James Potter and the Curse of the Gatekeeper 31 страница

аааааааа"James' secret admirer," Rose said. "We had to come up with something fast so he wouldn't tail us around all day."

аааааааа"Do you think you can remember the secret knot?" James asked, changing the subject.

ааааааааRose answered, "Gennifer marked it with a spot of green paint. It looks like moss unless you get up close. Should be pretty easy to find if you know what to look for."

ааааааааAs they crested the hill and came in sight of the Whomping Willow, James found a long stick beneath a birch. He smiled, showing it to Ralph and Rose. Rose nodded seriously.

аааааааа"You're on secret knot duty, then, James," she said. "Just give it a good poke. We'll follow you into the entrance between the roots once the Willow goes still."

ааааааааJames gripped the stick and approached the tree. The Willow seemed to sense his intent. It reared slightly, creaking its roots, and whipping its thinnest branches threateningly.

аааааааа"Stay low," Ralph called. "You'll need to get just inside the shadow of the tree to reach the knot. The big branches can't reach you, but those little green ones might if you're too high."

ааааааааJames hunkered as low as he could until he was crawling forward on his hands and knees. The tree swished and groaned over him. A whip-like green branch swung at him, trying to wrench the stick out of his hand. It missed, but James felt the breeze of its passage.

аааааааа"Careful," Rose cried in a thin voice. "Just right there! Slowly!"

ааааааааJames reached as far as he could, staring down the length of the stick at its wavering tip. He could see the spot of green paint applied earlier in the term by Gennifer Tellus. This close up, he could see that she'd painted it in the shape of a tiny smiley face. The Whomping Willow creaked ponderously and James felt its shadow leaning over him. He lunged and poked with the stick, striking the knot dead-on.

аааааааа"That's it!" Rose cried. James heard both Ralph and Rose running forward. He scrambled up, slipping on the wet grass. Clumsily, he hurled himself forward into the dark crack between the Willow's massive roots. He landed with a thud in the mossy hollow beneath the tree. A moment later, he heard and felt the entrance of Ralph and Rose. They landed on either side of him, barely missing him in the damp darkness. James laughed in relief. He began to climb to his feet when a fourth shape hurtled through the entrance, bowling directly into James. A knee bounced off his chest, knocking the wind out of him. There was a chorus of angry and surprised shouts.

аааааааа"What theЧ" Ralph cried, scrambling up and snatching after the intruder. He caught the figure by the collar just as Rose whipped out her wand.

аааааааа"Lumos!" she cried, holding it up.

ааааааааThe wandlight sprayed over the skinny shape of Cameron Creevey, held suspended by Ralph's grip. The boy had dirt and bits of bark on his face. He grinned gamely.

аааааааа"Hi, guys," he said, panting. "Some field trip, eh?"

15.OUT OFHOGSMEADE

"I couldn't help it," Cameron said as the four traipsed along the length of the tunnel. "I just knew you were up to something exciting! I saw you heading out toward the Whomping Willow and Iаremembered reading that there had been a secret passage there, back in our parents' day. They say it was all sealed off after the battle, but still, I knew you three could find a way through if you wanted. So I followed along. I was about to call out to you, but then the tree stopped moving and you all ran toward it! I did the first thing that came to mind and ran after you. It was a near thing too! The Willow came back alive just as I got under it! It swiped at me and barely missed!"

аа а а а"Stupid, lazy tree," Ralph muttered.

аааааааа"Cameron, that was a very reckless thing to do," Rose said reprovingly, still holding her wand aloft to light the way.

аааааааа"Well, you can't blame me, can you?" Cameron protested shrilly. "I've read all the Harry Potter stories at least a dozen times! When I saw you sneaking off, Iknew you were going on some big secret adventure! I just wanted to see it in person. I promise I won't get in the way!"

аааааааа"Those stories are all rubbish, Cameron," James grumbled, not really believing it. "My dad says that he couldn't even read them all the way through. They make it all seem like an exciting romp, but it was mostly really scary and people dying and buckets of dumb luck."

