Anna Potter and Prisoner of Askaban

Chapter 2

THE KNIGHT BUS
[No seats. Only beds. The brass frames need a shine, the lines a wash. In one bed, a disheveled wizard grunts, turns over in his sleep.]
Disheveled Wizard: Not now... I'm pickling slugs... [Behind the wheel, Ernie, an unshaven wizard in thick glasses, stares straight ahead, armpits stained with sweat. A shrunken head dangles from the rearview mirror, Muttering incessantly through the stitches that lace its mouth.]
Stan Shunpike: Take 'er away, Ern.
Shrunken head: Yeah, take it away! [BANG! Ernie rockets away and the beds -- as one -- slide six inches to the rear. Anna drops onto the bed nearest, peers up at the chandelier swaying directly above her head. Beyond the windscreen oncoming traffic whips past in a blur.]
Stan Shunpike: Wot you say your name was again?
Anna: I didn't.
Slytherins nodded approvingly.
[Stan, huddled in an armchair, peeks over The Daily Prophet, eyes Anna coolly, before disappearing once more. Anna brushes the fringe of her hair over her scar, watches an ambulance -- siren wailing -- careen past.]
Stan Shunpike: Whereabouts you headin'? [Anna hesitates. She hadn't thought about this. Decides.]
Anna: The Leaky Cauldron. That's in London --
Stan Shunpike: Is it now? Get that, Ern? The Leaky Cauldron. That's in London. [Stan grins with sinister delight, showing bad teeth.]
Shrunken head: Leaky Cauldron! Stay away from the pea soup! [As the Shrunken Head cackles with delight, Anna peers out the windscreen, watches London careering by.]
Anna: Isn't this a bit... dangerous?
Stan Shunpike: Naah. Haven't had an accident in -- what? -- a week is it, Ern?
"Reassuring." Said Lily sarcastically.
Shrunken head: Heads up! Little old lady at twelve o'clock! Sure enough, directly ahead, a little old lady is crossing the street. [Ernie hits the brakes hard and Anna flies forward, palms to the window. The brakes pinch down, the bus stops inches from the old lady, and Anna flies back onto her bed. BANG! The bus rockets forward once more. As Anna rights herself, she notices the headline of Stan's daily prophet: Escape from Azkaban! Below, a sunken-faced man with long, matted hair glowers from a moving photograph.]
"Is that-- Is that you?!" Said horrified James to Sirius.
"My hair! My precious hair. What happened to it?" Yelles Sirius. Remus, James, Lily and Regulus glared at him.
"It isn't a joke! You are in Azkaban!" Yelled Remus.
"Future me is. We will fix it, remember?" Said Sirius and packed Remus's lips. Narcissa grabbed worried Regulus's hand.
Anna: Who is that? That man.
Stan Shunpike: Who is that? That's Sirius Black, that is. Don' tell me you ne'er been hearin' o' Sirius Black? [Anna shakes her head, still staring at the man's face.]
Stan Shunpike: A murderer, he is. Got 'imself locked up in Azkaban for it.
Anna: How'd he escape?
Stan Shunpike: Tha's the question, isn't it? He's the firs' that's done it.
"I'm so cool." Cheered Sirius weakily, trying to light up a mood. No one looked amused.
"Tough crowd." Said Sirius.
"This is not joking matter!" Said James.
"I know. It is Sirius matter." Said Sirius. Remus shakes his head.
Stan Shunpike: Gives me the collywobbles thinking he's out there, though, I'll tell you that. Big supporter of YouKnow-'Oo, Black was. Reckon you heard o' him.
"Now it's riddiculas! Everyone knows Sirius would never support him!" Said Lily.
"Yeah. Remember what Miss Hufflepuff said? 'Sirius was blamed, he is innocent' " Reminded James and patted Sirius's back reassuringly. Sirius sent weak smile toward him.
"I hope you are right." Said Sirius.
"I am." Said James.
[Anna nods and, as she does, Black's eyes shift. Meet Anna's.]
Anna: Yeah. Him I've heard of. [Just then, a pair of double-decker buses sweep directly toward the Knight Bus. Before can scream, the entire Knight Bus squeezes down and shoots the gap between the two onrushing buses. The Shrunken Head winces.]
Shrunken head: Hate that.
Anna: This bus. Don't the Muggles ever...
Stan Shunpike: Them! Don' listen properly, do they? Don' look properly either. Never notice nuffink, they don'.
Lily looked offended.
[Just then, a couple walking a dog are engulfed by a rush of winf as the (invisible) Knight Bus whooshes past. The couple glances about in bewilderment. The dog yaps madly.]
