Darkness Falls

Act 15

Darkness Falls

EXT. RONSK - MOUNTAINS - NIGHT

Severus Snape and Lucius Malfoy's battle takes them to the edge of a cliff on the backside of the castle.

Their wands flash through the air like swords as they mutter curses and counter curses at each other.

Lucius is just a little too fast for Snape and hits him with a blasting spell. Snape lands hard on his back.

LUCIUS

Wingardium Leviosa!

A large boulder flies through the air toward Snape. He destroys the rock with a well-placed blasting spell.

He jumps to his feet, but fails to see the large jagged rock flying at him from behind. It smashes into his back, cutting him open. He crumples to the ground.

Lucius Malfoy stands over Snape, right on the edge of the cliff. There is a sheer drop right below them.

LUCIUS (CONT'D)

Avada Ka...

He never finishes the sentence.

DRACO

(yells)

Stupefy!

RED SPARKS burst forth from Draco Malfoy's wand, hitting Lucius Malfoy square in the back. He falls forward and tumbles off of the cliff. No living soul ever sees him again.

Draco rushes to Snape's side and kneels down beside him.

DRACO (CONT'D)

Severus!

He cradles Snape in his arms.

SNAPE

(weakly)

Draco.

DRACO

Hold on Severus! I'll go get help!

SNAPE

(weakly)

No. It is my time to go.

DRACO

No! You can't die! I have to save

you!

SNAPE

(weakly)

You need to save yourself. And you

have just taken the first step.

(pause)

I am proud to have known you Draco.

You were my greatest student.

(pause)

I have always thought of you, as a

son.

Snape's breaths grow faster and shallower.

SNAPE (CONT'D)

(whispers)

Continue my work, Draco...

Severus Snape's eyes dim as life leaves him and he passes into the next world.

Draco hugs Snape's head to his chest, as he mourns the death of him mentor.

FADE TO:

The battle rages on around the castle, as the Order of the Phoenix and the Death Eaters, continue their duels.

RED and GREEN SPARKS flash through the air, illuminating the area in a shower of fireworks.

Harry and his friends work as a team, fighting off the Death Eaters as they search for Ginny.

They come upon Lupin and Tonks, who are battling a pair of Death Eaters.

TONKS

Protego!

Red sparks glance off of Tonks and ricochet into the ground at Harry's feet. He looks up in alarm.

TONKS (CONT'D)

Wotcher Harry! Sorry about that!

Lupin subdues the Death Eaters with Hermione's help, then turns to Harry in concern.

LUPIN

Fly Harry! Get your friends to

safety!

HARRY

We can't leave yet! We have to find

Ginny!

Lupin frowns as he looks around for her.

LUPIN

I thought I saw her near the castle.

(pause)

This way!

He leads them through the battlefield toward the gates of the castle.

They spot her, curled up in a ball behind what was once the outer wall of the castle.

They kneel down beside her.

HARRY

Ginny...

She does not look up.

GINNY

(crying)

Go away!

HARRY

What?

GINNY

(crying)

Can't you hear? Go away!

HARRY

You can't mean that!

GINNY

(crying)

I...just go. Please!

HARRY

But why?

GINNY

(crying)

I'm not worth the effort.

(pause)

I wasn't strong enough to stop him.

He took control so easily. I

couldn't stop him at all.

HARRY

He's done that to wizards more

powerful than us Ginny.

GINNY

Don't you get it? I don't deserve

you! You're Harry Potter for

heavens sake! I'm just a weak

little girl.

HARRY

That's not you talking! That's

Voldemort and his lies!

GINNY

It doesn't matter anyway.

(sadly)

You don't love me.

HARRY

(hurt)

How can you say that?

GINNY

(angry)

It's true isn't it?

(pause)

Every time I try to get close to

you, you push me away...like I'm

just some stupid little kid with

a crush on you!

HARRY

But Ginny...I do love you. I

just never knew how to tell you!

Ginny's eyes suddenly go wide in fear.

RON

(yells)

Harry look out!

Harry looks up just in time to see a giant fist heading straight for him.

Lupin shoves him out of the way just in time, but catches the edge of the giant's fist across his chest. He flies through the air, landing several feet away.

Ginny rolls out of the way, in the other direction.

Harry ducks as Voldemort leaps over him and grabs Ginny in a chokehold. She struggles fiercely as Voldemort holds his wand to her head. A giant cowers behind them.

HARRY

(enraged)

Let her go Voldemort!

Dumbledore suddenly steps up beside Harry, looking great and terrible in righteous anger.

DUMBLEDORE

Do not bring innocents into this

battle Tom! This fight is between

us!

