ааааааааJames perked up. "Yeah? What was it?"
ааааааааZane reached into his jeans pocket and pulled out a small envelope. "Albus let me take a look at the bit of the broom he'd been using as a splint. I broke it open and Gennifer and Horace helped me do some tests on it. Look." He handed the envelope to James.
ааааааааJames thumbed it open and peered inside. It contained a tiny shred of black fabric.
аааааааа"I wouldn't touch it," Zane said. "I did accidentally, and it still feels pretty oogie."
аааааааа"'Oogie'?" James said, handing the envelope back to Zane.
аааааааа"Sorry. Technical term I picked up from Raphael back home. Hinky. Creepified. Completely off the spook-o-meter."
аааааааа"I get the picture," James sighed. "But what is it?"
ааааааааZane plopped down next to James on his trunk. "Remember last year when you explained corked brooms to me?"
ааааааааJames nodded. "Sure. When a Quidditch player threads something magical into their broomstick, basically turning it into a big giant wand."
аааааааа"Yeah, well, we weren't so far-off about Corsica's," Zane replied. "We thought it was corked because it was Merlin's staff, but obviously, that was a red herring. It was corked because it contained a big, long strip off the robe of a Dementor."
аааааааа"A Dementor?" James exclaimed, turning to look at Zane. "How's that even possible?"
ааааааааZane shrugged easily. "Beats me, but there's no question about it. Maybe Corsica's people are friendly enough with those things that they were able to get a hand-me-down. After all, you said the Dementors were loyal to Voldy and his pals."
аааааааа"They weren't so much loyal to him as they were evil like him, but stillЕ you could be right."
аааааааа"It checks out," Zane nodded. "If what Merlin told you is true, Dementors are the same stock as the Borleys. They come from outside of time, and can manipulate it a little. That's pretty much what Tabitha's broom seemed to do, wasn't it? It knew just enough of the future to know where it needed to be. Fortunately for you and Albus, it took on the purpose of its owner."
аааааааа"Wow," James breathed, looking at the envelope in Zane's hand. "I know that thing saved Albus' and my life, but still, I have to say I'm glad it got destroyed. Corked with a Dementor's robe! That's super creepy."
аааааааа"Oogie, even," Zane agreed, pocketing the envelope. "Albus said I could keep this. I'm going to give it to Chancellor Franklyn when I get home so he can study it. I bet I get brownie points from here to doomsday for it!"
ааааааааJames shook his head, smiling at his friend's irrepressible temerity.
ааааааааShortly thereafter, Ralph, Rose, and Albus dragged their trunks out to the step as well, awaiting Hagrid's carriage to the station. James smiled in the sunlight. It was going to be a fun trip home.
аааааааа"You still haven't really told us what happened on the other side of the chasm," Ralph said as the train picked up speed, leaving Hogsmeade station. "I mean, what was the real deal with Petra anyway? Was she under the Imperius Curse or something?"
ааааааааJames shook his head. "No, no, nothing like that. She was being deceived. She had no idea that she was the Bloodline of Voldemort. Lucius Malfoy arranged for the Invisibility Cloak, my voodoo doll, and the portrait of Voldemort to be planted into the box of her father's things before it ever left Azkaban. She was blinded to the portrait and doll, tricked by the little part of Voldemort in her blood. Later, when she heard the voice of the portrait in the cave, she thought it was the voice of her dead father. It sounds mad, but I think she was feeling a little mad anyway after finding out all that stuff about her mum and dad."
аааааааа"So none of the things we saw in the Pensieve were about Tabitha after all, right?" Ralph said. "All those memories were about Petra. Scorpius let us believe Tabitha was the Bloodline because that's what his grandfather told him to do, just to keep us distracted from the real thing;is that it?"
аааааааа"I don't care what you all say," Albus said determinedly, "that little squid is ten kinds of trouble. He just better stay out of my way."
