The Medieval Relics
Chapter 35: The Mystery of Incommodo
The lesson was disturbing to say the least. Alexis was actually pale and Mark was shaky, "How is he still living?"
"Relax," Aries said calmly as they stopped and fell against the corridor wall leading back down to the Entrance hall. "This is required reading in the Salem Defense Class. My father probably knows of this too. All aspects of Dark Magic are very open for reading to ready ourselves because they have their own fair share of Dark Wizards."
"Ever thought that might be because it's so open that you have so many Dark witches and wizards?" Eric asked as Alex continued pacing, unable to stop himself.
"Information should be open to everyone," Aries defended simply. "For better or worse. Whether or not we leave the information for the public, they'll still get their hands on it."
"No, because it'll be hidden, locked tight and never spoken of," Eric said simply. "Like Dumbledore did."
"Yeah, I agree with Eric," Mark said quietly as he got up.
Aries got up too and sighed, "Look, just relax, ok? You're not supposed to get shaky over this. Remember what he said? Nobody can do this. Horcrux makers are rare enough, this sort of magic requires a Horcrux from another host and they still drop dead eighty percent of the time. This is even rarer. My mistake was dueling Dubium when my job is obviously to get rid of the Minister…"
"I thought your job was Dubium," Mark told her.
"No, Dubium needs a collective effort to deal with," Aries said. "Incommodo needs a single powerful witch or wizard. It can be done, it's just difficult."
"It is rare," Scorpius said suddenly. "My grandfather told me about this. The last time this was attempted was in 1738 with the Australian Warlock Wendell the Warped. It damaged him so much, he thought he'd reverse it. The reversal caused more damage, he wasn't even on the physical plane anymore. Any curse just sailed right through him. Problem was, when he attempted his own piece of magic, he destroyed himself. The only reason he gave us this lesson was the benefit of knowing Incommodo's secret."
"They've worked together before," Mark realized quietly. "Soto knew all the time. He just… never said anything till now. Why to the student body and not the Headmaster or Mr. Potter?"
Mark, the twins and Aries left. Alexis looked on the point of leaving too. "Need a rest," she said. "Probably get nightmares though."
Once Alexis left, it was just Albus and Scorpius left. Scorpius seemed very thoughtful and somewhat disturbed. His usually pale face had a greenish tint to it and he seemed very quiet. "Al… how does it feel like to kill someone?"
"What sort of question is that?" Albus asked.
"You killed Ridge, right?" Scorpius pressed, his face slowly going back to normal. "How did it feel? Was it hard? Did you feel guilty?"
"Uh… Why are you even asking me that?" Albus demanded.
"My father has a distaste for killing," Scorpius explained with a sigh. "Till now, he hasn't killed anyone. But he wasn't exactly fully involved in the war until later. We are. And the Reservation killed my grandfather, Incommodo might've even killed my great-grandfather if our history can be believed, and Soto's been threatening my best friend. Al… I want to kill them. How does it feel?"
"You feel guilty," Albus said honestly. "Or at least, I did. If you're your father's son, you will too. Killing isn't easy and it's not pleasant to watch. It's just something done. You- you didn't kill anyone in Hogsmeade? Have- have you ever used the Dark Arts before?"
Scorpius shook his head, "The first time I ever used a Dark Spell was when we broke the siege. I've handled dark objects before, I've performed Dark Magic on animals and inanimate objects charmed to move, and I know how it all works. I'm good. Really good. This lesson was the first time he said something I seriously know little about. Soul magic."
"You wouldn't"-
"Never," Scorpius insisted. "Some people go way too far. I like my soul as is thanks. Still, we're at war, Al. Trelawney might be right. I might kill someone if I have to. And Incommodo has bad blood with us. Trust me, Al, when this war ends, I'll be dead."
The month of May passed by without much event. Lily started talking to Albus much more. Not only that, but she seemed a lot more cheerful. She no longer secluded herself or kept things to herself, in fact she was more trusting of Albus in general. It was almost funny and Albus might have laughed if it was not long overdue. Lily also spent more time with Scorpius and if Albus was not mistaken, Lucy withdrew and spent more time alone than with Scorpius. Mark on the other hand started talking with Aries with a bit of a lighter air. They did not seem to mind people listening and did not bother to lower their voices from normal volume if people passed. Aries seemed a lot happier but still beaten and humbled over her failed duel. Ever since Mark proposed, they started acting like a normal couple.
After the journey to the library, Albus realized that they had all the founders' Relics and he did not know what to do. Aries kept saying that they would know when the time came but he was getting impatient with her cryptic remarks. Albus did not know if he could be ok with waiting for Aries to tell him what they needed the Relics for. Albus did what he could. He sent a letter to his father in his haste the day after with the family owl Archimedes, and told him that he found all the Relics. He would've been done sending letters for that year if Neil didn't 'psst' him from around a corner.
