TEMPEST COMPOUND

The stage resembles a factory floor. Unused machinery, crumbling concrete columns, and inactive conveyor belts create places to evade during a firefight. But the space appears to be abandoned, except for two figures — LORD VOLDEMORT and a woman slumped over in a chair, long red hair covering her face. VOLDEMORT is staring at her. It's all too quiet. The scene is eerily familiar, almost intended to resemble a time long past, when HARRY entered the Chamber of Secrets.

After a moment, Voldemort looks up. We follow his gaze.

A mezzanine separates a third of the stage into two floors, an iron catwalk extends out from stage left, leading to a rusty spiral staircase at the center. There are three figures on the catwalk, kneeling and bound in rope — JAMES, ALBUS, and LILY.

A whispered conversation happens offstage.

HARRY (from off): They've sealed the doors from their side.

DELPHI (from off): According to the map, there's no better place. The fight will be out in the open.

HARRY (from off): So, we blow the doors. And this is where it happens.

DELPHI (from off): They could be coming from any direction. We need to get people hidden right away.

HARRY (from off): Somewhere that gives us good views of the room — that allows for multiple and clear observation points — and that will, most importantly, keep us alive.

DELPHI (from off): We've got this.

HARRY (from off): May I remind you, Voldemort is a very powerful wizard.

DELPHI (from off): We've got some excellent wizards and witches here. Bowker, you're the smallest. We'll be able to flank them from the rear if you can climb through the ventilation ducts.

CRAIG (from off): What's that?

DELPHI (from off): No questions. Just go.

Beat.

He'll be fine.

HARRY (from off): Are you ready?

DELPHI (from off): Positions. Everybody. We've one shot at this, we don't want to mess it up.

HARRY (from off): And remember, don't come out with your wand drawn until I've got them in sight — we need to protect my family at all costs.

A moment passes. There's the sound of banging as a pair of steel doors are blasted off. It is clear that HARRY opened both doors with his wand as he enters and sprints to the nearest machine for cover. He is followed quickly by DELPHI and a few unknown Aurors. HARRY braves a glance at the empty factory floor. He turns. He looks around at the Aurors. They look back — aghast. It feels like a setup. Everyone withdraws their wands. They separate and hide behind two major pieces of machinery.

HARRY (to DELPHI): Where are they? Are they here?

Crouching, DELPHI looks out and nods at the catwalk above. We hear a muffled roar from JAMES, he is gagged with a strip of fabric. HARRY turns and looks at his family and then at GINNY in the chair, the blast roused her. GINNY looks at him, surprised. She's bound. HARRY points his wand at the catwalk. As he reaches up to cast the spell, DELPHI stops his arm.

DELPHI: There's something not right about this.

VOLDEMORT: Haaarry Pottttter...

HARRY nods. He looks at his family. HARRY realizes what he has to do. He stands and steps into the open. VOLDEMORT is still staring at GINNY. He looks back. HARRY and VOLDEMORT face each other, holding wands.

As this takes place, KINGSLEY SHACKLEBOLT leads the Aurors soundlessly through the aisles of the auditorium. They start to search. SHACKLEBOLT looks at the others, concerned.

HARRY (stoically): We don't have to do this. Not with them involved. Let me have my family back and we can face each other. Wand for wand.

VOLDEMORT (in a high voice): Your family will soon come to an abrupt and brutal end. As will you, and everything upon which you've stood.

VOLDEMORT smiles thinly. He opens his arms wide, full of Dark Magic.

The prophecy is complete. And your time is through. The reign of Harry Potter, the poor orphan who went on to save them all, is over.

GINNY tries to yell out for HARRY, but she is gagged as well. She struggles against her binding. They are separated by half the length of the stage. And then HARRY takes a dangerous and involuntary step towards GINNY. VOLDEMORT steps between them. CRAIG emerges from a grate on the floor. VOLDEMORT does not notice. This stops HARRY. He thinks quickly.

HARRY (stalling): Completed prophecy. What are you talking about?

VOLDEMORT doesn't reply. Craig cowers behind a column. He's watching closely.

How are you no longer a corpse? What magic brought you back to life?

VOLDEMORT (amusedly, after some evocative hesitation): Which is your deepest fear, Harry? That I never left you or that you are somehow incomplete without me?

In the aisles of the auditorium, a silent battle is raging between the Aurors and unknown members of the Tempest, led by FENRIR GREYBACK, who claws at them ferociously. A few Aurors fall. At the front, RODOLPHUS LESTRANGE is battling KINGSLEY SHACKLEBOLT, wands swinging. The soundless battle gradually pushes the Aurors up to the stage and into the wings. SHACKLEBOLT and LESTRANGE follow.

HARRY: Release them!

VOLDEMORT: No, I don't think I will. I've grown fond of this family. Our family. And poor Ginny Weasley and her diary of woes.

He brushes his long, pale fingers through GINNY's red hair. She flinches at his touch as VOLDEMORT carries on, lyrically.

She gives her life so we can become whole.

HARRY (seeing red): DON'T YOU TOUCH HER!

There is movement through the room. DELPHI is directing Aurors into position. CRAIG seems unable to leave his spot.

VOLDEMORT: Is it the fear of the unknown, or the certainty of the known, I wonder? You shield your eyes, Potter, from the petrifying truth... as it slithers ever closer.

