She looks at ALBUS. His eyes stay resistant.
No? Crucio!
ALBUS
Stop! Please.
CRAIG runs in, full of energy.
CRAIG BOWKER JR
Scorpius? Albus? Everyone’s looking for you—
ALBUS
Craig! Get away. Get help!
CRAIG BOWKER JR
What’s happening?
DELPHI
Avada Kedavra!
DELPHI sends a blast of green light across the stage. CRAIG is propelled backwards by it – and is immediately killed. There’s a silence. A silence that seems to last for a long time.
Did you not understand? These are not childish games we are playing here. You are useful to me, your friends are not.
ALBUS and SCORPIUS look at CRAIG’s body – their minds in hell.
It took me a long time to discover your weakness, Albus Potter. I thought it was pride, I thought it was the need to impress your father, but then I realised your weakness was the same as your father’s – friendship. You will do exactly as you’re told, otherwise Scorpius will die, just like that spare did.
She looks at them both.
Voldemort will return and the Augurey will sit at his side. Just as it was prophesied. ‘When spares are spared, when time is turned, when unseen children murder their fathers: then will the Dark Lord return.’
She smiles. She pulls SCORPIUS viciously towards her.
Cedric is the spare, and Albus—
She pulls ALBUS viciously towards her.
—the unseen child who will kill his father by rewriting time and so return the Dark Lord.
The Time-Turner starts rotating. She pulls their hands to it.
Now!
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.
And then there’s a sucking noise. And a bang.
ACT THREE SCENE TWENTY
TRIWIZARD TOURNAMENT, MAZE, 1995
The maze is a spiral of hedges that don’t stop moving. DELPHI walks determinedly through it. Behind her she drags ALBUS and SCORPIUS. Their arms bound, their legs reluctantly moving.
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. DELPHI turns left.
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 fulsome cheer.
DELPHI and the boys are forced to move as a hedge closes upon them.
The French finally showing us what they’re capable of there. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you – the final of the Triwizard tasks. A maze of mysteries, a disease of uncontrollable darkness, for this maze – it lives. It lives.
VIKTOR KRUM passes across the stage, moving through the maze.
And why risk this living nightmare? Because inside this maze is a Cup – and not just any Cup – yes, the Triwizard trophy stands within this vegetation.
DELPHI
Where is he? Where is Cedric?
A hedge almost dissects ALBUS and SCORPIUS.
SCORPIUS
The hedges want to kill us too? This gets better and better.
DELPHI
You will keep up or face the consequences.
LUDO BAGMAN
The perils are plentiful, but the prizes are palpable. Who will fight their way through? Who will fall at the final hurdle? What heroes do we have within our midst? Only time will tell, ladies and gentlemen, only time will tell.
They move through the maze, SCORPIUS and ALBUS being compelled by DELPHI. As she moves ahead, the boys have a chance to talk.
SCORPIUS
Albus, we need to do something.
ALBUS
I know but what? She has snapped our wands, we’re bound and she’s threatening to kill you.
SCORPIUS
I’m ready to die if it’ll stop Voldemort returning.
ALBUS
Are you?
SCORPIUS
You won’t have to mourn me for long, she’ll kill me and quickly kill you too.
ALBUS (desperate)
The flaw in the Time-Turner, the five-minute rule. We do all we can to run down the clock.
SCORPIUS
It won’t work.
As another hedge changes direction, DELPHI pulls ALBUS and SCORPIUS in after her. They continue through this maze of despair.
LUDO BAGMAN
Now let me remind you of the current standings! Tied in first place – Mr Cedric Diggory and Mr Harry Potter. In second place – Mr Viktor Krum! And in third place – sacré bleu, Miss Fleur Delacour.
Suddenly, ALBUS and SCORPIUS emerge from behind a maze, they’re running.
ALBUS
Where did she go?
SCORPIUS
Does it matter? Which way do you think?
DELPHI rises up after them. She’s flying, and without a broom.
DELPHI
You poor creatures.
Thinking you can escape me.
ALBUS (astonished)
You’re not – even on a broom.
DELPHI
Brooms – such unwieldy unnecessary objects. Three minutes gone. We have two minutes left. And you will do what you’re told.
SCORPIUS
No. We won’t.
DELPHI
You think you can fight me?
SCORPIUS
No. But we can defy you. If we lay down our lives to do so.
DELPHI
The prophecy must be fulfilled. We will fulfil it.
SCORPIUS
Prophecies can be broken.
DELPHI
You’re mistaken child, prophecies are the future.
SCORPIUS
But if the prophecy is inevitable why are we here trying to influence it? Your actions contradict your thoughts – you’re dragging us through this maze because you believe this prophecy needs to be enabled – and by that logic prophecies can also be broken – prevented.
DELPHI
You talk too much, child. Crucio!
SCORPIUS is racked with pain.
ALBUS
Scorpius!
