Darkness Falls

Darkness Falls

Act 7

Opportunities missed, Opportunities gained

INT. HOGWARTS - GUEST SUITE - PARLOR

Harry, Ron, Hermione, Neville, and Ginny enter the Hogwarts guest suite later that night. The only light in the room is coming from the fire in the hearth.

Hermione goes directly to her room, while Ginny steps in front of Harry, smiling gently. Ron and Neville pretend not to watch.

GINNY

I had a great time tonight Harry.

Thank you for the wonderful evening.

HARRY

(smiles)

I had a great time too.

(worried)

Wait, I just thought of something!

You're out after lights out! If

Filch catches you...

Ginny grins in amusement.

GINNY

What're they going to do, expel me?

I just graduated remember!

HARRY

(grins)

Yeah, I guess you're right.

Ginny continues to stand there expectantly.

Harry, at a complete loss, glances over at Ron, who tries mouthing "Walk her home" to Harry. Harry finally nods.

HARRY (CONT'D)

Wait! Hold on for a second.

Ron glances at Neville and grins as Harry rushes into his room.

He returns with a thin multicolored cloak in his hands. He hands it to Ginny.

Neville grimaces and Ron's mouth drops open in horror.

Ginny looks up at Harry in confusion.

HARRY (CONT'D)

It's my invisibility cloak!

(pause)

You can use it to sneak back into

the dormitory.

GINNY

Oh...okay...thanks...

Ron and Neville look over at each other and shake their heads in disappointment. Ginny however, smiles in amusement.

GINNY (CONT'D)

I promise I'll return it.

She stands on her tiptoes and kisses Harry on the cheek.

GINNY (CONT'D)

Thanks.

She walks out into the hall and closes the door.

Harry looks over at Ron and grins. Ron however, rolls his eyes and shakes his head.

RON

That was pretty thick mate.

HARRY

What?

Ron shakes his head.

RON

I said walk her home, not give her

your cloak.

HARRY

Is that bad?

RON

Never mind.

INT. HOGWARTS - GUEST SUITE - RON'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Ron's room is dark, and anything but silent, as he snores away loudly.

A lone figure appears in the doorway, dressed in a thin nightgown. She moves forward slowly and silently, until she is standing next to Ron Weasley's four-post bed.

HERMIONE

(whispers)

Ron!

She sits down on the edge of the bed, and gently nudges him.

HERMIONE (CONT'D)

(whispers)

Ron!

Ron grunts as he awakens.

RON

What?

He blinks as he tries to focus.

RON (CONT'D)

Hermione?

Hermione puts her finger to her lips.

HERMIONE

(quietly)

Shh. Don't wake Harry.

Ron sits up straight, suddenly alert.

RON

(quietly)

What is it? What's wrong?

Hermione puts her hand on top of his.

HERMIONE

(quietly)

Nothing's wrong. I just wanted to

talk.

Ron relaxes and leans back against the headboard.

RON

(quietly)

Okay...about what?

Hermione steels herself.

HERMIONE

(quietly)

About us.

RON

(frowns sullenly)

I thought there was no us.

HERMIONE

(quietly)

There is, or at least there will be

if I have anything to say about it.

Ron stares at her in confusion, as she looks deeply into his eyes.

HERMIONE (CONT'D)

(quietly)

I will not live in regret over

something that could have been. I

want to be happy...now...with the

man I love.

Ron's eyes go wide in understanding as Hermione edges toward him. Their lips meet, and they fall backwards onto Ron's bed.

Hermione grabs the bed curtain with her free hand and pulls it shut.

INT. HOGWARTS - GUEST SUITE - PARLOR

Harry is already dressed, again in his Auror robes, and is waiting for Ron and Hermione to come out of their rooms. Both of their doors are shut.

Harry glances down at his wristwatch in annoyance as Neville enters the room.

HARRY

Ron! Hermione! Lets go!

He hears movement in Ron's room.

HARRY

Ron?

Ron's door opens and Hermione's head sticks out between the crack. She is blushing fiercely.

Harry and Neville stare back in shock.

HERMIONE

Could you...turn around please?

Harry and Neville look at each other in surprise and do as they are told. They hear Hermione's footsteps across the floor and into her room.

HARRY

I guess they made up.

NEVILLE

And then some...

