Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Parts One and Two

by J. K. Rowling

  ALBUS has a thought.

  ALBUS

  Scorpius – my dad still has that blanket.

  SCORPIUS

  That won’t work. If we write a message on it now, even really small, he’ll read it too soon. Time will be spoilt.

  ALBUS

  What do you know about love potions? What’s the ingredient they all contain?

  SCORPIUS

  Amongst other things, Pearl Dust.

  ALBUS

  Pearl Dust is a relatively rare ingredient isn’t it?

  SCORPIUS

  Mainly because it’s pretty expensive. What’s this about, Albus?

  ALBUS

  Dad and I had a fight on the day before I went to school.

  SCORPIUS

  This I am aware of. I believe it kind of got us into this mess.

  ALBUS

  I threw the blanket across the room. It collided with the love potion that Uncle Ron gave me as a joke.

  SCORPIUS

  He’s a funny guy.

  ALBUS

  The potion spilt and the blanket was covered in it and I happen to know for a fact Mum hasn’t let Dad touch that room since I left it.

  SCORPIUS

  So?

  ALBUS

  So it’s coming up to Hallows’ Eve in their time as well as ours – and he told me he always finds that blanket, he needs to be with it on Hallows’ Eve – it was the last thing his mum gave him – so he will look for it and when he finds it . . .

  SCORPIUS

  No. Still not getting you.

  ALBUS

  What reacts with Pearl Dust?

  SCORPIUS

  Well, it is said that if Tincture of Demiguise and Pearl Dust meet . . . they burn.

  ALBUS

  And is Tincture of (he’s unsure how to say the word) Demiguise visible to the naked eye?

  SCORPIUS

  No.

  ALBUS

  So if we were to get that blanket and write on it in Tincture of Demiguise then . . .

  SCORPIUS (eureka)

  Nothing would react to it until it came into contact with the love potion. In your room. In the present. By Dumbledore, I love it.

  ALBUS

  We just need to work out where to find some . . . Demiguises.

  SCORPIUS

  You know, rumour has it Bathilda Bagshot never saw the point in witches and wizards locking their doors.

  The door swings open.

  Rumour was right. Time to steal some wands and get potioning.

  ACT FOUR SCENE SIX

  HARRY AND GINNY POTTER’S HOUSE, ALBUS’S ROOM

  HARRY is sitting on ALBUS’s bed. GINNY enters, she looks at him.

  GINNY

  Surprised to find you here.

  HARRY

  Don’t worry, I haven’t touched anything. Your shrine is preserved. (He winces.) Sorry. Bad choice of words.

  GINNY says nothing. HARRY looks up at her.

  You know I’ve had some pretty terrible Hallows’ Eves – but this is undoubtedly at least the – second worst.

  GINNY

  I was wrong – to blame you – I always accuse you of jumping to things and it was me who – Albus went missing and I assumed it was your fault. I’m sorry I did that.

  HARRY

  You don’t think this is my fault?

  GINNY

  Harry, he was kidnapped by a powerful Dark witch, how can that be your fault?

  HARRY

  I chased him away. I chased him to her.

  GINNY

  Can we not treat this as if the battle is already lost?

  GINNY nods. HARRY starts to cry.

  HARRY

  I’m sorry Gin—

  GINNY

  Are you not listening to me? I’m sorry too.

  HARRY

  I shouldn’t have survived – it was my destiny to die – even Dumbledore thought so – and yet I lived. I beat Voldemort. All these people – all these people – my parents, Fred, the Fallen Fifty – and it’s me that gets to live? How is that? All this damage – and it’s my fault.

  GINNY

  They were killed by Voldemort.

  HARRY

  But if I’d stopped him sooner? All that blood on my hands. And now our son has been taken too—

  GINNY

  He’s not dead. Do you hear me Harry? He’s not dead.

  She takes HARRY in her arms. There is a big pause filled with pure unhappiness.

  HARRY

  The Boy Who Lived. How many people have to die for the Boy Who Lived?

