Master Xander

Chapter twenty eight

Hogwarts

Friday Movie Night

Alex knew many of the students, and more than a few professors, planned to attend movie night, and the number would easily double the figure who attended the first showing. But he was pleasantly surprised at the sheer number of attendees. Word was about to spread for better or worse. The pure-bloods were about to go ballistic once they discover the full import of what was happening. He and the others intended to be ready. This movie was another shot at the beginning of this war for the planet.

The non-magical government security agencies, especially in Britain, were beginning to get up to speed, and all sides were in quiet, but intensive talks with the magicals. Some of those talks were heated, as to be expected, but there was real progress. Ceraine was a great mediator, and all sides were working hard to make this work because they understood the stakes. Nevertheless, some of those talks were epic, and Alex and Ceraine made recordings for posterity, and for others to witness as those other nations progressed in their own talks.

What was surprising and more than depressing was that the Ministry hadn't a clue of what was going on. Plans were made to incorporate them into the talks, but no one trusted them yet. There were too many and obvious incidents happening to non-magicals and non-wizarding magicals being swept under the rug. No one trusted them and they wouldn't trust them until things changed. The wizarding world was so far behind the curve, it wasn't even funny. Tradition was encouraged. Stagnation wasn't. The magical protections given to the various government agencies, including the British secret services, protected those entities from being discovered. However, those effects would eventually serve to arouse suspicion from both the Ministry and the others by their very existence. Their protective natures would be fought against as soon as they were discovered. But it would take time because the magic was different from this worlds and brute force spells would alert the protectors to their presence, and Alex, Ceraine and the others. The protections were a stop-gap measure, giving them time to prepare.

Alex put those thoughts behind him. For now, he marveled at the spectacle in front of him. He knew the Hogwarts students would attend, but the other two school students showing up to watch the film was somewhat of a surprise, especially the from Durmstrang. The Bulgarian students hadn't taken part in any of the normal activities at Hogwarts, not even intermingling at breakfast or dinner. They stayed on their submarine ship, vessel, whatever they called it, boat. The headmaster hadn't bothered to come, and Alex hadn't expected him to. Usually, the Bulgarian students were only present when there was a public activity involving the Tri-tournament, so this was unexpected. None of the Durmstrang wore no-mage clothing.

The students from Beauxbatons wore their traditional clothing styles, which were remarkably close to regular French styles, as to make little difference. The majority of the Hogwarts students wore their robes.

Ceraine wore her semi-formal black and blue leather jumpsuit, looking so much like a certain Mrs. Emma Peel that Alex would just have to tease her later that evening. No one in this world knew who Emma was, but the two of them did, and he knew she would acknowledge the compliment. Alex wore black and grey, looking like a roguish college professor. No robes for either of them right now.

Tonight, the dress at Hogwarts was a mixture of no-mage and the monk-style robes most witches and wizards in this part of the world favored. What was cute was that everyone could tell which ones were part of his class and that made him smile at a job well done. When they needed to traverse the non-magical world, they needed to know how to dress appropriately.

Alex didn't doubt the numbers were going to be high and had requested he might use the Grand hall. Initially, he was going to have the presentation outside, but opted for the hall, which was easily converted for theater use. He thought about enlarging the TV but decided to use a magically enhanced 8K screen for the viewing this time.

To his chagrin, some professors still assumed no-mage technology couldn't work around magic in spite of the evidence. Every single one of them had visited his classroom filled with functional non-magical equipment, and still they assumed that it couldn't work. Those who were initially surprised adjusted quickly and two of them asked what kinds of enchantments were used to allow them to function inside of Hogwarts.

Both he and Ceraine had explained this before. But those two hadn't really believed. Now those same professors were intent on peppering both of them with questions. When this was over, they would explain how it could be done safely. did work when the proper precautions were taken. The two American professors were unconcerned and would gladly do so when the opportunity presented itself after movie night. Several basic protection and counter spells used to keep their equipment functioning or being destroyed were simple and easy to learn and use. Neither Alex nor Ceraine would mention the far more intricate spells and enchantment used to protect their personal equipment from 'accidental' damage, which they knew was coming.

