Secrets & Crimes

*Albus*

Albus left Bathilda’s house and quickly walked over to his house, his mind was in a panic.

Is Ariana okay? Has something bad happened?

Albus was struggling to remain calm but he knew he had too. He was in charge now, he had to be strong for his siblings.

Albus walked into his house and shouted "ABERFORTH!"

Aberforth stomped his feet down the stairs with anger on his face.

"While you’re out having tea party’s, Ariana just had an episode. You need to be present Albus, she’s getting worse" Aberforth spat angrily.

Albus’ worry quickly went and agitation set in instead.

"Bathilda invited me and it felt rude not to go when she has done so much for us. I’m doing a lot for this family but I do need my own time. My life don’t evolve around this family for merlins sake!" Albus said with agitation.

Albus was losing his mind. He had no patience for unnecessary arguments. He could feel the rift between them, even more now than ever.

"Well it fucking needs to be because Ariana is sick and she’s getting worse. You need to man up Albus!" Aberforth spat.

Albus went red with anger "And what the hell is that suppose to mean?!"

Aberforth smirked "You know what it means."

Albus was so angry and embarrassed at the same time. Aberforth was saying this because their Mum once asked Albus, many years ago, if he was gay and that it was okay if he was. Albus replied saying he weren’t but Aberforth overheard the conversation and from then on just assumed he was gay. This was the first time he ever used it in an argument though as Aberforth always said he didn’t care if Albus was gay or not. Aberforth just wanted ammo lately and he’s now crossing the line to get it.

He really is taking this too far. Grief or not, Aberforth needs to sort himself out, his anger is getting out of hand and why does he assume I’m gay. I’m not for merlins sake.

Albus walked up to Aberforth and looked him straight in the face. He felt like punching him but had to use every ounce of energy he had to restrain himself from doing so.

I could always jinx him.

"Aberforth, come here!" Ariana shouted.

Aberforth glared at Albus and then replied to Ariana "I’m coming." He then turned to walk up the stairs to Ariana’s room.

Albus decided to go to his own bedroom and hide away in order to calm down.

I can’t let him get under my skin like that again. One day I’ll be free of him and this house.

Albus heard a tapping on his window. It was Arctus wanting to come in. Albus walked over to the window to let his owl in. While letting Arctus in Albus spotted Gellert with Bathilda in Bathilda’s front garden.

Albus thought about the lunch he had with Gellert and Bathilda. It was really nice to meet Gellert and he believed in the Deathly Hallows also, maybe he could ask Gellert questions to find out what he knows. He could do with gaining more knowledge to add to his research and Gellert also said about one of the Peverell brothers being buried here.

I’ll take Gellert on that tour tomorrow morning and ask him about the Peverell brother that is buried here. I could also check out the local graveyard but I don’t want to slip out tonight if Ariana is having episodes. What if there is a clue to where the Deathly Hallows are. I’ll go tomorrow night but I will have to wait for Aberforth and Ariana to go to sleep first.

Albus was looking forward to tomorrow and decided to spend the rest of the day reading books on the Deathly Hallows.

Albus was finishing his breakfast and tea when Aberforth walked into the kitchen.

Albus smiled "Morning."

Aberforth didn’t reply.

Got to be the adult here and keep a level head.

Albus just stared at Aberforth who was making Ariana’s breakfast. Albus was thinking of something else to say, he didn’t want his home life to be a constant war zone.

"I’ll be popping out this morning. Bathilda wanted me to show her nephew Gellert around the village. I’ll be quick and when I come back I will brew some calming potions for Ariana." Albus said while taking a last bite out of his breakfast.

"Like I care what you do" Aberforth grunted.

Albus couldn’t wait to get out of his house. He just can’t have a normal conversation with Aberforth lately, he’s just so rude all the time.

Albus took one last sip of his tea and jumps up from his seat and mutters "Bye."

He walked towards the front door and stepped out of his house. Albus patted down his clothes to make sure he had no crumbs down himself and headed over to Bathilda’s.

