He lets out a sob.
Hard though it is to leave yeh. I want yeh to know – yeh won’t be forgotten – not by me – not by anyfolk.
And then he hears a sound – the sound of a baby snuffling. HAGRID turns towards it, walking with more intensity now.
He looks down and stands over the crib, which seems to radiate light.
Well. Hello. Yeh must be Harry. Hello, Harry Potter. I’m Rubeus Hagrid. And I’m gonna be yer friend whether yeh like it or not. ’Cos yeh’ve had it tough, not that yeh know it yet. An’ yer gonna need friends. Now yeh best come with me don’t yeh think?
As flashing blue lights fill the room giving it an almost ethereal glow, he lifts HARRY gently into his arms.
And then – without looking back – he strides away through the house.
And we descend into soft black.
ACT FOUR SCENE FOURTEEN
HOGWARTS, CLASSROOM
SCORPIUS and ALBUS run into a room, full of excitement. They slam the door after themselves.
SCORPIUS
I can’t quite believe I did that.
ALBUS
I can’t quite believe you did that either.
SCORPIUS
Rose Granger-Weasley. I asked out Rose Granger-Weasley.
ALBUS
And she said no.
SCORPIUS
But I asked her. I planted the acorn. The acorn that will grow into our eventual marriage.
ALBUS
You are aware that you’re an utter fantasist.
SCORPIUS
And I’d agree with you – only Polly Chapman did ask me to the School Ball . . .
ALBUS
In an alternate reality where you were significantly – really significantly, more popular – a different girl asked you out – and that means—
SCORPIUS
And yes, logic would dictate I should be pursuing Polly – or allowing her to pursue me – she’s a notorious beauty after all – but a Rose is a Rose.
ALBUS
You know logic would dictate that you’re a freak? Rose hates you.
SCORPIUS
Correction, she used to hate me, but did you see the look in her eyes when I asked? That wasn’t hate, that was pity.
ALBUS
And pity’s good?
SCORPIUS
Pity is a start my friend, a foundation on which to build a palace – a palace of love.
ALBUS
I honestly thought I’d be the first of us to get a girlfriend.
SCORPIUS
Oh, you will, undoubtedly, probably that new smoky-eyed Potions professor – she’s old enough for you, right?
ALBUS
I don’t have a thing about older women!
SCORPIUS
And you’ve got time – a lot of time – to seduce her. Because Rose is going to take years to persuade.
ALBUS
I admire your confidence.
ROSE comes past them on the stairs, she looks at them both.
ROSE
Hi.
Neither boy knows quite how to reply – she looks at SCORPIUS.
ROSE
This is only going to be weird if you let it be weird.
SCORPIUS
Received and entirely understood.
ROSE
Okay. ‘Scorpion King’.
She walks off with a smile on her face. SCORPIUS and ALBUS look at each other. ALBUS grins and punches SCORPIUS on the arm.
ALBUS
Maybe you’re right – pity is a start.
SCORPIUS
Are you heading to Quidditch? Slytherin are playing Hufflepuff – it’s a big one—
ALBUS
I thought we hated Quidditch?
SCORPIUS
People can change. Besides, I’ve been practising. I think I might make the team eventually. Come on.
ALBUS
I can’t. My dad’s arranged to come up—
SCORPIUS
He’s taking time away from the Ministry?
ALBUS
He wants to go on a walk – something to show me – share with me – something.
SCORPIUS
A walk?
ALBUS
I know, I think it’s a bonding thing or something similarly vomit-inducing. Still, you know, I think I’ll go.
SCORPIUS reaches in and hugs ALBUS.
What’s this? I thought we decided we don’t hug.
SCORPIUS
I wasn’t sure. Whether we should. In this new version of us I had in my head.
ALBUS
Better ask Rose if it’s the right thing to do.
SCORPIUS
Ha! Yeah. Right.
The two boys dislocate and grin at each other.
ALBUS
I’ll see you at dinner.
ACT FOUR SCENE FIFTEEN
A BEAUTIFUL HILL
HARRY and ALBUS walk up a hill on a beautiful summer’s day.
They say nothing, enjoying the sun on their faces as they climb.
HARRY
So are you ready?
ALBUS
For what?
HARRY
Well, there’s the fourth-year exams – and then the fifth year – big year – in my fifth year I did—
He looks at ALBUS. He smiles. He talks quickly.
I did a lot of stuff. Some of it good. Some of it bad. A lot of it quite confusing.
ALBUS
HARRY smiles.
I got to watch them – you know – for a bit – your mum and dad. They were – you had fun together. Your dad used to love to do this smoke ring thing with you where you . . . well, you couldn’t stop giggling.
HARRY
Yes?
ALBUS
I think you’d have liked them. And I think me, Lily and James would have liked them too.
HARRY nods. There’s a slightly uncomfortable silence. Both are trying to reach each other here, both are failing.
HARRY
You know, I thought I’d lost him – Voldemort – I thought I’d lost him – and then my scar started hurting again and I had dreams of him and I could even speak Parseltongue again and I started to feel like I’d not changed at all – that he’d never let me go –
ALBUS
And had he?