аааааааа"Oh, I know," Cameron enthused. "Believe me, I understand all that. I know Revalvier's books are cleaned up a little bit. I mean, they were written to be children's stories. But still, my dad says they got the main parts all right. And your dad really did fight Voldemort and defeat him, all because of the protection his mum gave him when she died to save him. That part wasn't made-up, was it?"

аааааааа"Look, Cam," James began a little angrily, but Rose cleared her throat and nudged him.

аааааааа"We weren't the only ones to lose relatives in the fight against Voldemort," she said softly.

ааааааааJames remembered. Cameron's Uncle Colin had been killed during the Battle of Hogwarts. James sighed. "All right, Cameron, I guess you've a right to come along today as any of us. But trust me, there aren't going to be any grand adventures."

аааааааа"There better not be," Ralph said darkly.

аааааааа"I told you, Ralph," Rose said, "the tunnel to Hogsmeade is technically a part of Hogwarts. It's under the protection Merlin gave the castle. We're safe here."

ааааааааRalph didn't seem particularly relieved. "Yeah, well, what about when we get to Hogsmeade? Are you going to tell me that somehow the whole village is 'technically a part of Hogwarts'?"

аааааааа"Arguably, it could be," she answered. "It's probably the last vestige of the fief that once surrounded the castle. But either way, there will be loads of people there. Not evenЕ er, someone really powerful would attack us with all those crowds around. Besides, no one has seen theHeadmaster for almost two weeks, have they?"

аааааааа"I saw him just yesterday," Cameron piped up. "He was in the hall outside the common room, just walking along like he was on a stroll."

ааааааааJames glanced back at Cameron. "You saw Merlin in the castle? Are you sure it was him? I thought he was off travelling somewhere. That's what Professor Longbottom said."

аааааааа"I guess he got back, didn't he?" Cameron replied. "What? I thought you allliked Headmaster Merlin."

аааааааа"Sure, Cam," Rose said. "We like him well enough. We just, er, wouldn't want to get caught sneaking off the grounds like this."

ааааааааCameron grinned. "Oh, you three won't get caught. That wouldn't make a very good story, would it?"

ааааааааJames was becoming rather annoyed with Cameron. "This isn't a 'story', you know. Merlin knows when things are going on around the school. If he's hereЕ"

аааааааа"Let's not spook ourselves," Rose said soothingly. "We're not doing anything terrible. We just want to get a look around Hogsmeade, that's all. Nothing bad is going to happen. Cameron's probably right. Itwouldn't make a very good story if we were all captured and horribly dispatched by some waiting enemy inthe Shrieking ShackЕ," her voice trailed off uncomfortably. "ErЕ would it?"

аааааааа"Depends on what kind of story it is," Ralph said gloomily.

ааааааааThey walked in nervous silence for awhile. Eventually, the tunnel began to slope upwards. It ended at a jumble of broken crates and bits of furniture, all covered with dust and cobwebs. Beyond was only thick darkness.

аааааааа"We must be at the Shack," Rose said in a whisper. "James, can we make it through?"

аааааааа"Just barely, if we move some of this rubbish around." James gingerly began to stack some of the fallen crates. Dust puffed up at his efforts, clouding Rose's wandlight. Spiders skittered on the walls.

аааааааа"So we're at the Shrieking Shack, then?" Ralph asked in a quavering voice. "Should we be expecting it to, you know, start shrieking?"

ааааааааRose answered, "It doesn't do that, Ralph. It's a long story, but there's nothing to be afraid of here. At least, not anymore."

ааааааааRalph gulped. "Then why are you whispering?"

аааааааа"There," James said, wiping his brow with his sleeve. "I can see through. It's really dark, but if you duck right here we can get into the next room."

