Master Xander

Chapter Twenty-Five

Hogwarts

Professor McGonagall was in what could only be described as a state of shock. She kept telling herself that what she just saw was only a muggle colorized movie, but like nothing she'd ever seen before. The imagery was magnificent and that disturbed her. Non-magicals, as Professor Alex called them, shouldn't be incapable of such things. But that was a secondary concern.

It was only a fantasy, but that ring! Even the idea of such an evil made her shiver. It was a horcrux, but like none she had heard of before. Throughout the movie, one thing was obvious to her. The ring corrupted and seduced the wearer in order to make the bearer do its bidding, slow but inevitability. The ring wanted to reunite with its master, as its master wanted to be reunited with it. From what little she understood about such dark items, the safety of its master was of more concerned rather than reuniting with him or her. Yes, this was something different.

However, what surprised and intrigued her more was the Elvish queen's reaction to it when that poor muggle no, no-mage Hobbit, offered it to her. The change was frightening on a visceral level, and it took everything she had not to pull out her wand in self-defense.

It was only a movie, only the imagination of some ho-mages who knew more than they should have about the existence of magic!

Or was it?

Her mind raced. This so-called 'movie' looked more like an ancient history lesson than anything else, and the more she thought about it, the more it made sense. And that thought frightened her even more. If this was history, why didn't she know anything whatsoever about this?

She had far too many questions about this… this spectacle that required answering after the children left.

The lights were on, and the movie credits were showing. The audience was clapping and yelling. A small amount of popcorn flew through the air. The students were filling out now. Several were at the food stand, buying last-minute snacks and talking about what they'd seen.

Harry was beside himself. He was having a great time, so much that he had almost forgotten the pickle he was in. For the moment, not one of his friends or his fellow students were thinking about the Goblet of Fire. He was happy and relieved for now.

Hermione was standing next to him, waiting to get some popcorn and a couple of other snacks, when she began frowning.

"What's wrong?" he asked her.

She looked at him. "This is a class and we're going to have to take a test on what we've seen." Her words caught his attention, and those around her. "I've talked to sever other students and we agree." She gulped. The young woman turned to Professor Harris. "We request to see the movie once again so we can get a better understanding of what we've seen, to get a better perspective for our class reports."

Many of the students had stopped doing whatever it was they were doing and started listening to what Hermione was saying.

Alex refrained from smirking. So, they wanted to see the movie again. "Class," he said, getting everyone's attention. "It has been brought to my attention that some of you want to see the movie again for educational purposes. How many of you want to see the movie again?"

Almost everyone's hand rose. Alex looked stern, thinking about what his students had asked for a few moments. Finally, he spoke. "As you wish," he said, and the students cheered.

"I will set up another day in the immediate future for a re-showing of the Fellowship of the Ring. But it may not be the same for you as this night appeared to have been. You won't be required to wear no-mage clothing. No snacks." There were moans at that pronouncement, which made Alex smile. "And I want a two pages summary report on the movie at the end of next week. I want it on paper, not parchment. Two pages only."

He glared at the bushy-haired girl in front of him. "More than that, I will fail you. Regular handwriting, not that micro script you're thinking about right now. 1s that clear?"

"Yes, sir."

The students looked less than happy, and he relented. "On second thought," he slowly told them while appearing deep in thought. "Since this is a learning experience on no-mage culture and experiences, you can wear your no-mage clothes and I will provide the food again, so bring money. And once more thing," he added. "Some of you left popcorn in my classroom on the seats and floor. I expect this to never happen again, or I will make you clean it up the old-fashioned way, by non-magical broom. And you can bring a friend. The requirements do not extend to them since they are visitors to our class. I will show the movie Friday after classes and after dinner."

Cheers erupted. It also gave them time to perform detailed searches on the ant invasion. Now that they'd seen the professor's memory, a renewed dedication by the students would commence. Ant research! Those giant insects didn't have a chance at their secrets.

Then Professor Harris threw in the kicker. "Just because you've seen this movie doesn't mean that you will see the other five. After all, I can just give you a quick summary of what happened to Frodo, and his uncle Bilbo before him."

Both of the instructors were treated to some of the most horrified wailing they'd experienced in a long time.

Ceraine just smiled and whispered to him, "you are so evil sometimes, you know?"

He just smirked. "Sometimes, the most beloved teachers usually are."

With that, he prepared for the onslaught.

Professor McGonagall wasn't even close to recovering from what she'd seen and heard. And muggles, or no-mages, knew about this?

Too many things matched and too many things in the movie were wrong. She didn't know what to, and it gnawed at the core of her being. She knew magical history. If this wasn't a history unknown to the Wizarding World, then what was it?

She needed to know, and that was when she heard that there were other movies, no-mage movies of the history of the Ring and everything it implied. Walking towards Alex, she looked as stern as she could manage.

"Professor Harris, Professor Delane, we need to speak." Her Scottish brogue was very prominent.

"Shall we go to my office?" suggested Alex.

"That is acceptable." the stern woman responded quickly.

