Chapter 6: Putting their heads together
After talking at length with Minerva and Albus, the group of young adventurers returned to Grimmauld Place, where it was decided to pair off with their 'twin' and go over and finalize what specific information needed to be given to the 'younger' versions of themselves.
Harry and Dan were soon in a deep discussion about how to handle, not only Sirius and his scattershot energy and frustrations, but how to show Albus his misguided thoughts were, about 'protecting' Harry from some of the more vital information he'd need to fight Voldemort. If they could give Albus a heads up, he would, in turn, tell Harry what he needed to know.
They also devised a plan for getting a bit of overdue justice against Wormtail.
Ron and Rupert were planning how and when to collect the Horcruxes, Helga Hufflepuff's Cup being the one that would be the hardest to retrieve; was it already in Bella's vault at Gringott's or was it elsewhere? Perhaps they could enlist Narcissa to find out its location. Could she retrieve it?
Emma and Hermione were marking passages in the last three books that would give greater depth and meaning to some of the scenes in the movies; Dumbledore and Harry talking in his office after Sirius dies, the confrontations on the Astronomy Tower and the King's Cross Scene from the final film. Vital clues and hidden meanings were scattered throughout the books and some had, unfortunately, been left out of the scripts. Hopefully, their younger selves would also have some additional input as to what they had experienced, that even Jo Rowling hadn't captured in print. And an early understanding and retrieving of the Horcruxes was vital.
Draco and Tom were going over what the Death Eaters had done and where certain members of that group had hidden during the year after Voldemort's sighting at the Ministry. Draco was positive that his mother would help, as she was not a true follower of Voldemort, but had been a victim of circumstance more than anything. Lucius? Well, Draco was torn about telling his father too much, as he really was the weak link; he would break under the 'Cruciatus' curse before Narcissa, so the less he knew, the better, was the final consensus.
Then the discussion turned to Severus Snape and they all decided that he would be told the background of everything that would happen and how he could be spared that awful death. Also, and Harry was adamant about this bit; Sirius and Severus would be forced to bury the hatchet, as both were vital to the outcome of this adventure. Harry was sick and tired of their snide remarks and both were totally wrong about each other and this time, he was going to make sure they realized the true story! Dan promised to crack some skulls together, if necessary, to make them listen, much to Harry's delight.
Then Harry, Ron, Rupert and Dan discussed the possibility of changing the Battle at the Ministry to include Severus instead of Sirius but with something that Sirius could be doing while everyone's attention was diverted by the action at the Ministry.
Draco was instructing Tom about the working of the Time Turners, but both were half listening to the plotting taking place across the room.
"Again, tactics by Ron 'Chess King' Weasley," Draco whispered to Tom, who nodded.
Hermione and Emma had come to the conclusion that an 'Extension Charm' on Emma's tote was, indeed, needed when they realized, roomy as it was, there was no way to fit everything in without some Magical help. Hermione shrank Harry's flat screen and DVD player, wrapped them in a couple of tea towels and stowed them securely for the trip. Notebooks, DVDs, books, extension cords and personal letters to themselves and notes for the others were all added.
"Oh, my goodness! I just thought of something!" Emma gasped.
"What?" Hermione asked.
"We need to get an overnight bag together for each of us; it's going to take us at least 3 or 4 days to get through all the movies and have all the discussions and planning sessions that will result from that information overload! Even with time frozen, it'll still take go by for us there, in that time frame."
"She's right, you know . . . leave it to Emma to think of clothes." Rupert commented, then ducked as a pillow flew past his head.
"Okay, we'll take each of you to your homes, grab some things and meet back here. Say fifteen minutes?" Draco checked his watch.
"Wanna race?" Dan proposed with an evil grin.
"Wait, wait!" Ginny called out. "Let's make this fair. Okay, pair up, hold on tight. Ready . . . set . . .GO!
"Pop!" "Pop!" "Pop!" "Pop!"