ааааааааJames led the way, clambering through the small opening on his hands and knees. He could see that the tunnel entrance had once been larger, but the Shrieking Shack had deteriorated quite a lot in the years since the tunnel had been used. Much of the wall had crumbled around the opening and the ceiling overhead had partially collapsed.

аааааааа"Whoa," Cameron said in awe as the four students dusted themselves off. "This is where it all happened! This is where Harry Potter learned the truth about Sirius Black! I bet it was right over there that Black almost killed the rat, Peter Pettigrew!"

аааааааа"Thanks for the play-by-play, Cam," James muttered. "Come on, let's get outЧ"

ааааааааCameron gasped, causing everyone to jump. "It must have been right here that Voldemort ordered his snake Nagini to attack Professor Snape!" Cameron said breathlessly. "He probably died right where you're standing, Ralph!"

аааааааа"Can you, like, stop talking about who killed who in this very room, Cameron?" Ralph exclaimed. "It's not like the place needs any more ambiance."

аааааааа"Oh," Cameron said sheepishly. "Yeah. Er, sorry."

ааааааааSlowly, the four made their way upstairs, stepping carefully through a strew of broken furniture and collapsed ceilings and walls. The deterioration of the Shrieking Shack was severe enough that James worried the place might simply collapse on top of them. Wind whistled and moaned through cracks in the walls, making the entire house creak. As they reached the main floor, broken windows let in enough daylight that Rose could finally extinguish her wand.

аааааааа"There's the door," Cameron said, pointing. Remarkably, the old door was still intact and fit snugly enough in its warped frame that the four of them had to pull the handle simultaneously to budge it open.

аааааааа"I sure am glad to be out of there," Ralph said, jumping off the sagging porch. "I think the only thing holding that place up is force of habit."

ааааааааJames glanced back at the Shack. "Let's just hope it holds up for at least a few more hours."

аааааааа"It occurs to me," Ralph said, looking at James and Rose, "that this is an awful lot to go through just to get some Drooble's Best Blowing gum and say hi to Ted."

ааааааааRose shook her head and trotted along the path leading toward the village. "Oh, come on, Ralph. Where's your sense of adventure?"

аааааааа"I think I used it all up last year."

ааааааааJames smiled. "The worst part's behind us, Ralphinator. Come on, it'll be fun!"

аааааааа"Hurry up, you guys," Cameron called, halfway between Rose and the two boys. "I have to use the toilet!"

ааааааааRalph rolled his eyes, and then grinned at James. "Come on, I'll race you!"

ааааааааJames, Ralph, Rose, and Cameron found their way to the High Street and wandered along it, happily enamoured by the various shops and bustling crowds. James and Ralph were debating whether to visit Honeydukes or Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes first when Rose exclaimed in delight, pointing.

аааааааа"Scrivenshaft's?" James said as Rose hurried forward. "You want to go to the quill shop first?"

аааааааа"I know I won't be able to afford much of anything," Rose replied, pushing through the door and jingling the bell, "but I can't wait to see what the new Heddelbum self-inking dodo tips are like. Oh, look! They have an actual working Recalls-It-All pen! It remembers everything you write and can duplicate it perfectly!"

аааааааа"Now that would be handy," James said, his eyes widening. "A pen that can take your tests for you. How much?"

ааааааааRose glanced at James disdainfully. "It's really amazing how hard you'll work to avoid the simplest schoolwork, James."

аааааааа"Yeah," James answered, "Uncle Ron would be proud."

ааааааааThe four of them worked their way along the street, stopping in at most of the shops along the way. Cameron bought a new wand holder at Hiram and Blattwott's Leathers and immediately sheathed his wand in it. He showed it to James and Ralph.

аааааааа"Protects the finish while simultaneously enhancing magical properties!" Cameron proclaimed proudly, reading directly from the tag. "The inside is lined with suede and enriched with Wymnot's Wand Polish and Enchant-Enhancer. It cleans and empowers my wand every time I put it away!"

аааааааа"That's great, Cam," Ralph nodded. "Er, looks really dashing too."

