ааааааааJames stooped down and hefted a medium-sized rock. He weighed it thoughtfully in his hand, and then heaved it out over the chasm as hard as he could. It tumbled into the darkness, turning slowly, and then there was a flash and a spark as one of the magical blades swooped down. It pulverized the rock in midair, and then sucked back up into darkness.
ааааааааJames looked aside at Rose and Ralph, his eyes wide. Ralph shrugged helplessly.
ааааааааAlbus drew a deep sigh. "I think I might know a way to cross that," he said, as if he dreaded admitting it.
аааааааа"What, Al?" James asked, but his brother had already turned. He walked a few paces away until he stood at the base of the stone steps again. He glanced back.
аааааааа"Dad taught me this one," he said. "It saved his life once. Maybe we can use it to save Lil." He turned back to the stairs, raised his own wand, and as loudly as he could, shouted, "Accio broomstick!"
ааааааааAlmost a minute passed, and James had begun to doubt the spell had worked when an exclamation of alarm echoed down the stone steps.
аааааааа"No!" Tabitha's voice cried. "Not my broom! You can't!"
ааааааааTed called over her, "Incoming!"
ааааааааThe broom dipped down the stone steps and halted next to Albus. James, standing nearby, could hear the faint hum of the broom. He remembered it well from his doomed attempt to commandeer it last year.
аааааааа"You can't be serious," Zane said, stepping forward and examining the broomstick. "This is Tabitha's broom! The bogus Merlin staff from last year. You're not going to try to ride it across that chasm, are you?"
аааааааа"It's my broom now," Albus said grimly. "Tabitha gave it to me, although she may well be regretting it."
ааааааааRose proclaimed, "But you can't just fly across! You saw what happened to the rock! I don't know how Petra made it across with Lily, but there must be some other way!"
ааааааааAlbus strode to the edge of the chasm and straddled the broom. "This is no ordinary broom, Rose. I don't know where Tabitha got it, or how it works, but it knows where it needs to be. In a way, it's kind of the reverse of James' Thunderstreak. It knows where to go, and it puts it into the mind of the rider. The broom won't let us get chopped. And besides, we don't have a choice. Hop on behind me, James, and hold on as tight as you can."
аа а а аJames gulped and climbed onto the broom, wrapping his arm tightly around his brother's waist.
аа а а а"Wait!" Rose cried. "This is mad!"
аааааааа"That's why wecan't wait, Rose," James said, gritting his teeth. "If we wait, we'll realize how completely daft this is. Go, Al!"
ааааааааJames felt Albus tense. Together, they coiled, and as Rose reached forward to grab James, her face terrified, Albus threw himself forward, taking James and the broomstick with him.
ааааааааThe broom plummeted under the weight of both James and Albus, and James squeezed his eyes shut, hugging his brother as he leaned over the broomstick, struggling to pull it upright. The broom corrected swiftly, angling upwards and accelerating. James still had his lit wand in his fist. He gripped Albus with his left arm and held the wand aloft, fighting the force of their momentum. Wandlight flashed off a long, steely blade as it dropped alongside them, scything the air. Albus lurched sideways as the broom banked away, and James nearly dropped his wand, fighting to hold on. Theair hissed on all sides as huge, curved blades sliced the darkness, dropping like swords and barely missing them. Amazingly, the broom seemed to determine the course on its own, dodging with lightning speed through the flashing, deadly barrage. James struggled to hold on, trying to keep his body asclose to the broom and Albus as possible. There was a high, rasping sound as one of the blades sliced a neat seam in his robe, and James felt the chill of the metal whoosh past his skin. He yelped and leaned away, pulling the broom slightly off course.
ааааааааAlbus swore, trying to correct, but it was no use. The broom seemed to have lost its bearing. It pushed upwards beneath them, and James had a sense that they were nearing the other side of the chasm. Suddenly, a rough stone wall loomed into view, as if it were falling on them. Albuspulled up, trying to help the broom to reach the ledge, but it was too high. The broom struggled, flying nearly straight up, still weaving past falling blades. And then, suddenly, there was light and space, and James was spinning off the broom, flailing for something to hold onto. He landed hard onstone, rolled, and scrambled up, his chin scraped and bleeding but otherwise unhurt.
