The passage quoted is from the American version of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows", Chapter Thirty-six, The Flaw in the Plan, page 734. Harry Potter books are the sole possession of J K Rowling and no copyright infringement was meant or implied by the use of this quoted passage.
Chapter 12: Dobby Delivers
"We're going to watch a special added feature that was produced to go with this DVD set for "Order of the Phoenix. It's called "The Hidden Secrets of Harry Potter." You'll see bits of the movie in it as well as parts of the other four movies, but it's the information that you'll gather, about all the misconceptions you are living with, which will be the eye opener. Then we'll watch 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix'.
"Daniel," Headmaster Dumbledore was looking thoughtfully at the gathered crowd. "Do you think that, perhaps, we should invite Mr. Longbottom and Miss Lovegood to join us? As you explained, time here is stopped, they wouldn't be missed at their homes, but I think, considering what we have been told, they are as much a part of this as anyone here. Don't you agree?"
Dan turned to Emma, Rupert and Tom, eyebrow arched in question.
"I bet Harry and the rest are smacking themselves on the foreheads for not thinking of that," Rupert responded, grinning. "I say we send Dobby to get them."
"So do I," agreed Tom, Emma nodding.
"I think you have a valid point, Headmaster. Dobby?"
"Yes, Mister Dan, sir. Dobby will go and find Master Neville and Missy Luna and be right back."
"Right, off you go, Dobby."
'Pop' Dobby was gone.
X X X
"Harry, I just had an awful thought." Hermione looked over at her friend.
"What?"
"Maybe we should have told Dan and the others to get Neville and Luna involved in this, from the beginning. They really are right there in the thick of it . . . wouldn't it be better to include them in the whole process?"
"Bugger!" "Bloody Hell!" "Oh, dear."
"You're right, Hermione . . . we were so focused on getting Dan and them to believe us, we totally forgot Neville and Luna! Damn! Is there any way of sending a message to them, Draco." Harry turned to his friend, anxiously.
"No, afraid not. . . but if Hermione thought of it, I'll bet either Emma or Headmaster Dumbledore will suggest it. They'll be brought in at some point; it's only logical to include them. Don't fret about it, can't be helped from here, in any case."
"Why did I know you'd say that?" Harry shook his head, looking at his watch; they still had twenty-two minutes to wait.
X X X
"Thanks for the new wand, Gran," Neville leaned over and planted a loud kiss on Mrs. Longbottom's cheek as they exited Ollivander's Wand Shop.
"Foolish boy," she chuckled, waving him away. "Should have had your own years ago. It was my stubborn pride, not your abilities that have held you back, Neville. This should set things right. Now, while we're here in Diagon Alley, do you need anything for the coming school term?"
"As a matter of fact, I would like to stop in Flourish and Blots for a new Herbology book that just came out. Professor Sprout was keen for me to read it."
"Well, I'm heading to Madam Malkin's to pick up a new gown and a few odds and ends, so why don't we meet at the Leaky Cauldron, in an hour, for dinner and then we'll head home," suggested Mrs. Longbottom.
"Excellent! See you there, Gran." Neville smiled, waved and then headed down the cobbled street to the Wizarding bookstore.
Ten minutes later, he was deep in the rows of books in the Herbology section, Professor Sprout's suggested book firmly in hand, perusing the other titles, when he heard a soft 'Pop' behind him. Turning, he saw Dobby standing there, looking up at him with a smile.
"Hello Dobby! What brings you here?"
"I is being sent by Mr. Dan to fetch you to visit Master Harry, Master Neville."
"Mr. Dan? Do I know him, Dobby?"
"No, Master Neville, but you is going to like him, you is."
"Well, I'm supposed to meet Gran for dinner in about three quarters of an hour or so, but I suppose I could pop in with you and say Hello. Just let me pay for this book."
"Yes, Master Neville, Dobby will wait right here."
Returning in just a few moments, his purchased book wrapped in brown paper, Neville approached Dobby with a smile.
"Where are we heading, the Burrow?" he asked, as he held out his hand to the House-elf.
"Not the Burrow, Master Neville, we is going to go and get Miss Luna first, then to where my Harry Potter be staying," replied Dobby, as he grasped Neville's hand and the two of them disappeared with a small 'Pop'.
X X X
"Dan, can we ask you a few questions while we're waiting for Dobby to get back?" asked Fred, as George and he, looking as innocent as they could manage, drew Dan into a corner of the room.
