Will and Won't
Arthur Pendergast was sitting in a chair beside his bedroom window for the past four hours, staring out at the darkening street, the orange glare of the streetlamp outside draining all colour from his green eyes and making his untidy black hair more pronounced.
To keep himself from being bored, he would look at a moving photo of a smiling black haired boy with purple eyes that came with a letter a few days ago. Looking at the photo made Arthur smile fondly because in a photo, his boyfriend looked handsome.
His room was strewn with various possessions with a bin bag that was so full of owl feathers, apple cores and sweet wrappers.
On his bed were a number of spellbooks that lay open and with a mess of newspapers sat in a puddle of light on his desk.
The headline of one blared:
ARTHUR PENDERGAST: THE CHOSEN ONE?
Rumours continue to fly about the mysterious recent disturbance at the Ministry of Magic, during which He Who Must Be Named was sighted once more.
"We're not allowed to talk about it, don't ask me anything." said one agitated Obliviator, who refused to give his name as he left the Ministry of Magic.
Nevertheless, highly placed sources within the Ministry have confirmed that the disturbance centred on the fabled Hall of Prophecies.
Though Ministry spokewizards have hitherto refused even to confirm the existence of such a place, a growing number of the wizarding community believe that the Death Eaters now serving sentences in Azkaban for trespass and attempted theft were attempting to steal a prophecy. The nature of that prophecy is unknown, although speculation is rife that it concerns Arthur Pendergast, the only person ever known to have survived the Killing Curse, and who is also known to have been at the Ministry on the night in question. Some are going so far as to call Pendergast the 'Chosen One', believing that the prophecy names him as the only one who will be able to rid us of He Who Must Be Named.
The current whereabouts of the prophecy, if it exists, are unknown, although (cont. page 2, column 5)
A second newspaper lay beside the first. This one bore the headline:
SCRIMGEOUR SUCCEEDS FUDGE
Most of the front page was taken up from a large black and white picture of a man with a lion-like mane of thick hair and a ravaged face. The picture moved, portraying the man waving at the ceiling.
Rufus Scrimgeour, previously Head of the Auror Office in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, has succeeded Cornelius Fudge as Minister for Magic. The appointment has largely been greeted with enthusiasm by the wizarding community, though rumours of a rift between the new Minister and Albus Dumbledore, newly reinstated Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, surfaced within hours of Scrimgeour taking office.
Scrimgeour's representatives admitted that he had met Dumbledore at once upon taking possession of the top job, but refused to comment on the topics under discussion. Albus Dumbledore is known to (cont. page 3, column 2)
To the left of this sat another paper, which was folded so that a story bearing the title MINISTRY GUARANTEES STUDENT'S SAFETY was visible.
Newly appointed Minister for Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour, spoke today of the tough new measures taken by his Ministry to ensure the safety of students returning to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry this autumn.
"For obvious reasons, the Ministry will not be going into detail about its stringent new security plans." said the Minister, although an insider confirmed that measures include defensive spells and charms, a complex array of counter curses and a small task force of Aurors dedicated solely to the protection of Hogwarts School.
Most seem reassured by the new Minister's tough stand on student safety. Said Mrs Augusta Longbottom "My grandson, Neville - a good friend of Arthur Pendergast's, incidentally, who fought the Death Eaters alongside him at the Ministry in June and -
The rest of the story was obscured by the large birdcage that stood on top of it. Inside it was a large and beautiful barn owl. Her dark eyes surveyed the room, her head swivelling occasionally to gaze at her master.
A large trunk stood by the foot of the bed. Its lid was open. It's almost empty except for old underwear, sweets, empty ink bottles and broken quills that coated the very bottom. Nearby, on the floor, was a purple leaflet that was emblazoned with the words:
Issued on Behalf of the Ministry of Magic
PROTECTING YOUR HOME AND FAMILY AGAINST DARK FORCES
The wizarding community is currently under threat from an organisation calling itself the Death Eaters. Observing the following simple security guidelines will help protect you, your family and your home from attack.
