James Potter and the Curse of the Gatekeeper jp-1

by G. Norman Lippert

  James stared hard at the moon, but it offered no answers. He flopped back onto his pillow. Finally, eventually, he fell asleep.

  17. THE BLOODLINE

  The next week seemed to shuttle past with the inertia of a freight train. As the end of the term loomed, the library grew busier and busier. The older students moved about in a sort of harried fog, studying and drilling each other on topics James could barely understand. Even the Gremlins seemed tense. Noah, Sabrina, Damien, and Petra sat on the couch before the fireplace, surrounded by loose parchments, books, and candy wrappers. James waved at them as he passed, heading down to the library.

  “Hey, Damien,” he said, “thanks for helping out in the Headmaster’s office the other day.”

  “Just doing my job,” Damien muttered, his nose buried in a huge book of star charts.

  On the way down to the library, James considered the events of the previous days. It was all moving so fast that it was becoming hard to keep track of. On Monday, James had informed Scorpius that he, Ralph, and Rose had been ordered to shut down the Defence Club as punishment for sneaking into Hogsmeade. Scorpius had been strangely unperturbed.

  “A pity that you won’t be able to keep attending,” he’d said blithely, looking up over his glasses from the book he’d been studying.

  “I don’t think you understand,” James said, sitting down. “The club’s been disbanded. Merlin ordered it.”

  Scorpius looked down at his book again, turning a page. “I understand it as well as I wish. As far as I’m concerned, you three have been banned from leading the club. As co-teacher, I’ve no intention of shutting it down. We’ll rename it if necessary. We’ll call it, oh, ‘Scorpius’ Army’.”

  “That’s not funny,” James said, shaking his head.

  “No?” Scorpius replied. “Well, I sat up all night thinking of it. So, drat.”

  James thought about it for a moment, and then asked quietly, “You’ll really keep teaching the club? Even though Merlin thinks it’s been shut down?”

  “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean,” Scorpius answered. “If the Headmaster has determined that the Defence Club should be dissolved, then dissolved it will be. It’s pure and simple coincidence that I, along with the Specter of Silence and the Grey Lady, will be teaching an entirely new club that happens to meet in the same place at the same time to study the same topics. Surely, the Headmaster would recognize the difference.”

  James shook his head, smiling crookedly. “You really are a chip off the old Slytherin block, aren’t you? You’re as twisted as a corkscrew!”

  “Being twisted simply means being able to think around corners,” Scorpius said, returning to his book. “My father taught me that.”

  James started to get up, then stopped and looked back at the pale boy. “Cedric actually has you calling him the ‘Specter of Silence’?”

  Scorpius adjusted his glasses. “Who am I to argue with a ghost’s choice of name?”

  Apparently, Scorpius had been as good as his word. On Thursday evening, James, Rose, and Ralph had hovered in the halls near the gymnasium. Sure enough, as they passed the pebbled glass doors, they could hear the sounds of the club, practicing and drilling under Cedric’s and the Grey Lady’s patient tutelage.

  Preparations for The Triumvirate were also coming along swiftly. Jason Smith’s props crew was working double-time, having produced most of the sets and prop elements, including a huge wind machine that worked on treadle power. Gennifer Tellus was feverishly commanding her costume shop, managing all the adjustments, alterations and last-minute costuming details. Josephina Bartlett had recovered from her hex-induced vertigo enough to climb onto the stage, although she couldn’t approach the edge without getting dizzy. Nevertheless, a contingent of Ravenclaw girls had begun a rather snarky campaign to reinstate Josephina in the role of Astra. To that end, they had painted a slew of signs and pinned petitions onto several notice boards. The petitions hadn’t accumulated many signatures, however, and apart from Josephina’s entourage, even the rest of the Ravenclaws seemed to quietly support Petra in the role. For his own part, James was impressed to realize that he had now learned almost all of his lines. There had been a time when he hardly believed it was possible, but the persistent rehearsals and late-night script readings had apparently paid off. Noah and Petra seemed by turns affectionate and cold during rehearsals, obviously reflecting the ongoing tumult of their relationship. James had still not practiced his kissing scene with Petra, although they’d read through the lines a dozen times. Professor Curry assured them that it need not be a real kiss, but simply that they lean toward one another and touch cheeks. They’d be in silhouette to the audience, and the lights would go out the moment the kiss occurred, thus ending act three. To James’ great dismay, however, he was forced to obey Tabitha Corsica’s direction whenever Professor Curry wasn’t around. Tabitha seemed to take perverse pleasure in forcing James to recite his monologues over and over, constantly critiquing him and belittling him in front of the other actors and crew. As James sweated in the bright stage lights, rereading his rallying speech for the ninth time, his dislike of Tabitha’s pretty, smug face slowly intensified into a bright little furnace of hatred.

