Anna Potter and Prisoner of Askaban

Chapter 3

LEAKY CAULDRON
[As Rose smoothes the dog-eared clipping onto the table, Anna studies it.]
Anna: Egypt! What's it like?
"I'll take you." Promised James.
Rose: It was too hot, but still brilliant. It's got loads of old stuff. Mummies. Death masks. Tombs, I even rode a camel.
Anna: Sounds cool.
Rose: It was. Oh, I also got a new wand. [Just then, a commotion is heard. The Weasleys -- Percy, Fred, George, Arthur, and Molly -- arrive en masse, laden with purchases from Diagon Alley.]
George: Not flashing that clipping about again, are you, Rose?
Rose: I haven't shown anyone!
Fred: No, not a soul. Unless you count Tom. The day maid. The night maid. The cook. The bloke that came to fix the toilet. That wizard from Belgium...
Immature trio chuckles.
"I love twins!" Said James and Sirius together.
[Anna laughs. Mrs. Weasley takes Anna's face in her hands, smiles. As if relieved to see her.]
Mrs. Weasley: It's good to see you, Anna.
Anna: Good to see you too, Mrs. Weasley.
Arthur Weasley: Anna. I wonder if I might have a word.
Anna: Of course, Mr. Weasley. [As Mr. Weasley pulls Anna away, the others continue to hover over the clipping in the b.g.]
Fred: George's nose looks positively massive in that photograph.
Rose: That's your nose, Fred.
Fred: Bloody hell. 'Tis, isn't it? Take after your side of the family, don't I, Mum?
People chuckle.
[Anna notices Mr. Weasley glance edgily at a fugitive poster tacked to the wall. In it, Sirius Black glowers under the words, "Have You Seen This Man?"]
Moods drops.
Arthur Weasley: Anna. There are some within the Ministry who would strongly discourage me from divulging what I'm about to tell you. But I think you need to know the facts. Because you're in danger. Grave danger.
Anna: Meeh... It's an old news by now. I'm always in grave danger.
Many nodded.
[Anna's eyes drift to poster.]
Anna: Has this have something to do with him this time, Sir?
Arthur Weasley: What do you know of Sirius Black, Anna?
Anna: That he escaped from Azkaban. That he killed someone...
"That-- That's how she knows me. As some murderer" Said teary Sirius. Remus kissed him on the head.
"Everything will be okay. She will know her godfather." Whispered Remus to Sirius.
Arthur Weasley: Anna, thirteen years ago, when you stopped... [Mr. Weasley hesitates, unable to continue.]
Anna: Voldemort...?
Arthur Weasley: (nodding nervously) Black lost everything. But he remains a loyal servant to this day. In his mind, only you stand in the way of... [Once again, Mr. Weasley hesitates.]
"I amn't. I wouldn't be..." said Sirius weakily.
"We know, pads. We know." Said James.
Anna: Voldemort...?
Arthur Weasley: Anna, I hate it when you say --
Anna: I know, sorry.
Arthur Weasley: In Black's mind, only you stand in the way of... You-Know- Who returning to power. That's why he's broken. That's why he's broken out of Azkaban. To find you. And... [Mr. Weasley hesitates yet again.]
Anna: Kill me? [Mr. Weasley nods. Nervously.]
"I would never hurt her." Said Sirius, single tear runing down his cheek.
Arthur Weasley: Anna. I want you to swear that -- whatever you might hear -you won't go looking for Black.
Anna: Mr. Weasley, why would I go looking for someone who wants to kill me?
Everyone gave her a look.
[Mr. Weasley nods, then claps Anna on the shoulder.]
Arthur Weasley: Just watch yourself, will you, Anna?
PLATFORM NINE AND THREE QUARTERS
[As the Hogwarts express bleats its horn, we crane over the milling horde of students. Parents hurry their children onboard, tiny siblings wave goodbyes... and Mr. Weasley dashes through the throng and up to an open train window.]
Mrs. Weasley: Rose! [She hands Scabbers through the open window to her.]
"Why is so much focus on rat?" Said Barty suspiciously.
HOGWARTS EXPRESS - TRAIN CAR
[The aisle teems with students. Anna and Rose work their way down the aisle, looking for an empty compartment.]
Anna: I didn't mean to blow her up. I just... lost control.
Rose: Brilliant! [SNAP! SNAP! SNAP! A copy of the The Monster Book of Monsters scutters crab-like down the aisle, pursued by Neville Longbottom.]
Neville: Hi, Anna. Rose.
Anna/Rose: Hi, Neville.
Anna: How are you?
Neville: I'm fine. You?
Anna: Great. [As Neville bumps past, Rose nods to a compartment.]