HARRY
The part of me that was Voldemort died a long time ago, but it wasn’t enough to be physically rid of him – I had to be mentally rid of him. And that – is a lot to learn for a forty-year-old man.
He looks at ALBUS.
That thing I said to you – it was unforgiveable, and I can’t ask you to forget it but I can hope we move past it.
I’m going to try to be a better dad for you, Albus. I am going to try and – be honest with you and . . .
ALBUS
Dad, you don’t need to—
HARRY
You told me you don’t think I’m scared of anything, and that – I mean, I’m scared of everything. I mean, I’m afraid of the dark, did you know that?
ALBUS
Harry Potter is afraid of the dark?
HARRY
I don’t like small spaces and – I’ve never told anyone this but I don’t much like – (he hesitates before saying this) pigeons.
ALBUS
You don’t like pigeons?
HARRY (he scrunches up his face)
Nasty, pecky, dirty things. They give me the creeps.
ALBUS
But pigeons are harmless!
HARRY
I know. But the thing that scares me most, Albus Severus Potter, is being a dad to you. Because I’m operating without wires here. Most people at least have a dad to base themselves on – and either try to be or try not to be. I’ve got nothing – or very little. So I’m learning, okay? And I’m going to try with everything I’ve got – to be a good dad for you.
ALBUS
And I’ll try and be a better son. I know I’m not James, Dad, I’ll never be li
ke you two—
HARRY
James is nothing like me.
ALBUS
Isn’t he?
HARRY
Everything comes easy for James. My childhood was a constant struggle.
ALBUS
So was mine. So you’re saying – am I – like you?
HARRY smiles at ALBUS.
HARRY
Actually you’re more like your mum – bold, fierce, funny – which I like – which I think makes you a pretty great son.
ALBUS
I almost destroyed the world.
HARRY
Delphi wasn’t going anywhere, Albus – you brought her out into the light and you found a way for us to fight her. You may not see it now, but you saved us.
ALBUS
But shouldn’t I have done better?
HARRY
You don’t think I ask myself the same questions?
ALBUS (stomach sinking further, he knows this is not what his dad would do)
And then – when we caught her – I wanted to kill her.
HARRY
You’d watched her murder Craig, you were angry Albus, and that’s okay. And you wouldn’t have done it.
ALBUS
How do you know that? Maybe that’s my Slytherin side. Maybe that’s what the Sorting Hat saw in me.
HARRY
I don’t understand your head, Albus – actually, you know what, you’re a teenager, I shouldn’t be able to understand your head, but I do understand your heart. I didn’t – for a long time – but thanks to this – ‘escapade’ – I know what you got in there. Slytherin, Gryffindor, whatever label you’ve been given – I know – know – that heart is a good one – yeah, whether you like it or not, you’re on your way to being some wizard.
ALBUS
Oh, I’m not going to be a wizard, I’m going into pigeon racing. I’m quite excited about it.
HARRY grins.
HARRY
Those names you have – they shouldn’t be a burden. Albus Dumbledore had his trials too you know – and Severus Snape, well, you know all about him—
ALBUS
They were good men.
HARRY
They were great men, with huge flaws, and you know what – those flaws almost made them greater.
ALBUS looks around himself.
ALBUS
Dad? Why are we here?
HARRY
This is where I often come.
ALBUS
But this is a graveyard . . .
HARRY
And here is Cedric’s grave . . .
ALBUS
Dad?
HARRY
The boy who was killed – Craig Bowker – how well did you know him?
ALBUS
Not well enough.
HARRY
I didn’t know Cedric well enough either. He could have played Quidditch for England. Or been a brilliant Auror. He could have been anything. And Amos is right – he was stolen. So I come here. Just to say sorry. When I can.
ALBUS
That’s a – good thing to do.
ALBUS joins his dad in front of CEDRIC’s grave. HARRY smiles at his son and looks up at the sky.
HARRY
I think it’s going to be a nice day.
He touches his son’s shoulder. And the two of them – just slightly – melt together.
ALBUS (smiles)
So do I.
THE END
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts One and Two was first produced by Sonia Friedman Productions, Colin Callender and Harry Potter Theatrical Productions. It premiered at the Palace Theatre, London, on 30 July 2016 with the following cast.
