Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

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. 31st 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 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 that he’s 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 . . .