"Oh . . . well, I suppose you can. I can always put off answering you two, if it's too involved in the plot of the story," he answered. "What do you need to know?"
"Are we really going to set off fireworks . . "
"In the school?"
"And take off . . "
"Permanently?"
"Yes, but the movie doesn't show half the mayhem you two cause! You retrieve your brooms from Umbridge's office, after getting caught using the fireworks as a diversion for Harry to use the Floo in Umbridge's office, you put a swamp in one of the corridors, and take off from the front hall after telling Peeves to make Umbridge's life a living hell. And that's just a brief description . . . you should maybe read that part in the book . . . later, after you've seen the movie," Dan advised them.
"Right, we'll do that." Fred nodded.
"Do we open a joke shop?" George asked.
"Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes . . . and it's a bloody marvel! One of the only shops to stay open, once Voldemort comes back . . . Diagon Alley gets a bit run down, except for your shop, biggest, brightest thing on the Alley." Dan laughed at their open mouthed surprise and then they shared grins and high fives.
"Yes!"
"Splendid!"
"And you open a branch in Hogsmeade in the future, which Ron manages after you die, Fred."
Suddenly sobered, the twins seemed to totally deflate.
"Remember, guys, we're going to stop that from happening. So, Ron's going to have to find something else to do, besides make more money for you two!" Dan teased, to shake them out of their sudden mood shift. Smiles lit up their faces as they realized the truth in his words.
"Right, forgot that bit." George admitted, sheepishly.
"By the way . . . just out of curiosity, you understand," Fred started.
"How did you die?" Dan finished his question.
"Ah, basically, yeah. Who killed me?" Fred asked.
"No one. There's as explosion and you're killed by the falling debris - a chunk of Hogwarts. Must have been a payback for all the noise and destruction you inflicted on the old rock pile all those years, huh?" Dan grinned
"Hey, George did just as much as I did!" Fred objected.
"Well, you were the one standing with Percy when it happened; wrong place, wrong time."
"Wait . . . Percy was there?" George asked, stunned.
"Yeah, he comes around and makes a point of being there to fight. Whole family shows up, come to that, Bill, and Charlie included."
"Blimey!" Fred looked at George, who nodded.
X X X
'Pop'
Luna turned around to find Neville and Dobby standing next to the stairs.
"Oh, hello! Happy Christmas Neville, Happy Christmas Dobby!"
"Happy Christmas Luna!" replied Neville, giving her a hug.
"Happy Christmas, Missy Luna . . . we is coming to fetch you to see Master Harry and to meet his new friends, Missy Luna," replied Dobby.
"I'd love to meet them. Will we be gone long? I do have to make dinner for Father."
"You will be gone for no time at all, Missy Luna. You will be right back," Dobby assured her, grasping Neville's hand and holding out his other hand to Luna.
"Alright then," Luna agreed, taking Dobby's hand. "Ready when you are, Sir."
Dobby looked up at Neville. "Sir. She called Dobby Sir. I likes this one."
'Pop'
X X X
"Kreacher, could you come here a minute, I have something I wish you to hear, about yourself." Emma smiled at the ancient House Elf, who hesitated, then approached her, still reticent to be dealing one-on-one with a Muggle.
"Yes, Miss. Kreacher is listening," he rasped, ducking his head to avoid looking at her.
"This is the part of the climax of the Battle of Hogwarts, almost the end of the seventh book." Emma opened her copy of "DeathlyHallows" and started to read. Everyone quieted down and listened eagerly.
X
The centaurs Bane, Ronan and Magorian burst into the hall with a great clatter of hooves, as behind Harry the door that led to the kitchens was blasted off its hinges.
The house-elves of Hogwarts swarmed into the entrance hall, screaming and waving knives and cleavers, and at their head, the locket of Regulus Black bouncing on his chest, was Kreacher, his bullfrog's voice audible even above this din, "Fight! Fight! Fight for my Master, defender of house-elves! Fight the Dark Lord in the name of brave Regulus! Fight!"
They were hacking and stabbing at the ankles and shins of Death Eaters, their tiny faces alive with malice, and everywhere Harry looked Death Eaters were folding under the sheer weight of numbers, overcome by spells, dragging arrows from wounds, stabbed in the leg by elves or else simply attempting to escape, but swallowed by the oncoming horde.
X
Kreacher looked up at Emma, tears in his eyes. "Is Kreacher really fighting at Hogwarts, Miss? Be this the truth? For my Master Regulus?"
