19 Years Later

by Kena Worthen

  HARRY POTTER: Have you heard anything?

  RON WEASLEY: No, but she’s been in there a while. I imagine they’ll be calling you soon.

  Hermione enters.

  HERMIONE WEASLEY: Harry.

  GINNY grabs HARRY’s hand.

  GINNY POTTER: I’m sorry.

  He kisses her on the forehead, then crosses to HERMIONE.

  HARRY POTTER: It’s time, is it?

  HERMIONE WEASLEY: No, actually. The charges have been dismissed. I was able to convince them that it was merely in the act of defense. Self defense.

  HARRY POTTER: So that’s it, then? It’s over?

  HERMIONE WEASLEY: Not quite. The charges have been dismissed, but you still used an Unforgiveable, Harry. Because of that, you will be under the strict supervision of the Minister herself. (She smiles) However, you are hereby prohibited from continuing to investigate the Platform case as an Auror.

  HARRY POTTER: Hermione, you can’t be

  HERMIONE WEASLEY: I had no choice. You are, officially, off the case.

  RON WEASLEY: (Understanding) Bloody, brilliant, my wife.

  HARRY POTTER: And if, unofficially, I were to continue to investigate?

  HERMIONE WEASLEY: I have no interest in the personal lives of my employees, Mr. Potter.

  McGUFFIN enters stage left, visibly displeased.

  KERES MCGUFFIN: That was quite a display, Minister.

  HERMIONE WEASLEY: I stand for what is right. Throwing a man, a man who happens to be an excellent Auror, no less, to the dogs is hardly a beneficial use of resources.

  KERES MCGUFFIN: And it has nothing do to with your friendship to the accused?

  HERMIONE WEASLEY: (She bristles) I’m not sure I appreciate your implication, McGuffin.

  KERES MCGUFFIN: My apologies, Minister. Mister Potter, Keres McGuffin. Supreme Mugwump of the Court. So glad that we were able to come to a... definitive solution.

  HARRY POTTER: Our Minister is nothing if not efficient.

  KERES MCGUFFIN: So she is. (Falsely cheery) Lovely to meet you all, but I’ve got loads of paperwork piling up in the office. Always a pleasure, Minister.

  HERMIONE WEASLEY: A pleasure, McGuffin.

  She exits.

  RON WEASLEY: Bloody hell. (Sarcastic) She’s pleasant, isn’t she?

  GINNY POTTER: Let’s go home.

  Blackout

  Act 1 Scene 11

  INT. Great Hall. SCORPIUS and ALBUS are seated at a table, ALBUS frantically finishing up an essay, ROSE and SCORPIUS eating. LILY sits with KAYLIN, JULIANNE, and KENDALL.

  ALBUS POTTER: How have you two already finished?

  ROSE WEASLEY: We did it when we were supposed to.

  SCORPIUS MALFOY: So Rose, did you hear the news? Albus met a girl?

  ROSE WEASLEY: Finally given in to Myrtle, have you?

  SCORPIUS MALFOY: No, this one’s alive. He met her when he dragged me out of bed at three in the morning.

  ROSE WEASLEY: (To ALBUS) You dog.

  SCORPIUS MALFOY: She fancies Albus.

  ALBUS POTTER: You’re absolutely mental.

  ROSE WEASLEY: Who is she?

  ALBUS POTTER: She’s from Ilvermorny, on the exchange program for six months.

  ROSE WEASLEY: I thought she wasn’t due for another week.

  SCORPIUS MALFOY: It looks as if you can be wrong about some things.

  ROSE WEASLEY Have you been enlightened to the fact that you’re a massive toad?

  SCORPIUS MALFOY: Better than a Harpy.

  ROSE WEASLEY: At least I haven’t got a mandrake for a face.

  SCORPIUS MALFOY: You know? That hurts.

  ROSE WEASLEY: You called me a Harpy!

  SCORPIUS MALFOY: I was only-

  ROSE WEASLEY: What’s that in your hand? She points at a charm in ALBUS’ palm. He peers at it, contemplative, for it wasn’t there just moments before.

  ALBUS POTTER: I... erm, I dunno. I found it. (He thinks, he honestly can’t remember) In my pocket, I guess.

  ROSE WEASLEY: Some dodgy item that just appeared in your pocket? Let me see, She reaches for the totem, and ALBUS violently recoils.

  ALBUS POTTER: Don’t touch it.

  SCORPIUS MALFOY: Mate, she was just-

  ALBUS POTTER: (Agitated) I said don’t, alright?

  There is an uncomfortable silence. JAMES enters, STELLA on his arm.

  SCORPIUS MALFOY: (Trying to break the silence) So, uh, I heard Lily played brilliantly in the last Quidditch match.