  The Quidditch season had finally ended with a smashing victory by Hufflepuff over Gryffindor, resulting in days of merciless taunting by the Hufflepuffs and surly retorts from the Gryffindors. To commemorate Albus’ first season as Slytherin Seeker, Tabitha had apparently given him the broom he’d been flying all season, the same mysteriously hexed broom which had caused James, Ralph, and Zane so much trouble during the previous year. James could hardly believe that Tabitha would relinquish the broom, but he also knew it would only serve to endear Albus all the more to his Slytherin mates. Besides, if Tabitha was turning over something as powerful as that broom, it would only be because she had something even more powerful in her possession.

  And then, this very morning, James had finally received a letter back from his father. He’d read it over breakfast with both Ralph and Rose peering closely over his shoulder.

  Dear James,

  Sorry about the late response, but I’ve been terribly busy with this new Auror subdepartment. We’ve called in Kingsley to give us a hand with it, and he’s been a great help both in organizing and preparing the field team for what they’ll be up against. Believe it or not, even K. Debellows has offered his assistance. Turns out the Harriers faced a Dementor hive like this once in Hungary. Viktor has his squad on standby, just in case, so that’s a relief.

  Spot on about this Gatekeeper business. Our researchers at the Ministry had already begun to piece together some details about it. We have old Dung Fletcher in protective custody, and he had an inkling that the people who orchestrated last year’s conspiracy were working toward something big like this. We’re quite confident that this whole ‘Curse of the Gatekeeper’ story is just a massive scare tactic. The P.E. is still at work trying to secretly destabilize the magical world, and what better way to do it than to invent a grave new threat that the Ministry isn’t able to contain, eh? Don’t worry. We’ve got the best people on it, including me. Still, be sure that we won’t be taking any chances, all right? If there really is something behind this besides a load of rogue Dementors, we’ll be on the lookout for it.

  Regarding the R. Stone, you can always ask me whatever you want, James. Tell your friend Cameron I remember his uncle well and that he’s right about the stone. After I used it in the Forest that night, I dropped it. I didn’t need it anymore, and it was best lost to the wizarding world forever. I’d guess it’s still out there somewhere, but even I could probably never find it again. I strongly recommend that you not go looking for it. It’ll only mean trouble. Let it stay lost, all right?

  Love,

  Your father

  P.S. No, still no sign of what’s gone missing, but honestly, I haven’t had much time to look for them. Mum and Grandma say hello. Grandma is staying in Albus’ room, so you don’t have anyt
hing to worry about. See you in a few weeks!

  James arrived in the dim library and wandered through the aisles and shelves until he found Ralph and Rose, who were deep in conversation. He plunked his satchel onto the table and sat down next to Rose.

  “We spoke to Zane a little while ago,” Ralph announced. “He popped up right here in the library. Made Professor Heretofore ten shades of mad. She refused to let us zap him with any spells to maintain his projection, but he did give us a quick message.”

  James leaned in. “What was it?”

  “Apparently he went to see Madame Delacroix in person,” Rose said in a low voice. “She’s pretty dotty, but he got some useful information out of her about what the wrong people might be able to do with your voodoo doll.”

  “What?” James asked fervently. “Tell me!”

  “Exactly bupkis,” Ralph replied, curling his hand into the shape of a zero.