ааааааааAlbus lay ten feet away, dangerously near the edge of the chasm they had just traversed. He moaned and clutched his head.
аааааааа"Al!" James called, stumbling over to him. "Are you all right?"
аааааааа"I think we crashed," Albus replied, shaking his head as if to clear it. "That was just sick, wasn't it? Ow!"
ааааааааJames glanced down, "Oh no! I think we broke it!"
аааааааа"My leg?" Albus asked, examining his shin critically. "Ouch! I'm pretty sure it isn't supposed to bend in that direction, but it's nothing Madam Curio won't be able to fix, right?"
ааааааааJames blinked at Albus' crooked leg. "Oh. Ew. No, that's not what I meant. Sorry, Al. I meantthat." He pointed at the broomstick, which was splintered messily into two pieces.
аааааааа"Oh no! That hurts even worse than my leg! How are we going to get back now?" Albus exclaimed, picking up one of the pieces.
ааааааааJames shook his head. "Like you said, let's just rescue Lily, and we'll figure out the rest later."
ааааааааAlbus started to scramble to his feet, and then hissed in pain, falling back. "I'm no good, James. Unless you plan on carrying me, I'm stuck here."
аааааааа"Come on, I can't do this by myself!" James said, feeling a sudden, helpless anger.
аа а а а"Well, if you hadn't pulled us out of control back there, I wouldn't be in this condition, you stupidаberk!"
аа а а а"Me? Whose idea was it to ride the Broom from Hell across the pit in the first place?"
аа а а а"Well, you sure weren't coming up with any brilliant ideas, were you?"
аа а а а"Shh!" James suddenly hissed, half turning.
аа а а а"Don't shush me, you big git!" Albus cried. "If my broken leg wasn't still attached, I'd beat you withаit!"
аааааааа"SHHH!" James insisted, waving one hand frantically. He cocked his head, listening. Albus stopped and listened as well, furrowing his brow.
аа а а а"It's a voice," he whispered. "Sort of. That's creepy,"
аааааааа"It's coming from that cave over there," James pointed. As his eyes adjusted to the gloom, he could see a greenish light flickering from the mouth of the cave.
аааааааа"Go, James," Albus whispered urgently. "Go get Lily back if you still can. And if you can't, I swear I'll kill you."
аа а а аJames nodded. "All right. I just hope nobody else beats you to it."
ааааааааHe took a deep breath, still staring at the green glow of the cave mouth, and then began to walk toward it.
ааааааааJames' phantom scar began to sing a long, high note of pain. It rang in his ears, throbbing with the steady thrum of his heartbeat. Petra wouldn't really hurt Lily, would she? He truly wanted to believe she wouldn't, but he remembered the dreams, remembered the coaxing, lulling, infuriating words of that phantom voice. It had promised Petra she could get her parents back if only she was willing to make the hardest choice of all, to repay blood for blood. Petra was obviously not in her right mind. She was in a sort of trance, wasn't she? She was under the control of that horrible voice, and the last shred of the soul of Lord Voldemort which beat in her veins. But even as James approached the entrance to the cave, he knew that was not entirely true. Petra was being influenced, yes, but she wasn't being forced to do anything. The shred of Voldemort wasn't enough to completely control her, only to sway her, to coax and persuade her. The greatest influence inside Petra was her own broken heart, and her deep, unspoken rage, and the desperate, bottomless hunger for judgment on those who'd taken her parents from her. In the thrall of those emotions, James knew that Petra may well do almost anything if she was convinced that it would satisfy those needs.
аа а а аThinking that, James shuddered. He stepped into the mouth of the cave and saw it all.
ааааааааThere was the flickering green pool, lit from within, and there was Petra, still dressed in her pink costume dress. The curls had begun to fall from her hair, and her make-up had run, forming tear-streaks down her cheeks. Her eyes were dry now, however. She had her wand out, pointedat Lily, who stood before her, expressionless and limp, like a puppet. The high, horrible voice was babbling, and James could only now make out the words.