  JAMES POTTER: She was alright. I was magnificent, though. (He claps ALBUS on the shoulder.) How come I didn’t see you lot at the match?

  ROSE WEASLEY: I’m on the team.

  ALBUS POTTER: Because I hate Quidditch?

  JAMES POTTER: But you don’t hate your siblings.

  ALBUS POTTER: Well, I don’t hate Lily.

  JAMES leans over Rose towards her plate of food and eats.

  JAMES POTTER: (Mouth full) Wot’s this I hear about you and some girl?

  LILY POTTER: You’re vile.

  JAMES POTTER: I heard that you’ve hit it off with a lass.

  ALBUS POTTER: No I didn’t.

  SCORPIUS MALFOY: Yes he did.

  ROSE WEASLEY: The American exchange student, apparently.

  JAMES POTTER: I thought that she wasn’t due to arrive until next week?

  ROSE WEASLEY: That’s what I said. (JAMES reaches for her food once again, but she swats him off) That’s my breakfast!

  JAMES POTTER: Oh, come on, Rosie-

  LILY POTTER: Is that her?

  CECILIA enters with FRANK, wearing her Ilvermorny uniform.

  JAMES POTTER: Bloody hell.

  SCORPIUS MALFOY: That’s her.

  JAMES POTTER: You didn’t say she was a looker, Albus.

  ROSE WEASLEY: She’s alright.

  JAMES POTTER: Better than alright.

  SCORPIUS MALFOY: She is quite lovely.

  ROSE WEASLEY: Are you done objectifying her?

  SCORPIUS MALFOY: Don’t be jealous, Rose.

  ROSE WEASLEY: (Indignant) I’m not jealous. I just don’t think-

  CECILIA SINCLAIRE: Albus!

  CECILIA and FRANK make their way over to the table.

  FRANK LONGBOTTOM: Hey you lot, this is Cecilia. She’s our exchange student, I’ve been giving her the Hogwarts tour. Justarrived last night. I hear you two have met?

  CECILIA SINCLAIRE: Last night.

  SCORPIUS MALFOY: Hello.

  CECILIA SINCLAIRE: Fancy seeing you again. Seamus, right?

  SCORPIUS MALFOY: Em, Scorpius.

  CECILIA SINCLAIRE: That’s what I said. (To ALBUS) So aren’t you going to introduce me to your friends?

  ALBUS POTTER: Oh. Right. Sorry, uhm, you know Scorpius Malfoy. My sister, Lily, and obviously Frank Longbottom.

  FRANK LONGBOTTOM: Your resident Head Boy.

  ALBUS POTTER: That’s my brother, James.

  FRANK LONGBOTTOM: Your resident idiot. (JAMES smirks - they are best friends).

  ROSE WEASLEY: And I’m-

  CECILIA SINCLAIRE: Good looks run in the family, then?

  ROSE is extremely put off. JAMES is thrilled.

  ROSE WEASLEY: I’m-

  CECILIA SINCLAIRE: So, first official day at Hogwarts and-

  ROSE WEASLEY: Sorry, hi, I’m Rose.

  CECILIA SINCLAIRE: So you are. Albus’s... girlfriend?

  ALBUS POTTER: Hardly. My cousin.

  CECILIA SINCLAIRE: So you don’t have a girlfriend?

  LILY POTTER: Alright. Wow.

  JAMES POTTER: He doesn’t - I’m also available.

  FRANK LONGBOTTOM: Shut it, James.

  STELLA TOWIE: You are now git. Sod off.

  She and the other girls other hen ROSE and LILY exit.

  ROSE WEASLEY: So, you’re going to be staying in Gryffindor tower, then?

  CECILIA SINCLAIRE: Well, as that’s where my exchange partner lived, it’s what I assumed.

  ROSE WEASLEY: I’m a Gryffindor, and so are James and Lily, s
o you’ll be with us. I could show you around, introduce you... to people...

  CECILIA SINCLAIRE (With venom laced cheer) How sweet.

  JAMES POTTER: (Flirty) Cecilia, why don’t you let me take over the tour. There are a few things I could show yo- (FRANK smacks him.)

  CECILIA SINCLAIRE: As much as I appreciate the offer, I’ve actually got to go. It was lovely to meet you all. (Flirty) Bye, Albus.

  CELCIA SINCLIARE exits.

  SCORPIUS MALFOY: Bye!

  JAMES POTTER: Pretty girl. Bad taste.

  ROSE WEASLEY: On Albus’ part, surely. (The boys look at her) She hates me.

  JAMES POTTER: I mean, d’ya blame her?

  ALBUS POTTER: She does not. You’re being sensitive.

  ROSE WEASLEY: I’m not actually. But that’s rich coming from you.

  ALBUS POTTER: What is that supposed to mean?

