Darkness Falls

Darkness Falls

Act 1

Beginnings

INT. LIVING ROOM

An old man with long silvery hair, and a long silvery beard, sits sleeping in a high-backed chair, in front of a fire.

A group of fifteen young children, ranging in age from five to eleven, rush into the room, laughing and yelling.

The old man opens his eyes and smiles as the children run up to him.

One in particular, a small red haired boy named JAMES, flops himself across the old man's knee.

JAMES

Grandpa! Grandpa!

GRANDPA

(grins)

What's going on here? What's all

this ruckus?

ABIGAIL

It's story time!

GRANDPA

Story time?

FRED

Come on! You promised!

GRANDPA

All right, all right.

(pause)

Which story shall I tell you?

One of the children steps forward and sets a large book on his great-great-great-grandfather's lap.

RICHARD

This one Grandpa!

GRANDPA

This one eh?

(frowns)

Hmm, I'm not sure you're old enough

for this story. There are scary

things in this book...dark wizards

and trolls...

JAMES

We're old enough Grandpa! We're

brave!

FRED

Yeah! We're brave!

GRANDPA

And Dementors.

The children swallow hard as fear spreads across their tiny faces.

Their GRANDPA smiles as the children crowd around his chair expectantly.

GRANDPA (CONT'D)

Okay then, but don't say I didn't

warn you.

He opens the book and pushes his half-moon spectacles back onto the bridge of his crooked nose.

GRANDPA (CONT'D)

It all started many years ago...one

hundred and eighty one to be

exact...

(pause)

At the Ministry of Magic...

EXT. ENGLAND - LONDON - NIGHT

LIGHTNING streaks across the sky above the city of London, as heavy rain falls from the heavens.

EXT. LONDON - SHABBY-LOOKING NEIGBORHOOD - NIGHT

LIGHTNING flashes overhead in a shabby-looking, rundown part of town containing vacant office buildings, and a suspicious looking pub.

INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT

Three hooded figures in dark robes, move swiftly and silently through the darkness, along a deserted hallway, with what look to be thin rods, clutched tightly in their hands.

The first two figures are tall and wiry, while the third has a feminine, petite stature.

The figures stop at the intersection of an adjoining hallway and flatten themselves against the wall.

The figure closest to the intersection, raises his hand, and signals the figure in the rear to move forward.

FOOTSTEPS are heard in the corridor beyond as the figure in the rear moves forward. The LEAD FIGURE quickly signals the rear figure back to their original position.

The three figures tense as the sound of footsteps continue to come closer.

LEAD FIGURE

(shouts)

Now!

The three figures leap out from their hiding places and raise the thin rods out in front of them.

BRIGHT SILVERY LIGHT suddenly leaps out from the rods, and hits the three people standing in front of them. They fall to the ground in a heap.

Torches suddenly ILLUMINATE along the halls, and a tall, bald, black man steps out of the shadows, dressed all in black, and wearing a long black leather overcoat and two gold hoop earrings. His name is KINGSLEY SHACKLEBOLT.

The three figures step back and pull back their hoods.

KINGSLEY

(nods)

Not bad for your first full

simulation. You were able to find,

and stop the targets in the

allotted time.

He raises the rod in his hand, which is revealed to be a wand, and points it at the three people lying on the ground.

KINGSLEY (CONT'D)

Simulacrum scourgify!

The bodies disappear in a FLASH of light, and the hallway dissolves into a large, stone, torch lit chamber.

KINGSLEY (CONT'D)

But next time Potter, try not to

kill the hostage.

HARRY POTTER, a tall, wiry, tousle-haired nineteen year old, with a lightning bolt shaped scar on his forehead, looks down in chagrin.

His best friend, RON WEASLEY, also nineteen, but slightly taller, and with red hair, looks over at Harry and grins.

RON

Nice one Harry!

Harry's cheeks flush red as he glances over at Ron.

Kingsley pulls out his gold-chained pocket watch and glances at it.

KINGSLEY

I think that's enough for one day.

I'll see you all here in the morning

at eight o'clock sharp. And make

sure you're rested up, tomorrow is

going to be a busy day.

He turns and strides out of the chamber, leaving the three Aurors-in-training to themselves.

HERMIONE GRANGER, a small and petite brunette with long bushy brown hair, walks over to Harry, who is still sulking. She smiles reassuringly, as Harry pushes his round-frame glasses back onto the bridge of his nose.

HERMIONE

It wasn't that bad Harry. At least

it wasn't a real person.

HARRY

(sullenly)

It might as well have been.

RON

You're just trying too hard is all.

You just need to relax a bit.

