Chapter 37: Please, Albus . . . pretty please!
As the 'Gryffindor Gang' descended the stairs on their way to the evening meal, having given Dan and Rupert a tour of Gryffindor Tower, they spotted Headmaster Dumbledore standing at the doors to the Great Hall, Emma right in front of him, talking a mile-a-minute, with Tom and Draco flanking her, grins on their faces.
"Oh, this can't be good," Harry and Dan said at the same time. Looking at each other, they laughed and continued downward, eager to see what those three were up to now.
"Please, Albus . . . pretty please?" Emma was looking up at the old Wizard; batting her eyelashes unabashedly, smiling sweetly, wide eyed and hopeful of the answer to her pleading.
"Now what are you up to, Emma?" Dan inquired, as they arrived on the scene.
"Shhh!" Emma waved Dan off, impatiently. "Albus?" Now her hands were clasped in supplication.
The Headmaster looked at Draco over his half-moon glasses.
"This won't interfere with any of the time lines?"
"No, sir. Returning them is a totally different event. We're in real time, now, but they'll be going back to Saturday morning . . . not a problem. But, I will have to do an adjustment for Harry, Ron, Hermione and I to catch up to real time after we take Dan, Emma, Rupert and Tom back to just before they get to Dan's house. Simple adjustment and we can use their necklaces after we retrieve them."
Harry and Dan exchanged quizzical looks as Fred, George, Rupert and Ron caught up with them.
"What's going on?" Fred asked.
"We miss something?" George wanted to know.
"Don't know what, yet," Harry held up his hand for silence. "But something's going on here."
Dumbledore stood there, faraway look in his eyes, then he shook himself, focused on the young people before him and smiled.
"Sounds like a plan to me, Emma, dear. Now . . . ." but anything else he was going to say was lost in the squeal coming from Emma, as she threw her arms around him and hugged him, while Draco and Tom high-fived.
"What in the world?" Hermione and Ginny arrived.
"We're staying!" Emma was jumping up and down, grinning from ear to ear.
"Staying?" "What!" "There's no way!" "How in the . . "
Albus raised his hand and everyone - out of old habit - quieted down immediately, knowing all would be explained.
"We will have dinner, do a little more of our story, and then Emma, Tom, Rupert and Dan will stay here at Hogwarts overnight, have the 'run of the place', I believe the saying goes, tomorrow morning, and then we'll all meet here in the afternoon to finish up our story and tidy up any loose ends and/or questions."
Pandemonium ensued for the next several minutes as the others joined the throng and heard the news. Dumbledore herded the crowd into the Great Hall and they all settled down at their places.
Dumbledore faced the assembly and cleared his throat. That had the same effect as raising his hand, which made him chuckle.
"Let me explain, if you don't mind the wheezing of your old Headmaster . . . It seems that while exploring the Slytherin Common Room, Tom looked out the windows and saw a Thestral soaring over the Forbidden Forest . He was, understandably, disappointed that he wouldn't have a chance to see one close up, in person, so to speak.
"But . . . then it occurred to him that if Emma, Dan, Rupert and he could stay overnight, they might be able to do a little exploring through Hogwarts and around the grounds, and with Hagrid's help, see a Magical creature or two, tomorrow morning. Emma came to me and gave an impassioned plea for permission for a 'sleep-over', such as you had at Grimmauld Place, during that long ago December, when we first learned about 'The Plan'. After due consideration and reassurance from Draco about their trip back to their present reality not being put in any jeopardy, I agreed to have them as our guests here at Hogwarts."
Cheers rang out among the younger folk, even the children who were not old enough to attend Hogwarts wanted to be part of the fun. It was discussed and a decision was made that Harry and Ginny's children would stay overnight , along with Ron and Hermione's at The Burrow and return with their grandparents in the morning. Fred and George decided to stay but Angelina and Alicia opted to take their young ones home, but join up with the other cousins at the Burrow for breakfast the next morning before coming back to Hogwarts. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Draco were going to stay at the school, as are Remus, Tonks and Teddy. The Malfoys will also return in the morning.
