James Potter and the Curse of the Gatekeeper

        James couldn't believe his eyes. 'Sirius?' he gasped. 'You're Sirius Black!'

        'Ten points for you,' Sirius replied. 'Where am I? Where's Remus and Harry and the rest? Where's bloody Bellatrix, for that matter? I'm not through with that witch.'

        'Sirius!' James called, hitching a sob, completely at a loss. 'It's… it's over! You were k—'

        'The dead don't wish to know such things,' the Gatekeeper interrupted, shushing James. 'But surely you can see who this is. Sirius Black. More importantly, your father's long lost godfather.'

        James nodded, barely hearing.

        The Gatekeeper went on. 'Deny yourself all you wish, James. Return your grandfather to the realm of the dead. But will you be able to live with yourself knowing that you turned down the opportunity to give your father the one man whose love he has ached for every day of his life? Will you ever be able to look your father in the eye again, knowing you have denied him his greatest wish: to have his godfather returned to him?'

        James' mind was reeling. 'But they're not real!'

        'What does that even mean, James?' the Gatekeeper demanded. 'Look at them! They know not their own fates! For them, no time has passed whatsoever. They believe they are real! Who are you to tell them otherwise?'

        'I don't know!' James cried, clutching his head.

        'It is so simple, James,' the Gatekeeper soothed, advancing on him. 'I am the King of the Cats. You may join me and see all those you've lost returned to you. Your grandfather, your father's godfather, even your long dead grandparents. There is no drawback, James, only one small price. A price you won't even mind paying, I assure you. A price you will be glad to pay!'

        'What is it?' James asked helplessly, looking back and forth between Sirius Black and Arthur Weasley.

        'A small thing, a trifle,' the Gatekeeper said, reaching out to James and placing its hands on his shoulders. 'A service to the world, really.'

'I'm not going to kill anyone,' James said, shaking his head, tears streaming down his face.

'Look,' the Gatekeeper whispered gently, turning James around. 'Look before you answer.'

        Behind James was another pool of light. One last figure stood inside it, seeming rather surprised to be there. Long white hair hung on either side of a haggard face, and the eyes were filled with hate. James could instantly see the family resemblance. It was Lucius Malfoy.

        'What is the meaning of this…,' Lucius breathed. He reached for his wand, but couldn't seem to find it in his robes. 'Where is my wand?' he said, looking past James to the Gatekeeper. 'I demand to know where you have taken me, you foul creature!'

        'This is the man,' the Gatekeeper whispered over James' shoulder. 'On his hands is the blood of dozens. It was his plan that both you and your sister die in the Chamber of Secrets. He is responsible for the death of Petra Morganstern's parents, and it is by his will that she has been cursed with the demented soul of Lord Voldemort. Even now, this merciless wretch plots murder and death. His heart is a black box of hate. Kill him, James. Rid the world of this madman. Surely he deserves it. Kill him. Do it now.' As it spoke, the Gatekeeper backed away, as if giving James room.

        James had meant to refuse. It was on his tongue to say no, but suddenly, he couldn't bring himself to do it. The Gatekeeper was right. Lucius Malfoy did deserve to die. He was irredeemable. James felt the wand in his hand even before he realized he was reaching for it. It was Ralph's. It felt hot and huge in his palm. It felt deadly.

        'What is this?' Lucius purred, narrowing his eyes. 'You send a boy to finish me? I know this one. He is as weak as his father is stupid. He will not do it. He hasn't the strength.'

        'He taunts you,' the Gatekeeper said silkily, eagerly, its voice coming again from the air all around. 'Show him how wrong he is. Kill him.'

        James' hand trembled as he leveled Ralph's wand. It seemed to hum in his fist. It wanted to kill Lucius as much as he did. And then, when the deed was done and Lucius lay dead at James' feet, he'd have his grandfather back. And Sirius Black could be Dad's godfather again, just as he always should have been. James glanced back, and saw both Sirius and Arthur watching him. They were both frowning slightly, as if they couldn't quite see what was happening.

        'James,' Arthur said, his voice worried. 'Be careful, son.'

        ''James'?' Sirius said to himself, glancing at Arthur. He looked back at James, realization dawning on his face. 'We're dead,' he said simply. 'And somehow, some way, you're Harry's son, aren't you? Who is that beyond you… Lucius Malfoy! Beware, James Potter!'

        James turned back, looking up into the smug face of his nemesis.

        'Do it,' the Gatekeeper hissed. 'Kill him now!'

        Lucius growled, 'You cannot! You're weak!'

        'I'm not!' James sobbed. He tightened his grip on the wand and pointed it directly at the taller man's heart. And then, with blissful suddenness, assurance washed over him. He wasn't weak. He could do exactly what he had to do. In his mind, he heard both Helga Hufflepuff and Merlin's voices: the right thing to do is always simple, but it is never easy.

        'I am a warrior,' James whispered to himself, gritting his teeth. 'And the sign of a true warrior… is knowing when not to fight.'

        With that, James lowered the wand. He dropped it, and then turned his back on Lucius Malfoy. Slowly, he began to walk away.

        'James Sirius Potter!' the Gatekeeper shouted. 'You cannot turn aside! Kill him! You owe it to the world! You owe it to yourself and your father! You cannot deny the power I am offering you!'

        James looked at his grandfather sadly, his heart breaking. Arthur smiled proudly and nodded at him.

        'Strong, that boy is,' Sirius said, his eyes black and sparkling. 'Just like his father before him.'

        Slowly, the pools of light faded. Arthur and Sirius descended into darkness.

        James kept walking. He was nearly at the edge of his own circle of light when he heard Lucius Malfoy's voice behind him.

        'If you will not kill to become the host of the Gatekeeper,' he said, his voice oozing hatred, 'then I will!'

        James knew that Lucius had picked up Ralph's wand. He felt it pointing at him. He stopped in his tracks, not turning around.

        'Avada Kedavra!' Lucius hissed, spittle flying from his lips with the force of his rage. The bolt of green light sizzled through the air and struck James squarely in the back. James felt the force of it, and it pushed him forward slightly. Still, he did not turn. He stood precisely on the edge of light and shadow.

        Lucius stared at the boy, his eyes narrowed and a grimace of hatred carved on his face. The boy should fall now; he was dead. Lucius waited, still holding the rough, green-tipped wand, still pointing it at the boy's back.

        There was a faint ripping sound. A long, ragged tear suddenly separated along the fabric of the Darkbag on James' back, spreading from the point where the Killing Curse had struck it. James felt movement in the Darkbag. Something was awakening inside it. Many somethings, in fact, and they were hungry.

        'What kind of trick is this?' Lucius drawled nervously, taking a step backwards. He eyed the rip in the Darkbag as a noise began to emanate from it. James steeled himself, curling his hands into fists. The noise increased, becoming a loud, busy thrum. And then, violently, the Darkbag erupted. Borleys poured from the hole where Lucius' Killing Curse had ruptured it. They'd tasted the raw magic of the curse, and they wanted more. They streamed through the air toward Lucius like a cloud of bats.

        Lucius' eyes bulged at the sight of the advancing Borleys. Instinctively, he waved the wand at them, firing