Scene 4
It wasn’t before Monday that NEVILLE saw LOUISA. She came into the Ministry and tapped at the Desk in the MAIN HALL.

DESK WOMAN
Good Monday Morning Miss Snape. Please great Mr Longbottom. At the Auror Office.
Thank you.

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
I will.

DESK WOMAN
Good Monday Morning Proudfoot. Please great Mr Longbottom. At the Auror Office.
Thank you

PROUDFOOT
Ok then. Morning Louisa. How are you? desk woman can be heard greeting others

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
Not bad. What are we scheduling for Neville?

PROUDFOOT
We’ll test him out, see what we can add to his skills and go from there.
NEVILLE, HARRY & RON wait nervously for their mentors to arrive.

KINGSLEY SHACKLEBOLT
Right den, everybody ready? You are now all with your mentors.

HARRY, JADE and SAVAGE/ RON, GREGORY and JOHN/ NEVILLE, LOUISA and PROUDFOOT.
Good luck to you all.

NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM
So, what are we doing?

PROUDFOOT
Actually, I need to go off so you and Louisa are going off on your own today.

NEVILLE & LOUISA
On our own?

PROUDFOOT
Not a problem is it?

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
No, I just thought, as it’s Neville’s first day.

PROUDFOOT
Show him the sights. Louisa understood this all too well.

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
Come on then Neville.

NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM
Where we going?

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
Thought I’d show you my neck of the woods. They take the floo network to the Leaky Cauldron.

NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM
Diagon Alley? I’ve been here before.

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
This way she leads NEVILLE towards Knockturn Alley, where he starts to panic. They stop at the wall and she looks around then steps into the wall and disappears.

NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM
What? A hand grabs him and pulls him in.

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
Welcome to my home Neville.
He had just entered a large kitchen with a long table and a small house-elf, busy fussing over things.
This is my kitchen through here is a study points to a darkened room with shelves and books.
Upstairs are 3 bedrooms and a bathroom.
Downstairs is the basement but it’s not the best idea to show you that…
George has been… experimenting.

NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM
George is here?

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
GEORGE, VISITOR !!! a crash and smoke comes from the basement

GEORGE WEASLEY
Neville! Didn’t know it was you! What’s your thoughts on a… catching Louisa’s eye never mind.
What brings you two to Diagon Alley?

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
I’m showing Neville the sights of Knockturn Alley.

GEORGE WEASLEY
It’s defiantly a sight and you’re in no safer hands than her’s mate.

NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM
Err thanks George.

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
Want a drink before we go?

NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM
Yeah, pumpkin juice? The house-elf bows and brings a glass of pumpkin juice and 2 glasses of ciderteez

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
Brilliant, Well we best be off.

GEORGE WEASLEY
You not changing first?

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
No I thought I’d keep it light for today. They down the drinks and leave the house, turning into the depths of Knockturn Alley.

NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM
What did he mean…changing?

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
Well you know I can transfigure. You have to use what you have to your advantage. So sometimes I come as a different person, an animal… anything really.

NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM
And you do that a lot?

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
Not a lot, more, as a hobby.
But as I say you need to know where your experience lies.

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
Mine is talking to people.

NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM
I’m not so good at that.

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
Yes you are. I’ve seen you.

NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM
Hmm. NEVILLE sounds very unconvinced

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
Let’s start with an easy one. This is a potions and poisons shop that you can buy Flesh-eating slug repellent from. Useful stuff for all cabbage related incidents. Of course, and as well you know. I just need you to buy some. Would be good if you could get the price down a bit. But I have every faith that you can do that.

NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM
Absolutely! Neville goes in with Louisa disguised as a dog.

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
Nicely done. Now I think that we should go in as a team.

NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM
And do what?

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
Well this time we will go and see Borgin and Burkes.

NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM
Oh!

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
Come on Neville! Bit of adventure! I’ll show you how I used to speak to them

NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM
Alright.

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
You’ll need to remember the people. The hag for instance. Always under the bridge.

NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM
Why do I need to remember them?

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
Information is key. A good turn deserves another. They say there is no honour amongst thieves but really there is. You need to know what one turn provides. Because one day you may need their help, either catching a criminal, blackmailing against someone else.

NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM
Knowing where it all comes from.

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
Exactly. The hag can provide useful information and asks for little in return. Just know what they will want.

NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM
And what do they want here?

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
This, for me, used to be easy. I had a lot to deal. Now? I have very little. This will probably be a test for both of us. Do you want me to transfigure you?

NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM
No no… I’ll take it as it comes.

LOUISA SNAPE-RIDDLE
Brave. I like that about you Longbottom.
They enter the shop. It is clearly not Louisa’s first time in Borgin and Burke’s but it is for Neville who seems quite timid as they go up to the counter.