by Kena Worthen
ALBUS POTTER: Do it, just do it.
JAMES lowers his wand.
ALBUS POTTER: Coward.
Sneering, he exits.
JAMES POTTER: Where are you going?
SCORPIUS MALFOY: He’s going to her.
JAMES POTTER: Rose?
SCORPIUS MALFOY: Cecilia.
Blackout
Act 1 Scene 14
INT. Hogwarts Library. ROSE sits, books in hand, frustrated. LILY enters.
LILY POTTER: Rose!... Rose! I’ve been looking all over for you...What are you-
ROSE WEASLEY: Something’s wrong with Albus.
LILY POTTER: What isn’t wrong with Albus?
ROSE WEASLEY: No, with Cecilia and Albus. She’s doing something to him. It’s like he’s a different person-
LILY POTTER: Don’t you think you’re overreacting? Rose, I heard what happened. Can
ROSE hands her a textbook.
LILY POTTER: I, what? Rosie, please, we need to talk about
ROSE WEASLEY: No. Help me. Or leave. (She turns back to her books).
LILY hesitates before picking up a book.
LILY POTTER: Okay. What am I looking for?
ROSE WEASLEY: Something. Anything that would make someone different. Focus on symptoms. Angry, cruel, emotional, I just... I don’t know, it’s... he’s different. And it started when she got here.
LILY POTTER; That could be anything. He’s got a crush, Rosie.
ROSE WEASLEY: It’s more than that. You know that it is. Has he even spoken two words to you in the past month? (Rose knows the answer) Help me.
LILY POTTER: Okay. (Relenting) So, what: curses, items, jinxes?
ROSE WEASLEY: What did you say?
LILY POTTER: Jinxes?
ROSE WEASLEY: No. Before. Items.
She begins furiously flipping through a book. LILY peers over her shoulder.
LILY POTTER: You’re not making any sense, and I Wait, Rose, stop. What is that? There... (She takes the book from ROSE, her expression increasingly horrified. She shows the page to ROSE) Isn’t that...?
ROSE WEASLEY: A totem... it’s the same
LILY POTTER: (Apologetic) Rosie, I
ROSE WEASLEY: Don’t. (Beat) We need to find Albus.
LIGHT UP on HARRY’s living room. HERMIONE is
sitting in a large chair, with books stacked around her. RON is reading over her shoulder, HARRY is pacing furiously.
HARRY POTTER: If you hadn’t removed me from the damn case... (Throws a book).
HERMIONE WEASLEY: McGuffin didn’t give me much of a choice.
RON WEASLEY: Keep up that trodding and you’ll have to replace your rug, mate.
HERMIONE WEASLEY: (Slamming the book shut) There’s no precedent for this magic, Harry. As far as I can tell, no one’s been able to successfully use a bagglenox in centuries, there’s nothing on it.
HARRY POTTER: You said it would be chaos!
HERMIONE WEASLEY: I can be wrong, Harry.
RON WEASLEY: D’you mind repeating that one?
HARRY POTTER: But you can’t be wrong, not this time. If you, the most brilliant witch of our time can’t solve a simple murder-
RON WEASLEY: You watch your bloody mouth
HERMIONE WEASLEY: If you’ve finished using me as the focus of your anger, I’d certainly enjoy returning to the very real dangers at hand.
HARRY POTTER: (Anger bubbling once again) Do you think I don’t
Suddenly, GINNY appears at the side of the stage.
GINNY POTTER: Harry, I, There’s a letter to you. From Neville.
HARRY POTTER: What?
He crosses to her, and scans the letter. He slams it on the desk before grabbing his coat from the rack. Slowly, HERMIONE picks up the letter and begins to read.
GINNY POTTER: Harry, Harry what is it?
HARRY POTTER: Albus. He’s missing, gone of with some girl, he didn’t turn up for detention with Neville and (Beat) I’ve got to go.
GINNY POTTER: What? Harry, don’t you think you’re being a bit rash? There’s McGonnogall, Neville... Harry, stop, can we talk about this first?
HARRY POTTER: No. I’m done talking. This is my son. He stares at her for just a moment before exiting.
