This is a Halloween special. I thought it would fit to have a chapter up today (even though it has been done a week or so) as it is 32 years since the death of our beloved Potters. Don't take this chapter too serious. It's mostly just crack fic where I make fun of religions among other things.
NOTE: It seems like I accidentally deleted chapter four. And where chap 4 was chapter three was. So whoever read the story in September-beginning of October might have missed chapter four. I recommend going back and read the chapter, at least the beginning as that one is, funnily enough, important to understand this one. Thanks to AMW for notifying me.
Another thing. I'm putting this story on hiatus. Just for a couple of months. Three-four at most, as I'm really busy and should be concentrating on homework and school. So just be patience. I want to write this story as much (or maybe more) as you want to read it.
Until next time.
- The sand Assassin
Chapter 14 – Halloween special
James hated Halloween. Every year he came back to the cabin on the day that he died. There was no escaping it. Every single year after that day he was forced to attend the memorial gathered in the house. The spirit hadn't minded that much in the beginning, as he could mourn the death of his wife with countless others. But after a while he started to dread Halloween. The memories were too painful. Halloween always came faster for him too.
It was early morning when he arrived. He would be spending the entire day here. So it had been for years. The other world would not claim him for hours yet, neither could he enforce the cold to devour him, it resisted and he was too scared to push it entirely, in case he would never wake again.
Today the house was cramped with people. The air tingled with magic as they levitated boxes and other stuff in and out the house. A couple of witches and wizards were busy magically expend the living room, so that hundreds of people could be fit in. The spirit frowned. Why they were doing this, he had no idea. Never had they done anything like this before. He got a bad feeling. Whatever they were planning, it would be big, and most certainly annoying. Why couldn't they just leave the house alone? Just once he would've liked to spend this night alone with his thoughts. Was that too much to ask for?
James stepped back as a goblin came carrying a box.
"I can't wait till tonight. It's going to be so exciting. They have been working none stop for weeks," chirped a voice. James turned curiously around towards two witches.
"I know. My William has been working very hard. I've barely seen him this week!" The second women giggled. She had brown, curly hair and wore a dark green dress.
"It's soon over, my dear Donna. You will see him a lot next week. Maybe you should make up for the lost weeks tonight after the show?" A third woman entered. She had strawberry blond hair down to her back. She was wearing a blue blouse with laces and a dark brown skirt down to her knees. Around her waist, she had a brown belt. James blinked a little. For some reason he got a déjà vu feeling that he had seen those specific clothes before. He shook his head. No, that's just ridiculous. You can't recognize an outfit.
The blond women smirked, making Donna blush. The two women laughed at their friend.
"Oh shut up, Lils," she paused. "Maybe I will." She added with a playful smile. The women kept talking but James paid no attention to them. A tall male coming towards them distracted him. James couldn't do anything but to stare flabbergasted at him. If he didn't know better he would swear he was looking at a mirror. However, he knew it couldn't be as, one: he no longer had a reflection, two: he was not walking and three: when looking closer he could see that there were some difference between the two. The man's nose was bigger and more hawk-like. The eyes were denser and they were dark brown, not the golden hazel James had. His lips were also fuller and he had shorter hair then James. Moreover, the spirit's hair was messier. Looking closer he notice that the look alike was wearing the same clothes James was. A brown t-shirt and black kaki-pants. He frowned and looked at the strawberry blond woman. Now that he was thinking about it, wasn't that the same outfit Lily was wearing when she died? What in Merlin's name is going on?! Was there some sort of look-alike competition this year? Whoever look the most like James and Lily wins his couch or something? He shook his head. The world was going insane, and him with it.
The not-James reached the women and snuck an arm around Donna's waist. "How is my fairy doing?" he said smiling warmly. Donna giggled and laid a hand over his. She turned her head around and planted a kiss on his lips.
"I'm doing just fine William. Bell and I were just talking about how excited we are for tonight. You'll look great up there, I'm certain."