HARRY: What truth? What are you talking about?!

VOLDEMORT (calmly): That we are one — and the same.

Beat.

HARRY looks at VOLDEMORT.

He waits another beat.

VOLDEMORT looks at HARRY.

Suddenly they hear a noise from off. And SHACKLEBOLT, LESTRANGE, GREYBACK, and their forces emerge from the doors, mid-battle. DELPHI and the Aurors fire up their spells. HARRY looks around, immediately aware of the mess they're in. HARRY looks at GINNY, surprised, trying not to show his shock. VOLDEMORT aims his wand at the chair. She's pulled back, screaming.

HARRY takes a chance with his wand. He launches a spell at VOLDEMORT. It misfires and nearly hits the children. HARRY realizes that bringing it was a mistake.

VOLDEMORT returns fire. DELPHI sees this and blocks his spell, but VOLDEMORT is faster with his wand. HARRY is propelled backwards through the air.

Grinning broadly, LESTRANGE aims his wand at one of the machines. An engine rumbles to life with bursts of smoke as components rush along a conveyor belt that increases in speed by the second. Suddenly the Aurors are overwhelmed by flying boxes and random, interchangeable parts.

DELPHI joins the fight, continuing to fend off the forces that are coming at HARRY. There are a series of bangs and then, overwhelmed, DELPHI tumbles to the floor. Spells are flying everywhere. This is titanic.

HARRY emerges. He is bleeding from a graze on his cheek. HARRY rolls away as the floor explodes behind him. He crawls frantically under a conveyor belt, trying to work out how he can switch it off. He looks at CRAIG, whose face drops. The Auror in training looks up, terrified.

GINNY manages to prod the strip of fabric away from her mouth.

GINNY: Harry! Take the kids and go!

VOLDEMORT aims his wand at her. The gag slides its way back up her chin.

You keep away, you understand! You keep —!

HARRY yanks on a handful of wires. The conveyor belt stops. HARRY looks after GINNY helplessly and stows his wand as VOLDEMORT approaches. HARRY makes a daring move. He runs full steam at VOLDEMORT, who fires off a curse. HARRY is racked with pain but manages to tackle VOLDEMORT to the ground. Seeing this, GINNY struggles even harder to get herself free of the rope around her.

HARRY (shouting as he hammers away): NOT MY FAMILY, YOU BASTARD! THEY'RE INNOCENT!

VOLDEMORT (half-cackling): No one is innocent.

CRAIG: Mister Potter! Back away!

HARRY lifts his head to see that CRAIG has pulled a shiny package out of his pocket. HARRY squints at it as the chaos reverberates around the room. It's a Pumpkin Pasty — and CRAIG, hands trembling, is very carefully tearing the edge of the package. HARRY immediately registers what he knows about PERCIVAL's recent experiments as smoke comes out of the package — and his face drops.

HARRY rolls to his feet, his wand on VOLDEMORT, as CRAIG rushes past the battling Aurors, carrying his Pumpkin Pasty. He throws it like a grenade.

But his nerves get the better of him. He throws it too high.

HARRY (shouting): NO!!

There are gasps. They all turn to HARRY. Their collective faces sink further and fill with fear as the package lands on the catwalk — directly in front of JAMES, ALBUS, and LILY. HARRY points up his wand.

NO! ACCIO BOMB!

Nothing happens.

ACCIO PASTY! ACCIO! ACCIO!

The package trembles, as HARRY attempts to summon CRAIG's grenade, but it doesn't leave the catwalk. The smoke is building. HARRY slowly glances down at the magic wand in his hand. It's not the spell that is failing him — it's the wand. He lifts the wand again and aims it firmly, tears streaking down his face.

WORK! PLEASE! ACCIO! PLEASE!

HARRY faces GINNY, they are both shell-shocked by the moment. Wandless, her eyes still on HARRY, she calmly raises her arm up at her children.

GINNY: Harry...

GINNY breathes deeply. She tilts her eyes up and screams out in exasperation. HARRY watches in horror and disbelief as the smoking package is ripped from the catwalk and is summoned to her open hand. GINNY smiles gratefully as it detonates.

She is immediately killed.

ALBUS screams as the package explodes loudly, revealing a splintering light.

And then silence.

Then there's more silence.

The light adjusts.

And there is GINNY, lying dead on the floor — her hair smoking, her clothing scorched, her face blackened by the blast.

HARRY stumbles towards his wife as the noise and chaos suddenly stop. He walks slowly, unwilling to see too much too soon. He is sent to the floor, a pure mess of grief. In the confusion, the Tempest flee, leaving VOLDEMORT behind. CRAIG, mortified by what he has done, exits at full tilt. HARRY takes GINNY in his arms. He lets out a sob.

SHACKLEBOLT (in shock as he indicates to the spiral staircase): The children.

He holds his wand on VOLDEMORT.

Somebody free them.

HARRY (with a stammer): Ginny?

He glances back, confused.

What's everyone — standing around here for? You need to get help.

His hand hovers above her face. He pauses, then cradles her cheek.

Ginny, it's all right. We can go home. The kids are safe. We can go home. Ginny, can you hear me? We can go home.

DELPHI and SHACKLEBOLT look at GINNY's body. Their faces sink.

And time stops.

We descend into soft black