Chapter 11: Hail! Hail! The gang's all here!
"All right, then, let's get back to business; there's just three more we need to round up. Draco, his Mum and Tonks. Remus, we'll leave you to fetch Tonks," Dan said, looking at the werewolf and smiling. "You two make a cute couple, you know?"
Remus blushed as he turned toward the fireplace, stopped and looked back at Dan with his brow furrowed. He started to say something, then thought better of it and threw in a handful of 'Floo Powder'.
"Ted Tonks house."
'Poof'
"Dobby?"
"Yes, Mr. Rupert, sir."
"This is what we need you to do. Oh . . . Sirius, do you have that note for Narcissa?"
"Right here." Sirius handed it to Rupert.
"Dobby, we need you to pop into Malfoy Manor and deliver this note to Narcissa Malfoy. Tell her that Sirius wanted just Draco and her to see its contents and read it together. Do not tell them what you are going to do . . . do not explain anything, just stand there and wait until they are concentrating on the note. As they are reading it, take hold of both of their hands and bring them here. Don't let Lucius or anyone else, that may be in the Manor, see you. If you have to wait a bit for a good opportunity, that's fine, just hide and wait.
"Yes, Mr. Rupert, sir. Dobby understands. Missy Cissa and Dobby likes each other, so she will be happy to show the note to Master Draco. It be Master Draco Dobby be worried about."
"Well, just as long as you get both of them here, you can use your imagination and 'wing it' as we Muggles say," Tom told him. "In other words, do whatever it takes, even if it is a bit sneaky."
"Ooo, Dobby likes sneaky, Mr. Tom, sir." Dobby grinned, then snapping his fingers, he disappeared
"As we're going to be showing you all our version of Harry's life, or at least the good bits, perhaps we should go up to the big parlor and get comfortable." Dan suggested.
"Excellent! We're going to see the movies, are we?" Ron asked.
"Yes, we'll look at one and then we'll fill in with passages from the books." Rupert answered. "They had to leave out a lot, some stuff didn't really matter all that much to the story, as a whole, some scenes would have been way too long and boring to watch, so . . . you'll see."
"For instance, you don't see all of what went on this morning, you just see Mr. Weasley arriving here from St. Mungo's, so only if you've read the books does Mr. Bode even get mentioned. "
"And Dolores?" asked Minerva, peering over the rims of her glasses.
"Oh, you will love how you handle her, or rather, how Maggie handles her. I think you'll say she does you very well," giggled Emma, as she pulled Severus Snape up from his chair, hooked her arm in his and led the way upstairs.
X X X
"Are all Muggles as bold as you, Miss Watson?" Severus asked, when they all were settling down in some comfy sofas and chairs Albus provided with a swish of his wand. "I usually frighten young girls half to death, turning them into hysterical, crying wrecks just by looking at them."
"Ah, but I know all about you, Professor, thus I have an advantage . . . you don't scare me a bit, magic or not; so call me Emma, please. And don't feel you have to reciprocate the favor, I'm fine with calling you Professor."
"Thank you . . . Emma. Perhaps after we all get used to this situation." He bent over and whispered to her, "Will they know everything?" If it was possible for Severus Snape to look anxious to the point of panic, that's what Emma saw in his expression as she tried to frame her answer.
She nodded, but grasping his arm, she whispered back, "But it puts you and everything you do in perspective. Everyone will finally understand and respect you for all you have and will do for Harry . . . and for Lily."
He would have denied what she was saying, but there were tears in her eyes, which she quickly brushed away. "Well, it's good to know I haven't lost my touch . . . Emma." He smiled slightly, as he offered her his handkerchief.
"Far be it from me to ruin your reputation . . ." Using the folded linen to blot her tears and starting to hand it back, she stopped. "Oh, wait! I already did that when I hugged you . . . Sorry." She sat down and pulled her tote onto her lap, digging out the notepads and pens.
