Shadows of the Past - HP
Scn 1 - A Normal Day
Early Summer 1997
VECTOR - in red robes - is teaching a class - 7th year NEWTs. After class lets out, Dumbledore enters.
VECTOR
What can I do for you, Headmaster?
DUMBLEDORE
Ah, my dear Septima. I wondered if there was anything you could tell me about Tom Riddle that could be of help.
At the mention of Voldemort's given name, Vector stiffens.
VECTOR
There is nothing I could tell you that you don't already know. I calculate probabilities, I don't predict the future. Maybe you should ask Sybil Trelawney to read the tea leaves for you. Now if you would excuse me, I have essays to grade.
She grabs the pile of papers on the edge of her desk and leaves the room. Exit VECTOR. End Scene.
Scn 2 - Arithmancy Tutor
Late Autumn 1941 (4th year)
MAEVE - wearing white blouse, black tights, grey skirt & sweater vest with green stripe along collar, wrist & hem, Slytherin robes and tie, hair in a braid down her back - walks along a CORRIDOR, an open book in hand, not minding surroundings. TOM - wearing black slacks, grey sweater vest with green stripe along collar, wrist & hem, Slytherin robes & tie - approaching from ahead. They run into each other.
MAEVE (startled)
Cac. I'm so sorry.
TOM (smiling charmingly)
It is quite alright. You're in my Arithmancy class, right? I'm Tom Riddle.
MAEVE
Yeah, I am.
TOM
Do you think you could help me with that? I'm not quite as good as I'd like to be.
MAEVE (smiles and starts moving away)
Sure. Meet me in the common room tomorrow after dinner? (Tom nods) I'm Maeve by the way. Maeve O'Callaghan.
Exit MAEVE. Tom smiles. Exit TOM.
Scn 3 - Tutoring
Late Spring 1942 (4th year)
MAEVE - as regular - and TOM - the same - in an empty CLASSROOM. On the table before them, books & charts for Arithmancy. They stand close but not intimately so. Both focused on material.
MAEVE (calm but obviously passionate)
See this. Now if you just do this… (rearranges some papers) then you can solve this with no problems. (she smiles)
TOM (returning the smile, flirty)
This is pretty amazing.
His hand moves slightly, his pinky touching hers, seemingly by accident. MAEVE looks down on the papers, smiles
TOM
You make this seem remarkably easy.
MAEVE
Told you it wasn't that hard, Marv.
TOM (raises an eyebrow)
Marv?
MAEVE
Did you think I hadn't noticed you don't like your first name? And your middle name is just too long to use casually. And it matches mine. Or would you prefer Amadán? (laughs)
TOM (rolls his eyes)
I suppose Marv is preferable to Fool.
They continue studying. End Scene.
Scn 4 - Hogsmead
Winter 1942 (5th year)
MAEVE - in winter clothes & robes - walks through a snowy HOGSMEADE STREET with TOM - dressed similarly
TOM (amused/exasperated)
Slughorn has invited to yet another slug club meeting.
MAEVE
(scoffs) Another one? He does remember you have other classes, right? (shakes her head) Maybe you're lucky and Professor Ailill won't give us too much homework so close to Yule.
TOM (derisively)
Oh yes, and next Merlin comes around and declares Winter break starts early. (both laugh)
MAEVE locks arms with TOM and steers him towards SCRIVENSHAFTS.
TOM (jokingly)
Already out of parchment again? (laughs)
MAEVE
Very funny Marv. I heard they had black swan feather quills.
They enter. The shop is warmly lit, almost completely empty of students, stationary all around. An elderly WIZARD behind the counter. MAEVE and TOM browse for a while. MAEVE sees TOM browse notebooks but he doesn't buy one. MAEVE buys a black swan quill and an inkwell. They leave and start walking in the direction of the castle. MAEVE stops.
MAEVE
Shit. I forgot something. I'll be right back, sorry.
MAEVE heads back inside. She buys emerald ink, another black swan feather quill and the black notebook TOM studied. She exchanges some words with the WIZARD. He waves his wand and speaks a spell before he hands her the notebook, now sporting the gold lettering on the name tag saying Tom Marvolo Riddle. MAEVE leaves the shop to rejoin TOM.
TOM
Got everything?
MAEVE (smiles)
Tá.
They walk towards Hogwarts. Exeunt.
Scn 5 - The Room of Requirements
Late Winter 1942
MAEVE - in regular clothes, wearing a blindfold - is lead stand before a Tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy teaching ballet to trolls by TOM - also wearing regular clothes.
TOM
Alright, take the blindfold off.
MAEVE (pulling away the blindfold)
This is what you brought me to see? A wall?
TOM (grinning)
Watch this.
After a moment a door appears. They enter the ROOM OF REQUIREMENTS, appearing as a study room. Comfortable wingback chairs by a fireplace, filled bookshelves lining the walls, some lecterns, tables, chairs, free room to practice spells. Three brewing stations. A chess board.