X X X
"Pop!"
"Ha! We won!" Tom looked around.
"Well done, you two." Ginny applauded.
"Pop!"
"Ah, bloody hell! The Slytherins beat us!" Rupert dropped his bag, while Ron shrugged.
"By less than five seconds, Rupert." Ginny informed him.
"Oh, well, that's not bad, then, as we had further to go."
"Pop!" Harry and Dan appeared.
"Told you they'd beat us." Dan looked at the others standing there, grinning.
"But the girls aren't back, yet."
"Wrong, gentlemen, we've been back long enough to go freshen up, thank you!" Hermione laughed, as Emma and she came in the door from the hallway, pointing to Emma's bag, sitting on an end chair.
"Bloody hell!"
Draco brought the Time Turner that looked identical to the movie prop she'd used as Hermione in Prisoner of Azkaban and placed it around Emma's neck.
"We want to give the illusion that you all used this old Time Turner to arrive," Draco instructed her, quietly, before handing Emma the stand, which she immediately put into her bag. "You can't let them see the Special one until you're ready to leave, so be sure to put it away in your Tote as soon as you arrive, in this bag, for safe keeping," he continued, after handing her a velvet storage bag, which she also stowed in her tote. "It is important to keep it as top secret as possible, do you understand?"
"Yes, we need to concentrate on changing your history and let the Time Turners evolve as they already have, correct?" Emma looked up into Draco's blue-grey eyes and her breath caught in her throat."
He smiled down at her. "You'd have been a Gryffindor, too, I imagine . . . brains and good looks." He winked and turned away, leaving her with a surprised expression on her face.
"I brought this one photo to show everyone," said Dan, as he handed around a picture of Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter, Michael Gambon and himself on the 'Atrium of the Ministry' set, taken during a break in the filming of "Order of the Phoenix", all of them smiling, arms around each other.
Ron took a look and shook his head. "That's truly bizarre, mate; Voldemort smiling!" He laughed as he passed it to Draco, who snorted and gave it to Hermione and Harry to see. They both laughed.
"Well, in the film, Ralph doesn't have a nose; it's CGI'd out of existence and he has slits on his face. You'll see what I mean when we watch the films."
"You know my Dad's going to go ballistic about seeing 'movies', once he gets out of St. Mungo's." Ron laughed, patting Harry on the shoulder. "I gave myself instructions in my letter to be ready to stop his poking about with your telly or DVD player! Rupert will back me up!"
"Too right I will!" Rupert assured him.
"I'll hold you to that, both of you," replied Harry, with a big grin. "But it's really my sons and daughter who you would have to answer to if anything happens to that equipment!" he added.
"It's your brothers I'm more worried about, Ron; when they see the havoc they're going to inflict on Dolores! Plus the other stuff in the books! About their shop and all!" Dan admitted.
"Now, the only thing we have to decide is how to get you and your Mum to Grimmauld Place." Tom looked at Draco, smiling, eyebrow lifted. "I don't think just popping into Malfoy Manor and inviting you to tea would be such a hot idea, do you?"
"No, it wouldn't! Besides, Father has enough charms and wards on the old place to keep almost anybody out . . . unfortunately NOT Voldemort or Aunt Bella, who waltzed in and out like they owned the old rock pile."
"What about Dobby?" Dan asked, as the others stood there, thinking. "He can pop in and out anytime he wants, can't he? He did when Aberforth sent him to rescue us from your basement."
"Dobby! Of course! Mother and he always got on well; she was furious . . . livid . . . when you tricked Father into freeing him, Harry!" Draco was grinning. "That's perfect! HE!HE!HE! This is getting to be too much fun!"
"Fun, yes, but serious in the extreme," Ginny reminded them. She had come into the room, carrying a small photo album, which she handed to Emma. "Show this to my parents and they'll believe you in a heartbeat; it's my baby album, and as the first female Weasley in generations, I got the special keepsake edition . . . I really hated those pictures, but they're finally going to be useful. I tucked a note to Mum inside."
