yeah,’ Albus said. ‘I forgot she wasn’t coming back this year.’
‘And second,’ Harry added. ‘Is a more serious reason. We’ve been given a hint that Ignotus Perevell, your ancestor, left a hidden Will at Hogwarts. I’ve been given ministry instructions to find it.’
Albus swallowed. Uh oh.
Harry stopped and got down on his knees so that he was face to face with his son. ‘Al, promise me something.’
Albus nodded.
‘If you find out what was written on that Will, promise you’ll take it to me, first. Okay?’
Albus’s stomach was twisting. ‘Promise,’ he whispered, crossing his fingers inside his pockets.
‘That’s my boy,’ Harry grinned. ‘But you won’t find it. It’s probably in some top secret hiding place.’
‘Who’s teaching Potions, Dad?’ Albus asked, changing the subject.
‘Oh an old man named Timothy Lockwood,’ Harry said airily. ‘A very good Potions teacher. Gentle, kind, wouldn’t hurt a fly but loves brewing and making things. You’ll like him, Al. Now I have to go to meet with Kingsley and Neville.’
He hurried off, leaving Albus feeling the guiltiest he’d ever felt in his life. He stood there for a moment, then turned to go to the Room of Requirement.

*

Once Albus had finished explaining everything at the DA meeting, Teddy organised meeting times for the next couple of months and organised groups of people who would complete each task.
‘No,’ Albus said. ‘You can’t do that. Each task has to be done one at a time. That’s how it’s meant to go.’
Teddy sighed. ‘Okay. There are different groups who’ll be researching Ignotus and his life. Albus, Rose, Jessica, Dimitri, Avery, Scorpius, James, Sean, Jackson and Marshall, you’ll do each task and ask for help from others if you need it. Once you do the first task, make sure you get back to us. Meeting dismissed!’
‘Remember!’ Scorpius shouted. ‘Don’t let the adults find out about this! They’re looking for the Will, too!’
‘Don’t remind me,’ Albus warned. ‘My father trusts me and doing this is losing his trust.’
‘He said when you find out what the Will states, tell him,’ Avery reminded. ‘We haven’t found out what the Will states, yet.’
‘Point taken,’ Albus shrugged. He picked up his rucksack and checked his timetable. Defence Against the Dark Arts, then Quidditch trials. He waved to Teddy and hurried to the classroom, eager to see how Professor Irin would take seeing him and Avery again.
‘Take your seats, class,’ Professor Irin called.
‘Sir,’ Albus began, standing by the table but Professor Irin simply repeated ‘Take your seats.’ Albus exchanged a glance with Avery who shrugged. The two took their seats and stowed away their wands. Professor Irin started lecturing about enchanted wells and as he passed Albus’s table, he dropped a note onto the floor. Albus snatched it from the floor and read it.
Al, do not be afraid of me. The whole werewolf thing is a cover story. I will explain later. You and your friends must meet me in my office at exactly 6am tomorrow morning. Burn this note after you have read it.
Albus took out his wand, muttered a quick spell and the piece of paper turned to ash. He dropped it onto the floor and pretended to look interested in the lecture. He noticed Professor Irin give him a discreet nod and he couldn’t concentrate for the rest of the lesson.