They turn back to Ron's door, which is still open, and see Ron as he pulls on his shirt. He is trying not to smile, and is blushing more fiercely than anyone has ever seen.

RON

Uh...morning!

INT. HOGWARTS - GREAT HALL

Harry, Ron, Hermione, Neville, and Ginny, are sitting at the end of the crowded Gryffindor table, silently eating breakfast.

Ron and Hermione are sitting next to each other, very closely, blushing every time they look at one another.

Harry and Neville sit across from them and watch in amusement.

Ginny, who is sitting on the other side of Harry, leans in close to talk to him.

GINNY

What happened last night?

HARRY

I'm not sure, but Hermione was in

Ron's room when I woke up.

GINNY

Took them long enough didn't it?

Harry looks at her in surprise.

GINNY (CONT'D)

(blushing)

Not that! I mean finally admitting

how they feel about each other.

HARRY

Yeah. They've been driving me

crazy ever since the Yule ball in

our fourth year.

GINNY

You realize of course that Mum will

kill them both if she finds out

they...um...spent the night together.

Harry chuckles, and they continue eating. Ginny speaks after several seconds.

GINNY (CONT'D)

You guys don't have to see me off

you know. You can leave whenever

you like.

(pause)

I'll be okay.

HARRY

You want us to leave?

GINNY

(grins)

Actually no. I'm glad you're here.

I always feel safer when you're

around.

Ginny blushes and looks away.

HARRY

Have you...tried to remember

anything about the chamber?

GINNY

(frowns)

Yeah. But it's the always the same.

A sharp pain...like fire. It knocks

me out every time.

Harry takes her hand reassuringly.

HARRY

It'll come in time. Don't worry.

Ginny looks up at him nervously.

GINNY

It's not being able to remember

that I'm worried about. It's what

I'll remember.

They look at each other worriedly before turning back to their food.

Luna suddenly sticks her head between them and breaks the tension.

LUNA

(serenely)

Good morning Gryffindors.

HARRY

Hey Luna! Have a seat!

She sits next to Neville and looks at him quizzically.

LUNA

Do you know you're sitting at the

Gryffindor table, Neville?

NEVILLE

I'm eating with my friends before

they leave, and there wasn't enough

room at the high table for all of

us.

(smiles affectionately)

And that's Professor Longbottom to

you, Miss Lovegood.

LUNA

(grins)

Not anymore...Neville.

Luna glances over at Harry excitedly.

LUNA (CONT'D)

So, did Neville ask you yet? Are

you coming to the wedding?

NEVILLE

(guilty)

I haven't asked him yet. I kind of

forgot.

HARRY

Wedding? Asked me what?

LUNA

Neville wants you and Ron to be the

best men at our wedding!

Harry and Ron grin at each other. Hermione beams with excitement.

HARRY

Yes! Of course we'll do it!

NEVILLE

You're all invited of course!

HERMIONE

When is it?

NEVILLE

In three months, right before the

end of the summer holiday.

HARRY

We'll be there.

EXT. HOGSMEADE - HOGSMEADE STATION - DAY

Hogsmeade Station is bursting with activity, as Hogwarts students prepare to depart on the Hogwarts Express.

Ron and Hermione stand, hand in hand next to Harry, Ginny, Neville, and Luna, as they look back at Hogwarts for what may be the last time.

HERMIONE

Do you think we'll ever see it

again?

HARRY

I think we will. Too much of our

lives have been spent here to leave

it forever.

RON

Yeah, we'll see it again. You know,

when our children come here.

Hermione squeezes his hand and they smile at each other.

Ginny looks around and notices that the platform is almost empty. She looks over at Luna.

GINNY

We'd better get on board Luna, or

we'll have to fly home on the back

of their broomsticks.

Ginny looks around at her friends one last time, as Luna says her goodbyes to Neville.

GINNY (CONT'D)

Thanks for staying for my graduation.

I really do appreciate it.

She steps in front of Harry and looks up at him. She then stands on her tiptoes and kisses him, not on the cheek, but on the lips. They linger for more than a moment.

GINNY (CONT'D)

Thank you for saving my life again

Harry.

HARRY

Er...um...no problem.

Ginny waves to Ron and Hermione.

GINNY

See you in London!

She turns and runs for the train just as it begins to move. Luna is already waiting in the one of the car's doorways, and pulls her on board. They wave goodbye as the train disappears into the distance.