ааааааааRose closed the book on her lap and looked up. "I admit he started out pretty awful, what with stealing the Cloak, map, and doll, and then lying to us about the Bloodline, but all of that was on his grandfather's orders. You can't really blame him for wanting to live up to the legacy of his family; he didn't know any better. Besides, even by the time he was showing us the memories in the Pensieve, he was beginning to have doubts about his grandfather's plan. That's why he didn't actually say Tabitha's name. He was halfway hoping we'd figure out it was Petra after all."
аааааааа"And he did do the right thing in the end," James added. "He never knew that hurting Lily was part of the plan. When Lily was kidnapped, he totally gave up his grandfather and Tabitha. We'd never have learned the truth about Petra if Scorpius hadn't been there with us in the bathroom."
аааааааа"I think both of you have crushes on him," Albus said dourly. "I'm not falling for that 'I'm just a poor misguided bad boy' bit. Someday, he and I are going to finish what we started on the train ride here."
аааааааа"I'd be careful, Albus," Zane commented, raising his eyebrows. "I saw Scorpius at the last Defence Club meeting and he's gotten pretty slick with that Artis Decerto stuff. He was waxin' on and waxin' off like a boy ninja."
ааааааааAlbus rolled his eyes. "Whatever."
ааааааааRalph stood up and peered out the compartment door. "Hey, that reminds me: which direction are Louis and Victoire in?" he asked, peering up and down the train corridor. "Louis has a book on Middle Eastern defensive magic he said I could borrow over the summer."
аааааааа"Victoire stayed behind," Rose answered. "She's staying with George and Ted in Hogsmeade until George and Angelina's wedding. And I usually try my best not to know where Louis is."
ааааааааRalph stretched and said, "I'm going to go walk a bit and try to find him. Who's coming?"
аааааааа"I'm in," James answered, standing. "I'm going to fall asleep if I stay here. We shouldn't have stayed up so late playing Winkles and Augers last night."
аааааааа"I'm going to ask the cart lady about her working hours," Zane interjected, opening the compartment door.
аааааааа"Louis has a book on magical martial arts?" Rose asked Ralph as the five of them filed out into the corridor.
аааааааа"He's really gotten into it," Ralph nodded. "Posters all over his dormitory of the Harriers and famous wizard martial artists and stuff. He even asked his mum to order him one of those hoods with the eye slits in it so he can look all mysterious."
аааааааа"Our Louis?" Albus exclaimed, stifling a grin. "I should have known there was a repressed fighter buried under all that stuffed shirt."
аааааааа"Debellows said he's got some natural talent," Ralph said, shrugging. "Of course, he said the same thing about you, James."
аааааааа"And I got top marks on my Wizlit essay," Rose said pointedly, steering the conversation away from Professor Debellows, for whom she still had little respect. "Professor Revalvier said my insight on the golden age of wizarding literature wasЧ"
ааааааааJames suddenly stopped in the aisle, forcing everyone to pile up behind him.
аааааааа"Ow! Ralph, get off my toe, you bloody dump truck!" Albus cried. "What gives?"
аааааааа"Do you see it?" James whispered urgently, pointing. Everyone stopped and craned their heads, looking in the direction James was pointing.
аааааааа"What are we looking for?" Zane asked after a moment.
ааааааааRose said, "I don't see anythiЧ"
аааааааа"There!" Albus interrupted, pointing over Zane's shoulder.
аа а а аSomething moved inside the network of flickering shadows near the end of the corridor.
аа а а а"It's like a living shadow," Ralph said.
аа а а а"It's the last Borley!" Albus declared, pushing past James. "And he's mine!"
аа а а а"No magic!" James commanded. "Remember? That's how it grew last time!"
ааааааааThe Borley capered in moving shadows as the train pushed through the forest. It teased and cartwheeled, as if begging to be hexed. Suddenly, the door at the end of the corridor slid open, letting in the noise of the rushing wind and clacking wheels. All five students cried out in warning, stumbling over each other, but the Borley took advantage of the opening and leapt through the door just as it was sliding shut again.