I hope I don’t seem too eager to show Gellert around the village. I just need to find out what he knows about the Hallows and maybe he could help. 

Albus hadn’t actually asked Gellert if he wanted to do the tour today but decided to just pop over their and ask.

Albus knocks at their door.

*Knock Knock*

Bathilda opens the door and smiles.

"Hello Albus what can I do for you? Is everything okay at home?" Bathilda asked with concern in her eyes.

"Everything is okay and I was just coming over to see if Gellert wanted that tour of the village we spoke of yesterday?" Albus muttered.

Bathilda smiled "He will love that. Come on in Albus, I’ll just go get Gellert for you."

Albus stepped into Bathilda’s house and waited in the hallway while Bathilda walked upstairs.

He heard footsteps and muttering coming from upstairs.

Bathilda and Gellert both appeared at the top of the stairs and started to walk down them. Gellert stopped at the bottom of the stairs and smiled. He looked very handsome, he was wearing a black suit and had his blonde hair neatly combed back. Albus only just realised that Gellert had two different colour eyes. One dark eye and one pal like the colour white.

He’s handsome.

Albus’ thought was interrupted.

"I wasn’t expecting to see you today but I’m glad you came" Gellert said while combing a hand through his hair.

Albus smiled "Well I wasn’t doing anything and I know you wanted a tour of the village. So here I am."

Bathilda smiled at both of the boys and said "Hope you enjoy yourself and Gellert make sure your not late for lunch dear."

Gellert smiled "Dont worry Aunt Bathilda, I will be back before then."

Gellert then turned around to Albus and said "So where to first?"

Albus was finishing up his tour with Gellert.

"And this is Hollows Park" Albus smiled while pointing at the park.

Hollows park was located in the middle of the village, it was a beautiful place with trees, flowers, benches and a statue of Godric Gryffindor in the middle.

Gellert walked into the park and took a seat at the nearest bench. Albus followed behind and sat next to him.

Albus looked over to Gellert and looked at his mismatched eyes and said "The village is a boring place to be honest. I don’t understand why you would want to spend your whole summer holidays here?"

Gellert looked back at Albus with a smirk on his face "It’s not that boring, there is a lot of history here."

History about the Peverell brothers.

"What history? The only history I know of this village is who it’s named after, Godric Gryffindor" Albus replied while pointing at the statue of Godric Gryffindor in the distance.

"Wasn’t he a founder of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?" Gellert asked while looking towards the statue.

Albus leant back on the bench to make himself more comfortable "Yeah he was."

"Well the history I’m interested in is the Peverell brothers and one of them is buried here in this village …apparently" Gellert leant back and crossed one leg over the other.

"Well I’ve never heard that before and I’ve lived here for sometime but there’s only one way to find out and that’s to go to the graveyard" Albus said quietly, making sure no one over hears them.

Gellert looked at him with mischief in his eyes as he rest his arm on the back of the bench behind Albus.

Gellert smirked and leant in as if he was telling a secret "I’m in." 

He is so good looking.

Albus at first felt strange about finding Gellert attractive twice in one day but then quickly pushed the thought aside when he realised that many of his friends at Hogwarts would compliment people about looks who were the same gender. He thought it was basically the same thing and what friends do.

"Okay well we will have to wait until it’s dark. Meet me at the entrance of the graveyard at 11" Albus said and jumped up from the bench.

Gellert got up elegantly from the bench and replied "Okay 11pm it is. Now I best head home before lunch or I’ll get an earful from Bathilda"

They both laughed at that reply.

Albus and Gellert both walked back home together talking about the Deathly Hallows and how exciting it would be if they found one.

They both stopped outside their homes and Gellert looked at Albus "How about we work together on finding the Deathly Hallows. I could do with a partner."

Albus smiled "I was thinking the exact same thing."

They said their goodbyes and walked in the opposite directions home.

Albus climbed out of his window and waved his wand while whispering a spell so he could glide down to the ground gently.

