Anna Potter and Prisoner of Askaban

Chapter 1

NUMBER FOUR PRIVET DRIVE
[The street slumbers, adrift in shadow. Then... a curious beam of light bobs beyond the second-story window of Number Four.]
ANNA'S ROOM
[A tent of blankets. Within... the shadow of a girl. A whisper:]
Anna: Lumos Maxima... [The tent blooms softly with light -- briefly illuminating a bedside photograph (of James & Lily Potter) -- then goes dark.]
James and Lily smile sadly.
Anna: Lumos Maxima... [The blankets bloom once again when, down the hall, a toilet flushes. Instantly, the shadow stiffens, the blankets dim, and the tent flattens. Just as.. the bedroom door opens, revealing... Uncle Vernon. He peers inside, eyes flashing suspiciously, then... withdraws. The tent rises.]
Anna: Lumos Maxima...
"Isn't magic forbidden there?" Said Lucius.
"It's too small magic to be noticed." Said Barty.
[As the blankets blaze, we cut inside, find a skinny girl with a long black hair, thick glasses sitting crookedly atop her nose: Anna Potter. Open before her is Violeta Stitch's Extreme Incantations.]
Anna: Lumos... MAXIMA! [A blinding blast of light flahes from the second story window of Number Four. Dogs bark. And a Title card appears: Anna Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.]
"Oh, no. Now she will have to fight some prisoner, too?" Groaned Lily.
"She's giving me gray hair and she isn't even born." Cried James.
ANNA'S ROOM
[The light in the hallway snaps on, Anna's tent droops once more and, seconds later, Anna's door eases open. Uncle Vernon peers in and switches on the light. The room is utterly silent. Slowly, he closes the door. The doorbell chimes and a shrill voice thunders:]
Aunt Petunia(O.S.): Anna! Anna! [Anna bounds down the stairs and into the front hall, where her aunt Petunia and cousin Dudley stand stiffly. Petunia flicks a bit of fluff from Dudley's sweater, glowers crossly at Anna, and jerks her head toward the door.]
Aunt Petunia: Well, go on. Open it.
"She couldn't do it herself?" Said annoyed Sirius.
[Anna reaches for the knob when -- BLAM! -- it bursts open, revealing a large, waddling woman (Aunt Marge) and a large waddling bulldog (Ripper). Uncle Vernon lurches forward out of the teeming rain, an enormous suitcase in hand, and drops it on Anna.]
"Marge." Groaned Lily.
"Who is she?" Asked Remus.
"Vernon's bitch sister." Said Lily.
Aunt Petunia: Marge! Welcome! How was the train?
Aunt Marge: Wretched. Ripper got sick.
Aunt Petunia: Ah. How... unfortunate.
Aunt Marge: I would've left him with the others, but he pines so when I'm away. Don't you, darling? [Aunt Marge puckers her lips at Ripper and leads him down the hallway. Anna follows with Uncle Vernon.]
Anna: Uncle Vernon. I need you to sign this form.
Uncle Vernon: What is it?
Anna: Nothing. Something for school...
[Uncle Vernon eyes the parchment in Anna's hand suspiciously.]
Uncle Vernon: Later perhaps. If you behave.
Anna: I will if she does.
Aunt Marge: (turning, eyeing Anna) So. Still here, are you?
"I don't like her already." Said Evan. Regulus and Barty nodded.
Anna: Yes.
Aunt Marge: Don't say 'yes' in that ungrateful tone. Damn good of my brother to keep you, if you ask me. (To Vernon and Petunia) It'd have been straight to an orphanage if he'd been dumped on my doorstep.
Everyone glares at her.
[Just then Dudley -- sitting comatose before the TV -emits a hollow, brain-dead chuckle.]
Aunt Marge: Is that my Dudders! Hm? Is that my neffy poo?
Marauders and Barty couldn't hold it anymore and burst out laughing. Lucius and Evan chuckled, too. Regulus and Narcissa were good at hiding it, but they were amused.
