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

  This has worked. That’s Ludo Bagman.

  LUDO BAGMAN

  And there they are. Ladies and gentlemen – boys and girls – I present to you – the reason why we’re all here – THE CHAMPIONS. Representing Durmstrang, what eyebrows, what a gait, what a boy, there’s nothing he won’t try on a broomstick, it’s Viktor Krazy Krum.

  SCORPIUS and ALBUS (who are really getting into playing the Durmstrang students now)

  Go go Krazy Krum. Go go Krazy Krum.

  LUDO BAGMAN

  From the Beauxbatons Academy – zut alors, it’s Fleur Delacour!

  There’s some polite applause.

  And from Hogwarts not one but two students, he makes us all go weaky at the kneesy, he’s Cedric Delicious Diggory.

  The crowd go wild.

  And then the other – you know him as the Boy Who Lived, I know him as the boy who keeps surprising us all . . .

  ALBUS

  That’s my dad.

  LUDO BAGMAN

  Yes, it’s Harry Plucky Potter.

  There’s cheering. Particularly from a nervous-looking girl at the edge of the crowd – this is YOUNG HERMIONE (played by the same actress as plays ROSE). It is noticeable that the cheering for Harry is slightly less than that for Cedric.

  And now – silence please all. The – first – task. Retrieving a golden egg. From a nest of – ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, I give you – DRAGONS. And guiding the dragons – CHARLIE WEASLEY.

  There are more cheers.

  YOUNG HERMIONE

  If you’re going to stand so close I’d rather you didn’t breathe on me quite so much.

  SCORPIUS

  Rose? What are you doing here?

  YOUNG HERMIONE

  Who’s Rose? And what’s happened to your accent?

  ALBUS (with a bad accent)

  Sorry. Hermione. He’s got you mixed up with someone else.

  YOUNG HERMIONE

  How do you know my name?

  LUDO BAGMAN

  And with no time to lose, let’s bring out our first champion – facing a Swedish Short-Snout, I give you – CEDRIC DIGGORY!

  A dragon roar distracts YOUNG HERMIONE, and ALBUS readies his wand.

  And Cedric Diggory has entered the stage. And he seems ready. Scared but ready. He dodges this way. He dodges that. The girls swoon as he dives for cover. They cry as one: don’t damage our Diggory, Mr Dragon.

  SCORPIUS looks concerned.

  SCORPIUS

  Albus, something is going wrong. The Time-Turner, it’s shaking.

  A ticking begins, an incessant, dangerous, ticking. It’s coming from the Time-Turner.

  LUDO BAGMAN

  And Cedric skirts left and he dives right – and he readies his wand – what has this young, brave, handsome man got up his sleevies now—

  ALBUS (extending his wand)

  Expelliarmus!

  CEDRIC’s wand is summoned to ALBUS’s hand.

  LUDO BAGMAN

  —but no, what’s this? Is it Dark Magic or is it something else entirely – Cedric Diggory is disarmed—

  SCORPIUS

  Albus, I think the Time-Turner – something is wrong . . .

  The Time-Turner’s ticking gets louder still.

  LUDO BAGMAN

  It’s all going wrong for Diggors. This could be the end of the task for him. The end of the tournament.

  SCORPIUS grabs ALBUS.

  There’s a crescendo in the ticking and a flash.

  And time is turned back to the present, with ALBUS hollering in pain.

  SCORPIUS

  Albus! Did it hurt you? Albus are you—

  ALBUS

  What happened?

  SCORPIUS

  There must be some limit – the Time-Turner must have some kind of time limit . . .

  ALBUS

  Do you think we’ve done it? Do you think we’ve changed anything?

  Suddenly the stage is invaded from all sides by HARRY, RON (who now has a side parting and whose wardrobe choices have become rather more staid), GINNY and DRACO. SCORPIUS looks at them all – and slips the Time-Turner back into his pocket. ALBUS looks at them rather more blankly – he’s in a lot of pain.

  RON

  I told you. I told you I saw them.

  SCORPIUS

  I think we’re about to find out.

  ALBUS

  Hello, Dad. Is something wrong?

  HARRY looks at his son disbelievingly.

  HARRY

  Yes. You could say that.