*

‘What cover story? Dad what the hell are you hiding and why?’
Professor Irin sat back in his chair. ‘Listen, you must promise to keep this a secret. There is a man who I met during the holidays. He’s a Death Eater and he promised me millions of galleons if I passed on Order of the Phoenix information on to him.’
‘What?’ Jessica cried.
‘But!’ Professor Irin said, his hand flying up to interrupt Jessica, ‘I am not working for him. In fact, I am spying on him for the Order. However, if he finds out, he will kill me as I am the only Order member who knows who he really is. I am not going to tell you for the simple reason it will endanger your lives but all I can say is that he is after something that Ignotus Perevell left in this world.’
Albus held back a strangled gasp. ‘My father told me he was looking for that! Is that why?’
Professor Irin nodded.
‘What did Ignotus leave behind, Dad?’ Avery asked. ‘And why did you take the job of Defence Against the Dark Arts?’
‘Nobody knows what Ignotus left behind,’ Professor Irin said, lowering his voice. ‘All we know is that he was a skilled wizard and an inventor. All he left in his known Will is his cloak which is now in your family, Albus and his money. Nobody knows where all his books or inventions went. That’s what the hidden Will shows, we think. My Death Eater and the Order, suspect that one of his inventions can help bring the Dark Forces back into power. Something we must prevent. I took the job to try and find out more about Ignotus which I couldn’t do at my current position as Potions Master.’ He glanced at the cloak. ‘It’s nearly 6.30,’ he said. ‘People will begin to wake and ready for breakfast. Go! Go now before someone sees you!’
He shooed them to the door and slammed it in their face.


‘And that’s what he told us,’ Albus said, finishing the story in front of the DA. Teddy scratched his head. ‘Victoire,’ he said. ‘Get the rest of the group who are researching Ignotus to start looking into his inventions. Meanwhile, Al...you and your friends should get onto the first task on the Will. The quicker we find out what Ignotus left behind and who to, the quicker we can tell the Order and stop this mystery Death Eater.’
‘Can’t we just give this to the Order, now?’ Rose asked, sounding frightened.
‘Come now,’ James laughed. ‘Where’s the fun in that?’
Albus glared at his brother and took the parchment out of his pocket. ‘Enchantus Beastatum,’ he whispered. There was a puff of smoke and several scrams and yells. Albus backed away as a giant, four headed snake come dragon stood before him.
‘How the hell did Ignotus manage to create that?’ Jackson said in awe.
‘Who said the words...?’ the beast boomed.
‘Me,’ Albus squeaked.
‘Then you shall be the one to face me!’
‘Shoot,’ Albus swore.
‘Remember all the spells,’ Teddy shouted.
‘Avada Kedavra!’ Albus tried but the spell just hit the beast and made a graze.
‘If the killing curse doesn’t work what does?’ Albus screamed, his glasses falling off as the beast made a lunge for him. He threw himself to the right and his head his the ground with a bang. ‘Wait..’ he said. ‘Swordatum!’ His wand trembled then started to grow and become wider, shiner until it became a sword with a gem incrusted handle and a shiny blade. ‘Fortus!’ he shouted and immediately he had a small tower which made him level with the beast. He lunged for it’s eyes and he cut them out.
‘Ugh,’ Jessica shuddered.
‘I don’t need to see to find you!’ the beast roared and breathed a gust of fire onto Albus. Albus ducked but felt something hot on his head.
‘You’re hair’s on fire!’ Teddy yelled. Albus slammed the flat blade of the sword onto his head. There was the sound of sizzling sparks but then, his head was hot, but the fire was out.
The beast was chortling with laughter.
‘How do I defeat this?’ Albus gasped to himself. Then...he had an idea. The beast was half snake and half dragon. If he cut it in half...what happened? So he jumped off his tower, hoped to the gods and brought his sword down, slicing the beast in half. There was a terrible screeching, screaming sound and then, all that lay on the floor was ash, bird wings and snake skin.
‘You did it!’ Avery laughed, throwing Albus his glasses as he stood there, getting his breath back. He put on his glasses and muttered ‘Swordatum,’ again. His sword became his wand again.
‘I’ll chuck these,’ Teddy said, picking up the remains of the beast.
‘No, don’t,’ Jessica said. ‘Ignotus was a mystery but just in case...we might need these for a task that will come up. Keep them.’
Albus nodded. ‘She’s right. Keep them in a sack.’
‘When should we do the next task?’ Rose asked.
‘Christmas,’ Albus announced. ‘We have to go to Diagon Alley for task 2. During Christmas, we can.’