DISCLAIMER: Harry Potter and related characters are the property of JK Rowling, various publishing companies, Warner Brothers, etc. I'm not making any money from this. If I was, I'd probably get a new computer or something.
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
{I apologize for the interruption, but at this time if you haven't taken advantage of my earlier recommendation in the first chapter's author's notes, please follow James' example in this chapter and read, (or at least refresh your memory of) the contents of the first scroll, found here. At the very least, I'd recommend that you start reading in Chapter 42 Dolores Decloaked and read from there to the end of the story if you want to understand this chapter. Also, there are a number of direct quotes from articles and references you can find on the internet in this chapter. I hope they are not too distracting when you see them, but I didn't really want to create a bibliography page at the end of the chapter to properly footnote all the references to this material. Let me know in the reviews if you find this too distracting and I'll be glad to fix it in a repost.}
Chapter Three
A Promise Revealed
Lily (who recognized the names immediately) looked over at her brother, whose eyes were now closed as if he were sleeping. "Come on, little bro - surely you remember them from your History of Magic class?"
James blinked, shrugged his shoulders, and then grinned slyly. "Yes, sis...I vaguely remember them. And don't call me Shirley."
"Nice one, James!" Hermione patted her great-grandson on the back. "So, what's it going to be? What are you going to charge your sister?"
James looked thoughtful for a second, and then lit up as he thought of an appropriate penance. "How about you two let me catch up with a little reading here? From what I've seen so far here in the attic, I think until I've at least read the books and the scrolls I'm not going to be able to have a clue what you're talking about. Sis, how long did it take you to read all this stuff? A week? I'll probably need at least twice that long, right?"
Lily nodded in agreement, but seemed somewhat confused. "But, James...that's really not much of a penalty to me, is it? There's got to be more to it than that, right?"
James chuckled. "Hmmm...you're right, Lily. Let me think." He looked thoughtful for a second as he tapped his finger on his chin. "Ah, I've got it... how about this? While I'm reading, you and Grandmama can't discuss any more specifics about the contents of the books or the two scrolls? That'll keep you from learning stuff I don't know about."
"HEY! Wait a minute! Grandmama, that's not fair, is it?" Lily looked incensed as she realized that if this penance was enforced, and knowing how slow of a reader James could be when he was reading for detail, it would be at least a week or two before she would find out what she wanted to know about her family's mysterious history. With the first of September rapidly approaching, this would never do.
Hermione quickly intervened as she came to the same conclusion. "Actually, Lily, while it might not be fair to you, it is perfectly within the rules of the 'Shirley' game. And besides, you were the one that pointed out to him that his original penance wasn't very stiff. But James, since I'd like to get this task finished before you both leave for Hogwarts, I'd like to propose something to you as an alternative that will make us all happy. How about I help you with your reading? There's a Speed Reading spell I'm sure you've learned at school."
James blanched noticeably as he thought of his ancient Grandmama aiming a spell at him, even a relatively benign studying spell. He quickly made a lame attempt at an excuse. "Oh, you mean Expedita Lectio? Yeah, well, that one always gives me a bad headache and makes my eyes cross when I've used it at Hogwarts."
Hermione glared at him. She had noticed the lack of color in his face and had a good idea why. "Young man, it would behoove you to remember just whom you are talking to at the moment. I'll have you know that even though I'm not quite able to perform wandless or wordless charms up to my personal standards anymore; my spells never give headaches... well, unintended headaches, that is. Honestly! Professor Tofty would have had my wand if I couldn't do a simple charm like that without unpleasant side-effects. Besides, I've used it on myself since before I was preparing for my Charms O.W.L. and I've never had a problem."
James looked properly abashed as he apologized. "Sorry, Grandmama. I didn't mean to imply.... sure, if you can speed things up some for me, well, that would be great."
Lily still looked very unhappy. "But Grandmama, what about me? Even with Expedita Lectio, it will take a while for James to get caught up. Do you really expect me to just sit around and wait for him to read all the books and the first scroll before I CAN FIND OUT WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON? WILL SOMEONE PLEASE BOTHER TO TELL ME WHAT'S HAPPENING?" and she started to sob loudly.