MAEVE (amazed)
What is this place? And how did you make this appear?
TOM
I willed it. Anyone can, if the will is strong enough. Or the need, I suppose. In the old texts it's called the Room of Requirements. This way, we can study without being bothered.
MAEVE (smiles)
This is pretty great.
They move about the room for a while, studying or reading on various subjects. They end up by the fireplace, MAEVE with a book on her lap in one of the wingbacks, TOM leaning against the fireplace mantle.
MAEVE
So, I heard McLaggen claiming to be a descendant of Gryffindor…
TOM
Does that surprise you?
MAEVE
Not really. He can't prove it, of course, but I suppose it's plausible enough. Gryffindor did always strike me as the one to "sow his wild oats" as they say. (laughs) The greatest ancestor I can claim is the Queen I was named for. And of course being seventh in line for the throne of Tír Ná nÓg, if Family legend can be believed. (smiles) Nothing to your exalted lineage, of course. But alas, we can't all be heirs to Slytherin, can we? (laughs heartily)
TOM (smirks)
And how did you figure that out?
MAEVE
(sighs exaggeratedly) When will you stop assuming I am as foolish as the rest of our year mates? I know you, I remember all you told me of your family and I know how to use the library. That I'm interested in history helped. In the end, it wasn't that hard to figure out. (laughs softly) It's not like that changes anything.
TOM walks over and leans down to MAEVE until his face almost touches hers, his hands on the wings of the chair.
TOM (teasing)
You're a clever little thing, aren't you? You figured me out. (chuckles) Whatever should I do about that?
MAEVE
Shut up.
She reaches her face up and kisses him. He kisses back. End Scene.
Scn 6 - Blessed Yule
Christmas 1942
MAEVE and TOM - both in dressier clothes/robes than usually - sit in the ROOM OF REQUIREMENTS - as the study place - on a sofa. MAEVE pulls out a parcel wrapped in black tissue paper. With an emerald green ribbon.
TOM
What's that?
She hands him the gift.
MAEVE
That is your Christmas gift. Or Yule. I'm still not sure which one you celebrate. (chuckles) What are you waiting for? Open it. (smiles widely)
TOM unwraps the gift to reveal the black swan feather, emerald ink and notebook. He smiles.
TOM
Thank you. Truly. (kisses her. Then smiles) Now, I do have something for you. It's not as prettily wrapped though.
He pulls a necklace from an inside pocket of his robes. The necklace is a simple leather ribbon with a silver pendant shaped as two snakes entwined with each other, forming a circle and biting each other's tail. A variation on an ouroboros.
MAEVE
It's beautiful. Thank you.
She puts it on.
TOM
It's spelled to be indestructible. It will outlast even our love (winks)
They kiss. End Scene.
Scn 7 - Patronus #1
January 1943
TOM and MAEVE in the ROOM OF REQUIREMENTS - all as usual. Tom - without robes, sleeves rolled up - is brewing a potion. Maeve - equally robe-less - is lounging in a chair, wand in one hand, watching TOM and reading a book on arithmancy. A Patronus - a SNAKE - floating around her idly.
TOM
Impressive Patronus. (chuckles) Very Slytherin of you.
MAEVE
Éist do bhéal! (laughs) You know, I've never seen yours.
TOM
There was no need.
MAEVE (mutters)
Seargánach.
Scn 8 - Crash and Burn #1
February 1943
TOM and MAEVE in the ROOM OF REQUIREMENTS - all as usual. TOM and MAEVE are fighting.
MAEVE
What the hell, Marv? Why would you do that?
TOM
Why shouldn't I? It's not like he didn't deserve it.
MAEVE
You're an arse, Marv. And I don't mean a donkey.
She turns away, starts moving to the door. TOM grabs her wrist and turns her around.
TOM
You don't talk to me like that!
She pulls her hand away.
MAEVE
(scoffs) I'll talk to you however I damn well please. (turns and moves to the door) (mutters) Stupid arrogant bastard son of a…
She whirls around, wand drawn, and deflects a spell.
MAEVE (shocked)
You were going to curse me. (tears up)
MAEVE storms away. Exit MAEVE. End Scene.
Scn 9 - Crash and Burn #2
February 1943
MAEVE is in her DORM. She picks up a card from her bedside table, reading Tá mó ghrá leat. She balls it up in one hand and throws it to a corner behind her. Then she whirls towards it, drawing her wand.
MAEVE
Incendio.
The card burns to ash. MAEVE heavily sits down on the edge of her bed, tears in her eyes. End Scene.
Scn 10 - Done
February 1943
MAEVE is walking through a corridor. TOM approaches from behind.
TOM
Maeve.
He reaches for her arm to halt her in her tracks. She turns around.
MAEVE
What do you want?
