diff --git a/inquisitor/app.py b/inquisitor/app.py
index 4c585ab..e33da13 100644
--- a/inquisitor/app.py
+++ b/inquisitor/app.py
@@ -106,8 +106,7 @@ def deactivate():
 	params = request.get_json()
 	if 'source' not in params and 'itemid' not in params:
 		logger.error("Bad request params: {}".format(params))
-	item = loader.WritethroughDict(os.path.join(
-		DUNGEON_PATH, params['source'], params['itemid'] + '.item'))
+	item = loader.load_item(params['source'], params['itemid'])
 	if item['active']:
 		logger.debug(f"Deactivating {params['source']}/{params['itemid']}")
 	item['active'] = False
@@ -118,8 +117,7 @@ def punt():
 	params = request.get_json()
 	if 'source' not in params and 'itemid' not in params:
 		logger.error("Bad request params: {}".format(params))
-	item = loader.WritethroughDict(os.path.join(
-		DUNGEON_PATH, params['source'], params['itemid'] + '.item'))
+	item = loader.load_item(params['source'], params['itemid'])
 	tomorrow = datetime.now() + timedelta(days=1)
 	morning = datetime(tomorrow.year, tomorrow.month, tomorrow.day, 6, 0, 0)
 	til_then = morning.timestamp() - item['created']
@@ -134,8 +132,7 @@ def mass_deactivate():
 	for info in params.get('items', []):
 		source = info['source']
 		itemid = info['itemid']
-		item = loader.WritethroughDict(os.path.join(
-			DUNGEON_PATH, source, itemid + ".item"))
+		item = loader.load_item(source, itemid)
 		if item['active']:
 			logger.debug(f"Deactivating {info['source']}/{info['itemid']}")
 		item['active'] = False
diff --git a/inquisitor/loader.py b/inquisitor/loader.py
index ab65a9f..b7e4129 100644
--- a/inquisitor/loader.py
+++ b/inquisitor/loader.py
@@ -1,18 +1,42 @@
 import os
 import json
 
+
 from inquisitor.configs import DUNGEON_PATH
 from inquisitor import error
 from inquisitor import timestamp
 
+
 class WritethroughDict():
-	"""A wrapper for a dictionary saved to the disk."""
-	def __init__(self, path):
+	"""A wrapper for a dictionary saved to the file system."""
+
+	@staticmethod
+	def create(path, item):
+		"""
+		Creates a writethrough dictionary from a dictionary in memory and
+		initializes a file to save it.
+		"""
+		if os.path.isfile(path):
+			raise FileExistsError(path)
+		wd = WritethroughDict(path, item)
+		wd.flush()
+		return wd
+
+	@staticmethod
+	def load(path):
+		"""
+		Creates a writethrough dictionary from an existing file in the
+		file system.
+		"""
 		if not os.path.isfile(path):
 			raise FileNotFoundError(path)
-		self.path = path
 		with open(path) as f:
-			self.item = json.loads(f.read())
+			item = json.load(f)
+		return WritethroughDict(path, item)
+
+	def __init__(self, path, item):
+		self.path = path
+		self.item = item
 
 	def __getitem__(self, key):
 		return self.item[key]
@@ -40,10 +64,17 @@ class WritethroughDict():
 		with open(self.path, 'w', encoding="utf8") as f:
 			f.write(s)
 
+
 def load_state(source_name):
 	"""Loads the state dictionary for a source."""
 	state_path = os.path.join(DUNGEON_PATH, source_name, "state")
-	return WritethroughDict(state_path)
+	return WritethroughDict.load(state_path)
+
+
+def load_item(source_name, item_id):
+	"""Loads an item from a source."""
+	item_path = os.path.join(DUNGEON_PATH, source_name, f'{item_id}.item')
+	return WritethroughDict.load(item_path)
 
 def load_items(source_name):
 	"""
@@ -55,8 +86,7 @@ def load_items(source_name):
 	for filename in os.listdir(cell_path):
 		if filename.endswith('.item'):
 			try:
-				path = os.path.join(cell_path, filename)
-				item = WritethroughDict(path)
+				item = load_item(source_name, filename[:-5])
 				items[item['id']] = item
 			except Exception:
 				errors.append(filename)
@@ -74,8 +104,7 @@ def load_active_items():
 		for filename in os.listdir(cell_path):
 			if filename.endswith('.item'):
 				try:
-					path = os.path.join(cell_path, filename)
-					item = WritethroughDict(path)
+					item = load_item(cell_name, filename[:-5])
 					# The time-to-show field hides items until an expiry date.
 					if 'tts' in item:
 						tts_date = item['created'] + item['tts']
diff --git a/inquisitor/sources.py b/inquisitor/sources.py
index 78b7ba2..dd50229 100644
--- a/inquisitor/sources.py
+++ b/inquisitor/sources.py
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ def item_callback(source_name, itemid):
 			raise ImportError(f"Missing callback in '{source_name}'")
 		# Load the source state and the origin item
 		state = loader.load_state(source_name)
-		item = loader.WritethroughDict(os.path.join(DUNGEON_PATH, source_name, itemid + ".item"))
+		item = loader.load_item(source_name, itemid)
 		# Execute callback
 		source_module.callback(state, item)
 		# Save any changes