Hermione's eyes softened as she suddenly remembered vividly a young, handsome, dark haired young wizard shouting almost those same words at her in this very house, oh so many years ago. She repeated to Lily the same words she had said to Harry back then. "Lily, I'm really sorry!" said Hermione desperately, her eyes also sparkling with tears. "You're absolutely right, Lily - I'd be furious if it was me!"
Hermione quickly reached over and gave Lily one of the hugs she was still known for. As she patted the child's back soothingly, she whispered in Lily's ear, "Shhhh... shhhh.... I know, Lily. It doesn't make any sense yet, but I hope it will make sense to you when we're done. It's difficult to read something that makes everything you think you know about your family and the world you live in suddenly suspect, doesn't it? Shhhh....it'll be okay." She waved her wand and a lace handkerchief appeared next to Lily. "Come on, wipe your eyes and blow your nose and let me explain what I had in mind for us while James is catching up, okay?"
Lily smiled weakly at Hermione as she choked back another sob. She took up the handkerchief and followed Hermione's instructions, and then as she put the used handkerchief down, Hermione dismissed it to the downstairs laundry room with another wand wave. "Thanks, Grandmama. I'm sorry I yelled at you, but that last book especially really did upset me even more than the sixth one did, and I guess I just lost control."
Hermione smiled once again at Lily and patted her hand lovingly. "That's quite all right, my dear. Now, let me explain my plan, okay?" Lily nodded, and Hermione continued. "Since James will be busy for a while, I propose that while he's reading these next few days, you and I can have a detailed discussion about some N.E.W.T. and higher-level magical theory as it relates to both time and location travel - what it is and how we in the Wizarding world understand it and control it through the use of certain devices. I'm sure this discussion would bore James to death," (James laughed and nodded emphatically upon hearing this) "so it's just as well that he will be otherwise occupied. Then, when he finishes the books and the first scroll, we can delve into the mysteries of the second scroll together. Is that acceptable?"
Lily grinned widely as she thought about the opportunity she was being afforded. To have Hermione Granger Potter, Order of Merlin First Class, former Acting Head of the Department of Mysteries and Hogwarts Distinguished Professor for the 21st Century give her one-on-one instruction on a subject that was officially banned in the current Wizarding World bylaws was something she wasn't willing to turn down. "Yes, Grandmama Hermione, of course I'd love to discuss that with you. But are you sure you won't get in serious trouble talking to me about it, what with the Decree and all?"
Hermione smirked. "Ah...well, you see, since your great-grandfather and I actually were the ones that drafted that decree at the request of the Wizengamot, and since Ronald Weasley was the Minister for Magic when it was approved, we made sure we included a hidden loophole in there. In fact, it's so hidden that no one who reads the decree can see it...unless they are specifically authorized to read it by one of the Heads of the Great and Noble House of Potter and the Master or Mistress of number twelve, Grimmauld Place. See for yourself." She reached behind her on a shelf and pulled down what appeared to be a rather nondescript scroll that was sloppily labeled "Care and Feeding of Puffskeins".
However, as Hermione unrolled it and tapped it with her wand, the title changed to say Decree for the Restriction of Time Travel in very ornate handwriting. Lily's eyes widened as she read the original signatures and seals of Ronald Bilius Weasley, Order of Merlin, Second Class and Minister for Magic; Harry James Potter, Order of Merlin, First Class and Head of the Auror Division; and Hermione Granger Potter, Order of Merlin, First Class and Acting Head of the Department of Mysteries. All she could muster was a weak "Wow..." as she perused the familiar text, since this decree was required reading for all first year students at Hogwarts.