With the help of a wary Minerva, the main hall was easily transfigured into a giant theater with seating enough for everyone. Naturally, Albus gave permission without protest. He had a lot on his plate, and he wasn't thinking about a muggle movie and what they imagined being. But he would attend after he completed the day's duties. Minerva wanted to speak to him about it as well as a few other things like his potion tainted lemon drop cany, but he practically dismissed her, and she vowed that he would suffer for that. Like the two Americans, she knew what was coming. Hopefully, this event would shock him enough to make him listen.

Popcorn, nachos, hot dog, Cokes, and American-based soft drinks allowances were adjusted accordingly. Hogwarts snacks were provided as before. However, not everyone was happy.

The problem began when the elves insisted on serving the food, free of charge, complete with full service, with Alex strongly disagreeing, stating that it was part of the experience and the students needed to pay.

The elves didn't have a problem with the students paying. They had problems with the students serving the food instead of the elves. Finally, after much pleading, crying, screaming and some blackmail thrown in for flavoring, a compromise was stuck. The house-elves would serve the traditional foods for anyone who wanted it-for free (growl), and the designated students would collect the cinema fees and the theater food was handled by the original students from the first film showing (more growls from the other side this time). They also collected the money, which was part of the experience.

The elves weren't happy, but reluctantly accepted the compromise. Alex and Ceraine pretended to be enraged about their own compromising. Therefore, no one was happy, which in the American's mind was perfect. Both found it hilarious that the elves tried to appeal to Ceraine's more nurturing nature to get their way. It didn't work, and not even the threat of a strike could change the deal. Those smallish creatures were going to be in a snit for a while.

"To our students, faculty, visitors, and guest, a heartfelt welcome. Tonight is a special night which we, the No-Mages studies class of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, will present an extended presentation of the movie that my class has to compose written reports on." Alex smiled as he heard a couple of groans in the audience. That announcement destroyed some of the ambiance of the night's festivities. They'd forgotten that this was still a class assignment and t was only fair that he reminded them.

"For those new to this, this movie is called the 'Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'. This and other stories were written many decades ago, and the non-magical people made a movie, actually several movies. It represents the non-magical concepts of what magic is and it is a representation of the events that happened in the Third Age of mankind. Did the Third Age exist? The answer is 'probably'," he smirked. "Whether it is a historical fact or pure fantasy isn't important. The fact that non-magicals wrote about it is. Most people here assume that non-magical don't have e no knowledge or understanding of magic. But this movie suggests that may not be the case, and it also suggests that the wizarding community may have lost history that the non-magical population has. Do they believe in magic, or that it exists? The answer is–maybe. It makes you wonder, doesn't it?"

He looked contemplative, which was reflected by the audience. "But before I continue. "I should define what a movie is to those who might be confused as to its nature. A movie is a non-magical representation, using sound and images to convey a story. It can contain music and other sounds to enhance the story. Movies do not use magical spells or charms to create this movie." He let that sink in for a moment before continuing. "It is called movie magic."

Some in the audience chuckled derisively, and scoffed at the notions, but not his students nor the people who had seen the movie previously.

"This movie fil is in color with sound that you will see and hear using no-mage work-craft. No-mages don't use magic, therefore, they compensate with their use of science, which we call technology. Before we continue, I will also tell you that this movie will not be found in no-mage movie libraries, because many in the magical communities tried to erase any references that the no-mages knew anything about magic. In this case, they failed, and in the process, they (meaning the wand magicals and everyone knew it) tried to remove historical facts that the magical community knows nothing about. In my town, the magical and non-magical communities lived and co-existed together for more than one hundred years, curtesy of Mayor Wilkins. There were problems," he smirked while rolling his eyes. "But we dealt with it and both communities lived together in relative peace. In many places, such knowledge and history were lost or never discovered."

