[Morning the day after, through the window: the rooftops of London. A train passes and camera pulls back, reveals Mia, standing with Hedwig. She turns, eyes her schoolbooks. She studies the growling tome -- The Monster Book of Monsters -- then gives the rope a tug.]
"Oi, Mia, you really should stroke the spine of that book," Neville interjected with a hint of caution, his own experience serving as a cautionary tale of the consequences of ignoring such a simple precaution.
"Listen to Neville, Mia, he knows what he's talking about," Ron chimed in, his expression a mixture of concern and playful teasing as he echoed Neville's warning, his eyes darting nervously to the mysterious tome in Mia's hands.
Mia's eyes widened in realization as she registered their words, a sheepish smile tugging at the corner of her lips as she carefully reached out to gingerly stroke the book's spine, heeding Neville's advice with a newfound sense of caution.
Hagrid, who had been observing the exchange with a mixture of amusement and concern, let out a hearty chuckle at Mia's reaction, his cheeks tinged with a faint blush as he recalled the peculiar properties of the enchanted books in his collection.
Sirius, who had been listening intently to the conversation, furrowed his brows in confusion as he tried to piece together the cryptic warnings and veiled references, his concern mounting as he sensed a undercurrent of mystery surrounding the seemingly innocuous books in question.
"What's the deal with these books, Mia?" Sirius inquired, his voice tinged with a hint of apprehension as he sought clarification on the enigmatic warning that hung in the air like a shroud of uncertainty.
Mia met Sirius' gaze with a cryptic smile, her eyes twinkling with a mischievous glint as she offered a vague but tantalizing response, her words laced with an air of anticipation and curiosity that piqued the interest of those gathered around.
"You're in for a surprise, Sirius," Mia replied enigmatically, her tone filled with a sense of mystery and a touch of amusement, leaving her friend with a sense of intrigue and apprehension about the impending revelation.
Sirius raised an eyebrow in response, a mix of annoyance and curiosity flickering across his features as he braced himself for the unknown, the anticipation of what lay ahead adding a sense of tension to the atmosphere as the group awaited the unfolding of events with bated breath.
[Instantly... the book leaps to the floor, pages flying, bookcovers. Snapping. Mia gives chase, then the book turns, begins nipping viciously at his shoes. Mia vaults atop the bed, watches the book disappear underneath, then grabs a pillow. Seconds later, the book scuttles into view and Mia pounces -- FLUMPH! The book roars angrily, muffled beneath the pillow.]
The sudden movements of the book sent a ripple of shock and surprise through the group, causing most of them to leap to their feet in alarm, their expressions a mix of fear and astonishment as they grappled with the unexpected display of magic before them.
Seamus, in particular, reacted with a dramatic flair, his hand pressed firmly over his heart as he let out a startled exclamation, his eyes wide with disbelief as he clutched at his shirt, as if to steady himself against the whirlwind of emotions that the book's antics had stirred within him.
"Merlin's beard, that was too close for comfort," Seamus gasped, his voice tinged with a hint of shaky laughter as he tried to make light of the heart-stopping moment, his nerves still jangling with the adrenaline of the sudden surprise.
And as the tension slowly began to ebb away, it became evident that Seamus was not alone in his reaction, as the others around him struggled to regain their composure and process the startling event that had unfolded in their midst.
Mia, however, remained remarkably composed in the face of the unexpected, her demeanor calm and collected as she observed the reactions of her companions with a knowing smile, her eyes twinkling with a hint of amusement at their collective response to the book's impromptu display of magic.
Having weathered similar surprises in the past, Mia's resilience and experience shone through as she stayed seated amid the flurry of activity, her posture relaxed and unruffled as she watched with a sense of bemusement at the chaos that had ensued around her.
[Mia takes the rope, prepares to rebind it. Meanwhile in the hallway a young witch in maid's robes pushes a cart down the hall. Mia exits her room as the witch knocks on door.
Young witch: Housekeeping [As she opens the door, she's greeted by a thunderous roar and a rush of wind.] I'll come back later.