аааааааа"The boy James comes!" the voice said with delight. "Look upon him, my dear! He comes, just as predicted!"
ааааааааJames gasped, hearing his name in that awful voice, but then Petra turned to him, and his gasp turned to a violent shiver as the pain in his forehead spiked. Petra's eyes were eerily dead. In the flicker of the greenish pool, her face looked like a mask. She held his voodoo doll in her free hand, and James could see that someone had drawn a crude green lightning bolt onto its forehead.
аааааааа"James," she said blankly, still pointing her wand at Lily, "you shouldn't have come. Now it's too late."
ааааааааJames stumbled forward, moving into the light of the cave. "Petra, whatЕ what are you doing?"
ааааааааPetra shrugged slightly, and then turned her gaze back to Lily. "What I was made for," she answered, sounding eerily like Tabitha Corsica. She nodded at Lily and said, "You know what to do, dear."
ааааааааWithout blinking, Lily walked slowly around the glowing pool, her bare feet making no noise on the stone. On the far side of the pool, James saw that a series of steps led down into the water. Quite slowly, Lily began to descend the steps. With a shock of horror, James realized thathis sister was under the Imperius Curse.
аааааааа"I'm sorry, James," Petra said. "I know you can't possibly understand why this has to happen. It seemed awful to me at first too, but now I know it is the only way. It really is best for everyone, even Lily. You have to trust me."
аааааааа"Еhave to trust me," the horrible, keening voice echoed. It seemed to be speaking constantly, muttering under Petra's words, almost as if it was feeding them to her.
аааааааа"Lily!" James called, stepping forward. "Stop!"
ааааааааLily's eyes didn't so much as flicker. She took another step into the eerie green pool. James reached desperately for his wand, but it wasn't in his pocket. Too late, he realized he must have dropped it when he and Albus had crashed the broom. He ran forward, meaning to drag his sister bodily from the pool, but just as he was within reaching distance, something repelled him. He hurtled backwards through the air, as if pulled by a rope around his waist. He struck the mossy stone wall and fell, the breath knocked out of him.
аааааааа"One at a time, James," Petra said sadly, still pointing her wand at Lily. "I'm sorry. Please don't try that again. I really don't want to hurt either of you before it's all over."
ааааааааJames gasped for breath, and the phantom scar on his forehead burned like a branding iron. The awful voice echoed Petra's every word, and for the first time James wondered if Petra was even aware of the voice. Was it possible that she didn't realize how it was influencing her? He glanced around, looking for the source of the voice. Just as in his dreams, it seemed to emanate from a shadowy figure in a dark corner. It stood perfectly still, apparently wearing an old bowler hat and a dusty coat. Its arms hung loosely at its sides.
ааааааааJames struggled to get up, but he felt weak and heavy, as if something was pushing down on him. It was the awful weight of some new presence, filling the room like black smoke, darkening it. It was the Gatekeeper. Silently, eerily unseen, it descended into the Chamber, watching, preparing to enter Petra once she completed the necessary rite of willingness: murdering Lily.
ааааааааLily took another step into the pool. Her yellow dress began to float about her, sinking into the murky water, and as she descended, something else seemed to be ascending from the other end of the pool. James recognized the shape. It was the young woman he'd seen so often in his dreams: Petra's mother. As Lily lowered into the water, Lianna arose from her own reflection, smiling at her daughter, raising her hands. Petra's eyes shone as she looked at the ascending shape.
аааааааа"Petra!" James called, catching his breath. "That can't really be your mother! It's a trick! She's not real!"
аааааааа"Don't listen to him," the high voice whispered, wheedling. "He is the son of those who let her die. He is full of lies and deception. But his voice will soon be stopped forever, and with his death, you shall have your father back as well! Then all will be prepared; balance will be restored. The new age of judgment will be at hand, and all because of your sacrificeЕ"
аааааааа"All because of my sacrifice," Petra said quietly, tears running down her face again, smearing her makeup.