Cast names in alphabetical order
CRAIG BOWKER JR
Jeremy Ang Jones
MOANING MYRTLE, LILY POTTER SR
Annabel Baldwin
UNCLE VERNON, SEVERUS SNAPE, LORD VOLDEMORT
Paul Bentall
SCORPIUS MALFOY
Anthony Boyle
ALBUS POTTER
Sam Clemmett
HERMIONE GRANGER
Noma Dumezweni
POLLY CHAPMAN
Claudia Grant
HAGRID, SORTING HAT
Chris Jarman
YANN FREDERICKS
James Le Lacheur
AUNT PETUNIA, MADAM HOOCH, DOLORES UMBRIDGE
Helena Lymbery
AMOS DIGGORY, ALBUS DUMBLEDORE
Barry McCarthy
TROLLEY WITCH, PROFESSOR McGONAGALL
Sandy McDade
STATION MASTER
Adam McNamara
GINNY POTTER
Poppy Miller
CEDRIC DIGGORY, JAMES POTTER JR, JAMES POTTER SR
Tom Milligan
DUDLEY DURSLEY, KARL JENKINS, VIKTOR KRUM
Jack North
HARRY POTTER
Jamie Parker
DRACO MALFOY
Alex Price
BANE
Nuno Silva
ROSE GRANGER-WEASLEY, YOUNG HERMIONE
Cherrelle Skeete
DELPHI DIGGORY
Esther Smith
RON WEASLEY
Paul Thornley
YOUNG HARRY POTTER
Rudi Goodman
Alfred Jones
Bili Keogh
Ewan Rutherford
Nathaniel Smith
Dylan Standen
LILY POTTER JR
Zoe Brough
Cristina Fray
Christiana Hutchings
OTHER ROLES PLAYED BY
Nicola Alexis, Jeremy Ang Jones, Rosemary Annabella, Annabel Baldwin, Jack Bennett, Paul Bentall, Morag Cross, Claudia Grant, James Howard, Lowri James, Chris Jarman, Martin Johnston, James Le Lacheur, Helena Lymbery, Barry McCarthy, Andrew McDonald, Adam McNamara, Tom Milligan, Jack North, Stuart Ramsay, Nuno Silva, Cherrelle Skeete
SWINGS
Helen Aluko, Morag Cross, Chipo Kureya, Tom Mackley, Joshua Wyatt
Nuno Silva
Movement Captain
Jack North
Assistant Movement Captain
Morag Cross
Voice Captain
CREATIVE AND PRODUCTION TEAM
Original Story
J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany, Jack Thorne
Playwright
Jack Thorne
Director
John Tiffany
Movement Director
Steven Hoggett
Set Designer
Christine Jones
Costume Designer
Katrina Lindsay
Composer & Arranger
Imogen Heap
Lighting Designer
Neil Austin
Sound Designer
Gareth Fry
Illusions & Magic
Jamie Harrison
Music Supervisor & Arranger
Martin Lowe
Casting Director
Julia Horan CDG
Production Manager
Gary Beestone
Production Stage Manager
Sam Hunter
Associate Director
Des Kennedy
Associate Movement Director
Neil Bettles
Associate Set Designer
Brett J. Banakis
Associate Sound Designer
Pete Malkin
Illusions & Magic Associate
Chris Fisher
Casting Associate
Lotte Hines
Assistant Lighting Designer
Adam King
Costume Design Supervisor
Sabine Lemaître
Hair, Wigs & Make-up
Carole Hancock
Props Supervisors
Lisa Buckley, Mary Halliday
Music Editor
Phij Adams
Music Production
Imogen Heap
Special Effects
Jeremy Chernick
Video Design
Finn Ross,
Ash Woodward
Dialect Coach
Daniele Lydon
Voice Coach
Richard Ryder
Company Stage Manager
Richard Clayton
Stage Manager
Jordan Noble-Davies
Deputy Stage Manager
Jenefer Tait
Assistant Stage Managers
Oliver Bagwell Purefoy, Tom Gilding, Sally Inch, Ben Sherratt
Resident Director
Pip Minnithorpe
Head of Wardrobe
Amy Gillot
Deputy Head of Wardrobe
Laura Watkins
Wardrobe Assistants
Kate Anderson, Leanne Hired
Dressers
George Amielle, Melissa Cooke, Rosie Etheridge, John Ovenden, Emilee Swift
Head of Hair, Wigs & Make-up
Nina Van Houten
Deputy Head of Hair, Wigs & Make-up
Alice Townes
Hair, Wigs & Make-up Assistants
Charlotte Briscoe, Jacob Fessey, Cassie Murphie
Head of Sound
Chris Reid
Deputy Head of Sound
Rowena Edwards
Sound No. 3
Laura Caplin
SFX Operator
Callum Donaldson
Head of Automation
Josh Peters
Deputy Head of Automation
Jamie Lawrence
Automation No. 3
Jamie Robson
Show Chief LX
David Treanor
Performer Flying Technician
Paul Gurney
Chaperones
David Russell, Eleanor Dowling
General Management
Sonia Friedman Productions
Executive Director
Diane Benjamin
Executive Producer
Pam Skinner
Associate Producer
Fiona Stewart
Assistant Producer
Ben Canning
General Management Assistant
Max Bittleston
Production Assistant
Imogen Clare-Wood
Marketing Manager
Laura Jane Elliott
Revenue Manager
Mark Payn
Associate Producer (Development)
Lucie Lovatt
Development Assistant
Lydia Rynne
Literary Associate
Jack Bradley
Office Assistant
Jordan Eaton
House Seats Assistant
Vicky Ngoma