The Real Story of Harry Potter

Chapter Nine: Whisperings and Allies

Two hours later, we were dressed, fed, and back in court. Hermione and I sat at our table; the others were in the audience. Voldemort-as-Dumbledore was sitting in the judge's chair. Just as he was about to bang the gavel to start court, Hermione stood up. "Your Honor?"

"Yes?"

"We propose to settle outside of court."

Voldemort's cheek twitched ever so slightly, but he said, "Very well. I will agree if the charge-bringers do."

Sirius rose. "I agree."

"So do I," said Percy, with a puzzled look on his face.

"I agree," said Filch, who I hadn't seen in court before, "but we are settling this."

"I'm with Filch," said Snape, tossing his hair over his shoulder. I heard several thuds as five witches hit the floor in a dead faint.

"I don't," said a cold, drawling voice from behind me. I turned. Sure enough, it was Malfoy. "How can I assure she'll be reasonable without a court overseeing this? And she has broken the law."

"Wait!" called a tiny voice from the back of the courtroom. Everyone turned and looked at Dobby. He ran down the center aisle and pulled on the hem of Malfoy's robe.

"What?" asked Malfoy, irritated.

"Former Master Draco must bend down so Dobby can whisper in his ear, sir!"

With a look I usually associate with the looks of tortured saints in stained glass windows, Malfoy bent down. As Dobby whispered, his look grew more and more scared. When Dobby finished, Malfoy stood up and said, fearfully, "You wouldn't."

"Oh, but Dobby would, sir."

Malfoy blanched, looked at Voldemort, and said, "All right. I'll settle out of court."

I nudged Hermione. She shrugged.

"All right. I'll leave it to you to settle on your own. Court is now dismissed." He banged the gavel.

I looked around the courtroom. McGonagall looked dissapointed that she couldn't argue in court any more. Three of the witches who had fainted had been revived. Malfoy's face was still as white as Dumbledore's beard. Suddenly, an owl flew in and landed on McGonagall's hand. I recognized it as one of the owls we had sent to the witches and wizards about the Diagaon Alley meeting. She opened the letter, read it, looked puzzled, and gathered up her things.

The night before, when Hermione and I had been hiding in her dormitory and hoping that by some miracle we would never have to look Remus and Sirius in the eye again, Ron and Harry had sent out the owls. The meeting was set for two o'clock that day.

"Could someone please explain what's going on here?"

It was Percy, looking confused and annoyed at the same time. "Yes, but not here," said Hermione. "Come with us, we're meeting back at Hogwarts."

We walked through Hogsmeade until we arrived at Honeydukes, not speaking. Once we arrived back at Hogwarts, we met the others in the Gryffindor common room.

"All right," Hermione said to Percy, "let me fill you in, and don't ask any questions until I'm finished. Voldemort's kidnapped Dumbledore. He's taking Polyjuice Potion to look like him, and he's been presiding over this whole trial. We think he wanted Joanne put in Azkaban for her books, because now all the Muggles know about him, and some of them might believe that her books are really non-fiction. He's got to have some sort of plan, or else all of us and Dumbledore would be dead by now. Jo, Harry, Ron, Sirius, Remus, Hagrid, and I sent owls to some people we thought could help us. We're meeting them in Diagon Alley at two o'clock."

Percy stared. "You're mad. You-Know-Who could never kidnap Dumbledore. He's too powerful, Dumbledore, and even if You-Know-Who managed it somehow, he couldn't get away with it. Besides, Fudge says he doesn't believe he's really risen again."

"This may come as a shock, Perce, but Fudge is a prat," said Ron.

"Yeah, and if Voldemort hasn't risen again, perhaps you'll explain why Cedric Diggory's dead," said Harry. A hush fell over the room.

"But...but Mr. Crouch said..." Percy stammered.

"He's dead too, because of his son who was one of the Death Eaters," said Harry. Then his face softened a bit. "Cone on Percy, we wouldn't lie to you about something like this. I know it's frightening, but it's true."

"All right," said Percy after a few seconds, "I believe you."

Remus spoke for the first time since we'd returned to Hogwarts. "Good. I'm honored to have you on our side. Now, I think the best thing for us to do is to rest until two o'clock. I have a feeling it might be a while before we can rest again. And there isn't really anything we can do before then anyway."

"Come on Percy," Ron said, "I'll have Winky get all your things from Hogsmeade. You can stay in your old dormitory with Harry and me."

"Why aren't you two in your own dormitory?"

"Long story," said Harry, his eyes sliding to Sirius and Remus and back again. "Come on." The three of them left for upstairs.

Ron's remark about Winky reminded me of something. "Dobby," I said, "what did you whisper to Malfoy in court?"

Dobby gazed up at me with his tennis-ball sized eyes. "Dobby wishes he could tell Ms. Rowling. But it is part of Dobby's agreement with Former Master Draco not to tell. If he finds out that miss knows, he might bring her back into court. Dobby will tell miss someday if he can. But let Dobby assure you, miss," he said, his mouth slowly spreading into a smile, "It is very good blackmail."

