More Than a Story

Date: September 29, 2000 | Friday

POV Oliver

Today was the day it really began. After all the castings and press events, the official kick-off for Harry Potter had finally arrived. Cast and crew were meeting at the hotel for their first line reading, and Oliver had just arrived with Margaret and Peter.

The old Volvo announced their arrival about ten seconds before anyone actually saw it.

Peter steered the ageing estate car up to the hotel entrance while something metallic rattled somewhere beneath them.

"That noise is getting worse," Oliver observed.

"Nonsense," Sister Margaret said. "It's been doing that for years."

Oliver looked between the two of them from the back seat. "I'm not sure that's supposed to be reassuring."

Margaret ignored him.

Peter switched off the engine. The Volvo coughed once more before finally falling silent.

"Warner would've sent us a car," Peter said.

"We have a car," Margaret insisted.

Oliver looked through the windscreen at the bonnet, which was still vibrating slightly.

"That is a very generous definition of a car," he said, looking hopefully at Sister Margaret. "I could just buy a new one."

"No," she said, short and simple.

Oliver couldn't understand the nun. Qualcomm's share price had quite literally exploded over the past few weeks. Since July, it had risen by another 500 per cent.

His original investment of £10,000 had multiplied several times over. His shares were now worth more than £125,000 and would double again by the time he had to sell them.

"Margaret, I have an image to maintain here. Look, all my colleagues are turning up in fancy cars," he said, pausing to point at the wreck. "And we turn up in this!"

"That fits Harry Potter's image perfectly!" she argued.

"Peter, say something!" Oliver protested.

"Sorry, Boss. Sister speaks in the name of the Lord," Peter apologised.

Margaret gave him a triumphant look. "Let's go inside."

Oliver threw his hands up in defeat and followed her in silence while Peter went to park the car.

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"Hello, Oliver!" Jo, the crazy author, called across the hotel lobby as she made her way towards them. "Sister Margaret, lovely to see you again."

"Mrs Rowling," Oliver greeted her. He was about to ask where they were going when she beat him to it, placed a hand on his shoulder and pushed him along in front of her.

"Come on. They're all dying to meet the boy who gave director Chris Columbus a proper dressing-down before filming has even started," she said, bursting into laughter.

"I did nothing of the sort!" he protested as he let her steer him towards the conference room.

"Ah, yes. Harry Potter. Our new celebrity," Snape said.

Yes, that's right. Snape!

Alan Rickman.

"Snape!" Oliver replied with disgust. At least, he tried to sound disgusted. In reality, he was more than a little starstruck.

Alan burst out laughing and clapped him on the shoulder. "Pleasure to meet you, Oliver! I've heard a lot about you!"

"Olli, sit over here!" Chris called, pointing to the seat beside him at the front.

"Good, now that the last of us have finally arrived..." He paused and gave Oliver an accusing look. "...we can begin."

"Ey, I wasn't late!" Oliver protested, strolling casually over to his seat and giving Chris a provocative look.

"Right, first of all, welcome, everyone," Chris began. "For those of you who don't know me yet, I'm Chris Columbus, the director of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Which means you'll probably be seeing more of me over the next few months than you'd like."

A few people in the room laughed.

"Before we begin, Jo would like to say a few words."

"Hello, everyone. I'm Joanne Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter books. But please, call me Jo," she introduced herself, glancing around the room. "Harry Potter is more than a series of books to me, and this isn't just another film either."

She paused for a moment.

"Many of these characters mean a great deal to me, and now I'm entrusting them to all of you. I know we can't put every word from the books onto the screen. But when people see this film, I want them to recognise the Hogwarts they imagined when they read them."

Jo smiled. "So let's make something we can all be proud of."

Chris nodded. "Good. Then I'd say it's time we got to know each other," he said, pointing at Oliver. "You start."

Oliver sat there for a moment, wondering what he should say. Of course, a simple introduction would have been more than enough. But he was the lead actor. A kid that probably no one in the room had ever even heard of.

"My name is Oliver Bennett," he said, pausing dramatically. "Harry Potter may be something very special to Jo, a character from a book to some of you, and simply a role to others."

He let his gaze travel around the room, making sure he had everyone's attention.

"To me, he's even more than that!" he said, looking at Jo.

"Harry was part of my life long before I ever even thought about becoming an actor. His story was with me when I was still trying to find my own place in the world."

Oliver paused. This time, he didn't need the pause for effect.

"I know what it's like to lose your parents. I know what it's like to wonder where you belong when you've almost lost all hope." he said, remembering not only his life here, but the one before it as well.

"Harry Potter isn't just a story. Not to me. It was somewhere I could retreat to. The story of a boy who didn't just learn magic, but found people who supported him, accepted him for who he was, and with whom he eventually found happiness."

Oliver glanced at Chris.

"Chris, I'm sorry. I know this isn't quite what you meant by introducing ourselves. But I want to make a promise to everyone here, especially to you, Jo. I'll do everything I can to make sure my Harry Potter does justice to the character who has given me so much."

He paused once more and looked at Joanne Rowling.

"And thank you, Jo. For creating this world. The world of Harry Potter."