ааааааааLily's chin touched the surface of the pool. A drop of water hung there, and then she stepped forward again, her mouth dipping below the surface. Her hair spread around her, floating on the water like a corona. The ghostly figure of Lianna Agnellis put one foot onto the stone floor.She wasn't even wet.
аааааааа"This isn't real!" James screamed desperately, struggling to his feet. "It's all coming from that voice! What is it?"
аааааааа"There is no voice," Petra sang lightly, rocking her head back and forth. "There is no voice other than the voice of my dead father. You see, I have brought his things here, where they await him. His shoes and hat, his coat. Even his Cloak of Invisibility, which I've used myself these many visits. He'll be so happy to see them again, don't you think?"
ааааааааJames shook his head fervently. "That's my father's Cloak, Petra! You're being deceived!"
ааааааааPetra didn't seem to hear him. Her eyes gazed trancelike at the shape of her mother, but her wand was still pointed at Lily as she descended the last step, slipping beneath the surface of the water. The heavy, dark sense of the Gatekeeper's presence increased. The task was nearly done; Lily would soon be dead and the Gatekeeper would unite with Petra, its host. Then there would be no sending it back, no stopping it from running rampant upon the earth. James wanted to lunge toward the pool again, risking everything to pull his sister out of the water, but even in his desperation he knew Petra would easily repel him once more. There was no hope, and yet James realized this was his last chance for action. Frantically, he looked from his drowning sister to the shadowy figure in the corner. He could see now that it wasn't a figure at all but simply an assembly of clothesЧPetra's father's belongings, propped like a scarecrow. The voice came from within, hidden somehow. Suddenly, horribly, James knew what he had to do.
аааааааа"This isn't your father," he exclaimed, scrambling across the room, skirting the pool and his dying sister. "Petra, look!"
ааааааааBefore Petra could stop him, James grabbed the empty arm of the coat. He pulled as hard as he could, yanking the coat loose. It tore away from the shape that had supported it, knocking the hat loose as well, and the horrible voice cried out in fury.
аааааааа"Nooo!" it keened. "Beastly boy! How dare you touch me!"
ааааааааJames stumbled backwards, nearly fainting at the intensity of the pain in his forehead.
ааааааааPetra gasped, and her wand wavered. "JamesЕ what have youЧ" she exclaimed, and then her voice changed, became very slightly doubtful. "Father?"
ааааааааThe coat had concealed a portrait in a frame. James could see instantly that the portrait had been quite severely damaged, almost entirely destroyed, and then very systematically sewn back together and repainted. The repainted portions didn't move very well, giving the face a twisted, maimed look, but James could clearly see who the portrait represented. One eye stared blankly while the other followed him malevolently, glowing red with one snakelike, vertical pupil.
аа а а аPetra's face contorted in involuntary disgust. "You're not my fatherЕ you'reЕ you'reЕ"
аааааааа"Finish the task!" the portrait hissed furiously. "Kill Lily Potter first! Then James Potter! Correct my one fatal mistake! It matters not who I am! All that matters is what was stolen from you, and making those responsible for it pay! It is the only way to return those you've lost!"
аааааааа"Correct your mistake?" Petra said, her expression melting slowly into horrified revelation. "But I thoughtЕ"
аааааааа"My single mistake!" the portrait of Voldemort shrieked urgently. "Killing James Potter first, leaving the stronger one to protect the boy! It was old magic, but powerful magic, and I forgot it! She should've died first, leaving the man and the child to wither before my wand! It was my single, fatal mistake! I was foolish, yes, but now the circle will be closed! You, my soul's final vessel, will kill the girl, Lily Potter, and then the boy, James Potter, and thenЧ" the voice dropped to a seething, greedy hiss, "Harry Potter will come, and finallyЧfinallyЧweЕ willЕ killЕ him!"
аааааааа"Harry Potter?" Petra whispered.
