My Life is a Movie

Chapter 3: Plan of Action

"Oy, is anyone home?" Ron called out as he walked out of the fireplace and into the kitchen. He, Ginny, Harry and Hermione had just arrived at the Burrow by way of floo. As soon as the question had left his mouth, two loud 'pops' where heard from either side of him. Fred and George had appeared at his sides, managing to scare the crap out of him.

"Ahh!" Ron screamed, jumping back a little. Or, at least he tried to jump back. Instead however, he fell flat on his arse. He looked up and scowled at his brothers. "You gits apparated on my feet, again!" he accused.

George grinned down at him. "Sorry about that," he informed, stepping back and helping Ron to his feet. "But it's not our fault your feet are so humongous they take up the whole room."

Groaning irritably, Ron started flicking invisible dust from his pants and mumbled, "They do not take up the whole room."

"Where'd you guys come from?" Ginny asked the twins, wondering where they could have possibly disapparated from at this time of night.

"Living room," was Fred's simple reply.

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Mum told you two to stop doing that," she reprimanded. "What's the point of apparating when you're just a few feet away?"

Both boys just looked at her and shrugged.

"Are Mum and Dad here yet?" Ron asked. He was standing next to the doorway of the kitchen while everyone else was seated at the wooden table in the middle of the room.

"Does it look like they're here, Ron?" George asked, gesturing around the tiny kitchen. "If they were here, don't you think you would be able to see them?"

Before Ron could have the opportunity to retort, another 'pop' was heard.

"Ow, not again," Ron groaned as he clutched the foot his mother had just apparated on.

"I told him they took up the whole room," George whispered to the occupants of the table, causing them to laugh. Ron frowned at them.

"Oh, I'm sorry dear," Mrs. Weasley replied dismissively, patting Ron on the head as she busied herself around the kitchen. "Your Father and Dumbledore will be here soon. They were taking care of some last minute things after the meeting, so I came home first to fix some biscuits."

With a flick of her wand a huge batch of cookies and a pitcher of milk appeared on the table. She then pointed her wand in the direction of the cupboards, and with another wave of her hand a stack of plates and a set of glasses were floating in the air, also towards the table. Satisfied with her work, Mrs. Weasley looked around the room. When her eyes landed on Hermione, she smiled. "Oh Hermione dear, it's good to see you again," she told the younger girl. She walked over to her and gave her a motherly hug. "How are you?"

"I'm fine Mrs. Weasley," Hermione answered. "How are you?"

Before the older woman could reply, Mr. Weasley appeared next to her. "Ah, here you all are," he said.

Greetings were heard throughout the room as he went around greeting the kids individually and kissing his wife on the cheek. A few seconds later another 'pop' was heard right outside the kitchen.

Everyone turned to the door to see Albus Dumbledore walk towards them gracefully, his deep purple robes fluttering gently behind him. He smiled warming at the occupants in the room.

"Ah, I see we're all here. Shall we begin then?" He walked to one of the empty seats at the table and sat down. "Oh, macadamia nut!" he exclaimed, picking up a biscuit. "My favourite."

***

"Is this all the information you have Miss. Granger?" Dumbledore asked, his startling blue eyes staring straight at Hermione. They had all been seated in the tiny kitchen at the Burrow for more than an hour now, informing Dumbledore and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley about what they had found.

"Yes professor," Hermione began. "That's all we have so far, but I still need to finish the last two books. Oh, and I'm sure I can get access to more websites from my friend."

"I see," the Headmaster responded. "And this friend of yours, I trust you did not tell him about our world."

Hermione shook her head. "No sir. I told him I needed the information for a project I'm doing," she explained.

"Ah, and do you know if he knows the author personally?"
"Oh, um, I think so," she replied unsurely. "I think he said she comes to the sets when they're filming sometimes." She tried to remember what Todd had said about whether or not he knew the author.

"Splendid," the older man exclaimed, his eyes twinkling. "Then I must ask you a favor."

"Of course Headmaster," Hermione said, looking intently at him. "What can I do?"

"First I must tell you that I am aware that you are an excellent judge of character and I want you to know I have complete trust in what I am about to ask of you." He looked at her genuinely and continued. "I want you to tell that friend of yours, Mr. Williams I believe it was?" Hermione nodded. "I want you to inform him about us and the Wizarding world."

Hermione, as well as everyone else in the room, looked at the Headmaster, surprise written all over their faces.

"Are you sure that's a good idea Albus?" Mrs. Weasley asked the older man apprehensively. "We don't really know him that well," she justified.

