Harry Potter and the Cookie of 1942

Chapter 4: Longbottom, Dippet, and Ogg

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Both boys jumped as a cold voice behind them said, "Who are you two and what do you know about a murderer living in the school?"

Harry whirled around and immediately pointed his wand at the tall boy standing behind them. He was ready from anything from Tom Riddle to Professor Dumbledore, but as soon as he saw the boy's face he couldn't help but smile, and quickly turned to look at Neville. His friend was also gaping at the owner of the cold voice, and Harry smiled as he compared the identical looks on their faces.

"My name's Harry Evans, and this is Neville Franklin. We're new here. You're the Head Boy, aren't you?"

"Er, yeah. I'm Wilson Longbottom. But how did you know I'm Head Boy?" he asked suspiciously, fingering his blue Ravenclaw tie. Wilson had a narrower face and bushier eyebrows than Neville, but his eyes, nose, and hair were the same and it was easy to tell that they were related.

Harry's breath stuck for a moment, but then he laughed. "Couldn't be the shiny badge on your chest, could it?" he asked cheekily.

"Oh. yeah." Wilson and Neville both laughed weakly. "So...Neville? Are you related to me?" asked Wilson hesitantly. Neville shrugged.

"I guess it's possible, but I don't think so," he lied. Wilson nodded.

"Yeah, I've never heard of you. But I would like to know what this business about a murderer is all about, and why I was never informed that two new students would be arriving ... in the middle of September, no less. Have you talked to Professor Dippet yet?"

"Um, well, no, actually not," mumbled Harry.

Wilson got a stern look on his face. "Does he know you're coming?" The two Gryffindors shook their heads sheepishly. "Well, come on then. Follow me."

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"Trampa de Diablo." The Gargoyle guarding Professor Armando Dippet's office jumped aside when Wilson gave the password and allowed him to lead his future grandson and the Boy Who Would Someday Live into the Headmaster's office.

"Ah, Mr. Longbottom," said the balding old man, looking up from a large, dusty book. Both Wilson and Neville looked up. Neville, who had never been inside this office, looked around in awe. Harry, who had seen it several times (both in his own time and inside Tom Riddle's memory), looked around with a tinge of guilt. He still felt bad about losing his temper and destroying Professor Dumbledore's things. Headmaster Dippet seemed to have slightly different tastes, and the office contained more plants and potion ingredients than obscure silver instruments. The main differences were that Professor Dippet was sitting at the desk instead of dozing in a painting, and that instead of a phoenix perched near his desk, there was a small armadillo nosing around his feet.

"And who are these two young men? Visitors perhaps? Relatives of yours?" he asked, looking closely at Harry and Neville.

"Not that I know of, Headmaster," replied Wilson. "This is Harry Evans, and this is Neville Franklin. I found them in the library, and this one," he gestured at Harry, "said that there was a murderer living in the school. They told me they're new here, but they haven't spoken to you about it. I thought I should bring them to you." He looked anxious for confirmation that he had done the right thing.

"Thank you Mr. Longbottom." Professor Dippet stood up and shook the Head Boy's hand. "You may go now, and I shall have a word with these two." Wilson nodded smartly and strode out of the office. The Headmaster led Harry and Neville to two chairs in front of his desk and returned to his seat. "So, Harry Evans and Neville Franklin? I don't recognize those surnames. Where are you from?"

Harry hesitated. He had already lied about his and Neville's origin but he wasn't sure if the Headmaster would buy his story. Lies could be so complicated and it was easy to let things slip if you tried to live one. "Professor...I'm not sure what I should tell you. Neville and I came here by accident--we're not sure how. We told some other kids that we transferred from Durmstrang, but I'm sure you could find out pretty quickly that we've never been there. The thing is--we're Hogwarts students, but we're not from this time." Professor Dippet raised his eyebrows. "Both of us are sixth year Gryffindors. We were eating breakfast in the Great Hall this morning, and then suddenly we were here. I mean ... now." He winced at the strange paradox of their presence in the past. "Oh, and our first names are real, but we made up the last ones."

The Headmaster stood up and began pacing back in forth next to his desk. He gave the two boys a searching look. "So you've traveled in time. Do you remember touching anything before it happened? Anything unusual?"

"No, Professor," answered Harry earnestly. "I never saw anything like a Time Turner." Neville looked confused.

Professor Dippet blinked. "I won't ask how you come to know about Time Turners, Harry. Time is a dangerous thing. I don't know what the Wizarding World is like in your time, but right now it's a very dangerous place. The Dark Lord and his minions are gaining power all over Europe, and his spies are everywhere." His look became penetrating.

"You d-don't think we're spies, do you?" asked Neville in consternation.

"I would like to believe that what you say is true," replied the Headmaster,"but I'm afraid that I can't allow you to live here in the castle. There is to much risk involved, especially with this talk about a murderer."

Harry and Neville looked desperate. "Sir, we don't have anywhere else to go but Hogwarts. Please let us stay." The old man lifted one of his hands to silence them.

"However, I will allow you to live on the grounds for now and assist our groundskeeper, Euclideus Ogg. He's getting on in years and has been asking for a helper. If you prove your trustworthiness within two months, I will consider letting the Sorting hat take a look at you, decide which Houses fit you best, and perhaps let you attend classes. I will also have my Deputy Headmaster, Professor Dumbledore, talk to you. He knows more about time travel than I do and perhaps will be able to unravel the truth and find a way to return you to your own time. Now, I'm a busy man, so I'll call you in for another discussion later. For now, however, I'll take you to Mr. Ogg."

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"So, you two are my new helpers, are you?" asked a funny-looking man with a small head and large round ears. He had a squeaky voice, short arms and legs, and very gnarled hands. "Harvey and Nigel, yes?" Neville thought privately that despite the size oftheman's ears, they didn't work very well. "Just call me Ogg. Well, best follow me. I'll get you settled." He led them into the wooden house at the edge of the forest in which Harry, Ron, and Hermione had so often visited Hagrid, and gave them both bedrolls. "You'll have to sleep there by the fire, as there isn't much room in here. Just roll these up again in the morning when it's time to work. Now, there's work to be done before nightfall, so leave your things here and come help me with the cabbages."

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Author note: The password is in Spanish because I think Armando sounds Spanish, even if Dippet doesn't. It means "Devil's Snare". Thanks to all my great reviewers! I am trying to write more descriptively, so tell me how I 'm doing.

Characters mentioned in this story so far:

1996
6th yr G: Harry, Neville, Ron, Hermione
others: Fred & George

1942
2nd yr S: Olive Hornby
3rd yr G: Algie Fletcher, Rubeus Hagrid
6th yr G: Neville's gran, Benjy Fenwick (Grub), and Zippy
6th yr S: Tom Riddle
7th yr G: Mouse (HG), Ice, Elfin
7th yr R: Wilson Longbottom (HB)
unknown: Myrtle
teachers: Dippet, Dumbledore, Slughorn
others: Ogg