Hollywood: Lights, Ink, Entertainment!-Chapter 349: Lily Is A Softie Too…

….

The Helper Squad story exploded.

Again.

The first time had been the tickets - Marcus's video opening the envelope, his pure joy, his father's emotional reaction. That had gone viral, spreading warmth and wholesome energy across the internet.

This time was different, as the people had seen the movie.

Had sat through the credits and watched six names appear on screen in a major Hollywood production.

….

[SPECIAL THANKS:

[The Helper Squad: Marcus Thompson, Jake, Emma, Tyler, Sophia, Sam, and each fan across the magical world]

….

Social media detonated within hours of the premiere.

Twitter - #HelperSquad Trending Worldwide

@GoerLife090: Just got out of the Goblet of Fire midnight showing. STAYED FOR THE CREDITS. THE HELPER SQUAD IS ACTUALLY IN IT. THEIR NAMES ARE IN HARRY POTTER. I'M CRYING. (Retweets: 78.4K | Likes: 289.3K)

@EPT2929: Okay so I thought the Helper Squad thing was just a sweet publicity story but THEY'RE ACTUALLY CREDITED. Like actually IN the movie. Regal really put six kids' names in Harry Potter because they offered to help. I can't handle this. (Retweets: 94.2K | Likes: 341.7K)

@Firefire1111: I'm the person who usually calls everything fake and manipulative but this Helper Squad situation is genuinely beautiful. Those kids offered to help make a movie. They got tickets. They got CREDITED. That's... that's just pure. (Retweets: 112.8K | Likes: 445.9K)

But the Helper Squad wasn't the only thing people were talking about.

The Richard Harris tribute had hit differently.

At the very end of the credits, after the production companies and legal text, one final card had appeared:

….

[This film is dedicated to the memory of–

["Richard Harris" | "Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore"]

- ["It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."]

[Rest In Peace]

….

Simply elegant, using Dumbledore's own words.

The theater Marcus had been in, along with hundreds of others across the country, had gone completely silent when that card appeared.

Then, spontaneously, people started applauding again.

Quietly at first, then building a final ovation for a man who had brought magic to life.

….

Reddit - r/HarryPotter

| The Richard Harris tribute at the end of Goblet of Fire destroyed me. Using that quote. Holding on his face just a little longer in the final montage. The whole film felt like a love letter to him and everything he brought to Dumbledore. I'm not okay.

| My theater applauded when his tribute card came up. Spontaneous standing ovation. Never experienced anything like it. He would have loved knowing how much these films mean to people.

….

[One Week Later | July 10, 2015]

Box Office Numbers - Variety Report

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire opened to $142.7 million domestically, the highest opening weekend in the franchise's history. International numbers pushed the global opening to $394.2 million.

The film is tracking 35% ahead of previous franchise entries, with the 3D format accounting for approximately 60% of ticket sales - an unprecedented percentage for a non-animated film.

Industry analysts attribute the success to multiple factors: the native 3D photography, strong word-of-mouth, emotional resonance of Richard Harris's final appearance, and surprisingly, the viral Helper Squad story which generated significant goodwill and press coverage.

Current projections estimate a global total exceeding $1.3 billion, which would make it the highest-grossing Harry Potter film to date.

….

[July 12, 2015 | Press Junket | Los Angeles]

The interview room was comfortable, soft lighting, plush chairs arranged in a semi-circle, cameras positioned discreetly.

Daniel Radcliffe, Lily Harris, and Rupert Grint sat together on a curved sofa. Chris Columbus occupied a separate chair slightly to the side, present but not dominating the space.

The interviewer, Michelle Park from Entertainment Tonight, settled into her chair with practiced ease.

"First of all." Michelle said, smiling warmly. "Congratulations. The numbers are incredible. Highest opening in franchise history."

"Thank you." Chris said. The three actors nodded, who had gotten used to such compliments by now.

"Now, I have to start with the question everyone's asking–" Michelle leaned forward conspiratorially. "The Yule Ball sequence. Lily, you looked absolutely stunning in that scene–"

Lily smiled, a bit embarrassed. "Thank you."

"–and I have to say, Daniel, your acting during that moment when Hermione descends the stairs? The complete awestruck expression? That was all of us. That was the audience's exact reaction. Top-notch work."

Daniel's face went slightly red. "Oh, uh, thanks. That was - it wasn't really acting, to be honest. Lily looked incredible and I just... reacted."

Rupert snorted. "Mate, you looked like someone had hit you with a Stunning Spell."

"I did not–"

"You actually did." Lily said, grinning. "Your mouth was open and everything."

"It was NOT–"

"It was." Rupert and Lily said in unison.

Michelle laughed. "Well, it worked beautifully. Which brings me to the question everyone wants answered: Who is Hermione going to end up with?"

