Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Parts One and Two Read online

  SCORPIUS

  Maybe we should draw lots—

  DRACO

  You’re not volunteering, Scorpius.

  ALBUS

  Actually—

  GINNY

  No, no way. I think you’re all mad. I know what that voice is like inside your head. I won’t have it in mine again—

  HARRY

  And anyway – it has to be me.

  Everyone turns to HARRY.

  DRACO

  What?

  HARRY

  For this plan to work she has to believe it’s him, without hesitation. She’ll use Parseltongue – and I knew there was a reason why I still have that ability. But more than that, I – know what it is to feel – like him. I know what it is to be him. It has to be me.

  RON

  Rubbish. Beautifully put, but beautiful rubbish. No way are you going to—

  HERMIONE

  I’m afraid you’re right, my old friend.

  RON

  Hermione, you’re wrong, Voldemort is not something to be – Harry should not—

  GINNY

  And I hate to agree with my brother, but . . .

  RON

  He could get stuck – as Voldemort – forever.

  HERMIONE

  So could any of us. Your concerns are valid but . . .

  HARRY

  Hang on, Hermione. Gin.

  GINNY and HARRY make eye contact.

  I won’t do it if you don’t want me to. But it feels like the only way to me. Am I wrong?

  GINNY thinks a moment and then softly nods. HARRY’s face hardens.

  GINNY

  You’re right.

  HARRY

  Then let’s do this.

  DRACO

  Don’t we need to discuss the route you’re taking – the—

  HARRY

  She’s watching for him. She’ll come to me.

  DRACO

  And then what? When she’s with you? May I remind you this is a very powerful witch.

  RON

  Easy. He gets her in here. We zap her together.

  DRACO

  ‘Zap her’?

  HERMIONE looks around the room.

  HERMIONE

  We’ll hide behind these doors. If you can get her to this point Harry (she indicates the point where the light from the church’s rose window hits the floor), then we come out and make sure she has no chance to escape.

  RON (with a look to DRACO)

  And then we’ll zap her.

  HERMIONE

  Harry, last chance, are you sure you can do this?

  HARRY

  Yes, I can do this.

  DRACO

  No, there’s too many what ifs – too many things that can go wrong – the transfiguration could not hold, she could see through it – if she escapes us now there’s no telling the damage she can do – we need time to properly plan to—

  ALBUS

  Draco, trust my dad. He won’t let us down.

  HARRY looks at ALBUS – moved.

  HERMIONE

  Wands.

  Everyone withdraws their wands. HARRY clasps his.

  There’s a light that builds – that overwhelms.

  The transfiguration is slow and monstrous.

  And the form of VOLDEMORT emerges from HARRY. And it’s horrendous. He turns. He looks around his friends and family. They look back – aghast.

  RON

  Bloody hell.

  HARRY/VOLDEMORT

  It worked, then?

  GINNY (gravely)

  Yes. It worked.

  ACT FOUR SCENE ELEVEN

  GODRIC’S HOLLOW, CHURCH, 1981

  RON, HERMIONE, DRACO, SCORPIUS and ALBUS stand at the window, looking out. GINNY can’t look. She sits further back.

  ALBUS notices his mum sitting apart. He walks over to her.

  ALBUS

  It’s going to be okay, you know that, Mum?

  GINNY

  I know it is. Or I hope I do. I just – don’t want to see him like that. The man I love shrouded in the man I hate.

  ALBUS sits beside his mum.

  ALBUS

  I liked her, Mum. You know that? I really liked her. Delphi. And she was – Voldemort’s daughter?

  GINNY

  That’s what they’re good at Albus – catching innocents in their web.

  ALBUS

  This is all my fault.

  GINNY takes ALBUS in her arms.

  GINNY

  How funny. Your dad seems to think it’s all his. Strange pair, you are.

  SCORPIUS

  That’s her. That’s her. She’s seen him.

  HERMIONE

  Positions. Everybody. And remember, don’t come out until he’s got her in the light. We’ve one shot at this, we don’t want to mess it up.

  They all move fast.