Albus faced Neil around the corner who shuffled his feet around uncertainly, looking down and refusing to meet Albus' eyes. "Father wants to flee with me."
"Ok… and…"
"I said no," Neil finished shortly. Albus was confused. Why was Neil telling him this? Why not James? Neil usually talked to James, not Albus. The boy continued in a small, timid voice so Albus barely heard him the first time, "DA's being betrayed. Spies going kill Harry Potter."
"Pierre told me too, who are they?" Albus pressed.
Neil shrugged to say he did not know. "Minister will kill and take over."
Neil left and Albus stayed where he was. Incommodo would kill Harry? Well, Albus tried to tell Harry but nothing. He was not sure if Harry would do anything. In fact, what could Harry do against inside traitors when he did not even know who they were? So, what could he do? And why now? Harry could not defend himself against people who did not let themselves be known. Incommodo needed to be stopped. A part of Albus just wanted to attack Incommodo directly, but he knew that would never work. Neither Albus nor Harry could attack Herpo's host- Herpo… what if he was intimidated into silence? Was it possible to intimidate Incommodo?
He could do something. He knew something about Incommodo no one else knew. He had something over him. He just realized. Merlin spilled the beans, Aries deduced everything. And if Albus played his cards right, he would get off alive. Albus was about to do the single stupidest thing in his life, but considering the fact Harry had a death wish, it was worth it. Albus had a letter to write, but in complete secret. Albus, for the first time, felt very shady as he clipped letters from a Daily Prophet, meaning to make his letter anonymous. After sticking them to the parchment, he looked at it, knowing he spent over an hour putting it together.
tO tHe mInisTeR of mAgiC,
i knOw who yOu are, wHat yOu hAve, and What yoU intenD to do. InStead of gOinG publIc with this, I wAnt TO meEt yoU face to face AND sOlVe this diPloMatIcalLy. BefOre we agrEe TO mEet, i waNt fuLl amnEstY for aLl CriMes, pasT and prEsenT, SigNed and AppRovEd by yOu wiTh a dAte to mEet.
a sTuDent.
"Take this to the Minister," Albus said to the owl. "Mors Incommodo."
Albus did not know what Incommodo hoped to achieve, and he knew he was taking a huge risk. He might well end up dead but it was worth it. This was to save Harry. Albus would only share what he did with Aries, knowing she alone was the only one who would agree with this insane plan of Albus'. Though Alex did briefly overhear their conversation and Aries had to convince him to silence himself before continuing. They nonetheless thought Albus was taking a risk but agreed to tell nobody (except Albus had a strong feeling Mark knew based on the looks he got).
Even then, Albus was not sure what Soot's aim was. The allegiance he had with Phoenix was set to expire right after the exams. Albus actually went to Soot's office, having full intention to talk to Soot one on one. An idea started formulating in Albus' head and he preferred being the one to instigate it. He planned to talk to Incommodo, Soto was first.
"You're familiar with the Dark Arts?' Albus started as Soot started solemnly putting his papers on the desk and proceeded to correct them. "And you want to teach them to us. You have a different agenda to Phoenix, yet you're helping us defend against the Curses your people are using against us. Why?"
Soot did not answer immediately. In fact, he did not even acknowledge Albus' presence. He began looking through the seventh years essays first. "Tell me, Mr. Potter, what sudden interest do you have that brings you to me now?"
"No intere"-
"Liar," Soot interrupted. "I am no fool and we established long ago I surpass the Dark Lord in Legilimency. Your attempts are futile. You discovered all the Relics, didn't you?"
Albus' heart started beating, aware that he was losing ground. He had to regain it somehow. He sat across the desk,
"My classes have had an impact," he said quietly as he looked at a sixth year essay by Aries V. Kimble. "This one knows the Dark Arts but she is quite the novice. Mr. Malfoy knows more of the Dark Arts than her. The Transylvanian Wart Curse was used against my father last Easter, was it not? Mr. Malfoy used it if my sources are correct. Verracurum. But what's different from regular Wizardry is that the Dark Arts defy the law of counter-curses. With few exceptions, every curse has a counter-curse. With the Dark Arts, only special kinds of counter-curses work. Like the Malaysian Breathlessness takes away your breathing. My son used it against him. Strangulo. Great effect. Literally suffocates you forever unless someone is quick with a counter-curse."
"But why?"
"Have you not already guessed?" Soot asked calmly, giving Aries an Acceptable and passing on to Alex Wallaby. "The Reservation, though my allies, are also my enemies."