TOM
To talk to you. You seem intent to ignore me. I've noticed you're not wearing the necklace anymore.
She shakes her head.
MAEVE
I am done talking. And I'm done with you.
She turns away
TOM
But maybe I'm not done with you.
MAEVE
(scoffs) That's not your decision. Goodbye Tom.
She tugs loose. Turns away. There are tears in her eyes. Exit MAEVE. End Scene.
Scn 11 - A New Path
Spring 1943
MAEVE - now dressed in Beauxbatons robes - walks the GROUNDS OF BEAUXBATONS ACADÉMIE , leafing through a book. No clear title can be made out but the author is given as Newt Scamander. She puts the book into her bag and pulls out a roll of parchment filled with Arithmancy notes.
Summer 1945/Autumn 1947/Winter 1948
MAEVE travels EUROPE and starts an Arithmancy apprenticeship.
Winter 1956
MAEVE finishes her apprenticeship magna cum laude. The certificate reads SEPTIMA VECTOR.
Autumn 1960
MAEVE sits at the high table in Hogwarts' Great Hall.
HEADMASTER
And now, to introduce our newest faculty member. Professor Vector will be teaching Arithmancy from this year forward.
Polite applause. The feast commences.
Winter 1993
At Hogwarts, MAEVEfinds herself too close to a couple DEMENTORS for comfort.
MAEVE
Expecto Patronum!
From the tip of her wand, a somewhat serpent shaped silver cloud emerges.
End Scene.
Scn 12 - Not a normal day
Early Summer 1997
MAEVE/VECTOR enters her rooms, takes a wooden box from inside her bedside table and sets it down on her desk, then sits in front of it. She pulls out her wand and taps the box three times.
VECTOR (husky/regret-filled)
Tá ghrá fíor síoraí. Le mo chroí agus m'anam go léir.
A click is heard as the box unlocks. She raises the lid. The inside is lined with emerald green velvet but the contents cannot be seen from this angle. Front view of VECTOR as she pulls out the snake pendant on its leather ribbon and a photograph - though what is on it cannot be seen. She closes the box. End Scene.
Scn 13 - Eternal
Early Summer 1997
VECTOR steps out onto the roof of a tower. Night time. She looks at the pendant in her hand, then throws it into the air. She points her wand at it.
VECTOR
Bombarda! Expulsio! Evanescere!
The pendant is caught in an explosion but falls to the floor amongst ashes, completely unharmed, not even the ribbon is singed.
VECTOR (muttered)
Guess there's one thing you didn't lie about. It did outlast our love.
End Scene.
Scn 14 - The New Normal
Early Summer 1997
VECTOR is teaching a class, again 7th year NEWTs. This time, the snake pendant rests around her neck. A SLYTHERIN in the first row obviously notices the necklace. As class lets out, VECTOR fiddles with the pendant as she grades essays at the desk. The SLYTHERIN lingers for a moment, then leaves. End Scene.
Scn 15 - Here Endeth The Third Act
Early Summer 1997
VECTOR sits in the living room of a house. Outside the window is Irish landscape, the coast. The wooden box that held the pendant sits on a side table before her, open, the photograph leaned against the corner. A crashing sound as the wards break. VECTOR looks up just as the door opens. Enter VOLDEMORT. VECTOR stands.
VECTOR
I knew you would come, sooner or later. Tying up loose ends? You have become more predictable since your almost-death.
She motions to the Arithmancy charts on the side table.
VOLDEMORT
You always were good at Arithmancy.
She draws her wand.
VECTOR
If you wish to kill me, go ahead. Just don't expect me to lay down and die to make things easier for you.
The sound of metal scales in motion. VECTOR'S face freezes in shock. She gasps.
VECTOR
Cá bhfuil…?
She looks down. The snakes of the pendant have let go of each other's tails and instead bitten her.
VECTOR
(huffs) Even your gifts are poisonous. Why am I not surprised?
VOLDEMORT
I was surprised to hear you wear the necklace. (his voice turns sarcastic/mocking) And here I thought you'd said you were done with me.
VECTOR
You're not the only one who can lie, you know.
She sits down on the sofa edge. Her breath goes laboured. VOLDEMORT approaches
VECTOR
Tell me one thing. Why bother?
VOLDEMORT
To see if I could.
VECTOR
And I was fool enough to fall for it. Fall for you. (pause) In another life, I would have walked by your side, you know.
She gasps for breath, falls back on the sofa, her hand only barely keeping the grip on her wand. VOLDEMORT leans down over her. His red eyes bore into hers. Breath leaves her and her wand clatters to the floor.
VOLDEMORT (whispered)
In another life, I could have cared for you.
Focus goes from VECTOR and VOLDEMORT to photograph, finally showing its image. TOM and MAEVE, late 1942, happy. The photograph is obviously a wizarding one, the figures moving to embrace or kiss or dance. End Scene.
End film.