  ALBUS collapses on to the floor. HARRY and GINNY rush to help.

  ACT TWO SCENE EIGHT

  HOGWARTS, HOSPITAL WING

  ALBUS is asleep in a hospital bed. HARRY sits, troubled, beside him. Above them is a picture of a concerned, kindly man. HARRY rubs his eyes, stands and walks around the room, stretching his back.

  And then he meets eyes with the painting. Which looks startled to be spotted. And HARRY looks startled back.

  HARRY

  Professor Dumbledore.

  DUMBLEDORE

  Good evening, Harry.

  HARRY

  I’ve missed you. Whenever I’ve dropped in on the Headmistress lately, your frame’s been empty.

  DUMBLEDORE

  Ah, well, I do like to pop into my other portraits now and then. (He looks at ALBUS.) Will he be all right?

  HARRY

  He’s been out twenty-four hours, mostly in order so Madam Pomfrey could reset his arm. She said it was the strangest thing . . . it’s like it was broken twenty years ago and allowed to set in the ‘most contrary’ of directions. She says he’ll be fine.

  DUMBLEDORE

  A difficult thing, I imagine, to watch your child in pain.

  HARRY looks up at DUMBLEDORE, and then down at ALBUS.

  HARRY

  I’ve never asked how you felt about me naming him after you, have I?

  DUMBLEDORE

  Candidly, Harry, it seemed a great weight to place upon the poor boy.

  HARRY

  I need your help. I need your advice. Bane says Albus is in danger. How do I protect my son, Dumbledore?

  DUMBLEDORE

  You ask me, of all people, how to protect a boy in terrible danger? We cannot protect the young from harm. Pain must and will come.

  HARRY

  So I’m supposed to stand and watch?

  DUMBLEDORE

  No. You’re supposed to teach him how to meet life.

  HARRY

  How? He won’t listen.

  DUMBLEDORE

  Perhaps he’s waiting for you to see him clearly.

  HARRY frowns as he tries to digest this.

  (With sensitivity.) It is a portrait’s curse and blessing to . . . hear things. At the school, at the Ministry, I hear people talking . . .

  HARRY

  And what is the gossip about me and my son?

  DUMBLEDORE

  Not gossip. Concern. That you two are struggling. That he’s difficult. That he is angry with you. I have formed the impression that – perhaps – you are blinded by your love for him.

  HARRY

  Blinded?

  DUMBLEDORE

  You must see him as he is, Harry. You must look for what’s wounding him.

  HARRY

  Haven’t I seen him as he is? What’s wounding my son? (He thinks.) Or is it who’s wounding my son?

  ALBUS (mumbles in his sleep)

  Dad . . .

  HARRY

  This black cloud, it’s someone isn’t it? Not something?

  DUMBLEDORE

  Ah really, what does my opinion matter any more? I am paint and memory, Harry, paint and memory. And I never had a son.

  HARRY

  But I need your advice.

  ALBUS

  Dad?

  HARRY looks at ALBUS and then back at DUMBLEDORE. But DUMBLEDORE is gone.

  HARRY

  No, where have you gone now?

  ALBUS

  We’re in –
the hospital wing?

  HARRY turns his attention back to ALBUS.

  HARRY (discombobulated)

  Yes. And you’re – you will be fine. For recuperation, Madam Pomfrey wasn’t sure what to prescribe and said you should probably eat lots of – chocolate. Actually, do you mind if I have some? I’ve got something to tell you and I don’t think you’ll like it.

  ALBUS looks at his dad, what does he have to say? He decides not to engage.

  ALBUS

  Okay. I think.

  HARRY takes some chocolate. He eats a big chunk. ALBUS looks at his dad, confused.

  Better?

  HARRY

  Much.

  He holds out the chocolate to his son. ALBUS takes a piece.

  Father and son munch together.

  The arm, how does it feel?

  ALBUS flexes his arm.

  ALBUS

  It feels great.

  HARRY (soft)

  Where did you go Albus? I can’t tell you what it did to us – your mum was worried sick . . .

  ALBUS looks up, he is a great liar.

  ALBUS

  We decided we didn’t want to come to school. We thought we could start again – in the Muggle world – we discovered we were wrong. We were coming back to Hogwarts when you found us.

