Act III

(Same setting. Lily and James are sitting close to a foot from each other with glasses of brandy on the couch, both staring straight ahead)

James: Now, remember this- you tried to stop me. If the truth should ever come out, you had nothing to do with any of this. Nothing at all, understand?

Lily: You know, I've run it over in mind again and again and I still can't see how you could do it. Even with all of your embarrassment and our financial situation, I can't see how you could do it. You've changed, James, and it can't have just been in the last three hours. You're a different man from the one I married.

(James sits silently)

Lily: In a month or so, when everything's cleared over, I want you to leave. We'll have a few arguments in people's living rooms about money or something, and then you'll pack up, leave, and buy the vegetable patch.

James: You're not in your right mind. You have just been through a traumatic experience and you are not yourself. Let's give it a week, and then we can talk about it seriously.

Lily: I am serious, James. I don't want anything to do with you ever again.

James: Come, Lily, come to bed and we'll see how we feel in the morning.

(He leads her to the staircase and she follows, almost warming up to him. Then she hears a slight rustle from above and clutches him in fear)

Lily: Oh, Darling, I heard something, I can't go up there.

James: There is nothing up there; it's just your imagination being cruel.

Lily: I won't go up, James.

James: Come now, do you want me to show you that there's nothing? I will...

(He disappears up the staircase and she goes back down to ground level)

James' voice from above: See, nothing up here...

(We here a muffled shout and then we see James topple down the stairs, a disheveled looking Draco following him. Draco is now covered in mud and blood is matted to his throat where he had previously been strangled. Draco has a thick branch in his hand and begins to beat James over the head with it until he appears unconscious. Draco chases Lily through the living room as she screams; flailing her limbs like a lemur caught fire. Suddenly, mid-scream, she clutches her chest and heaves a great breath before falling limp to the ground. Draco leans forward to feel her pulse, before wiping his fingerprints from her wrist. He then holds a small mirror in front of her mouth, checking her breath. He then stands slowly as James appears behind him)

Draco: I can't believe it worked.

James: She's dead?

Draco: As a doornail.

James: Yes, well, it's to be expected. She's had minor heart attacks over lesser things.

(He removes a dangling cobweb from the younger man)

James: Perhaps you should wash up; you look a mess.

Draco: Right.

(He goes into the kitchen as James sits on the couch)

James: I'm going to wait a few minutes before I alert the authorities. Don't want any miraculous revivals, now do we?

Draco's voice: Sure don't!

James: Oh, and for reference, that Styrofoam block hurts. You hit much harder than you did in the motel room.

Draco's voice: Wanted to make it convincing, didn't we?

James: And I'd say we achieved that, Draco.

(Draco appears from the kitchen, cleaned up considerably and now lacking a shirt)

James: I think I'll call them now, so you'd better get upstairs.

Draco: Right, Ciao.

James: Ciao. Oh, and the floors creak slightly, so be quiet and wait in bed. I may have to wait with her for a while, so I'll expect you to be asleep when I get back.

(They look into each other's eyes for a moment before James runs a hand down Draco's bare chest and catches his lips in a passionate kiss. Draco takes the older man's arms tightly)

Draco: Don't be long- I won't be asleep.

James: I'll do my best.

(Draco disappears up the stairs and James apparates from the living room, leaving Lily's dead body alone)