Albus Potter and the Will of Ignotus Perevell

Timothy Lockwood & Obfirmo Lignum

—CHAPTER 5—

 Timothy Lockwood & Obfirmo Lignum

Timothy Lockwood arrived on the Saturday of the first Quidditch game of the year: Ravenclaw vs Slytherin.

He seemed in sixties...ageing but still active and sane. Harry introduced him to the school and allowed him to start the first match with the signal.

‘Seems nice ‘nuff,’ Hagrid said from the stands.

‘Hm,’ Albus said, not really listening. He was looking at Professor Irin who seemed to be very preoccupied.

‘Well, here they are!’

Albus looked up and saw Harry taking Professor Lockwood around the house stands. ‘This is my son, Albus and my niece Rose and their friends.’

‘Nice to meet you, sir,’ Rose said politely, shaking the new Professor’s hand.

‘Yes, nice to meet you,’ Albus murmured, not taking his eyes off the teacher’s stands.

‘You seem to really be interested in the game,” Professor Lockwood laughed.

‘Yes, he is,’ Scorpius said, elbowing Albus in the ribs.

‘Ow! What?’

‘Be more polite,’ Harry hissed as Professor Lockwood talked to some other students.

‘I feel like I’ve seen him before,’ Albus said, cocking his head to one side.

‘You’re not the only one,’ Avery said, bobbing up from behind the seats. Albus jumped. ‘Avery! What the hell are you doing in the Gryffindor stands?’

‘I’ve seen that guy walking in Diagon Alley,’ Avery said. ‘Buying beetles eyes.’

‘That sounds like a potions teacher, you egg,’ Albus sighed.

‘Hey, Al,’ Teddy said. ‘We’ve found some stuff out about Ignotus. He had an underground cellar where he kept all his inventions. Nobody’s been able to find the key to the cellar. It’s been locked for centuries.’

Albus furrowed his eyebrows. ‘Perhaps one of the tasks will help us find the key,’ he suggested.

‘I sure hope so,’ Teddy said sincerely. ‘Because honestly, I bet the Death Eater Irin told us about knows about this cellar and is looking for the key too.’

‘Then it’s a race,’ James said, grinning.

Albus glared at his brother. ‘This is all a joke to you, isn’t it?’ he demanded.

‘Yeah, pretty much...’ James laughed, clapping Albus on the shoulder. Albus shoved him away and flopped down on a seat. He took the parchment out of his pocket and took out his wand. He whispered something and his wand became a pen. He put a tick beside the first task. He stared at the second line.

Task 2: Find the journal that is hidden in Diagon Alley that will explain your next task.

‘Diagon Alley is huge!’ he said angrily. ‘How the hell are we supposed to find a journal in all of that?’

*

‘Albus, please, concentrate,’ Professor Irin sighed. ‘If you don’t pass your exam you’ll stay in your second year! What are you thinking of?’

‘Quidditch,’ Albus lied.

Professor Irin glared. ‘Extra homework as punishment. Have it on my desk in three days.’

Albus gawked at him. ‘Bu...but...I didn’t... please...’

Scorpius kicked Albus under the table. ‘Shut up.’