SCORPIUS
You wanted a test, Albus – this is it, and we’re going to pass it.
ALBUS looks at SCORPIUS, finally aware what he has to do. He nods.
DELPHI
Then you will die.
ALBUS (full of strength)
Yes. We will. And we’ll do so gladly knowing it’s stopped you.
DELPHI rises up, full of fury.
DELPHI
We don’t have time for this. Cru—
MYSTERIOUS VOICE
Expelliarmus!
Bang. DELPHI’s wand is pulled away from her. SCORPIUS looks on in astonishment.
Brachiabindo!
And DELPHI is bound. SCORPIUS and ALBUS then turn as one and stare in astonishment at where the bolt came from: from a young, good-looking lad of seventeen or so, CEDRIC.
CEDRIC
Come no further.
SCORPIUS
But you’re . . .
CEDRIC
Cedric Diggory. I heard screaming, I had to come. Name yourselves, beasts, I can fight you.
ALBUS wheels around, astonished.
ALBUS
Cedric?
SCORPIUS
You saved us.
CEDRIC
Are you also a task? An obstacle? Speak. Do I have to defeat you too?
There’s a silence.
SCORPIUS
No. You just have to free us. That’s the task.
CEDRIC th
inks, trying to work out whether it’s a trap, and then waves his wand.
CEDRIC
Emancipare! Emancipare!
The boys are freed.
And now I can go on? Finish the maze?
The boys look at CEDRIC – heartbroken.
ALBUS
I’m afraid you have to finish the maze.
CEDRIC
Then I shall.
CEDRIC walks confidently away. ALBUS looks after him – desperate to say something, unsure what to say.
ALBUS
Cedric—
CEDRIC turns towards him.
Your dad loves you very much.
CEDRIC
What?
Behind them, DELPHI’s body creeps into movement. She crawls along the ground.
ALBUS
Just thought you should know that.
CEDRIC
Okay. Um. Thank you.
CEDRIC looks at ALBUS a moment more, and then walks on. DELPHI pulls out the Time-Turner from within her robes.
SCORPIUS
Albus.
ALBUS
No. Wait . . .
SCORPIUS
The Time Turner is spinning . . . look at what she’s doing . . . she can’t leave us behind.
ALBUS and SCORPIUS both scramble to grab part of the Time-Turner.
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.
Albus . . .
ALBUS
What have we done?
SCORPIUS
We had to go with the Time-Turner, we had to try to stop her.
DELPHI
Stop me? How do you think you’ve stopped me? I am done with this. You may have destroyed my chances of using Cedric to darken the world but maybe you’re right Scorpius – maybe prophecies can be prevented, maybe prophecies can be broken. What is undoubtedly true is I’m done with trying to use you annoying, incompetent creatures for anything. No more wasting precious seconds on either of you. Time to try something new.
She crushes the Time-Turner. It explodes into a thousand pieces.
DELPHI ascends again into the air. She laughs in delight as she sets off, hard away.
The boys try to chase her, but they’ve not the slightest chance. She flies, they run.
ALBUS
No . . . no . . . you can’t . . .
SCORPIUS turns back and tries to pick up the Time-Turner pieces.
The Time-Turner? It’s destroyed?
SCORPIUS
Utterly. We’re stuck here. In time. Wherever in time we are. Whatever it is she’s planning to do.
ALBUS
Hogwarts looks the same.
SCORPIUS
Yes. And we can’t be seen here. Let’s get out of here before we’re spotted.
ALBUS
We need to stop her, Scorpius.
SCORPIUS
I know we do – but how?
ACT THREE SCENE TWENTY-ONE
ST OSWALD’S HOME FOR OLD WITCHES AND WIZARDS, DELPHI’S ROOM
HARRY, HERMIONE, RON, DRACO and GINNY look around a simple oak-panelled room.
HARRY
It must have been a Confundus Charm she used on him. Used on them all. She faked being a nurse, she faked being his niece.
HERMIONE
I’ve just checked in with the Ministry – but there’s no record of her. She’s a shadow.
DRACO
Specialis Revelio!
Everyone turns to look at DRACO.
Well, it was worth a try, what are you waiting for? We know nothing, so we just have to hope this room reveals something.
GINNY
Where can she have hidden anything? It’s quite a spartan room.
RON
These panels, these panels must conceal something.
DRACO
Or the bed.
DRACO starts examining the bed, GINNY a lamp, as the rest start examining the panels.
RON (shouting as he hammers on the walls)
What you hiding? What you got?
HERMIONE
Maybe we should all stop for a moment and have a think about what—
GINNY unscrews a lamp chimney from an oil lamp. There’s a breathing-out noise. And then hissing words. They all turn towards it.
What was that?
HARRY
That’s – I’m not supposed to be understanding – that’s Parseltongue.
HERMIONE
And what does it say?
HARRY
How do I . . . ? I haven’t been able to understand Parseltongue since Voldemort died.