It was very dark and cloudy. So cloudy that there was no stars to be seen, it looked like it could rain.

Hopefully it won’t. I don’t want to be treading through a graveyard in the mud.

Albus was walking up to the entrance of the graveyard and Gellert was not to be seen.

I hope he didn’t bail on me.

Albus pulled out his pocket watch to look at the time. It was 11pm, he should be here any minute. He sat on the brick wall that surrounds the graveyard.

Suddenly someone grabbed him from behind and shook him.

"Ahhhhh" Albus screamed as he jumped from the wall.

Then he heard laughing and turned around to see Gellert bent over laughing.

"You… haha was so… haha scared" Gellert laughed.

Albus saw the funny side of it but still had adrenaline pumping through him.

"You absolute idiot" Albus replied with a smile. "I hope no one heard me. Don’t want anyone knowing we’re here."

"It’s fine… haha, I casted a silencing spell … haha" Gellert replied laughing.

Gellert was trying to compose himself while Albus stood there with his hands on his hips not looking to entertained.

When Gellert finally composed himself they headed though the front gates of the graveyard.

"Lumos" both Albus and Gellert said and the top of there wands lit up like a torch.

They walked up and down reading gravestones but Albus felt like he was being watched but he knew it was paranoia, he hated graveyards.

To think I was going to come alone originally. 

Albus shivered at that thought.

"I’ve never been a fan of graveyards" Albus whispered.

"Why you scared?" Gellert smirked as he was kneeling down reading a gravestone.

"No, of course not. It’s just … eery" Albus said sheepishly.

Gellert turned around and raised one eyebrow with a face that looked like he didn’t believe him.

"Well you wouldn’t mind us splitting up so we can find this gravestone quicker then, would you?" Gellert smiled.

I am not looking around this graveyard on my own. I didn’t realise how eery it would be.

Albus had to come up with a reply that wouldn’t make him sound scared.

Albus gulped "I think we should stick together just in case. There could be spells or charms in this graveyard to stop wizards or witches from finding the Peverell brothers headstone."

Gellert grinned "If you think that’s best."

He knows I’m scared. He don’t believe me. He has to be such a grinning idiot.

His thoughts were interrupted by Gellert "Albus over here. I think I’ve found it."

Albus walked over and kneeled to look at the gravestone Gellert was looking at. The gravestone was placed on top of the grave and was very old and weathered which made it very hard to read.

Gellert looked at the name on the gravestone "Ignotus Peverell and look there’s the Deathly Hallow symbol."

Albus was in shock. He couldn’t believe it.

"I’m pretty sure Ignotus Peverell was the one with the invisibility cloak." Gellert said.

"How do you know that?" Albus replied in disbelief.

"I’ve been researching this for a long time." Gellert smiled with pride.

For a long time. I wonder what else he knows.

Albus scanned his eyes over the gravestone for clues "I thought there would be a clue on the headstone, a clue to where one of the Deathly Hallows would be."

"Revelio" Gellert said while pointing his wand at the gravestone.

Nothing revealed or showed up on the gravestone.

"Well that’s an dead end" Albus sighed and stood up and brushed his legs down to brush of the dirt.

Gellert jumped up with a mischievous grin and shrugged his shoulders "I’ve always wanted to try grave robbing."

"What? For one why would you want to do that? And for two if he is the Peverell brother with the invisibility cloak then he would of passed it down to his son like in the story." Albus replied.

Gellert stepped closer "But what if there’s a clue buried with him."

He did have a point but Albus didn’t want to dig up someone. It felt disrespectful.

I don’t want to do this but if I really want to find the Deathly Hallows then I’m going to have to make difficult decisions.

"Your right" Albus replied with unease in his voice.

Gellert noticed Albus’ discomfort.

"It’ll be fine. We will have a look and if there’s nothing buried with him of value then we will put everything back like nothing happened" Gellert said with a reassuring smile.

No harm done if they put it all back nicely. 

"Sounds like a plan" Albus nodded with a smile.