Shrunken head: Turn! Turn! [Ernie fans the wheel, sending the Knight Bus into a dizzying 360-degree turn. headlights pinwheel past the windows as the bus rides up on two wheels and Anna is sent flying once more. Grabbing fast to the center pole, she pirouettes through the air when Ernie... slams on the brakes.]
CHARING CROSS ROAD/LEAKY CAULDRON
[The Knight Bus fishtails into view and squeals to a stop, centimeters from a parked car. WHOOSH! The bus settles and -- TINK! -- taps the bumper. Instantly, the car's alarm wails.]
"I'll never travel with knight bus!" Said Lily.
LEAKY CAULDRON
[As the Knight Bus rockets off, Tom and Anna are revealed, Anna glances up, reads the sign above: The Leaky Cauldron. Tom drags Anna's trunk inside, then pauses and, with a flick of his wand, silences the car alarm.]
LEAKY CAULDRON - BAR/HALLWAY
[Anna trails Tom through the quiet room. The bartender glances up, his gaze lingering perhaps a bit too long. A solitary wizard reads a book while, at his elbow, his coffe cup stirs itself. Tom leads Anna upstairs.]
LEAKY CAULDRON - BACK ROOM
[As Anna follows Tom inside, she finds a snow white owl (Hedwig) perched atop a chair.]
Anna: Hedwig!
Tom: Right smart bird you've got there, Ms. Potter. Arrived only minutes before yourself. [A man clears his throat. Anna turns, finds a pinstriped silhouette (Cornelious Fudge) at the window, staring at the ghostly shadows beyond. Anna's reflection shivers in the glass, but the man doesn't turn. Tom takes a position against the wall, fishes a pair of walnuts from his pocket and -- CRACK -- crushes the shells between his palms.]
Conrelious Fudge: I should tell you, Ms. Potter, earlier this evening your uncle's sister was located just south of Sheffield, circling a chimney stack. The Accidental Magic Reversal Department was dispatched and she's been properly punctured and her memory modified. She has no recollection of the incident whatsoever.
Everyone looks interested what he'll do.
[Anna narrows her eyes at Fudge, but doesn't say anything. Then Fudge turns.]
Conrelious Fudge: So that's that, and no harm done. (smiling) Pea soup?
"That's it? Not even warning?" Asked surprised Regulus.
[Anna glances warily from the steaming tureen of green to Tom, who works a grimy thumb into his gum, frees a walnut sliver.]
Anna: No, thank you.
Conrelious Fudge: Tomorrow you'll be on your way to Hogwarts. These are your new schoolbooks. I took the liberty of having them brought here for you.
"What is he planing?" Asked Lucius.
[Anna eyes the stack of books. One is bound by a rope, than looks at Fudge.]
Conrelious Fudge: By the way, Anna. Whilst you're here it would be best if you didn't... wander.
"This is weird." Muttered James.
LEAKY CAULDRON - ROOM ELEVEN - MORNING
[Through the window: The rooftops of London. A train passes and camera pulls back, Revelas Anna, standing with Hedwig. She turns, eyes her schoolbooks. She studies the growling tome -- The Monster Book of Monsters -- then gives the rope a tug. Instantly the book leaps to the floor, pages flying, bookcovers snapping.]
"What kind of book is that?" Said Lily.
"See, Moony? Books are dangerous." Said Sirius. Remus rolled his eyes fondly.
[Anna gives chase, then the book turns, begins nipping viciously at her shoes. Anna vaults atop the bed, watches the book disappear underneath, then grabs a pillow. Seconds later, the book scuttles into view and Anna pounces -- FLUMPH! The book roars angrily, muffled beneath the pillow. Anna takes the rope, prepares to rebind it.]
LEAKY CAULDRON - HALLWAY/ROOM ELEVEN
[A young witch in maid's robes pushes a cart down the hall. Anna exits her room as the witch knocks on a door.]
Young Witch: Housekeeping. [As she opens the door, she's greeted by a thunderous roar and a rush of wind.]
Young Witch: (unperturbed) I'll come back later.
"She is so nonchalant about it." Laughed James.
LEAKY CAULDRON - STAIRWAY
[As Anna reaches bottom, she finds Rose Weasley. sensing another presence in the room she turns.]
Rose: (yells) Anna. [Runs to Anna and hugs her, Anna hugs back.]
Rose: I missed you.
Anna: I missed you, too.
People smile at friends.
[Close up - A dod-eared clipping from The Daily Prophet. A headline screams: "GRAND PRIZE WINNER VISITS EGYPT!" In the accompanying photo, the entire Weasley family stands before the great pyramids, waving. Smack in the middle is Rose, Scabbers perched on her shoulder.]