аааааааа"Thanks!" Cameron grinned. "Hey, can we stop at the newsstand? I want to see if the new issue ofStupendous Stories is available."

ааааааааThe newsstand stood on the corner of the High Street and Guddymutter Avenue, and it was the only two-story newsstand James had ever seen. A spiral staircase on the side led to a narrow wrought-iron walkway that encircled the second level. The walkway was packed with wizards and witches browsing every type of newspaper and magazine imaginable. The very peak of the newsstand was a noisy miniature Owlery, twittering with birds of all sizes. They seemed to be coming and going at every moment, each owl attended to by a small man installed at a round desk in the center. As each owl arrived, the little man spun on his chair to retrieve its parcel. Most of these seemed to be small strips of parchment rolled like scrolls and inserted into brass tubes on the owls' legs. As the man removed the message, he'd turn to a speaking tube and read its contents. The speaking tube carried the man's voice through a complicated curlicue of expanding pipes and bellows, eventually broadcasting his every word out over the High Street.

аааааааа"Breaking news from Turkey," the man read in a surprisingly deep, baritone voice, "the Grand Vizier of the Wizarding Caliphate, Rajah Hassajah, has died unexpectedly, to be replaced in interim by his assistant, Ahmed al-Mustaphus. International wizarding bank authority to freeze alltransactions with the Caliphate until said crisis is satisfactorily managed. Updates as events warrant."

аааааааа"Oh, look who's on the cover of this month's Quibbler," Rose cried delightedly, pulling a copy off a shelf on the lower level. James leaned over Rose's shoulder, studying the tabloid in her hands. 'Daughter ofQuibbler Founder to Wed', read the cover headline alongside a photo of Luna Lovegood happily accepting a ring from her new beau, Rolf Scamander. The picture was obviously staged, but Luna's smile was genuine enough, and the look of happy affection on Rolf's rather bug-like face was unmistakable. In the photo, Luna took the ring, and then held it out to the camera. It seemed to be made of amber with an insect embedded in it.

аааааааа"That's been done," Ralph sniffed.

аааааааа"Well, I'm happy for her," Rose said, replacing the tabloid on the rack. "Luna's hoped to get married for a long time. She wants a family."

аааааааа"How do you know that?" James asked, furrowing his brow. "I've known Luna all my life and she's never said anything about that."

ааааааааRose looked aloof. "That's because you haven't been listening in on the right conversations."

ааааааааOverhead, the Owlery announcer spoke through his amplifying apparatus, "In an update to previous reports, the mysterious sightings of swarms of Dementors throughout Central London have only increased, although no amount of investigation has been able to pinpoint the hive's origin orpredict the locations of any future oppressions. Further, the range of the infestation appears to be increasing daily, reaching into neighboring vicinities at an alarming rate. Muggle reportage of the incidents is gaining precedent, although attributions of the effects are extremely varied. In a breaking development, the Ministry of Magic has announced the creation of an Auror sub-department to locate and subdue the hive. Meanwhile, many concerned citizens of the magical world are departing the Central London area until the unexplained oppressions are brought under control. Continuing updatesas events warrant."

ааааааааRalph's face had gone pale. "I heard something about those Dementor swarms when I first went home for the holiday, but I didn't think anything of it. It seems to have gotten a lot worse now. Do you think this is connected to the descent of the Gatekeeper?"

аааааааа"It must be," James said, remembering his earlier conversation with the Headmaster. "Merlin told me that the Borleys were basically baby Dementors. Maybe the Gatekeeper is something like the ultimate Dementor. Maybe the Gatekeeper has assembled all the uncaptured Dementors and is using them to begin its work on the earth!"

ааааааааRose shuddered. "That's an awful thought! If it's true, James, then our parents might be in danger, since they work at the Ministry. Especially your dad. If he's in charge of that Auror sub-department, he'll be chasing the Gatekeeper and he won't even know it! We have to warn them!"

