Anna Potter and Prisoner of Askaban

Chapter 6

GREAT HALL
[As Lavender and Parvati huddle over a dozen teacups, Avidly interpreting patterns in hushed voices, Cassie, arm bound in a sling, holds court before a clot of Slytherins.]
Lucius, Regulus and Narcissa look at her worried.
Theo: Does it hurt, Cas?
Cassie: I'm fine. Madam Pomfrey said soon it will be as good as knew.
Blair: I sent letter to your mother. She is worried. She said if you play quidditch with broken hand, she will drag you in manor and never let you out.
Narcissa nodded at her future self.
Cassie: Whaat?! But we have game soon... Did you at least tell father?
"I am her favourite." Smirked Lucius.
"You wish." Said Narcissa.
Theo: I did.
Cassie: Good. Hagrid will be fired. Why does he even teach? He hasn't even finished Hogwarts. He isn't qualified to teach!
Everyone agreed at that.
Theo: Yeah, he almost got you killed.
Blair: He did warn class!
"He didn't warn Anna when he sit her down on hippogriff. What if she fall off because she didn't have instruction of what to do?" Said Lily.
Theo: Oh, because group of teenagers are known for following rules. He should have included that at least one person wouldn't listen, if not more! Student might have died. [Blair nods at that.]
Everyone agrees.
[Anna and Rose watch from the Gryffindor table.]
Anna: At least Hagrid didn't get sacked.
Rose: Yes. But I hear Cassiopeia's father's furious. I don't think we've heard the end of this...
"Oh, you didn't!" Said angry Lucius.
Seamus: He's been sighted! [They turn. Seamus and the other Gryffindors are huddled over a copy of The Daily Prophet. But the photograph on the Prophet's front page provides a chilling answer: Sirius Black. Rose reads over the shoulders of others. Whispers half to herself:]
James holds Sirius's hand in support.
Rose: Achintee? That's not far from here...
Neville: You don't think he'd come to Hogwarts, do you? With the Dementors at every entrance?
Lavender: Dementors? He's already slipped by them once, hasn't he? Who's to say he can't do it again? [As a flicker of fear passes through Anna's face, BEM, a Nigerian boy, stares grimly at the grainy image of Black.]
Bem: That's right. Black could be anywhere. It's like trying to catch smoke. Like trying to catch smoke with your bare hands.
Sirius smirked (Trying to not show his worry).
HOGWARTS CASTLE - MORNING
[Beautiful flowers gleam in the dawn light, then, slowly begin to wither. The dew freezes, the grass grows brittle. Seconds later, the Dementors sweep by.]
LUPIN'S CLASSROOM - MORNING
[A tall wardrobe rattles violently as Anna, Rose and several classmates regard it warily.]
Professor Lupin: Intriguing, yes? Would anyone like to venture a guess as to what's inside?
"Professor Moony!" Cheered James and Sirius.
Seamus: (in a hushed voice) That's a Boggart, that is.
Professor Lupin: Very good, Mr. Finnigan. Can anyone tell us what a Boggart looks like?
Rose: No one knows. Boggarts are shape-shifters. They take the shape of whatever a particular person fears most. That's what makes it so --
Professor Lupin: Terrifying, yes. Luckily, a very simple charm exists to repel a Boggart. Let's practice it now, shall we? Without wands, please... Riddikulus!
Students: Riddikulus!
Cassie: (muttering softly) It's this class that's ridiculous.
Remus looks down.
"She's being a prat. You are doing amazing." Said mother han James.
Blair(to Cassie): You're riddiculous. [Cassie glares at her, Blair sticks her tongue out.]
Cassie: Real mature.
Theo: Children! Quiet! I'm trying to listen! [Both Cassie and Blair turn toward him and glare, Theo backed away looking scared.]
"Never anger woman! They are damn scary!" Said James. Lily and Narcissa smirked.
Professor Lupin: Good. So much for the easy part. You see, the incantation alone is not enough. What really finishes a Boggart off is... laughter. You need to force it to assume a shape you find truly amusing. Neville, come up here, will you? [Neville eyes the rattling wardrobe, steps forward queasily.]
Professor Lupin: What would you say is the thing that frightens you most?
Neville: Tom... Riddle...
People look at him with pity.
Professor Lupin: Didn't catch that, Neville, sorry.
Neville: Tom Riddle. [Everyone looks confused except Rose and Anna, who share a worried look.]
Professor Lupin: Hmmm... Who is he?
Neville: I don't want to talk about it.
Professor Lupin: Neville, I believe you live with your grandmother?
Neville: Yes, but I don't want the Boggart to turn into her either.