Bell, the woman with the chirping voice, nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah. It will be great. We sold more tickets than we expected. You know my 'Lendel right? He has an important position in the Ministry of magic. When everyone heard he was going there, a lot other bought tickets, and when people heard that they bought tickets, they wanted them too. I've heard even Cornelius Fudge bought tickets and are coming tonight!"
William visibly paled, so did the strawberry blond women. "T-The m-minster F-fudge?" Bell smiled brightly, nodded and kept talking about all the other important people who was coming, not noticing the small panic attack the poor fake-James was having. The strawberry woman tried smiling, but failed as nerves show through. She gave up and turned around, muttering: "I need a glass of wine." Before she could leave, Donna grabbed her arm and gave her a stern look.
"It's going to be alright, Lillian. You have been working on this project for weeks." She looked at William. "The same goes to you, Will. You'll do fine. When the show starts you will forget all about the audience. Have fun out there and do your best. That's the only thing anyone can expect of you."
William relaxed and kissed her head. "This is why I married you. You are a smart, kind woman, Donna." Donna smiled lovingly in return.
The spirit turned away. He was still curious about what was going to happen tonight, but he would see it soon enough. He had somewhere else he had to be first. With that, he left the house.
The graveyard was only an hour walk from the house. James looked around while he walked, trying to find flowers he could pick to lay on Lily's grave. However, so late in October it was hard to find anything. He thought of compromising with some pretty stones he found, but changed his mind. Stones would look silly.
There was already a good amount of people at the graveyard already. Some held candles and chanted to the spirit goddess. Some crowded the statue erected in the village. It looked like a big obelisk carved with names, but transformed into a statue of the Potters when a wizard of witch was close. Needless to say that the statue was visible all hours of the day on hollow's eve.
James snorted in disgust. He had been there when they had raised the statue a few years earlier. It was flattering yes, but the statue had become so idolized that a small cult had erupted around it. The Potter cult they called themselves. Unfortunately, they were not the only one who saw the statue as "holy". There was another cult blossomed up calling themselves the cult of "the-boy-who-lived" and they regarded Lily as some sort of Virgin Mary one could find in the muggle religions. The entire thing was just stupid in James' mind. Neither he nor Lily was a holy spirit or the reincarnation of some sort of god as the cults mused. Another annoying thing about the cults, were that the Potter cult had all promptly changed their last name to "Potter". And the priest was called "The holy James." The cult of the-boy-who-lived held Lily in higher regard, and had a priestess as their head. Her name was "Virgin Lily." How she had birthed Harry was a confusing matter, as both of the cults agreed that James was Harry's biological father. How could Lily be a virgin if he was the sire of the boy-who-lived? Needless to say that the two cults were constantly arguing with each other about the "big questions", and whether or not James was the main "god" or Lily. And if, how important was their parents again?
James shook his head and walked past the statue. On both sides of the road the two cults tried to convert the visitors to join them, and yell at each other that "their way was the right one."
Stupidity. Everywhere I go, I see 'naught but stupidity. I wonder how they'd react if they knew I was still walking around. He cracked a smile from the thought. Hopefully the entire thing would fall down soon, and the people would realize that they were worshipping completely normal humans and that their religion was based on stupidity. The rumors that they had supernatural abilities were in fact true, but so had most people in the wizard world!
"James Potter was the right prophet!" someone called, and the spirit groaned.
"Hell no! Lily was pure and the one who gave birth to the boy-who-lived. Without her the boy would never been born!"
"Oh yeah?! You guys are worshipping a muggle born. She probably fell into the temptation of the dark side and ratted out their hiding place in hope for redemption." James gritted his teeth and walked faster. Idiots. All of them! He was not going to stand here and listen to people talk ill about Lily on this day.
"Be silent with you Fredrick. We all know it was Sirius Black who sold them out. He was the child of a demon after all." Several people from both side of the rode nodded their agreements. "Yeah. Did you hear how he laughed, LAUGHED, at his trial? And when they found him amongst the dead muggles? He is truly a demon child. They always turn out insane."