1. You are advised not to leave the house alone.
2. Particular care should be taken during the hours of darkness. Wherever possible, arrange to complete journeys before night has fallen.
3. Review the security arrangements around your house, making sure that all family members are aware of emergency measures such as Shield and Disillusionment Charms and, in the case of underage family members, Side Along Apparition.
4. Agree security questions with close friends and family so as to detect Death Eaters masquerading as others by use of Polyjuice Potion (see page 2).
5. Should you feel that a family member, colleague, friend or neighbour is acting in a strange manner, contact the Magical Law Enforcement Squad at once. They may have been put under the Imperius Curse (see page 4).
6. Should the Dark Mark appear over any dwelling place or other building, DO NOT ENTER, but contact the Auror Office immediately.
7. Unconfirmed sightings suggest that the Death Eaters may now be using Inferi (see page 10). Any sightings of an Inferius, or encounter with same, should be reported to the Ministry IMMEDIATELY.
Arthur took his eyes off of the photo in his hand as his alarm clock ticked loudly on the sil, which showed one minute to eleven. Next to it were two pieces of parchment, one covered in thin, slanting writing, the other in tidy, simple writing. Arthur has read them so often since they arrived, the first around three days ago.
The first one read:
Dear Arthur,
If it is convenient to you, I shall call at Number Four, Privet Drive this coming Friday at eleven p.m. to escort you to Merlon Manor, where you have been invited to spend the remainder of your school holidays.
If you are agreeable, I should also be glad of your assistance in a matter to which I hope to attend on the way to Merlon Manor. I shall explain this more fully when I see you.
Kindly send your answer by return of this owl. Hoping to see you this Friday.
I am, yours most sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore
The second letter read:
Arthur,
I hope that you're doing well with the Dentleys. I've just arrived at Merlon Manor by the time I wrote this.
Mum has been so supportive of us being together, and I know she can be scary, but if it means that you'll actually have someone to have as a mother figure, it means everything to me.
I'm counting down to when you come to the manor, I've been stir crazy from the lack of physical contact with you. Martha has allowed us to share a room together, so we can sleep together.
I look forward to seeing you soon.
I love you,
Mike
Arthur knew these letters by heart, especially the latter, since the idea of sleeping with his boyfriend, Michael McGonagall, made him feel goosebumps. The former is also why he's sitting by the bedroom window.
It provided a reasonable view of both ends of Privet Drive.
Naturally, he sent his 'yes' with the delivering owl, as requested, and he just had to wait.
Arthur felt stupid for not packing yet, but he felt so lazy that he didn't bother right now.
Once the hand on the alarm clock reached the number twelve, at that precise moment, the street lamp outside the window went out.
Arthur frowned at this, realising that it must be Dumbledore because he saw this happen before last year when he first arrived at Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place. It was from a Put-Outer that belonged to Dumbledore.
He looked through the darkness and saw a tall figure in a long, billowing cloak walking up the garden path.
Arthur now stood up like he received an electric shock, now snatching up everything and threw it all into the trunk. When he lobbed his robes and spellbooks into it, the doorbell rang.
"I'll get it!" His Uncle Nicholas shouted.
Arthur told the Dentleys about Dumbledore's arrival so he wasn't scared as he put his brass telescope into his trunk.
He then headed out of his bedroom as he heard a deep voice say "Good evening. You must be Mr Dentley."
Arthur walked down the stairs and halted a few steps from the bottom. There stood in the doorway was a tall, thin man with waist length silver hair and beard. Half moon spectacles were perched on his crooked nose and he wore a long black travelling cloak and a pointed hat.
Uncle Nicholas, whose moustache was nearly as bushy as Dumbledore's, and brown instead of silver, greeted Dumbledore with a smile.