"Now," said the Headmaster, "that we have all of that settled, there is one little problem that I've just remembered. There are five other people living here at the school over the summer holidays . . . do we include them tomorrow or try to avoid them altogether?"
"Well, Hagrid and Filius know all about how we used the Time Turners, as we needed their help with the defenses. Pomona, Poppy and Sybil have also been told some of the story, so it shouldn't be too big a shock for them if they run into this herd of people thundering through the halls," Minerva observed, smiling.
"True enough," agreed Severus. "They've survived the Weasleys, four more new faces shouldn't be too much to take."
"Hey! Just remember, Professor, you'll soon have a new generation of Weasleys to try and intimidate," called Fred.
"Never worked on us, particularly, but you can try," added George.
"Now, you two be quiet," scolded Molly. "I imagine they won't mind meeting our guests, Albus, as they've known about what happened for years."
"Well, I'm glad that's agreed, because here they come now." Albus nodded toward the doors, where, indeed, the five staff members in question were standing, wide eyed and open mouthed at the crowd in the Great Hall.
"Looks like the Weasleys finally outgrew The Burrow," Hagrid laughed.
"Not quite, Hagrid, but it is a bit of a squeeze, sometimes," admitted Arthur, as he approached the Groundskeeper, to shake his hand in greeting. "Come in all of you, we have some surprise guests."
Leading the small group forward, Arthur stopped and waited to see their reaction as Emma, Dan, Rupert and Tom stepped forward.
"Hello Harry!" Hagrid boomed, smiling. "Wait a 'mo. Where's yer glasses?"
"Don't need them, Hagrid," replied Dan, as he approached the huge man, with his hand held out. "I'm Dan . . . Dan Radcliffe."
"Dan? You mean . . . " Hagrid looked at Emma, then Rupert and finally Tom. "You're them that was in the Muggle movies; you were pretending to be Harry," He turned and shook Emma's hand. "and our Hermione." Then Rupert. "You really looks like Ron, you do." And finally Tom. "Blimey, Draco, too! What are you all doing here at Hogwarts?" He turned to Albus. "I thought Muggles couldn't see Hogwarts?"
"They can't, Hagrid, but our guests, here, are the exception and are inside the wards, also, in any case. If they should wander off to Hogsmeade, I doubt they could find their way back," chuckled the Headmaster. "Filius, Pomona, Sybil, Poppy . . . I'd like to introduce you to the four young people who risked their lives to come back in time, sixteen years ago, to save our world."
"Oh my, I am so honored to meet you," gushed the diminutive Professor of Charms, kissing the back of Emma's hand. She giggled and bent to kiss his cheek.
"You are a particular favorite of mine, Professor Flitwick," Emma whispered. "Wingardium Leviosa! That was the first spell we used in the movie and I've always loved your enthusiasm for teaching."
"Why, thank you, my dear!" Filius flushed red to the tips of his ears.
Pomona Sprout and Poppy Pomfrey were then introduced, but Sybil Trelawney stood staring at Emma, tilting her head. As she walked forward to shake hands, Emma smiled at her, but raised an eyebrow in question.
"There is something about your aura, my dear," Sybil leaned close and muttered. "My 'Inner Eye' is focused on you . . . it will come . . . we shall see."
"Well, I look forward to hearing what you see in my future, because," Emma drew the Divination teacher to the side. "Unlike some," she tilted her head toward Hermione. "I happen to believe you truly have the gift." She patted the be-speckled, shawl draped women on the arm, then winked at her.
"You see, I knew you understood," replied Trelawney, nodding her head as she drifted over to one of the tables to be seated for dinner.
"If everyone is here and seated," Albus lifted his voice above the chatter. "Let's begin, shall we."
He clapped his hands and dinner appeared in front of everyone.
"This is too cool!" exclaimed Rupert, as he reached for a turkey leg.
"It's a wonder we all aren't shaped like Harry's cousin Dudley, having been fed like this at every meal while we were here as students " Ron agreed.
"Are you kidding! Running up and down all those stairs would keep anybody in shape, mate," laughed Dan. "I know when we were filming and had to do take after take, we were exhausted . . .absolutely knackered by the end of the day!