"Care to elaborate or are you always going to speak in riddles?" Albus asked impatiently.
"I don't have to speak in riddles, Mr. Potter," Soot answered, skimming through an essay Eric wrote. "I am a very selective and tolerant person. I am spreading the capability to defend yourself throughout the school. It became an asset come Easter and yes, Potter, that is because of me. Mr. Malfoy showed perfect usage of the Transylvanian Wart curse and I don't even teach my son but he… he surpassed even Miss Kimble- I'm sorry- Mrs. Wallader in the Dark Arts. It fostered a new way of defending oneself."
"So, you're against the Reservation?"
"Heavens no, they preach an ideal of blood purity, an ideal I long since sympathized with," Soot said simply. "However, they aim to wipe out everyone until very few remain. They aim to instill an era of darkness upon the world, to rule as something of a god over the Muggle populace. I am no fool. Such an endeavor would cause us Wizards to die out. I play a- somewhat better approach. I aim to limit Muggle marriages. To purify the world one step at a time. I aim to educate and instruct why the darkness is important for our future world. Quite the ambition, isn't it?"
"Dubium can't do that, he's not immortal," Albus told him.
"You would think so," Soot mused. "Dubium's life force is attached to the ship. Or was. Dubium did what the Dark Lord only dreamed of. He achieved immortality with but one Horcrux. He bound his soul to the ship and with it, his magical essence. This hands him immortality but at a terrible price. If the ship is destroyed, so is he. But Easter taught him something, that his ship is vulnerable. Soon, his ship will be made even more powerful and you'll never destroy it again. It was I who told my son about Dubium's soul being bound to the ship. The fact the ship was targeted soon after proved to me that he has indeed betrayed me. For that, of course, he will pay and Dubium will become stronger than even your Minister."
"Seth is a better person than you," Albus said lowly. "Purity and Dark Arts. At least Seth has limits."
Soot was silent. He corrected through the essay quickly, now on Albus', adding commas when needed, deducting points, and adding a forgotten point at the end. He thought about the grade for a minute, and then put a small red A at the top. "Pitiful. They should teach English in this school. I expect an E. Here you go, Mr. Potter. Very bad. Do better next time."
Albus looked in surprise as Soot corrected the next essay. "Ah! An O. Well, Malfoy reached the limit. Yes, so you want to glorify Seth."
"He is better than you," Albus said. "He always will be. He- he did take our side, if only to protect someone who mattered to him"-
Soot held a hand up in interruption, "I will stop you right there, Potter. Seth cares nothing and he will realize that soon enough. As a boy, he does not realize his true nature. He does not have the capacity to care and don't ever fool yourself that he does. By making friends with a Muggle-born Wizard who will never find a place in the world the Reservation and the Purifiers seek to build, he seeks to deny who he is. By adulthood, he will learn… if he should live that long. I do not intend to let him off easy for his treachery."
"You're going to fail," Albus told him frankly.
"You need me," Soot told him quietly, piling the sixth year papers together and placing them in a drawer. "It is because of I and the other Heads of Houses your precious group found the Relics." He grinned evilly at Albus' vain look of confusion, "Did you think I was a fool? Telling Sierra to ask her own ancestor, to use that Stone I know you possessed. And it only proved to me the existence of a group working behind the scenes. And I know who heads it. And do not forget that it is through the Purifiers efforts that the Reservation, even after their inevitable victory, will not erase the world. Because of me, their influence will run deep by the end of the war. Erase me and erase any hope the world has of living. And I will tell the Reservation of those Relics when the time comes. Not that it will matter, they already possess the Black Orb and it will be used to make Dubium far more powerful than ever."
"Pity your grandson erased the Purifiers when he killed your wife!" Albus spat out. He got up in that instant, withdrawing his wand just as Soot did. The two wands were on each other. "Your group is gone. It's over. You lost."
"Tell me, Potter, what will happen if I killed the new Praetor of the Reservation?" Soot breathed. "Will it be carried to me? To the man destined from birth to take over?"
"No, it stays with Seth, the King, the one who will take over," Albus said, not exactly sure why he was defending Seth. "You lost, Soto!"
Albus could tell their meeting was at an end. He got up, staring at Soot's- Soto's- threatening eyes. Albus knew now what he wanted. He was working both with and against the Reservation. Soto was worst than Seth. He worked for and against simply because he had no loyalties whatsoever. If he had any loyalty, it was the desire to keep Hogwarts standing. If anything united the groups against the Reservation, it was Hogwarts, even the Minister. Soot passed on knowledge on how to defeat the Reservation. The spells used against them: Alexis' fire, Seth's Malaysian Breathlessness, Scorpius' Wart Curse, even Aries' brave attempts. But none of them knew what Incommodo truly stood for. If Soto knew who Incommodo really was, a Dark Wizard with interest in Hogwarts, he had a feeling the two would've seen eye to eye long ago.
