Chapter 8: Kansas
Travers arrived with Albus Potter and the inferius of Albert Blake at a small forested graveyard outside his hometown of Rolla, Kansas. He shoved Albus onto the ground, Blake quickly focusing his wand on him. Travers made a detailed tour of the graveyard, ending by shutting the main gate. He turned back to Albus.
"We're alone." He walked back to Albus and pointed his wand at him. Albus went rigid and flew through the air before being face planted into a large gravestone. "Please allow me to introduce my wonderful father, Potter. Meet Joshua Travers, a farmer, wife beater and child beater. He destroyed my childhood Potter. Tell me," he said, turning Albus back to face him, "does your father do that boy? Does he ruin your life anew every single day?" Travers lowered his wand, dropping Albus hard on the ground. Albus' ankle turned, rivaling the pain of his shoulder. "Of course he doesn't," Travers said. "You aren't tough enough for that."
He moved fifty yards away from Albus and reclined on a gravestone, facing him. "Still, you are smart. Let's see how smart. You've seen what happens to those who are useless to me in New Mexico. And as for those who dare to oppose me, well Mr. Blake is living proof of what happens to them. Figuratively." Albus tried to fight his bindings, but Blake just added more. "So, Albus was it? You know how to remove this wretched trace. I can have your corpse tell me of course, but that's a lot of work I just don't want to do. I'm going to offer you a deal instead. You remove my trace and I'll let you walk out of here alive. So, how about it?"
Albus thought for a while before answering. "There is a vial of potion in my shirt pocket. Drink it and you will remove the trace."
Travers motioned to Blake who retrieved the vial and handed it to Travers. He uncorked the vial and walked toward Albus. "You know, that was a smart trick. For a second there, I almost drank it. But, you don't have a trace. And why would you be carrying a potion to remove something you don't have.
"But you would have reason to carry a vial of poison. So, let's find out how this vial kills. Is it quick?" he asked excitedly. "Slow and painful perhaps? Do you waste away to dirt?" Travers was right next to Albus now. He whispered into Albus' ear, "I'll enjoy watching it effect you, Mr. Potter." Then he forced the potion down Albus' throat and stepped away.
Nothing happened. Several minutes went by before Travers asked, "It wasn't poison, was it Mr. Potter?" Albus couldn't help but shake his head. "Very well, Mr. Potter, what did that potion vial do?"
"I told you, it removed the trace."
"LIAR!" Albus flinched, which is very difficult to do when you're entire torso is bound. Travers pointed his wand at Albus and the ropes around him suddenly fell off. He staggered, and pushed himself off the ground.
"Crucio!" Travers yelled. Knives stabbed through Albus' entire body. His body burned with a pain that he had never felt before, his bones were trying to jump out of his body. He wanted it to end, any way possible, do anything as long as it ended the pain. And then it was gone.
"You see Mr. Potter," Travers said, circling around behind Albus, "I can be very persuasive. So tell me, what have you done?"
Albus' body was still burning, his shoulder and ankle now matched by the effects of the curse. But he knew the value of information. He knew that information was the only thing keeping him alive. He had to stay alive. He had gotten the potion down; his trace was active again. His dad would find him, he just had to buy time. No matter how painful.
"Tell me," Travers said right behind him, "Tell me or I'll force you to. I don't have much time Potter, tell me now." Albus bit his lip to the point of blood, even though he couldn't add anymore pain.
"Imperio!" Travers shouted. Albus felt his mind go blank. There was no pain, no thoughts. The graveyard disappeared. All that existed was a small voice in the back of his head saying, "just tell him, tell him what happened." But a stronger voice replied, "no." "Tell him." "No," "TELL HIM!" the voice screamed.
"NO," the voice replied, this time the words emitting from Albus' mouth. The world came flooding back: the pain, the graveyard. But not the fear, Albus noticed that the fear was gone. Whatever happened now, he had done all he could. He took comfort in that.
"No? Very well, I will have to have your corpse tell me. You're putting me through a great deal of trouble Mr. Potter, not a good way to start you're service to me. He turned his wand on Albus, but Albus was ready.
"Please let me start on a better foot. You should kill me with my own wand. It would make a better example of me."
Travers stopped and thought about that. A smile formed on his face. "You're right you know; it will. Good. You're beginning to learn how to serve me. Blake, kill him." Blake moved forward and pointed the wand toward Albus.
"Avada Kedavra!"
The wand exploded. Blake flew back to the edge of the woods, landing hard on his shoulder and flipping head over heels three times before slamming into a tree. He made no sound, clearly dead. Again.
Albus couldn't help laughing. Travers flicked his wand and Albus quit laughing. "You think this is funny boy?"
"True power is not in terrorizing, painful or flashy magic," Albus said quietly, forcing Travers to come closer. "The greatest and most powerful magic has always been knowledge. A lesson I learned from my father. A lesson he learned from his teacher. A lesson you are learning today."
"You are nothing like your father!" Travers exclaimed. He turned his wand on Albus and shouted "Avada Kedavra!"
An emerald green spell streaked through the air toward Albus.
The air around Albus flickered and Albus disappeared. The spell hit, the icy scream of death following close behind. Suddenly a man in a t-shirt and jeans with unruly black hair was standing where Albus had been. He straightened up and turned toward Travers, pointing a dark brown wand at his heart. "Funny, I rather thought he is a lot like me."
Travers stumbled back and noticed the woods move. Six witches and wizards emerged from the woods, surrounding Travers with wands pointed directly at him. Travers smiled. "The great Harry Potter. We meet at last."
"You tried to kill my son, tell me why I shouldn't kill you." Harry said.
Travers laughed and then said mockingly, "The greatest and most powerful magic is knowledge." He lowered his wand and turned. Seven jets of red light streaked across the graveyard, but the hit only air. Travers was gone.
Harry motioned the others to keep their wands ready and circle together. He heard the graveyard gate open but it was only the Americans running in. Late as always. "Harry, find Albus," Hermione said, "We'll handle this."
"James, check east, I'll check west." Harry waited for a response and then looked around. "Where's James?" Harry said, panic leaking into his voice.
James' voice answered. "Albus! Albus! Please don't be dead," his voice cracked as he tried to fight away tears. "Albus." James was by the fence cradling the limp body of his brother, the invisibility cloak lying on the ground a few feet away. Harry ran to his son's side, Ginny close behind.
Harry dropped to his knees and poked his son with his wand. Albus groaned. "He's alive!" Harry screamed. "Jacob, he needs to get to a hospital. Help me."
Jacob Brown had instructed his men to check the woods before fighting his way through Harry's friends to Harry's side. "I'll take you both. Hold tight." Harry grabbed Jacob's arm while Jacob grabbed Albus and the three vanished.