RON WEASLEY: Gin...
GINNY POTTER: Don’t. (To HERMIONE) What does it say?
HERMIONE WEASLEY: Nothing, really. What Harry said, Albus earned himself a detention and did’t show. Apparently, he ran off with some girl, (She studies the letter) a Miss Sinclaire apparently? An exchange student.
RON WEASLEY: (Taking notice) What?
HERMIONE WEASLEY: Oh, don’t ask me to repeat it, Ron.
RON WEASLEY: No, I... it’s impossible.
GINNY POTTER: What are you on about?
HERMIONE WEASLEY: If our school years are any reference, it’s actually quite possible that he skipped detention.
RON WEASLEY: Don’t be smart. The girl. Sin... Sinclaire? I know that name, oh bloody hell, that name... (Revelation) Cecilia Sinclaire. Isn’t that the name of the witch? The body found in the Thames?
HERMIONE WEASLEY: (Checking the letter, and then rushing to her desk) Yes, that’s... Oh, no. Oh, how could I have missed this?
GINNY POTTER: Will someone stop and explain precisely what is happening?
HERMIONE WEASLEY: (Increasingly horrified) A few months back, a teenager’s body was found in the Thames, she’d been drowned. An American witch, Cecilia Sinclaire.
GINNY POTTER: We’ve got to catch Harry.
The scene rotates once again as the three adults exit, and we see ALBUS, led by CECILIA, who cross to center stage.
ALBUS POTTER: What are we doing?
CECILIA SINCLAIRE: You were upset, you wanted to leave. So we’re walking.
ALBUS POTTER: Oh, I hadn’t gathered.
CECILIA SINCLAIRE: You sound like Scorpius. What’s that word you use... cheeky, is it?
ALBUS POTTER: I’m not trying to banter! We could get in actual, real, trouble for this-
CECILIA SINCLAIRE: More than skipping detention?
ALBUS POTTER: Not to mention that the Forbidden Forest is notably dangerous particularly at night, and- (She reaches out and grabs his hand. He seems shocked for a moment, but quickly accepts the gesture).
CECILIA SINCLAIRE: Hey. Relax. Sit. (He hesitates, and she commands) Sit.
He complies as if forced to. She reaches for his hand again, lacing her fingers through his.
CECILIA SINCLAIRE: So tell me. What’s got you all hot and bothered?
ALBUS POTTER: I, what?
CECILIA SINCLAIRE: It means upset. Was it Rose? She’s jealous. You’re Harry Potter’s son. You’re handsome-
ALBUS POTTER: Are you sure you’re not talking about James?
CECILIA SINCLAIRE: Albus, you’re the heir of a legacy far greater than anything we’ve ever known.
ALBUS POTTER: I’m actually not-
CECILIA SINCLAIRE: You stood up to your father, the most magnificent wizard alive. It’s incredible. You’re incredible.
ALBUS POTTER: I’m exceptionally average.
CECILIA SINCLAIRE:nDo you like me, Albus?
ALBUS POTTER: I like you fine.
CECILIA SINCLAIRE: But do you like me? I like you. (Beat) Kiss me.
ALBUS POTTER: Sorry, I- Come again?
She brings her hand up to his cheek, brushing his hair away and allowing her hand to settle on his neck. ALBUS pauses, unsure, before closing the gap and kissing her.
CECILIA SINCLAIRE: I can see why Rose would be jealous.
ALBUS POTTER: (Balking) Of her cousin?
CECILIA SINCLAIRE: Of us. Of connecting with someone.
ALBUS POTTER: Us?
CECILIA SINCLAIRE
Oh, are we not an us? I just, I like you, Albus. I don’t want anyone to stand between us. Not Rose. Not Scorpius. Not your father, or your brother, or sister. Not your mother. No one. Kiss me.
Much more confidently, ALBUS takes CECILIA in his arms and kisses her. ROSE bursts in,
accompaniedby SCORPIUS and LILY.
SCORPIUS MALFOY: Albus!
CECILIA and ALBUS break apart and he stands quickly, embarrassed, she follows, calm, if not irritated.
