I just wanted to thank JK for her world, and her continued generosity with it! These are her toys! I own any OC's that appear, they're MINE ALL MINE! BWahahahaaah! Sorry little touch of megalomania there. So enjoy my take on the continuing saga of the epilogue to DH.
Chapter Notes: Well here we are. The chapter I have been building toward for months now. I hope it's worth the wait.
R&R
Albus Potter and the Year of the Badger
Chapter 25: Incendio
After Albus came back to the common room with his cloak stashed under his robes, Rose had some questions waiting for him. He didn't expect her to go along with him blindly, she wouldn't be Rose Weasley if she did.
"Why do we need to go now, why can't we wait or find a way to tell your dad?"
Albus got them moving in the direction of the kitchens before he answered. "We don't have time to tell my dad, they might be breaking into the safe in Uncle Neville's office as we speak."
"Why now, and why?" Rose insisted.
Albus restrained himself from snapping at her, but only just. "When the Mystery Wizard struck, what was the target most often?"
"The team opposing Hufflepuff Quidditch team," Scorpius answered. Rose with her brilliant mind was beginning to catch up, "So you think this person is going to interfere with the Quidditch match this afternoon?" Albus nodded eagerly as he tried to get them to speed up. "What gives Gryffindor the biggest advantage in Qudditch right now?" "The Skybolt!" Rose and Scorpius said together, then seemed discomfited by the duality.
Scorpius cleared his throat uncomfortably, then continued, "So why are we going to see Professor Longbottom?" Albus was silent while they waved at the happy little elves and made their way through the kitchen. As soon as they made the stairway he quickly glanced around then answered, "We are going to see Uncle Neville because he is the only person at Hogwarts right now that has Auror training, and he has to see this person actually break into the vault. The evidence is so good against Liam that they won't believe three students, but they will believe a war hero, especially when he detains the wizard after catching him in the act."
Rose's forehead crinkled as they made their way toward the Arboretum wing. "What happens if we can't find Uncle Neville?" Albus almost paused, in his hurry he never considered that possibility. Scorpius answered, "Well we have the best invisibility cloak ever spelled, remember, and you and I practiced Stunning spells in Dueling Club, we'll sneak up on him and knock him out ourselves."
Rose was so alarmed she stopped. "He's got to be a very powerful Wizard to do the things we suspect him of, we're just first years, we wouldn't stand a chance if we missed or they have a shield spell!" she gasped. "We just cant risk it. Let's find another professor first."
Albus placed a hand on her arm before she could pull them in another direction. He made sure she met his eyes. "We don't know who else is involved, and it might be too late by then, if we don't catch them in the act we can't prove that Liam's innocent. If we don't stop them and they get into that vault and spell the SkyBolt, it could hurt James, might even kill him."
Rose looked stunned. "O-okay," she stammered and bit her lip, "we better not miss then. I hope we find Uncle Neville first, though."
They didn't have to travel far because Professor Longbottom came around the next bend, distracted and humming a tune to himself.
They ran up to him and began to talk all at once.
"Whoa, hold on!" he said with a chuckle, "one at a time please, I may have two ears but I use them one at a time."
Rose and Scorpius nodded at Albus and he started to tell Uncle Neville what he suspected, but when he got to the part about the vault, the tall man held a hand up. "The Arboretum is closed today. You're not going in there."
They all three exchanged a look. "Why not?" Scorpius ventured. Albus saw a momentary look of confusion cross his uncle's face, then it was erased by a vacuous smile. "It just is. I am the professor here, remember."
Albus was stunned. Uncle Neville rarely invoked his authority unless it was an emergency. Albus always thought he was rather embarrassed to be in charge of anything, it was his most endearing quality to his students. Something was wrong. He could tell from the way that Rose and Scorpius were staring at the teacher they caught the difference as well.
Neville made a impatient shooing gesture back the way they had come. "I sent everybody out and closed it off. It's going to be a beautiful day outside. You two should be getting ready for your match. Now go on now, off you get."
Albus suddenly realized that Uncle Neville had been Imperiused. It was becoming the Mystery Wizard's trademark. Uncle Neville was now just another obstacle to get by. They could expect no help from him. That also meant that the assailant was most likely already in the Arboretum and heading to the vault as they stood there. He felt helpless, he hadn't realized how much he was depending on his uncle until that moment.