  DRACO

  Hermione Granger, I’m being bossed around by Hermione Granger. (She turns towards him, he smiles.) And I’m mildly enjoying it.

  SCORPIUS

  Dad . . .

  They scatter. They hide behind two major doors.

  HARRY/VOLDEMORT re-enters the church. He walks a few paces and then he turns.

  HARRY/VOLDEMORT

  Whichever witch or wizard is following me, I assure you, you will regret it.

  DELPHI emerges behind him. She is compelled to him. This is her father and this is the moment she’s waited for her entire life.

  DELPHI

  Lord Voldemort. It is me. I am following you.

  HARRY/VOLDEMORT

  I do not know you. Leave me.

  She breathes deeply.

  DELPHI

  I am your daughter.

  HARRY/VOLDEMORT

  If you were my daughter, I’d know of you.

  DELPHI looks at him imploringly.

  DELPHI

  I am from the future. The child of Bellatrix Lestrange and you. I was born in Malfoy Manor before the Battle of Hogwarts. A battle you are going to lose. I have come to save you.

  HARRY/VOLDEMORT turns. She meets his eyes.

  It was Rodolphus Lestrange, Bellatrix’s loyal husband, who on return from Azkaban told me who I was and revealed the prophecy he thought I was destined to fulfil. I am your daughter, sir.

  HARRY/VOLDEMORT

  I am familiar with Bellatrix and there are certain similarities in your face – though you haven’t inherited the best of her. But without proof . . .

  DELPHI speaks intently in Parseltongue.

  HARRY/VOLDEMORT laughs viciously.

  That’s your proof?

  DELPHI effortlessly rises into the air. HARRY/VOLDEMORT steps back – amazed.

  DELPHI

  I am the Augurey to your Dark Lord, and I am ready to give all that I have to serve you.

  HARRY/VOLDEMORT (trying not to show his shock)

  You learnt flight – from – me?

  DELPHI

  I have tried to follow the path you set.

  HARRY/VOLDEMORT

  I have never met a witch or a wizard who’s attempted to be my equal before.

  DELPHI

  Do not mistake me – I would not claim to be worthy of you, Lord. But I have devoted my life to being a child you could be proud of.

  HARRY/VOLDEMORT (interrupting)

  I see what you are, and I see what you could be. Daughter.

  She looks at him, desperately moved.

  DELPHI

  Father?

  HARRY/VOLDEMORT

  Together, the power we could wield.

  DELPHI

  Father . . .

  HARRY/VOLDEMORT

  Come here, in the light, so I may examine what my blood made.

  DELPHI

  Your mission is a mistake. Attacking Harry Potter is a mistake. He will destroy you.

  HARRY/VOLDEMORT’s hand turns into HARRY’s hand. He looks at it astonished and dismayed, and then quickly pulls it inside his sleeve.

  HARRY/VOLDEMORT

 
He is a baby.

  DELPHI

  He has his mother’s love, your spell will rebound, destroying you and making him too powerful and you too weak. You will recover, to spend the next seventeen years consumed in a battle with him – a battle you will lose.

  HARRY/VOLDEMORT’s hair begins to sprout, he feels it, he attempts to cover it. He pulls his hood over his head.

  HARRY/VOLDEMORT

  Then I won’t attack him. You are right.

  DELPHI

  Father?

  HARRY/VOLDEMORT shrinks down – he is now more HARRY than VOLDEMORT. He turns his back to DELPHI.

  Father?

  HARRY (trying desperately to still sound like VOLDEMORT)

  Your plan is a good one. The fight is off. You have served me well, now come here into the light so I may examine you.

  DELPHI sees a door slightly sway open and then be pulled shut. She frowns at it, thinking rapidly, her suspicion growing.

  DELPHI

  Father . . .

  She tries to get a glimpse of his face again, there is almost a dance happening here.

  You are not Lord Voldemort.

  DELPHI unleashes a bolt from her hand. HARRY matches her.

  Incendio!

  HARRY

  Incendio!

  The bolts meet in a beautiful explosion in the middle of the room.