ROSE WEASLEY: Albus, get away from her.
ALBUS POTTER: Rose, what are you doing here?
ROSE WEASLEY: She’s not who you think she is.
CECILIA SINCLAIRE: What are you trying to say? Like I said, Albus, jealous and illogical.
LILY POTTER: (To ALBUS) She’s trying to trick you!
ALBUS POTTER: No. She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
SCORPIUS MALFOY: You’ve only known her for a couple months, I’ve been your best friend for years.
CECILIA SINCLAIRE: And he’s been miserable for years. Albus, I told you, they’re trying to come between us.
ROSE WEASLEY: Albus, that charm. When did you find it?
SCORPIUS MALFOY: It was the night after we met her at the lake, mate.
ALBUS POTTER: What does that have to do with anything?
ROSE WEASLEY: Everything, Albus! Don’t you see, she’s-
LILY POTTER: Everyone, shut it! We’re not alone!
CECILIA smiles, unseen by any of the other students. She mouthes to the darkness, "Now". Suddenly the stage is deathly silent, all parties straining to hear, hoping for a sense of what is to come when suddenly a flash of light, a curse fired from a wand strikes CECILIA, her wands flies from hand. She screams in "surprise".
ALBUS POTTER: Cecilia!
Hooded figures overtake the stage, surrounding the children. They are stoic, only firing curses as the children fire them. ALBUS holds a panting CECILIA in his arms.
LILY POTTER: Expelliarmus!
A figure dodges LILY’s attack, firing a return curse at her that knocks her backward, SCORPIUS catches her fall.
ROSE WEASLEY: Lily!
LILY POTTER: I’m fine! Stupefy!
SCORPIUS MALFOY: What is this?
ALBUS POTTER: Stupefy!
The spell is weak, and he and CECILIA duck to dodge a curse.
SCORPIUS MALFOY: Flipendo!
A figure that was advancing towards ALBUS falls. He spins, grateful, before turning back to their attackers. LILY fires at the group behind them.
LILY POTTER: Everte Statum!
A figure dodges her attack, and it strikes CECILIA, who is flung from ALBUS’s arms.
ALBUS POTTER: No! (Seeing red) Lily, what have you done?
LILY POTTER: I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to.
She screams as a curse flies over her head.
ROSE WEASLEY
Is now really the time?
MCGUFFIN advances towards ROSE, managing to corner and isolate her.
ROSE WEASLEY: Petrificu-
KERES MCGUFFIN: Expulso!
She easily blocks her spell, and ROSE falls, screaming in pain.
SCORPIUS MALFOY: Rose!
He makes a run for her, but narrowly misses being hit by a curse. Lily yanks him back.
LILY POTTER: Scorpius! Albus, help her!
Another curse hits Cecilia, she is knocked to the ground. ALBUS looks from ROSE to the fallen CECILIA, torn.
SCORPIUS MALFOY: Albus, what are you doing?
ALBUS moves to CECILIA, helping her from the ground. The masked figure looming over ROSE advances, raising his wand, and SCORIPUS tries to move toward her again, but is held back by LILY.
KERES MCGUFFIN: Crucio
SCORPIUS MALFOY: NO!
NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM: Stupefy!
NEVILLE and HARRY POTTER appear onstage, his curse knocking ROSE’s assailant away.
HARRY POTTER: Albus!
ALBUS POTTER: Dad?
HERMIONE, GINNY, and RON enter. HARRY runs to his son. RON immediately rushes to ROSE, supporting her with one arm, the other brandishing his wand. The adults surround their children, wands drawn.
HERMIONE WEASLEY: Albus, I need you to listen-
KERES MCGUFFIN: Harry Potter...
There is a sick silence, the Figures wands all raised menacingly. SCORPIUS steadies himself.
HARRY POTTER: Cover the children.
SCORPIUS MALFOY: Lacarnum Inflamarae!
The wand cracks as the spell erupts from his wand striking one of the figures square in the face. All at once, a battle explodes, with HARRY and the group flinging curses and hexes in an attempt to stave off the masked figures.