Unfortunately, Albus did not receive a response from Incommodo for a long time. Albus began thinking that Incommodo might have chosen to ignore it but Alex disagreed. "If anything, he is considering it," Alex told him when Albus told his thoughts to Aries. "A meeting would take time, effort, and for all we know, he probably wants to plan his timing accordingly, to work in his favor."
It was the first issue Albus worked closely with the twins on. It was kept, more or less, secret from the wider Hogwarts Guard. During weekends, Albus would study in the Common room beside Scorpius and Lucy, who halfway through the month decided to talk to Scorpius again, albeit normally. As Albus studied for his exams, which were only a week away, to begin at the beginning of June, he started noticing something. Seth was treating Albus differently. He was giving strange looks and even said cryptic remarks about everything from the state of Albus' hair to when he might want to use the time turner he gave Albus almost a year back. Albus was confused by this to say the least, but he decided not to let it bother him.
Until one day near the end of the month.
"Time turners are pretty tricky, you know," Seth said suddenly from his studies one day. Simon continued studying as if nothing happened but Sierra stopped writing without moving her head or eyes. She was listening. "It can only go up to five hours. Either you decide to agree or disagree with the past. Change something behind the scenes or change something outright and probably risk your life. Of course, if you do that, you'd need to be careful and avoid a paradox. Don't erase the reason for going back in time to begin with. See what I mean?"
"It sort of goes without- Seth, you're creeping me out," Albus said frankly. "Stop."
"Al," Seth said suddenly as Albus started to get up. They were both standing up now and Seth faced him, standing a shoulder below Albus. "If you ever go back in time, reveal yourself to me." As Albus put his books and papers away, hoping to get some sleep before the exams started, Seth stared seriously. With a flick of his wand, Albus' books piled themselves into the bag and Seth held his gaze, "I'm serious. I gave you the time turner, you can trust me."
If Albus did not know better, he would have thought Seth was anticipating something happening, and hoped to play another role in helping Albus achieve whatever he might hope to achieve. Usually, Albus might have thought little of it but the fact was, he learned a while ago not to trust too much of what Seth did. It did not always mean the good of everyone. More often than not, it meant the good of Seth. Maybe Simon.
"What brought this up?"
"Phoenix is still not listening to me," Seth said quietly. "The peace agreement with my dad expires in two weeks, right after the exams. First thing he'll do is free the kids. When the kids break out, and they will eventually, I'm going to be their first of many, many targets. Just… so you know."
Exams were ferociously uneventful and the next two weeks passed without so much of a peep from anyone, except Scorpius and Lily who would engage in talk about their exams and how well they might've done. Lily was revising for OWL's which she would take the next year and Scorpius was passing his courses, which he did very well in. Albus did too. He was surprised to see that with fewer subjects and less roads for his mind to take, the revision was easier and he had a better grasp of nonverbal spells, which according to his Aunt Hermione, was more than one could say for Harry Potter himself.
The night of his final exam, which was the ever-more difficult Ancient Runes which had Albus try performing a rune spell for the first time, Albus finally received a note. His heart started pounding, well aware it was delivered at night for the sake of secrecy. Did Incommodo know it was him? Did he somehow discover it was Albus who sent the anonymous note? Or was it still unknown? Albus looked at the note, heart beating frantically as it was split in two parts. His heart gave a leap when he saw an official form of amnesty signed by the Minister himself. Whatever Incommodo knew, he was off the hook. He opened the second letter.
You will meet with me tomorrow evening, five in the afternoon. The ruins of Hogsnout village shall be the place. Know that while you may have eluded me, your amnesty does not include the recent threat you made in hopes of gaining my attention. If this fails to be worth my time, you will be sorry. If you are unsure, I strongly advise you to remain in the school and think of little else beyond your studies. Hogwarts is a school, not a playground.
-Mors Incommodo
Minister for Magic
High Lord of the Wizarding World
Order of Merlin First Class
Head of the Arsenal of Education
Head of the Education Department
Chief of the Law Enforcement
Master of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
It was rather strange for Albus to be receiving such a letter. He had only once stepped inside the Ministry and half expected to be asked to arrive there himself. Why was Incommodo agreeing to meet him close to Hogwarts? Now he received the message, Albus' heart started beating frantically. As he lay awake in bed, a new idea came to mind. Dare he tell his father? Was it worth it? Would it get to him in time? Perhaps they could do something, something, and stop Incommodo in his tracks. Could it even be done?
"Don't back out," a voice said from behind Albus' hangings. "He can't do anything to you, can he?"