"Professor?" Scorpius ventured.
Neville looked impatient, but he answered, "Yes?"
"Remember how your parents can't remember you?" Scorpius said quietly.
Uncle Neville suddenly looked very confused, "Yes. Why?"
Scorpius stared intently into the older man's eyes, it looked as if he was willing his next words to penetrate through the spell. "Someone has messed with your mind too, Professor, they want to hurt James Potter by putting a spell on his broom. We have to stop them, we need you to let us by."
Suddenly Neville Longbottom dropped to his knees holding his head, a cry of anguish came out of his mouth like a howl. He looked up his face damp with sweat from fighting the spell, there was a struggle in his pain-filled red-rimmed eyes, "I can't break it completely, I can only hold it off a minute or so. Go!"
They ran by him, and down the stairs toward the Arboretum. Albus glanced back to see Uncle Neville stand up, glance around as if confused, then he strolled off humming.
They all got under the cloak as they entered the glass enclosure. They carefully made their way past the panorama of plant life, past the different environs. Not able to go as fast and stay hidden, they crept carefully upward, they saw no one until they reached the forth floor.
Looking through the glass door into the office interior Albus saw a large cloaked figure checking a paper in it's hand as it traced a pattern carefully on the door. The clicks of the disengaging locks seemingly echoing loudly in Albus' ears as he realized he had seen that figure before on the ramp when they arrived in Hogsmead, and had caught a glimpse of him in the tunnel when Cormac was Imperiused.
This was it. He was about to see the face of the person behind it all. He had a hunch it would be familiar.
Rose tugged his sleeve and drew her wand, Scorpius followed suit, Albus prepared to throw the Cloak back. On a whim he drew his wand as well. They both pointed their wands at the broad back of the dark-robed figure.
Rose nodded and Albus tossed the cloak back.
"Stupify!" they bellowed in unison as twin jets of red light streaked toward their target.
The figure was bathed in the red glow and Albus had a moment of elation.
We did it!
The figure didn't fall, it simply straightened up and turned, throwing back it's hood.
"Professor Pharrel?" Scorpius murmured, shock coating his voice.
The man smiled as pleasantly as ever. "Yes, and no."
He crossed the room with a speed that was inhuman and sent Rose flying through the air with a casual backhanded swat. She hit the book case, knocking books down upon herself and a portrait of Neville and Hannah. She hit so hard she cracked the glass wall behind the shelving.
Albus was enraged.
"Reducto!" he bellowed as a jet of bright orange left his wand and collided with Professor Pharrel. His sudden hunch that he wasn't dealing with a human was borne out when his spell simply blew the man back across the room into the vault in a cloud of smoke that smelled oddly like burnt wood . Scorpius thinking quickly ran and shut the door before it could regain it's feet.
Albus stuffed the cloak into his robe, and he and Scorpius ran over to Rose. Where she had landed was now a pile of fallen books. "Rose!" Albus hollered as they cleared books away from her face. Her eyelids fluttered weakly. Albus didn't know how hurt she was, but the Goblin made door boomed with an ominous sound of a fist hitting it. The fist made a harder noise than it should have.
"W-we need to get ou-out of here, now." Scorpius stammered his eyes glancing at the door.
They lifted Rose up between them and made their way out. Behind them the booming blows stopped, and a more ominous sound emerged, the clicks of someone opening the vault door from the inside.
"He's going to figure out how to reverse the pattern soon." Scorpius gasped. "We need to get Rose out of here. What is that anyway?"
Rose stirred and mumbled something.
Albus leaned down, "What did you say Rose?"
"Golem," she murmured.
Scorpius went pale, "We are in deep trouble."
Albus was exasperated, "Yeah? I hadn't noticed!"
Scorpius redoubled his efforts to get Rose out of there. Nearly dragging Albus as well.
Albus suddenly realized, they weren't going to make it all the way down with Rose between them. Even if they hid under the cloak there was no telling how long the Imperiused Neville was going to keep people away. Possibly long enough for them to be found by that creature. If it was capable of altering Neville's memory it was capable of wiping theirs as well, and fixing it's mess. Liam would be taken to Azkaban, James would be hurt by his broom malfunctioning, and Albus would none the wiser.
Albus suddenly had an idea. It was something that Moody had said in his book.
