Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Harry Potter, #8)(39)

ALBUS: But why? But what? But who are you?

DELPHI: Albus. I am the new past.

She pulls ALBUS’s wand from him and snaps it.

I am the new future.

She pulls SCORPIUS’s wand from him and snaps it.

I am the answer this world has been looking for.





ACT THREE, SCENE SEVENTEEN





MINISTRY OF MAGIC, HERMIONE’S OFFICE

RON is sitting on HERMIONE’s desk eating porridge.

RON: I can’t get over it, really. The fact that in some realities we aren’t even, you know, married.

HERMIONE: Ron, whatever this is, I’ve got ten minutes until the goblins show up to talk security at Gringotts — RON: I mean, we’ve been together so long — and married for so long — I mean, so long — HERMIONE: If this is your way of saying you want a marital break, Ron, then, to be clear, I will skewer you with this quill.

RON: Shut up. Will you shut up for once? I want to do one of those marriage renewal things I’ve read about. Marriage renewal. What do you think?

HERMIONE (melting slightly): You want to marry me again?

RON: Well, we were only young when we did it the first time and I got very drunk and — well, to be honest, I can’t remember much of it and . . . The truth is — I love you, Hermione Granger, and whatever time says — I’d like the opportunity to say so in front of lots of other people. Again. Sober.

She looks at him, she smiles, she pulls him to her, she kisses him.

HERMIONE: You’re sweet.

RON: And you taste of toffee . . .

HERMIONE laughs. HARRY, GINNY, and DRACO walk in on them as they move to kiss again. They spring apart.

HERMIONE: Harry, Ginny, and — I, uh — Draco — how lovely to see you — HARRY: The dreams. They’ve started again, well, they haven’t stopped.

GINNY: And Albus is missing. Again.

DRACO: Scorpius too. We’ve had McGonagall check the entire school. They’re gone.

HERMIONE: I’ll get the Aurors summoned immediately, I’ll — RON: No, you won’t, it’s all fine. Albus — I saw him last night. It’s all good.

DRACO: Where?

They all turn to look at RON, he’s briefly disconcerted but batters on.

RON: I was having a couple of firewhiskies with Neville in Hogsmeade — as you do — setting the world to rights — as we do — and we were coming back — quite late, very late, and trying to work out which Floo I could use because when you’ve had a drink sometimes you don’t want to use the tight ones — or the turny ones or —

GINNY: Ron, if you could get to the point before we all strangle you?

RON: He hasn’t run away — he’s having a quiet moment — he’s got himself an older girlfriend — HARRY: An older girlfriend?

RON: And a cracking one at that — gorgeous silver hair. Saw them on the roof together, near the Owlery with Scorpius playing the gooseberry. Nice to see my love potion being used well, I thought.

HARRY has a thought.

HARRY: Her hair — was it silver and blue?

RON: That’s it — silver, blue — yup.

HARRY: He’s talking about Delphi Diggory. Niece of — Amos Diggory.

GINNY: This is about Cedric again?

HARRY says nothing, thinking fast. HERMIONE looks around the room, concerned, and then shouts out of the door.

HERMIONE: Ethel! Cancel the goblins.





ACT THREE, SCENE EIGHTEEN





ST. OSWALD’S HOME FOR OLD WITCHES AND WIZARDS, AMOS’S ROOM

HARRY walks in, wand outstretched, with DRACO.

HARRY: Where are they?

AMOS: Harry Potter, and what can I do for you, sir? And Draco Malfoy. I am blessed.

HARRY: I know how you’ve used my son.

AMOS: I’ve used your son? No. You, sir — you used my beautiful son.

DRACO: Tell us — now — where are Albus and Scorpius? Or face the profoundest consequences.

AMOS: But why would I know where they are?

DRACO: Don’t play the senility card with us, old man. We know you’ve been sending him owls.

AMOS: I’ve done nothing of the kind.

HARRY: Amos, you’re not too old for Azkaban. They were last seen on the Hogwarts tower with your niece when they disappeared.

AMOS: I have no idea what you are . . . (He stops, a beat, confused.) My niece?

HARRY: There are no depths to which you won’t sink, are there — yes, your niece, are you denying she was there under your express instructions?

AMOS: Yes, I am — I don’t have a niece.

This stops HARRY.

DRACO: Yes, you do, a nurse, works here. Your niece . . . Delphini Diggory.

AMOS: I know I don’t have a niece because I never had any brothers and sisters. And nor did my wife.

DRACO: We need to find out who she is — now.





ACT THREE, SCENE NINETEEN





HOGWARTS, QUIDDITCH PITCH

We open on DELPHI, enjoying every second of her changed identity. Where there was discomfort and insecurity, now there’s just power.

ALBUS: What are we doing on the Quidditch pitch?

DELPHI says nothing.

SCORPIUS: The Triwizard Tournament. The third task. The maze. This is where the maze was. We’re going back for Cedric.