CLOCKTOWER COURTYARD
[Black puts his hands to Rose's waist, swings her off Buckbeak and onto the ground next to Anna.]
Sirius Black: I'll be forever grateful for this. To both of you.
Anna: I want to go with you.
James and Sirius smiled at the girl.
Sirius Black: One day perhaps. For some time... life will be too... unpredictable. Besides, you're meant to be here. [Black claps her shoulder, looks her in the eye.]
Sirius Black: But promise me something, Anna.
Anna: Anything.
Sirius Black: Trust yourself. No matter the challenges you face -- and I fear they will be many -- you'll be surprised how many times you can find the answers... (tapping her heart) ...here.
"It was wise." Said Remus.
"Aww. Askaban gave you brain." Teased James. Sirius pushed him off the chair.
[As Sirius climbs atop Buckbeak, a shooting star arcs through the heavens.]
Sirius Black: A shooting star. Make a wish. [WHACK! -- Black gives Buckbeak a slap and they soar into the glittering sky.]
"Dramatic. I like it." Said Sirius.
[Anna and Rose stand watching, when... DING! They wheel. Look to the Clock Tower.]
Rose: We have to go. [As Anna and Rose dash off, camera tracks after, rising with them as they race up the tower stairway, then passing through the mechanism and on through to the end of.]
CORRIDOR/CLOCK TOWER - NIGHT
[... the corridor. The Clock Tower bell thunders. The door opens. Dumbledore backs out... ]
Dumbledore: By the way, when in doubt, I always find retracing my steps to be a wise place to begin... Good luck. [As Dumbledore begins to close the door, Anna and Rose stumble frantically forward, the door about to hit the jamb, when... suddenly... Dumbledore stops. Looks up.]
Dumbledore: Well?
Anna: He's free -- Sirius. We... we did it.
Dumbledore: Did what? [With a twinkle in his eye, Dumbledore swings open the door.]
Anna: (laughing) I love that man! [Rose nods and they enter room.]
"I don't." Said James and glared at Dumbledore.
"He could do it, too, but no. Why not send children to do your biding?!" Scoffed Sirius.
CORRIDOR/LUPIN'S OFFICE - MORNING
[Anna walks softly toward an open door -- Lupin's office -- and peers in. Lupin stands over a battered suitcase, filling it with the last of his books. Without turning, he speaks.]
Professor Lupin: Hello, Anna. [Anna jumps. Lupin turns, smiles through haggard eyes.]
Professor Lupin: Saw you coming.
Anna: Hello, Professor Lupin or should i call you Uncle Moony? [Remus smiles. The Marauder's Map lies open on an otherwise bare desk. Anna looks back to Lupin. Unable to disguise her shock at Lupin's appearance. ]
Professor Lupin: I've looked worse, believe me.
"That isn't reassuring." Said Lily.
[Anna eyes the open desk drawers... the bare bookshelves... ]
Anna: You've been sacked.
Professor Lupin: Resigned, actually.
Anna: Resigned! But why!
Professor Lupin: It seems that someone has let slip the nature of my condition.
"Snivellus!" Said Sirius and James in anger.
Anna: That slimy git!
Professor Lupin: Whoever. It was bound to get out. This time tomorrow, the owls will start arriving. Parents will not want a -- someone like me -- teaching their children.
Anna: But Dumbledore --
Professor Lupin: Has already risked enough on my behalf. Besides, people like me, well... let's just say I'm used to this by now.
"You shouldn't be." Said Sirius and kissed his hand.
Anna: But you shouldn't be! It's wrong! You're good teacher, you shouldn't be sacked just because you turn into wolf once a month for few hours. You haven't even chose this! It's not fair!
James, Lily and Sirius agree with her and look at her with pride.
Professor Lupin: (smiling) World isn't fair, i'm afraid. Before I go, tell me about your Patronus.
Anna: Well. At first I thought it was a horse, or perhaps a unicorn, but I think it was --
Professor Lupin: A stag.
Anna: Yes.
Professor Lupin: Your father used to transform into one. That's how he was able to keep me company when I became... sick. He was a great friend. James.
"Aww. I knew you loved me." Said James.
[Lupin smiles wanly, lifts his sorry suitcase. Then stops.]
Professor Lupin: There are stories about him and your mother, you know. Some are even true. But I think it's safe to say, in the end, you'll know them best by getting to know yourself. [Lupin then -- with a wicked twinkle -- raises his wand.]
Professor Lupin: Mischief managed. [Anna watches the Map go blank. Looks back. Lupin is gone.]
"Drama queen." Said Sirius with fond smile.
"Says you." Said Remus.
GREAT HALL - DAY (MOMENTS LATER)
[Rose stands amid a circle of excited Gryffindors.]
Rose: Stand back, I said! I'll take it upstairs if you don't settle! [As Anna arrives, she glances at Rose.]
Rose: Anna!
Neville: Anna! Wherever did you get it!
"What is it?" Asked James.
Seamus: Can I have a go, Anna? After you, of course --
Rose: Quiet! (as they oblige) Thank you. Let the woman through. [Mystified, Anna steps forward, the boys peeling away, clearing her view of the broomstick in Rose's hands. The label glams: "Firebolt."]
"It's gorgeous." Said James drooling. Lily looked at him with disgust, then saw every quidditch player has the same expression.
Anna: Whose is that?
Rose: (as everyone laughs) Whose is it? It's yours.
Anna: Who? But... how?
Rose: It's a mystery. Though... this fell out of the wrapping. [Anna sees Rose holding up a feather. Rose and Anna share a secret glance.]
"Yeaah! I got my goddaughter the best broom! I knew i would be a cool uncle." Said Sirius.
HOGWARTS CASTLE - FRONT DOORS - DAY
[BOOM! The huge vertical doors bursts open and Anna, trailed by the others, exits with the Firebolt. As she strides off, others join the assembly -- Hagrid, Ada, Malfoy, Nott, and Zabini among them -- curious to see what the commotion is all about. As Anna stops, an expectant hush hangs over the moment.]
Quidditch flyers watched it excited.
Seamus: Go on, Anna.
Neville: Yeah. Let's see. [Anna mounts the broom. Licks her finger and jabs it in the air. A few others do the same. Hagrid does the same. Finally, Anna places her hand on the broom. Sets his grip. Takes a breath. And... Frowns.]
Fred/Geogre: What's wrong?
Anna: I don't think it works. I think it's defective.
"What?" Said disappointed Sirius.
[A collective groan. Dejected, many of the kids begin to drift toward the castle. Anna calls after.]
Anna: Oh, come on now. It's just a broom.
Hagrid: (nodding sagely) Just a broom.
"How dare you?!" Said Barty offended.
[Anna's eye shifts to Ada. A wink.]
Anna: The fastest broom in the world. [As everyone turns -- WHOOSH! -- Anna jets off and we see a tiny dot, growing larger and larger, races upward.]
"Yeah!" Cheered James and Sirius.
[ It's Anna shooting straight into the blue on the Firebolt. A scream grows loder as she approaches. A scream of release, of utter abandon. It's Anna screaming. But something else is clear as he jets past... It's a scream of joy.
FADE OUT.]
Gryffindors watch with smiles how happy Annna is.
*Thank you for reading💙 I hope you enjoyed.*
YOU ARE READING
Anna Potter and Prisoner of Askaban
Fanfiction[Book 3] The story follows Anna's third year at Hogwarts and her quest to uncover the truth about her past, including the connection recently-escaped Azkaban prisoner Sirius Black has to Anna and her deceased parents.