"You most certainly are not," replied Severus, pocketing the handkerchief. "I believe you will give Miss Granger a run for her money in that department," he replied, as he sat in a nearby armchair.
"Hermione? Ruin your reputation?"
"No, I meant about not being sorry for your actions; you seem to know what you want and go after it; very Gryffindor of you."
"More my Aries tendencies, I think, but I'll take that as a compliment." She gave him a nod.
Just then, Remus walked in, hand and hand, with Tonks. He smiled at Dan and introduced her to the four visitors.
"This is Dan . . Rupert . . Tom . . and Emma."
"Wotcher!"
"Hey, Tonks." "Hello, Tonks." "Nice to meet you." "Can you really change your appearance at will?"
In answer, Tonks hair changed color and she sprouted elephant ears, then changed herself back to normal.
"That's just too cool! Nat would be so jealous." Dan shook his head. When he noticed her quizzical look, he quickly explained, "She is the actress who plays you in the films, but most of her 'changes' were CGIs . . . we'll tell you about it later, just know it looks real enough in the film."
"Oh, right . . . okay, I'll remind you about explaining later." Turning to Remus, she whispered, "Remind me to remind him." Remus laughed and nodded.
X X X
"Professor Dumbledore, could I ask you to assist me with this, being as how it requires a bit of magic?" Tom was setting the 'Time Stopper' Time Turner on the closed piano lid.
"Certainly, Tom. What would you need, magically speaking?" Albus asked, looking closely at the glowing instrument. "May I also ask what this particular devise does?"
"It will freeze time, so we will have as much as we need to get through the movies and formulate our plans. It will cover everything inside #12 and it's wards. It is activated by a modified 'Stasis Charm'. Draco wrote the one he says works best in this note, sir." Tom pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Dumbledore.
"Ah, I see. Very useful and I think quite the thing to be helping us with making sure everything is covered in our plans."
"Kreacher!" Sirius jumped up. "We forgot all about him, what if he's at Malfoy Manor?"
"In the book he was found in the attic, 'hiding'. Perhaps you should go look for him and have him bring his Master Regulus' locket with him . . . that's an order, Sirius!" Dan yelled after him, as Harry's godfather went out the door, heading for the top of the house.
"That's right, Dung hasn't nicked it yet, has he? Rupert smiled. "So that's three found, one destroyed and four to go; we're moving right along."
"Excuse me, what is it that you are collecting, might I ask," Mad-eye spoke up, having been silent, observing, for quite some time.
"Voldemort's Horcruxes." Rupert answered.
The adults gasped while the teenagers looked back and forth, puzzled.
"What are Horcruxes?" asked Harry.
"They are objects into which a person puts part of their soul . . . it's very dark magic, from what we've been told. Usually there would only be one Horcrux made, as a murder must be committed for the spell to work. Am I correct in that description, Professor Dumbledore," asked Dan, as he turned to face the Headmaster. "Tom Riddle made six using various special objects and an additional one, by accident."
Most in the room were staring at Dan and then turning to Dumbledore for confirmation.
"So, my thoughts on the last one are true, then?" He looked at Dan with sad eyes.
"I'm afraid so, sir, but it works to your advantage, as he doesn't realize what he'd done."
Dumbledore nodded and stood by the piano, deep in thought. Dan looked at Emma, then Tom, then Rupert, who all nodded.
"He needs to know, sir, now, not later, not after you're dead, figuring it out for himself . . . it just isn't fair to all of you."
Dumbledore looked up, shocked, then they could see he was going to argue against it, but Dan held up his hand.
"Not right this minute, but we will get to that bit, whether you think it prudent or not . . .keeping it a secret didn't prove to be such a good idea the first time around, so it's going to be out in the open this time! You told us you wouldn't take very kindly to being exposed as an, and I quote, 'old fool', but you said you need to be totally open about everything, so there it is, straight from you in 2012."
"What the bloody hell are you on about?" Harry was looking back and forth between the two. "It's something to do with me, isn't it? WELL? Isn't it?"