But then, as she was reading near the end of the document, new words started appearing between two sentences on the parchment until there was a new paragraph written in shining silver ink that had pushed and shoved its way into visibility. She began reading aloud,
"Section 5. Be it also hereafter declared that any and all of the limitations, restrictions, and punishments listed herein in this decree are not, and will never be applied for any reason to the Patriarch or the Matriarch of the Great and Noble House of Potter and the Master or the Mistress of number twelve, Grimmauld Place, along with any persons they may designate now or in the future, forever. These persons must affix their signatures in section 6 below."
As Lily continued to watch, a series of signatures written in that same silver ink started to appear as Section 6, pushing the subsequent words and paragraphs further down the magically expanding scroll. She recognized the names and signatures of older members of her family - her grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, and older cousins, along with some well-known names in the Wizarding World. Minister Ronald Weasley's name was noticeable at the top of the list (although at first she would have sworn it said 'Roonil Wazlib' until she blinked her eyes). She also recognized the names of Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood Longbottom, Ginevra Weasley, past and current Chief Warlocks and members of the Wizengamot, and many others.
As she got to the end of the list, there was a separate section containing some unfamiliar Muggle names and signatures that, she realized quickly, must be aliases of some kind - names such as Wendell and Monica Wilkins, Ahorn Berg, Renaiya880727, IronChefOR, among many others. Before she could ask Hermione about them, another silver paragraph appeared as before. She cleared her throat and continued.
"Section 7 -Unless specifically authorized by the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot and the Minister for Magic in a special meeting as described in section 7.5, paragraphs 5 and 7 below , these persons identified in section 6 are still prohibited from participating in or otherwise using time-travel devices, spells, or other means. Only the current Patriarch or the Matriarch of the Great and Noble House of Potter and the Master or the Mistress of number twelve, Grimmauld Place are registered and licensed to utilize these devices and methods and this can be done only under the regulation and active monitoring of the Head of the Department of Mysteries and the Head of the Auror Division or their designees."
Lily blinked as she thought about what she had just read. "But Grandmama.... doesn't that mean that...wait a minute..."
Once again, Hermione giggled as if she were much younger. "Well, since we wrote the decree, we wanted to make sure we weren't ever limited by it. Your grandpapa Harry and I are, as I said earlier, fully registered and regulated, licensed, and monitored, time-travelers. But as you just figured out, I just didn't mention the fact that we are licensed and authorized to register, regulate and monitor each other whenever the need arises." She looked quite pleased with herself as she said this.
While Lily was distracted looking once again at the unfamiliar names and signatures at the end of Section 6, James, who had by this time moved his chair over to where he could see the scroll more closely, whispered, "Grandmama, if I may, I have a question. Lily mentioned something about Section 7.5, paragraphs 5 and 7, didn't she?
Hermione answered back quietly. "Yes, James, you are correct. Is there a problem?"
"Well, this scroll and the decree both stop here, at section 7, even when you count these three "hidden" sections. Where is section 7.5?"
She motioned him over and whispered in his ear. "Oh, don't worry about that, my dear great-grandson. When you become the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot and the Minister for Magic, you'll get your question answered, but not until then. Besides, it's all rather boring - meeting arrangements, seating charts, legalese, nothing of real interest to you at the moment." Then she winked at him so only he could see.
James wasn't sure he had really understood what his great-grandmother, a self-identified time-traveler, had just said to him in private. He looked to her for some kind of confirmation, but her face had once again turned unreadable and she clapped her hands. "Enough of this. James, you have some reading to get started on. And Lily, you and I need to talk. It looks like my drawing on the chalkboard is complete, so we'll go over here while James gets to work. But first, you both need to sign the document, and while you're doing that I'd better send Harry a message to make the necessary excuses for your absence if someone in the family asks after your whereabouts for the next few days."
Hermione opened a drawer and took out a very old, but still very luxurious eagle feather quill, dipped it in an inkwell that held a shining silver fluid, and handed it to Lily. As first Lily, then James, signed the parchment, Hermione waved her wand. Instantly a silver doe appeared, shook itself, looked at Hermione for a second, and sprang down the staircase. Lily stared at it. "But Grandmama...didn't the fifth book say that your Patronus was an otter?"