"Indeed you do, Kreacher, except, now we're trying to avoid a big battle and save some lives, but we are still going to help you to avenge your master Regulus." Emma assured him.
"Then Kreacher is proud to serve Master Harry and his friends," replied the old elf, bowing to the assembled group.
"Blimey!" was all that Sirius could think to say, which earned him a smile from Remus.
"House-elf got your tongue, Black?" sneered Severus. However, when Sirius swung around to give a retort, he was greeted with a genuine smile from his old foe. "Oh, this is priceless . . . I should have a camera, to save this moment for posterity." chuckled Snape.
Sirius eyes opened even wider when he realized Severus was actually laughing at the situation, and not him. Remus snickered, clapped Sirius on the back and then the three old foes dissolved into laughter.
"We're making progress, Hermione whispered to Emma, who smiled and nodded.
X X X
'Pop'
"Hey guys!" Neville smiled at the assembled crowd, looking around.
"Hey Neville!" chorused the Hogwarts students.
"Hello everyone." Luna turned and looked at the doubles of her friends. "You must be the reason we're here."
"Blimey!" Neville exclaimed as Dan and Harry approached.
"Neville, Luna, I'd like to introduce Dan Radcliffe. He's a Muggle actor who plays me in the movies the Muggles are going to make about my time at Hogwarts."
Neville stood there, properly gob smacked, but extended his hand to Dan.
"Hello, Neville. Did you get your new wand today?"
"Ah, yeah . . . how?"
"Dan suggested I give your Gran a hint to get you a new wand, Neville," Harry explained.
"You're a good wizard, Neville, but with your own wand, you'll be a great wizard!" Dan grinned at Neville, who looked slightly confused, but then smiled.
"It does feel better than Dad's, so maybe I'll get better with my spell work."
"That's the ticket!" Harry patted Neville on the shoulder, laughing.
Luna had walked over to where Emma and Tom were standing, looking at them, tilting her head.
"Hello, Luna. I'm Emma and this is Tom," Emma introduced herself, extending her hand.
"You look almost identical to Hermione and Draco, except for your hair, of course. Did you change that when you pretended to be them?"
"Yes; mine used to be long like Hermione's and Tom's was dyed blond."
"Do I have someone being me?" Luna asked.
Tom nodded his head. "Indeed you do; lovely girl named Evanna Lynch."
"I like that name. Did she have to change her appearance?" Luna wondered.
"No, she was a natural . . . she got the part out of over 15,000 girls who wanted to be you . . . she was just . . . you!" Emma laughed.
"Why isn't she here?"
"Good question," Tom admitted. "She would probably have come, but she's working on another film and couldn't join us . . . and Matthew Lewis, who plays Neville, was out of town, too, unfortunately."
"Oh. . . . well, tell them I said hello, won't you, when you see them?"
"I'll make a special point of it!" Emma promised, as Luna smiled and walked over to say hello to Ginny.
Tom leaned over to Emma and whispered. "You realize we won't remember any of this when we go back, so that promise will never be fulfilled."
"I know, but if I could, I would." Emma frowned, and then sighed. "Pity, really. Oh well."
X X X
"Alright everyone," Rupert stood in front of the TV and called for attention. "Neville, Luna, I know this is a bit of a shock, but in 2012 Harry, Ron, Hermione and Draco sent us back to now, to help you all get ahead of the game, so to speak, when it comes to defeating Voldemort."
"But if they are alive in 2012, why bother?" Neville asked. "That means Voldemort is dead, doesn't it?"
"Yes, Harry does kill him, at the Battle of Hogwarts . . . you kill Nagini with the sword of Godric Gryffindor, come to that . . . and we all get on with our lives, but," Dan paused and took a deep breath. "Too many people died, between now and then and we want to try and stop that from happening. We're going to show you the movies to see the next two and a half years, then fill in the blanks, as the films do leave out some events. We have to make some strategic plans and there's still a lot of danger ahead for all of you, but I think we have a big advantage over old Tom."
"I've heard of but never seen a Muggle movie; don't we have to go somewhere?" Neville asked.
"I think this is the movie, Neville," answered Luna, holding up one of the DVD cases. Turning, she ran her hand over the edge of the TV. "Is this what we'll use to see the movie?"
"Correct, Miss Lovegood! Perhaps you and Mr. Longbottom would like to sit down and get comfortable." Albus chuckled, waving his wand and making a loveseat appear, where Neville and Luna settled themselves.
"Headmaster, could you start the "Time Stopper" now, please,?" Dan asked and then leaned over and quickly explained to the about the "Time Stopper" to Neville and Luna.