Mark was right. And Albus could not do anything either. Even if they did arrest Incommodo who, considering who he really was on the inside, was impossible to take down, they still had the rest of the Ministry, which was popular following the defeat of the Reservation. The time was not yet ripe. It would not be ripe until much later. This did not quell his nervousness though. A part of him almost regretted sending the letter. Once Albus showed himself, he would be discovered, branded an enemy of the Ministry, tried, imprisoned or even executed.
Upon sunrise the next day, Albus got very little sleep and he found himself resting in the dormitory, not joining the rest of the school in the grounds, celebrating the end of exams. Lorcan and Lysander in particular were celebrating with Lycah in her hut for completing their OWLs. Scorpius went out to spend the day with Lily and Mark would have spent the day with Aries but he had foregone that to stay with Albus. It seemed Aries did in fact tell Mark what Albus did…
"If you were a little more rational, it might've been better planned," Mark admitted as Albus stared at his Invisibility Cloak.
"You know there's a chance that- that I don't make it back?" Albus said quietly.
Albus was not sure how he felt about that. Albus never felt any fear towards dying. It was who he was leaving behind. Mark had two hands on his shoulders, his head rested, hugging Albus tightly. A part of him just wanted to hug him back and give it all up. Before he could say anything, Mark said, "There are other ways to deal with things besides fighting, Al. Look, I have an idea. We know who he is, so point something out. That if you don't make it back, we spill the beans. Me, Aries and Alex. We spill the beans. That way… even he wouldn't dare kill you. He's a politician and politicians can be intimidated… by blackmail."
Out of thin air, Mark conjured a mask over Albus' face before doing a simple Transfiguration spell to change his robes' color to black. Mark robed Albus in black, all black with a hood over his face. "Merlin's beard, you look like a Death Eater."
"How would this help?"
"He won't know who you are," Mark said simply. "And there are anti-summoning Charms on most clothing witches and wizards wear. All you have to worry about is dueling him. Even if you do, there's a reason Merlin believes you can do it. It shouldn't be that easy."
Albus stared at Mark through the eyeholes and he remembered fully what it was once like working with him. Perhaps it would have gone better if they had been friends before. Albus fingered his time-turner. If ever, Albus would have a chance to redo the events if he needed to. He sighed, keeping the time turner in his head to calm him down. He kept it with him ever since. If it saved him… he would have to thank Seth. What Mark did not know was that Merlin's reason for trusting Albus would result in Albus' death.
"Good luck, Al," Mark said finally as Albus threw on the cloak and meandered through the castle. It seemed almost surreal as he took every shortcut he knew to the seventh floor. He would get into Hogsmeade the way he knew how. The way his father did when he snuck into the castle. He entered the Room of Requirement, thinking of a passageway to Hogsmeade. He heard bangs elsewhere in the castle but thought nothing of it, focusing purely on a way out to Hogsmeade. Like a charm, it worked, and there stood a portrait on the wall. Albus climbed through the portrait. He walked on for what felt like an hour before he finally descended to ground-level. He jumped out of the opposing portrait in the Hogs Head, knowing this was exactly how his father and aunt and uncle did it.
Being invisible, the barman did not notice him and neither did anyone else sitting around the bar. Albus' breath was getting hot against the mask but he could not take it off. Not for a second. Everyone else around the bar seemed to be robed too so Albus felt it safe to take his Invisibility cloak off and blend in with them as soon as the barman had his back turned. After spending half an hour there, being thrown no glances of suspicion, which he felt was a good thing, he walked out. He was very close to the countryside and had a short walk back. If he needed a quick escape, the cloak, the mask, and the passageway would help. He sighed heavily, as if hoping to expel his nervousness but it still hung on.
With terror, he saw the man he hoped to meet. There was a figure hiding in the shadows of a still-standing abandoned house. The ruins of Hogsnout village. Muggle-born sanctuary. As Albus approached, still cloaked and masked, feeling hot under heavy clothes but knowing he had no choice, Incommodo looked up.
The man stepped from the shadowed and stared at Albus from his yellow eyes. He looked the same. His yellow eyes, his papery yellow skin, his blood-red robes and his two wand holders on either end of his robes, clasped to what had to be an invisible belt told him so. Minister Mors Incommodo was there at last and here was Albus' one chance to take all his knowledge, everything he learned, and use it all against Incommodo. Every year, something big had to happen. It was like this for five years now, this would be the sixth. But this time… this time it was on Albus' terms. It would not go all according to plan, he knew that. It never did. But he knew more than any of the other parties. This time, whatever happened would be under Albus' control.
"Why would a sixteen year old boy need to be graced with my presence?"