That was it, James couldn't take it anymore. Without any conscious thought, he summoned up a small whirlwind and hurled it at them. Soon people were screaming and running away, bits and pieces and fliers went flying into a pond fifty meters away.
"My hat!" a female voice screamed and went after the hat, she fell down a small rockslide and cut her knees and hands. James felt a sting of guilt and let his hands fall. The wind stopped almost immediately.
"I'm sorry," he said. He got no reply as no one could see him. People were still running around panicking, some after the things that flew away, some to make sure their friends were all right. A little girl sat on the ground and cried among the chaos. No one seemed to notice her. The spirit went to her and kneeled down.
"Come now, little on," he said with a soothing voice. "Let's get you up and away before someone steps on you." The little girl stopped crying and peered up at him. James shook a little in surprise. For a second there is seemed like the girls could see him. She stood, turned around and started to slither her way around the grownups. A few seconds later a woman picked her up and kissed her head. The spirit couldn't hear what they were saying, but he could guess it. He kept staring after the girl long after they were gone. Can more people see me? The thought was both alluring and terrifying. What precisely would happen if the knowledge that he was still around came out?
James shook his head. He didn't want to think about it, and so he kept walking. The thoughts however, would not leave him alone.
The graveyard was less crowded now, as most had wandered off to see where the screaming came from. In the distance one could still her some screams, but the noise was quickly replaced with the ones from professional mourners (1). The spirit rubbed his face. He really disliked them. They made so much noise and prayed and praised James and Lily, wishing them luck on the journey to the next world. He always got a weird, tingling feeling around them. The spirit shuddered and wrapped his arms around himself. Go away, he thought, I just want to be left alone. Why is that too much to ask? He closed his eyes and tried to summon the netherworld. He could visit Lily's grave another time. He never saw it as his grave. He was still around, he wasn't gone just yet, and so it wasn't his resting place. Usually it was fairly easy to slip into the light, he usually just had to think about it, and he would be there. Nevertheless, it resisted his pull. James gritted his teeth and pulled harder. Please, just please let me jump this one Halloween. Suddenly it stopped resisting, and James almost fell into the white cold.
…
…
When he came to it again, he blinked his eyes in disorientation. For the first time in a decade he felt heavy, his head ached and the room moved. It felt like he had a fever. He sat forward to put his head between his legs and took a couple of deep breath. He didn't need to breathe ordinarily, but it felt like the right thing to do. If the breathing helped, he did not know, but after a few moments, the room stopped spinning and his head cleared up. James sat up and sighed. I'm not going to do that ever again. It was obvious that the netherworld was punishing him for trying to stay away from Halloween. Got it, got it. Never again.
James looked around the room. He was in a large, dark room. He could sense that there were countless other people here. Squinting a little, he could see outline of the closest, but they were nothing more than shadows. He frowned. What is going on? Was he in another limbos plane? Had whoever that had granted him more time in the world of the living decided that he was too much of a bother to keep? He felt panic surge threw him.
"Hello? Can you see me?" he prompt the person on his left. "Where am I? What is going on?" There came no reply. He looked around again. It looked like everyone was sitting, looking closer he realized he was sitting too, and stood. After a few seconds, he climb up on the chair. He looked around feverishly.
"Hello!? Can anyone tell me what's going on? Where are we?" Again, he got no reply. No one even looked in his direction, as far as he could tell. Everyone seemed to be looking in the same direction, and so he followed their gaze. A little further away there was a bright light. The spirit's hope rose. It looked just like the light when he saw Lily again. A way out? He scrambled off the chair and started to slither between the chairs, trying to get nearer the light.
Before he got any closer, music started to play across the room. James stopped abruptly and looked around nervously. That wasn't anything I did, was it? No one seem to react but to lean closer towards the light. After a few moments the light diminished to reveal a stage. Upon the stage, there were few furniture. A red couch, a chair, a small table and a door not attached to anything in the corner. A few seconds later, James recognized the display. It's my living room! And my furniture. But what are they doing here? He blinked his eyes a few seconds before groaning, remembering what he saw earlier today.