  ROSE WEASLEY: I- nothing.

  SCORPIUS MALFOY: (Warily) Rose...

  FRANK LONGBOTTOM: She didn’t mean anything, Albus. We-

  ALBUS POTTER: No, I’d really love to hear what she’s got to say.

  LILY POTTER: I think Rose just means that-

  ROSE WEASLEY: Lily, it’s fine. You just, you haven’t been yourself. You’re snapping, and angry and-

  ALBUS POTTER: Sorry, I’ve been a touch preoccupied with the fact my Dad killed someone.

  JAMES POTTER: (Softly) It’s my father too.

  ALBUS POTTER: Well you don’t seem to care much, do you? You’re out flirting, laughing like someone didn’t try to kill your brother on the way to school... Well it wasn’t okay. I am not okay.

  ROSE WEASLEY: Albus, I’m sorry, we didn’t-

  ALBUS POTTER: You didn’t what?

  FRANK LONGBOTTOM: We were there too, we know how hard -

  ALBUS POTTER: No! You actually don’t! None of you know. What it’slike to be useless. What it’s like to be me.

  LILY POTTER: Albus...

  ALBUS POTTER: Don’t. Just, leave me alone. He exits, leaving his friends in his wake.

  Blackout

  Act 1 Scene 12

  INT. WEASLEY household. HERMIONE is sitting on a chair, reading. HARRY knocks once, and then enters, startling her.

  HARRY POTTER: We need to talk.

  She rises alarmed.

  HERMIONE WEASLEY: Harry, you can’t just turn up, unannounced. Ronald is home, if he saw-

  HARRY POTTER: You said not on official hours, so I’m here. Unofficially.

  HERMIONE WEASLEY: (Beat) You’re talking about the case?

  HARRY POTTER: I’ve been doing some research, and-

  HERMIONE WEASLEY: This wasn’t quite what I had in mind. I’m busy, I’ve loads of cases that desperately need my attention. The body of a young witch was found in the Thames in London today, she’d been there at least a week, no one had noticed. I can’t be spending time on-

  RON enters, wearing an apron, holding a tray of sandwiches and tea.

  RON WEASLEY: Harry! What are you doing here?

  HARRY POTTER: I can’t do this on my own. I can’t do this without you two.

  RON WEASLEY: (Beat) Of course.

  HERMIONE WEASLEY: So, what have we got?

  HARRY POTTER: The store in Knocturn alley, the one that was broken into, it’s not the only one. There were others. Nothingmajor was missing, the bagglenox, you remember, was the most valuable item taken. The rest were just... random.

  HARRY POTTER: At least, as far as I can tell. All small items. A Scroll of Dominate, a rowan ring, something called a Levian, a-

  HERMIONE WEASLEY: Oh.

  RON WEASLEY: What?

  HERMIONE WEASLEY: Well, those aren’t random. (Flipping through a book) I researched it, the Bagglenox. There wasn’t much to find, nearly everything was redacted, but its purpose seemed to be mental manipulation. Those other items, I would have to research it to be sure but... they’re the same.

  RON WEASLEY: Who would need something like that?

  HARRY POTTER: Death Eaters.

  RON WEASLEY: Brilliant. Tea? What does this have to do with the platform?

  HERMIONE WEASLEY: Don’t be daft. There ARE other bad wizards. There were before Voldemort and there will be after him. The Death Eaters were inhuman monsters but they are not the only monsters.

  RON WEASLEY: This is great, and again, I’m ignored. What does this have to do with the Platform?

  HARRY POTTER: A bunch of items used to control wizards go missing and in the same week, terrorists attack the Platform. It was my son they tried to kill. It must be connected.

  HERMIONE WEASLEY: How can you be sure that you’re not making links in places that don’t exist?

  RON WEASLEY: What if he’s not.

  HERMIONE WEASLEY: Ron, not now-

  RON WEASLEY: No. I mean, he’s not. Hermione, what is it you’ve always said, magic leaves a trace?

  HERMIONE WEASLEY: It’s not me that says it, it’s the truth.

  RON WEASLEY: Fine, right, whatever, not quite the point, actually. If there was no trace left after the robberies, and no trace left at the platform... isn’t that more than just a bit of a coincidence?

  HARRY POTTER: I don’t mean there was no trace, I meant that we can’t locate them-

  HERMIONE WEASLEY: No. Ron’s right. There was no trace. No magic. Nothing physical. At either scene.

  RON WEASLEY: Well, there’s the chap Harry killed.

  HARRY POTTER: Thanks for that.

  HERMIONE WEASLEY: (She ignores him) If you’re right and I hope to Merlin that you aren’t. but if you are right, this may be greater, and far more terrible than anything we’ve ever seen.