Albus gulped his fear down, forcing himself to speak, thanking Mark mentally for hiding his face. "You don't do your reputation justice."
"I am no fool," Incommodo said in his wispy voice. "Your stature suggests sixteen years of age, your heavy robes in spite of hot weather suggests a cunning mind and cowardice, disengagement from a duel perhaps. A desire to protect yourself. This sixteen year-old boy is Slytherin house."
Damn, he knows. "I'm seventeen," Albus refuted lowly, trying to deepen his voice. Soon enough. It was the truth. Albus' birthday would be within the next couple of weeks.
"Oh, so this is a seventh year student?" Incommodo asked snidely, walking around him as if sizing him up. "I should have known a student in his last year would want to meet the Minister."
"I know what you are," Albus said abruptly, getting to the point, fingering his wand with one hand and his time turner with the other. "Who you are, what you ha"-
"Silence," Incommodo growled. "I have heard enough threats. I hope you intend to make this worth my time. What is it I am, exactly?"
Albus looked up, planning to meet his yellow eyes this time. There he was. The man who started this all. This entire mess was his fault and unbeknownst to everyone, even the Reservation, this man always held the upper hand. "Mortimer Ink. You possess the soul of Herpo the Foul."
The air changed. Incommodo always had that power. Albus remembered feeling terrified when he first met him, paralyzed with fear when he graced the Potter house with his presence, when he asked Harry to cease campaigning against him, to save the image of a hero. Now, Incommodo stepped back, face remaining composed but something- something within perhaps, changing. What did Incommodo want? Mors Incommodo looked down at Albus, his yellow eyes wide with anger but his voice forced into a calm tone, "You have nerve, mentioning that name to my face."
"You took over the body of Mortimer Ink," Albus continued. "Acted as a parasite until you took over completely. You're forced to reside in that shell until you regain your old body."
"And what, may I ask, is the point of this tirade against my state of being?" Incommodo growled.
"That I know, that before meeting you, I made sure others knew," Albus said, feeling more confident as he spoke, knowing more and more than Incommodo was not in control here. He smiled under the mask, feeling a glow of satisfaction as he could almost see the mind behind those yellow eyes working. "If I disappear or die, they will release the information. Everyone you claim are your supporters, everyone who follows you, will abandon your cause. You will fail and whatever you hope to achieve will be lost. That is why you came here today."
"I came here today over an anonymous note," Incommodo whispered, his voice wispy again. Albus was not sure if reverting back to wispiness was a sign of weakness or confidence. "A note that blackmailed my person, a crime punishable by ten years in Azkaban, a crime you will be sentenced for if I ever discover who you are."
"What do you intend to do? Kill me?"
Albus almost felt stupid suggesting it but Incommodo held his gaze, uncertain for the first time. Then, he said words Albus never believed he would say, "Keep that information silent and we walk away."
"I don't think so," Albus interrupted. "In fact, impossible. Too many others know by now. You're living on borrowed time. If I do not return, they'll tell. If I do, I tell unless we reach a happy conclusion. You'll lose support. I have a counter offer. You will tell me everything. You will swear not to raise your hand against Hogwarts, its inhabitants, or the Wizarding world. And you will not betray the DA which I know you're about to do."
"Very well, the DA will not be betrayed. But what is there to tell?" Incommodo asked quietly. "As you know, I possess Herpo's soul," Incommodo admitted. "I campaigned long ago to teach the Dark Arts in Greek schools. This, as we know did not go according to plan. Upon my entering England through Morgan Le Fay, I discovered two significant things. Morgan was a Seer like her enemy Merlin, and had a Prophecy. A Prophecy I alone heard as Herpo the Foul. I also discovered how fragile the British Wizarding population can be. Each generation has suffered one war after another. You faced a global conflict in the 1940's, a surge of Death Eaters in the 1970's and again in the 1990's, and now you find yourself on the brink of another. I chose this generation to make my move, after a hundred years of planning. I intend to introduce the Dark Arts as a subject to Hogwarts School. Something I am aware my former ally Soto Lean has managed to do. My allegiance with Soto Lean saw common ideals based off of this."
"What Prophecy?" Albus asked, though he believed he already knew the answer.
Incommodo recited it in full, no longer left in part but the full Prophecy. Even Trelawney did not speak it in full when he heard her.
"Light shall fall on a sea of darkness! Darkness flows into the purest of hearts! Darkness shall prove the flower's bane! Darkness guards the sea of light. The snake binds the eagle's talon, the eagle atop the roaring lion, the lion's roar's resounding cry, the badger no longer within the earth! A weapon as true as the bravest coward, a dwelling fit for a King crumbling down! Light shall fall… on a sea… of darkness…"
"Yet from the abyss shall rise a new warrior. She who shall guide. She the giant serpent. She who shall defend the King. The King who died. The King who lived. His dwelling crumble, his subjects aroused… The snake binds the eagle's talon, the eagle atop the roaring lion, the lion's roar's resounding cry, the badger no longer within the earth! A weapon as true as the bravest coward, a dwelling fit for a King crumbling down!
