-SCRIPT-

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Night Conversation

Characters Involved:

ALBUS POTTER

JENNA MCLAGGEN

ALBUS awakes in his dormitory and sits up, looking around. With a sigh, he climbs out of bed and puts on a dressing gown. Making his way to the door and opening it, he looks down the passage to his left and sees the flickering of the fire in the common room. ALBUS then walks down the passage to enter the common room, and upon entering sees JENNA sat in front of the fire. He goes and sits down beside her and begins a conversation awkwardly.

ALBUS: Er – Good evening.

JENNA: You mean morning

ALBUS: What time is it?

JENNA checks her watch

JENNA: Two a.m.

Pause

ALBUS: So…why are you up?

JENNA: A cat woke me.

ALBUS: How? (slight laugh)

JENNAL (smiling) It batted my face with its paw.

ALBUS and JENNA laugh slightly, the ALBUS speaks again.

JENNA: Why’re you up?

ALBUS: Don’t know really.

JENNA: (looks around) It’s a nice room.

ALBUS: Yeah.

JENNA: I wanted to see it earlier but I don’t like being surrounded by people I don’t know.

ALBUS: You were fine on the train.

JENNA: (looks at him) I don’t like being surrounded by Slytherins I don’t know.

ALBUS: I thought you loved them.

JENNA: Loved them?

ALBUS: You were all for Slytherin. You told your brother you were pleased.

JENNA: (sighs) I know.

ALBUS: Well were you lying, then?

JENNA: I don’t know…now that I’m here and I’m thinking about it…I just don’t know.

ALBUS: So what about all that stuff you were saying about inter-house peace and all that? About Slytherin being a noble house?

JENNA: I suppose I was trying to make myself feel good. Because I knew it was coming, really. But I didn’t want to be a Slytherin…I don’t want to be a Slytherin.

ALBUS: Neither do I (darkly)

JENNA: I mean…I don’t want to think I’m sly, or malicious, or spiteful…

ALBUS: Jenna, I know I’ve only just met you, but I can tell you’re none of those things.

JENNA: Then why am I in Slytherin?

ALBUS: Look, Jenna, I don’t think I’m those things either. Neither of us are like that.

JENNA: Did the sorting hat get it wrong, then?

ALBUS: You’re forgetting the other qualities of a Slytherin; Ambition, Resourcefulness. They’re not bad.

JENNA: I can’t call myself either of those things.

ALBUS: Oh come on, Jenna. Stop putting yourself and Slytherin down. If you mope around, nothing will get better. Think about what you said to me earlier. You may me feel better about Slytherin, and ashamed for putting down the house. Slytherin isn’t bad. Not unless we think of it that way, not unless we become that stereotype. Now think about those things and see sense.

Pause. Then JENNA looks up at him and smiles.

JENNA: Albus, do you realise what you’re doing?

ALBUS: What?

JENNA: You’re defending Slytherin.

ALBUS opens his mouth and pauses. JENNA laughs and continues as he does so.

JENNA: There’s me ‘moping’ about and then you step in with such impressive speech that proves you’re all about the stereotype as well. I knew it would work.

ALBUS: How – wait – what?

JENNA: Let’s just say I may have tricked you slightly. Possibly unintentionally.

ALBUS: Hang on, what did I just do?

JENNA: (laughs) Oh, I’m sorry, Albus, I really didn’t mean to.

ALBUS: You tricked me?

JENNA: Well, sort of.

ALBUS pauses, then looks at her.

ALBUS: You – you…

JENNA: Just made you admit Slytherin’s your house. Unintentionally.

ALBUS: Unintentionally?

JENNA: I would say that, yes.

ALBUS: So…you still feel the same way as you felt before.

JENNA: (Smiles) Not really. Your speech did the trick.

ALBUS: I didn’t really know I had that in me. (turns to Jenna) Thanks.

JENNA: (laughs slightly) For what?

ALBUS: Showing me Slytherin’s not the ‘evil’ house and proving that I belong in it.

JENNA: It’s not something I get up to every day, but thank you. For the apology as well.

ALBUS: Apology?

JENNA: I’ll take it as an apology.

ALBUS opens his mouth, then shuts it. There’s a slight pause, then he speaks again.

ALBUS: Who would you say is your greatest role model in life?

JENNA: Where did that come from.

ALBUS: Just thinking. Anyway, who’s your role model?

JENNA: Before I would have said Hermione Granger. But now…well, it’s going to be a bit difficult.

ALBUS: I’m in the same boat. I tried to follow my Dad but…well, I suppose it hasn’t really worked.

JENNA: Let’s just be ourselves, Albus. I think we share the fault of trying to change ourselves to much. Let’s enjoy Hogwarts.

ALBUS: Sounds like a plan.

There is a pause, then JENNA looks at ALBUS warily and speaks.

JENNA: What about Scorpius, though?

ALBUS: Don’t talk to me about Scorpius.

JENNA: (laughs slightly) Why do you hate him so much?

ALBUS: It’d take me a long time to explain.

JENNA: I’ll just have to keep you away from him then. You seem to turn very unpleasant when you’re near him.

ALBUS: Do I?

JENNA: Yes. Definitely.

ALBUS: It’ll be hard, with us in the same house.

JENNA: Hmmm, it can be avoided.

ALBUS: (looks at her) I thought you liked him.

JENNA: I like you and Rose more.

ALBUS: (grins) You gonna be part of the gang then?

JENNA: What gang?

ALBUS: I thought we’d make one. Me, you, Rose, Lor, Ly.

JENNA: (grins) Sounds like fun

ALBUS: We’ll need a name though. Any suggestions?

JENNA: The famous five?

ALBUS: Something less…I dunno – retro?

JENNA: (laughs) You know, I always loved those stories of the Marauders.

ALBUS: What, you mean my Grandad and that?

JENNA: Yeah. I wish we had a map like they did.

ALBUS: Well actually, we kinda do. Rose got this map for her birthday that’s like a copy of it but stylized for her. Her Mum made it. She can even change the names on it by just writing, and add a password.

JENNA: God, that sounds awesome! D’you think we could make it like a gang map? Be the next Marauders.

ALBUS: We have a plan.

JENNA: We certinaly do. We just have to get the others to agree.

ALBUS: They’ll love it. I’ll ask Rose in the morning.

JENNA: You mean later. (grins) I’ll remind you that it’s past two.

ALBUS: God. We’d better get some sleep.

JENNA: Agreed. (stands up) See you in the morning, Albus.

ALBUS: (grins, standing up) You mean later, Jen.

JENNA grins and walks to the corridor where the girl’s dormitories are. ALBUS turns, looks into the fire for a pause, smiles, and then heads for his own. The scene closes.