аааааааа"The doll was meant to summon him," the portrait said quickly. "The plan seemed so simple: add a scar to the forehead, thus making it the father instead of the son. Surely, once Harry Potter's scar reawakened, he would come, and then he would be ours! But instead, we have lured the boy James, grantinghim the phantom scar and the ability to know our plans, and this, my dear, is even better! I might have foreseen it! My one mistake will be rectified, the order reversed!Lily Potter dies,then James, and then, finally, Harry Potter will lie dead at our feet!"
ааааааааWonderingly, Petra said, "But my parentsЕ the promise of balance and perfectionЕ you used meЕ" Her voice rose, became angry. "You used me!"
аааааааа"That is because in your heart, you and I are one and the same!" the horrible portrait rasped. "Your living soul carries the last vestige of my own, like a flame in a lantern! We wish for the same things, but from different directions. In the end, we arrive at the very same place: revenge!"
ааааааааPetra shook her head sadly. "What have I done? I didn't want revenge," she said. "All I wanted was justiceЕ" She turned away from the portrait and looked back at the woman standing on the ledge of the greenly flickering pool. Petra's mother smiled back at her sadly and nodded. Petra hitched a sob. "JusticeЕ and my parents back," she said, her voice cracking. She raised her wand. "Wingardium Leviosa!"
аааааааа"NOOO!" the portrait screamed, so loud that it seemed to shake the walls.
ааааааааLily flew up out of the pool, limp as a rag and streaming water. The shape of Lianna Agnellis fell in on itself, reverting to water. It splashed onto the stone floor and streamed back into the pool.
аааааааа"Mum!" Petra screamed, unable to resist reaching out to the departed shape, tears shining in her eyes. "I'm sorry, Mum! Dad! I'm so sorry! I couldn't do it!"
ааааааааJames ran forward to the suspended shape of his sister. He reached and pulled her to him, hugging her. She was as limp and cold as death. Gently, he laid her on the floor, and placed his ear to her chest.
аааааааа"Her heart's still beating!" he cried.
аааааааа"You foolish girl!" the portrait roared, its face distorting grotesquely. "It is the only way! The part of me in you rebels even now! Resist at your own peril! Kill the girl! It is not yet too late!"
ааааааааPetra shook her head slowly, approaching the portrait.
аааааааа"You can't destroy it, Petra," James called, cradling Lily in his arms. "Look at it; other people have tried! Portraits can only be destroyed by the painter, remember?"
ааааааааPetra was still shaking her head, tears streaking her face but her expression a mask of stern resolve. "That's not entirely true, James," she said quietly. With both hands, she gripped the portrait by its frame and lifted it.
аааааааа"You are the host of the Gatekeeper!" the high, cold voice of Voldemort proclaimed urgently. "Even now it awaits you! You can feel its presence! You have been chosen since the time of Salazar Slytherin himself! Hundreds of years of prophecy lead to you! You cannot turn aside from the weight of that destiny! It will crush you! Turn back! All is not yet lost! It is not too late!"
аааааааа"There are two people that can destroy a portrait, although the second person is rarely ever available to do it," Petra said, speaking to James and ignoring the raving voice. She held the painting out with both hands, leveling it over the rippling surface of the pool. "A portrait can only be destroyed by its painter, or if fate allows it, a portrait can be destroyedЕ by its subject."
аааааааа"NOOO!" the portrait shrieked, and James saw the canvas bulge slightly at the force of it. Petra dropped the portrait and it fell into its reflection, splashing heavily. The voice of Voldemort's painted visage continued to scream furiously, bubbling as it bobbed for a moment. Horribly, the painted face began to run and streak, as if the liquid in the pool were acid rather than water. Paint bled over the sinking canvas and mingled with the glowing waters, diluting and thinning, drawing feathery black tendrils into the depths. The voice gurgled and faded, ran out of breath, rasped desperately, and then died, leaving only its echo in the Chamber of Secrets. The portrait frame sank out of sight and was lost forever in the bottomless pool.
аааааааа"Is she breathing?" Petra asked, dropping onto her knees next to Lily.
аааааааа"I don't know!" James exclaimed, hugging her wet, slight body. "She's so cold!"
ааааааааPetra nodded and leveled her wand at Lily's throat. "Expelliaqua," she said firmly.