"Hello, I'm Nicholas Dentley. Arthur told us you'd be arriving." He said as the two shook hands. "Come on in."
"Thank you, it is unwise to linger overlong on doorsteps in these troubled times." Dumbledore said before he stepped over the threshold and Uncle Nicholas closed the door behind him.
"It is a long time since my last visit." Dumbledore said as he peered down his crooked nose at Uncle Nicholas.
"Ah, good evening, Arthur." He then said, looking over at the stairs where Arthur stood with a very satisfied expression. "Excellent, excellent."
Aunt Patty then stepped out into the hall and laid eyes on Dumbledore. She wore rubber gloves and a nightdress.
"Ah, and this must be Patty." Dumbledore said. "Albus Dumbledore. We have corresponded of course."
Arthur was a bit surprised to hear this, since when did they correspond before?
"And this must be your son Deacon?"
Deacon at that moment peered around the living room door. His short brown hair and blue eyes rising out of his light blue pyjamas looked at Dumbledore in awe.
"It's nice to finally meet you in person, Professor Dumbledore." Aunt Patty said with a slight bow of respect.
"Nice to meet you, too, Patty." Dumbledore bowed back with a smile. "Is it alright if we talk in your sitting room?"
"Of course." Patty said, taking her gloves off and leading him to the living room, where Deacon stepped back as Dumbledore passed him. Arthur jumped the last few stairs and followed Dumbledore, who had settled himself in the armchair nearest to the fire and took in his surroundings with an expression of benign interest. He looked very out of place.
"I thought we were supposed to be leaving, sir." Arthur said in confusion.
"Yes, indeed we are, but there are a few matters we need to discuss first." Dumbledore said. "And I would prefer not to do so in the open. We shall trespass upon your aunt and uncle's hospitality only a little longer."
"That shouldn't be a problem." Uncle Nicholas said after he entered the room with his wife and son.
"Okay, then." Dumbledore said as he drew his wand out so rapidly that Arthur barely saw it; with a casual flick, the sofa zoomed forwards and ended up knocking the knees out from all three of the Dentleys, making them collapse upon it in a heap. With another flick of the wand, the sofa zoomed back to its original position.
"We may as well be comfortable." Dumbledore said pleasantly as he replaced his wand in his pocket. But this was when Arthur noticed that it was blackened and shrivelled, looking like his flesh was burned away.
"Sir, what happened to your -?"
"Later, Arthur." Dumbledore said. "Please sit down."
Arthur took the remaining armchair.
"Would you like some refreshments, Professor?" Aunt Patty asked kindly.
"Oh, no need to sort it out yourself." Dumbledore said as he made a third twitch with his wand and a dusty bottle and five glasses appeared in mid air. The bottle tipped and poured a generous measure of honey coloured liquid into each glass, which then floated to each person in the room.
"Madam Rosmerta's finest, oak matured mead." Dumbledore said, raising his glass to Arthur, who caught hold of his own and sipped. He really enjoyed it, having never tasted anything like it before.
The Dentleys all took a sip and they too enjoyed it as smiles formed on their faces from the flavour.
"Well, Arthur…" Dumbledore said, turning towards him. "...a difficulty has arisen which I hope you will be able to solve for us. By us, I mean the Order of the Phoenix. But first of all I must tell you that Sirius' will was discovered a week ago and that he left you everything he owned."
Arthur's insides felt like they turned into lead.
"Right." He said, not knowing what else to say, looking over at the Dentleys. They all looked at him sadly, since they were told of Sirius' death shortly after the summer holidays started and tried their best to help Arthur grieve his loss.
"This is, in the main, fairly straightforward." Dumbledore went on. "You add a reasonable amount of gold to your account at Gringotts and you inherit all of Sirius' personal possessions. The slightly problematic part of the legacy is that Sirius also left you Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place."
"He left Arthur his family home?" Uncle Nicholas asked, slightly shocked.