  HARRY sways a moment, unsure. Then he notices the blanket. He walks towards it.

  This blanket is all I have you know . . . of that Hallows’ Eve. This is all I have to remember them. And whilst—

  He picks up the blanket. He discovers it has holes in it. He looks at it, dismayed.

  This has got holes in it. Ron’s idiotic love potion has burnt through it, right through it. Look at this. It’s ruined. Ruined.

  He opens up the blanket. He sees writing burnt through it. He’s surprised.

  What?

  GINNY

  Harry, it has – something – written—

  On another part of the stage ALBUS and SCORPIUS appear.

  ALBUS

  ‘Dad . . .’

  SCORPIUS

  We’re starting with ‘Dad’?

  ALBUS

  So he’ll know it’s from me.

  SCORPIUS

  Harry is his name. We should start with ‘Harry’.

  ALBUS (firm)

  We’re starting with ‘Dad’.

  HARRY

  ‘Dad’, does it say ‘Dad’? It’s not that distinct . . .

  SCORPIUS

  ‘Dad, HELP.’

  GINNY

  ‘Hello’? Does that say ‘Hello’? And then . . . ‘Good’ . . .

  HARRY

  ‘Dad Hello Good Hello’? No. This is . . . a strange joke.

  ALBUS

  ‘Dad. Help. Godric’s Hollow.’

  GINNY

  Give me that. My eyesight is better than yours. Yes. ‘Dad Hello Good’ – that’s not ‘Hello’ again – that’s ‘Hallow’ or ‘Hollow’? And then some numbers – these are clearer – ‘3 . . . 1 . . . 1 . . . 0 . . . 8 . . . 1’. Is this one of those Muggle telephone numbers? Or a grid reference or a . . .

  HARRY looks up, several thoughts smashing through his brain at once.

  HARRY

  No. It’s a date. 31 October 1981. The date my parents were killed.

  GINNY looks at HARRY, and then back at the blanket.

  GINNY

  That doesn’t say ‘Hello’. It says ‘Help’.

  HARRY

  ‘Dad. Help. Godric’s Hollow. 31/10/81.’ It’s a message. Clever boy left me a message.

  HARRY kisses GINNY hard.

  GINNY

  Albus wrote this?

  HARRY

  And he’s told me where they are and when they are, and now we know where she is, we know where we can fight her.

  He kisses her hard again.

  GINNY

  We haven’t got them back again yet.

  HARRY

  I’ll send an owl to Hermione. You send one to Draco. Tell them to meet us at Godric’s Hollow with the Time-Turner.

  GINNY

  And it is ‘us’, okay? Don’t even think about going back without me, Harry.

  HARRY

  Of course you’re coming. We have a chance Ginny, and by Dumbledore – that’s all that we need – a chance.

  ACT FOUR SCENE SEVEN

  GODRIC’S HOLLOW

  RON, HERMIONE, DRACO, HARRY and GINNY walk through a present-day Godric’s Hollow. A busy market town (it’s expanded over the years).

  HERMIONE

  Godric’s Hollow. It must be twenty years . . .

  GINNY

  Is it just me or are there more Muggles about?

  HERMIONE

  It’s become quite popular as a weekend break.


  DRACO

  I can see why – look at the thatched roofs. And is that a farmers’ market?

  HERMIONE approaches HARRY – who is looking around himself, overwhelmed by all he is seeing.

  HERMIONE

  You remember when we were last here? This feels just like old times.

  RON

  Old times with a few unwelcome ponytails added to the mix.

  DRACO knows a barb when he hears one.

  DRACO

  Can I just say . . .

  RON

  Malfoy, you may be all chummy chummy with Harry, and you may have produced a relatively nice child, but you’ve said some very unfair things to and about my wife . . .

  HERMIONE

  And your wife doesn’t need you fighting her battles for her.

  HERMIONE looks witheringly at RON. RON takes the hit.

  RON

  Fine. But if you say one thing about her or me . . .

  DRACO

  You’ll do what, Weasley?

  HERMIONE

  He’ll hug you. Because we’re all on the same team, aren’t we Ron?

