G. Lippert - James Potter and the Curse of the Gatekeeper

Ralph's face was tense with anger. "Who did this? Do you think this is what Corsica's been planning? Does it have to do with the Gatekeeper?"

"It's the only thing that makes sense," James replied as the three ran through the archway leading into the castle. Rose had been watching for them. She jumped forward to join them, her face pale and scared. Panting, James took a moment to tell them of his encounter with Merlin.

"He said the Gatekeeper was looking for you?" Rose asked. "What's that mean? Why?"

James shook his head. "Who knows? The point is, he knows something big is going down tonight. He wanted me out of the way!"

"Nobody has seen Tabitha all night," Ralph interjected. "She never showed up for the play. Curry was right mad about it. She must be behind Lily's disappearance!"

"She's involved, no doubt," a new voice answered. James turned to see Scorpius approaching, his face tight and anxious. He shook his head. "Look, this isn't how Grandfather said it'd happen… it's all wrong. I came to help, if I could."

Rose spoke up, "You said your grandfather never told you how Tabitha was supposed to become the host of the Gatekeeper!"

"Yeah," Scorpius said quickly, meeting Rose's eye. "Well, I know a little more than I let on, all right? I can explain now or we can start looking for James' sister. What do you think, Weasley?"

"What else haven't you told us?" James demanded, advancing on Scorpius.

Scorpius averted his eyes impatiently. "Look, all I know is that this isn't how the plan was explained to me. I don't know the details, but I do know this is all wrong. The longer we stand here arguing, the more danger your sister is in. Do you understand?"

James narrowed his eyes.

"You must be Scorpius," Zane interjected, sticking out his hand. "I've heard loads about you. I'm Zane. I may have to curse you later, so I thought it'd be best to get introductions out of the way now."

Ralph rolled his eyes impatiently. "Come on! Let's just go to the Great Hall! That's where your mum went with everyone else. We can help with the search party."

"No," James said, still looking at Scorpius. "There's only one place we need to look, isn't there? Second-floor girls' bathroom, where Henrietta last saw Tabitha."

Rose frowned. "Why would she be there?"

"I wondered the same thing when Henrietta said that," James replied, already leading the way down the corridor. "But then I remembered: that's where Moaning Myrtle lives."

"'Moaning Myrtle?'" Zane repeated. "Who's she?"

"Oh, she's a resident ghost," Rose replied. "Lives in the bathroom because that's where she was killed decades ago."

Zane screwed up his face as he walked. "She died in the potty? That seems pretty unlikely, doesn't it?"

"It's complicated," Rose answered wearily. "It wasn't just a bathroom. It was also a portal to… to…" Rose gasped. "James, that's it!"

James glanced back over his shoulder, nodding. "Henrietta said Tabitha was up there talking to herself in the mirror, using some sort of foreign language."

Rose's eyes were wide. "Of course! The Bloodline would be a Parselmouth, just like Voldemort! She'd be able to open the Chamber of Secrets even though it's been closed and sealed all these years! That must be where she took Lily!"

"I've been seeing it in my dreams all along," James said. "If only I'd have recognized it before!"

"Hey!" a voice suddenly called, halting the five in their tracks. James spun, expecting Merlin to come striding out of the shadows, his staff at the ready. Instead, two figures ran out of the darkness, one small and skinny and the other tall and bedraggled.

"Albus!" Rose cried. "Ted! Is it you?"

"Yeah," Ted panted. "Your mum sent me, James. She's worried sick about the lot of you."

"And I came mainly because I sneaked away when Mum wasn't looking," Albus proclaimed. "I couldn't bear just sitting around and doing nothing."

"Ted, how'd you find us?" Zane asked, frowning.

Ted blew out a deep sigh. "I have skills…" He tapped his nose. "Werewolf skills, if you must know. Between Rose's soap and the peppermints in Ralph's pocket, you lot are easier to sniff out than a dead Grindylow."

"Tell Mum we're going to find Lily," James said, straightening. "We know where she is and who has her."

"Do you now?" Ted replied seriously. "That's pretty amazing considering your aunt and uncles are currently scouring the entire castle for her. What gives?"

"It's too much to explain," Rose said. "Just pass on the message. We're going to go get her back."

"Nothing doing," Albus said, shaking his head. "She's my sister too. If you know where she is, I'm coming along."

"Albus, it's Corsica who has her!" James exclaimed.

"Tabitha Corsica took Lily?" Ted interjected. "Why would she do that? Are you sure?"

"We're sure," Ralph answered, nodding. "And we don't have much time."

"What are we waiting for, then?" Albus said grimly. "I don't care who has her. We'll figure out the details after we get her back, all right? Come on!"

The group tramped along the corridor, now running full out. As they filed up the stairs, James heard Ted behind him, speaking in short bursts.

"I'm sorry, Ralph… about the whole trying-to-rip-your-arm-off thing…"

"S'okay," Ralph panted. "Don't mention it…"

"I was angry…" Ted went on, "Petra and me… when we talked that day… it just brought everything back… since she was going through so much of the same… kind of thing…"

James interrupted. "What do you mean, Ted? I thought you two were talking about why you broke up with her?"

They reached the top of the stairs and Rose turned a corner, leading them toward the bathroom.

"Me?" Ted said. "Who told you that? She broke it off with me months ago. I thought everybody knew that."

"No," James said, "we all thought she'd gone into Hogsmeade that day to try to get back together with you!"

"You think that's what we were talking about?" Ted chuckled drily. "Hardly. We were talking about her parents. I thought you lot knew all about it. You saw the package she got from the Ministry, didn't you?"

James was about to answer when Rose turned, pushing open the heavy door to the second-floor girls' bathroom. She barreled in, followed by Ralph and Scorpius. A red flash suddenly glared through the doorway and there was a scream. James yanked Zane down as he ducked. Another flash jetted through the air overhead. Ted lunged through the doorway, rolled, and landed on one knee, his wand out and pointing.

"Stop!" he shouted.

James was still crouched in the open bathroom doorway. He raised his head and saw Ralph splayed unconscious on the tile floor. Tabitha Corsica was standing over him in the middle of the room, grinning humorlessly. Her hair was askew and her eyes were wild. She had one arm crooked around Rose's neck, yanking the smaller girl nearly off the floor. With her other hand, she poked her wand at Rose's temple.

"Well!" Tabitha exclaimed glassily. "Isn't this quite the party? I hadn't expected so many of you, nor quite this soon, but it wasn't as if I wasn't prepared, was it?"

"Tabitha!" Scorpius said, stepping forward, his own wand out. "What are you doing?"

"As if you didn't know, Scorpius Malfoy," she cried, giggling a little. "I might ask you the same thing! When I saw that you were accompanying this little entourage, I admit I wondered at your own intent."

"This isn't the way it's supposed to happen," Scorpius said, taking another step forward. "I never agreed to a kidnapping."

"Your grandfather knew you wouldn't have the stomach for what this night truly required, Scorpius!" Tabitha declared triumphantly. "But you were never really necessary anyway! Ever since the little service you performed last summer, you've been merely a pawn. Your grandfather told me so himself!"