Sapphire Witch - Under Editing to make it easier to read

Hagrid's demise

~The grounds~

Students stream into the Quidditch Stadium. Harry, dressed in his Quidditch robes, dashes down the staircase with Ron and Hermione. Down below, Ron spies Ginny. Ron: "Hey, Ginny! Going to the match?" Ginny looks up, startled, then shakes her head and exits. Ron: "I tell you, she gets weirder and weirder by the day..." VOICE: (O.S.) " Kill this time... Let me rip... Tear." Harry freezes. Ron and Hermione stop, knowing by his face... Ron: "No... don't tell me..." Harry turns as if following the sound, absently touching his fingers to the wall as he glances around. Hermione studies him with great interest -- studies his fingers -- then, abruptly, Harry turns away, and shakes his head: it's gone. Hermione looks up, eyes vaguely upon Harry, but her mind is miles away. Hermione: "Harry... I think I've just understood something! I've got to go to the library!" As Hermione sprints back up the stairs, Harry yells. Harry: "What do you understand?!" But she's gone. Harry turns to Ron in puzzlement. Harry: " The library?" Ron: "That's Hermione. When in doubt, go to the library"

~Stadium; a day later~

Harry and his teammates march toward the Quidditch tower. The cheers of the crowd are heard. Wood: "Listen up now. We play our game, and Hufflepuff doesn't stand a chance. We're stronger, quicker, smarter." George: "Not to mention they're dead terrified Harry'll Petrify them if they fly anywhere near him." Wood: "That, too." Just then, Minerva appears, barring their way. Wood: "McGonagall--" Y/n: "Minnie! Pleasure seeing you on the field." Minerva: "This match has been canceled." Wood: "Cancelled! They can't cancel Quidditch --" Minerva: "Silence, Wood! You will return to Gryffindor Tower now. Potters, you and I will find Mr. Weasley. There's something the three of you need to see."

~Hospital Wing~

McGonagall pauses outside the door and turns to Harry, Y/n, and Ron. Minerva: "I warn you. This will be a bit of a shock. She opens the door. Madam Pomfrey is leaning over a bed where a girl lies. As she straightens up, we see the girl is... Y/n: "Hermione!" Ron: "Hermione!" Y/n: "A wee bit of a shock! You call this a wee bit of a shock?!" Minerva: "Thinking about it a rather large shock would've been an accurate description..." Y/n looks at Hermione. Minerva: " She was found near the library. Along with this. Does it mean anything to either of you?" She holds up a small circular mirror. Harry shakes his head. McGonagall nods gravely and leads them out. As they go, the camera drifts to Hermione's hand. Clinched tight in her stiff knuckles, barely visible, is... a piece of paper.

~Common Room~

McGonagall reads from a PARCHMENT to the somber Gryffindors. Minerva: "All students will return to their house common rooms by six o'clock in the evening. You will be escorted to each lesson by a teacher. No exceptions." (rolling up the parchment) "I should tell you all this. Unless the culprit behind these attacks is caught, it is likely that the school will be closed." McGonagall turns and exits. Instantly, as one, the students begin to talk amongst themselves. Neville speaks up. Neville: "Haven't any of the teachers noticed that the Slytherins are all safe? Isn't it obvious all this stuff's coming from Slytherin? The Heir of Slytherin, the monster of Slytherin -- why don't they just chuck all the Slytherins out?" Y/n glares darkly at Neville. Y/n: "It's not a Slytherin. The only reason why they're not affected is that they're purebloods." Seamus: "They can't close Hogwarts. Where would we all go?" Y/n: "Beauxbatons Academy of Magic in France or Durmstrang Institute in Northern Europe." Dean: "I don't care what anyone says. As long as Dumbledore's here, Hogwarts will be here." Harry whispers to Ron. Harry: "We've got to talk to Hagrid, Ron. I can't believe it's him. But if he did set the monster loose last time -- even by accident -- he'll know how to get inside the Chamber of Secrets. And that's a start." Ron: "But you heard McGonagall. We're not allowed to leave the tower except for class --" Harry: "I think it's time to get my Dad's old Cloak out again.

~Tower dormatary~

CLOSEUP: A drawer opens, a HAND reaches in, and takes the invisibility cloak. Ron and Harry. All around them, the other boys sleep. Harry pitches the cloak over himself and Ron. They're gone.

~Entrance Hall~

Harry and Ron, beneath the cloak, sneak by an unaware Severus. Y/n walks up to him. Y/n: "May I go outside to practice my magic?" Snape: "Sure."