The elderly witches chuckled at the cleaning witch's calm reaction to the scare, contrasting with their own shock. Some found humor in her bravery, while others wagged their fingers at the book's rudeness. Laughter and camaraderie filled the room, bonding them in shared amazement at the magical chaos.
[Something small and fast dashes by Mia's feet. looking, she spies a rather ragged-looking rat, pursued by a decidedly ugly orange cat, As Mia moves down the stairs, voices come from below.]
Mia's face lit up with a smile as the scene unfolded, anticipation building as her movie-self was on the verge of reuniting with her cherished best friends, a rat and a cat whose bond held a special significance in the magical tale.
Amidst the sense of excitement and heartfelt connection, the others in the group watched the unfolding reunion with puzzled expressions, their confusion evident as they struggled to understand the significance of focusing on a seemingly ordinary rat and cat in the midst of the unfolding drama.
"Why are we fixating on a rat and a cat?" Pansy's voice carried a note of bewilderment, her question echoing the sentiments of the group as they exchanged perplexed glances, their curiosity piqued by the seemingly mundane choice of characters in the pivotal moment of the narrative.
Mysterious smiles played on the lips of those in the know, their expressions tinged with a hint of knowing amusement as they awaited the revelation that would shed light on the true significance of the rat and cat in the unfolding story, a secret that would soon be unveiled to the curious onlookers in a moment of revelation and understanding.
"You'll see," came the cryptic reply, a promise of discovery and enlightenment that hung in the air.
Ron: I'm warning you, Hermione! Keep that bloody beast of yours away from Scabbers or I'll turn it into a tea cozy.
Hermione: He's a cat, Ronald! What do you expect? It's in his nature. [As Mia reaches bottom, he finds Ron protectively cradling Scabbers, while Hermione does her best to restrain a hissing Crookshanks.]
Ron and Hermione's faces colored with embarrassment as a small blush crept onto their cheeks, sheepishness evident in their expressions as they realized their misconception about Mia's presence and the extent of her involvement in the unfolding events.
Assuming that Mia had only recently joined the conversation and missed the earlier interactions, the two friends had underestimated her presence and the depth of her understanding, their assumption of her limited engagement now debunked by the realization that she had been fully aware of the entire exchange from the beginning.
The weight of their misjudgment hung heavy in the air, prompting a moment of self-reflection and reconsideration as Ron grappled with conflicting emotions, a sense of regret clouding his thoughts as he recalled his decision to protect Scabbers, unaware of the pivotal role it played in the larger narrative and the revelation of the truth about his pet's identity.
Despite his moment of uncertainty, a flicker of hope and resolution ignited within Ron, buoyed by the belief that his actions could ultimately lead to freeing Sirius and paving the way for a brighter future for their makeshift family, a vision of happiness and togetherness that held the promise of a newfound sense of belonging and fulfillment.
Ron: A cat! Is that what they told you? Looks more like a pig with hair if you ask me.
Hermione: That's rich coming from the owner of that smelly old shoe brush. (cooing to the cat) It's all right, Crookshanks. You just ignore the mean little boy...
Laughter rippled through the hall as most chuckled at the amusing scene unfolding before them, finding humor in the interaction between the two friends and their comical obliviousness to their companion's unanticipated presence.
Caught off guard by the shared amusement directed towards them, the two friends felt their cheeks grow even hotter, their blush deepening at the realization of their unwitting gaffe and the entertaining spectacle they had unwittingly provided for their audience, inadvertently becoming the unwitting stars of an impromptu comedy of errors that elicited smiles and mirth from those gathered around them.
[Then, sensing another presence in the room, both turn.]
Ron/Hermione: Mia [A HEADLINE SCREAMS: "GRAND PRIZE WINNER VISITS EGYPT!" In the accompanying photo, the entire Weasley family stands before the Great Pyramids, waving. Smack in the middle is Ron, Scabbers perched on his shoulder. As Ron smoothes the dog-eared clipping onto the table, Harry studies it. Hermione ignores it, stroking Crookshanks.]