HERMIONE

Precisely. And besides, we are

aloud to make mistakes. That's

what training is for. That's how

we learn.

(pause)

We have to make all our mistakes

now, instead of in the field, when

it really counts.

HARRY

But it does count now Hermione!

Voldemort is still out there!

He glares at Ron, as Ron lets out a small gasp at Voldemort's name. He then turns back to Hermione.

HARRY (CONT'D)

And I don't care that he hasn't

been seen in over a year, he's

still dangerous. He could still

strike at any time.

(pause)

We need to be ready!

Ron steps forward, and claps Harry on the shoulder.

RON

We're not arguing mate! We're just

saying that you need a little rest

is all. You can't fight

(lowers his voice)

You-Know-Who if your head's not in

it.

Harry frowns uncertainly.

RON (CONT'D)

Maybe it's not too late to accept

that invitation from the England

World Cup team. I'm sure Kingsley

could arrange it.

(beat)

A bit of Quidditch would do you...

Harry shrugs Ron's hand off of his shoulder and walks away angrily.

HARRY

(mutters)

I don't have time for distractions.

Hermione glares at Ron and lowers her voice.

HERMIONE

I told you not to mention Quidditch!

RON

I was just trying to cheer him up!

Quidditch is the only thing that

makes him happy. That and whenever

Ginny...

Ron stops in mid sentence, as Harry stops by the doorway and turns back to Ron and Hermione, still angry.

HARRY

Are you two coming or not?

HERMIONE

Yes, just a second.

Harry frowns and leaves, as Ron and Hermione follow him from the room.

RON

(quietly)

It's not my fault he turned down

the invitation to play Seeker for

England.

HERMIONE

(quietly)

I know. He's been short with

everyone ever since he got that

anonymous letter last year.

RON

Did he ever tell you what it said?

HERMIONE

No. But it must have been pretty

bad to cause the World Cup to be

pushed back a year.

(pause)

Though I can't quite rid myself of

the feeling that something else is

bothering him. I just wish he

would tell us what it is.

RON

(grins)

That's not bloody likely. You know

how he can be.

HERMIONE

(frowns)

Just try to be not so...tactless

...from now on.

RON

I'm never tactless!

Hermione's eyebrows rise in amusement.

HERMIONE

Right.

EXT. LONDON - SHABBY-LOOKING NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT

The rain has stopped, but clouds still cover the night sky, and block out the moon, as Ron and Hermione walk out from behind a vacant office building in a rundown neighborhood.

Harry is waiting impatiently on his broomstick, a sleek Firebolt model.

He glances over at Ron and Hermione, as they walk out from behind the building, and mount their Comet 260 broomsticks.

HARRY

Alright you two?

RON

All set.

The three riders kick up off of the ground and soar into the air, with Harry in the lead and Ron and Hermione close by each other's sides.

They quickly head into the low hanging clouds, with visibility turning to zero as they enter.

The nighttime cityscape of London, England can be seen below them as they fly through the clouds above.

After several minutes, the three flyers emerge from the cloud cover, completely drenched, and land in the back yard of a flat, on the outskirts of London. They quickly head inside.

INT. GRYFFINDOR'S FLAT - KITCHEN

Three sopping wet figures enter the house through a sliding glass door, and step into the kitchen of what they call Gryffindor's Flat.

They hang their damp cloaks in a hallway closet, with Hermione using a drying charm on them before closing the door and going back into the kitchen.

DOBBY the house elf is in the kitchen when they return, putting the finishing touches on the evening meal.

HERMIONE

Hello Dobby! How was your day?

DOBBY

Dobby's day was great Hermione

Granger. Dobby had much cleaning

to do.

Ron sits down at the kitchen table, as Hermione begins helping Dobby with the food.

RON

I thought today was your day off,

Dobby.

DOBBY

It was, but Dobby has no fun on his

days off, so he cleans instead.

Dobby sets a plate of food in front of Ron.

RON

(shakes his head)

Have it your way mate.

(pause)

But Hermione will have all our skins

if you keep working on your days off.

Dobby grins sheepishly, as Hermione frowns at Ron.

HERMIONE

Dobby can do whatever he wants on

his days off. He still gets paid

regardless.

Dobby begins sniffling, and looks as though he is about to start crying.

Ron looks over at Hermione in annoyance.

RON

Do you have to make him cry every

night?

HERMIONE

I was just making sure he knows how

much we appreciate him!

Dobby begins wailing mournfully.

RON

And there he goes...

DOBBY

Dobby doesn't deserve such wonderful

employers!

Dobby tosses Harry's plate in front of him, as he runs from the room, sobbing.

Hermione sits down next to Ron and they begin eating.