Hermione turned towards Lily. "Yes. It did. And it was, at one time. I promise I'll explain all that. But until then..." she put her finger on her mouth and pointed towards James. "...you'll just have to wait. James, are you ready?"
James picked up the first book, one with a picture of a bright red stone on it, and opened it to the first page. At her direction, he also unrolled the first scroll so it would be ready for him to reference when the time came. "Ready, Grandmama" he said, as she waved her wand at him in a complex pattern and said, "Expedita Lectio!"
* * * * *
23 August 2119
Now that James had finished reading the books and the first scroll, and Lily was quite well-versed in some very advanced (and highly restricted) magical theory, it was time for Hermione to get down to business. "So, James, what do you think?" Hermione asked as he closed the last book which was illustrated on the cover with a locket bearing a large green letter 'S'.
"Well, for one thing, I just can't imagine why Lily was so upset." he deadpanned. "I mean, there's nothing in those last two books especially that might be considered confusing or inconsistent with the first five books, now is there?'
Lily started to respond vociferously until she caught her brother's eye and realized that he was taking the mickey out on her. "Ha, ha. Very funny, James. Honestly! I would think by now after reading all the things we've read, you'd be more concerned about the implications of these books. At least you've had your memory refreshed about the identity of Rita Skeeter and Dolores Jean Umbridge, right?"
James still looked a bit puzzled. "Actually, I'm not so sure. From what I can gather, there are almost two different versions of each of those women. The books describe their story one way, but in the scroll they end up experiencing a different fate the second time around. How could these women, either the version described in the scroll OR the books, be involved in the creation of the books...or the scroll? I assume that the scroll chronicles events that happened in a time loop reality, right? One that the 'alternate' Albus Dumbledore said would collapse when you left it and returned to your original timeline? So, if the time loop reality collapsed, how could anything that happened there affect anything else?"
Lily, who had been staring intently at the timeline drawings that Hermione had been using to explain time-travel theory to her, started noticing a very large missing piece to the puzzle. "Never mind about that, James," she said. "Grandmama, I'm still confused. You say that Dolores and Rita were responsible for the lies in the last two books. But you still haven't explained how all the rest of the books, including the three that the Ministry was most concerned about, came to be published in the Muggle world. From what I gathered, Dolores especially would seem to be more interested in keeping Muggles ignorant of the Wizarding World, so what possible reason would she have for revealing them?"
"Well, James and Lily, the full answer to that question begins with the only explanation that makes sense to your great-grandfather and me after all these years. It begins with this unhappy fact - Albus Dumbledore wasn't always telling us the whole story. We just don't know if he was intentionally lying to us to protect himself or if he really didn't know what would end up happening when we time-traveled and was trying to get me to not focus on the implications. My husband thought the worst - with good reason, as it turned out."
"So, Great-grandpapa Harry still holds some ill-feelings towards Dumbledore's doppelgänger, eh?" James said with a snort. "Not that I blame him, really. He really did seem to be quite a meddler according to the scroll, when he should have just left well enough alone."
Hermione shook her head quickly. "No, James. You weren't listening carefully. I wasn't referring to the Dumbledore we knew in the 'time loop', as the first scroll described it. I'm referring to what you would call the 'original' Albus Dumbledore. You see, he was the one that started this whole dog's breakfast in the beginning. And from what we've been able to piece together, it all started about 130 years ago. We assume that he, for whatever combination of reasons he had at the time, took notice of a certain nice young woman aged about 25 years at the time who just happened to be riding on the same train as he was from Manchester to London one day."
James, whose eyes were no longer vibrating, spoke up. "I assume this young woman's name was J. K. Rowling, the one whose name is on all these books? Grandmama Hermione, how do you know all this detail? That was a long time ago."
"Yes, James, you're correct." Hermione said as she stood up and removed a notebook from the bookcase. "And, the reason we know all this detail is partially because of Ms. Rowling herself. Have you ever heard about something the Muggles have used for well over a century now that they still refer to as 'The World Wide Web'?"
