Albus Potter and the Will of Ignotus Perevell

Safe 7170

—CHAPTER 7—

Safe 7170

Albus made a quick recovery and the game was counted as unfair and to be replayed with no wands. Meanwhile, since the match was to be postponed till after Christmas, Albus had plenty of mind space to think of the second task. Rose had found on the back of the Will, the numbers 7170 and Albus, after doing some playing round with the numbers, managed to create the Deathly Hallows sign, confirming it was something to do with the youngest brother. He’d spent hours during the dismal days of the summer holidays, pouring over the sheet of paper with the tasks written on it, studying the handwriting, the tasks, the signature and found nothing.
‘Rose! Al!’ Scorpius called from downstairs. ‘Come on! We’re going to Diagon Alley!’
Albus folded the Will and put it in his pocket. He got up from his large, expensive bedroom and hurried downstairs. Potter Mansion was huge, rich expensive...
James, Teddy and their friends took great advantage of that but Albus and Lily weren’t that thrilled with it all. At first, it had taken Albus’s friends weeks to find their way around the mansion but now it was like a second home.
‘Up in the clouds there, Al?’ Harry asked cheerily.
‘Mm,’ Albus murmured. Harry frowned. ‘Al, are you okay?’
Albus nodded. ‘Scorpio, you ready?’
Scorpius gave him a short grin and tapped his foot, waiting for Rose. ‘Jess is outside.’
‘Good,’ Albus said, not really listening to what he was saying. Rose joined them at the bottom of the spiral staircase and the trio walked outside to talk with Jessica. He didn’t say a word as they all hurried into Diagon Alley and walked down the cobbled pathway.
‘Albus, watch out!’ Jessica shrieked. Albus jumped at her cry and nearly bumped into one of the pillars of Gringotts.
‘For goodness sake, Al, what’s wrong with you?’ Jessica asked, helping him up. Albus stared at Gringotts for a moment and gave an ear splitting yell. ‘I’ve got it!’
People stared at him.
‘Got what?’ Scorpius asked inquisitively.
‘I know what the numbers mean!’ Albus cried, jumping up and down. ‘Gringotts! 7170! That’s his safe! Safe 7170 is the safe of Ignotus Perevell!’
There was a silence.
‘You’re a genius!’ Jessica shrieked, kissing him on the cheek. ‘Let’s go!’
The four of them raced into Gringotts but only to be stopped by the glare of an old friend: the goblin, Griphook.
‘This is a bank,’ Griphook said, unimpressed.
‘We need your help,’ Rose said. ‘Desperately. And you have to promise not to tell the Order.’

*

Griphook gestured to the safe. 7170 was written vertically onto the stone. There was no keyhole. Just underneath the letters IP was engraved bird wings.
‘We don’t have the key, do we?’ Scorpius sighed. Albus took Jessica’s backpack and took out the sack with the remains of the beast. He gingerly picked up the bird wings and placed them were the bird wings were engraved. There was a creaking noise and the safe opened. Scorpius’s jaw dropped. ‘Oh my...’
Piled in the safe was gold. Piles of it. Jewels. Maps, tools, books...and then, a leather bound book on the side of the safe, dusty and forgotten. Albus stepped forwards and reached in to get it. He touched it and he felt a cold rush of air go through his body.
‘Al?’ Scorpius asked.
‘Get the books and maps,’ Albus ordered. ‘We might need them. He took the journal and put it in Jessica’s bag. After the others had gathered everything they needed, Scorpius took a longing look at the gold and slammed the safe shut.
‘Here,’ Albus said, handing Griphook the bird wings. ‘Look after these.’
‘Of course,’ Griphook said, putting them in his robe. ‘Now hurry up! I’ll get in trouble if anyone catches me here.’
The four of them jumped into the cart and as soon as they ran out of Gringotts as soon as they got into the main bank room.
‘I’ll read it tonight,’ Rose decided. ‘I’ll study it carefully, don’t worry.’
Albus nodded. He handed Rose the book. ‘Scorpio, you and Jess find Victoire and give her the books and maps. I’m going to risk asking Dad on a bit of family history.’