  “More or less,” Rose added, glancing at Ralph. “Your dad was right, James, when he said that voodoo wasn’t like what the Muggle films show. It’s apparently mostly psychological. Pinning a voodoo doll in the heart doesn’t kill the subject, but it might make them sad or lonely.”

  “Or give them heartburn,” Ralph quipped.

  Rose rolled her eyes. “The point is no one can physically hurt you with a voodoo doll. They may be able to make you believe you feel pain, or certain emotions, but that’s all.”

  James breathed a huge sigh. “Well, that’s a big relief, I guess.”

  “Still,” Ralph asked, “who do you think might have it?”

  “Probably nobody,” James answered. “It wasn’t with the Cloak or the map. It was just on my mum’s bedside table. It’s probably just lost at home like my dad said.”

  “Maybe Tabitha has it!” Rose whispered conspiratorially. “Maybe she doesn’t know she can’t hurt you with it! She’s probably going mad wondering why it isn’t working!”

  James shook his head. “That’s daft, Rose. Tabitha wouldn’t have any way of getting it even if she knew about it. I never told anyone other than you, Ralph, and Zane about it. Besides, Tabitha doesn’t need a voodoo doll to get at me. She could’ve fought me that night in the hall. Obviously she’s not meaning to attack us with magic or anything.”

  “At least not yet,” Ralph muttered. Suddenly, a low whistle pierced the air. It wasn’t particularly loud, but it was noisy enough to disturb those studying nearby. At the next table, Ashley Doone glanced up curiously, looking for the source of the whistle.

  “What’s that?” Rose rasped. “Ralph, I think it’s coming from your bag!”

  Ralph scrambled around in his seat, retrieving his bag. As soon as he unzipped it, the noise grew louder.

  “It’s Trenton’s Sneakoscope!” Ralph said, pulling the instrument out of his bag. The noise was increasing both in pitch and volume.

  “Mr. Deedle!” a voice called stridently. James turned in his seat and saw Professor Heretofore approaching along the aisle, her sharp features pinched into a scowl. “How many times must you insist on disrupting this library?”

  “Sorry,” Ralph said, still fiddling with the Sneakoscope. “It must be malfunctioning. I can’t see how to turn it off!”

  Professor Heretofore shook her head in disdain. She produced her wand and flicked it deftly. The Sneakoscope emitted a sudden squawk and fell silent.

  “There,” she said venomously. “It’s off. Now please vacate yourselves from the library, the three of you. If I see you in here again for the rest of the day, there will be deducted House points, even if you are a member of my house, Mr. Deedle. Now off with you.”

  “Stupid hunk of junk,” Ralph muttered as they threaded toward the door. He stuffed the Sneakoscope in his bag and shouldered it.

  “It wasn’t malfunctioning,” a voice drawled. James glanced up as Scorpius fell in line with them, walking out of the library. “It was doing exactly what it was meant to do.”

  “Getting us kicked out of the library?” Ralph asked derisively.

  Scorpius lowered his voice. “No, Deedle. Alerting you to the presence of untrustworthy people.”

  James frowned at Scorpius. “What do you mean?”

  “Not here,” Scorpius said. “Follow me. I’ll tell you what I can along the way.”

  For several minutes, Scorpius led James, Ralph, and Rose through the halls silently. Eventually, they came to an old part of the castle which was rarely used. It smelled vaguely moldy. They passed no one else in the halls.

  “I understand you had a rather illuminating conversation with ‘Tabby’,” Scorpius finally said, glancing at James as he walked.

  “How do you know about that?”

  “I hear things,” Scorpius replied vaguely. “Tabitha has somehow come to believe that I am a Slytherin in disguise. She thinks that I detest the lot of you and am therefore on their side.”

  “You had me fooled for awhile too, you know,” James admitted. “My bed still has the words ‘Whiny Potter Git’ on it.”

  “Where are we going, Scorpius?” Rose asked suspiciously. “It looks like we’re headed to the same place where we found the Mirror of Erised.”

  Scorpius nodded. “That’s the spot, Weasley. Nothing gets past you.”

  “Scorpius,” James said, narrowing his eyes, “if I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were nervous.”