"Yes, Harry, it's about you, about all of you . . . as soon as we get through this first movie, we can start getting essential information out in the open, no matter how shocking or embarrassing or frightening it is; there are facts that must be known! That's why we're here. Don't worry, most of you made it through the first time without knowing everything; it'll be better this time, lives saved, especially, with everyone on the same page, okay?"
"Okay," Harry replied, sitting down next to Ginny, who took his hand and leaned against him. Molly started to say something, but Emma touched her on the shoulder and when Molly turned to look at her, shook her head no, then smiled and nodded, eyebrows raised. Molly's mouth dropped open, then she turned and watched her daughter and Harry, with a whole new expression on her face.
X X X
"You were right, Dan. I found him in the attic. Swears he's been there the whole time." Sirius came storming into the room dragging Kreacher with him, unceremoniously dumping him in the middle of the floor.
"And the locket?"
"You mean that old, heavy thing we found when we were cleaning last August. We couldn't open it so we threw it out." Hermione offered. "Kreacher might not have it."
"Oh, he's got it, alright," Sirius growled. "Now go get that locket and bring it here!"
"Kreacher did not steal any locket. Blood traitor doesn't deserve Master Regulus' things," he grumbled.
"Kreacher, let me tell you what I know about how your Master Regulus died," Dan sat on the floor to be on Kreacher's level.
"Kreacher does not speak to filthy Muggles, shouldn't be in this house, what would Mistress say . . . " he spat, turning runny eyes to Dan.
"He was dragged into the lake in that cave and drowned by 'Inferi', after he drank from the basin, wasn't he?"
There were gasps all around the room as the group watched, spellbound.
"WHAT!?" Sirius exploded. "Drowned! And you didn't do anything to save him?" he yelled, as he made a grab at Kreacher. But Dan was too fast for him, pulling Kreacher into his arms and out of Sirius' reach, as Remus and Tom each caught one of Sirius' arms and pulled him back.
"Kreacher was ordered to leave by Regulus, Sirius. There wasn't anything he could do. Your brother went into that cave to switch lockets and leave Voldemort a message in place of one of his Horcruxes."
"That locket is a Horcrux?!" Mad-eye asked, stumping forward. "Where is it? Where?" He was questioning Kreacher, but his magical blue eye was checking around the house. "There it is, in that cupboard, down in the kitchen."
"NO! It is Kreacher's job to destroy it! Master Regulus ordered Kreacher. Kreacher has tried, for many years, but he cannot. Kreacher is ashamed he cannot do what his Master ordered him to do." The ancient elf collapsed into tears in Dan's lap.
"But that's why we're here, Kreacher, to destroy that locket and avenge your Master." Dan told him softly. Sirius started to say something, but Dan held up his hand and shook his head. "And we know you've gone to talk to Bella and Narcissa, Kreacher."
Kreacher jumped up, looking frantic. "How is you knowing where Kreacher is going. Missy Bella and Missy Cissa is of the Black family. I is just . . . but Master . . . Master told Kreacher to get out . . . I is just doing what Master says . . . the locket, Master's locket . . . it be downstairs . . . Kreacher is not knowing what to think . . . Muggles knowing about Master Regulus and how him is dying . . . but locket must be destroyed . . . but Kreacher can't." He sat down and buried his face in his hands muttering and rocking back and forth.
"Are you certain about the locket, Dan?" Dumbledore asked.
"Oh yeah! That locket causes a whole lot of trouble before it's finally destroyed by Ron, about this time of year, two years from now!"
"Then I say we get rid of it as soon as we can," Ron jumped up. "How'd I do it? I'll destroy it again."
"With Godric Gryffindor's sword, in the Forest of Dean." Emma replied. "When you come back to rejoin Harry and Hermione, who are hiding from the Snatchers."
"With the sword of . . . where? . . . what are Snatchers.?"
"We have got to get started on these movies!" Tom said, as he walked over and picked up 'Order of the Phoenix' DVD box. "It'll explain it all lot quicker than we can."