The room went quiet for a beat.

Lily opened her mouth, closed it, looked at Rupert, then at Daniel, then back at Michelle.

Chris leaned forward slightly. "That's the question, isn't it?"

"It is." Michelle said. "And after that Yule Ball sequence, after the way Ron and Hermione have been developing, after the Harry and Hermione friendship has deepened… people are divided. So... any hints?"

Chris smiled. "Honestly? I don't know."

"You don't know?"

"I genuinely don't. Neither do these three." He gestured at the actors. "There's only one person who knows how this story ends, and he's not telling anyone. We're all waiting just like the audience."

"Regal Seraphsail." Michelle said.

"...and there is absolutely no way he's revealing anything before the books are finished. We just have to wait."

"Speaking of the books…. only two more, correct?"

Chris nodded. "Two more books to complete Harry's story, yes."

"So that will be the end of Harry Potter?"

Chris paused, choosing his words carefully. "The end of Harry's story at Hogwarts? Yes. The end of the Harry Potter world?" He smiled slightly. "I don't think so. There is so much potential in that universe. So many stories that could be told."

He was subtly referring to [The Chronicles of Narnia], which was planned to be connected to the Harry Potter universe.

The first book, [The Magician's Nephew], had already been written and was set for release under the name Thomas Ashford, a relatively veteran author but wasn't that famous.

However, this information was still confidential, so Chris chose not to elaborate.

Michelle looked intrigued but before she could follow up, she turned back to the actors.

"Okay, since the adults aren't giving us anything–" Michelle said with mock frustration. "–what about you three? Personal opinions. Who do you think Hermione should end up with?"

Lily started to answer immediately, the words coming with her usual confidence. "Well, isn't it obvious? It's Harr–"

She stopped mid-word.

Her eyes went slightly distant for a second, like she was remembering something. The trailer screening. Daniel's hand on her arm during the emotional moments. The way he'd stayed close.

"–Harry?" Michelle prompted, sensing the hesitation.

Before Lily could recover, Rupert jumped in. "Why does everyone assume it's Harry? Why can't it be Ron Weasley? What's wrong with Ron?"

"Nothing's wrong with Ron–" Lily started.

"Then why not Ron? He's loyal, he's funny, he cares about her–"

"And Harry doesn't?" Daniel said, his voice a bit sharper than intended.

Rupert grinned. "I am just saying, Ron's a good option and everyone overlooks him."

"Besides." Rupert continued, warming to his argument. "We can't predict Regal. I am telling you, he might do something completely unexpected just because he wants to mess with the readers. He likes keeping people guessing."

"No." Lily said firmly. "Regal wouldn't do that."

"How do you know?"

"Because I know." Lily's voice had an edge to it. "Hermione is Harry's. That's just - that's how it should be."

Daniel looked at her, something complicated flickering across his face.

Rupert raised his eyebrows at Lily's adamant tone. "You're awfully certain about this."

"Because it's obvious." Lily insisted, her cheeks slightly flushed.

To Michelle and the camera crew, it looked adorable, three young actors playfully debating their characters' futures with genuine investment.

To Daniel, watching Lily defend the Harry-Hermione pairing with unusual intensity while carefully not looking at him, it felt like something else entirely. Something that made his chest tight and his face warm.

"Alright, alright." Daniel said, his voice a bit strained. "We should probably stop fighting about this. This isn't our movie set."

Michelle laughed. "This is the most entertaining non-answer I have ever gotten to that question."

The interview continued through several more questions - favorite scenes to film, the 3D experience, working with the new Hungarian Horntail puppet, the graveyard atmosphere.

Then Michelle turned to Chris.

"Chris, this is your final Harry Potter film. How does that feel?"

The question landed differently than expected.

The three actors, who'd been laughing and joking moments before, went still.

Daniel's smile faded. Lily's hand went to her mouth briefly. Rupert's expression shifted to something more serious.

"I hadn't—" Lily started, then stopped. "We haven't really... this might as well be the last interview with you, won't it?"

Chris nodded gently. "It can be…"

"And we already finished shooting." Daniel said quietly. "So that was... that was the last time on set together."

The realization seemed to hit them all at once. The last time Chris would call 'action' with them. The last time he had given them direction. The last time they had worked together was this unit that had formed over years of productions.

Rupert looked down at his hands. Lily blinked rapidly. Daniel swallowed hard.

"Hey." Chris said, his voice warm. "None of that. We had an incredible run. Four films together. That's something special."

"Yeah, but–" Lily's voice was thick.

Chris smiled at her. "But this isn't goodbye forever. This is just the end of this chapter."