VOLDEMORT

But Albus, the girl does not want to

go with you. Do you girl?

All expression leaves Ginny's face, and her eyes cloud over.

GINNY

(dazed)

No master. I want to stay with you.

HARRY

Fight it Ginny! Fight it!

She looks at him, her eyes pleading.

HARRY (CONT'D)

I love you Ginny! Please! Come

back!

(pause)

I love you! I need you!

Ginny's face contorts with effort as she struggles to break Voldemort's grip on her mind. With tremendous effort, she begins to succeed.

GINNY

(struggling)

Harry...help...me...

Harry steps forward, frantic, but Voldemort yanks her away.

GINNY (CONT'D)

(struggling)

Harry...please...

Voldemort hisses in rage, and his eyes flame in anger.

Harry's hands dart to his scar as it explodes in pain.

Ginny cries out in pain, and her body goes limp in Voldemort's arms.

Harry falls to his knees as Dumbledore charges forward.

HARRY

(in pain)

Ginny!

Voldemort disapparates just as Dumbledore reaches him. The Death Eaters also disappear at that same, exact moment. The members of the Order of the Phoenix look around in confusion.

Harry jumps up as the searing pain suddenly leaves him.

HARRY (CONT'D)

No!

Harry looks around frantically for any sign of Voldemort or Ginny, as the others look on in horror.

HARRY (CONT'D)

Ginny!

Lupin grabs Harry by the shoulders.

LUPIN

Harry!

HARRY

We have to find her!

LUPIN

Harry!

HARRY

I can't lose her again!

Harry looks up at Lupin, who is about to collapse in pain.

LUPIN

Harry, it's over! There's nothing

we can do.

(pause)

It's over.

Harry shoulders slump as tears stream down his face.

HARRY

She can't...she...

Harry falls into Lupin's arms. He is unable to support Harry's weight and they fall to their knees.

Lupin comforts Harry as the others watch in stunned silence.

INT. MINISTRY OF MAGIC - ARTHUR WEASLEY'S OFFICE

Arthur Weasley leans back in his chair, devastated by the news about his daughter.

Dumbledore sits in a high backed chair in front of Arthur's desk, solemnly explaining the events.

Harry sits in a chair, out of the way in a corner of the room.

DUMBLEDORE

So you see Arthur, Ginny was never

completely out of Lord Voldemort's

control. If she still lives, I

fear his influence over her will

be too powerful to break.

Arthur turns ashen, while Harry looks up in realization.

HARRY

He was after Ginny. When the

Chamber of Secrets was opened last

year.

DUMBLEDORE

(nods)

It was Ginny who opened it. And

who let the Death Eaters into

Neville and Luna's wedding.

HARRY

(shakes his head)

I should have seen it! Why didn't

I see it?

DUMLBEDORE

You were blinded by your love for

her. Which was why Voldemort chose

her in the first place.

HARRY

To trap me...to hurt me...

Dumbledore nods sadly.

DUMBLEDORE

To take away everything you love.

HARRY (CONT'D)

I'm such a fool.

DUMBLEDORE

No Harry, you are human. A human

with the capacity to love. And

however poorly you feel at this

moment, that is not a bad thing to

be.

(pause)

Someday, you will remember that.

Arthur stands absently, suddenly looking years older.

ARTHUR

Thank you Albus, for bringing me

this news. I'm very grateful.

(absently)

Yes...grateful...

Harry can't stand to see Arthur so lost in grief, and hurries from the room.

Arthur walks absently towards the door.

DUMBLEDORE

Where are you going Arthur?

ARTHUR

Molly...will want to know.

DUMBLEDORE

I shall accompany you then.

Arthur nods absently, as Dumbledore places his hand on Arthur's shoulder and guides him from the room.

EXT. LONDON - ABANDONED OFFICE BUILDING - ROOFTOP - SUNSET

The wind howls across the rooftop of an abandoned office building, in the neighborhood above the Ministry of Magic, as the sun sets in the distance.

Harry stands near the edge and watches the sunset as the wind whips through his robes and his long unkempt hair.

Ron and Hermione approach Harry tentatively, afraid to make too much noise.

RON

Harry?

Harry does not turn around.

Ron steps up next to Harry, and looks over at him, unsure of what to say.

Harry looks over at Ron with a haunted expression on his face. Ron nods and places his hand on Harry's shoulder in reassurance.

Hermione pushes between the two men and puts an arm around each of them.

Harry accepts their comfort and puts his arm around Hermione's shoulder.

The three friends turn and watch the brilliant sunset, their hearts heavy, but strengthened by their friendship.

To be continued...