"I don't want it. You can still use it as Headquarters." Arthur replied, never wanting to step foot in that place ever again if he could help it. All that place represented to Arthur was the place his godfather was imprisoned in, a place he despised his whole life.
"That is generous." Dumbledore said. "We have, however, vacated the building temporarily."
"Why?"
"Well, Black family tradition decreed that the house was handed down the direct line, to the next male with the name of Black. Sirius was the very last of the line as his younger brother, Regulus, predeceased him and both were childless. While his will makes it perfectly plain that he wants you to have the house, it is nevertheless possible that some spell or enchantment has been set upon the place to ensure that it cannot be owned by anyone other than a pure-blood."
Arthur's mind brought forth the vivid image of a shrieking, spitting portrait of Sirius' mother that hung on the wall of Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place.
"I bet there is." He said.
"Quite." Dumbledore said. "And if such an enchantment exists, then the ownership of the house is most likely to pass to the eldest of Sirius' living relatives, which would mean his cousin, Bellatrix Lestrange."
Arthur sprung to his feet in a fury, there was that Bellatrix Lestrange, Sirius' killer, would inherit that house.
"No way." He spat.
"Well, obviously we would prefer that she didn't get it, either." Dumbledore said calmly. "The situation is fraught with complications. We do not know whether the enchantments we ourselves have placed upon it, for example, making it unplottable, will hold now that ownership has passed from Sirius' hands. It might be that Bellatrix will arrive on the doorstep at any moment. Naturally we had to move out until such time as we have clarified the position."
"But how can you find out if I'm allowed to own it?"
"Fortunately, there is a simple test." Dumbledore said as he placed his empty glass on a small table beside his chair. "You see, if you have indeed inherited the house, you have also inherited -"
He flicked his wand and there was a loud crack, which made a house elf appear. It had a snout of a nose, giant bat's ears and enormous bloodshot eyes. It crouched on the Dentleys' carpet and was covered in grimy rags.
Aunt Patty gasped in shock and disgust at the house elf's appearance; Deacon launched himself to the very back of the sofa with wide eyes and Uncle Nicholas asked "What is that?"
"Kreacher." Dumbeldore replied.
"Kreacher won't, Kreacher won't, Kreacher won't!" The house elf croaked loudly, stamping his long gnarled feet and pulling his ears. "Kreacher belongs to Miss Bellatrix, oh, yes, Kreacher belongs to the Blacks, Kreacher wants his new mistress, Kreacher won't go to the Pendergast brat, Kreacher won't, Kreacher won't -"
"As you can see, Arthur." Dumbledore said loudly over Kreacher's continued croaking. "Kreacher is showing a certain reluctance to pass into your ownership."
"Well, I don't this disgusting scumbag." Arthur snarled, holding back his desire to literally beat Kreacher to a pulp.
"You would prefer him to pass into the ownership of Bellatrix Lestrange? Bearing in mind that he has lived at the Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix for the past year?"
"Won't, won't, won't, won't -"
Arthur stared at Dumbledore. He knew logically that Kreacher couldn't be permitted to go and live with Bellatrix Lestrange, but the suggestion of owning him, knowing how responsible he was for betraying Sirius, repulsed Arthur to his core.
"Give him an order." Dumbledore said. "If he has passed into your ownership, he will have to obey. If not, then we shall have to think of some other means of keeping him from his rightful mistress."
"Won't, won't, won't, WON'T!"
Kreacher now screamed and Arthur did what he could by saying "KREACHER, SHUT UP!"
It seemed as though Kreacher was going to choke. He grabbed his throat, his mouth still moving furiously, his eyes bulging. After a few seconds of frantic gulping, he threw himself face forwards onto the carpet and beat the floor with his hands and feet, giving himself over to a violent, but entirely silent, tantrum.
"Well, that simplifies matters." Dumbledore said cheerfully. "It seems that Sirius knew what he was doing. You are the rightful owner of Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place, and of Kreacher."
