Scene 3
As they enter The Ministry a surly woman is sitting at a desk, she sees ARTHUR WEASLEY. She says nothing and directs them through a door that seems to be a main entrance.

DESK WOMAN
In here.

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE looks startled and slightly scared. She works her way through the mas of people that all seem to be staring at them. She stays close to ARTHUR WEASLEY.

ARTHUR WEASLEY
Don’t worry they don’t know who you are. Everyone is on edge at the moment. Many people being brought in are under suspicion of being Death Eaters so it’s only natural.

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
Right. And me? Am I under suspicion?

ARTHUR WEASLEY
Err… The hesitation made Louisa tense.

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
I see. Not until they find out who I am you mean.

ARTHUR WEASLEY
Well… let’s just see what they say.
He got even more nervous as they waited for the door to open. Eventually it opened and they sighed. A great sigh of relief. As they entered the room. The Minister was there along with several junior ministers.

KINGSLEY SHACKLEBOLT
Hello, thank you all for coming. I am of course thankful to you all for gracing us with your presence this morning. I will try and make this as swift as I can.

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
She nudged Arthur, why are all these people here. I thought I was registering them as dead!

ARTHUR WEASLEY
It’s a bit more complicated than that I’m afraid.

KINGSLEY SHACKLEBOLT
So, I see she has turned up Arthur.

ARTHUR WEASLEY
Yes Minister.

KINGSLEY SHACKLEBOLT
Very good then we shall proceed.
Secretary, if you could?

DOLORES UMBRIDGE
Of course, Minister. Now your name and address sir?

ARTHUR WEASLEY
Arthur Weasley, The Burrow, Otterey St Catchpole.

DOLORES UMBRIDGE
And your occupation?

ARTHUR WEASLEY
Head of the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office

DOLORES UMBRIDGE
And you? she was now concentrating on Louisa. Name?

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
Louisa Snape, Madame Umbridge. Of Knockturn Alley

DOLORES UMBRIDGE
You are a witch, are you not, I need your full and complete name.

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
Sarah Louisa Snape-Riddle of Knockturn Alley Madame Umbridge. I’m an Auror in training. People in the crowd started to whisper.

DOLORES UMBRIDGE
I see. And I understand you need to register the death of your family members?

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
Yes, her voice had become so quiet that she could hardly hear it herself.

DOLORES UMBRIDGE
Now I need the full name of the members of your family and of course their relationship to you. If you have a profession for them that would be delightful, and a date of death.

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
Ok, firstly my uncle Professor Severus Snape died on the 2nd May 1998 murmurs started around the room. Snape dead. I knew she was related.
Louisa looked at Arthur, who by this time was standing on the side. He gave her an encouraging look and she plucked up the courage to continue with her story. Dolores Umbridge was writing it all down
Secondly is my father Tom Marvolo Riddle. Also, on the 2nd May 1998. The room went silent.

DOLORES UMBRIDGE
I’m sorry?

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
Thank you, I …

DOLORES UMBRIDGE
No she started standing up. Do you mean to tell me that YOU a student of Hogwarts, that I taught? An Auror of this very Ministry is the child of… is… is… VOLDEMORT’S DAUGHTER !!!???
By this point she was practically screaming.

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
Yes, I dare say I am. Her tone was remarkably calm I would like to register their deaths and I believe I need to sign something for their wills.

KINGSLEY SHACKLEBOLT rose, glanced at ARTHUR WEASLEY and LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE and leads them to a quiet room.
I didn’t think they would make quite so much fuss but it is only to be expected I suppose.

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
Yeah, but she never had much of a clue when I was at school!

KINGSLEY SHACKLEBOLT
Yes but things are different Louisa you are an Auror and you are outing yourself with a powerful dark wizard father. We may have known but they did not. It is going to be complicated for a long time. You will have to get used to it.

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
Yes Sir. What do I need to sign? Are they important documents?

KINGSLEY SHACKLEBOLT
In a way, he hands her a parchment, this is the one that explains how you are the sole heir and claimant to the estate of Severus Snape. It includes the property in Cokeworth, all books, and personal items in his property. Etc. It also includes rights to any written works and spells that are in his name are now transferred across to you.

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
I’m not going to Azkaban am I for his involvement?

KINGSLEY SHACKLEBOLT
No, No, No. I got you out of that. Your father managed to get you out of it too. He was a dark wizard but he protected you until the end.

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
Shocked I – I didn’t know that. Smiles and signs the document
Points to the other one and that one?

KINGSLEY SHACKLEBOLT
This is your father’s.

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
Reading…
I, Tom Marvolo Riddle declare everything that I have and own to be passed down upon my death to my children… children? I’m not his only child?

KINGSLEY SHACKLEBOLT
I guess not, you know as well as I do that these are done by the Ministry and Gringotts they are all magically produced. By the look on her face he suddenly asked So, you don’t know who your brother or sister is?

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
It says here Delphini. I’ve never heard of a Delphini before.
I’ll be starting again at Auror training tomorrow so I don’t really have time to worry about it.
When and where will you need me?

KINGSLEY SHACKLEBOLT
Normal place, normal time. But don’t give Ron or Harry any extra tips. I’ll be watching you know.

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
I know.

ARTHUR WEASLEY and LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE make their way through the main entrance and through to the Ministry Hall.
Arthur where’s Lucius?

ARTHUR WEASLEY
Oh the Malfoys haven’t been seen for a while, not since the battle, and not for ages in the actual Ministry. I think he will use the same excuse as last time. That it wasn’t their fault and they were under the influence etc…

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
Yeah but I think they have a better excuse this time.

ARTHUR WEASLEY
And what would that be?

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE doesn’t answer. She simply looks down at the ground and tries to avoid glances from people.