Chapter 13 : Popcorn! We need popcorn!

"The movie is only about two and a half hours, but it goes quickly," Emma informed them.

"Wait a minute!" Tom looked around. "We're missing something."

"What? Everyone has their stuff for making notes," asked Rupert.

"Popcorn! We need Popcorn! No self respecting Muggle watches a movie without a bucket of popcorn to munch on during the show!"

"Oh for heaven sakes, Tom! This is serious! We don't have time for popcorn!" Emma scolded.

"No, no, no! I'm sorry! I refuse to sit through a movie without popcorn, woman! It's against the Muggle movie code!"

"There's no such thing and you know it, Tom Felton! Stop being foolish!"

"Foolish?! FOOLISH! " Tom looked around and saw Draco watching this exchange between his look-alike and the double of Granger. "Hey, back me up, here, Draco! Don't you want something to munch on while you watch your life unfold!?"

"What's popcorn?" Draco looked puzzled.

"What's pop . . .? . . . great . . . something else to explain! I give up, start the movie!" Tom flopped down on the sofa next to Emma and covered his face with his hands, pretending to sob. Emma shook her head and patted him on his thigh.

"There, there. . . it'll be okay, Tom . . . you'll get over the shock . . . think of the fun you'll have explaining it all later." Emma whispered, as Rupert inserted the DVD. "We'll make some for watching the other movies, although I think they'll be too engrossed to remember to munch on it, come to that."

"You're probably right, but I still want some." Tom moped, then grinned at Emma, who shook her head.

"Emma has given each of you a notebook and pen, so you can write down any questions you have and we will answer them afterward. We will also discuss what wasn't in the movie and what was changed for the movie. Remember, you've already lived through the first half, so ignore those inconsistencies and concentrate on the second half!" Dan advised everyone, as the movie started. "Sirius, could you put out the lights, please?" Dan concluded, sitting down in an armchair next to Tom and Emma.

X X X

"I just thought of something." Hermione spoke up, breaking the silence in the living room. "Ginny is right, if Sirius survives, this is going to be his home . . . we'll have to stand out in the hall to avoid winding up stuck in the middle of a table or something, won't we ?. . . unless . . since we know this is going on, we could rearrange his furniture to the exact position that this furniture is located, then we can just relax . . . but then, where will Sirius be? Here with us or somewhere else?"

"Sirius . . . miss something this exciting? Think Hermione, he will be right here with us! And we'll have a few minutes to get everything positioned for the return of the 'Time Travelers'. I gave us about 5 minutes advance warning of their return, when our new memories will kick in." Draco informed her. "SO, when that happens, things might start changing around here, but we'll be able to prepare for their return."

"Was I over thinking again?" Hermione blushed.

"A bit," Ron replied.

"But doesn't she always? I worry when she doesn't go over the details at least two, three . . . four times," Draco replied. "That's not a bad thing, just occasionally annoying," he added, ducking a pillow aimed at his head.

"Putz!" Hermione muttered.

X X X

The credits were rolling to complete silence; nobody said a word as the screen went back to the main menu and Dan turned off the TV & DVD. Sirius silently waved his wand, causing the wall sconces to spring to life.

"Right." Emma stood and looked around the living room of #12 . . . and saw a lot of stunned, sad, thoughtful, shocked, grief-stricken faces. "Let's all take a break, stretch our legs, use the loo, whatever, then we'll meet downstairs for dinner; Kreacher should have everything ready . . . but hold your questions and any discussions until we all gather at the table . . . as it will save time and repetition."

"Should we bring our notes?" Neville asked. "I have quite a few."

"Certainly, bring your notes and we'll talk after dinner . . . however," Dan informed them as they stood and groaningly stretched themselves. "We ARE going to separate into groups and discuss some specific parts afterward."

"We're not having a quiz, are we?" smirked George.

"That'd be bloody unfair," added Fred.

"No . . . no quiz, but points for remembering specific details and having your hand up first to answer," Emma teased them, as she walked by. "Draco, Madam Malfoy, could you come with me please?"

"Certainly, Miss Watson," answered Narcissa. "Draco." Draco started to protest but one quelling look from his mother and his mouth snapped shut, his hands were jammed into his pockets and he slouched after them, a sullen look on his face.

Emma led the way to the back parlor and held the door as Narcissa and then Draco entered. Closing it, she turned, faced the two Malfoys and taking a deep breath, she started.

"Madam Malfoy . . "

"Narcissa, please . . .Emma."

"Oh, thank you . . .Narcissa, I saw when you were greeting Sirius that you're a bit ahead of the game as far as convincing you of our purpose for being here. I just want you to know that it is your bravery alone that turns the tide of the Battle of Hogwarts and that saves your family from total ruin."

"Oh, my, what happens?" Narcissa's eyes had gotten wide at Emma's words.