"Not so for of our no-mage knowledge base. It has been preserved by both non-wand magical and non-magical entities. To attempt to erase or destroy these histories, memories, and legacies would start a magical war," he added darkly. He allowed that to sink in for a moment as well. "It wasn't perfect, but it worked until my town was destroyed by a vampire strain unknown to the wizarding world. My friends and I stopped it at great cost, and with the help of a certain odd magical family. Where there was one Vampire Slayer, there are a dozen, and now two bloodlines standing at the gates, protecting the world." His world.

"Our vampires are not like the ones you know. They were dangerous, also demon-infested." Grimacing, he continued. "Don't worry. We wiped them out." He looked around at the shocked, and in a few cases, skeptical faces glued to his every movement. "The Turok-Han were proto vampires of the ancient world, and they would have overrun the Earth. If it weren't for the actions of the Slayers and the Addam's clan and the few of us who stood at the door, keeping them from breaking out. What magical powers couldn't handle, no-mage technology did. Neither could have survived without the other, against the tens of thousands, yes tens of thousands, of the vampires. We turned our town into a smoking crater and then a saltwater lake so deep we're not sure where the bottom is. The magicals involved kept it secret from the Wizarding world. Other than a few people in the world, this incident and the Slayers can't be found. The documentation of the events is a closely held secret from the non-wizarding magical world, and the non-magicals guard those secrets." He nodded once, as if making a decision. "I'm telling you this because there are more things under heaven that you can dream of, and that no-mage knowledge is greater than you imagine. As I mentioned earlier, if wizards tried to erase their memories and neutralize them so the Statute be maintained, there will be a magical, non-magical world war. The world is larger and darker than you know, and both sides had dedicated their lives in its protection. It is also protected by great powers." He sighed. "It's a long story and not relevant to the reason why we are here tonight."

Alex saw that he'd gotten his point across. There was dead silence from the entire audience, and everyone knew that the students of his class would spend their new free hours looking up the words Turok-Han on the class computers. The information was all there, including Vampire Slayer and a veritable encyclopedia of information concerning the various kinds of blood suckers, their worlds included. There were going to be a lot of sleepless nights in the coming days.

More seeds were planted and with that, he returned to the subject at hand. A few in the audience seemed to want to tackle him and force him to answer several thousand questions.

Good. Most of the elders in the crowd also recognized the underlying threat and were already planning to pounce as soon as they could. Minerva just looked grim and worried.

"To my students, this is a rule. No talking during the movie. There are tendencies to tell your neighbor what is going to happen just before it does. So, keep quiet and let them enjoy the movie as it unfolds. Also, the other rules are the same: if you dirty up the floor with food or drink, you will personally clean said floor the non-magical way, with a mop and brush. It is part of the learning experience. If you don't want to sweep the floor with a non-magical broom, then don't mess up. If those students who are not part of my class dirty' s up the floor, I will deduct points, and put you in detention and explain to you the joys of leaning up a classroom with a rag and cleanser." He growled. "Go ahead. Try it. To our visitors, please enjoy this special presentation and if you have any questions, Professor Delane and I will try to answer them, but not all. Non-magical secrecy is as important as the Statute."

A surprised Narcissa Malfoy took in everything, evaluating every word coming out of that man's mouth with the utmost care. What he told the audience surprised her. He had to be embellishing at the very least, but she wasn't sure. The tales he told them captured her interests, so much so she momentarily lost interest in the upcoming muggle movie presentation.

Muggle awareness of magic in a town, now a saltwater lake? Good riddance, if it were true. Muggles didn't have the capability of keeping such secrets. They were limited and, because of that, they couldn't be trusted with such important matters. Demon vampires were unheard of. Magicals and muggles keeping secrets from the Wizarding world, and she knew nothing about this? The Ministry in both the colonies and Britain would never allow such a thing. Who were these other magicals that they would defy the authority and power of the Wizarding world? And how strong were they? Were they able to withstand the might of the wizarding world or the Dark Lord?

Those questions and their potential answers concerned her. As she continued fretting over those possible, she also worried about how her husband would respond if he listened to her in the first place.

This professor implied that there was a magical history that the Wizarding community knew nothing about. Understandable, but this was beyond the pale. Then there was the muggle secrecy act. That interested her, and she planned to speak to them about it as soon as this movie was over. Mister Harris might be magically weak, if Severus were right, but he was very pleasing to look at, not that she would tell that to her husband.