"As soon as Draco gets here, Tom. We need both Narcissa and Draco before we can go any further." Rupert reminded him.
"I hope Dobby isn't having any trouble," Emma said softly. "Draco has a mind of his own."
"Are we talking about the same Draco Malfoy?" Hermione asked. "He hasn't had an original thought in his head in all the time I've known him; just spouts what his father tells him."
"Actually, he's really smart, funny and very nice," Emma informed her.
"You're joking, right?" Hermione said, looking surprised.
"Well, it is 2012 when I meet him; he's thirty-two, not fifteen and he's obviously grown up, matured and changed. I rather liked him."
"And this is 1995 and he's a git!" Ron laughed. "Just wait until he gets here, you'll see."
"Be that as it may be, you all are going to have to start changing how you perceive other people in this world of yours. Lots of things and lots of attitudes are about to shift around, for the better." Dan added, then he put a hand on Kreacher's shoulder. "Come on Kreacher, let's go get Master Regulus' locket and bring it up here to show everyone."
The old House Elf looked at Dan, started to speak and then nodded, stood up and led the way out the door.
"Emma!" Rupert called across the room. "Find that passage about Kreacher fighting with the Hogwarts House Elves at the Battle and read it to him when they get back."
"Good idea, Rupert." Emma dug deep into her tote and pulled out 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' and started leafing through the last chapters, looking for the right passage.
X X X
As Kreacher was rummaging through his sleeping space, there was a "Pop", announcing the arrival of Draco Malfoy, his mother and Dobby. Draco immediately jerked his hand away from the House Elf and looked around wildly, pulling out his wand. When he spotted Dan, he got an evil grin on his face.
"So, this is all your doing, eh, Potter? Using your godfather as an excuse to kidnap Mother and me?"
"First, I'd like to introduce myself," Dan calmly replied, turning to Narcissa, effectively ignoring Draco. "I'm Daniel Radcliffe, but everyone calls me Dan. I'm very pleased to meet you, Madam Malfoy." He extended his hand and she shook it, looking at him closely.
"You are not Harry Potter, are you?"
"No, I'm a Muggle actor. No scar, no wand, no magic, no glasses; just a good resemblance to Harry."
"What are you talking about Potter," persisted Draco.
"Draco! This is not Harry Potter. He's telling us the truth. Now put your wand away and behave yourself!" she admonished him. Draco sheepishly complied with his mother's orders.
"I believe all your questions will be answered when we join everyone upstairs. After you, Madam Malfoy, Draco. They're gathered in the front parlor."
"If you think you . . . " Draco started.
"Come along, Draco!" Narcissa gave him a look that broached no argument and then turned to lead her son up the stairs. Harry, with Kreacher at his side, clutching his Master's locket and Dobby trotting along behind, followed them.
X X X
Narcissa walked into the front parlor, looked around at the gathered assortment of people with arched eyebrow, until she spotted Sirius. They stood looking at each other for a long moment and then, to the surprise of everyone, Narcissa grinned, shrieked, "Sirius!" and ran into his outstretched arms. He spun her around and then put her on her feet and hugged her, laughing.
"Welcome back to Grimmauld Place, Cissa." He held her at arm's length and gave her an appraising glance. "Still drop dead gorgeous, cousin."
"Of course," she sniffed. "I do have my standards, you scruffy thing, you!" Then she collapsed into his arms again, laughing and hugging him. "I'm so glad to see you! Are you well, have you had any lasting effects from your time in Azkaban, dear?"
"Nah, I'm doing fine, just getting a little antsy, being stuck here, what with the Ministry and the Death Eaters all looking for me."
Then, as if they suddenly became aware they were the center of a fascinated circle of watchers, Sirius and Cissa blushed, dropped their arms and stepped apart. Most of the witnesses to their reunion were smiling, some bordering on giggling fits but Draco was standing there, his mouth wide open, dumbstruck. That is until Tom walked up to him and put his arm around Draco's shoulder.