Ambushes are not only for the forces of evil, they can be salvation to an Auror as well. All you need is a bit of misdirection, and a bigger threat to distract them from. Remember what they can't see can hurt them alot.
Albus stopped, Scorpius nearly pitched forward. He turned on Albus furious, "Are you mental? That thing is going to kill us."
Albus shook his head, "I've got a plan. We can kill it, if you'll help me." Scorpius didn't hesitate, he nodded for Albus to go on.
By the time the ominous shriek of the bent Vault door hinges cleaved the silence, they were ready.
Albus watched from under the cloak muffling Rose's mouth as she murmured facts about golems. It rushed out of the office in a eerie speed. What was passing as Professor Pharrel had a huge chunk missing from his chest where Albus' curse had reduced some of its mass to dust. There was scorched marks around the hole, but blood wasn't coming out, something strange like sap was leaking. Even more frightening was that it was filling in, healing itself bit by bit as he watched. Scorpius suddenly stepped out of a magical enclosure further down the forth floor cupola.
He was carrying a sword, which he swung menacingly. "You know if I was going to be made in the likeness of someone, I think I'd pick someone less hideous," he called mockingly. He pulled the sword back with a grace that Albus admired, then he extended his other hand and waved the golem to come and get him. With a roar the creature obliged.
It charged down the hallway headlong, but Scorpius didn't flinch. He stood his ground and waited for it. Then at the last moment he flung himself to the side, the golem spun to go after him but Albus threw the cloak back. "Reducto!" he roared. Power surged through him fueled by his anger and sense of betrayal. It struck the creature dead center lifting it back through the air and through the permeable wall behind it.
It crawled to its feet immediately and tested the one-way charm wall with an angry fist. It didn't realize that it wasn't the only prisoner until five vicious looking thorny vines snaked out and captured its arms and legs. It made an shocked noise then it was catapulted into the middle of the mass that was Dolores the Umbridge Weed.
Scorpius joined him at the enclosure listening to the impotent roars of the Pharrel-creature as the even more monstrous plant began taking it apart. Scorpius was holding his arm and wincing. Albus was smiling but he noticed his friend wasn't. "What's wrong with you? We beat it!" Albus crowed slapping him on the back. Scorpius let out a small cry of pain, and glowered at him.
"It's not over," he managed.
Albus' heart fell, "What do you mean it's not over?"
Scorpius was chewing his bottom lip, "A golem shares the life-force of it's creator. It can't exist unless there is a source of magic powering it."
Albus was just beginning to understand what he was being told, when he heard a voice echoing from below. "Albus? Albus Potter, why don't you and your friends come on down. We need to have a little talk. I want a chance to explain myself."
Albus walked over to the railing that peered down through open air that separated the levels. There, making his way up, wearing yet another voluminous robe and hood, was Albus could only assume, the real Atticus Pharrel. He glanced up at that moment and his smile sent shivers down Albus' spine. "There you are, dear boy. Come on down, let's discuss this. I have a solution I think we can both be happy with."
Scorpius' face was paler than usual, almost ghastly. "I think I broke my wand arm Albus. I can't help you."
Albus realized that all this year was leading up to this moment. He had to decide.
Scorpius' non-injured arm landed on his shoulder, "You can do this. You're the only one with a chance."
Albus shook his head, "I'm the only one left you mean."
Scorpius was adamantly shaking his head, "No Albus, you're the only one smart enough and cunning enough to have a chance to beat Pharrel. Just treat him like a chess opponent."
Albus sighed. Farewell normal.
He handed Scorpius the cloak. "Keep her safe. If I don't win, hide, and try to slip by him, somebody needs to remember so they can warn James." Scorpius nodded gravely.
Albus walked over to the walkway and started down.
As he made his way, Moody's words echoed in his ears.
Cheat. If you are evenly matched, cheat. If they are superior to you cheat, a lot.
Albus reached the midway point between them. He waited for the professor impatiently. He had to time this perfectly.
"You are simply magnificent! I knew if from the moment I saw you step off of the Express. When the dreamer finally awakens, you will be a jewel I can offer him, to show my worthiness." Pharrel spoke with a feverish intensity as he approached. "Too bad you won't remember until it is time for you to do so. I will enjoy shaping you as I have so many for his service thus far."