  And with her other hand DELPHI sends bolts to both doors as the others try to open them.

  DELPHI

  Potter. Colloportus!

  HARRY looks at the doors, dismayed.

  What? Thought your friends were going to join you did you?

  HERMIONE (from off)

  Harry . . . Harry . . .

  GINNY (from off)

  She’s sealed the doors from your side.

  HARRY

  Fine. I’ll deal with you alone.

  He moves to attack her again. But she is far stronger. HARRY’s wand ascends towards her. He is disarmed. He is helpless.

  How did you . . . ? What are you?

  DELPHI

  I’ve watched you for a long time, Harry Potter. I know you better than my father did.

  HARRY

  You think you’ve learnt my weaknesses?

  DELPHI

  I’ve studied to be worthy of him! Yes, even though he is the supreme wizard of all time, he will be proud of me. Expulso!

  HARRY rolls away as the floor explodes behind him. He crawls frantically under a church pew, trying to work out how he can fight her.

  Are you crawling away from me? Harry Potter. Hero of the wizarding world. Crawling away like a rat. Wingardium Leviosa!

  The church pew ascends into the air.

  The question is whether it’s worth my time to kill you, knowing that as soon as I stop my father, your destruction will be assured. How to decide? Oh, I’m bored, I’ll kill you.

  She sends the pew hard down upon him. It smashes as he rolls desperately away.

  ALBUS emerges from a grate on the floor, neither notice.

  Avada—

  ALBUS

  Dad . . .

  HARRY

  Albus! No!

  DELPHI

  Two of you? Choices, choices. I think I’ll kill the boy first. Avada Kedavra!

  She fires the Killing Curse at ALBUS – but HARRY throws him out of the way. The bolt smashes into the ground.

  He fires a bolt back.

  You think you’re stronger than me?

  HARRY

  No. I’m not.

  They fire bolts mercilessly at each other as ALBUS rolls quickly away and slams a spell into one door and then another.

  But we are.

  ALBUS opens both doors with his wand.

  ALBUS

  Alohomora! Alohomora!

  HARRY

  I’ve never fought alone, you see. And I never will.

  HERMIONE, RON, GINNY and DRACO emerge from the doors, and fire up their spells at DELPHI, who screams out in exasperation. This is titanic. But she can’t fight them all.

  There are a series of bangs – and then, overwhelmed, DELPHI tumbles down to the floor.

  DELPHI

  No . . . No . . .

  HERMIONE

  Brachiabindo!

  She’s bound.

  HARRY advances towards DELPHI. He doesn’t take his eyes off her. All the others stay back.

  HARRY

  Albus, are you okay?

  ALBUS

  Yes, Dad, I’m okay.

  HARRY still doesn’t take his eyes off DELPHI. He’s still scared of her.

  HARRY

  Ginny, has he been injured? I need to know he’s safe . . .

  GINNY

  He insisted. He was the only one small enough to crawl through the grate. I tried to stop him.

  HARRY

  Just tell me he’s okay.

  ALBUS

  I’m fine, Dad. I promise.

  HARRY keeps advancing towards DELPHI.

  HARRY

  A lot of people have tried to hurt me – but my son! You dare hurt my son!

  DELPHI

  I only wanted to know my father.

  These words take HARRY by surprise.

  HARRY

  You can’t remake your life. You’ll always be an orphan. That never leaves you.

  DELPHI

  Just let me – see him.

  HARRY

  I can’t and I won’t.

  DELPHI (truly pitiful)

  Then kill me.

  HARRY thinks a moment.

  HARRY

  I can’t do that either . . .

  ALBUS

  What? Dad? She’s dangerous.

  HARRY

  No, Albus . . .

  ALBUS

  But she’s a murderer – I’ve seen her murder—

  HARRY turns and looks at his son and then at GINNY.

  HARRY

  Yes. Albus, she’s a murderer, and we’re not.

  HERMIONE

  We have to be better than them.

  RON

  Yeah, it’s annoying but it’s what we learnt.