"It will be easier to watch the movies than to try and explain, just know that in the movie you lie, boldface, to Voldemort and then you see your chance and you walk away, hand in hand with Draco, Lucius following. In the book you and your husband run through the battle, not taking part in any of it, just trying to find Draco."

"But I saw that Lucius was caught at the Ministry." Narcissa waited, eyebrow raised.

"Yes, he and the other Death Eaters were put in Azkaban. That's seen in the start of the next movie . . .which is when it all starts going wrong for you two."

"When . . .how does Lucius get out?" Narcissa asked.

"Voldemort gets them all released, again, that's coming up later in the movies," Emma told her. "Although I think Lucius comes to believe he'd have been better off in Azkaban than out . . . Either way, you all survive and Draco . . ." She turned to look at the sullen boy. "You realize, early in the next movie, that you, too, were wrong in following Voldemort, but you're caught up in his web and can't see a way out. However, you also do a very brave thing, lying to Bella, not admitting you know who Harry is when he, Ron and Hermione are dragged to Malfoy Manor by the Snatchers. You really want out, but don't know how you can do that without your whole family being slaughtered. He threatens to kill you all if you don't do what he wants you to do for him at Hogwarts . . . kill Albus Dumbledore."

"Do I . . . kill him?" Draco whispered.

"No . . . you simply can't do it . . . Professor Snape kills him."

"WHAT!?" Both Narcissa and Draco gasped.

"It was planned; Albus was dying of both a curse and poison. You'll understand after the next movie."

"Why are you and your friends doing this?" Narcissa asked. "Being Muggles, aren't you afraid to be here?"

"Not afraid, but well aware of the danger. However, Harry, Ron, Hermione and especially you, Draco, had thought all of this out very thoroughly before even approaching us. We're as safe as we can be, considering we are Muggles and mostly helpless against magic. You were very adamant about our safety, Draco, when we were being told about this plan of yours and Hermione's," Emma added.

"I was . . .am . . .will be?" Draco was shocked.

Emma smiled and nodded. "You and Harry are really good friends, Ron and Hermione are, too. You all come out of this with a better understanding of what friendship really means," explained Emma, putting a hand on Draco's arm.

Draco looked at this beautiful girl, standing there smiling at him. "You really did look like Gran . . . Hermione . . . in that movie, especially with your hair long . . . not that I don't like it short, it's just I'm used to the long hair . . . I mean . . . " he stumbled to a stop, his cheeks flushed.

"I don't believe it! My son, totally tongue-tied, when speaking about a girl he's known for five years!" Narcissa was almost giggling, until Draco shot her a nasty look. "Sorry dear, I just find it amusing . . . what happened to your well rehearsed, suave self?"

"AH, but I'm not Hermione, I'm not even a 'Mudblood' . . . I'm a Muggle through and through and he has NO experience dealing with Muggle girls, do you Draco?"

"No, I don't . . . why would I?"

"Ah, why indeed?" Narcissa injected. "But Emma doesn't have a problem conversing with us: pure blood, half-blood, Muggle born, she seems to not make a differentiation . . . why should we?"

"But Muggles don't know about magic and blood status," argued Draco.

"Draco, there are SO many prejudices in the Muggle world, it makes you all look like the local "Welcome Wagon" committee," giggled Emma. "Never mind," she added, seeing the quizzical look on both of their faces. "Let's just say there are people who have preconceived and, unfortunately, incorrect impressions and ingrained prejudices in both of our worlds. The sooner we get past that stupidity the better off we'll all be in this war."

"I guess I should at least listen to what you all have to say and show us, before I decide what I will do," he admitted, a bit of a smile playing across his face. "I really don't like where my life is leading, according to that movie, so perhaps I can learn what to do differently."

"You haven't seen anything yet, Draco, just to warn you." Emma reached out and patted his arm. "You either, Narcissa. The next movie, especially, will be a real rough one for you two. Just to give you a bit of fair warning. Lucius is in Azkaban for the whole year and you two are at the mercy of Bella and Voldemort."

"Guess I'd better take notes during the next one then, huh? This is worse than school!" Draco grumbled, but then snorted and smiled at Emma.

"We Muggles have a saying, Draco . . . 'Couldn't hurt . . .might help' . . . so, let's go down to dinner and you'll see what I mean as we work our way through all of this." responded Emma, as she opened the door to the hall. "By the way, your future self is very well versed at being suave; you flirted with me outrageously at Dan's house and here at Harry's before we came back . . . and you're a married man AND a father!"

"I'm a GRANDMOTHER! I'm not ready for THAT!" Narcissa laughed, putting her arm around Draco's shoulder and kissing him on the cheek. "Don't rush into marriage this time around, dear; I'm too young to be bouncing grandbabies on my knee!"

"Who do I marry?" Draco stopped and turned to look at Emma.

"Astoria Greengrass."