аааааааа"How very curious," the newcomer said in a deep voice. James looked up and rolled his eyes. It was Merlin, wearing his travelling cloak, his staff at his side.
аааааааа"MerliЧer, Headmaster!" Rose exclaimed, pushing forward. "It just went that way!"
аааааааа"The Borley!" James added hastily. "The last one! It must have been on the train this whole time!"
ааааааааMerlin's face darkened slightly. "We mustn't take any chances this time, my friends. I will follow it and corral it. Mr. Potter, you know what the Darkbag looks like, do you not? It is in my compartment, two cars behind you, number six. It will allow you inside. The trunk beneath the seat will open with this key. Meet us as soon as you can." The big man produced a golden key on a long loop of chain and held it out to James. James took it, feeling rather important.
аааааааа"Quickly, Mr. Potter," Merlin prodded. "We haven't a moment to spare."
ааааааааJames turned on his heel and ran back the way they'd come, fighting the disorienting sensation of running full out in a moving, swaying train. He passed through two connectors and came to the compartment marked number six. The windows were smoked, but the door was unlocked. James entered quickly and saw the Headmaster's trunk peeking out from beneath the left side bench. He dropped to his knees and heaved it into the light. The small golden key fit snugly in the lock and turned with a minute click. When James threw the trunk open, he was surprised to see that the Darkbag was the only thing inside it, folded neatly on the wooden floor of the trunk. Of course, he realized, this was one of those magical trunks which opened onto different contents depending on what key you unlocked it with. Considering the great importance and potential danger of the Darkbag, which imprisoned the rest of the starving Borleys inside its seamless dark, James felt particularly honored to have been asked to retrieve it. He touched it a little fearfully, remembering Merlin's warnings about it, but it felt perfectly normal. It was simply a large, heavy, black cloth bag, cinched shut with a golden cord and bearing a long shoulder strap on the top. Having assured himself that the Darkbag was relatively safe to hold, James slung it around his neck and over his shoulder, wearing it like a backpack. He slammed the trunk, hung the key around his neck on its fine chain, and ran back toward the front of the train.
ааааааааHe was rather out of breath by the time he found everyone again. They were gathered at the head of the first car, staring hard at the door. Merlin looked up as James entered. His face was grim, but James thought he could sense some enjoyment in the big man's expression; the Headmaster was pleasuring in the hunt.
аааааааа"We chased it here," Zane said, grinning. "It slipped right through the crack in the door, but the next car is the coal car. End of the line!"
аааааааа"Miss Weasley," Merlin said, turning to her, "you will open the door on my mark. Mr. Deedle, your wand has rather unique properties, as you know. If the Borley manages to get past me, then you, and only you, may attempt to Stun it. Your spell will not halt it but will distract and attract it, giving me the time I need. I will place the Borley in a trance. Then, Mr. Potter, I will require the Darkbag."
ааааааааRalph gulped audibly, producing his huge wand.
аааааааа"Got it," Rose said, a little breathlessly. James nodded understanding.
ааааааааAlbus stood back. "Last time, it was standing on the metal bit that holds the cars together," he explained. "So aim low."
аааааааа"Thank you," Merlin nodded, smiling slightly.
ааааааааRose gripped the door handle and everyone took a deep breath. Merlin nodded at her and she pulled, jerking the door all the way open and letting in a push of warm, noisy air. James squinted in the barreling wind and smoke, and then gasped, his stomach plummeting. Merlin slowly took a step back, spreading his arms to keep everyone behind him.
аааааааа"I may not know what I'm talking about here," Zane said weakly, his eyes bulging, "but I'm pretty sure those aren't Borleys."