Seated next to her sat her melancholy looking son. The woman refrained from laughing at him. No child wanted to sit by their mother when so many young ladies would gladly take their places next to him.

The rows of seating were interesting, and the chairs were strange, but comfortable. The Malfoy status required better seating arrangements. However, she tolerated it for the sake of her son and her curiosity. Tasting some popcorn, she decided she liked the flavor, but hated those kernels, insisted on making a home between her teeth. The Nachos were interesting as well as gross. One simply could not use eating utensils properly with this food. She didn't touch the hot dogs, preferring to consume some of the more traditional foods placed in the rear section. The entire experience was quite exotic, like visiting another world.

The room darkened, and the movies began. Five minutes later, she was lost to the moment. The sound and images captivated her in a way she hadn't expected. If this movie was anything to go by, it was little wonder that Draco hinted that this was one of his favorites.

Severus didn't want to be in the main hall converted into a muggle theater hall, but he was required to by order of Albus Dumbledore. And, he reluctantly admitted to himself, his curiosity. The movie made such an impression on Slytherin students who attended the muggle history class, that he had to examine himself. It was surprised that so many students were willing to give up their Friday night's freedom for a muggle experience, and it sickened him. Muggles had their places (although he would never dare say that aloud or even think it was too hard), but they should have nothing to do with the Wizarding world.

The Statute of Secrecy was paramount, critical in keeping the muggles away. And here Harris said that the statute might not be as secure as everyone believed, and that the muggles had their own statutes protecting their secrets from the wizarding world. That wasn't a real surprise. but what was a genuine surprise were the next words about vampire slayers and proto-vampires overrunning a town and trying to take over the world. Those terms were new to him, as were the facts (if true) that the muggles had their own magical support and secrets known only to them. That was disturbing on several levels.

Severus, among other things, was a spy, or more accurately, a double agent who had just discovered a trove of hot information concerning a weak, magically inept powered wizard, one who could barely use a wand properly.

This information was critical information for the Dark Lord when he made his presence known to the world. There were tidbits Severus needed to clarify before he passed it on, and he hated the situation he was now placed in. The American couldn't keep his mouth shut and he would have to pass it on. If muggles did have this amount of information, even if it were in America, then the Dark Lord would be very displeased. If there were whole towns such as Harris described that had muggles and wizards working together, then sooner or later, it would slither its way to the British and European magical community. That couldn't be tolerated for so many reasons he had trouble counting them.

Obviously, Harris and Delane knew far too much that would interfere with the Dark Lord's plans. What were proto-vampires, and the Dark Lord might have used them for his advantage? What were Slayers and how powerful were they? He cursed Harris for opening his mouth. Nevertheless, because of his carelessness, he wanted more information, but he frowned as he realized he might have ruined any chances of gathering said information.

The potions master was furious.

Harris talked too much.

TO BE CONTINUED

Next: Dumbledore's reaction to the Ring movie, Severus' continuing reaction, and some insight as to why he does what he does, and the early introduction the Lady in pink, as thing continue to go sideways.

At this point, Fudge isn't that bad, and the first challenge hasn't happened yet, and his focus is more on the Tournament rather than Harry. Both Alex and Ceraine are upset but will not interfere which will cause a slight guilt complex for Xander. The we will switch to the dance.

Note: Does anyone want to see Xander and Dolores dance to Umbridge dance to the song 'Bamboleo', a song that Alex introduces as American music to those participating in the dance? Let's include the professors here as well. What do you think?

No. forget that. I'm insane. Must be the plague affecting me.

But I am tempted, sorely tempted. Very tempted.

Note: I am no fan of Dolores. She reminds me of an evil Mrs Bucket (pronounced Bouquet).

As you may suspect either I'm going mad, or in a very dark direction. Xander has learned a lot from his girlfriends and although always respectful, he has had a few too many evil women on his case and now he is immune. If you believe this, then I want to sell Texas to you, cheap.