Lily, (a confirmed arachnophobe, although she'd never admit it to her brothers) shuddered. Whenever she heard that term she always imagined a large web, home to millions of hungry acromantulas, which was covering the entire world. She shook her head to clear that picture from her mind before she answered. "Yeah, it's one of the ways Muggles share information around the world without the use of Wizarding magic. It seems to be pretty ingenious from what little we learned about it in Muggle Studies last year. But what does that have to do with what happened to Ms. Rowling?"
"Well, after she started publishing these books back in the late 1990s, she became more and more famous, which led eventually to her publicists working with her to create what the Muggles refer to as 'websites' for her where people can view that information you mentioned. When Harry and I were investigating first-hand what had happened, we came across some of her biography and some other references to her life that talked about how she got started writing. We made copies to document what we found in this notebook. Listen to these quotes from a magical perspective and tell me what this sounds like to you."
...in 1990, my then boyfriend and I decided to move up to Manchester together. It was after a weekend's flat-hunting, when I was traveling back to London on my own on a crowded train, that the idea for Harry Potter simply fell into my head.
I had been writing almost continuously since the age of six but I had never been so excited about an idea before. To my
immense frustration, I didn't have a functioning pen with me, and I was too shy to ask anybody if I could borrow
one. I think, now, that this was probably a good thing, because I simply sat and thought, for four (delayed train)
hours, and all the details bubbled up in my brain, and this scrawny, black-haired, bespectacled boy who didn't know
he was a wizard became more and more real to me. I think that perhaps if I had had to slow down the ideas so that I
could capture them on paper I might have stifled some of them (although sometimes I do wonder, idly, how much of what I
imagined on that journey I had forgotten by the time I actually got my hands on a pen).
I began to write 'Philosopher's Stone' that very evening," Hermione then paused for effect as she emphasized the next line, "though those first few pages bear no resemblance at all to anything in the finished book I moved up to Manchester, taking the swelling manuscript with me, which was now growing in all sorts of strange directions, and including ideas for the rest of Harry's career at Hogwarts, not just his first year."
Hermione nodded at James and Lily as she saw recognition slowly dawn on their faces. "Interesting, wouldn't you say?" She turned to a different page in the notebook. "And here's another one from a different source."
'In 1990, while she was on a four-hour-delayed train trip from Manchester to London, the idea for a story of a young boy attending a school of wizardry "came fully formed" into her mind. She told The Boston Globe that "I really don't know where the idea came from. It started with Harry, then all these characters and situations came flooding into my head.""
Hermione continued, "Just to make the evidence even stronger, during an interview she conducted on the 3rd of February, 2000; two questions were about the background of the story. First, we have this question and answer:
Q. How did you come up with Harry Potter?
A. Harry just sort of strolled into my head, on a train journey. He arrived very fully formed. It was as though I was meeting him for the first time."
"And, later, this one from the same interview:
Q. When you were stuck on the train was there anything that triggered your imagination, and did that incident inspire Book III?
A. I have no idea where the idea came from, it just fell into my head!' "
( http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2000/0200-scholastic-chat.htm )
"Finally, in an interview with a news host named Evan Solomon on 13 July 2000, she explained what happened this way:
'EVAN: This is the legend: that it all came to you at once.
J.K. ROWLING: No, no, no, no, no. No, Harry came to me. Hogwarts came to me, not in its entirety but many of the characters did come in a kind of…rush.
E: Was it like an epiphany?
JK: It kind of was actually, yes, it really was. So, I had this four-hour train journey. It shouldn't have been four hours; it was delayed. And Harry was there. People like Nearly Headless Nick and Peaves, the inhabitants of the castle, were there. Harry's scar was there and I kind of knew how that had happened. It's a very strange thing, but I know I'm not alone in this among writers. It was as though I was given a piece of information and I just had to find out the rest of the information. It wasn't really as though I were inventing it. I was working backwards and working forwards to see what must have happened.'"