  RON (hesitating in the face of her unwavering gaze)

  Fine. I, um, I think you’ve got really nice hair. Draco.

  HERMIONE

  Thank you, husband. Now this seems a good spot. Let’s do this . . .

  DRACO takes out the Time-Turner – it begins spinning wildly as the others take their places around it.

  And there is a giant whoosh of light. A smash of noise.

  And time stops. And then it turns over, thinks a bit, and begins spooling backwards, slow at first . . .

  And then it speeds up.

  They look around themselves.

  RON

  So? Has it worked?

  ACT FOUR SCENE EIGHT

  GODRIC’S HOLLOW, A SHED, 1981

  ALBUS looks up amazed to see GINNY and then HARRY, and then he takes in the rest of the happy band (RON, DRACO and HERMIONE).

  ALBUS

  MUM?

  HARRY

  Albus Severus Potter. Are we pleased to see you.

  ALBUS runs and throws himself into GINNY’s arms. GINNY receives him, delighted.

  ALBUS

  You got our note . . . ?

  GINNY

  We got your note.

  SCORPIUS trots up to his dad.

  DRACO

  We can hug too if you like . . .

  SCORPIUS looks at his dad, unsure for a moment. And then they sort of half-hug in a very awkward way. DRACO smiles.

  RON

  Now, where’s this Delphi?

  SCORPIUS

  You know about Delphi?

  ALBUS

  She’s here – she’s trying to kill you we think. Before Voldemort curses himself. She’s going to kill you and so break the prophecy and . . .

  HERMIONE

  Yes, we thought that might be it too. Do you know where specifically she is now?

  SCORPIUS

  She’s disappeared. How did you – how did you without the Time-Turner . . .

  HARRY (interrupting)

  That’s a long and complicated story, Scorpius. And we don’t have time for it.

  DRACO smiles at HARRY gratefully.

  HERMIONE

  Harry’s right. Time is of the essence. We need to get people into position. Now, Godric’s Hollow is not a large place, but she could be coming from any direction. So we need somewhere that gives us good views of the town – that allows for multiple and clear observation points – and that will, most importantly, keep us hidden because we cannot risk being seen.

  They all frown, thinking.

  I’d say St Jerome’s Church ticks all those boxes wouldn’t you?

  ACT FOUR SCENE NINE

  GODRIC’S HOLLOW, CHURCH, SANCTUARY, 1981

  ALBUS is sleeping in a pew. GINNY watches him carefully. HARRY is looking out the opposite window.

  HARRY

  No. Nothing. Why isn’t she here?

  GINNY

  We’re together, your mum and dad are alive, we can turn time Harry, we can’t speed it up. She’ll come when she’s ready and we’ll be ready for her.

  She looks at ALBUS’s sleeping form.

  Or some of us will be.

  HARRY

  Poor kid thought he had to save the world.

  GINNY

  Poor kid has saved the world. That blanket was masterful. I mean, he also almost destroyed the world, but probably best not to focus on that bit.

  HARRY

  You think he’s okay?

  GINNY

  He’s getting there, it just might take him a bit of time – and you a bit of time too.

  HARRY smiles. She looks back at ALBUS. He does too.

  You know, after I’d opened the Chamber of Secrets – after Voldemort had bewitched me with that terrible diary and I’d almost destroyed everything—

  HARRY

  I remember.

  GINNY

  After I came out of hospital – everyone ignored me, shut me out – other than, that is, the boy who had everything – who came across the Gryffindor common room and challenged me to a game of Exploding Snap. People think they know all there is to know about you, but the best bits of you are – have always been – heroic in really quiet ways. My point is – after this is over, just remember if you could – that sometimes people – but particularly children – just want someone to play Exploding Snap with.

  HARRY

  You think that’s what we’re missing – Exploding Snap?

  GINNY

  No. But the love I felt from you that day – I’m not sure Albus feels that.

  HARRY

  I’d do anything for him.