Merlin's beard. You got to be kidding me. They had turned his house into a theater play. It was still Halloween and he was still in the land of the living. He didn't know if he should be relieved or not. For one, the entire thing was ridiculous, for the second, he was still stuck in this world, unable to move on to paradise.
On the stage, a small man appeared. He had a big mustache where the tips curled upwards. On his head he had a black, silk hat, and what looked like living frogs attached to it. They moved around, but it could just as well be an illusion. He had a big potato nose, with small spectacles on, looking like if they had grown attached to it like a witches' mushroom. The little man wore a brown coat down to his knees; it almost looked too big on him. From the pocket, he retrieved a wand and pointed it at his throat.
"Witches and wizards, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to this house of Sorrow," boomed the voice over the crowd. "We are honored to have you all as our guests as we on this day relive the horror that happened ten years ago." With that, he left the stage. James groaned and sat down on a vacant chair. They've turned our deaths into a theater play, Lily. Can you believe it?
The unattached door suddenly opened and a man carrying a small boy in his arms entered through it. A small awe could be heard in the room, as some craned their necks to see the behind the door. It must be a magical portal. Neat trick, the spirit thought. The man carried the boy towards the couch and sat down. James looked closer, and realized that it was William, his look-alike. Well, at least there is someone handsome playing me.
"Oh Harry," William started with a soft voice. "You are such a good boy. It's too bad I cannot show you the world yet, not as long as the dark lord keeps us trapped in this humbled home." James snorted in disgust. I would never say such a thing! The little boy grabbed at his nose and William chuckled. "You have one too." He then grabbed 'Harry's' nose, pretending to steal it.
The door opened again, and out came a woman with red, long hair. She laid her hand on her hips and smiled warmly. "Look at my two boys. Aren't you just the cutest?"
William looked up and smiled wryly. "Harry is the cute one. I'm handsome."
Someone chuckled close to James and mumbled: "Just like James." The spirit leaned closer trying to see whomever that spoke. The voice sounded familiar. However, he couldn't see anything in the dark, so he looked back at the stage. William was currently entertaining not-Harry with making puffs of colored smoke erupt from his wand. James looked away and bit his lip. He had seen this scene a hundred times before in his mind; he wished not to experience it again.
A few moments later people gasped, and James looked up at the stage again reluctantly. It was as he had thought: 'Lord Voldemort' had entered. The actor playing the dark lord moved graciously forward. He wore a dark and grey robe that looked like it flowed around him like smoke when he walked. With a swift motion, he pulled his wand out and pointed it at the couple.
"Good evening Potters. It seems like we finally get a chance to get acquainted," he said with smooth voice. Meanwhile, William had stood from the couch and given 'Lily' the child and stood in between them, his own wand pointed at the Dark Lord.
"The pleasure is entirely on your side, Lord Voldemort," he growled. A few gasped and shivered as the forbidden name was said, but none interrupted. Apparently they had gotten permission to use the name in this play. They were playing the 'heroic' James Potter after all.
William turned half around and looked at 'Lily' and 'Harry'. "Lily, take Harry and go. I'll hold him off." Lily hesitated but nodded. "Be careful," she said as she turned around.
"Oh, no you don't." The dark lord pointed his wand at the women and a green spark erupted from the wand and shot forward. The fake-James blocked it.
"You are not getting to my family, scum. Leave now, and I'll let you keep your pride."
'Lord Voldemort' smirked and snorted softly in amusement. "You think you are any match for me, blood-traitor? I am the most powerful dark wizard born in centuries. You are both an insect in front of me."
"And still you feel threatened by my insignificance," William answered flippantly, earning him some laughter from the audience. Well, this is much more entertaining them my own meeting, the real-James thought with amusement, but also a little resentment and jealously. He would have felt much better with the losing if he could have put up some more fight. If he could be the hero so many thought he was.