"Welcome to the party, Draco."
When Draco turned and literally saw himself standing there, he jumped, spun around, saw Rupert, Ron, Emma and Hermione waving at him, the Weasley twins convulsed in silent laughter, Mrs. Weasley, Professors McGonagall and Snape and Headmaster Dumbledore, Remus, Tonks and Mad-eye Moody all looking at him with mild interest, waiting for his reaction.
"What the bloody hell is going on?" he gasped. "Mother, get away from that murderer!" He reached out and grabbed Narcissa's hand, trying to drag her to safety.
"Don't be daft, Draco," she scolded, snatching her hand away and smacking his. "Sirius didn't kill anyone. Peter Pettigrew killed all those Muggles to frame Sirius; he's innocent and you know it!" She turned to Sirius. "The minute Peter turned up with the Dark Lord, I knew you hadn't done anything but try and catch him. He betrayed Lily and James, didn't he?" Sirius nodded.
"MOTHER!" Draco was past shocked. "Lily and James . . .Potter's parents . . .you knew them?"
"Of course I knew them; we were all in the same year . . . Lily was a very sweet girl, although James was a bit of troublemaker, along with Sirius, but we were all cordial. Then everything went very bad, very quickly and I was told which side I was to be on in that war, I had no choice in the matter, married off to Lucius without asking me about how I felt. I tried to stay in touch with Sirius, Lily and James. But Peter . . . I never liked him."
"What?" Draco gasped. His whole world was turning upside down and he was totally lost; everything he'd been told, everything he'd taken as gospel from his father . . . had it been a lie? "I don't know what you're talking about. Father said . . ."
"Your father is a fool and it's about time you hear the facts, dearest," Narcissa said, walking up to him and taking his face in her hands, she looked him straight in the eye. "I'm sure that's why we've been brought here, to learn the whole truth and to help rectify things. Am I correct?" She looked around at the group, who were nodding.
"Correct, Madam Malfoy," said Tom, stepping forward and giving her a kiss on the cheek. "Hi, Mum! Who's the dork?" he asked, with a wink, jerking his thumb at Draco.
Narcissa laughed and then turned to Molly Weasley. "Am I about to learn what it is like to have twin sons?"
"Apparently . . . lots of luck." Molly answered, with a chuckle.
"Good afternoon, Headmaster, Minerva, Severus. Oh, Happy Christmas, every one."
There were greetings of 'Happy Christmas' from all in the room, and then Tonks approached her aunt and received a hug, too.
"Tonks! How are Andromeda and Ted?"
"Just fine, Aunt Cissa. It's good to see you again. Hi, Draco."
"Hello," Draco answered, still in shock at the whole situation. "Mother, I don't understand."
"Neither do I, entirely, dearest, but I believe if we join everyone, listen and learn, we will be the better for it. Now, come and sit over here with me," she replied, as she took him by the hand and pulled him down to sit next to her on a love seat near Tom and Emma.
Tom was scribbling furiously on one of the notepads and Draco's curiosity got the better of him.
"What are you writing?"
"I promised you I'd tell you how your Mum reacted to all this, when we go back. Also the look on your face and your reaction."
"You'd tell me when?" Draco asked, brows furrowed.
"2012 - Hermione and you coordinated this whole get-together!"
"2012! You're joking!"
"Not a bit, you'll see! Oh, I almost forgot; here's your note . . . from you." Draco handed over the envelope with Draco's name, in his own hand writing on the front. Draco turned it over, broke the seal and pulled out the letter and started to read. His eyes got bigger and he started shaking his head.
"What is it, dearest?" his mother asked, seeing the look on his face.
He silently handed the letter to Narcissa, who quickly scanned the contents and then nodded her head, took the envelope from his slack fingers and put the letter back inside. Taking his hand, she patted it, looked over at Tom and smiled, then turned her attention to Dan, who had walked to stand in front of the TV.