"And Light shall fall on a sea of darkness…"
Things were becoming clearer. That was not the Prophecy of Merlin as Albus thought. It was the Prophecy of Morgan. Incommodo did not know the Prophecy of Merlin, the Prophecy riddling the Relics and the pieces on the board for the existence of the Wizarding world. Albus had something over him. There was something Incommodo did not know. Albus had to survive this meeting now. "What do you intend to do with the Dark Arts from Hogwarts?" Albus asked, feeling he already knew the answer.
"Take over the Ministry, with a standing army of students after seven years. Your previous Dark Arts practitioners tried fighting the Ministry from the outside. This was illogical. The path to change lies in education, from the young. In the end, they are the future, and their future is ours to mold and shape. I would further introduce required teaching of the Dark Arts. With my army, we will take over schools across Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas, and rule over the populace from the schools. The Ministry will be beholden to the school, no longer the other way around. How often have you grown irritated with the Ministry, with my Department of Education, interfering frequently? In the end, this is proof of how tempting freedom from political forces is. And I will claim victory, I assure you."
The meeting, Albus could tell, was drawing to a close. Before they parted, Albus had one more question. Just for his friend. "Who killed the Walladers?"
"The murders were a product of more than one person," Incommodo whispered. "And you can tell your little friend that. I have no care what he intends to do to me. He will be killed upon me entering the school. Well, this is to be expected. They are the descendants of the person who brought me to England in the first place. The Walladers are descended from Morgan Le Fay and knew too much of my motives. They had spies within my former circle, a spy I never knew the identity of. I chose to exterminate my entire circle and the Walladers themselves before they could reveal anything. As he was then unknown to this world, I sent Soto on the job."
Soto. That's why Mark hates him. Mark knows. He saw his memories. Albus breathed out. "They saw right through you," Albus muttered. "They knew you, were close to revealing you."
"All who know what I possess ultimately make the same foolish mistake that leads to their downfall," Incommodo said quietly, withdrawing both his wands. Albus saw it coming now. This was it. Somehow, he would have to defeat Incommodo here and finish it. "The same one you made just now. Confronting me. I possess two souls. You possess one and therefore are made very vulnerable. That means the Killing Curse knows which soul to expel. I will not raise a hand against the DA or the world for a year, just to placate your friends, however soon I will be beyond even your threat. You will not be around to revel in that glory… assuming the world believes any outspoken teenager, a common belief of your imprisonment will go a long way to maintain silence. Avada Kedavra!"
Albus leapt aside, and rolled away from the next jet. He leapt up with his wand in hand and pointed it readily. Incommodo was not easily beaten though. Albus nonverbally thought, Stolidus Tardus!
Well aware that he was attempting an Unforgivable Curse, he leapt aside from an incoming jet of green light as his own jet of black disintegrated upon contact with an object out of Incommodo's robes. Both wands attached themselves to what looked like a Scepter. The orb on top glowed bright yellow and Albus, remembering what Merlin said about the basilisk's eyebeam infused in its orb, looked away. This cost him a needed chance to act when Incommodo yelled, "Avada Kedavra!"
Albus attempted to roll but the jet of green did not come out as a streak of light, but a wave, a sphere of green, killing all life in its path. The green dome came too quickly and too suddenly for Albus to act. He collapsed to the ground in a heartbeat. Albus felt his own heart stop and a pain in his chest. All air left his lungs as he stared sightlessly up at the sky. Albus Potter felt dead. He was dead… or so he thought. Something was wrong. Something was stirring inside him, as if blocking the effect even if the curse hit the body. Something was very strange. Something didn't belong.
Albus found himself in a white room, very different than the blue room he met Merlin in. The first vision was King's Cross station but it changed quickly to Albus' mindset. It changed to the Hogwarts grounds. They were empty and deserted and all white, whitened beyond recognition. The castle was white, the forest was white, and the lawn was white. On the ground next to him was what looked like a maimed baby but it was sitting upright, staring up at him through mismatched eyes. It looked like it had just stopped suffering through agony and was just now beginning to recover. Albus sighed, looking around. His father had described this to him before second year. This was limbo. That meant that Albus was dead. He had failed…
"No…" a high, cold, yet weakened voice said from the baby, making Albus jump. His hairs stood on end as Voldemort spoke once again. "You… need… me…" it said. "Die… and all your plans go to ruin!"