ааааааааIn fact, the Borley was exactly where they'd expected it to be. It danced on the huge iron knuckle that connected the train to the coal car, teasing them. Over it, however, darkening the air all around the coal car, swarming like a malignant living cloud, were dozensЧperhaps hundredsЧof Dementors.
аааааааа"It's the entire hive!" James called over the sound of the clacking wheels and rushing wind. "All the way from London! Why are they here?"
ааааааааMerlin didn't take his eyes from the horrible swarm. "I think," he said slowly, "the answer to that question is all too clear."
ааааааааRose looked from Merlin to the open, howling doorway. "The Gatekeeper is up there," she said, nodding toward the engine, which was just visible over the length of the coal car and the swarming Dementors.
ааааааааSuddenly, the train's whistle blew, shrieking a long, deafening note. Rose clapped her hands to her ears and winced. Simultaneously, the engine seemed to lurch forward, picking up speed. James stumbled as the train rounded a turn, rushing through it at dangerously high speed.
аааааааа"Look!" Zane called, gripping the open doorway and pointing. James peered aside, looking through the gap between the cars. Trees whipped past in a blur, and then something else flickered past: wooden signs and piles of gravel and railroad ties.
аааааааа"It's the new extension!" Zane yelled, his face very pale.
аааааааа"The new what?" Rose cried, shaking her head.
аааааааа"Didn't you read the sign?" he called, exasperated. "It's the new track extension over the Sparrowhawk Gorge! We're off the main track! We've been switched onto the new extension!"
аааааааа"Don't tell me," Ralph yelled, slumping. "The extension's not finished yet, is it?"
аааааааа"No! The bridge over the gorge is hardly half-done yet! It's not supposed to be completed until next year!"
ааааааааAlbus nodded seriously. "This is bad. Very bad."
ааааааааMerlin stepped forward, his face determined and his staff held before him. The wind whipped his robes and streamed through his hair and beard. Instantly, the cloud of Dementors condensed, collapsing onto the doorway and blocking it. The students stumbled backwards, terrified and falling over each other. The Dementors hissed and roared, and James felt his blood chill at the sound of it. He'd never known Dementors could speak.
ааааааааThe boyyyЕ, they hissed in unison, and their voices were horrid, buzzing like hornet wings. JamesSirius PotterЕ the boyyy mussst commmeЕ
ааааааааMerlin had not stepped back in the face of the angry swarm. Now, however, he turned slightly, looking back at James over his shoulder. His face was cold, his eyes like diamond chips.
аааааааа"It would appear you are being summoned," he said, his voice carrying easily over the noise and wind.
аааааааа"No!" James cried. "I don't want anything to do with that thing!"
аааааааа"The Gatekeeper believes differently," Merlin replied. "And it is going to kill everyone on this train if you do not meet its summons."
ааааааааJames shook his head adamantly. "I can't face that thing alone!" he exclaimed, terrified.
аааааааа"You will not be alone," Merlin answered, smiling humorlessly. "I will be accompanying you."
ааааааааJames looked into the sorcerer's face. What he saw there was complete confidence and determination. The Dementors may try to stop Merlin, but they would not succeed. James nodded slowly and stood up.
ааааааааAs he stepped tentatively toward the open doorway, the cloud of Dementors backed away, allowing him room. They swarmed feverishly, and the sight of them made James shiver.
аааааааа"Don't!" Rose called, grabbing James' sleeve. "There's got to be another way! You don't have to do it, James!"
ааааааааJames shook his head. "I think I do, Rose. It'll be all right."
аааааааа"No!" she cried. "You're daft! You can't defeat something like that!"
ааааааааJames shrugged. "I have to try at least."
ааааааааZane put his hand on Rose's shoulder and Albus reached for her hand.
аааааааа"Don't do anything stupid, big brother!" Albus called.
аааааааа"Here!" Ralph suddenly yelled, pushing forward. He held his wand out to James, handle-first.
ааааааааJames shook his head. "No, Ralph, that's yours! I couldn't!"
