Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Harry Potter, #8)(41)

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 hedge, 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.

She throws the boys to the ground.

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 fulfill 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: 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 thinks, 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 — they are 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.