Act 2
Scene 1

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE and PROUDFOOT apparate to just outside Malfoy Manor. PROUDFOOT notices that LOUISA is a lot more reserved.

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
It seems quieter than usual.

PROUDFOOT
When were you last here?

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
April I guess, seems like a long time ago.

PROUDFOOT
It was. Why did you come? Sensing she should be kind

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
Oh, it doesn’t matter. Getting a grip of herself. There is a field around the gates and house. It doesn’t affect me but it might affect you. Might be best if you stay here. They won’t hurt me, I promise. Anyway, we don’t even know he is there.

PROUDFOOT
Signal me if you have a problem. I’ll stay right outside.

PROUDFOOT sits on a bench, under some trees and waits.

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE walks through the gates and up to the big doors of the Manor and knocks. The doors swing open and she is allowed to enter.

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
Hello? Is anyone home? She calls out in a somewhat panicked voice but nobody arrived and the doors closed behind her. She walked to the large dining room that they often met in and caressed the chair at the end that her father often sat in. She then caressed the chair next to it that was her chair. The chair that he chose as hers.

DRACO MALFOY
I don’t know why you came. You really shouldn’t have bothered.

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
Hi, Draco. I guess I need to start somewhere, and here is, well, as good as anywhere.

DRACO MALFOY
Don’t the Weasleys look after you well enough?

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
Too well, but you know that.

NARCISSA MALFOY
Draco who is our… Louisa! Hugs her What are you doing here? I heard you had disappeared! That you had gone. There were rumours that you were dead, suicide all manner of things. Hugs her again I’m just so pleased you are alright.

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
Embarrased, I’m fine. I didn’t know there were so many rumours about me.

NARCISSA MALFOY
Well, what did you expect?

DRACO MALFOY
Probably a welcome party of some sort.

NARCISSA MALFOY
Where are you living? You know there is always a place with us.

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
Embarrased Thank you, but I’ve gone back to Knockturn Alley for the moment. It’s safe.

LUCIUS MALFOY
Cissy the…backtracks a bit Louisa! What a pleasant surprise. I had no idea you were even alive.
NARCISSA and DRACO nod and exit

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
It seems many think the same about you. You’ve not been seen in quite some time. My mentor at the Auror office seems to think you are on the run.

LUCIUS MALFOY
Proudfoot is it?

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
Yes, but I thought I would be able to give you heads up before they start thinking anything.

LUCIUS MALFOY
And what is it exactly you think you can do for us? Without getting caught yourself.

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
There’s no worry for me getting caught Lucius. Shall we say it has been taken care of?
For You, Narcissa and Draco on the other hand I could be persuaded to be very kind.

LUCIUS MALFOY
You have nothing to blackmail us with Louisa with. Nothing at all.

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
Perhaps, perhaps not she flicks her fingers I don’t want you in Azkaban. I want to know about Delphini.

LUCIUS MALFOY
Lucius looks shocked Delphini? Who is that?

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
Speaking like Voldemort Lucius, I know who she is and you are going to tell me more understood?

LUCIUS MALFOY
I – I

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
I don’t want it being made a big thing of. I have the paperwork here. Produces her father’s will.

LUCIUS MALFOY
CISSY!

NARCISSA MALFOY
What on earth is the matter Lucius? Sees Louisa with the documents Oh!

LUCIUS MALFOY
How much do you know?

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
Clearly not enough. I know that she is his daughter. Obviously, you know more.

LUCIUS MALFOY
She’s Bellatrix’s daughter. Don’t ask me more. It’s as much as I can handle myself.

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
I see, clearly shocked, what am I supposed to do?

NARCISSA MALFOY
What can you do? She is not your responsibility. You are not her mother.

DRACO MALFOY comes in carrying a young child.

NARCISSA MALFOY
This is Delpini.

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
How do you even know that it is his? Just because it says in his will? That is nothing to go on.

NARCISSA MALFOY
We know she is Bellatrix’s daughter. That is all.

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
Get rid of it.

NARCISSA MALFOY
What? Louisa! How can you say such a thing?

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
I mean it. She has to go.

NARCISSA MALFOY
You can’t just get rid of her!
LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
Yes you can, you must be able to.

DRACO MALFOY
I told you she’d react like this. We’ll manage. It’s fine.

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
You think you can manage? With a child? His child? Her child? NO!
Just give me something, some kind of information to give Kingsley. Just to prove I did my job.

LUCIUS MALFOY
What sort of information?

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
Alec Fanner. A Snatcher.

LUCIUS MALFOY
He’s on the run. Last time I heard he was in a castle in Ireland. Spends most of his time in Cork but goes to Dublin every so often.
Careful Lou he’s dangerous.

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
Thanks. You really should get back to work. Make up a cover story and then… I don’t know…
She runs from the house.

DRACO MALFOY
Lou, are we ok? You and me?

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
Always smiles faintly other than us now being family!

DRACO smiles with relief and Louisa runs down the long driveway and through the large gates. PROUDFOOT is waiting for her under the tree.