аааааааа"Shut up, James!" Ralph said, and James was shocked to see the ferocity in the boy's eyes. "Merlin's right! My wand has unique powers! You might need the boost! You're not going to keep it anyway. I'mlending it to you. Understand?"
ааааааааJames nodded solemnly and accepted Ralph's huge wand. "I'll give it back to you when I return," he agreed.
ааааааааNowwwЕ, the Dementors hissed in their awful monotone. James Sirius PotterЕ
аааааааа"Keep your cowls on," James muttered nervously, pushing into the wind and blasting cinders. The rear of the coal car bore an iron ladder. James began to climb it, fighting both the howling air and streaming smoke from the engine. Beneath him, the track blurred past, and the clack ofthe wheels was loud enough to hurt his ears. Before Merlin could move to follow him, however, James decided to try the bravest thing he could think of. He took out Ralph's wand and pointed it at the great iron knuckle that connected the coal car to the rest of the train.
аааааааа"Convulsis!" he called, attempting the destroying spell he had last seen Rowena Ravenclaw use on the painting in Salazar Slytherin's quarters. The spell struck the knuckle and exploded brightly. When the sparks cleared, however, James could see that it had had no effect on the knuckle.
аааааааа"A worthy attempt," Merlin called, glancing up at James. "But the Gatekeeper has foreseen such measures."
ааааааааJames nodded, disheartened, and continued to climb the ladder. The Dementors swirled around him but kept their distance. James scrambled over the lip of the coal car and dropped onto the irregular pile of coal inside.
ааааааааBehind him, he heard Merlin's voice call out firmly, "Chrea Patronym!"
ааааааааThere was a burst of silvery light and the swarm of Dementors broke apart, repelled by the force of the glare. James glanced back and saw Merlin clambering onto the pile of coal behind him, his staff glowing greenly in his hand. In front of Merlin, standing between him and James, was a large, ghostly jackal. The silvery light pulsed from it, and it bore its shining teeth in a silent snarl, forcing the Dementors back. James felt a little better seeing Merlin's ferocious Patronus, and he wasn't surprised at the form it had taken. He turned back and slowly began to force his way along the length of the coal car, struggling over the rough chunks of black coal. Trees whipped past, and James could tell that this length of track was unfamiliar. He had no idea how long they had until the train met the unfinished bridge. Panic tried to grip him, but James fought it back, concentrating on the task at hand.
ааааааааFinally, he met the other end of the coal car and clambered through an open iron door. A shovel rattled on the small platform behind the engine, but there was no one in sight. Merlin climbed through the iron door behind James, but his Patronus jumped over the front of the coal car, landing on the platform with its hackles raised. The noise of the engine made it almost too loud to speak. Merlin nodded toward the closed door in the rear of the engine. It was painted bright red, just like the rest of the engine. Across it, in gold letters, were the words 'Hogwarts Express Engineers Only'.
ааааааааJames reached for the door handle and heaved it open. It was pitch dark inside the engine compartment. James took a deep breath, steeled himself on the swaying, speeding platform, and stepped into the waiting darkness.
ааааааааThe noise and wind vanished instantly. There was no sense of speed or motion at all. Nor did the space inside the engine feel hot or confined, as James had expected. It felt huge, silent, and eerily cool.
аааааааа"James," a voice said comfortably, "how good of you to come."
ааааааааJames glanced around, but he couldn't see anyone. There was no sign of Merlin, or anything else for that matter. The space seemed completely dark and featureless but for a pool of dim light that James stood in. "Where am I?" he asked, gathering his wits. "Where's Merlin?"
аааааааа"He's near," the voice answered cryptically. "Interesting fellow, Merlinus, don't you think? He was the first human I ever met, you know. His fear tastes particularly piquant." The voice sighed in a selfsatisfied manner. "As far as where you are, that's a rather more difficult question to answer. I didn't want you to be overly concerned about your friends, so I took usЕ away. Outside of time. Outside ofЕ well, everything, really."
