Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Suddenly, ALBUS appears and stands looking at YOUNG HARRY.

And then, right from the back of the room, Parseltongue whispers around everyone.

He’s coming. He’s coming.

Words said in an unmistakable voice. The voice of VOLDEMORT . . .

Haaarry Pottttter.

ACT TWO, SCENE TWO

HARRY AND GINNY POTTER’S HOUSE, STAIRCASE

HARRY wakes in the darkness, breathing deeply. His exhaustion palpable, his fear overwhelming.

HARRY: Lumos.

GINNY enters, surprised by the light.

GINNY: Okay . . . ?

HARRY: I was sleeping.

GINNY: You were.

HARRY: You weren’t. Any — news? Any owls or . . . ?

GINNY: None.

HARRY: I was dreaming — I was under the stairs and then I — I heard him — Voldemort — so clearly.

GINNY: Voldemort?

HARRY: And then I saw — Albus. In red — he was wearing Durmstrang robes.

GINNY: Durmstrang robes?

HARRY thinks.

HARRY: Ginny, I think I know where he is . . .

ACT TWO, SCENE THREE

HOGWARTS, HEADMISTRESS’S OFFICE

HARRY and GINNY stand in PROFESSOR McGONAGALL’s office.

PROFESSOR McGONAGALL: And we don’t know where in the Forbidden Forest?

HARRY: I haven’t had a dream like it for years. But Albus was there. I know he was.

GINNY: We need to get searching as quickly as possible.

PROFESSOR McGONAGALL: I can give you Professor Longbottom — his knowledge of plants might be useful — and —

Suddenly there is a rumble in the chimney. PROFESSOR McGONAGALL looks at it, concerned. Then HERMIONE tumbles out.

HERMIONE: Is it true? Can I help?

PROFESSOR McGONAGALL: Minister — this is quite unexpected . . .

GINNY: That may be my fault — I persuaded them to put out an emergency edition of the Daily Prophet. Asking for volunteers.

PROFESSOR McGONAGALL: Right. Very sensible. I expect . . . there will be quite a few.

RON bursts in. Covered in soot. Wearing a gravy-stained dinner napkin.

RON: Have I missed anything — I couldn’t work out which Floo to travel to. Ended up in the kitchen somehow. (HERMIONE glares as he pulls the napkin off himself.) What?

Suddenly there is another rumble in the chimney and DRACO comes down hard, surrounded by cascading soot and dust.

Everyone looks at him, surprised. He stands and brushes the soot off himself.

DRACO: Sorry about your floor, Minerva.

PROFESSOR McGONAGALL: I dare say it’s my fault for owning a chimney.

HARRY: Quite a surprise to see you, Draco. I thought you didn’t believe in my dreams.

DRACO: I don’t, but I do trust your luck. Harry Potter is always where the action is at. And I need my son back with me and safe.

GINNY: Then let’s get to the Forbidden Forest and find them both.

ACT TWO, SCENE FOUR

EDGE OF THE FORBIDDEN FOREST

ALBUS and DELPHI face each other, holding wands.

ALBUS: Expelliarmus!

DELPHI’s wand flies through the air.

DELPHI: You’re getting it now. You’re good at this.

She takes her wand back from him.

(In a posh voice.) “You’re a positively disarming young man.”

ALBUS: Expelliarmus!

Her wand flies back again.

DELPHI: And we have a winner.

The two high-five.

ALBUS: I’ve never been good at spells.

SCORPIUS appears at the back of the stage. He looks at his friend talking to a girl — and part of him likes it and part of him doesn’t.

DELPHI: I was rubbish — and then something clicked. And it will for you too. Not that I’m a super witch or anything but — I think you’re becoming quite some wizard, Albus Potter.

ALBUS: Then you should stick around, teach me more . . .

DELPHI: Of course I’m sticking around, we’re friends, aren’t we?

ALBUS: Yes. Yes. Definitely friends. Definitely.

DELPHI: Great. Wizzo!

SCORPIUS: What’s wizzo?

SCORPIUS steps forward decisively.

ALBUS: Cracked the spell. I mean, it’s pretty basic, but I was — well, I cracked it.

SCORPIUS (over-enthusiastic, trying to join in): And I’ve found our way through to the school. Listen, are we sure this will work . . .

DELPHI: Yes!