James Potter and the Curse of the Gatekeeper

        '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!'

        'What service?' James demanded, getting to his feet and producing his own wand. 'What's she talking about, Scorpius?'

        'James, get down!' Ted exclaimed, not taking his eyes off Tabitha. 'All of you, get back while you can!'

        'James,' Rose murmured, trying to twist away from Tabitha's wand, 'just go!'

        'Tell them, Scorpius!' Tabitha commanded, renewing her grip on Rose's neck. 'Tell them just how much of a 'trustworthy friend' you are! Tell them how you've played them all for fools!'

        Scorpius' wand trembled in his hand as he pointed it at her. He glanced aside at James, his eyes bright and scared.

        Tabitha laughed again. 'You might do yourself a favor, James Potter, by wondering how I knew so many of you were coming, and exactly when. Ask yourself how I came to be so well-prepared for your arrival. Can you guess? I think even you can!'

        It was Albus who answered, calling over James' shoulder. 'You have the Marauder's Map!' he said, both shocked and disappointed. 'But Tabitha, why?'

        'Oh, my dear Albus, the important question is not 'why', it is 'how',' Tabitha replied. 'You see, Lucius Malfoy has a rather good thief in his service. Doesn't he, Scorpius?'

        Scorpius shook his head angrily, interrupting her. 'All right! Just shut up, Corsica! If you insist, I will tell them. It was I who took the map and the Cloak! Are you happy?' He lowered his wand and turned to James, his face tortured. 'Look, I lied. It was me. I rode along with my parents the day they went to your grandfather's funeral. I told them I'd wait in the car, but… that's not exactly what I did. While they were gone, I sneaked out of the car and crept into the house. I found your parents' room and searched it as quickly as I could. I stole the Marauder's Map and the Invisibility Cloak, all under my grandfather's orders. You have to understand, James, I was confused! I wanted to impress my grandfather, and prove myself as a Malfoy and a Slytherin! I wanted to show him I was better than my own turncoat father. But I didn't expect it would lead to this! I swear it!'

        James was completely stunned. Breathlessly, he asked, 'And the doll?'

        Scorpius couldn't meet James' gaze any longer. He dropped his eyes and nodded. 'That hadn't even been part of the plan. Grandfather hadn't known of it. I saw it on the bedside table and thought it might be helpful. I thought it'd impress my grandfather. And it did, oh yes. He had grand plans for that doll, although they didn't work out quite like he'd wanted.'

        'I knew you were a rat!' Albus cried, pushing forward. 'I smelled you a mile away!'

        James held his brother back, and amazingly, Albus relented. 'But why did you tell us about Tabitha?' James asked. 'Why did you show us the memories in the Pensieve?'

        'Don't answer that, Scorpius!' Tabitha said. 'Enough talk. It's time for the real work of this night to begin. All of you, away! Or Weasley dies. If you think I'm bluffing, you'll know better when she lies dead on the floor and I've descended to the Chamber. Now go!'

        'Tabitha, you're as deluded as my grandfather!' Scorpius cried angrily. 'Let her go! What do you think you're doing?'

        'I'm doing the work I was created for!' Tabitha shrieked, jabbing her wand into Rose's temple. 'One thousand years' planning has come to this! I am the edge of the blade of revenge! I am the hand of balance! I am the Bloodline of Lord Voldemort!'

        'You?' Scorpius scoffed, stepping forward boldly, not even raising his wand. 'If you believe that, then you're as deceived as I've been! We both should have known my grandfather wouldn't tell anyone the whole of his plan. Put down your wand and let her go!'

        'Nooo!' Tabitha wailed, and she seemed to crumple. Her eyes were wild, darting. 'I