Chapter 1: Growing Stronger
Scene
On a garden path. A few students run off stage while
Severus Snape shouts after them with his wand out.
Igor Karkaroff enters from stage left.
IGOR KARKAROFF
Severus!
SEVERUS SNAPE
Yes, Igor?
IGOR KARKAROFF
We need to talk.
SEVERUS SNAPE
Are we not doing so now?
IGOR KARKAROFF
(glaring)
But surely you have noticed?
SEVERUS SNAPE
What have I noticed?
IGOR KARKAROFF
The mark Severus! It's turning red, surely it doesn't mean -
SEVERUS SNAPE
What else could it mean? Lesser wizards than even you have deduced that Voldemort is going to return. Don't tell me that you aren't happy to find out our Master is returning.
IGOR KARKAROFF
Well, I'm not sure if he'll be happy with me.
SEVERUS SNAPE
I really don't see what all of your fussing is about Igor.
IGOR KARKAROFF
Severus! You cannot pretend this isn't happening. It's been getting clearer and clearer for months. I am getting seriously concerned.
SEVERUS SNAPE
Then flee. Flee, I will make your excuses. I, however, am remaining at Hogwarts.
Severus stalks off to the left. Igor follows.
Scene
On the garden path. Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape
enter from left and slowly make their way down the path to the right.
ALBUS DUMBLEDORE
Well?
SEVERUS SNAPE
Karkaroff's mark is becoming darker too. He is panicking, he fears retribution; you know how much help he gave the ministry after the Dark Lord fell. Karkaroff intends to flee if the mark burns.
ALBUS DUMBLEDORE
Does he? And are you tempted to join him
SEVERUS SNAPE
No. I am not such a coward.
ALBUS DUMBLEDORE
No, you are a braver man by far than Igor Karkaroff. You know, I sometimes think we sort too soon.
Both exit to the right.
Scene
In potions class room. Severus is seated at his desk, Harry
Potter is at the desk directly in front of his working on his
potion. The rest of the Slytherin and Gryffindor fourth years
are sitting at tables of four also working on potions.
SEVERUS SNAPE
All this press attention seems to have inflated your already overlarge head, Potter. You might be laboring under the impression the entire wizarding world in impressed with you.
(Harry is determinately ignoring him)
but I don't care how many times your picture appears in the papers. To me, Potter, you are nothing but a nasty little boy who considers rules to be beneath him. So I give you fair warning Potter, pint-sized celebrity or not, if I catch you breaking into my office one more time.
HARRY POTTER
I haven't been anywhere near your office!
SEVERUS SNAPE
Don't lie to me! Boomslang skin, Gillyweed. Both come from my private stores, I know who stole them.
HARRY POTTER
I don't know what you are talking about.
SEVERUS SNAPE
You were out of bed the night my office was broken into. I know it, Potter. Mad-Eye Moody may have joined your fan club, but I will not tolerate you behavior. One more nighttime stroll into my office, Potter, and you will pay!
HARRY POTTER
Right, I'll keep that in mind if I ever have the urge to go in there.
Severus pulls out a small bottle of clear liquid (Veritaserum)
SEVERUS SNAPE
Do you know what this is, Potter?
HARRY POTTER
No.
SEVERUS SNAPE
It is Veritaserum, a truth potion so powerful that three drops would have you spilling your innermost secrets for the entire class to hear. The use of this potion is controlled by very strict Ministry guidelines. But unless you watch your step, you might just find that my hand slips right over your evening pumpkin juice.
Knock from offstage
SEVERUS SNAPE
Enter
Igor Karkaroff enters from right and goes up to Severus's desk.
IGOR KARKAROFF
We need to talk.
SEVERUS SNAPE
I'll talk to you after my lesson, Karkaroff.
IGOR KARKAROFF
I want to talk to you now while you can't slip off, Severus.
SEVERUS SNAPE
After the lesson.