~Hagrids Hut~

A knock. Hagrid swings open the door. Crossbow in hand. Hagrid: "Who's there?" Harry and Ron drop the cloak. Y/n walks up to them. Hagrid lowers the crossbow. Fang, Hagrid's enormous Boarhound, thumps his tail at the sight of Harry and Ron. Harry points to the crossbow. Harry: "What's that for?" Hagrid: "Nothin', nothin'. I've been expectin'... Doesn't matter. Sit down... I'll make tea..." Hagrid nervously takes the kettle and spills the water. Harry: "Are you okay? Hagrid? Did you hear about Hermione?" Hagrid: "Oh, yea. I heard, all righ'." Harry: "Look... we have to ask you something. Do you know who's opened the Chamber of Secrets?" Hagrid takes a fruit cake, stops, about to answer, when... there is a loud knock. The fruitcake almost smashes to the floor. Y/n has caught it with her magic. Panicked, Harry and Ron throw the cloak over themselves. Sweating, Hagrid grabs his crossbow and points it at the door. Hagrid: "C-come in." The door opens. A grim Albus enters, followed by a portly man in a pin-stripe suit and bowler: Cornelius Fudge. Albus: " Good evening, Hagrid." Y/n discreetly puts the knives back. Albus: "Ms. Potter." Y/n: "I got Snape's permission to practice my chaos magic." Fudge and Albus look at the cake still hovering mid-air. Ron: (whispering to Harry) "That's Dad's boss! Cornelius Fudge. The Minister of Magic!" Harry elbows Ron to shut him up. Fudge: "Bad business, Hagrid. Very bad business. Had to come. Four attacks on Muggle-borns. Things've gone far enough. The ministry's got to act." Hagrid: "I never... You know I never, Professor Albus, sir..." Albus: "I want it understood, Cornelius, that Hagrid has my full confidence." Fudge: "Look, Albus, Hagrid's record's against him. I've got to take him." Hagrid: "Take me? Where? Not Azkaban prison." Fudge: "For a short stretch only. Not a punishment, Hagrid. More a precaution. If someone else is caught, you'll be released with a full apology-" Y/n: "That's bullshit." Fudge: "What did you--" Just then, there is a sharp rap on the door. As Albus opens it, Harry slumps. It's Lucius Malfoy. Y/n: "Malfoy!" Lucius: "Y/n." Lucius: "Already here, Fudge? Good, good..." Hagrid: "What're you doin' here?! Get outta my house!" Lucius: "My dear man, please believe me, I have no pleasure at all in being inside your -- do you call this a house? I simply called the school and was told the Headmaster was here." Albus: "And what exactly did you want with me, Lucius?" Lucius: "Dreadful thing, Albus, but the governors feel it's time for you to step aside. This is an Order of Suspension. You'll find all twelve signatures on it. I'm afraid we feel you're losing your touch. What with all these attacks, there'll be no Muggleborns left at Hogwarts. And we all know what an awful loss that would be." Malfoy hands Fudge an official roll of parchment. Fudge: "Now, see here, Lucius. Albus suspended. No, no... last thing we want right now... If Albus can't stop these attacks... I mean to say, who can?" Y/n: "Me." Lucius: "That remains to be seen, but as all twelve governors have voted --" Hagrid: "An' how many did yeh have ter threaten before they agreed!" Lucius: "I would advise you not to shout at the Azkaban guards like that." Hagrid: "Yeh can take Albus! Take him away an' the Muggle-borns won' stand a chance! There'll be killin's next!" Albus: "Calm yourself, Hagrid! (steely-eyed) If the governors want my removal, Lucius, I shall of course step aside. However... you will find that I will only truly have left this school when none here are loyal to me. You will also find that help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who... ask for it." Albus's eyes drift -- unmistakably -- to Harry. Lucius: "Admirable sentiments. We shall all miss your highly individual way of running things, Albus, and only hope your successor will manage to prevent any more, um, killin's." Y/n: "McGonagall!" Malfoy strides to the door and bows Albus out. Fudge, fiddling with his bowler, waits for Hagrid. Instead, Hagrid stands his ground, takes a deep breath, and says carefully... Hagrid: "If anyone wanted ter find out some stuff, all they'd have ter do is follow the spiders. That'd lead 'em right! Tha's all I'm sayin'." Fudge stares at Hagrid in amazement then follows him out. As the door slams shut, Fang starts to howl, scratching at the closed door. Harry and Ron emerge from the cloak. Ron: "Hagrid's right. With Albus gone, there'll be an attack a day." Harry: "Look..." At the Windowsill, a trail of spiders escapes through a crack in the glass. Harry grabs Hagrid's lantern. Harry: "C'mon."

Next update: February 27