Harry dispassionately takes a couple of bites before setting his fork down.

Harry

I'm not really hungry. I think I'll

turn in for the night.

RON

Careful Harry, don't let Dobby see

you. You know what happened last

time you didn't finish your food.

Harry stands and heads to his room, before Hermione can say anything.

She instead turns her gaze upon Ron, who looks up at her with a look of innocence on his face.

RON

What'd I say?

****

Darkness Falls

Act 2

Old fears, Old friends

INT. GRYFFINDOR'S FLAT - HARRY'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Harry tosses and turns underneath his bedcovers in a sparsely decorated, yet slightly messy room.

His damp clothes lay in a pile at the side of his bed. He mutters under his breath as he thrashes about in his sleep.

INT. HOGWARTS - HALLWAY - NIGHT

The halls of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry are dark and silent, as Harry Potter wanders though the school, wearing nothing but red striped pajama bottoms.

Not a sound is heard as he walks silently past open doorways that lead to empty classrooms.

He continues to walk through the halls for several minutes until he comes to the hallway outside the doors to the Great Hall.

He stops and looks up at an ominous message, which is written on the walls with blood.

Her skeleton will lie in the chamber forever...

HARRY

(to himself)

It can't be!

Harry turns quickly, looking in all directions, and sees no one.

He turns and runs down the passage to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, and rushes inside.

INT. HOGWARTS - MOANING MYRTLE'S BATHROOM - NIGHT

Harry bursts through the door, and into the girls' bathroom haunted by the ghost of a long dead student. He looks around as he calls her name, wanting information.

HARRY

Myrtle! Myrtle?

Nobody answers.

Harry walks over to the sink area, and stands in front of a faucet engraved with snakes.

His face contorts in concentration as he begins speaking slowly and deliberately in the snake language known as parseltongue. Nothing happens however.

He tries again, saying a different phrase this time. Still, nothing happens.

Harry leans down on the edge of the sink as he considers what to do.

A piercing SCREAM suddenly tears though the air, causing him to look up. He recognizes it immediately, and begins looking around frantically.

HARRY (CONT'D)

Ginny?

Harry tries to rip the sink free as GINNY WEASLEY continues to scream in pain.

HARRY (CONT'D)

(yells)

Ginny!

Harry looks up in horror as Ginny's screams cut off abruptly.

HARRY (CONT'D)

No!

INT. GRYFFINDOR'S FLAT - HARRY'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Ron, Hermione, and Dobby stand beside Harry's bed, as they try to shake him awake.

HERMIONE

Harry! Harry!

Harry finally awakens, and sits up, breathing heavily.

RON

(worried)

Harry?

Harry looks up at Ron with a look of horror on his face.

HARRY

(breathing hard)

Ginny...it's Ginny! She's in

trouble!

Ron and Hermione glance at each other in concern.

DOBBY

Harry Potter was just having a

nightmare sir.

HARRY

(angry)

It wasn't a dream, it was real! I

saw it happen!

Dobby flinches and cowers in fear. Harry apologizes guiltily.

HARRY

I'm sorry Dobby. I didn't mean to

yell at you.

RON

Maybe it was...

(whispers)

You-Know-Who...playing tricks again.

HERMIONE

(frowns)

Voldemort couldn't have planted

thoughts in Harry's mind again.

Harry mastered Occlumency years

ago!

RON

Oh...right.

HARRY

Exactly. And...my scar didn't hurt

this time.

(pause)

At all.

Hermione frowns and looks down at Harry.

HERMIONE

(uncertainly)

Harry...maybe it was just a dream

then.

HARRY

(shakes his head)

No. It was real...too real.

DOBBY

Perhaps Harry Potter should ask

Professor Dumbledore.

HERMIONE

That's a good idea Dobby!

Dobby beams with pride.

HERMIONE (CONT'D)

We should ask an expert before

rushing off into anything.

(pause)

That is what you're proposing isn't

it? To go after Ginny?

Harry stands.

HARRY

We could be there by morning.

Harry looks over at Ron.

HARRY (CONT'D)

Ron?

Ron looks at the others as if he would like to be anywhere but there.

RON

(quietly)

I agree with Hermione.

HARRY

What? But Ginny...your sister...

RON

I know. And if she really were in

danger, I'd do anything to protect

her.

(pause)

But you were right about

(closes his eyes)

Voldemort...he is still out there.

And we should be a little more

careful now that we're out of

school and all.

(pause)

Besides, Mum and Dad would have

said something if Ginny were in

any danger.

Harry nods reluctantly.

HARRY

I guess you're right.

HERMIONE

We'll send an owl to Dumbledore in

the morning.