Professor Lupin: It won't. But I want you to picture her clothes, only her clothes, very clearly in your mind. Can you do that?
James and Sirius narrow their eyes at Remus.
Neville: (closing his eyes) She carries a red handbag...
Professor Lupin: That's fine. We don't need to hear it. If you see it, we will. Now, when I open this wardrobe, Neville, here's what I want you to do... [Lupin leans close to Neville, whispers. Neville's eyes POP open in shock. Consider Lupin uncertainly.]
Professor Lupin: You can do this, Neville. [Neville nods nervously, takes a deep breath.]
Professor Lupin: Right then. Wand at the ready. One. Two. Three! [Sparks jet from Lupin's wand, strike the doorknob, and the wardrobe bursts open. Instantly, Tom Riddle appears, eyes flashing murderously as he stalks forward. Neville backs away in fright. Anna and Rose look scared, too.]
People glare at him.
Professor Lupin: Think, Neville. Think!
Neville: R-r-riddikulus! [CRACK! Tom stumbles in a flash of light and reappears... in a long, lace-trimmed dress, Towering moth-eaten hat, and crimson handbag.]
Everyone roars with laugher. Narcissa leans on Lucius to not fall over. James, Barty , Evan and Sirius are rolling on floor with laugher and tears streaming down their faces.
"Can't-- Can't breath." Said Regulus between laugher.
[Instantly, the class roars, Anna and Rose are rolling on floor, tears rolling down their faces, their laughs are loudest. Neville blinks, amazed, then slowly, grins himself.]
Anna: (laughing) I wish i could have seen Voldy's face, if he saw it.
Everyone is too busy laughing to respond.
Rose: (to Anna) I like Lupin more and more. [Anna nodded.]
Remus smiled.
[Lupin drops the needle on an old gramaphone. As a scratchy rhumba fills the room, he points to Parvati. Snape dissolves into a mad whirling mass, then mutates into a... Vampire.]
People finally managed to stop laughing.
"Remus, you are the best DADA teacher!" Said James. Blushing Remus smiled.
Parvati: Riddikulus! [As the vampire whips its cloak across its eyes, we cut behind... so our pov is of the students. SWISH! The cloak reopens, the class laughes, and we reverse again... see that the vampire is now dressed like carmen Miranda. As it begins to shimmy about -- against its will -- the class starts to clap.]
Professor Lupin: Mr. Thomas! [As Dean steps up, the vampire's undulating body attenuates, its skin darkening with diamond-thatched scales becoming... a giant Cobra.]
Dean: Riddikulus! [The cobra's hooded head BOBS back and forth, transforms into a Jack-in-the-box. Lupin grins.]
Professor Lupin: Next! [... turns, sees Anna step forward expectantly. Concern flickers through Lupin's face. The Jack-In-The-Box pivots on its spring, its face tumbling toward Anna, becoming more sinister, transforming into a Dementor.]
James and Lily look at her worried.
[Suddenly the music fades Anna starts to raise his wand, then... freezes, transfixed. The Dementor looms closer and closer, when Lupin steps between, snaps his wand.]
Professor Lupin: Here! [CRACK! -- the Dementor vanishes and a roiling mist appears, which becomes clouds. Something glows within the clouds, white, silvery and round. Rose looks thoughtful.]
Lucius looks at Remus suspiciously.
Professor Lupin: Riddikulus! [POP! The orb deflates like a punctured balloon, whizzes crazily about the room, then darts back into the wardrobe. The door slams shut and the class cheers.]
Professor Lupin: Well done, everyone. I think that's enough excitement for today. [As the students exit, chattering loudly, only Anna, subdued, remains behind. At the doorway, Lupin glances back, exchanges a private glance with her. As she exits, the wardrobe gives one last rattle.]
CLOCK TOWER COURTYARD - MORNING
[A great buzzing queue of students -- Third Years and older -- each clutching a pemission form -- pass by a glowering Filch.]
Professor McGonagall: Remember! These visits to Hogsmeade Village are a privilege. Should your behavior reflect poorly on the school in any way, that privilege shall not be extended again. [Anna approaches her.]
Professor McGonagall: No permission form. No visiting the Village. That's the rule, Potter.
Anna: Yes, Professor, but I thought if you said I could go --
Professor McGonagall: But I don't say so. A parent or guardian must sign, and since I am neither, it would be inappropriate. (a flicker of pity) I'm sorry, Potter. But that's my final word.
James and Lily look at Anna sadly.
[Rose watching Anna expectantly from across the way -- see her turn, shake her head. Her face falls. Anna raises her hand in farewell. Watches her go.]