….
["Regal, I am so sorry to call with this, but you need to know–
["Richard Harris passed away this morning."
Regal's face went blank, then dark. "What!?"
["He collapsed at a hotel. They rushed him to the hospital but—"] Samantha's voice cracked slightly. ["He didn't make it, hodgkin's disease. It happened very fast."]
The others could hear every word in the quiet room. Gwendolyn's hand went to her mouth. Seren closed her eyes. Keanu sat forward, expression grim.
"Does Lily know?" Regal asked, his voice carefully controlled.
["Chris is with her now. He wanted me to tell you before the news broke publicly."]
"When did this happen?"
["Early this morning, around six AM. The family is releasing a statement in the next hour."]
Regal was quiet for a long moment. "Thank you for telling me. We're leaving now."
He ended the call and stood motionless, processing.
Richard Harris.
Dumbledore.
The anchor of the Harry Potter films. The actor who had brought gravitas and warmth to every scene, who had mentored the young cast, who had become beloved by everyone who worked with him.
…Gone?
"Oh god." Gwendolyn said softly. "Lily."
Lily Harris - who had played Hermione since she was eleven years old.
Also, she is Richard's real granddaughter, and it would be too little to say that the duo are set favourites, while being part of many behind the set moments during the [Harry Potter] filming.
Regal pulled out his phone and called Chris Columbus.
Chris answered on the first ring. ["Did you hear?"]
"Yes."
There was a pause. Just breathing on the other end of the line.
"How is she?" Regal asked.
"Devastated. They all are… Daniel, Rupert, Lily especially…. She is not talking much." Chris's voice was rough. "We are at my house. Can you come?"
"We're leaving now."
"Thank you."
The call ended.
Regal looked at the others. "We need to go."
They moved quickly, gathering belongings without discussion. The levity from minutes ago felt like it belonged to a different lifetime.
In the car, nobody spoke. Gwendolyn sat beside Regal in the back seat, holding his hand. Keanu drove with Seren in the passenger seat, both silent.
Regal's phone buzzed constantly - messages from the cast, from Red Studio, from crew members who had worked on the films. Everyone is processing the same impossible news.
Then Twitter notifications started flooding in.
The news had broken.
@Variety: BREAKING: Richard Harris, acclaimed actor who portrayed Albus Dumbledore in the [Harry Potter] films, has died at 72. More details to follow.
@HollywoodReporter: Richard Harris dead at 72. The legendary actor passed away this morning from Hodgkin's disease.
@BBCNews: BREAKING: Irish actor Richard Harris dies aged 72.
The reactions came immediately:
@HarryPF: No. No no no. Not Dumbledore. This can't be real.
@EmtViewer: Richard Harris WAS Dumbledore. I can't process this.
@Start-F: This is the worst news. He was perfect in that role. RIP to a legend.
But then other reports started surfacing - ones that made Regal's stomach turn.
@TMZ: BREAKING: Richard Harris' last words were reportedly "It was the food! Don't touch the food!" as he was wheeled into the ambulance from the hotel.
@EntertainmentNews: Witnesses report Richard Harris shouted warning about food before collapse. Investigation ongoing.
@GossipOutlet: Richard Harris' disturbing final words raise questions about circumstances of death.
….
"What the hell is this?" Seren said from the front seat, reading her own phone. "They're turning his death into a conspiracy theory?"
Regal's jaw tightened. "That's what they do."
….
More outlets picked it up:
@SensationalistNews: Did Richard Harris die from food poisoning? The last words suggest something sinister.
@ClickbaitMedia: What REALLY killed Richard Harris? His final warning suggests foul play.
….
"This is disgusting." Gwendolyn said, reading over Regal's shoulder. "The man just died and they're making it into a mystery."
Keanu's hands tightened on the steering wheel. "He had Hodgkin's disease, that's what killed him. Not food, or conspiracy - cancer."
"Tell that to TMZ." Seren muttered bitterly.
….
Regal was already typing a message to Simon.
[Regal:] Block all media inquiries, no statements as of now. Wait for the family's official word.
[Simon:] Already on it. But outlets are going crazy with the 'last words' angle.
[Regal:] Sue them.
….
They arrived at Chris's house in Brentwood forty minutes later.
Several cars were already there - some of the producers', a few other cast members. The house had the subdued, heavy atmosphere of a place where grief had settled.
Chris met them at the door, looking older than he had a week ago.
"They're in the living room." he said quietly. "Lily is not doing well."
Inside, Daniel Radcliffe sat on the couch, red-eyed. Rupert Grint stood by the window, arms crossed, staring at nothing. And Lily was curled in a chair, small and silent, looking devastated.
"Hey." Regal said softly, moving to sit near Lily.
She looked up, eyes wet. "Did you hear what they're saying? About the food?"
"I saw it."
"It's not true, he was sick for months. The doctors told him to rest but he insisted on finishing his scenes for Goblet of Fire." Her voice broke. "He said he wouldn't let us down. That Dumbledore needed to be there."
Gwendolyn sat on the arm of Emma's chair, putting a hand on her shoulder.
"The press is making it into something sensational." Lily continued, anger mixing with grief. "Like it's mysterious or suspicious. But it's not… It's just sad. He was sick and he died and now people are turning it into a story instead of respecting that he's gone."
"I know." Regal said.
"He was kind." Lily said, tears falling freely now. "Everyone focuses on his acting, which was brilliant, but he was just... kind. He checked on me and other kinds between takes. Asked about our schoolwork. Told us stories about his career to help with nerves. He was—"
She couldn't finish.
Daniel spoke up from the couch, voice hoarse. "The last day we filmed together, he told me to take care of the younger cast. Said that was the real responsibility - not the acting, but making sure everyone felt safe and supported."