He leaned back, shifting the mood deliberately. "Besides, do you three remember my first day on set? Taking over after Regal had to step back from directing the second film?"

The actors looked up, sensing the shift.

"Lily." Chris said, grinning now. "You gave me the coldest shoulder I have ever experienced."

Lily's face went bright red.

Chris said. "You were convinced I was the reason Regal wasn't directing anymore. You barely spoke to me at first…. what was it?"

"It wasn't that long–"

"Half a day." Rupert said, grinning now. "I remember. You were very polite but very cold."

"I wasn't cold. Cautious? Maybe a little…"

"You told me." Rupert continued, enjoying this. "That if this new guy wasn't any good, we should protest. You wanted to make signs."

"I did not say we should make signs–"

"Lies. You said 'We could make signs. Professional ones.'"

Daniel laughed, the sadness from moments before easing. "That's exactly what you had say. 'Professional ones.' Like that would make the protest more legitimate."

"I was eleven!" Lily protested, but she was smiling now despite her embarrassment.

"But you know what?" Chris said. "That cold shoulder lasted maybe twenty minutes once we started actually working. Then you forgot you were supposed to be mad at me and just... became yourself."

"That's just Lily." Daniel said, and something in his voice made everyone look at him.

"She talks big and looks smart." He continued, not quite meeting anyone's eyes. "But she's actually a totally clueless softie. Gets attached to people easily and also a bit protective of them. She–" He paused, seeming to realize he was still talking. "She just cares a lot. About everyone."

The room had gone very quiet.

Lily was staring at Daniel with wide eyes, her cheeks pink.

Rupert was looking between them with barely concealed amusement.

Chris was smiling slightly, like he had just witnessed something interesting.

Michelle was trying very hard to maintain her professional composure while internally screaming because this was gold.

"Well." Michelle said, breaking the silence. "That was... that was very sweet, Daniel."

Daniel's face went scarlet. "I just meant…. she's a good person. That's all. Very... dedicated. To the people she works with. Professional dedication."

"Very professional." Rupert said, his grin threatening to split his face.

"Shut up." Daniel muttered.

Lily was still staring at Daniel, something complicated and soft in her expression.

"Alright." Michelle said, deciding to have mercy. "I think that's a perfect note to end on. Thank you all so much for your time. Congratulations again on the film's success."

The cameras stopped rolling.

For a moment, nobody moved.

Then Chris stood. "Well, that was fun."

"That was something." Rupert agreed, still grinning at Daniel and Lily, who were very carefully not looking at each other.

"I should–" Lily started.

"Yeah, me too–" Daniel said at the same time.

They stood awkwardly, both clearly wanting to say something but not knowing what.

Chris put a hand on each of their shoulders. "You two are adorable and terrible at hiding your feelings."

"We're not–" they both started.

"I am not blind." Chris said gently. "Neither is anyone else who's watched you two work together for the past few years. But that's your business, not mine." He squeezed their shoulders. "Just... don't wait too long to figure it out, okay?"

He walked toward the door, then paused and looked back at all three of them.

"I meant what I said earlier. This isn't goodbye. You three–" His voice got thick. "You're family. That doesn't change just because I am not directing anymore."

Lily rushed forward and hugged him. Chris caught her, returning the embrace.

"I am sorry I gave you the cold shoulder." she said into his shirt.

"I am not." Chris said. "It taught me I had to earn your trust. That was important."

Daniel and Rupert joined the hug, all four of them standing there for a moment.

When they finally broke apart, everyone's eyes were suspiciously bright.

"Okay." Chris said, his voice rough. "Get out of here before I start actually crying and ruin my reputation."

They left, the three actors walking out together into the hallway.

Rupert immediately said, "So, Daniel. 'She's actually a total softie.' That was quite the speech."

"Shut up, Rupert."

"'Gets attached to people easily.' Were you describing Lily or confessing your feelings?"

"I will punch you."

"I would like to see you try–"

Lily walked between them, grabbed both their arms, and kept walking. "We're not doing this in a hallway where anyone can hear us."

"So we're doing it somewhere private?" Rupert asked innocently.

"Rupert Grint, I swear–"

Their voices faded as they disappeared down the corridor, still bickering, still together.

Behind them, Chris Columbus stood in the doorway, watching them go.

Four films. Years of work. Watching these three kids grow up and grow into their roles and grow into themselves.

It really was the end of something special.

But Michelle had been right about one thing, that final moment with Daniel's unexpected speech, Lily's reaction, the way they all still functioned as a unit despite the complicated feelings developing between them–

That had been perfect.

A perfect note to end on.

He really hopes Hermione ends up with Harry.

Chris smiled and headed back into the room to collect his things.

Some endings, he thought, were really just new beginnings disguised as goodbyes.

.

….

[To be continued…]

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