"Of course, dear boy," replied Albus, not realizing he'd used his favorite phrase for Harry, making both Harry and Dan smile, shooting each other a look. The Headmaster stood, walked over to the piano and mumbled a few words, watching the Time Turner start to whirl.
"We're watching this short special first, to kind of get everyone on the same page as far as what's been in the movies. So, without further ado . . . " Tom hit the play button.
"This could get some surprising reactions . . . we might not even get to the movie," Emma whispered, as the TV screen came to life, with gasps from the Wizarding watchers, except for Hermione, Harry and Tonks, who had seen movies and/or the telly before. But a tense silence soon settled over the room as the story of films were dissected and secrets revealed.
X X X
As Tom stopped the DVD, Dan stood and turned to Sirius. "Could you turn up the lights, please, Sirius?"
Sirius glanced at Dan, a rather stunned look on his face, but then seemed to snap out of his musings. "Right. Lights . . . of course." He waved his wand and suddenly everyone could see that, for the most part, they were all feeling the same reactions to what they'd seen; awe, disbelief, worry, anger and most of all, curiosity about what they would see in the film as a whole, instead of brief flashes of scenes and what the following movies would reveal..
Tom turned and saw Draco slumped down on the sofa next to his mother, trying to blend into the upholstery, from the look of him. Shaking his head, Tom walked over to Dan and whispered in his ear. After taking a peak over Tom's shoulder, he looked at his friend and nodded.
"Okay, I know that was a rather intense look at Harry's life and his thought processes and what a lack of communication has done to him, mentally." Dan looked at the adults, then the younger members of the group. "I hope you're starting to see, especially you, Headmaster, how much of a mental burden this is becoming for Harry. AND, he's not the only one in this room who is having a huge mental awakening, isn't that right, Draco?"
Draco started, then blushed. He shook his head as if he didn't want to say anything, but his mother patted him on the shoulder and urged him to reply, which he did, reluctantly. "All I heard were insults being thrown around about Death Eaters, my father, Slytherins in general and me in particular."
"But, up to this point, they have been valid observations; although biased, of what's been going on in Harry's and your life. As was stated, this is all from Harry's viewpoint and one of the first things he was told, by Hagrid, was that there wasn't a bad Wizard who hadn't been in Slytherin. Not that he wouldn't have given any Slytherin, who was friendly, a bit of slack, but in general, all the houses hold those feelings to each other, just some more than others. HOWEVER, that is why the DA works; three out of the four houses drop the crap and work together, as you will see in the movie, even more than you already know from your meetings. And now that Neville has his own wand, he should do splendidly," Dan added.
"SO . . . you want me to join your little group, do you," asked Draco sarcastically, thinking he knew the answer would be negative . . . as if he'd even consider joining.
"Yes, actually." Tom replied, shocking Draco. "But you're going to be involved in a whole different way, as we will explain after we watch the movies."
"Movies? Just how long is this going to take? Father won't be pleased we left without his permission, as it is, invite or no!" Draco burst out.
"Darling, you really must pay attention to what's being said . . . They've stopped time, somehow, we won't be missed at all," his mother told him, with a shake of her head. "Am I correct?"
"Yes, Cissa, you're out of reach of anyone, here, now." Sirius assured her.
"Draco's insecurities aside, what we want you all to realize is that what you will see in these movies will be what happened in your future, but it's also what can be changed. For example, we already know that Professor Dumbledore will retrieve the Gaunt ring, but you, Headmaster, should also know not to put it on, no matter how tempting it is, so as to avoid the curse which would have killed you, even if things hadn't happened as they did." Seeing the confused looks, Dan continued, after smiling to himself. "You'll understand, just keep that in mind. We also know you and Harry won't have to try and get in and out of that cave, to get the locket . . . we have it." Dumbledore nodded his head, even though the rest were still a bit lost.
"Dan?" Harry was looking perplexed. "Are you saying that we will be able to retrieve all the Horcruxes and destroy them, making Voldemort vulnerable enough for me to defeat him in the end?"
"Yes and no . . . I hate to put you off, not giving you a complete answer, but after this movie, we'll get into a deeper discussion of the Horcruxes: what and where they are and how we can destroy them . . . which isn't easy, by the way. This will save you a lot of mental anguish and worry, which almost crippled you, Harry, and put you and your friends in jeopardy, more than once, unnecessarily. Just believe us when we tell you that we know this will work, in the end."