HERMIONE
And nor has your scar hurt.
HARRY looks at HERMIONE.
HARRY
It says ‘welcome Augurey’. I think I need to tell it to open . . .
DRACO
Then do it.
HARRY shuts his eyes. He speaks in Parseltongue.
The room transforms around them, becoming darker, and more desperate. A writhing mass of painted snakes emerges on all the walls.
And on them, written in fluorescent paint, a prophecy.
What is this?
RON
‘When spares are spared, when time is turned, when unseen children murder their fathers: then will the Dark Lord return.’
GINNY
A prophecy. A new prophecy.
HERMIONE
Cedric – Cedric was called a spare.
RON
When time is turned – she has that Time-Turner doesn’t she?
Their faces sink.
HERMIONE
She must do.
RON
But why does she need Scorpius or Albus?
HARRY
Because I’m a parent – who hasn’t seen his child. Hasn’t understood his child.
DRACO
Who is she? To be so obsessed with all this?
GINNY
I think I’ve got the answer to that.
They all turn to her. She points up . . . their collective faces sink further and fill with fear.
Words are revealed on all the walls of the auditorium – dangerous words, horrible words.
‘I will rebirth the Dark. I will bring my father back.’
RON
No. She can’t . . .
HERMIONE
How is it even – possible?
DRACO
Voldemort had a daughter?
They look up terrified. GINNY takes HARRY’s hand.
HARRY
No, no, no. Not that. Anything but that.
We cut to black.
INTERVAL
PART TWO
ACT FOUR
ACT FOUR SCENE ONE
MINISTRY OF MAGIC, GRAND MEETING ROOM
Wizards and witches from all over cram into the grand meeting room. HERMIONE walks on to a hastily made stage. She raises her hand for silence. Silence falls. She’s surprised at the lack of effort it took. She looks around herself.
HERMIONE
Thank you. I’m so pleased so many of you were able to make my – second – Extraordinary General Meeting. I’ve got some things to say – I ask that we deal with questions – and there will be a lot of questions – after I speak.
As many of you know, a body has been found at Hogwarts. His name was Craig Bowker. He was a good boy. We have no firm information who was responsible for the act but yesterday we searched St Oswald’s. A room there revealed two things: one, a prophecy that promised . . . the return of darkness – two, written on the ceiling, a proclamation – that the Dark Lord had a – that Voldemort had a child.
The news reverberates around the room.
We don’t know the full details. We’re only just investigating – questioning those with a Death Eater connection . . . and as yet no record has been found either of the child or of the prophecy, but, it does look like there’s some truth to it
. This child was kept hidden from the wizarding world, and now she’s – well now she’s—
PROFESSOR McGONAGALL
She? A daughter? He had a daughter?
HERMIONE
Yes. A daughter.
PROFESSOR McGONAGALL
And is she now in custody?
HARRY
Professor, she did ask for no questions.
HERMIONE
It’s fine, Harry. No, Professor, that’s where this gets worse. I’m afraid we’ve no means of taking her into custody. Or indeed, stopping her doing anything. She’s out of our reach.
PROFESSOR McGONAGALL
We can’t – look for her?
HERMIONE
We have good reason to believe she’s hidden herself – in time.
PROFESSOR McGONAGALL
Of all the reckless stupid things, you’ve kept the Time-Turner even now?
HERMIONE
Professor, I assure you—
PROFESSOR McGONAGALL
Shame on you, Hermione Granger!
HERMIONE flinches in the face of the anger.
HARRY
No, she doesn’t deserve that. You have a right to be angry. You all do. But this is not all Hermione’s fault. We don’t know how the witch got hold of the Time-Turner. Whether my son gave it to her.
GINNY
Whether our son gave it her. Or whether it was stolen from him.
GINNY joins HARRY on the stage.
PROFESSOR McGONAGALL
Your solidarity is admirable, but it doesn’t make your negligence negligible.
DRACO
Then it’s a negligence I too should face.
DRACO walks up to the stage and stands beside GINNY. This is almost a Spartacus moment. There are gasps.
Hermione and Harry have done nothing wrong but try and protect us all. If they’re guilty, then I am too.
HERMIONE looks across at her cohort – moved. RON joins them on the stage.
RON
Just to say – I didn’t know about much of it so can’t take responsibility – and I’m pretty sure my kids had nothing to do with it – but if this lot are standing up here, then so am I.
GINNY
No one can know where they are – whether they’re together or apart. I trust that our sons will be doing all they can to stop her but . . .
HERMIONE
We haven’t given up. We’ve gone to the giants. The trolls. Everyone we can find. The Aurors are out flying, searching, talking to those who know secrets, following those who won’t reveal secrets.
HARRY
But there is one truth we can’t escape: that somewhere in our past a witch is trying to rewrite everything we ever knew – and all we can do is wait – wait for the moment she either succeeds or fails.