ааааааааSeveral seconds went by, and James was sure the spell hadn't worked, but then Lily suddenly lurched in his arms. She coughed thickly and vomited a quantity of water. James helped her into a sitting position, pounding her gently on the back. She coughed more water and gasped a great,ragged breath. James was so preoccupied that he barely noticed the sense of the Gatekeeper fading from the Chamber. Its host had failed the final test. Petra had not killed for it. Weakened and silent, the Gatekeeper streamed away.
аааааааа"James?" Lily croaked, looking blearily at his face. "Where am I? What happened?"
ааааааааJames shook his head and laughed with relief, tears welling in his eyes. "You're with me, Lil. That's all that matters."
аааааааа"Hi, Petra," Lily said weakly, glancing aside. "You were great. I cried when you drank the Marsh Hag's sleeping poison."
ааааааааPetra smiled wanly. "Thanks, Lily."
ааааааааJames and Petra helped Lily to her feet and James put his arm around her, leading her back out of the cave. Petra gathered the Invisibility Cloak but left the eerie collection of her father's clothing. She looked back only once, her face flushed and sad.
аааааааа"Hey, Petra," Albus said gamely as they approached. "You feeling a bit more yourself, are you?"
ааааааааPetra nodded but didn't reply. Silently, she knelt next to Albus and examined his leg.
аааааааа"You're pretty good at this," James said, watching Petra tear a strip of ribbon from her dress. Carefully, she used the ribbon and a length of the broken broom to splint Albus' leg. When she was done, she stood and pulled Albus to his feet.
аааааааа"Hey," Albus said, surprised. "That feels loads better. How'd you do that?"
аааааааа"It's sort of a talent," Petra answered, averting her eyes. "Besides, it was just a fracture. You'll be fine in a day or so, once madam Curio has a look at that leg."
ааааааааJames didn't say anything, but he had the distinct sense that Petra was lying about Albus' injury. It had certainly been far more than a fracture. James himself had seen the ugly angle below Albus' knee. Now he was standing on it with the help of a simple splint. It was as if Petra meant to repay them for what had happened, but secretly, and using a rather extraordinary kind of magic.
ааааааааPetra stood again, gathering the voodoo doll and the Invisibility Cloak. She looked at them in her hands. "These aren't mine," she said, and then handed them to James. "I wasn't even aware of the doll until the portrait mentioned it. I was carrying it the whole time, but somehow I barely knew it. I'm so sorry James. I don't know what else to say."
ааааааааJames accepted the doll and the Cloak. "You were being deceived," he answered simply.
ааааааааPetra nodded morosely and looked out over the chasm. "I was," she agreed. "But mostly, I was deceiving myself. I can't deny that."
аааааааа"You've got reasons to be angry and hurt, Petra," James said quietly. "That wasn't the way to deal with itЧTed wanted me to tell you thatЧbut there are other ways. The feelings are real. You just have to figure out what to do with them, right?"
ааааааааPetra nodded slowly. In the darkness, James saw one more tear track down her cheek.
аааааааа"You still in one piece, Lil?" Albus asked his sister, looking her up and down. "Why are you all wet?"
ааааааааLily frowned and looked down at her sopping yellow dress. "Honestly, I don't have any idea."
аааааааа"Explanations later," Albus sighed heartily, hopping on his good leg. "First, how are we going to get back across that?" He gestured toward the dark chasm.
аааааааа"Same way I got here," Petra answered softly. "We walk."
ааааааааAlbus grimaced. "Walk? What are you? A ghost?"
аааааааа"No," Petra replied, almost to herself. "Apparently, I'm the Bloodline of Lord Voldemort." She stepped forward, walking straight off the edge of the cliff. James gasped, horrified but unable to look away. Petra didn't fall however. Her footstep was supported by a small stone platform, rather like a stepping stone, that had appeared out of nowhere. She looked back, one foot still on the edge of the chasm.
Дата добавления: 2015-09-29; просмотров: 25 | Нарушение авторских прав
| <== предыдущая лекция | | | следующая лекция ==> |