ааааааааJames knew Rose was right. He nodded. "I'll send Dad an owl as soon as we get back tonight. I'll tell him everything we know so far."

аааааааа"But why would the Gatekeeper be using Dementors?" Ralph asked. "I thought it could affect humans directly?"

ааааааааRose answered, "It can, but only a few at a time, for now. It feeds on fear and terror, so it's using the Dementors to get what it needs. But this proves that it hasn't found its human host yet. Once it possesses the host, it won't need the Dementors anymore. It'll become directly connected to the community of mankind. It'll be able to affect loads of people all at once, and nothing will be able to stop it."

аааааааа"We need to get both halves of the Beacon Stone before that happens," James said fervently. "Whoever has the whole stone can still send the Gatekeeper back into the Void, right?"

аааааааа"We don't even know where Slytherin's half of the stone is," Ralph lamented. "And the half that wedo know about is on the finger of the most powerful wizard in the world. This makes stealing Jackson's briefcase last year look like a walk in the park."

ааааааааJames was unperturbed. "At least we know where Merlin's Beacon ring is. We just need to find out who might have inherited Slytherin's Beacon ring."

аааааааа"Well, no problem there," Ralph said sarcastically. "We just need to trace some mystical black ring through three dozen generations of dark wizards. That should be a breeze!"

аааааааа"What mystical black ring?" Cameron asked, returning with a newsstand sack.

ааааааааRose rolled her eyes. "Nothing, Cameron. We're just trying to save the world here. We do this every day, you know."

аааааааа"Oh," Cameron said, frowning a little. "I just thought maybe you were talking about the Gaunt family ring Headmaster Dumbledore gave your dad."

ааааааааAs one, James, Ralph, and Rose looked at Cameron. He blinked at them a little nervously.

аааааааа"What ring, Cameron?" Ralph asked.

ааааааааCameron smiled crookedly, as if he was being teased. "You know. The ring with the Resurrection Stone in it. It was one of the Deathly Hallows in the last book. Headmaster Dumbledore captured it and gave it to Harry Potter inside the Golden Snitch. You remember that, erЕ don't you?"

ааааааааRose, Ralph, and James exchanged looks. Rose said, "Could it really be that simple?"

ааааааааJames' eyes widened thoughtfully. "Cameron, you know those books pretty much frontwards and backwards, right? Tell us everything you remember about that ring."

ааааааааCameron looked at James, a little puzzled, and then shrugged. "Well, according to legend, the ring once belonged to Death, so it allowed the holder to see and speak to dead people. It was passed on through generations of Salazar Slytherin's relatives until it came to the Gaunt family. Voldemort took the ring and used it as a, er, Horcrux," Cameron whispered the last word as if it was a sort of swear word. He went on in his normal voice. "Later, Dumbledore captured the ring and cracked the stone with Gryffindor's sword, making it useless to Voldemort. After Dumbledore died, he willed the stone to Harry Potter, hiding it inside his Snitch. In the book, Harry uses the Resurrection Stone to speak to his dead parents when he's going to confront Voldemort in the Forest. After that, no one knows what became of the stone. Anyway, when you said something about a mysterious black ring, I just thought that might be what you were talking about. My mistake."

аааааааа"Cameron," Rose said seriously, "I could kiss you, you silly geek. That's brilliant!"

ааааааааCameron blushed fiercely and hugged his newsstand sack, grinning.

ааааааааRalph asked, "Do you really think the Resurrection Stone and the Beacon Stone are the same thing?"

аааааааа"It sure seems to fit," James replied. "It was black and set into a ring and it was passed on by Salazar Slytherin through loads of generations."

ааааааааRose added, "And it allowed the bearer to see and communicate with dead people because it came from the Void that all departed souls pass through."

ааааааааRalph shuddered. "So whatever became of it? What happened to it after that night in the Forest?"