Emma flipped through a few pages, smiled and then added it to the contents of her tote. "All baby books are embarrassing, Ginny, only your pictures move, adding another 'Aw' factor."
"Well," Harry looked around at the group. "I think that's everything we can do at this end. Draco, is Tom okay with setting the Time Turner to get back?"
"No problem, Harry. It's preset, and he knows how to activate it." Draco assured him.
"So simple, even a Muggle can do it!" Added Tom, grinning at Draco "Right?"
"I did not say that, but . . . yes." chuckled Draco.
Draco handed Tom the 'modern' Time Turner. "Have Albus activate this one with a simple 'Stasis' Charm, after everyone is at Grimmauld Place, then you'll have plenty of time to work on your plans. Here's a note for him, to clarify the spell that's needed."
"Right." Suddenly sobered, Tom looked down at the glowing gold instrument he was holding, then at the other one sitting in the box on the table, aware of the seriousness of what they were about to try. As he looked up at his friends, he realized they, too, were thinking the same thing. "Let's get this show on the road, people."
"What do we do, Draco, there's no chain to put around all our necks, like Hermione and Harry did with her Time Turner," asked Rupert.
"It had a 'radius' charm, so if you're within three feet of it, you'll be transported as a group when it's activated. Dan, you hold the Time Turner on your palm. Rupert, Emma, face each other in front of him. Tom, face Dan, so you can activate the Time Turner." instructed Draco, as he picked up the Special Time Turner out of its box and handed it to Dan. Do you have your bag, Emma?"
"Yes," came her quiet reply.
"I have this set for late Christmas Morning, before the visit to Ron's Dad at St. Mungo's. If your memory is correct, Hermione, all of the people in the house are downstairs eating, and Mad-Eye is due soon to accompany you there. You'll show up right here in the living room and I suggest you just get your notes out and then call downstairs and make yourselves known. Should be quite the best Christmas gift of the day." Draco grinned.
"Easy for you to say," Tom replied. "If they think I'm you, I'll be blasted across the room!"
"I'll stand in front of you, Tom." Emma patted him on the arm. "That's what friends are for." Then looking Draco in the eyes, she continued. "That's lesson #1, Draco, the fact that you do have friends, back then, too, not just today."
"Thank you, Emma. I appreciate that." Draco smiled back and then leaned forward and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"OOoo, Emma's made another conquest," Rupert teased.
"Shut it, Rupert," Emma gave him a glare and stuck out her tongue.
Tom threw his arm over Draco's shoulder. "She had a big crush on me, at one point; I utilized a bit of that debonair Malfoy charm. Was all over me to dance with her while we were filming the Yule Ball."
"I was not!" Emma protested, to laughter from the boys. "Oh, alright, I did have a bit of a crush, but I was only 14 and I got over you, too!"
"Besides, now I have a girlfriend, Jade . . oh! she plays your wife, Astoria, in the last scenes of the movie." Tom added.
"Really? I'll have to check her out!"
"Look with your eyes, not your hands, Malfoy!" Harry warned, grinning at his friend.
"Of course, I'm a married man . . . just curious . . I do appreciate beauty. Do they resemble each other as much as we all do?"
"Here," Emma said. Reaching over to her laptop, she hit a few keys and spun it around to show Draco a picture of a stunning brunette.
"Merlin! She's a keeper, Tom . . . and she does look quite a lot like Astoria, except the hairstyle. Good taste, old man!" He reached out and shook hands with Tom, grinning.
"Oh, honestly!" Emma and Hermione exclaimed at the same time, drawing even more laughter from the others.
"Hermione, take my laptop, please," Emma said, handing it over for safe keeping.
"Alright, I know this sounds strange, but see you all in about 30 minutes - our time." Draco looked at the four standing next to the coffee table.