"Neffy poo." Wheezed Sirius.
Anutie Marge: Come and say hello to your Auntie Marge. [Marge flashes a thick fan of pound notes.]
"He gets paid to hug his aunt?" Said James in disbelief.
[Dudley blinks, waddles forward, and extends his plump palm obediently. Anna looks on, then sees Ripper snuffling about her ankle.]
DINING ROOM
[As Anna clears the dishes, Uncle Vernon brings out a bottle of brandy.]
Uncle Vernon: Can I tempt you, Marge?
Aunt Marge: Just a small one. A bit more... a bit more... That's the boy. (taking a sloppy sip) Aah.
Narcissa looks at Marge with pure disgust.
Aunt Marge: Excellent nosh, Petunia.
It's normally just a fry-up for me, what with twelve dogs. [She smacks her lips, lowers her brandy, and lets Ripper take a slobbery lap out of the glass... then catches Anna looking.]
Aunt Marge: What are you smirking at!
"She wasn't smirking!" Said annoyed James.
Aunt Marge: Where is it that you send her, Vernon?
Uncle Vernon: St. Brutus's. It's a first-rate institution for hopeless cases.
[Hearing this, Anna frowns, glances at Uncle Vernon, who glares darkly at her.]
Aunt Marge: I see. And do they use the cane at St. Brutus's, girl?
"Is she serious?!" Said Lily.
"No, I am." Said Sirius. Lily rolls her eyes.
Anna: (Sarcastically) Oh, yes. I've been beaten loads of times.
Aunt Marge: Excellent. I won't have this namby-pamby wishy-washy nonsense about not hitting people who deserve it. (Another sip) Still. Mustn't blame yourself for how this one's turned out, Vernon. It all comes down to blood. Bad blood will out. What is it the boy's father did, Petunia?
Aunt Petunia: (agitated) Nothing. That is... he didn't work. He was -- unemployed.
"I'm sure i wasn't!" Defended James.
"Well.. He was to busy fighting in WAR!" Shouted Sirius.
Aunt Marge: Of course. And a drunk, I expect --
Anna: That's a lie.
"Look at my little flower defending me." Said smiling James.
[Aunt Marge pauses on her wine, eyes narrowing on Anna.]
Aunt Marge: What did you say?
Anna: My dad wasn't a drunk. [POP! The glass in Aunt Marge's hand explodes.]
Aunt Petunia: Oh my goodness! Marge!
Aunt Marge: Not to worry, Petunia. I have a very firm grip. [Anna stares at the shattered glass in surprise.]
Uncle Vernon: You go to bed. Now.
Aunt Marge: Quiet, Vernon. It doesn't matter about the father. In the end it comes down to the mother. You see it all the time with dogs. If there's something wrong with the bitch, there'll be something wrong with the pup...
"That fucking cunt! I will burn her alive!" Yelled furious James.
"And they say we are violent." Said Barty to Regulus.
"Did you add her into list?" Asked Remus with dangerously calm tone.
"Of course, i did." Said Sirius.
Anna: SHUT UP! [Aunt Marge starts to reply, when -- ZING! -- a butto on her dress sails into the air. Seams groan. Thread snaps. Aunt Marge's eyes widen. Her cheeks billow. Her whole body billows. And she begins to inflate like a monstrous balloon.]
"She... She..." said Lily.
"That's powerful accidental magic. Expecially for someone who already has wand." Said impressesed Barty.
Uncle Vernon: MARGE! [As she rises, Uncle Vernon leaps for her. Ripper growls, fixes his teeth to his trousers. Anna frightened by what she's done, watches Aunt Marge bounce gently across the ceiling and into the conservatory.]
Everyone started laughing.
BACK YARD
[The others race outside. As Aunt Marge begins to float away, Uncle Vernon grips her hands.]