"Do I have to keep him with me?" Arthur asked with disgust as Kreacher thrashed around at his feet.
"Not if you don't want to." Dumbledore told him. "If I might make a suggestion, you could send him to Hogwarts to work in the kitchen there. In that way, the other house elves could keep an eye on him."
"Yes." Arthur said with relief. "Yes, I'll do that. Kreacher, I want you to go work at Hogwarts in the kitchens with the other house elves."
Kreacher, who now lay flat on his back with his arms and legs in the air, gave Arthur one upside down look of the deepest loathing and with another loud crack, vanished.
"Good. There is also the matter of the Hippogriff, Buckbeak. Hagrid has been looking after him since Sirius died, but Buckbeak is yours now, so if you would prefer to make different arrangements -"
"He can stay with Hagrid. Buckbeak would prefer that." Arthur said at once.
"Hagrid will be delighted." Dumbledore smiled. "He was thrilled to see Buckbeak again. Incidentally, we have decided, in the interests of Buckbeak's safety, to rechristen him Witherwings for the time being, though I doubt that the Ministry would ever guess he is the Hippogriff they once sentenced to death. Now, Arthur, is your trunk packed?"
"Not fully." Arthur said, slightly embarrassed.
"Then some part of you doubted I would turn up?" Dumbledore said.
"I'll go finish." Arthur said and hurried back up to his bedroom and packed.
It took another five minutes to gather everything from his Invisibility Cloak to his jar of Colour Change Ink and force it all into his trunk. He then heaved the trunk in one hand and held Athena's cage in the other, making his way back downstairs.
Dumbledore was talking with Deacon when Arthur came back to the living room.
"I'm ready, Professor." He said.
"Good." Dumbledore said. "Just one last thing, then." He turned to the Dentleys. "As you will no doubt be aware, Arthur comes of age in a year's time -"
"Really?" Aunt Patty said in confusion.
"Yes, in the wizarding world, we come of age at seventeen." Dumbledore explained and a look of understanding came over the Dentleys' faces.
"Now, as you already know, the wizard called Lord Voldemort has returned to this country. The wizarding community is currently in a state of open warfare. Arthur, whom Lord Voldemort has already attempted to kill on a number of occasions, is in even greater danger now than the day when I left him upon your doorstep fifteen years ago, with a letter explaining about his parents' murder and expressing the hope that you would care for him as though he were your own."
"And we have, we made sure to give him the love he should've gotten if his parents were alive." Aunt Patty said.
"And I couldn't be more proud of you for doing that." Dumbledore said. "The magic I evoked fifteen years ago means that Arthur has powerful protection when he can still call this house home. However, this magic will cease to operate the moment Arthur turns seventeen; in other words, the moment he becomes a man. I ask only that you allow Arthur to return, once more, to this house, before his seventeenth birthday, which will ensure that the protection continues until that time."
The Dentleys all nodded grimly, like they've been given the most important order of their lives.
"Well, Arthur… time for us to be off." Dumbledore said at last, standing up and straightening his long black cloak. "Until we meet again." He said to the Dentleys, who all nodded back.
Arthur hugged all three and said 'goodbye' before following Dumbledore, who passed beside Arthur's trunk, upon which Athena's cage was perched.
"We do not want to be encumbered by these just now." He said, pulling out his wand again. "I shall send them to Merlon Manor to await us there. However, I would like you to bring your Invisibility Cloak… just in case."
Arthur extracted his Cloak from his trunk with a bit of difficulty. When he stuffed it in an inside pocket of his jacket, Dumbledore raised his wand and the trunk, cage and Athena vanished. Dumbledore then waved his wand again, opening the front door to the cool, misty darkness.
"And now, Arthur, let us step into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure."
It'll be interesting to see Arthur first meet Slughorn, considering his interests and his ties to Slytherin house.