  DELPHI

  Take my mind. Take my memory. Make me forget who I am.

  RON

  No. We’ll take you back to our time.

  HERMIONE

  And you’ll go to Azkaban. Same as your mother.

  DRACO

  Where you’ll rot.

  HARRY hears a noise. A hissing noise.

  And then there is a noise like death – a noise like nothing else we’ve heard before.

  Haaarry Pottttter . . .

  SCORPIUS

  What’s that?

  HARRY

  No. No. Not yet.

  ALBUS

  What?

  RON

  Voldemort.

  DELPHI

  Father?

  HERMIONE

  Now? Here?

  DELPHI

  Father!

  DRACO

  Silencio! (DELPHI is gagged.) Wingardium Leviosa! (She is sent upwards and away.)

  HARRY

  He’s coming. He’s coming right now.

  VOLDEMORT comes through the back of stage, and across it, and walks down into the auditorium. He brings death with him. And everyone knows it.

  ACT FOUR SCENE TWELVE

  GODRIC’S HOLLOW, 1981

  HARRY looks after VOLDEMORT helplessly.

  HARRY

  Voldemort is going to kill my mum and dad, and there’s nothing I can do to stop him.

  DRACO

  That’s not true.

  SCORPIUS

  Dad, now is not the time . . .

  ALBUS

  There is something you could do – to stop him. But you won’t.

  DRACO

  That’s heroic.

  GINNY takes HARRY’s hand.

  GINNY

  You don’t have to watch, Harry. We can go home.

  HARRY

  I’m letting it happen . . . of course I have to watch.

&nbs
p; HERMIONE

  Then we’ll all witness it.

  RON

  We’ll all watch.

  We hear unfamiliar voices . . .

  JAMES (from off)

  Lily, take Harry and go! It’s him! Go! Run! I’ll hold him off . . .

  There is a blast, and then a laugh.

  You keep away, you understand – you keep away.

  VOLDEMORT (from off)

  Avada Kedavra!

  HARRY flinches as green light flashes around the auditorium.

  ALBUS takes his hand. HARRY grasps hold of it. He needs it.

  ALBUS

  He did everything he could.

  GINNY rises beside HARRY, and takes his other hand. He leans into them, they’re holding him up now.

  HARRY

  That’s my mum, at the window. I can see my mother, she looks beautiful.

  There’s the sound of banging as doors are blasted off.

  LILY (from off)

  Not Harry, not Harry, please not Harry . . .

  VOLDEMORT (from off)

  Stand aside, you silly girl . . . stand aside now . . .

  LILY (from off)

  Not Harry, please no, take me, kill me instead . . .

  VOLDEMORT (from off)

  This is my last warning—

  LILY (from off)

  Not Harry! Please . . . have mercy . . . have mercy . . . not my son! Please – I’ll do anything.

  VOLDEMORT (from off)

  Avada Kedavra!

  And it’s like lightning passes through HARRY’s body. He’s sent to the floor, a pure mess of grief.

  And a noise like a shrunken scream descends and ascends around us.

  And we just watch.

  And slowly what was there is no longer there.

  And the stage transforms and rotates.

  And HARRY and his family and his friends are rotated off and away.

  ACT FOUR SCENE THIRTEEN

  GODRIC’S HOLLOW, INSIDE JAMES AND LILY POTTER’S HOUSE, 1981

  And we’re in the ruins of a house. A house that has undergone a vicious attack.

  HAGRID walks through the ruins.

  HAGRID

  James?

  He looks about himself.

  Lily??

  He walks slowly, unwilling to see too much too soon. He is entirely overwhelmed.

  And then he sees them, and he stops, and he says nothing.

  Oh. Oh. That’s not – that’s not – I weren’t . . . they told me, but – I were hoping for better . . .

  He looks at them and bows his head. He mutters a few words and then takes some crumpled flowers from his deep pockets and lays them on the floor.

  I’m sorry, they told me, he told me, Dumbledore told me, I can’t wait with yeh. Them Muggles are coming yeh see with their flashing blues and they won’t ’preciate a big lummox like me would they?