Mia: Egypt! What's it like?
"Want to go to Egypt?" Sirius's eyes sparkled with excitement, his voice tinged with anticipation as he posed the question to Mia, eager to delve into her innermost desires and dreams.
"Why not?," Mia replied earnestly, her voice tinged with a sense of longing and determination.
"Then we'll explore it all together," Sirius promised with a warm smile, his gaze filled with affection and pride as he pulled her into a heartfelt hug, a gesture that spoke volumes of the unspoken connection and unspoken promise of shared adventures and uncharted territories awaiting them.
In that moment, amidst the whispers and lingering doubts that circled around them, one truth shone through like a beacon in the night: in the tapestry of life, love had the ability to transcend boundaries and rewrite stories, to bridge divides and transform enemies into allies, offering a glimmer of hope and possibility in a world where understanding and forgiveness held the key to a future filled with promise and potential.
Ron: Brilliant. It's got loads of old stuff. Mummies. Death masks. Tombs --
Hermione: You know, the ancient Egyptians of the Nile River delta worshipped the cat goddess Bast. [Ron glares stonily at Hermione, then turns back to Mia.]
Ron: I also got a new wand. [Just then, a commotion is heard. The Weasleys -- Percy, Fred, George, Ginny, Arthur, and Molly -- arrive en masse, laden with purchases from Diagon Alley.]
George: Not flashing that clipping about again, are you, Ron?
Ron: I haven't shown anyone!
Fred: No, not a soul. Unless you count Tom. The day maid. The night maid. The cook. The bloke that came to fix the toilet. That wizard from Belgium...
Chuckles were heard at the twins remake
[Mrs. Weasley takes Mia's face in her hands, smiles. As if relieved to see her.]
Mrs.Weasley: It's good to see you, Mia.
Mia: Good to see you too, Mrs. Weasley.
"Why did you look so worried when you saw her?" Amelia inquired, her brow furrowing in genuine curiosity as she tried to decipher the complex emotions flickering across Molly's face.
Molly's eyes clouded with a shadow of concern, her lips pressed into a thin line as she sought to convey the depth of her feelings to Amelia. "I was worried that Sirius had gotten to her," she began, her voice tinged with a mixture of fear and protective instinct. "We learned that she had run away from home. We didn't know where she was until we found her in the Leaky Cauldron," Molly explained, her words laced with a sense of relief at the eventual reunion with Mia, yet tinged with an underlying worry that lingered like a specter from the past.
As Amelia absorbed Molly's explanation, a sense of empathy welled within her, understanding the weight of responsibility and love that bound Molly to Mia, despite the circumstances that had brought them together.
Arthur: Mia. I wonder if I might have a word.
Mia: Of course, Mr. Weasley. [As Mr. Weasley pulls Mia away, the others continue to hover over the clipping in the b.g. Mia notices Mr. Weasley glance edgily at a fugitive poster tacked to the wall. In it, SIRIUS BLACK glowers under the words, "Have You Seen This Man?"]
Arthur: Mia. There are some within the Ministry who would strongly discourage me from divulging what I'm about to tell you.
"Are you seriously telling her? She shouldn't be worried about these kinds of things. She would've been better off not knowing the truth," Fudge protested loudly, his voice carrying a tone of exasperation and concern as he challenged the decision to reveal unsettling information to Mia.
"She needed to know. You've seen what the three of them have been in the previous years. What makes you think that something involving her and Sirius wouldn't happen this year?" Arthur defended his past actions, his tone firm and resolute as he justified his stance on transparency and preparedness in tumultuous times.
Mia, caught in the crossfire of opposing views, felt the weight of truth and uncertainty bearing down on her fragile shoulders. "And it wasn't even true. You'll learn the truth too, just like we did," she interjected, her voice laced with a sense of conviction and resolve, determined to quell the rising tension between Fudge and Arthur before it escalated into a full-blown confrontation.
