Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

DELPHI: I’m sorry, Scorpius, we’ve no time to waste. Waiting here this close to the school is just too dangerous — I’m sure they’ll be looking for you and . . .

ALBUS: She’s right.

DELPHI: Now, you’re going to need to wear these.

She pulls out two large paper bags. The boys pull robes from them.

ALBUS: But these are Durmstrang robes.

DELPHI: My uncle’s idea. If you are in Hogwarts robes people will expect to know who you are. But there are two other schools competing at the Triwizard Tournament — and if you’re in Durmstrang robes — well, you can fade into the background, can’t you?

ALBUS: Good thinking! Hang on, where are your robes?

DELPHI: Albus, I’m flattered, but I don’t think I can pretend to be a student, do you? I’ll just keep in the background and pretend to be a — ooh, maybe I could pretend to be a dragon tamer. You’re doing all the spell stuff anyway.

SCORPIUS

looks at her and then at

ALBUS

.

SCORPIUS: You shouldn’t come.

DELPHI: What?

SCORPIUS: You’re right. We don’t need you for the spell. And if you can’t wear student robes — you’re too big a risk. Sorry, Delphi, you shouldn’t come.

DELPHI: But I have to — he’s my cousin. Albus?

ALBUS: I think he’s right. I’m sorry.

DELPHI: What?

ALBUS: We won’t mess up.

DELPHI: But without me — you won’t be able to work the Time-Turner.

SCORPIUS: You taught us how to use the Time-Turner.

DELPHI

is really upset.

DELPHI: No. I won’t let you do this . . .

ALBUS: You told your uncle to trust us. Now it’s your turn. The school is close now. We should leave you here.

DELPHI

looks at them both and takes a deep breath. She nods to herself and smiles.

DELPHI: Then go. But — just know this . . . Today you get an opportunity few are given — today you get to change history — to change time itself. But more than all that, today you get the chance to give an old man his son back.

She smiles. She looks at

ALBUS

. She leans down and gently kisses him on both cheeks.

She walks away into the woodland.

ALBUS

stares after her.

SCORPIUS: She didn’t kiss me — did you notice? (He looks at his friend.) Are you okay, Albus? You look a little pale. And red. Pale and red at the same time.

ALBUS: Let’s do this.

ACT TWO, SCENE FIVE

FORBIDDEN FOREST

The forest seems to grow bigger, thicker — and amongst the trees, people searching, looking for the missing wizards. But slowly people melt away until HARRY is left alone.

He hears something. He turns to his right.

HARRY: Albus? Scorpius? Albus?

And then he hears the sound of hooves.

HARRY

is startled. He looks around for where the noise is coming from.

Suddenly

BANE

steps forward into the light. He is a magnificent centaur.

BANE: Harry Potter.

HARRY: Good. You still recognize me, Bane.

BANE: You’ve grown older.

HARRY: I have.

BANE: But not wiser. For you trespass on our land.

HARRY: I have always respected the centaurs. We are not enemies. You fought bravely at the Battle of Hogwarts. And I fought beside you.

BANE: I did my part. But for my herd, and our honor. Not for you. And after the battle, the forest was deemed centaur land. And if you’re on our land — without permission — then you are our enemy.

HARRY: My son is missing, Bane. I need help finding him.

BANE: And he is here? In our forest?

HARRY: Yes.

BANE: Then he is as stupid as you are.

HARRY: Can you help me, Bane?

There’s a pause.

BANE

looks down at

HARRY

imperiously.

BANE: I can only tell you what I know . . . But I tell you not for your benefit but for the benefit of my herd. The centaurs do not need another war.

HARRY: Neither do we! What do you know?

BANE: I’ve seen your son, Harry Potter. Seen him in the movements of the stars.

HARRY: You’ve seen him in the stars?

BANE: I can’t tell you where he is. I can’t tell you how you’ll find him.

HARRY: But you’ve seen something? You’ve divined something?

BANE: There is a black cloud around your son, a dangerous black cloud.

HARRY: Around Albus?

BANE: A black cloud that may endanger us all. You’ll find your son again, Harry Potter. But then you could lose him forever.

He makes a sound like a horse’s cry — and then makes hard away — leaving a bewildered

HARRY