英语小说网

HERMIONE: "You're bleeding."

HARRY: "We don't know anything yet. I wanted to try it out there and then but wiser heads prevailed."

HARRY: "And you're sure you want to keep it?"

HERMIONE: "Is it genuine? Does it work? It's not just an hour-reversal turner -- it goes back further?"

HARRY reveals the Time-Turner. It shines out alluringly.

HERMIONE: "Well, now we have it."

HERMIONE sits with piles of paper in front of her in HARRY's messy office. She is slowly sorting through it all. HARRY enters in a rush. He is bleeding from a graze on his cheek.

HARRY: "In custody."

HERMIONE: "Theodore Nott?"

HERMIONE: "How did it go?"

HERMIONE: "And the Time-Turner itself?"

HERMIONE: "I don't think we've a choice. Look at it. It's entirely different to the Time-Turner I had."

HERMIONE: "Don't worry, it'll go with the scar."

HARRY: "It was true."

HARRY (dry): "Apparently wizardry has moved on since we were kids."

HARRY (with a grin): "What you doing in my office, Hermione?"

HARRY checks his face in the mirror. He dabs at the wound with his robes.

HARRY: "Ah. Turns out I'm not."

HERMIONE: "I was anxious to hear about Theodore Nott and -- thought I'd check whether you'd kept your promise and were on top of your paperwork."

HARRY: "No longer chaotic."

HERMIONE: "No. You're not. Harry, how can you get any work done in this chaos?"

HARRY waves his wand and the papers and books transform into neat piles. HARRY smiles.

HARRY: "Great, let's get out there. I'll get the team together."

HERMIONE: "Harry, I get it. Paperwork's boring…"

HARRY: "Not for you."

HERMIONE: "But still ignored. You know, there's some interesting stuff in here… There are mountain trolls riding Graphorns through Hungary, there are giants with winged tattoos on their backs walking through the Greek Seas, and the werewolves have gone entirely underground --"

HERMIONE: "I'm busy enough with my own. These are people and beasts that fought alongside Voldemort in the great wizarding wars. These are allies of darkness. This -- combined with what we have just unearthed at Theodore Nott's -- could mean something. But if the Head of Magical Law Enforcement isn't reading his files --"

HERMIONE (with a grin): "You know, Ron says he thinks I see more of my secretary, Ethel," (she indicates off) "than him. Do you think there's a point where we made a choice -- parent of the year or Ministry official of the year? Go on. Go home to your family, Harry, the Hogwarts Express is about to depart for another year -- enjoy the time you've got left -- and then come back here with a fresh head and get these files read."

HERMIONE: "Do you fancy a toffee? Don't tell Ron."

HERMIONE: "I truly am. Toffee?"

HARRY: "It seems I'm as good at fatherhood as I am at paperwork. How's Rose? How's Hugo?"

HERMIONE: "How's Ginny? How's Albus?"

HARRY hears the implication in her emphasis, he nods.

HARRY: "Can't. We're off sugar at the moment. (Beat.) You know, you can get addicted to that stuff?"

HERMIONE: "What can I say? My parents were dentists, I was bound to rebel at some point. Forty is leaving it a little late, but… You've just done a brilliant thing. You're certainly not being told off -- I just need you to look at your paperwork every now and again, that's all. Consider this a gentle -- nudge -- from the Minister for Magic."

HERMIONE looks at HARRY -- this is tricky.

HARRY: "But I don't need to read it -- I'm out there, hearing about it. Theodore Nott -- it was me who heard the rumors about the Time-Turner and me who acted upon it. You really don't need to tell me off."

HARRY: "You're changing the subject."

HERMIONE (with a smile): "It could do. But if it does, we'll find a way to fight it, Harry. We always have."

HARRY: "You really think this could all mean something?"

She smiles once more, pops a toffee in her mouth, and leaves the office. HARRY is left alone. He packs his bag. He walks out of the office and down a corridor. The weight of the world upon his shoulders.

He walks, tired, into a telephone box. He dials 62442.

TELEPHONE BOX: "Farewell, Harry Potter."

He ascends away from the Ministry of Magic.