The Great Hall buzzed with conversation and laughter as everyone tucked in to the wonderful dinner.
"One place I'd really love to see is the kitchens, so I could thank the House Elves personally for all of this wonderful food," Emma said, even as she pushed her plate away. "But I'm stuffed, perhaps someone could roll me down later?"
"Those stairs are too bumpy and hard, my dear," Professor Flitwick laughed. "Perhaps a demonstration of "Wingardium Leviosa."
"Excellent!" Emma giggled. "That would be a splendid treat!"
X X X
After dinner was finished and the desserts plates vanished to the kitchens, everyone relaxed, waiting to hear the next part of the story. Harry stood, as did Severus, doing a short but comical 'You first' 'No, you go first.' 'Oh, I think YOU should go first' bit of nonsense, until they heard the giggles from their audience, which caused Severus to quickly sit down, leaving Harry standing there, blushing.
"Oh, all right then, I'll just pick up where I left off." Harry took a deep breath and began.
X X X
Harry returned to the castle to find the place in a total uproar. He spied Remus talking to Minerva on the grand stairs and ran up to them.
"Bella set off the Death Mark, so the whole school and all of Hogsmeade knows something has happened," Harry reported.
"Did Draco and Severus get away?" asked Remus.
"Yes, and I saw Draco drop his wand just as Bella and he was running through the gate," Harry almost smiled, but valiantly kept a straight face. "Draco deliberately banged into the half opened gate, so he can blame his aunt for knocking his wand loose and not giving him time to retrieve it before they 'Apparated' away. I saw Severus blast it into oblivion before he left, which makes his wand the one Voldemort will focus on before long."
"Ah, but I do believe he has that taken care of, also," muttered Minerva, as the other Professors and the prefects gathered around her, clambering for information as to what had happened.. "Quiet! QUIET!" she called out, holding up her hands. "We must go to the Headmaster's office, as that is where the Death Eaters were concentrating their efforts. Follow me."
Turning, she led the delegation upward until they came to the gargoyle, who looked at each of them in turn before training its eyes on Professor McGonagall.
"Licorice whips," she said, and then watched as the stone guardian nodded and stepped aside.
Turning, she took a deep breath. "I don't know what we may find, so I would ask Remus, Filius, Poppy and Harry to come with me. The rest, I would like you wait here. If it's bad news, you'll hear soon enough."
There were gasps and frightened faces looking back at her, but she turned without further explanation and stepped on the spiral stairs, followed by Poppy, Filius, Remus and lastly, Harry. They were carried upward only to find the landing outside the Headmaster's office empty. Minerva shot Harry a questioning look, he shrugged and stepped forward to knock on the door.
The door swung open and Poppy gasped when she saw Dumbledore lying on the rug in front of his desk. She hurried forward, only to skid to a stop when Albus stood up from one of the wingchairs by the fire and turned to face those entering after the school's Medi-Witch.
"ALBUS!" Madam Pomfrey shrieked, before fainting dead away, caught by a quick thinking Remus. He settled her in the other wingchair flanking the fireplace.
" 'Re-enervate' " The Headmaster came over and took Poppy's hand. "It's alright Poppy. I'm sorry if I gave you a fright."
"Headmaster! What is going on?" Turning she looked from the figure on the floor to the Wizard hovering over her. "I thought you were dead!"
"For all intents and purposes, I am, Poppy. We're pulling off a very elaborate charade to fool Voldemort into believing he's winning this war."
"But what?" she asked, pointing at the 'Dumbledore' lying on the rug.
"That, my dear, is my Muggle made double, who will stand in for me for the time being."
Filius Flitwick was bending over the form and tentatively reached out and touched 'Albus' face. He pulled back in shock.
"He's telling the truth, Madam Pomfrey, this isn't magical at all, but so lifelike, you can only tell if you touch it . . . wax work, Albus?"
"Indeed, Filius. And a fine likeness, if I do say so myself. But, we are short on time, so I am afraid I must do a small memory modification on you and Poppy, for you to be truly convincing in your grief at my demise. I will remove it in the future, when it becomes necessary, so you will then be able to help with the defense of Hogwarts, knowing we have a little secret or two up our collective sleeves."