The Dark Lord hissed in annoyance and cast another spell at 'James'. Again he was blocked, but that didn't stop the lord. Repeatedly he throw spells and curses at the other man. Each time the curses were blocked, some even reflected back.
"I will not be easily defeated, I will rather die than let you hurt my family. Leave now, Voldemort, for alone you cannot win." How I wish that was true.
The villain stopped his casting and looked thoughtful. "I may have underestimated you, Potter. Let's say we come to an agreement. If you join me, I'll let your mudblood wife live."
William lifted an eyebrow. "And what about Harry?"
'Voldemort' shook his head. "He must be destroyed. The prophecy tell that the boy will be my ending. You must understand that it is necessary to kill the child."
William lowered his wand and looked thoughtfully over the crowd. "What do you say? Should I abandon all that his good and join the shadows? Should I save my wife and myself but live in the knowledge that it was by the cost of my own son? Or should I fight for my wizard brothers in the light!? So that all can be free and safe from evil!"
"Fight!" the crowd answered.
William lowered his head and turned back to Voldemort. "Your invitation is ever so tempting, but I say nay. I will rather eat dragon feces, than join the company of fools." Some of the audience chuckled softly.
Voldemort hissed. "You will regret that answer. For your insolence, you shall die slow and painful!" Again the two fought, sending spells and curses back and forwards. Colorful sparks flew over the room, making some gasps in surprise. A few children stood from their seats, trying to catch the friendly magic with their small hands.
"Did I not tell you, my lord? He would not yield nor join our side. For that he is too much of a stubborn and proud fool."
The fighting seized as a man entered the stage through the door. He wore a black robe, not unlike the one that the actor playing Lord Voldemort wore, only simpler. He had black hair down to his shoulder and one could tell from the distance that he was strikingly handsome. James frowned in confusion. What is happening now?
William gaped at the new commoner and stuttered. "S-Sirius? W-what are you d-doing here?"
'Sirius' smirked in responds. "I went to see for myself if the job was done, my dear James."
"The job?" Fake-James frowned in confusion, before it dawned to him. "You told him were to find us! You traitor! How could you? You were my best friend, my brother!" He growled and pointed his wand at 'Sirius'.
The actor shrugged, before smiling malicious. "Friendship isn't everything. It does not put a roof over my head nor can it give me power. Face it, James. We are losing this war. Better except our loss and join the winning side, the right side."
'James' looked at him shocked. "How can you say such things? We trusted you and took you in with open arms." He shook his head, opened his mouth a couple of times, looking at loss at what to say. Lord Voldemort huffed a little.
"No matter how much I enjoy seeing this reunion, I have a few things to settle, and I'd rather be done with them sooner rather than later." He lowered his wand and glanced at 'Sirius'. "Finish him off." With that, he started to walk in the direction 'Lily' and 'Harry' went.
William turned around and pointed his wand at the Dark Lord. "No you won't. Stay were you are," he growled. 'Sirius' found his wand and pointed it at 'James'. "Expelliarmus!" The wand flew out of his hand and fell on the couch. William stared lost down on his hand as Voldemort disappeared from the scene. He turned around the face 'Sirius'.
"Why?" he mumbled softly. "Why would you betray me? Were we not always best friends? Did I do something to anger you that you felt you had to leave?"
'Sirius' softened and shook his head. "I'm sorry James. But I have no choice. I don't want to die. I'm sorry it ended up like this. But the death of one is of the good of many. The dark Lord will cleanse the world and make it better and safe for all wizard and magic kind. There will be no more need of hiding." He smiled softly and lowered his wand. "Could you not reconsider and join us? With you by my side, we would be all powerful and able to create a better world out of the ashes of this one. Please James," he pleaded. "I wish not to kill you if I don't need to. But I will not hesitate if you force my hands."
William growled. "Fuck you, Sirius. How can you except me to join you when your lord is in the other room slaughtering my wife and my son. Your godson for Merlin's sake!" He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm down. He opened his eyes a few seconds later. "It's not too late to change your mind, friend. We can still stop this. If you help we can defeat Voldemort."