  Blackout

  Act 1 Scene 13

  INT. Herbology Classroom. ALBUS is noticeably missing.

  NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM: That’s all for Fanged Geranium. Now, if you would, turn to page 394.

  SCORPIUS MALFOY: Erm, Professor? This textbook only has 200 pages.

  NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM: Right. Bad joke, terrible joke. Sorry. Moving right along-

  ALBUS enters.

  KAYLIN BLACKWELL: Look who the troll dragged in.

  NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM: Welcome, Mister Potter. Glad to see that your afternoon routine will not be interrupted by something as trivial as the beginning of class.

  ALBUS POTTER: I’m sorry professor. I didn’t set my Rememberall correctly. I hear you know what that feels like.

  NEVILLE is taken aback by this uncharacteristic outburst.

  NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM: Please, take your seat. (NEVILLE turns to the other students).

  ROSE WEASLEY: (Whispered) Where were you? This is the ninth class you’ve been late to in the past month.

  ALBUS POTTER: What, you’ve set a trace on me? Sod off.

  SCORPIUS MALFOY: Don’t feel bad. He won’t talk to me either.

  ROSE WEASLEY: I’m worried. Scorpius said-

  SCORPIUS MALFOY: Please don’t.

  ALBUS POTTER: Great, now you two have gotten chatty behind my back?

  ROSE WEASLEY: Again, no. I’m just... Is it her? She’s bad news, Albus-

  ALBUS POTTER: Merlin, Rose, again with blaming Cecilia? Give it a rest. She’s done nothing to you, can you stop acting like she belongs in Azkaban?

  ROSE WEASLEY: I’ve never said that, but I just don’t fully trust her-

  ALBUS POTTER: Just because you haven’t got friends of your own, and I’ve found someone else-

  SCORPIUS MALFOY: Albus-

  ALBUS POTTER: No, it’s true. You haven’t got anyone except for me and Scorpius, and you don’t even like us half the time. I don’t need you, anymore, and you can’t handle it. You’re insufferable, and that’s why you’re alone. I don’t need your fake pity. Go be with your wonderful Gryffindors, your superior house, and leave me well alone. Merlin knows you’ve been dying to from the day we got here.

  ROSE is near tears.

  NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM: Mister Potter.

  ROSE WEASLEY: Professor Longbottom...?

  NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM: Go.

>   She collects her belongings, SCORPIUS moves to grab her hand, and she recoils, rushing to leave.

  SCORPIUS MALFOY: Rose...

  NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM: Mister Potter. That behavior is unacceptable, anywhere on the grounds, though especially within my classroom. Fifty points from Slytherin. I shall see you this evening, for detention. Let us hope your Remembrall does not fail you again. Class dismissed, please turn in your assignments before you leave.

  JULIANNE RYCROFT: (Sarcastically) Fifty points, thanks Potter.

  KENDALL BETCHER: Can’t keep his mouth shut, can he? JULIANNE deliberately bumps into ALBUS POTTER who shoves her back halfheartedly. There is commotion as the students pick up and leave, most students glaring at ALBUS as they exit.

  SCORPIUS MALFOY: Last I checked, partner assignments were meant to be done together. Not one person working while the other runs off with a girl.

  ALBUS POTTER: You didn’t need my help. You were better off withoutme. Everyone is.

  SCORPIUS MALFOY: Rose and I would disagree with that. What you did wasn’t kind, but-

  ALBUS POTTER: I’m not kind.

  SCORPIUS MALFOY: You could be. You have been. You’re nice to Cecilia. What’s got you so upset?

  ALBUS POTTER: I’m not upset!

  SCORPIUS MALFOY

  Alright, not upset, I’m Scorpius.

  ALBUS POTTER: Could you for one moment not be....you. I don’t know, alright. There’s just... a lot. You of all people should know that.

  SCORPIUS MALFOY: You’re making things worse than they are, Albus.

  JAMES POTTER enters.

  JAMES POTTER

  Albus, I heard you got detention because you’re a

  massive prick. What did you say to her?

  ALBUS POTTER

  Ask her.

  JAMES POTTER: She’s a mess! She won’t even speak. You are two words away from a jinx in the face.

  ALBUS POTTER: Raise your wand at me again, James. Look, Scorpius, here’s fabled the Potter hero, ready to defend anyonewho hurts the people he actually cares about. Too bad

  his brother doesn’t make the list.

  JAMES POTTER: Albus, you have to apologize to her!

  ALBUS POTTER: For what?!? You don’t even know what I said, for all you know she could have made this whole thing up, and you’ve come in here brandishing your wand, ready to

  defend whatever lie she’s feeding you!

  JAMES POTTER: How dare you!

  JAMES POTTER steps forward, wand brandished.