Rose: C'mon. We're in here.
TRAIN COMPARTMENT
[As they slip inside, they find a man in shabby robes (PROFESSOR LUPIN) slumped against the window, asleep. He looks ill, exhausted. Stamped in peeling letters on a battered case is "Professor R.J. Lupin." The duo eye him warily. Whisper.]
"MOONY!!" Cheered James and Sirius.
"You are a professor." Said Lily smiling.
"I am sure you will be great Professor, Professor Moony." Said Sirius. Remus blushed.
Anna: Is he really asleep?
Rose: Seems to be. Why? What is it, Anna?
Anna: Close the door. [Rose exchange a curious glance, then Rose rises, slides the door shut, over camera, and we --]
HOGWARTS EXPRESS
[Storm clouds, like dark ghosts, toss sheets of rain onto the scarlet engine as it heads north.]
TRAIN COMPARTMENT
[Rose stare at Anna, faces stricken in the lantern light that now glows in the compartment.]
Rose: Let me get this straight. Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban to come after you?
"No." Said James.
Anna: Yes. [Just then, the compartment rattles. Lanterns flicker. The train lurches, begins to slow. Rose slides down the seat, than goes back to seat and glances at her watch. Frowns.]
Rose: Why're we stopping? We can't be there yet... [Anna rises, slides open the door, peers into the corridor.]
Everyone looks worried.
ANNA'S POV
[All along the carriage, Heads look out curiously. Then -- the train jerks -- the car sways -and the lamps running along the ceiling flicker and die. One by one. Until all is Dark.]
Rose: What's going on? [A thin wisp of steam escapes Rose's mouth. Anna notices]
Anna: Dunno... Maybe we've broken down? [Squeak-squeak-squeak. Anna, a dark silhouette against the window, wipes a patch of condensation from the window.]
Anna: There's something moving out there. I think... people are coming aboard.
"Who and why?" Asked nervous Lily.
[Suddenly the car sways violently... rights itself. The metal window trim at Anna's fingertips begins to vibrate.]
Rose: Bloody hell. What's happening?[SSSSST! A soft crackling fills the car and flames bloom... in the hands of R.J. Lupin. In the shivering light, his face looks tired and gray, but his eyes are alert. Wary.]
Professor Lupin: Don't. Move. [A hand -- slimy and scabbed -- a hand of death -- grips the half-open compartment door, pushes it aside. Reveals: a towering, cloaked figure, its face hidden beneath its black hood.WHOOSHHHHH. The folds of the hood tremble.]
"Dementors!" Said scared Lucius.
"What are Dementors doing there?!" Yelled James.
"Probably looking for me." Said Sirius sadly.
[A chill, Rattling intake of air is heard. The flames in Lupin's hands sputter. A sound swells in Anna's ears. Eerie. Painful. The sound of a woman screaming. Anna's eyes roll up, eyelids fluttering. And then... a silvery white light drifts from her mouth. The world spins off its axis and Anna falls... glasses tumbling hard to the ground... then Anna... the muscles of her jaw twitching. Thunder cracks. Lightning paints the icy windows... white. Black. White. With a desperate gasp, Anna opens her eyes. Blinks. Dusk is gone. The windows black. The floor at her spine is shaking gently. The train moving again. Her eyes shift, see a drop of water, newly unfrozen, running slowly down the window.]
Everyone looks at her worried.
Rose: Anna? Anna, are you all right? [Rose's pale, concerned face hovers above her. She nods. Sits up. Rose extends her hand. Anna's glasses.]
Anna: Thanks. [Anna slips them on. Discovers the cold sweat glazing her brow. SNAP! Professor Lupin breaks a ragged triangle of chocolate off the slab in his hands. Holds it out.]
Professor Lupin: Chocolate. Eat. It'll help.
Anna: What was that -- that thing?
Professor Lupin: A Dementor. One of the guards of Azkaban. It's gone now. [Anna frowns in confusion.]
Rose: It was searching the train, Anna. For Sirius Black.
Professor Lupin: I need to have a word with the driver. Excuse me. (the chocolate) Eat. It'll help. [He leaves.]
Anna: What happened to me?
Rose: Well, you sort of went... rigid. I thought maybe you were having a fit or something.
Anna: And did you? You know... pass out?
Rose: No. I felt... weird. Like I'd never be cheerful again. But... no.
Anna: Someone was screaming. A woman.
Rose: (nervously) No one was screaming, Anna.
"Dementors make you relieve your worst memories." Said James sadly.
"So?" Asked Lily.
"She probably saw your death." Said James. Lily looks sad.
[Anna looks to the window and we push in on her reflection. It becomes a glimmering puddle.]