'Sirius' shook his head. "Don't you understand!? We can't defeat him," he growled in responds. "You can only join them or perish. That's your only option."
William sneered. "You're a coward. How could I ever believe you were worthy to be my friend? If that is the only options. Then kill me!" He took his out to his side and looked defiantly. "What are you waiting for?! Kill me!" 'Sirius' hesitated and looked around a little desperately. William huffed and let his arms fall.
"I thought so. Too much of a coward to back up your words." He started move forwards.
"Stay were you are!" 'Sirius' cried, almost pathetically. The wand pointed at 'James' shivered. "I will do it." William snorted and continue towards him. 'Sirius' closed his eyes and mumbled: "Forgive me." He opened his eyes again and yelled. "Avada Kadavra!" The green spark hit William straight in the chest and was thrown backwards. 'Sirius' dropped his wand and ran towards him, dropping down on his knees.
"James, Merlin, James. I'm sorry. But I had no choice. Why wouldn't you join us, you idiot! It's all your fault."
James stood from where he was sitting and growled in anger. Ever since the appearance of Sirius, he felt the boiling rage inside of him. It was enough that he had been thrown in jail for being a death eater and killing a dozen people. But now apparently accused for killing James personally? That was too much to handle.
"THIS IS WRONG!"
No one battered an eye, but leaned forward as the stage switch to that of a bedroom.
"Wrong!" he yelled again. Anger roared through him. Why can't they see reason? Sirius was not a traitor. He felt like tramping his feet like a child. Without meaning too, his anger summoned up a strong wind for the second time today. The closest to him stood and started to scream in panic as hats, chairs and purses started to fly. The few persons closest flew backwards.
"It's the spirit!" Someone yelled, and for the second time today, it was chaos. People screamed trying to get a way, other trying to get closer to get a better look at the spirit of the house. The play had stopped and the actors were trying to calm people down. No one listened.
Soon the room was emptied, leaving only a few battered souls left. The chairs kept flying and dashing around everywhere, as James let his anger out. He was sick and tired of people thinking wrong of Sirius. Why could not anyone think that perhaps Sirius was the wrong man to accuse? Alright, he had to admit it looked shady. Sirius had been found in a place with dead muggles, and people did think that Sirius was their secret-keeper. But Merlin! He was tired of it.
James let is anger subside after a while. The chairs fell down with loud noises. He sat down on one of them and cradled his face. He was so tired of this. Not being able to change things, only to be an observer. He couldn't help free Sirius. He couldn't help Remus nor bring his wife back from the dead. At least Harry was happy now. He had gotten new friends at Hogwarts and even flown on a broomstick! His son fit straight in on Hogwarts. Harry was finally safe and happy. For a decade now he had watched and followed him around Wasn't it time for James to get some rest?
A sound and the tingle feeling of magic made him look up. He blinked. Around him, there was a red-orange force field. He pushed the barrier with a finger tentatively. Electricity shook through his arm. He retrieved his arm quickly and stuck the finger into his mouth. That hurt. His arm felt tingly and weak. Fuck, he thought franticly. I'm trapped! He looked around quickly, but there didn't appear to be any way out. Fuck.
"What do we have here, Minerva? Malevolent spirit perhaps. Or mayhap just a lonely one."
James looked up and froze in surprise. Outside the magical barrier stood and old, tall, thin man with silver hair and a beard so long that it was tucked into his belt. He had a long and crooked nose that looked like it had broken twice and wore a crimson-red robe. Next to him stood a tall, black-haired witch in emerald green robes. She also wore a pointed hat cocked to one side. She gave the wizard a bewildered look.
"What are you talking about, Albus? There is nothing there." (2)
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled and a small smile stretched across his lips. "You are not looking close enough, my dear. If you know what you are looking for, you can easily sense a spirit. However, I have never felt one just like this." He looked at James, no, he looked through the spirit, thoughtful. "There are many kinds of spirits. Earth, water, wind, some even just passing by to another plane of existence."