"Why thirty minutes difference?" asked Dan, frowning.
"That will give us time to get used to our new memories before you return." Draco explained.
"Oh, right," Dan nodded, understanding. "Hope we see smiles on all your faces when we come back!"
"I bloody well hope so, too!" Ron agreed, taking a deep breath. "If I'm grinning, you'll know Fred's okay, at least."
"We'll check with you, straightaway, then," replied Rupert, shaking hands with Ron.
Draco backed up to the end of the sofa, standing with Harry in front of the fireplace. Ron, Hermione and Ginny circled around to the back of the sofa to stand and watch.
"Good luck!" Hermione said, as Tom pushed a lever forward.
Dan, Emma, Rupert and Tom blinked out of existence.
"Now what?" Ginny asked.
"We just sit and wait and see how much our memories shift; so we know if things changed for the better."
"I don't think I'm going to like this bit." Hermione put Emma's laptop on the coffee table and then sat down next to Ron and took his hand.
Harry settled down on the other sofa, with his arm around Ginny.
Draco paced back and forth by the window.
It was going to be the longest thirty minutes of their lives.
X X X
"Emma, open your eyes, it's not bad. We're already back past the house renovation, so it's what we're used to seeing." Dan had his hand on her shoulder. Daylight sunshine and night time darkness flickered behind the window curtains like a superfast strobe light, giving them the only real sense of anything happening.
"Oh, right. Well, it's certainly easier than 'Apparating'."
"How will we know when we get there?" Rupert asked.
"When the lever clicks back to the start position," Tom informed him. "We've already done ten years, shouldn't take much longer. Remind me to put this away in your bag, Emma, we don't want them seeing it until we leave."
"Right. I don't like not being totally honest with them about how we get here, but it is for their safety, too, I suppose."
"The greater good." Tom, Dan and Rupert all replied.
"That, too." Emma smiled.
X X X
Everyone was eating their Christmas lunch when there came a shout from the upper floor.
"Hey, you lot! Come up here! It's important!"
Silence instantly fell over the people seated at the kitchen table. They all looked around at each other in surprise . . . what the . . . who . . .
"Everyone's down here, aren't they?" Molly asked, doing a silent head count.
"Yeah, we are." replied Sirius.
"So, who the bloody hell is that upstairs?' Remus asked, pulling out his wand as he stood and headed for the stairs, Sirius hot on his heels, the rest tumbling after them, pulling out their wands.
"Children! Wait!" Molly shouted, to no avail.
When they arrived at the top of the stairs, Remus caused a bit of a logjam as he flung out his arm, effectively stopping the headlong rush in its tracks.
"SH!" he hissed, stopping their protests. "Listen. Can you hear anything?"
Nine pairs of ears strained for any sounds, indicating where the shouts had originated. They all jumped when four different voices called to them from the front parlor.
"We're in here." "We're not armed." "We're friends." "We mean you no harm."
Remus and Sirius started walking cautiously forward, Molly trying, unsuccessfully, to make the kids stay on the stairs. Sirius reached the door first and flattened himself against the wall, twisted sideways to get a quick look into the room and then stood up straight, with his mouth hanging open, eyes wide. He shook his head, took another peek into the parlor and then turned to the group standing there, holding their breath.
"I don't believe what I just saw."
"What? What is it?" Remus asked, risking a look around the doorframe. He did a double take and he, too, stood there, properly gob smacked. "Can't be."
They looked at each other and then at the crowd waiting behind them, frowning.
"What is it?" asked Harry.
"Who is it?" asked Hermione.
"Is it Father Christmas?" asked Fred, causing Sirius and Remus to turn and stare at him in amazement. "Just trying to ease the tension."
"Why don't you all come in and say hello?" called a familiar sounding voice.
"No, wait! It could be a trap!" protested Molly, as the kids surged past Remus and Sirius into the parlor. As she pushed past the two dumbstruck men and turned into the room, she stopped and then screamed!