  HARRY

  In Durmstrang robes?

  ALBUS

  The robes were . . . the whole thing – Scorpius and I – we didn’t think.

  HARRY

  And why . . . why did you run? Because of me? Because of what I said?

  ALBUS

  I don’t know. Hogwarts isn’t actually that pleasant a place when you don’t fit in.

  HARRY

  And did Scorpius – encourage you to – go?

  ALBUS

  Scorpius? No.

  HARRY looks at ALBUS, trying to see almost an aura around him, thinking deeply.

  HARRY

  I need you to stay away from Scorpius Malfoy.

  ALBUS

  What? Scorpius?

  HARRY

  I don’t know how you became friends in the first place, but you did – and now – I need you to—

  ALBUS

  My best friend? My only friend?

  HARRY

  He’s dangerous.

  ALBUS

  Scorpius? Dangerous? Have you met him? Dad, if you honestly think he’s the son of Voldemort—

  HARRY

  I don’t know what he is, I just know you need to stay away from him. Bane told me—

  ALBUS

  Who’s Bane?

  HARRY

  A centaur with profound divination skills. He said there’s a black cloud around you and—

  ALBUS

  A black cloud?

  HARRY

  And I have very good reason to believe that Dark Magic is in a resurgence and I need to keep you safe from it. Safe from him. Safe from Scorpius.

  ALBUS hesitates a moment, and then his face strengthens.

  ALBUS

  And if I won’t? Stay away from him?

  HARRY looks at his son, thinking quickly.

  HARRY

  There’s a map. It used to be used for those wanting to get up to no good. Now we’re going to use it to keep an eye – a permanent eye – on you. Professor McGonagall will watch your every movement. Any time you are seen together – she’ll come flying – any time you attempt to leave Hogwarts – she’ll fly. I expect you to go to your lessons, none of which you will now share with Scorpius, and between times, you will stay in the Gryffindor common room!

  ALBUS

  You can’t make me go into Gryffindor! I’m Slytherin!

  HARRY

  Don’t play games Albus, you know what house you are. If she finds you with Scorpius – I will fix you with a spell – which will allow me eyes and ears into your every movement, your every conversation. In the meantime, investigations will begin in my department as to his true heritage.

  ALBUS (starting to cry)

  But Dad – you can’t – that’s just not . . .

  HARRY

  I thought for a long time I wasn’t a good enough dad for you because you didn’t like me. It’s only now I realise that I don’t need you to like me, I need you to obey me because I’m your dad and I do know better. I’m sorry, Albus. It has to be this way.

  ACT TWO SCENE NINE

  HOGWARTS, STAIRCASES

  ALBUS pursues HARRY across the stage.

  ALBUS

  What if I run? I’ll run.

  HARRY

  Albus, get back in bed.

  ALBUS

  I’ll run away again.

  HARRY

  No. You won’t.

  ALBUS

  I will – and this time I’ll make sure Ron can’t find us.

  RON

  Do I hear my name?

  RON enters on a staircase, his side parting now super-aggressive, his robes just a little bit too short, his clothes now spectacularly staid.

  ALBUS

  Uncle Ron! Thank Dumbledore. If ever we needed one of your jokes it’s now . . .

  RON frowns, confused.

  RON

  Jokes? I don’t know any jokes.

  ALBUS

  Of course you do. You run a joke shop.

  RON (now supremely confused)

  A joke shop? Well now. Anyway I’m pleased I caught you . . . I was going to bring some sweets – for a, uh, sort of, a, get well soon, but, uh . . . actually Padma – she thinks about things a lot more – deeply than I do – and she thought it’d be nicer for you to get something useful for school. So we got you a – set of quills. Yes. Yes. Yes. Look at these bad boys. Top of the range.

  ALBUS

  Who’s Padma?

  HARRY frowns at ALBUS.

  HARRY

  Your aunt.

  ALBUS

  I have an Aunt Padma?

  RON

  (To HARRY) Taken a Confundus Charm to the head, has he? (To ALBUS) My wife, Padma. You remember. Talks slightly too close to your face, smells a bit minty. (Leans in.) Padma, mother of Panju! (To HARRY.) That’s why I’m here, of course. Panju. He’s in trouble again. I wanted to just send a Howler but Padma insisted I come in person. I don’t know why. He just laughs at me.

