MINISTRY OF MAGIC, OFFICE OF THE HEAD OF MAGICAL LAW ENFORCEMENT

HARRY's undisturbed office comes alive as three people enter abruptly — RON, HERMIONE, and a tall, dark-skinned wizard, round cap covering his bald head, a gold hoop in one ear. This is KINGSLEY SHACKLEBOLT. In his hand is a violet paper airplane — an inter-departmental memo. HERMIONE is holding one as well. RON is not.

The MAN IN THE PORTRAIT saunters to the edge of his frame to greet them. Before he has a chance to speak, PROFESSOR McGONAGALL enters along with PERCIVAL CLEARWATER, who takes long, grandiose steps. He looks enraged. Behind him, his dutiful assistant, ETHEL.

PERCIVAL (boldly): What sort of balderdash is this?

He holds up the paper airplane and looks about the room suspiciously. PERCIVAL screws up the paper. The ball of paper bursts into flame and ascends across the stage.

George? George, show yourself!

McGONAGALL: It is no joke, Minister. Kingsley has been in contact with the Unspeakables since they departed Diagon Alley. Harry is alive.

HERMIONE (to SHACKLEBOLT): Is this true, Professor Shacklebolt?

SHACKLEBOLT (with a heavy voice): It is.

RON: How did he survive death? Again?

SHACKLEBOLT: Harry Potter has now thrice overcome the killing curse. What can be surmised is that his body has built a resistance to the magic, attributed to nothing else but his persistent survival. Immunity — because he refused to die

Breaths of amazement spread across the room.

PERCIVAL (livid, trembling in shock): And no one thought it was a wise decision to, I don't know, inform the Minister of Magic that the head of his most indispensable department was still breathing?

McGONAGALL: This was a joint decision. Only a few of us were aware. We didn't want to dash anyone's hopes that Harry would make it because... there was no reason to believe he would.

SHACKLEBOLT: It's clear our secrecy on this matter has upset you, Clearwater, but I don't think it'll do any of us any good for you to dwell on it.

ETHEL clicks her tongue and shakes her head.

PERCIVAL: Thank you, Ethel. The disrespect I regularly receive from my inferiors astounds me.

McGONAGALL: I beg your pardon!

RON: Why is your precious ego making an appearance? Ginny and the kids have been abducted! Harry was almost killed!

PERCIVAL (to RON with disdain): I told you Voldemort was back. I told all of you! But, no. No one cared to listen. Typical. Mother laughed in my face! And now her daughter and grandchildren —

Suddenly, HARRY bursts in. He looks around, sunk but full of energy. HERMIONE runs up to hug him. The others nod or frown. PERCIVAL steps forward and sticks out a hand. HARRY absently shakes it out of duty then sits at his messy desk with piles of paper in front of him. He is hurriedly sorting through it all.

HARRY: I've been sleeping for days. Tell me what you know. Where have they taken my family? Be brief, but clear.

McGONAGALL: We started the search with your children, Potter. Underage wizards have the Trace and...

HARRY: And?

McGONAGALL: Nothing, unfortunately. They've managed to break the enchantment. Which would take some doing...

HARRY: That confirms this was planned from the start. But that doesn't... make sense. If this is a kidnap — taking me I understand, taking my family... They were doing this to draw me out. (beat) Seamus Finnigan works in the Improper Use of Magic Office. Ask him if it's at all possible to detect the Trace, anything faint.

McGONAGALL: We have. His department are currently investigating it.

HARRY: Good. Let them.

HERMIONE: Voldemort has never stopped himself from violating the Statute of Secrecy. Have there been any instances of magic reported by the Muggles?

SHACKLEBOLT: We're asking — if anyone has seen anything out of the ordinary.

PERCIVAL: So, now we're relying on Muggles to find Voldemort? No wonder you've kept this from me. The sort of cretins pursuing Dark Magic now... That's all I need. Uniformed Muggle people winding up dead while searching for (beat, he changes his voice) "the missing wizards".

McGONAGALL: We're merely asking the Muggles to help. Cornelius Fudge was never opposed to the idea.

PERCIVAL: I'm insulted that you would compare me to Fudge!

ETHEL: Percival Clearwater is twice the man.

PERCIVAL: Thank you, Ethel.

SHACKLEBOLT: We've been working tirelessly to find your family, Harry. Our Aurors are currently questioning anyone involved in Dark Magic. We've been putting pressure on every lead.

RON (sedately): Harry, is Voldemort... Is he really back?

HARRY hesitates.

HARRY: Yes.

SHACKLEBOLT: Are you absolutely sure it's Voldemort that you saw? There are many ways to mask one's appearance, especially when the Dark Arts are employed.

HARRY: I would be the first to agree with you, Kingsley, if... if my scar wasn't hurting again.

HERMIONE (flabbergasted): WHAT?!

RON: Just a minute, isn't —?

HERMIONE: How is that possible?

RON: — wasn't — the —?

HARRY: I... I don't know. Not yet, at least. It's been going on for years. I didn't want to tell anyone.

SHACKLEBOLT: Were you denying that Voldemort could return?

HARRY: Yes. Voldemort was dead. Killed in the Battle of Hogwarts.

HERMIONE: But the Horcruxes... How is he doing this?

HARRY: That's why I reached out to you. They stole his original body. It was stored here in the Department of Mysteries since we were children. I assumed they were using it to gather support, but they used it to bring him back to life through some magical force unbeknownst to us. Something truly powerful.

SHACKLEBOLT: Necromancy?

HARRY: Perhaps. Research it for me, will you, Hermione. If we know how they brought him back, we might learn how to stop him.

HERMIONE: Of course, Harry. Right away. (beat, she takes her husband by the hand) Ron will help.

RON (sounding defiant, he pulls away): I will not.

HERMIONE: Ronald, now's not the time, honestly.

RON: I'm going to save my sister.

HERMIONE: I doubt that's a good idea... with all you two have been through lately. Ginny needs our help. I need yours. Right now, no matter what you are feeling, Harry needs to focus. Let him handle it.

RON: And if Voldemort succeeds?

HARRY: Please, Ron. Listen to reason for once in your life. (beat, he scratches his forehead) And anyway — it has to be me.

RON: Always does.

HERMIONE steps in between RON and HARRY. It doesn't matter. RON scowls, turns to leave. HERMIONE follows. They exit.

HARRY: What's the word on the street?

SHACKLEBOLT: There were conflicting reports from onlookers.

HARRY: The consensus?

SHACKLEBOLT: That this was the work of the Tempest. Rodolphus Lestrange was seen on Diagon Alley with scores of former Death Eaters and Snatchers...

McGONAGALL: ...as well as Fenrir Greyback and other known werewolves.

SHACKLEBOLT: Yes, and then someone in a Death Eater mask from the first war. Was that Lord Blitzfanger? Pariah Prince would need to hide his face.

HARRY: Prince is Blitzfanger, on that point you're right, but he wouldn't have taken on the risk of showing himself in public. He is the most wanted man in the wizarding world — everyone knows his face — and that scar. If the mask happened to slip even a little during the attack... No, they needed this to be a surprise.

McGONAGALL: Then who was the one in the mask?

The door swings open and DELPHI enters the room just as HARRY replies.

HARRY: The Augurey.