  GINNY

  Harry, you’d do anything for anybody. You were pretty happy to sacrifice yourself for the world. He needs to feel specific love. It’ll make him stronger, and you stronger too.

  HARRY

  You know, it wasn’t until we thought Albus had gone that I truly understood what my mother was able to do for me. A counter-charm so powerful that it was able to repel the spell of death.

  GINNY

  And the only spell Voldemort couldn’t understand – love.

  HARRY

  I do love him specifically, Ginny.

  GINNY

  I know, but he needs to feel it.

  HARRY

  I’m lucky to have you aren’t I?

  GINNY

  Extremely. And I’d be delighted to discuss just how lucky at another time. But for now – let’s focus on stopping Delphi.

  HARRY

  We are running out of time.

  A thought occurs to GINNY.

  GINNY

  Unless – Harry, has anyone thought – why has she picked now? Today?

  HARRY

  Because this is the day that everything changed . . .

  GINNY

  Right now you’re over a year old, am I right?

  HARRY

  A year and three months.

  GINNY

  That’s a year and three months she could have killed you in. Even now, she’s been in Godric’s Hollow for twenty-four hours. What’s she waiting for?

  HARRY

  I’m still not entirely following—

  GINNY

  What if she’s not waiting for you – she’s waiting for him . . . to stop him?

  HARRY

  What?

  GINNY

  Delphi’s picked tonight because he’s here – because her father is coming. She wants to meet him. Be with him, the father she loves. Voldemort’s problems started when he attacked you. If he hadn’t done that . . .

  HARRY

  He’d have only got more powerful – the darkness would only have got darker.

  GINNY

  The best way to break the prophecy is not to kill Harry Potter, it’s to stop Voldemort doing anything at all.

  ACT FOUR SCENE TEN

  GODRIC’S HOLLOW, CHURCH, 1981
r />   The group are gathered and full of confusion.

  RON

  So let me get this right – we’re fighting to protect Voldemort?

  ALBUS

  Voldemort killing my grandparents. Voldemort trying to kill my dad?

  HERMIONE

  Of course, Ginny. Delphi’s not trying to kill Harry – she’s stopping Voldemort trying to kill Harry. Brilliant.

  DRACO

  So – we just wait? Until Voldemort turns up?

  ALBUS

  Does she know when he does turn up? Hasn’t she come here twenty-four hours early because she isn’t sure when he’ll arrive and in what direction? The history books – correct me if I’m wrong, Scorpius – show nothing about when and how he arrived in Godric’s Hollow?

  SCORPIUS and HERMIONE

  You’re not wrong.

  RON

  Blimey! There are two of them!

  DRACO

  So how can we use this to our advantage?

  ALBUS

  Do you know what I’m really good at?

  HARRY

  There’s plenty you’re good at, Albus.

  ALBUS

  Polyjuicing. And I think Bathilda Bagshot may have all the ingredients for Polyjuice in her basement. We can Polyjuice into Voldemort and bring her to us.

  RON

  To use Polyjuice you need a bit of someone. We don’t have a bit of Voldemort.

  HERMIONE

  But I like the concept, a pretend mouse for her cat.

  HARRY

  How close can we get through transfiguration?

  HERMIONE

  We know what he looks like. We’ve got some excellent wizards and witches here.

  GINNY

  You want to transfigure into Voldemort?

  ALBUS

  It’s the only way.

  HERMIONE

  It is, isn’t it?

  RON steps forward bravely.

  RON

  Then I would like to – I think I should be him. I mean, it won’t be – exactly nice being Voldemort – but without wishing to blow my own trumpet – I am probably the most chilled out of all of us and . . . so maybe transfiguring into him – into the Dark Lord will do less damage to me than – any of you more – intense – people.

  HARRY steps away, introspective.

  HERMIONE

  Who are you calling intense?

  DRACO

  I’d also like to volunteer. I think being Voldemort requires precision . . . no offence, Ron . . . and a knowledge of Dark Magic, and—

  HERMIONE

  And I’d like to volunteer, too. As Minister for Magic I think it’s my responsibility and right.