"He said something similar to me." Rupert added quietly. "About remembering why we started doing this. For the joy of it, not the fame."
The room fell into heavy silence.
Regal's phone buzzed. A message from the Harris family's publicist, copied to key production members:
….
Official statement releasing in 30 minutes. Requests that the media respect privacy. No details about final moments will be shared - those are for family only.
….
Good. Let them shut down the sensationalist speculation.
The statement came exactly on time:
….
The family of Richard Harris is deeply saddened to announce his passing this morning at age 72. Richard died peacefully with family present, after a long battle with Hodgkin's disease.
He was a loving father, grandfather, and friend. A brilliant actor who brought joy and depth to every role. His portrayal of Albus Dumbledore introduced him to a new generation of fans, and he cherished being part of the Harry Potter family.
We ask that his final moments be kept private, reserved for the family to process in peace. Any reports claiming to know his 'last words' or final actions are speculation and invasion of privacy.
Richard lived a remarkable life. Please honor his memory by celebrating his work and the kindness he showed to everyone who knew him.
Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hodgkin's lymphoma research.
….
The statement was clear, dignified, and directly contradicted the sensationalist reporting.
But of course, that didn't stop the tabloids:
….
@TMZ: Richard Harris family denies 'food warning' reports but sources say otherwise.
@GossipRag: What is the Harris family hiding about Richard's death?
….
"They are vultures." Seren said, reading over Keanu's shoulder.
"Always have been." Chris replied bitterly.
Regal stood. "Excuse me for a minute."
He stepped into Chris's study and called Simon.
"I need you to do something." Regal said when Simon answered.
"What?"
"Coordinate with the Harris family's legal team. Every outlet publishing speculative bullshit about his death - send cease and desist letters. Invasion of privacy, harassment of grieving family, whatever applies legally."
"That's a lot of outlets."
"I don't care. Make it expensive for them to continue. Hit TMZ especially hard - they started this."
"Regal–"
"He was a good man who died from cancer. His family deserves to grieve without vultures turning it into entertainment." Regal's voice was cold, controlled fury. "Make it stop."
Simon was quiet for a moment. "I will make the calls."
"Thank you."
Regal returned to the living room, where the cast and crew had begun sharing memories.
Daniel talked about Richard's sense of humor between takes. Rupert mentioned how Richard would slip him candy during long shooting days. Lily shared how Richard had given her advice about handling fame–"Remember you're a person first, an actor second."
Chris recounted Richard's dedication to getting Dumbledore exactly right - hours spent discussing character motivation, relationships with students, the weight of leadership.
"He understood Dumbledore deeply." Chris said. "Not just as a wizard but as someone carrying tremendous responsibility while trying to remain kind. That's hard to act. Richard made it look effortless."
As the afternoon wore on, the initial shock began settling into something more permanent. Grief with edges, the kind that would last.
Around four PM, Gwendolyn quietly suggested they handle something practical.
"Lily." she said gently. "Do you want help drafting a statement? The press will ask."
Lily looked up, exhausted. "I don't know what to say."
"Say what you feel. We'll help you make it clear."
They worked together - Lily, Gwendolyn, and Regal - crafting something honest without being exploited by the media.
….
Later that night.
Regal and Gwendolyn returned to their hotel suite around eleven PM.
Both were exhausted - emotionally more than physically. The kind of tiredness that came from sustained grief, from supporting others through their pain while processing your own.
Gwendolyn sat on the edge of the bed, staring at nothing.
"You okay?" Regal asked.
"...it was just when you first wrote the Dumbledore character, and I read the script of the first Harry Potter film, I was sceptical as to who can bring such gentleness and mysterious harshness to such a character. Surprise me, like you always - Richard was spot on."
"Now… I can't imagine anyone other than him in that role."
"True. I feel the same."
He sat beside her, and they just existed together in the quiet.
"Lily's going to struggle with this." Gwendolyn said eventually. "She looked up to him so much."
"I know. Chris is arranging for a grief counselor to be available on set. For all of them, but especially the younger cast."
"That's good."
More silence.
"The tabloid coverage was disgusting,=." Gwendolyn said, anger creeping into her voice. "Turning someone's death into a mystery, speculating about his final moments, completely disrespecting his family—"
"Simon's handling it. Legal letters to everyone pushing that narrative."
"They deserve to be sued into silence."
Regal pulled out his phone, checking updates. The conspiracy theories were still circulating but losing steam as mainstream coverage focused on Richard's legacy.
The Harris family had posted photos - Richard throughout his career, including behind-the-scenes shots from Harry Potter sets. Him laughing with the young cast. Him in full Dumbledore costume, looking every inch the wise wizard.
The comments were overwhelmingly supportive now:
….
@Fan1: Thank you for sharing these. What a beautiful life he lived.
@Fan2: Dumbledore will live forever because of Richard Harris. Rest in peace to a legend.
@Fan3: Ignore the tabloids. We're celebrating his memory, not speculating about nonsense.
….
Regal set down his phone and lay back on the bed.
Gwendolyn joined him, both staring at the ceiling.
"Life's fragile." she said quietly.
"Yeah."
"Makes you think about what matters."
"It does."
She turned to look at him. "Promise me something."
"What?"
"Promise me we won't take this for granted. Us, the people we love, the time we have. Because it can end so suddenly."
"I promise."
"I am serious, Regal."
"So am I." He met her eyes. "I promise. No more taking you for granted, no more assuming there's always more time. I will do better."
She kissed him softly. "Good."
They fell asleep like that - fully dressed, lights on, holding each other because today had been a reminder that nothing was permanent and the people you loved deserved to be held close while you still could.
….
.
[To be continued…]
★─────⇌•★•⇋─────★
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