The instant the door to Alex's door closed, the assistant headteacher immediately placed a silencing spell around the room. The woman was furious and very frightened. She tried to appear strong, but in the presence of these two Americans, she felt frightened. She wasn't frightened by them as much as by what they would reveal.

"What was that?" she demanded.

Alex smiled and then turned serious. "Sometimes, a movie is just a movie," Alex said. "But you don't believe that, do you?"

For an instant, her icy demeanor cracked. "If it's just a movie, then the muggles know far too much." She struggled not to point her wand at the two Americans. "It may only be a movie, a product of someone's imagination, but." And here she paused, uncertain how to express herself. "That ring was a horcrux. No-mages should never have such knowledge." The older woman glared at both of them. "It cannot be a coincidence." She stared at Ceraine. "When I look at you, Professor Delane, any thoughts of this movie being a product of someone's imagination become a lie. You look like her, like them, one of the High Elves in that movie. I demand to know what is going on! Was that a movie, or was it historical fact the Wizarding world is unaware of?" Again, she began looking at them in a new and somewhat frightening light. "Who are you people?"

"Professor McGonagall," Ceraine began. "You're the second highest authority in this school." She didn't need to look at the older woman because they all knew it was true. "The headmaster hasn't told you who we are?"
Minerva huffed. "I wasn't made aware of who you really are," she admitted. "Dumbledore apparently didn't think it was necessary to reveal the truth to me. Whatever the truth is."

"And that is his problem," Ceraine responded. "He keeps too many secrets to himself. And I understand his reasoning. But his need to control the events around him causes more damage than he expects. He should have told you something, but he's kept his mouth shut because of some concept of the greater good."

"Greater good?" she asked. "Exactly what does that mean?"

"That means," Alex said, "he has a master plan, a long-term one, to fight your dark lord. And because he tends to act like an evil chess master. He thinks he is the ultimate Commander-in-Chief who will lead his people to victory. As for his long-term plans, he won't dare reveal them for fear of said plans being discovered by the enemy and everything would fall apart."

"Yes," agreed Ceraine. "He is so afraid of Voldemort winning, that he has convinced himself that only he can ultimately defeat him. Hence, the plan, whatever that is."

The older woman winced. "Please don't say that name," she implored. "Besides, he is dead, killed by the-boy-who-lived. We," and she stressed the word, "are worried about his followers and what they might do in his name."

"That's not exactly true," Alex told her. "There are things you don't know because Dumbledore hasn't told you, as I keep saying. I've spoken to Mister Ron Weasley and Miss Granger about what has happened in their years here. Did you know about the secret chamber or the Philosopher's stone incidents?"

The woman frowned. "I am unfamiliar with the details other than that Mister potter was involved and received some minor injuries. The children didn't tell me any details and when I asked Albus about it." She shook her head in exasperation, something she did often when it came to the headmaster explaining anything to her. "He more or less brushed it off."

"And you didn't press for more information?"

"Dumbledore took care of it. The children were safe, and everything was well at Hogwarts." Now she appeared confused. "What is it I need to know?"

"Quite a bit," Alex said. "Professor Dumbledore is preparing to fight a war against your dark lord." He held his hands up to keep her from arguing while he quickly continued. "Whether he is coming back, being resurrected somehow, or that there is someone who will imitate him and take his place, I don't know. But Albus believes it and the increased Death Eater activity helps to confirm this. I think Harry is involved somehow in Albus's plans. The reason I believe this is that Harry seems to be the center of everything that has happened at Hogwarts lately, including this latest situation, with his name being put into the Goblet of Fire. We all know he didn't do it, which means someone placed a child's name into that contest, knowing that he could well be killed! Harry is in the middle of this and so is Hogwarts. Anything that happens, this school will be in the center of it all."

Minerva glared at him in disbelief. "Surely you are jesting," she all but growled. "This is a place for children, not the epicenter for a war!"

"It's happened before," Alex countered. "My old high school comes to mind. But that's not important. What is, is our original subject. You wanted to know who we are and why we are here. Dumbledore didn't tell you and he has suggested on several occasions that we maintain our secrecy. That won't happen," he said. "I've learned that keeping too many secrets will harm the same people he is trying to protect. Now, don't get me wrong. Secrets are important, but not if it cripples the very people they protected."

"Our first secret is that Dumbledore is so focused on He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, that he has not even bothered to tell you that there are others in the process of conquering this world for the same reason as What's-His-Name. They're in the background, just waiting for your dark lord to make us move. Whatever is left standing, they intend to take over. He hasn't told you that there are other magicals, non-wand wavers included, that are preparing to fight back. Now, I understand that he can only fight one war at a time, but not telling you people anything does not protect you. It makes you vulnerable, and it stifles your intelligence gathering abilities beneficial to your cause. I understand why he is doing it. Security is important, but he is too focused on one thing and leaving himself wide opened, even though he knows it."

Minerva was reeling. "You're speaking of a wizarding world war."

"It's worse than that, Professor," Ceraine grimaced. "The time has come for you to learn what your boss wants to keep from you."

"It's a whole different world," Alex 'Xander' Harris told her. "Come with us to our home. We have to talk."