  ALBUS

  But . . . you’re married to Hermione.

  Beat. RON doesn’t understand this at all.

  RON

  Hermione? No. Nooooo. Merlin’s beard.

  HARRY

  Albus has also forgotten that he was sorted into Gryffindor. Conveniently.

  RON

  Yes, well, sorry, old chap, but you’re a Gryffindor.

  ALBUS

  But how did I get sorted into Gryffindor?

  RON

  You persuaded the Sorting Hat, don’t you remember? Panju bet you that you couldn’t get into Gryffindor if your life depended on it, so you chose Gryffindor to spite him. I can’t blame you, (dryly) we’d all like to wipe the smile off his face sometimes wouldn’t we? (Terrified.) Please don’t tell Padma I said that.

  ALBUS

  Who’s Panju?

  RON and HARRY stare at ALBUS.

  RON

  Bloody hell, you’re really not yourself are you? Anyway, better go, before I’m sent a Howler myself.

  He stumbles on, not even an inch of the man he was.

  ALBUS

  But that doesn’t . . . make sense.

  HARRY

  Albus, whatever you’re feigning, it isn’t working, I will not change my mind.

  ALBUS

  Dad, you have two choices, either you take me to—

  HARRY

  No, you’re the one with the choice Albus. You do this, or you get in deeper – much deeper – trouble, do you understand?

  SCORPIUS

  Albus? You’re okay. That’s fantastic.

  HARRY

  He’s completely cured. And we’ve got to go.

  ALBUS looks up at SCORPIUS and his heart breaks. He wa
lks on.

  SCORPIUS

  Are you mad at me? What’s going on?

  ALBUS stops and turns to SCORPIUS.

  ALBUS

  Did it work? Did any of it work?

  SCORPIUS

  No . . . but, Albus—

  HARRY

  Albus. Whatever gibberish you’re talking, you need to stop it, now. This is your final warning.

  ALBUS looks torn between his dad and his friend.

  ALBUS

  I can’t, okay?

  SCORPIUS

  You can’t what?

  ALBUS

  Just – we’ll be better off without each other, okay?

  SCORPIUS is left looking up after him. Heartbroken.

  ACT TWO SCENE TEN

  HOGWARTS, HEADMISTRESS’S OFFICE

  PROFESSOR McGONAGALL is full of unhappiness, HARRY is full of purpose, GINNY is not sure what she’s supposed to be.

  PROFESSOR McGONAGALL

  I’m not sure this is what the Marauder’s Map was intended for.

  HARRY

  If you see them together, then get to them as quickly as possible, and keep them separate.

  PROFESSOR McGONAGALL

  Harry, are you sure this is the right decision? Because far be it from me to doubt the wisdom of the centaurs but Bane is an extremely angry centaur and . . . it’s not beyond him to twist the constellations for his own ends.

  HARRY

  I trust Bane. Albus is to stay away from Scorpius. For his sake, and others’.

  GINNY

  I think what Harry means is . . .

  HARRY (with finality)

  The Professor knows what I mean.

  GINNY looks at HARRY, surprised that he’d talk to her that way.

  PROFESSOR McGONAGALL

  Albus has been checked by the greatest witches and wizards in the country and no one can find or sense a hex or a curse.

  HARRY

  And Dumbledore – Dumbledore said—

  PROFESSOR McGONAGALL

  What?

  HARRY

  His portrait. We spoke. He said some things which made sense—

  PROFESSOR McGONAGALL

  Dumbledore is dead, Harry. And I’ve told you before, portraits don’t represent even half of their subjects.

  HARRY

  He said love had blinded me.

  PROFESSOR McGONAGALL

  A headteacher’s portrait is a memoir. It is supposed to be a support mechanism for the decisions I have to make. But I was advised as I took this job to not mistake the painting for the person. And you would be well-advised to do the same.

  HARRY

  But he was right. I see it now.

  PROFESSOR McGONAGALL

  Harry, you’ve been put under enormous pressure, the loss of Albus, the search for him, the fears as to what your scar might mean. But trust me when I tell you, you are making a mistake—