Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

RON: So let me get this right — we’re fighting to protect Voldemort?

ALBUS: Voldemort killing my grandparents. Voldemort trying to kill my dad?

HERMIONE: Of course, Ginny. Delphi’s not trying to kill Harry — she’s stopping Voldemort trying to kill Harry. Brilliant.

DRACO: So — we just wait? Until Voldemort turns up?

ALBUS: Does she know when he does turn up? Hasn’t she come here twenty-four hours early because she isn’t sure when he’ll arrive and in what direction? The history books — correct me if I’m wrong, Scorpius — show nothing about when and how he arrived in Godric’s Hollow?

SCORPIUS and HERMIONE: You’re not wrong.

RON: Blimey! There are two of them!

DRACO: So how can we use this to our advantage?

ALBUS: Do you know what I’m really good at?

HARRY: There’s plenty you’re good at, Albus.

ALBUS: Polyjuicing. And I think Bathilda Bagshot may have all the ingredients for Polyjuice in her basement. We can Polyjuice into Voldemort and bring her to us.

RON: To use Polyjuice you need a bit of someone. We don’t have a bit of Voldemort.

HERMIONE: But I like the concept, a pretend mouse for her cat.

HARRY: How close can we get through Transfiguration?

HERMIONE: We know what he looks like. We’ve got some excellent wizards and witches here.

GINNY: You want to transfigure into Voldemort?

ALBUS: It’s the only way.

HERMIONE: It is, isn’t it?

RON steps forward bravely.

RON: Then I would like to — I think I should be him. I mean, it won’t be — exactly nice being Voldemort — but without wishing to blow my own trumpet — I am probably the most chilled out of all of us and . . . so maybe transfiguring into him — into the Dark Lord — will do less damage to me than — any of you more — intense — people.

HARRY steps away, introspective.

HERMIONE: Who are you calling intense?

DRACO: I’d also like to volunteer. I think being Voldemort requires precision — no offense, Ron — and a knowledge of Dark Magic and —

HERMIONE: And I’d like to volunteer too. As Minister for Magic I think it’s my responsibility and right.

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 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.