"I'm… willing to die, just to see you die for real," Albus told him. "Incommodo will be defeated by someone else. Now his motives will be known. I've done enough damage to him."
"Don't be idealistic," a voice said from behind, making him jump again. Merlin. Once again, Merlin spoke to him, approaching from the white forest. "You are the one who knows the truth, regardless of the path you choose to destroy him, you are relevant. You cannot die."
"But I don't have two souls," Albus refuted. "This… thing is just an essence of his soul, not the actual thing."
"Ah… but your Minister just committed his biggest mistake in attempting your life," Merlin said knowledgeably. "He has given you a chance to become just that. You are the King, remember that. And you represent the collective. If you are defeated, the student body is captured and the game is lost. You must live. And if you live refusing to give a lifespan, he will sap yours and kill you. You are healthier and stronger with him as a soul… for now. And because of its natural evolution, your body may not be destroyed."
"No," Albus said firmly. "I'm not giving him power."
"He has no power," Merlin told him. "He will forever be anchored to your body. And when it expires, so will he."
Albus turned to it, looking pitifully down at it. The baby looked up too, "Give me your lifespan… and you live to fight another day."
"I will give you no such thing," Albus said in a low voice. "Stay dead."
"There is another way," a new voice said. Albus gasped as he spun around and hugged him. Walter Mold was there, looking whole and healthy, full of life and energy like he had never died. He had a wide grin on his plump, happy face as he regarded his former dorm-mate. "Hey, mate."
"You're… ok…"
"Well, barring the fact I'm dead, yeah, I'm great," Walter said happily. "But never mind that. Him," he pointed to the baby who had a small hand outstretched. "Give him your lifespan and he'll be strong enough for a new body. He'd actually come back as a young man in your body. Have a second chance at everything. You gotta go lower."
Albus sighed, looking around. "And if I choose to follow you…"
"Then the one who killed me will win," Walter said sadly. "Doesn't it suck, being needed?"
"At times," Albus shrugged.
"If I knew Samantha needed me, I'd never have taken part in the battle," Walter sighed. "But some things need our attention. I can't live anymore. But you can. A full life. Just… fight for it. You have a future even if I don't. Trust me. Give him a few years. No more and no less. It'll work out, believe me."
Albus turned back to the baby who still stretched its hand out. He hated himself for what he was about to do but if he wanted to live, he had to do it. "Five years. I'll give you five years of my lifespan. Stop sapping my life on your own, become a body-anchored soul, and we'll share this body. Only I will be dominant."
Albus knew this was a bad move. Once his own soul left his body, once his natural lifespan had five years left, Voldemort would take over. But Albus bought himself time. He'd find a way out. He had to.
As he clasped his hand around the baby's hand, he felt himself being pulled from his navel, like he touched a Portkey, and a rush of air filled his lungs. He was Albus Potter again. He was back. He stared up at the night sky, pondering over his new existence. He felt no different. But inside, he knew something was biding its time. That something needed to be stopped. Incommodo was gone, perhaps under the impression he was dead. His mask was off so Incommodo was under the impression that Albus Potter was dead. Now Albus sat up, he felt his own face and felt a scar on his chin. Not a lightning bolt like his father, but a semi-circle forming a kind of smiley shape. A product of his survival. He got up and walked away, remembering Incommodo's power, almost shuddering from it.
At least he stopped the betrayal. He sighed in relief. Incommodo wouldn't do anything lest he be discovered. He would use the year to gain power but Albus had that time to forewarn Harry. They were safe.
Albus reached the Hogs Head and walked on in, wearing his Invisibility cloak. The portrait, Albus remembered, his father left standing. He hurried across, knowing he was making a long climb to the level of the seventh floor. He finally reached the end and climbed out. The second he climbed out, he had a rush of foreboding. He just knew something was wrong. He rushed through the room and out, but yelled as he tripped over something. Albus knew what it was before he hit the ground. It was a body. A body of a boy he knew well. "Seth! Seth!"
Albus shook Seth desperately. He was never attached to Seth… or was he? He never knew. Slowly, Seth's eyes flickered but he seemed incapable of breathing. Seth was lying in a pool of blood, his lip bleeding and his forehead suffering from a gash. It was too late. He just gazed at Albus through his dying blue eyes and whispered quietly, so quietly Albus would not have been sure he heard correctly if he did not repeat himself. "Help me… help me, Al," he said weakly.
Albus wished he could, wished so desperately he had more time. He took out his wand but it was too late. Seth exhaled one last time before going still. His eyes bore no difference. They were always empty but now- now they were sightless. He had a good run, he was a tremendous help but in the end, Seth Lean was dead.