"Besides, he had already escaped Azkaban, and he managed to sneak into Hogwarts. Trust me, she needed to know," Ron added, his words a reflection of both concern for Mia's well-being and a desire to assist his father in navigating the complexities of the situation unfolding before them.
As the air crackled with unspoken tension and unvoiced fears, Arthur couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt at the risks their family faced due to the clandestine activities of Mia and her companions. It was a precarious balance between loyalty to their cause and the safety of their loved ones, a tightrope walk fraught with uncertainty and danger.
The disapproving glares and muttered grievances of Fudge and Umbridge only served to fuel the simmering conflict, highlighting the divide between those who sought to protect and those who sought to control, creating a chasm of mistrust and animosity that threatened to unravel the fragile threads of unity that bound them together in the face of looming darkness and impending turmoil.
Arthur: But I think you need to know the facts. Because you're in danger. Grave danger. [Mia's eyes drift to the fugitive poster.
Mia: Has this anything to do with him, sir?
Arthur: What do you know of Sirius Black, Mia?
Mia: That he escaped from Azkaban. That he killed someone...
Arthur: Harry, thirteen years ago, when you stopped... [Weasley hesitates, unable to continue.]
Mia: Voldemort.
Shivers of fear rippled through the crowded Hall at the mere mention of Voldemort's name, casting a pall of unease and foreboding over the gathered throng. The whispered syllables of the dark wizard's infamous moniker served as a grim reminder of the lingering threat that loomed on the horizon, a specter of fear and dread that haunted the hearts and minds of all who dared to speak his name.
Arthur: (nodding nervously) Black lost everything. But he remains a loyal servant to this day. In his mind, only you stand in the way of... [Once again, Mr. Weasley hesitates.]
Mia: Voldemort...?
Arthur: Mia, I hate it when you say --
Mia: I know, sorry. Ron hates it too.
Arthur: In Black's mind, only you stand in the way of... You-Know-Who returning to power. That's why he's broken. That's why he's broken out of Azkaban. To find you. And... [Mr. Weasley hesitates yet again.]
Mia: Kill me? [Mr. Weasley nods. Nervously.]
Most shivered once again, their discomfort palpable in the tense silence that followed his chilling intention.
"Well, wasn't that cheerful?" Draco remarked sardonically, his words tinged with unease and a hint of dark humor as he sought to alleviate the heavy atmosphere that permeated the hall.
Arthur: Mia. I want you to swear that -- whatever you might hear -- you won't go looking for Black.
Mia: Mr. Weasley, why would I go looking for someone who wants to kill me?
"I'm sorry, but isn't that what you guys usually do?" Cho's voice rang out, a note of confusion and curiosity lacing her words as she sought to unravel the complexities of her friends' past actions.
Mia's brow furrowed slightly as she considered Cho's question, her eyes flashing with a mixture of determination and reminiscence. "Yes and no," she began, her voice steady and resolute. "We didn't know that it was You-Know-Who the first two years, but we still went through with our plans to protect everyone else, seeing as no one else was going to." Her gaze flickered to her friends, who offered silent nods of agreement, their faces a tapestry of shared experiences and unspoken bonds.
"And besides, I didn't go looking for Sirius, actively," Mia added, a faint hint of defensiveness creeping into her tone as she anticipated skepticism and disbelief.
Pansy's lips curled into a sardonic smile. "Yeah, right," she retorted, her voice dripping with sarcasm and a trace of amusement at Mia's protestations.
Hermione, ever the voice of reason, interjected smoothly. "She actually didn't," she affirmed, her expression calm and unyielding as she vouched for Mia's innocence in the unfolding drama that had engulfed their school year.
Mia shot Pansy a playful glare before turning to her friends with a knowing smile. "Like we've said before, trouble finds us," she quipped, a shared secret passing between them as they exchanged glances filled with understanding and camaraderie.
[Mr. Weasley nods, then claps Mia on the shoulder.]
Arthur: Just watch yourself, will you, Mia?
mia x ?
[1] PANSY
[2] BLAISE
[3] DRACO
[4] OLIVER
[5] FRED
[6] GEORGE
[7] CHARLIE