"And here's the last clue...well, besides the fact that Peeves' name is misspelled, that is", Hermione said with a wink. "Just a few paragraphs later, there is this exchange:
'E: Are you forever stashing ideas? Writers are forever scribbling and saying 'This is the perfect idea.' Is that your method?
JK: Yeah. I actually had an idea this morning on the train. As I got out of bed this morning, I suddenly thought 'Oh, that's how we could do it in Book Five.' So, yeah, it's wonderful when that happens, when it just comes to you.'"
( http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2000/0700-hottype-solomon.htm,
©CBC 2000, emphasis added.)
Lily was the first to speak. "Grandmama, that sounds to me like someone under the influence of magic at least as recently as 13 July 2000 ...most likely through a series of..." She immediately gasped as the implications became clear. "But...you must be joking...are you saying that Dumbledore...it can't be... to actually do that to anyone, especially a Muggle...well, he would have been in BIG trouble...."
"Do what, Sis?" James asked innocently. Since he was just getting ready to start his 4th year, he hadn't been introduced to a certain part of the Defense against the Dark Arts curriculum yet. "Grandmama, what is Lily talking about? What did Dumbledore do that is so bad?"
<Even after all these many years, it never gets easier, does it?> Hermione thought to herself as she took a deep breath before answering. "Well, for starters, it is our considered opinion that Albus Dumbledore, Chief Wizard of the Wizengamot, Order of Merlin First Class, should have most likely spent the last years of his long and distinguished life in Azkaban after using Imperius Curses over a few years' time on an unsuspecting, innocent, yet very talented Muggle woman named Joanne Rowling."
Lily sat back in her chair, stunned. "He DIDN'T!"
"You heard Grandmama, Lily. She spoke very clearly." James teased, as he served himself another piece of pie.
Lily continued, ignoring her brother's interruption. "But...but...at Hogwarts, all we hear about him is just how great and wonderful of a Wizard and Headmaster he was. And now you're telling me he should have his wand destroyed by a Fiendfyre curse before being sent to Azkaban?"
"Yes, that's correct, Lily. He should have received the same sentence handed down against Rita and Dolores at the conclusion of their trial." Half to herself, Hermione muttered, "Whether he would have ever received that sentence had he lived long enough to face trial is another question altogether."
"Grandmama," James interrupted. "I'm getting really confused. Earlier you said that Rita Skeeter and Dolores Jean Umbridge are responsible for these books, but just now you said that a former Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot and well-loved Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, caused this to happen by cursing a Muggle. So which is it?"
Hermione shook her head. "I never said that Rita and Dolores were responsible for all the books, now did I? Lily, do you remember exactly what I said earlier? If I recall, you have a very good memory, just like I did when I was your age. It'll serve you well as Head Girl, that's for sure"
Lily smiled at the compliment. She enjoyed being compared to her famous ancestor, especially when it was that ancestor making the comparison. "Let me think... ah, yes...you said, "The people primarily responsible for the lies, at least, in these last two books were... Dolores Jean Umbridge and Rita Skeeter" She paused for a moment, deep in thought. "So... that would mean that their influence was only felt in the last two books...which would imply that someone else would have to have been initially responsible for the creation of the first books... and you're saying this person was Albus Dumbledore?"
"Brilliant, Lily! James, you still look confused by all this." He nodded since his mouth was full. "Now, it's time for you to both to hear the rest of the story, including how your great-grandfather and I put it right."
******
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
In case you were wondering, the Expedita Lectio (or 'speedy reading' in Latin according to what I found at Google Translate) spell came from a reference in Chapter 31 of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix where it specifically mentions that, during her O.W.L. preparations, "Hermione was rereading Achievement in Charming so fast that her eyes appeared blurred…"
By the way, I was thinking about including Hermione's detailed explanation to Lily about how Time-Travel Magic works in their world, but....well, you see, your names aren't recorded on the list. Sorry about that. As the story goes on, I'll see if I can slip in some tidbits here and there that won't get me in trouble with a certain decree...or a former Acting Head of the Department of Mysteries.
Ahorn Berg (AKA MapleMountain)