Fade in:
Title card - Warner Bros. Presents
We push through the logo into a living, breathing Daily Prophet. Grim headlines sail past us: Death. Paranoia. A world at war. We zoom into a moving photograph of the Minister of Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour, standing in the...
INT. MINISTRY OF MAGIC - ATRIUM - DAY
...atrium of the Ministry of Magic, addressing a sea of Ministry employees as reporters scribble intently.
Scrimgeour: These are dark times, there is no denying. Our world has perhaps faced no greater threat than it does today. But I say this is our citizenry: we, ever your servants, continue to defend your liberty and repel the forces that would seek to take it from you. Your Ministry remains strong...
Everyone shares a look. Goosebumps rise on their skin.
Camera favours a pair of wizards, Yaxley and Pius Thicknesse, who turn away as we pull out of the photograph and sail once more through the turning pages, the headlines growing grimmer, the faces more haunted, until, finally, we emerge from the Prophet and find it in the hands of...
INT. GRANGER HOME - HERMIONES BEDROOM - LATE AFTERNOON (RAINING)
...Hermione. She stares stoically at a lurid headline –– MUGGLE FAMILY MURDERED –– violence spreads.
"Merlin..."
Mrs Granger (o.s): Hermione. Your tea is ready, dear
Hermione glances through the doorway to the stairs beyond. Her mother's shadow clings to the wall, trembling within another shadow, that of a wind-tossed tree. It is strangely beautiful and Hermione seems transfixed...
Hermione: Coming, Mum
Hermione turns her head away from the screen and closes her eyes. Ron wraps an arm around the girl, comforting her.
Her mother's shadow withdraws, leaving only the trembling tree. Hermione glances once more at the Prophet's troubling headline, then slips it into a tiny beaded bag.
INT. PARLOR - LATE AFTERNOON (RAINING)
As Hermione descends the stairs, Mrs Granger exits the kitchen with a teapot.
Mrs Granger: Don't you look lovely. All packed?
Hermione nods and watches her mother set the teapot on the table in the front of the television. Just then, Mr Granger steps out holding a biscuit tin.
Mr Granger: Are you sure these biscuits are sugar-free?
Mrs Granger: Quite sure, dear. See the big bold letters that say 'sugar free'? Dead giveaway
A few people chuckle at that.
Mr Granger: Mm. Yes. [Passing Hermione] Hello, darling. Don't you look lovely
Hermione smiled wanly as her father gives her a peck on the head, then joins her mother on the sofa opposite the television. An Australian wildlife program plays.
Television (v.o.):...the bandicoot has small pointed ears and a long snout from which it emits a distinctive trumpet sound when agitated...
Mrs Granger: Darling, don't be suspicious the biscuits taste so good, be grateful the company's so cleaver...
Hermione looks away from the screen, studies her mother and father. Slowly, she reaches into the tiny bag and withdraws her wand. Taking two steps forward, she points it toward the back of their heads. Hand trembling, she speaks, her voice barely a whisper:
YOU ARE READING
Athena Potter 🎞
FanfictionIn which the marauders generation watch Athena Potters life and see the dangers of which awaits them. Where friends becomes enemies and enemies become allies. What happens when they realise they've been lied too? Will they be able to prevent the dan...