Chapter Ten: Diagon Alley

At a few minutes before two o'clock, we stood in front of the common room fireplace with the Floo Powder. One by one, we threw it into the fire, called out "Diagon Alley!" and stepped into the flames. Hermione had the beetle jar with her.

I'd never been to Diagon Alley before. After I agreed to write Harry's book for him, he'd taken me to Hogwarts (where the real Dumbledore had graciously welcomed me), Hogsmeade, and the Dursleys. (Uncle Vernon was happy at first that I wasn't "one of those freakish types", but when he found out I was writing a book on those who were he ordered me out of his house.) However, I couldn't take any more time off of work, so I didn't have the chance to visit Diagon Alley. All the things I wrote about it came from Harry's descriptions.

It was even more marvelous a place than I had imagined it. Going past all the shops I had written about was like dreaming about a place and then discovering that it really existed. There were magical moving mannequins in the windows of Madam Malkins, displaying flashy holographic robes. The new Firebolt Superior was in the window of another shop, and there was a cluster of young wizards eyeing it wistfully. A witch with a stand on the corner was shouting, "Sorceress Serena's Magical Makeup! We're having a sale, only ten Sickles at the most!"

"Come on, Jo!" said Harry, but he was smiling, and I could tell he was remembering how awestruck he had been his first time in Diagon Alley.

We approached the Leaky Caldron. Outside, a tall witch with blue hair and teal robes turned and stared at me. 'J.K. Rowling," she said, her voice filled with wonder. "Never thought I'd have the honor....I'm Azure Phipps, Ms. Rowling, pleased to meet you."

Now Harry was almost laughing. "Can you see what it was like for me, now?" he said. "Sorry, Miss Phipps, but we've got to go inside." He led me through the door.

"Hello, Harry," said the man behind the counter. "Got your owl. I'm going to give you the back parlor."

"Thanks," said Harry, and we went through the door the man was pointing to.

Most of the people we'd sent letters to were already there. The back parlor truly looked like a parlor; aside from tables, there were overstuffed armchairs, end tables with doilies, and a roaring fireplace. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were sitting on an emerald sofa together. "You must be Joanne!" exclaimed Mrs. Weasley. "I was so disappointed before that I didn't have the chance to meet you, but Harry said you had to get back to work....I'm so delighted with your books! Now, I don't want you to listen to any witches or wizards that don't like it and think that Muggles will take it seriously. Our kind has existed without Muggles knowing for centuries, and we'll keep doing it, no matter what you write. I was a bit scared, at first, when Harry said he was telling his story to a Muggle author, but the second I finished the first chapter of the first book all my fears left. You've done a wonderful job...."

"Don't talk her head off, Molly," said Mr. Weasley. "Hello, Joanne. I like your....what are they called again....the denim trousers with the metal teeth-like fastenings in front."

"Jeans," I said, smiling.

"Fascinating....now, what is this meeting all about?"

All the people in the room looked up at his words. I turned to Hermione. "Can you bear to go through it all one more time?"

She could.

"Well, I'm glad you came to us right away," said McGonagall, who was standing by the fire. "I have to admit, Ms. Rowling, I'm not happy that you broke wizarding law, but I did think it a bit suspicious that people wanted to make an example of you. I mean, it's a fairly obscure law, and it hasn't been properly enforced for a few thousand years. But that's a small matter now. Defeating Voldemort should be our only priority."

"We called you all because we know you all have the skills this needs," said Hermione, who was looking quite confidant, considering the circumstances. "Professor Snape, you've been a Death Eater, you can help us by telling us how they operate. Mr. Moody, you're going to be one of the best resources we'll have." I looked over at Alastor Moody, who was seated on a stool and kept glancing around suspiciously.

"We ought to establish some sort of chain of command, and give out assignments," said the ghost of Professor Binns, who was hovering by the door. "Some of us ought to return to the castle and spy on him. I volunteer myself...he can't kill me, after all. Now, I don't mean to be patronizing," he said, turning to Harry, Ron, and Hermione, "but I think that those who are still underage should leave the castle immediately and lay low for a while."

"I agree," said Moody. "Wherever they stay, they should have a Secret-Keeper."

"And a reliable one," said Sirius bitterly. Remus put his arm around him.

"They can stay at The Burrow," said Mr. Weasley. "Joanne too. No offense, but-"

"I know. I'm a Muggle, he can kill me far more easily. No offense taken."

"I think Professor McGonagall and Mr. Moody should be the ones in charge of this," said Hermione.

"I agree," I said.

"Let's put it ter a vote," said Hagrid. All were in favor.

"Then there's the matter of this beetle here," said Hermione. She held up the jar and explained.

"She can go with me," said Moody. "I'll figure out if she's a Death Eater or not."

"I think all the young ones should go back to The Burrow right away," said Professor Flitwick.

"I'll go with and put the charm for the Secret-Keeper on the house," said Moody.

"An' I'll send yer things over straight away," said Hagrid.

"All right. We should meet back here tomorrow for more planning," said MacGonagall. "The meeting is dismissed."

"Come on now Joanne, let's go home," said Mrs. Weasley. "It's going to be quite crowded, but that's all right. You and Hermione can share Ginny's room.