"Where are you?" James demanded, glancing around.
аааааааа"Oh, I keep forgetting," the voice said, laughing lightly. "You humans don't much like the whole 'godlike voice out of nowhere' sensation, do you? I'm right here."
ааааааааOn the wordhere, the voice localized. James turned toward the sound and saw a figure standing before him. It was exactly the same figure he'd seen in Merlin's Magic Mirror, right down to the tattered robe with no feet and the dark, featureless hood. James scrambled back from it, gasping.
аааааааа"I apologize again," the figure said, reaching up. "Perhaps this is a bit better."
ааааааааThe figure of the Gatekeeper touched its hood and then swept it back. James was afraid to look but couldn't help himself. He winced at the revealed shape, and then frowned a little.
аааааааа"You're the Gatekeeper?" he asked, stepping forward again. "You look a little likeЕ like my dad. But not exactly."
аааааааа"This isn't how I truly look, of course," the figure said offhandedly. "I'm still learning about humans, I admit, but I've come to understand the sorts of shapes you find acceptable." The Gatekeeper smiled disarmingly. "You expected something awful, I presume? A thousand eyes and a long, forked tail? That sort of thing?"
ааааааааJames nodded, and then shook his head. "I don't know what I expected. It doesn't matter, really. What do you want?"
аааааааа"Right down to business," the Gatekeeper said, nodding curtly, still smiling. "That's what I respect about you, James Sirius Potter. No sentimentals. I'll tell you what I want. I want to help you."
ааааааааJames shook his head. "I'm not buying that. You're a liar. You want me to be your host so you can stay here on the earth and destroy everything. I've learned all about you. You just want to use me."
аааааааа"Alas," the Gatekeeper said, frowning a little, "put like that, it sounds rather awful, doesn't it? On the surface of it, I mean."
аааааааа"WellЕ," James said, a little uncertainly, "yeah, it does."
ааааааааThe Gatekeeper nodded, pressing its lips together. "I guess that settles it, then. You say no to me, I get no human host. Shortly, I'll lose my footing on this earthly plane and be forced back to the Void. You win." The figure shrugged, as if mildly disappointed.
аааааааа"YeahЕ," James agreed tentatively, "I guess that's pretty much it."
аааааааа"In that case, do you mind if we just chat for a moment, James? There's no harm in that, is there?"
аааааааа"Er, I guess not."
аааааааа"You fancy Miss Morganstern, don't you?" the Gatekeeper said, arching an eyebrow at James and winking. "I don't blame you. Really, I don't. Delightful girl. She and I were supposed to beЕ very close. I have to admit, though, that I had my doubts about her. Your dead Voldemort has his rather devoted followers, and they insisted she was the one for me, but I suspected differently. And, of course, I was right. I'm always right, James. That's not pride talking, mind you. Uncertainty is the hallmark of time-bound creatures. I see history as an open book, from start to finish. I know how things are going to happen because, metaphorically speaking, I've already skipped to the last page." The Gatekeeper sighed indulgently. "Let me ask you something, James: do you know who I really am?" it asked, tilting its head.
аааааааа"You're the Gatekeeper," James answered carefully. "You're evil."
аааааааа"Yes, yes," the figure said, waving a hand impatiently. "But besides all of that. I have loads of names other than that one, you know. There is one that I am particularly fond of. I think it'll amuse you."
ааааааааJames shook his head, feeling increasingly cautious. "I don't know what you mean."
аааааааа"Then let me illuminate you, James," the Gatekeeper said, suddenly approaching James and dropping to one knee. It looked closely at him, its eyes sparkling mischievously. "James, my boy, do you remember the story? The one your friend Ralph regaled you with in Wizard Literature class? You do, don't you?"
ааааааааJames nodded, perplexed. "Sure, but I don't seeЕ"
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