James stood and looked back at the old wizard. Disappointment surge through him. For a second he had thought Dumbledore could see him. If that was the case, he could easily pledge Sirius' innocence.
"If you say so," McGonagall replied reluctantly. She looked into the barrier trying to see or sense the spirit. However, it just felt like any other empty space of air. "What should we do with it? It has created a lot of disturbing for the guests over the years. You are sure it's not an evil spirit created by you-know-who?"
Dumbledore nodded. "I'm certain. He means no harm. A dark creature would've hurt and even killed visitors who dared entered the house. This one just tries to scare them off. Maybe it woke from the terrible actions that happened a decade ago and just tries to protect people. Who knows?" He looked at McGonagall. "He didn't react before 'James' died after all."
She sighed and rubbed her face. "You are right as always, Albus. No one got hurt, except for a few broken pieces of chairs." She looked thoughtfully at them. "I hear earlier that there was incident at the graveyard earlier. The same wind. Could it be the same spirit?"
Again, Dumbledore nodded. "I believe so, yes. The cults were arguing again, he might've reacted to the heated fight. Not liking violence. A peaceful spirit it seems like he is."
McGonagall waved a hand. "That's all nice and everything. But what are we going to do with it?" Dumbledore scratched his beard.
"We could take him with us to Hogwarts."
"No," McGonagall hissed. "We are taking a possible hazardous spirit to the school! If it hurt any of the students we'd never hear the end of it!"
"I'd like it if you'd just let me go, really," James said, looking back and forward between the two. The teachers froze in surprise and looked into the magical barrier. "It can talk!?" James looked just as surprised back at them: He had not expected that they could actually hear him. It was obvious that neither could see him, but somehow the magical barrier made it possible to make out what he was saying. "You can hear me?!" he gaped.
"Seems like he's intelligent." Dumbledore chuckled, his ice-blue eyes twinkled in amusement, and curiosity.
"Of course I am. Now, I do apologize for this mess." He waved a hand at the chairs. "I just have a really bad temper, and unfortunately not enough self-control."
"That's alright, Mr. Spirit. We all have bad days," Dumbledore replied, his eyes twinkling even more. McGonagall gaped like a fish. "B-B-but i-it c-c-an t-talk."
James chuckled softly. "And it would prefer if you'd call him a he." Albus grinned a little, then proceed to stroke his beard, trying not to look like he enjoyed himself when McGonagall glares at him. She looked back at the spirit and pursed her lips.
"I'm sorry, I was not aware you had gender. Do you have a name?"
James hesitated. Should he tell them? Would they believe him? For all they knew the spirit could be bluffing to joke with them. He decided that no, it wasn't time yet. He couldn't tell anyone that he was still around. He trusted Dumbledore and McGonagall, but a part of him told him he shouldn't. Not yet.
"Could you release me? I promise to keep my temper next time."
McGonagall and Dumbledore shared a glance, before looking at him again. "We might as well. You are clearly a conscious being that would not harm anyone, so there is no need to find a way to get rid of you." With that, the old wizard waved a hand, and the magical barrier vanished. "Now. If it is alright with you, we'd like to continue the play."
James nodded. "Of course you can. Sorry about all of this." They didn't respond though, only stared at the spot. Doesn't look like they can hear me anymore. However, it didn't matter. He felt something pull at him back in his head. James closed his eyes and opened up to it, the feeling was familiar. With a last thought, he was finally pulled away from consciousness and into the bright nothingness of the netherworld.
Happy Halloween.
…
(1). In my language we call them something like "crying wives" or "mourning wives". It sounds much better in my language in my opinion. It's 'gråtekoner' or 'sørgekoner' if you were wondering. Or do you have a specific name for these people that I am unaware of? Please let me know if that is the case. I'd be very grateful.
(2) I am aware the Dumbledore and McGonagall should be at Hogwarts dealing with the troll situation on Halloween 1991. But let's just say it's either earlier before the feast or later on.