BANE: I did my part. But for my herd, and our honor. Not for you. And after the battle, the forest was deemed centaur land. And if you're on our land -- without permission -- then you are our enemy.
HARRY: My son is missing, Bane. I need help finding him.
BANE: And he is here? In our forest?
HARRY: Yes.
BANE: Then he is as stupid as you are.
HARRY: Can you help me, Bane?
There's a pause. BANE looks down at HARRY imperiously.
BANE: I can only tell you what I know . . . But I tell you not for your benefit but for the benefit of my herd. The centaurs do not need another war.
HARRY: Neither do we! What do you know?
BANE: I've seen your son, Harry Potter. Seen him in the movements of the stars.
HARRY: You've seen him in the stars?
BANE: I can't tell you where he is. I can't tell you how you'll find him.
HARRY: But you've seen something? You've divined something?
BANE: There is a black cloud around your son, a dangerous black cloud.
HARRY: Around Albus?
BANE: A black cloud that may endanger us all. You'll find your son again, Harry Potter. But then you could lose him forever.
He makes a sound like a horse's cry -- and then makes hard away -- leaving a bewildered HARRY behind. He begins to search again -- now with even more fervor.
HARRY: Albus! Albus!
ACT TWO, SCENE SIX
EDGE OF THE FORBIDDEN FOREST
SCORPIUS and ALBUS round a corner to be faced with a gap in the trees . . .
A gap through which is visible . . . a glorious light . . .
SCORPIUS: And there it is . . .
ALBUS: Hogwarts. Never seen this view of it before.
SCORPIUS: Still get a tingle, don't you? When you see it?
And revealed through the trees is HOGWARTS -- a splendid mass of bulbous buildings and towers.
From the moment I first heard of it, I was desperate to go. I mean, Dad didn't much like it there but even the way he described it . . . From the age of ten I'd check the Daily Prophet first thing every morning -- certain some sort of tragedy would have befallen it -- certain I wouldn't get to go.
ALBUS: And then you got there and it turned out to be terrible after all.
SCORPIUS: Not for me.
ALBUS looks at his friend, shocked.
All I ever wanted to do was go to Hogwarts and have a mate to get up to mayhem with. Just like Harry Potter. And I got his son. How crazily fortunate is that.
ALBUS: But I'm nothing like my dad.
SCORPIUS: You're better. You're my best friend, Albus. And this is mayhem to the nth degree. Which is great, thumbs-up great, it's just -- I have got to say -- I don't mind admitting -- I am a tiny bit -- just a tiny bit scared.
ALBUS looks at SCORPIUS and smiles.
ALBUS: You're my best friend too. And don't worry -- I have a good feeling about this.
We hear RON's voice from off -- he's clearly in close proximity.
RON: Albus? Albus.
ALBUS turns towards it, scared.
ALBUS: But we've got to go -- now.
ALBUS takes the Time-Turner from SCORPIUS -- he presses down upon it and the Time-Turner begins to vibrate and then explodes into a storm of movement.
And with it the stage starts to transform. The two boys look at 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.
ACT TWO, SCENE SEVEN
TRIWIZARD TOURNAMENT, EDGE OF THE FORBIDDEN FOREST, 1994
Suddenly everything is a riot of noise as a crowd consumes ALBUS and SCORPIUS.
And suddenly the "greatest showman on earth" (his words, not ours) is onstage, using Sonorus to amplify his voice, and . . . well . . . he's having a ball.
LUDO BAGMAN: Ladies and gentlemen -- boys and girls -- I give you -- the greatest -- the fabulous -- the one -- and the only TRIWIZARD TOURNAMENT.
There's a loud cheer.
If you're from Hogwarts. Give me a cheer.
There's a loud cheer.
If you're from Durmstrang -- give me a cheer.
There's a loud cheer.
AND IF YOU'RE FROM BEAUXBATONS GIVE ME A CHEER.
There's a slightly limp cheer.
Slightly less enthusiastic from the French there.
SCORPIUS (smiling): 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? His wand is flying away -- 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 in his hair 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 onto 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. He stretches out 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 anymore? 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 realize 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, STAIRCASE
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 o
f 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, (dry) 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 walks on.
SCORPIUS: Are you mad at me? What's going on?
ALBUS stops and turns to SCORPIUS.