Igor stands in the back of the classroom. The bell rings.
Harry knocks over a bottle of thick greenish liquid (Armadillo
Bile) and bends dawn behind the desk to clean it up while
the rest of the class exits to the right.
SEVERUS SNAPE
What is so urgent?
IGOR KARKAROFF
This!
(Igor pulls up his left sleeve to show the Dark Mark.)
Well? Do you see? It's never been this clear since he -
SEVERUS SNAPE
Put it away!
IGOR KARKAROFF
But you must have noticed -
SEVERUS SNAPE
We can talk later Karkaroff! Potter! What are you doing?
HARRY POTTER
(standing up and showing soiled rag)
Cleaning up my armadillo bile, Professor.
SEVERUS SNAPE
Well, hurry up!
Harry quickly exits the classroom.
IGOR KARKAROFF
So, that's Harry Potter, is it?
SEVERUS SNAPE
Yes, the most insolent, idiotic boy I've ever been forced to teach.
IGOR KARKAROFF
Do you think...? I mean, is he dangerous?
SEVERUS SNAPE
No, he is a little arrogant boy with too big of a head. No one knows how he survived the curse.
IGOR KARKAROFF
Well, I'd assume that the Dark Lord would kill to know.
SEVERUS SNAPE
Of course he would. Maybe you should find out, then he may forgive you. That is assuming he doesn't already know. Now leave, I have things to do.
Scene
In Severus' office. Severus Snape is sitting at his desk. Knock from offstage.
SEVERUS SNAPE
Enter
Albus Dumbledore enters.
ALBUS DUMBLEDORE
Good evening, Severus.
SEVERUS SNAPE
Hello Albus, what is it you are in need of?
ALBUS DUMBLEDORE
Oh, I was just wondering if you had any information on Voldemort. Barty Crouch's disappearance last night was very frightening!
SEVERUS SNAPE
What exactly happened?
ALBUS DUMBLEDORE
I only really know what happened after the fact, but from what Harry told me as he brought me to where Barty was, he had turned up out of his mind believing that he was with Percy Weasley, that his wife and son were alive, and that he was still preparing for the Triwizard Tournament. Then when I turned up he was gone and Viktor was knocked out. Alastor couldn't find him anywhere either.
SEVERUS SNAPE
Interesting, it sounds like a bad imperious curse to me - or he's doing a good job at fighting it.
ALBUS DUMBLEDORE
Yes, it seems so. Harry said Barty mentioned something about Voldemort getting stronger and things being his fault. He also told me that he wanted to warn me of something, but what?
SEVERUS SNAPE
Of the Dark Lord's return, surely. You said he told Potter that Voldemort was getting stronger, so that's probably what he wanted to warn you about.
ALBUS DUMBLEDORE
Yes everything does seem to point to that out come. Yours and Karkaroff's marks, the disappearances that can easily be connected to Voldemort, Sybil's prediction - well both of them, really, Harry's dreams-
SEVERUS SNAPE
Potter's dreams?
ALBUS DUMBLEDORE
Ah yes, you see he and Voldemort have a curious connection and recently Harry has gotten visions of him. Just earlier today Voldemort received an owl informing him that Wormtail's mistake had been covered far and that someone was now dead.
SEVERUS SNAPE
You think that it's Barty?
ALBUS DUMBLEDORE
We can no longer assume things are coincidences, they weren't coincidences when Voldemort first rose to power, so why should they be now? But how and why Barty Crouch was connected with Voldemort and Wormtail - unless, unless his son - it couldn't be - although it always was a fishy trail.
(looks at watch)
Oh gosh, I've got to run, I'm sorry Severus, dinner starts in five minuets.
Albus exits.
SEVERUS SNAPE
What on earth? Barty's son? But, his son, his son is dead?
So? What do you think? I would really love it if someone would review. :) Disclaimer...I own just about nothing...It's all JKR's...I'm not quite that brilliant :(
~You Go Girl~