аааааааа"It's just like Cameron said," Rose sighed, "no one knows. If I remember right, it was purposely left out of the books so that nobody would be tempted to search for the stone again. It was presumed lost forever. Nobody knows where it is, or even if it still exists."

ааааааааJames narrowed his eyes, thinking. He decided not to say anything, but he knew of at least one person who did know what had become of the Resurrection Stone. And James was one of the only people on earth who could ask that person and possibly get an answer.

ааааааааEventually, the foursome made their way to the Three Broomsticks, affectionately known among some of the older students as the 'Triple Sticks'. They ordered Butterbeers and had a light dinner. Hogwarts students packed the tables, talking boisterously and calling to each other. Sabrina, Damien, and Gennifer Tellus jostled through the door just as James was finishing his sausage. Damien grinned as they pushed their way through the throng.

аааааааа"Made it through the tunnel, I see," Damien called. "I'm a little jealous, you know. We discovered that passageway first. I was hoping to be the first to see the inside of the Shrieking Shack. How was it?"

аааааааа"Barely standing," James answered. "You'll be lucky if it's still upright when you go through yourself."

аааааааа"Where's Noah and Petra?" Rose asked.

ааааааааGennifer rolled her eyes. "Oh, they're having a lover's spat over at Madam Puddifoot's. I told them it'd be nothing but trouble if they started dating."

аааааааа"They aren't really dating," Sabrina said, pulling up a chair and sitting down. "They're just snogging. It isn't exactly the same thing."

ааааааааJames glanced up sharply, surprised that he had somehow missed this development. "How long have they been, er, snogging?"

аааааааа"It started about a week before Christmas," Sabrina replied. "It's probably all that rehearsing as lovers for the play that did it. You can only pretend to fancy one another for so long before it leaks over into real life."

аааааааа"James knows all about that," Ralph said, popping the last of his sausage into his mouth. James sighed.

"So what are they fighting about?" Rose asked.

ааааааааDamien gestured dramatically. "Noah saw Petra having some big, heavy conversation with Ted behind Weasleys'. She was crying, and Ted didn't look too happy either. Noah's quite the jealous type, you know."

аааааааа"He should've known what he was getting into, dating his best friend's former girl," Gennifer proclaimed loftily. "It spells trouble any way you look at it."

ааааааааSabrina said, "I just don't understand what Ted sees in Victoire anyway. He was lucky to have Petra. Victoire's a bit of a stuck-up powder puff no matter how you look at her. No offense."

ааааааааRose waved a hand. "Oh, you don't have to apologize to us. We think the same thing most of the time."

ааааааааJames felt suddenly hot and angry. He stared out of the window, confused at his own thoughts and emotions. Something about the fact that Noah and Petra were suddenly dating needled him mercilessly. He'd always liked Noah quite a lot, but now, all of a sudden, he wanted to go find the older boy and push him down. The irony of it was that he knew where to find Noah: he was sitting across from Petra at this very moment, just down the street in the ridiculously pink and fluffy Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop. Worse, James now knew for certain that Noah wasn't the main problem. Just as Rose had said, Petra was obviously still in love with Ted Lupin, despite the fact that he had moved on to Victoire. The whole affair was hopelessly complicated, and James was frustrated to realize that there was absolutely nothing he could do about it.

ааааааааEventually, the conversation moved on to other topics. James, Rose, Ralph, and Cameron said goodbye to the Gremlins and made their way out to the street. The evening was cooling as the sun lowered, bringing a restless wind through the village. Bits of newspaper and candy wrappers skirled across the street as students began making the journey back to the distant castle. The foursome began to make their way to the Shrieking Shack, stopping only once along the way to pop into Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes where they hoped to say hello to George and Ted.

аааааааа"The old tunnel is open, eh?" George said, grinning over the front counter. "That's excellent. Fred and I only tried that route once, since everyone was afraid of the ghosts in the Shack. We didn't make it all the way through, but we got far enough to leave some graffiti on the walls, as I recall."

Дата добавления: 2015-09-29