"That's why I am trusting Miss. Granger to tell him when she believes he is ready," Dumbledore explained. "Like I've said, I have complete trust in her judge of character."

"But I don't see how telling Todd will help us," Hermione admitted, confused.

"Well you see Miss. Granger," he began. "As I said earlier I believe that the author is using an alias and possibly even a glamour charm so she will not be recognised by anyone from the magical world. And since I am currently unaware of her true identity, we need someone who can help us find out. If I am not mistaken, I do believe that Mr. Williams will be of great assistance to us." He looked at Hermione earnestly; telling her with his eyes that he knew everything would be fine. She nodded to him understandably.

"However," he went on. "I must remind you to inform him about the importance of secrecy of this knowledge," he said sternly. "No other Muggles need know."

"Yes Headmaster," Hermione replied.

Mrs. Weasley shook her head, not entirely agreeing to the plan of action the Headmaster wanted to execute. "Albus, do you think we should alert Fudge and the Ministry about all this?" she asked.

Dumbledore shook his head. "Absolutely not. It is imperative that we keep this information strictly within the Order. With Voldemort back, there have been many leaks within the Ministry. At this moment, it is difficult to determine who can, and cannot, be trusted. And we must do all we can to keep this out of Voldemort's hands. Therefore, the less people who know, the better," he replied seriously. Everyone nodded their agreement.

"Besides," Ron said. "Fudge isn't going to be Minister anymore." Dumbledore, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Fred and George looked at him questioningly. Ron shrugged. "Well, that's what the author said."

"Is that true Dad?" Fred asked his father. Knowing that if anyone would know for sure it would be his father, since he works for the Ministry.

Mr. Weasley looked thoughtful for a moment. "There has been speculation going around that he was going to be replaced, but it has all been very hushed. I thought it was just a rumor," he said while shaking his head.

"Wow, this is brilliant," George said, amazed. "We know what's going to happen before it happens. What else do you guys know?"

As Ron and Ginny started telling their brothers about the other interesting facts they had learned, the adults went outside to bid farewell to Dumbledore. Harry looked at Hermione and caught her gaze. He got up and motioned for her to follow him. They stepped into the living room, Harry heading towards the couch and Hermione following. He sat down quietly and looked at her, his green eyes staring into her brown ones.

"What's wrong Harry?" she asked concerned. She could tell that whatever it was Harry wanted to tell her, it wouldn't be happy.

"I just wanted to ask you a favor too," he told her, looking away from her eyes.

"What is it?" she asked her friend. Seeing his grave expression, she had the urge to wrap her arms around her friend and comfort him.

"Um, can you not read the fifth book yet?" he asked.

She looked at him confused. "Why not?"

"Well," he started out slowly. "There's just something I haven't told you guys yet, and I don't want you finding out by reading it. I want to tell you myself." He looked up at her again, "But when I'm ready."

"Oh, OK," she said awkwardly. She figured it surely had something to do with Sirius' death and she didn't want to get him worked up right now. "Sure Harry, it's no big deal."

"Thanks 'Mione," he said sincerely, enveloping her into a warm friendly embrace. She hugged him back, enjoying that fact that he seemed to be acting more like his previous self before his godfather had died.

"I can just leave the book with you and you can take the notes for me," she told him. He nodded in understanding.

"Great," he said sarcastically. "More work." However, he smiled back at her and said, "Come on, let's go back to the kitchen." He got up from the couch and helped her to her feet. They walked back into the kitchen to find George, Fred, Ron, and Ginny still discussing the 'events of the future'.

"Yeah the sixth book is called Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince," Ginny informed. "But no one really knows who the Half-blood Prince is."

"Hmm, who do we know that's a half-blood?" Fred asked out loud.

"You-know-who is a half-blood, isn't he?" George put in.

"Yeah but the author said it wasn't him." Ginny told them.

"Oh, I know!" Ron cried out triumphantly. "Harry's a half-blood," he said looking at Harry. "I bet you're the Half-blood Prince," he said knowingly.

Everyone stared at Ron for a few seconds and then exploded with laughter. He looked around at them, utterly puzzled. "What's so funny?" he asked.

"Don't be daft Ron," Ginny snickered. "If Harry was the Half-blood Prince, the book would be called Harry Potter and Harry Potter," she said obviously. "Use your head."

Ron looked around sheepishly. "Oh yeah. I knew that," he insisted.

"Sure Ron," George said, looking amusedly at his little brother. "And you must be the Half-brain Prince!" he proclaimed. Everyone started laughing once more as Ron's face turned as red as his hair.