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For copyright and disclaimers, please see chapter 1
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25 – Classes, Week forty two, Second year
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Thursday, June 15, 2000:
Hogwarts, Great Hall, Slytherin table: 08:32
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Mattie cackled, and cracking her knuckles, looked over the email.
To: All Slytherin
From: Mattie Wayne
Date: 15 June, 2000
Subject: First annual ALL SLYTHERIN cinema night
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Tomorrow, for your entertainment and edification, I present to you one of the great masters of world cinema. These films are ones that have changed the world, and stir fierce debate over which is better.
"What are you on about?" Emma asked, leaning over to look at the laptop.
Mattie lowered the cover. "You'll find out, my pretty," she cackled.
Lee looked at Sprink, and said, "Uh, oh."
Returning to her email, Mattie wrote:
There are a total of three films scheduled tomorrow, starting after the leaving feast and ending whenever. However, I must emphasize that this is a Slytherin - only event. Members of other houses (faculty or student) are not welcome, and will suffer a popcorn barrage. BYOB (Bring Your Own Beverage).
Enjoy!
Mattie
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Friday, June 16, 2000:
Hogwarts, Slytherin common room: 20:13
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The common room was in a good mood. While the house claimed the Quidditch cup, they hadn't won the House cup, with Gryffindor having a fifty-point margin.
The room was packed, with people murmuring about the objects under a privacy spell. Some had tried to disrupt it, and failed. Mattie entered the room, standing on the fireplace hearth, and used two fingers to whistle. "Thank you. I see you all got my email, and welcome to the first annual Slytherin movie night. The movies we're about to see..."
The door opened, and Albus Dumbledore entered, asking, "Am I too late?"
Mattie cleared her throat, asking, "Professor, what house were you Sorted into?"
"Whatever do you mean, Miss Wayne?"
"Were you Sorted into Slytherin in 1851, sir?"
"Why, no, Gryffindor."
"This is a Slytherin event, sir." Mattie scooped up a bowl of popcorn, and grabbed a fistful. There was an undercurrent of chuckling, and several other bowls were readied. "I'm afraid I must ask you to leave, sir, or face the consequences."
"But I..."
"On three!" Professor Vector called from the couch. "One! Two! Three!" she cried, flinging a fistful of popcorn at the Headmaster. People whooped, and popcorn rained down on Albus Dumbledore, who beat a hasty retreat.
"So much for the stuffy British image," Mattie joked, brushing popcorn out of her hair. "Some of you lot don't need to try out for chaser," she added.
"Hope springs eternal," Professor Sinistra said. "Now what do you have lined up for us?"
Mattie dropped the privacy spell on the widescreen TV, "A classic film from 1977. If someone would put the torches out; Professor, if you would push the green arrow on the remote?"
Ominous music played while yellow lettering appeared against a starscape:
A long time ago,
In a galaxy far, far away...
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"Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi; you're my only hope!"
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"Laugh it up, fuzzball."
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"No. Try not. Do... or do not. There is no try."
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Deep, hissing breath, "I am your father... You can destroy the Emperor. He has foreseen this. Join me; together we will rule the galaxy as father and son."
"Don't do it!" Professor Snape hissed. "Don't give in to the evil!" He let out a breath as Luke released his grip on the antenna, plunging to his death in the clouds of Bespin.
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"And now, young Skywalker ... you will die."
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Saturday, June 17, 2000:
Hogwarts, Great Hall: 08:13
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Mattie entered to a chorus of whistles and pounding on the tables. Some people started to chant "Dum, dum, dum, dum-de-dum" from the Imperial March.
"What did you lot do last night?" Professor Croft asked.
"Movie night! Oh, man, 'A New Hope' just kicked arse!"
"You're full of it, mate! 'Return' was the best!"
"No bloody way! You're both tossers, 'Strikes Back'!"
"What are they on about?" the Headmaster asked as the mostly-friendly argument raged about the Slytherin table.
"You've never seen the series?" Professor Harry asked.
"Of course!" Professor Croft nodded. "I'm a 'Strikes Back' girl myself."
"'Return' for me," Professor Flitwick volunteered.
"Don't be daft," Professor Snape sneered. "Episode four was clearly Lucas' best work. 'A New Hope' had far superior plotting and characters, almost equal to the Bard."
"Sorry, mate," Professor Vector added. "I'm with Lara, 'Strikes Back' was the best."
"Philistine."
By now the argument had spilled over to the Ravenclaw table, with muggleborn students expressing their opinions, while their wizarding fellows were being clued in. Professor Dumbledore blinked in confusion.
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Saturday, June 17, 2000:
Hogwarts Express, Southbound: 10:13
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Mattie sat on her trunk, discussing the term when Amanda said, "Oy, there's someone flying alongside the train!" People jumped up to look out the two small windows, when they pulled up and out of sight. They just started to settle down again, when someone knocked on the door.
"It's not locked!" Charlie called. "Come in!"
A large fellow in a black and green bodysuit entered, followed by a green-skinned girl in a white and green suit. The twins' jaws dropped as they looked about while Arthur frowned slightly. "Wayne, you're coming with us to Oa."
"Not without knowing who you are," she said, fingering her wand.
"You know who we are!" he said.
"No, I don't," Mattie said, shooting him with a yellow itching hex. "You were both given individual pass phrases by my family. Cough them up, or I get a lot nastier than itches."
Jennie held up her hands, "Mine was 'Your uncle Clark is around the bend.' Please don't spell me."
Mattie grunted and nodded, focusing on Green Lantern, "If you are Mr. Stewart, you're about to find out how nasty I am, with or without a wand. Passphrase?"
He grimaced in distaste. "'Your eyes are as green as the Emerald Isle.' For pity's sake, Wayne, you have a Power Ring, and you need training. If you want to be back on Earth before school starts again, we need to leave now. They're reconstituting the Corps."
"Then shouldn't my backup go too? He doesn't have a ring, though," she asked.
"I don't want one Mattie," Arthur said firmly.
She glanced at him, "Okay. Give me a minute, please?" John Stewart nodded, stepping outside while Jade found a seat as Mattie dug through her trunk. "Don't forget your Battery," she advised with a grin. Looking at the silent students, she said, "I remember some of you. Let's see, you two are Roshawn and Sandra..."
"Shaundra," she corrected. "You're JADE! A Green Lantern!"
"Not nearly as grumpy as Mr. Stewart is," Mattie added, locking her trunk.
"I heard that!" he called.
'You were supposed to,' people thought.
"Sprink, could you take care of my trunk, and tell Amy I'll be off planet for a few weeks? I'll try to get back in time for the meeting with the union." Mattie warded the trunk. "Okay, I'm ready. What do we do?"
"We fly."
30
(A/N: Above quotes are property of Lucasfilms, Inc.)