Uncle Vernon: Don't worry! I've got you... [Slowly... to his horror... Uncle Vernon himself begins to rise. Aunt Marge looks fearfully into his eyes...]
Aunt Marge: Vernon. Don't you dare --
[But he does. He lets go. Falls to his knees. And watches Aunt Marge float away.]
"I can't br-- breath." Said laughing James, clunching his sides.
ANNA'S ROOM
[Anna crashes inside, takes her trunk, then puts her heel to a loose floorboard and removes her wand from its hiding place. Turning, she grabs the photograph of her parents.]
HALLWAY
[BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Anna tows the trunk down the stairs... finds Uncle Vernon waiting for her.]
Uncle Vernon: YOU BRING HER BACK! YOU BRING HER BACK AND PUT HER RIGHT!
Anna: No! She deserved what she got! And you... you keep away from me. [Uncle Vernon eyes Anna's wand nervously, then grins with knowing cruelty.]
"I don't like that look." Said Lily.
Uncle Vernon: You're not allowed to do magic out of school. They won't have you now. You've got nowhere to go. [Anna realizes it's true, but her face is emotionless.]
Anna: I'm the girl who lived. They would probably still greet me with open arms even if i killed you. Want to test the theory? [Vernon backs away.]
"That's my little snake! I'm so proud." Said Barty. Evan and Regulus looked amused at his antics.
"He will kidnapp her, won't he?" Said Regulus to Evan.
"Definetly." Said Evan.
"No one is kidnapping my daughter!" Said James.
"She will be my daughter." Said smirking Barty.
"No, she won't." Said James.
"Yes, she will." Said Barty.
"No, she won't." Said James.
"Yes, she..." Said Barty, but got interrupted.
"Shut up both of you!" Said Lily. Barty and James glared at each other.
NUMBER FOUR PRIVET DRIVE
[As Anna storms out with her trunk, we dolly to the street with him. High in the sky, a plump dot rises. Aunt Marge.]
MAGNOLIA CRESCENT
[Anna walks and walks and walks, then... stops. Glances about. An empty playground. Swings creaking gently on rusted chains. A tiny carousel, kissed gently by the wind, turning slowly.]
"It looks like a scene from horror movie." Said worried Lily. Remus nodded.
[Anna drops the trunk. Sits. Deep in the night, an alarm shrieks, goes silent. Anna, still as a statue. Listening. In the trees above, leaves tremble. The wind gathers. Anna turns, studies the swaying swings, the carousel. Then, she... stiffens. Turns back. Sensing something in the shadows across the street, she rises. Slowly draws her wand.]
Everyone is nervous.
[Then she sees... it. Something big. Darker than the shadows which conceal it. Something with wide, gleaming eyes. Anna steps back. Afraid to look. Afraid not to. Wand outstretched... she trips, tumbles over the forgotten trunk. The tip of her wand blazes. BANG! twin beams of blinding light spear the night.]
Anna: Aaaah! [Giant wheels bear down. Anna rolls clear -- just as a preposterously purple, Triple- Decker bus screeches to a halt. Gold letterz glimmer above the windscreen: The Knight Bus. Door hiss. Snap back. Reveal stan shunpike, an 18 year-old boy in a wrinkled conductor's uniform. Pasty face. Raccoon eyes. Stan looks like he hasn't seen the sun in years.]
"At least she won't have to stay outside." Said Sirius.
Stan Shunpike: (wearily, drearily) Welcome to the Knight Bus. Emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard. My name is Stan Shunpike, and I will be your conductor this evening. (peering at Anna) Wha' choo doin' down there?
Anna: Fell over.
Stan Shunpike: Wha' choo fall over for?
Anna: I didn't do it on purpose. [Stan eyes Anna suspiciously, nods slowly.]
Stan Shunpike: Well, come on then. Let's not wait for the grass to grow. [As Stan grabs Anna's trunk, Anna peers into the shadows across the street -- now simply shadows -- and climbs aboard.]