"But she's Goyle's girlfriend . . . I don't steal her away from him, do I? . . . not my best mate!?"

"Gregory dies at the Battle, Draco," Emma replied in a small voice. "You and Astoria get together later. But, if this works out, Gregory won't die . . . maybe you'll be married to someone else! We'll just have to let that part of your future fate do as it pleases, won't we?"

"Yes, I guess so," replied Draco, who turned and wandered off toward the stairs.

"Then I won't have a grandchild?" Narcissa mused.

"Narcissa, this is years in the future . . . after we change things, you might not have the one that's there, now, in 2012, but then again, you might have three! You all will just have to go forward and take what comes!" Emma linked her arm in Narcissa's. "Draco turns out to be a really nice fellow, as far as I could tell, only having talked to him for a couple of hours, back in 2012, but he's still a handsome flirt, so THAT won't change!"

"Merlin, I should hope not . . . then we really would have something to worry about, wouldn't we?"

Laughing, the Muggle and the Pureblood Witch descended the stairs, arm in arm, to join the others.

X X X

"You're getting pretty chummy with Draco and Narcissa," Tom whispered in Emma's ear as he pushed in her chair, before sitting down beside her at the noisy table.

"I was just trying to make it a bit easier for him to go through the next movie, letting him know it not going to be pretty, but knowing he survives might help a bit," she leaned over and answered.

"Well, he's keeping an eye on you," noted Tom, as he glanced past Emma and saw Draco watching them talk.

"He probably has a hard time, considering his history with Hermione, watching you and I being so friendly with each other. It must be very weird."

"Either that, or he has a crush on you," suggested Tom, with a Slytherin worthy smirk.

"Oh, don't be ridiculous, Tom. He doesn't know me at all . . . he only knows, or thinks he knows, Hermione." Emma swept her gaze casually around the table and saw that, indeed, Draco was staring at her. She gave him a small smile and turned to Fred - or was it George - who was sitting on her other side.

"I think that you and your brother really need to go through the book and get the whole story on how you two make your brilliant exit from Hogwarts . . . it really does sound like a lot of fun, except for Dolores and Mr. Filtch, of course."

"Oh, we were taking notes like crazy and we'll get every detail out of the books before you leave. This will be our best yet!"

"Don't I know it . . . been there, seen it!" Emma laughed. "You wouldn't happen to have a Canary Cream with you? I've been dying to try one!"

"A Muggle after my own heart! I think I'm in love!" George - or was it Fred - swooned in his chair, setting Emma off in a fit of giggles.

X X X

Surprisingly, dinner passed without any discussion of the content of the movie, except for questions about how the special effects were done, how long it took to film and how many people actually are involved in making the movies: camera operators, staging crews, costumes, props, sets, remote shooting, CGI and post production.

Then the world wide acceptance of Harry Potter's stories and J.K. Rowling were discussed. Also, there were lots of questions about other acting projects Emma, Rupert, Dan and Tom had done, besides the Harry Potter movies. Dan's stage work was especially interesting to those around the table, as he'd been in two Broadway productions besides his London performances.

Dan and Harry had insisted that Dobby and Kreacher sit and eat with the rest, as soon as they finished putting the meal on the table; Dobby at one end of the long table, Kreacher at the other. Kreacher was especially reluctant to be seated at the table, but Dobby was loving every minute of this experience. Tonks got Kreacher to relax a bit, asking him to reminisce about when her mother was a little girl, visiting with her sisters, Bella and Narcissa to see their cousins, Sirius and Regulus, asking him for little gossipy tidbits about her Mum.

But after dessert, everyone knew the time had come to get down to some serious discussions about what was coming in the next few months. Dan stood and addressed the group.

"Right. Here's how we're going to do this. Sirius, Remus, Severus, Albus, Harry and I are going to meet in the back parlor.

"Rupert, Minerva, Draco, Molly, Narcissa, Kreacher and Dobby are going to stay down here to talk strategy about a plan we hatched.

"Luna, Neville, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Mad-Eye, Tonks and Emma are going back to the front parlor to discuss the Ministry scenes and how the book differs from what we saw in the movie.

"Fred, George and Tom can use one of the bedrooms to go over the twins contributions at Hogwarts"

"Wicked!" they both agreed, grinning, turning to Tom, who rolled his eyes.

Emma stood. "My group, come with me, we have a fair bit to cover. Oh, first, could someone make three copies of this book for me, as all of the groups will need it for reference."

Laying the book on the table she watched as Minerva did the honors.

"I just love magic! Thank you, Minerva!" Emma handed a copy to Dan, Rupert and Tom. "Lots of luck with those two," she giggled, seeing Fred and George eyeing the paperback.

"Remind me, exactly, how I got this assignment?" Tom mumbled.

"Innate Slytherin sneakiness will be a great help to them, remember?"

"AH! . . .well . . . moving right along . . . Okay you two, time to discover your future."