  Scorpius stopped suddenly in the hall. He turned to face the other three. “What I’m about to do, I do against my better judgment,” he said in a low, serious voice. “If my grandfather knew what I was about to show you, he’d probably kill me, and that’s not an exaggeration.”

  “What, Scorpius?” James asked, lowering his own voice to match the pale boy’s. “Do you know something?”

  Scorpius looked away. “Remember when I told you that I hadn’t seen my grandfather for years? That he was in hiding, even from the rest of the family?”

  James and Rose nodded. James said, “It’s not true? He’s not in hiding?”

  “Yes, he’s in hiding. But it isn’t true that I haven’t seen him. I’ve seen him plenty.” Scorpius sighed and looked at James, Ralph, and Rose. “It started two years ago. I hated the way my father had turned his back on his upbringing. The reason he’d begun studying the founders was to find out the truth about Salazar Slytherin. He’d been raised to believe that Slytherin was a revolutionary thinker and a hero, but the more my father studied, the more he began to believe that Slytherin had simply been a vicious, power-hungry madman. When I was quite young, Father and Grandfather had a serious row about it. They ended up wand to wand, although neither actually cast a spell. It disgusted me that my father would deny his family heritage. Once Grandfather disowned my father and moved into hiding, I determined to join him and prove my loyalty. My mother helped me locate Grandfather Lucius. He was quite happy to have me visit him in secret. He told me of his plans. Yes, I know about the Gatekeeper and how it came to descend into the world. I know that my grandfather believes he is carrying out the final solution of Salazar Slytherin, finally bringing about a world of pureblood perfection. But the more I listened to my grandfather, the more I realized he’d gone completely mad. Both he and his partner, Gregor Tyrranicus. Gregor was once wizarding royalty in Romania, but he lost power and was kicked out by his own family. Both he and my Grandfather Lucius will do anything to get that power back, and more. They truly mean to be rulers of a new pureblood kingdom with the Gatekeeper as their strong-arm.”

  “So they really do think they can control it,” Rose breathed. “They are mad!”

  “They’re mad, yes,” Scorpius answered. “But who’s to say they can’t control it? If they can possess both halves of the Beacon Stone, they may indeed be able to protect themselves and their kingdom from the Gatekeeper, although it will hate them all the more for it, and will destroy them all the quicker if they get careless.”

  “So what is it you want to show us?” James asked, firming his jaw. “What does your grandfather not want us to
know?”

  Scorpius seemed to be struggling with himself. His eyes were locked on James’, his lips pressed together. Finally, the boy nodded slightly. “Come on,” he said, and quickly turned.

  They walked a little way further until they came to a large, heavy door. Scorpius produced a tarnished brass key and turned it in the lock.

  “My father gave me this key so I could help you come back through the Mirror, Potter,” Scorpius explained, pushing the heavy door open. “I don’t know how he came to possess it, but I suspect it had something to do with one of the lesser known shops in the dark corners of Knockturn Alley. Still, I doubt even my father knew what this key would also give me access to.”

  “What’s the big deal?” Ralph asked as they entered the cramped storage room again. The Mirror of Erised showed their reflections in its dusty surface. All around it were crates, trunks, and locked cabinets.

  “Don’t look too closely into the Mirror,” Scorpius said, walking past it and approaching one of the cabinets. “Without its Focusing Book, it’ll just show you distractions. The real surprise is over here.”

  “Whose stuff is all this?” Rose asked, looking around slowly. “I thought it was just a bunch of stored junk when we were here last, but that was before I knew how powerful the Mirror was and where it came from. Nobody would just throw that in with a bunch of random crates.”

  Scorpius wrenched a lock loose from one the cabinets and swung the door open. “All of this,” he said, glancing back at Rose, “is the contents of Albus Dumbledore’s office while he was Headmaster. He’d willed most of it to his brother, Aberforth, but when Aberforth died, he willed it right back to the school. It’s all been stored here ever since, hidden even from the new headmasters according to Aberforth’s instructions. Not the most trusting fellow, was old Aberforth. We’d never have found it at all if we hadn’t used Ravenclaw’s signal to locate the Mirror.”