Albus was beaming, totally enjoying the whole scene. Remus and Harry were smiling, but knew they and Minerva would really have to do a good job in their 'roles' in order to fool the rest of the school.
"Very well, I assume we will believe you to be dead and will proceed accordingly," answered Filius, straightening up from his inspection of the 'corpse' before them. "You will be interim Headmistress, I assume, Minerva."
"Until the Ministry and/or the Board of Directors decides differently," she nodded.
"We can't have the Ministry sniffing around, even those dunderheads won't be fooled by a fake corpse, Headmaster," Poppy said, worried look on her face.
"Ah, but my brother, Aberforth, will claim my body, after you declare me dead, and he will make all the arrangements, without interference from the Ministry. We've already arranged everything, don't worry. As long as you have the paperwork filled out, and I was struck by two 'Avada Kadavra' spells, mind you, there shouldn't be any questions."
"Two spells? Who?" Flitwick asked.
"Severus Snape and Draco Malfoy, who both are in on this whole plot, so that's another thing that will come back to your memory when I lift it later. You will assume, as will the rest of the Wizarding world, that those two are now at Voldemort's side as loyal Death Eaters. They are most certainly NOT! They are both risking their lives to save us all."
Both Flitwick and Madam Pomfrey nodded their acceptance of Albus assurances of Draco and Severus' involvement in the whole event.
"So, without further ado." The Headmaster positioned Flitwick and Poppy to be facing his 'corpse' then he went up the stairs behind his desk. Pointing his wand he whispered the memory spell and then stepped out of sight.
"ALBUS!" Poppy cried as she fell to her knees beside him, feeling his neck for a pulse.
Filius used his wand to push the front of Albus' robe aside, showing two scorch marks when a pair of spells had hit. "Avada Kadara . . . two of them . . . there was no chance . . ."
Remus pulled Poppy to her feet and Minerva put her arms around her shoulder. Harry had sunk to his knees by the Dumbledore's head and reached over to pick up the wire rimmed glasses that were lying off to the side. He gently replaced them on the Headmaster's long crooked nose and then placed a hand on his shoulder. His own shoulders started to shake.
"We must tell the others what's happened, Minerva," sobbed Flitwick, dabbing his eyes with a huge white handkerchief.
'Yes, yes, of course," stammered Minerva, tears brimming in her eyes. "Poppy, Filius, come with me please. We also need to get rid of that horrid thing," she added, pointing out the window at the writhing green snake that was floating above the towers of the school. "Remus, will you stay with Harry and escort him back to the Gryffindor Tower, please."
Remus nodded. But Harry stood up, eyes flashing. He opened his mouth to say something, but, instead, pushed his way out of the room and down the stairs.
"Mister Potter!" "Harry!"
The crowd waiting in the hallway at the bottom, took one look at Harry's face and parted to let him pass, Ginny, Hermione, Ron, Neville and Luna hurrying after him. Minerva McGonagall emerged from the spiral stair, followed by Professor Flitwick, Madam Pomfrey and Remus. Holding up a hand for silence, Minerva took a deep breath.
"This evening, Death Eaters invaded our school and they have murdered our Headmaster." Gasps and screams greeted that statement. Minerva again held up her hand. "There is nothing we can do to change what happened, but I'll be damned if that bloody Death Head is going to hang over this school. Would you all follow me please."
She started off at a brisk pace, the crowd falling in behind her, as more students emerged to find out what was happening. The word spread like wildfire and by the time Minerva emerged onto the front lawn, the entire school was streaming out of the doors behind her. She spotted Harry and his friends standing in a tight group, arms around each other and stopped a short way behind them Taking her wand, she shot a 'Lumos' spell skyward. Harry looked back at the approaching throng and then up at Minerva's spell, as it collided with the greenish illusion floating above them. He and the others took out their wands and also shot 'Lumos' spells, followed by the hundreds of students and the staff standing on the grass. In a matter of minutes, they had vanquished the Death Head from the early morning sky.