HARRY

No I'll send Hedwig right away.

He continues before Hermione can protest.

HARRY (CONT'D)

I'm not going to be able to go back

to sleep, so I might as well do

something productive.

He walks out of his room.

INT. MINISTRY OF MAGIC - AUROR TRAINING CHAMBER

Harry, Ron, and Hermione enter the Auror training chamber the next morning, and smile when they see an unexpected, but familiar face.

HARRY

Tonks!

NYMPHADORA LUPIN, who still goes by maiden name, TONKS, is a short, stocky, purple haired woman in her mid twenties. She turns to face them, grinning broadly.

TONKS

Wotcher Harry!

They approach each other and embrace.

HARRY

What are you doing here? I thought

you were in France.

TONKS

The Ministry called me back. I get

to take Kingsley's place for a few

weeks.

HERMIONE

Where is Kingsley?

TONKS

Doing a favor for Dumbledore.

The others nod.

TONKS (CONT'D)

(grins)

So, how's the Minister's little pet

project coming so far?

Harry smiles half-heartedly.

HARRY

Okay I guess.

Tonks smiles knowingly.

TONKS

Killed the hostage did you?

Harry looks at her in surprise.

HARRY

How did you know?

TONKS

The exercise is designed that way,

to stress the seriousness of what

we do.

(pause)

Why'd you think you were only given

a couple of spells that you could

use?

Hermione smiles knowingly.

TONKS (CONT'D)

I have to admit, I'm fairly anxious

to see you guys in action. This is

the first time in the history of the

Ministry that we've accepted more

than one Auror into training at the

same time, let alone trained them as

a single team.

(pause)

But it's like Dumbledore says...

She transfigures herself in mid-sentence, and the three students suddenly find themselves standing face to face with a perfect imitation of ALBUS DUMBLEDORE.

TONKS a.k.a. DUMBLEDORE

We will not be able to defeat Lord

Voldemort unless all of the

Wizarding World stands united.

Ron grins in admiration.

RON

Wicked!

Tonks transfigures back into herself and grins.

TONKS

Liked that did ya? Took me years

to perfect the voice.

RON

Are you going to teach us to do

that?

TONKS

Not to that degree, no.

(grins)

Not unless you've suddenly become a

metamorphmagus.

(pause)

But, your next phase of training

does require a great deal of

transfiguration, so of course they

called me. Not that Kingsley

couldn't have done it mind you.

RON

What is our next phase?

TONKS

My specialty...concealment and

disguise!

The three students grin as Tonks pulls out her wand.

TONKS (CONT'D)

Now...lets get started shall we?

EXT. LONDON - GRYFFINDOR'S FLAT - NIGHT

The sun has already been down for several hours, when the three friends arrive at their flat. They land quietly in their back yard, and enter the house.

INT. GRYFFINDOR'S FLAT - KITCHEN

The three friends wearily enter the kitchen and sit down at the table, except for Harry who walks into the other room.

Dobby already has dinner ready and is preparing plates for Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

HERMIONE

I think that was one of our best

training sessions yet.

RON

Yeah it was. Exhausting though. (shakes his head)

But poor Harry...couldn't get a

spell right all day.

HERMIONE

Neither could you.

Ron frowns as Harry walks back into the room.

Dobby sets a plate in front of Hermione and Ron.

HARRY

No letter.

Harry sits down at the table, and Dobby set a plate in front of him.

RON

It's only been a day! You have to

give Hedwig time to get there and

back.

HARRY

(shakes his head)

No, something's not right. I can

feel it.

(pause)

I'm going there tonight.

HERMIONE

But Harry...

Harry jumps to his feet and begins pacing.

HARRY

I can't wait anymore Hermione! It

was no dream, I'm sure of it. If

I wait any longer, Ginny's going

to die!

Ron stands.

RON

I'll go with you then.

HARRY

I can handle it myself.

RON

Sure you can mate, but that's my

sister that might be in trouble.

You're not going without me.

HERMIONE

We're all going. We're supposed to

be a team, so we might as well start

acting like it.

(pause)

That's what this is all about.

Living together...training together

...or have you not been paying

attention?

HARRY

(nods)

All right. We can send Pigwidgeon

to Tonks, to let her know what's

going on.

(beat)

Are you two okay to fly?

Ron and Hermione nod.

Harry looks down at Dobby as he begins tugging on Harry's sleeve.

DOBBY

Harry Potter is going to Hogwarts?

Harry nods.

DOBBY (CONT'D)

Then Dobby will make sure Harry

Potter and his friends have enough

socks!

Dobby rushes from the kitchen and heads back towards the bedrooms.