Once More with Phoenix

Once More with Phoenix

Scene 7

Standing in the Way

In the Room of Requirement, a DA meeting is breaking up. Harry picks up his bag, sighing as he walks toward the door.

CHO

You're not going off to do more homework, are you, Harry?

HARRY

No. I have to go see Snape again for Occlu--.

Hermione sticks her elbow in his side.

HARRY, cont’d.

--erm, for Remedial Potions.

ZACHARIAS SMITH

Remedial Potions!

RON

Oh, shut up, Smith.

DEAN

Well, look on the bright side. Maybe you’ll end up singing instead. Even singing with Snape would have to be better than Remedial Potions with Snape, wouldn’t it?

Hermione pulls Harry to the side and whispers to him. Ron comes along to listen.

HERMIONE

Tell Professor Snape that I think I may have found something in a library book about the singing and dancing, all right? Something about a magic flute spell. See if that means anything to him.

HARRY
(sceptically)

Yeah, I’ll be sure to tell him. Not that he’ll care...

HERMIONE

Harry... He’s trying to help you...

HARRY

Not from where I’m standing. Or kneeling, which happens often enough during "Remedial Potions."

Hermione and Ron look at Harry grimly. He turns to leave. Hermione turns to Ron.

HERMIONE

He’s not going to tell him, is he?

RON

You’ll probably work it out before old Snape anyway. You’re the brainy type, Hermione. He’s the putting-Harry-through-hell-for-fun type.

Cho is standing far closer to Ron and Hermione than they realise and when she starts talking she makes Ron jump in alarm.

CHO

Tell who what?

Marietta swiftly follows Cho and joins in the conversation.

MARIETTA

Did I hear you say that you had a lead on the whole musical extravaganza evil?

HERMIONE

Erm, no, not really...

CHO
(sneering)

Why am I not surprised? Come on, Marietta...

The two of them leave the Room of Requirement. As they walk Cho and Marietta talk.

CHO

That Hermione Granger thinks she’s so smart, like she’s going to work out something that Professor Dumbledore, all of the other teachers and the entire Ministry of Magic haven’t been able to solve... Well, at least I know that she and Harry aren't singing love songs to each other if he’s in Remedial Potions...

MARIETTA

So you’re still cross with her? And Harry? You and Harry didn’t make up?

CHO

Well, we sort of did. After the Quibbler article came out. But I still think she monopolises his time... She’s sneaky about it, she is...

MARIETTA

But I--I thought it was over. Between you and Harry...

CHO

No. Why would it be over?

MARIETTA

Um, Cho, there’s--there’s something I left in Charms...

CHO

I’ll come with you...

MARIETTA

No! I mean--I’ll meet you in the common room. Go on--if loads of us are seen leaving here all at once it’ll be too conspicuous...

CHO

Good point. Okay, see you in the common room.

Cho and Marietta separate and Marietta walks through the corridors, talking to herself.

MARIETTA

I just can’t take this anymore... Everything’s always Harry, Harry, HARRY! Even after what he did to you on Valentine’s Day... I just can’t go on watching this, the pair of you... He doesn’t care about you, not the way I do. He doesn’t see how he’s making you suffer...

When she reaches Dolores Umbridge’s office she hesitates before knocking on the door. Finally, she knocks and sings while she waits for the door to be opened.

MARIETTA, cont’d.

Does anybody even notice?
Does anybody even care?

Suddenly the door is opened and she is pulled into the room by Umbridge.

UMBRIDGE

Well? What do you want, girl?

Marietta has clearly lost her nerve.

MARIETTA

Erm, nothing ma’am. Sorry to disturb you....

She backs away and runs down the corridor; Umbridge looks after her suspiciously.

Cut to the corridor outside the Potions office; Harry is leaving the Occlumency lesson, looking extremely cross. After he is gone Dumbledore emerges from the shadows and enters the office, where Snape is taking out his wand to retrieve his memories from his Pensieve.

DUMBLEDORE

Good evening, Severus. Everything going well?

Snape stops with his wand next to his temple; he lowers his wand and glowers at the door.

SNAPE

No, everything is NOT going well. Potter is still allowing the Dark Lord into his mind. And me. He permits me to bring his emotions to the fore and then--

DUMBLEDORE

Perhaps, Severus, he is just following your example...?

Snape looks highly offended by this.

SNAPE

What are you implying?

Dumbledore taps the edge of the Pensieve with his wand.

DUMBLEDORE

You are able to put your emotions in here. Harry does not have that luxury. Let me guess... memories of James Potter? Things that would make it rather difficult for you to keep YOUR emotions under control? Things you don’t think Harry should see?

Snape snorts derisively.

SNAPE

Oh, Potter would LOVE to see these memories. James Potter being a bully...

They touch the surface of the Pensieve with their wands, then lean over and enter it. We see them appear on the Hogwarts grounds, where James Potter and his friends are socialising by the lake, the young Severus Snape sitting nearby, reading.

DUMBLEDORE

...and you his favourite target. What makes you think that Harry would enjoy seeing this? Perhaps it would even be good for him... James was my friend and fought hard for the Order--and his family--but he wasn’t perfect, especially as a teenager. If you ever come across a perfect teenager I’d be pleased to meet him, as a matter of fact.

Snape nods at the image of James Potter, who is nearly identical to Harry. It is unclear whether Snape is talking about Harry or his father.

SNAPE

Potter certainly seems to think HE qualifies.

DUMBLEDORE

Severus, I gave you a job to do. If you are unwilling to do it... all may be lost.

Snape paces restlessly, then begins to sing.

SNAPE

He’s not ready for the world outside.
You keep pretending, but you just can’t hide.
I know I said that I’d be standing by his side...

DUMBLEDORE

But I...

SNAPE

His path’s unbeaten, and it’s all uphill.
And he could meet it, but he never will.

Snape points at James Potter, who is making the young Snape hang upside down now.

SNAPE, cont’d.

And THAT’S the reason that he’s standing still.
But I...

Dumbledore shakes his head sadly and begins to sing.

DUMBLEDORE

I wish I could say the right words
To lead you through this land;
Wish I could play the father,
And make you understand.
Wish I could stay here,
Take Harry by the hand--
But Tom's standing in the way.

Snape looks indignant, shaking his head and pointing at the young Marauders; James Potter is being accosted by Lily Evans now.

SNAPE

The cries around you
You don’t hear at all.

Young Severus Snape is still being tormented by the young James Potter; the young Snape is lying on the ground now and Dumbledore points at him.

DUMBLEDORE

I hear you calling, but you’ve built a wall.
So you just lie there when you should be standing tall.

SNAPE

But I...

DUMBLEDORE

I wish I could lay your arms down
And let you rest at last;
Wish I could slay your demons,
But now that time has passed.

He takes Severus’s arm and they flip out of the Pensieve, Dumbledore still singing.

DUMBLEDORE, cont’d.

Wish I could stay here,
But now the die is cast.
And I’m standing in his way.
We’re both standing in his way.

They stare at each other helplessly; Dumbledore finally moves toward the door. They both speak instead of singing now.

SNAPE

What do you mean, ‘Wish I could stay here?’

DUMBLEDORE

I doubt that I shall be here much longer, Severus, if Dolores Umbridge has anything to do with it. And when--not if, WHEN--I am no longer here, I am relying upon you to--

Snape nods but looks reluctant.

SNAPE

Yes, I understand.

Dumbledore looks doubtful, but nods and sweeps from the room.

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