Albus sneered, "Well you're going to have to duel me first, professor."
Atticus was so shocked stopped and gaped. Then he laughed uproariously. "You, duel me? I am the greatest dueler of all time! Why would I duel a child."
Albus crossed his fingers behind his back. He said a silent prayer that he was pushing the right buttons on this unpredictable man. There was a clock unwinding in his head and he didn't have much time. "I think a first-year can beat a washed up has-been like you. You probably bought those trophies at a rummage sale!"
Atticus growled and his hand flashed faster than Albus could blink sending a jet of red light at Albus. Suddenly it rebounded off of a nimbus of multi-hued energy and shot straight back hitting him in the chest with such a force that he was blown off of his feet backwards, skidding across the tarmac unconscious. Albus slumped in relief. He pulled the Bastille Rose bloom he had plucked on his way down out from behind his back and kissed the flower.
Suddenly he was lifted off of his feet by one tattered, supernaturally strong arm. There was a ragged voice in his ear. "You have caused me trouble little one, I think killing you is the best way to serve my master now. This is going to hurt."
Albus had a surge of terror going through him as the monster began to squeeze the life out of him.
"Put him down, now," came a voice so ferocious and angry that Albus didn't recognize it at first.
The creature spun, and Albus saw his Uncle Neville swaying on his feet. He was drenched in sweat but his eyes were blazing with fury. He had defeated the memory spell but it had cost him a lot to do it. He was weary but the wand he held in his hand was steady.
The golem laughed wheezily, "You can't do it Longbottom. All you have accomplished was arriving in time to watch me kill the boy.
Neville lowered his wand, his tired eyes caught Albus'. "Do you trust me?" he asked.
Albus nodded.
If he thought Pharrel was fast with a wand, he didn't even see Uncle Neville move, but he felt the passing of a spell so powerful it made the side of his face tingle for minutes after wards. It passed close enough to sting his ear. The golem dropped Albus and, he spun out of the way. He turned to see the shredded, headless body search for its head, which had been evaporated by the power of the blast.
Neville strolled purposely past Albus. "Cover your eyes Albus," he commanded. "Incendio" he roared.
The flames that came from his wand where so bright that Albus could see the after-image when he obeyed. He shaded his eyes and opened after a minute of silence. The roaring of flames and the bleating of the dying creature ceased. He saw his Uncle Neville poking a pile of black dust and ashes with his wand. He glanced up nervously at Albus. "I am so sorry you had to see that. I don't let that side of myself out very often."
Albus heard the apologia in his Uncle's voice, he wanted to let him know that there was nothing to be sorry for. He still respected his Uncle as much as he ever had, maybe even more so.
Uncle Neville finished his prodding and looked up warily. Albus smiled and pointed, "Missed a bit."
Uncle Neville grinned when he saw a small wooden finger trying to crawl away. Albus pointed his wand and with one last Reducto the golem was finally gone.
Thought of the Day: Even though Astrea Severin Orion Black and Phantom Penguin guessed that Professor Pharrel was involved (darn em! LOL!) they did not say anything about a golem being involved...so nahh naaaaahhh I still claim victory! I know I am being juvenile but can't help it.
Incendio is a spell out of the HP Lexicon and was used on two occasions, once by Arthur Weasley to start a fire in the Dursley's fireplace in GF. Then by a Death Eater in HBP to set fire to Hagrid's cabin. I used it as the title because this chapter lights a fire that will burn all the way through to the end. I know I am being pretentious but, I am the author...we're allowed to be. :)
FYI: Golems are mentioned all over mythology, are in a sense, magical robots. They have been used as foot soldiers and assasins and guardians. They can be shaped to look like persons, or to be simple killing machines. While they are magical, they cannot create magic. Any scene you saw Atticus Pharrel use his wand, that was the human Pharrel. Other times when he didn't use magic when he logically should have, that was the golem. Example being how he stunned Lilith LeBlanc but was still in the stands talking to Professor Bast, the one carrying on the conversation was the golem, he's also who Albus was talking too when he reported seeing the red flash. Pharrel was always late because he was keeping up with two lives. I planted a seed about Golems in the last chapter that might give you a bit of a clue. I am not done with suprises though, next chapter has a doozy! And also has the first appearance of an old HP friend. See you then!