Gellert smiled and then turned around and pointed his wand at the gravestone.

"Wingardium Leviosa" Gellert whispered.

Gellert levitated the gravestone and put it to the side.

Albus stepped forward and pointed his wand at the ground "Defodio."

All of the ground gouged out and piled itself next to the grave.

"You have to teach me that spell" Gellert said with awe while staring at Albus.

Albus nodded and then said "Lumos."

Albus stepped forward with his wand and looked in the hole followed by Gellert. A coffin layed at the bottom of this 7 foot hole.

Albus started to feel scared but swallowed his fear and pointed his wand in the hole "Wingardium Leviosa."

The lid of the coffin was levitated out of the hole and set aside.

"WHO GOES THERE?!"

Albus jumped and fell into Gellert. Gellert caught him but lost his footing and they both fell to the ground.

Suddenly some figure swooped out of the hole and towards them.

Albus was shaking. He couldn’t believe his eyes. It was Ignotus Peverell’s ghost. Albus had seen ghosts before at Hogwarts but this was different. What if he was angry because of them digging up his body.

I hope ghosts can’t harm people.

"It’s alright Albus. He’s not a ghost. He’s a recording, I’ve seen one of these before but obviously not from grave digging" Gellert reassured Albus as if he had read his thoughts.

Albus had suddenly become aware that when he fell, he fell into Gellert and knocked Gellert over and is now practically sitting on his lap.

Albus started to go red with embarrassment and jumped up onto his feet.

Play it cool, like nothing happened.

Albus turned towards Gellert and offered his hand to him, to lever him up and off the floor. Gellert grabbed his hand and Albus pulled him on to his feet. Albus let go of his hand as soon as Gellert was standing and brushed himself down.

"Thanks" Gellert winked.

Albus felt like he was turning even more red and was thankful that it was dark so Gellert couldn’t see.

How embarrassing. I got so scared I jumped on his lap for merlins sake.

"Do you seek the Deathly Hallows?" Ignotus’ recording said.

Gellert stepped closer to the recording in fascination "We do, yes."

Albus curiously walked up towards the recording and observed it. He realised that if you looked closely you can tell it looked different from an ghost.

"Well if that is so, then I’m afraid to tell you that I was the brother with the cloak. When time dragged on as I hid from death, I eventually passed it down to my son who changed his name so no one can track him down. You’ll never find him or his descendants" the recording replied.

Then Ignotus’ recording flew back into his coffin with the lid following behind and all the undug earth moved to fill the hole in like a landslide. The gravestone was the last to move as it levitated over the grave and dropped on top with a thump like nothing happened.

"Well that saves us the time of tidying up, looks like it was charmed to clean up the mess like nothing happened so another idiot would go seeking" Gellert said while turning to look at Albus.

"WHOSE THERE?! YOU BETTER NOT BE VANDALISING THE GRAVESTONES!" Shouted a stranger nearby.

They both said "Nox" and their wand lights turned off.

Gellert grabbed Albus by his sleeve and dragged him to an exit at the side of the graveyard.

They both bolted and when they got near their cottages they slowed down to a walk.

Albus felt down. He put his hopes into this grave of the Peverell brother. He really thought it would lead him to a Deathly Hallow.

"Well that’s a shame. I really thought we was going to find something" Albus said sounding defeated.

Gellert put his hand on Albus’ shoulder "Dont worry. We’ll keep looking and one day we will be the Masters of Death."

Albus liked the sound of that. They both would go down in wizard history.

"Yeah we will" Albus smiled.

"Let’s get some sleep and we can meet up tomorrow to share our research. We should find some traces surely with our research combined" Gellert grinned.

"Okay see you tomorrow" Albus said while walking towards his cottage.

"Gute Nacht Albus" Gellert replied in German while walking towards his own cottage.

"You know I don’t understand German right" Albus laughed.

"Goodnight Albus" Gellert repeated but this time in English.

"Gute Nacht Gellert" Albus smirked.