HARRY POTTER: Bombardo maxima!
As the battle continues, GINNY moves to be near ALBUS. CECILIA, near the back of the stage, glowers. She has dropped her facade of innocence, unseen by the core group. She raises her wand, and mouthes a curse, though we do not hear the incantation. As she does, the spotlight is on her, and the rest of the stage is frozen in battle. With a flash of orange light, the stage is flung back into motion, and GINNY screams, dropping and writing in pain as the curse strikes her.
RON WEASLEY: Ginny!
Blackout
Act 2 Scene 1
REPORTER 1: Attack at Hogwarts as masked figures attack school children-
REPORTER 2: Potter child missing.
REPORTER 4: Minister Hermione WEASLEY brought in for questioning in regards to vicious attack-
REPORTER 3: Approval ratings plummet-
REPORTER 1: Wizarding family of four missing from home, suspected dead-
REPORTER 4: Students pulled from Hogwarts as desperate parents-
REPORTER 3: Wizarding families terrified as attacks escalate-
REPORTER 2: Supreme Mugwump and Minister set to hold press conferences today.
Lights up on HERMIONE and MCGUFFIN on opposite sides of the stage. She is holding a press conference, MCGUFFIN is speaking to a radio microphone. A crowd of reporters gather.
HERMIONE WEASLEY: Thank you for coming.
KERES MCGUFFIN: The tragic and embarrassing lack of security at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is the sole responsibility of our incompetent Minister of Magic. The time for laxity is over, we must respond with force, and a show of strength against those who would strike terror into our hearts.
HERMIONE WEASLEY: We condemn, in the fiercest terms, those who would pray upon our most vulnerable. It is vital that we place our trust in our Aurors, who will be placed inside Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
KERES MCGUFFIN: The magical community must come together and unite behind one leader. I vow to do my part to protect the Magical Community, and share with you an alarming thought: If our leaders cannot protect our their own children, how can they hope to protect our community at large? If you are not with us, you are against us.
HERMIONE WEASLEY: I can, personally, assure you that we are taking all necessary steps ensure safety, and a full investigation is being launched. Thank you for your time.
MCGUFFIN exits.
REPORTER 1: Is there no word on the missing children? One being your own nephew?
HERMIONE WEASLEY: Please, no questions -
REPORTER 4: They’ve been gone for just over a month, how is the investigation progressing?
HERMIONE WEASLEY: As this matter concerns my family, I am uncomfortable answering at this time, and-
REPORTER 2: Is Harry Potter investigating his own son’s disappearance? And of the girl found in the Thames-
REPORTER 3: (Interrupting) My sources say she was drowned, is this true?
HERMIONE WEASLEY: Again, I am unable to comment-
DRACO MALFOY: Is there anything you can comment on, Minister? Or are we to be left in the dark, scrambling for answers?
HERMIONE WEASLEY: As soon as we obtain reliable information, the public will be notified. It has always been my duty, as Minister of Magic, to ensure that my public views me with transparency. At this time, I cannot comment. This conference has come to a close.
HERMIONE exits, REPORTERS shout questions after her.
Blackout
Act 2 Scene 2
INT. St Mungo’s. GINNY is on a bed. By her side sit HARRY, RON, ROSE, and JAMES.
RON WEAS
LEY: Gin, I won’t lose you too, I won’t. Not to these bastards.
JAMES POTTER: Mum’s gonna be alright.
RON WEASLEY: She has to be.
HARRY exits the room. HERMIONE is in the lobby.
HERMIONE WEASLEY: Harry... how is... any change?
HARRY POTTER: No. But... She’s stable, at least. Hermione... they said, they said that without finding out what curse this is, she might be, I just keep thinking, if I had done something, or hadn’t done something-
HERMIONE WEASLEY You can’t think that way. We will fix this, Harry. We:will find the people responsible-
HARRY POTTER: Hermione, can you, for one moment, distance yourself from political speeches! I’m not your public. Have you forgotten who I am? The war we fought together? Albus, Ginny... This is not to be fixed. This is to be avenged.
HERMIONE WEASLEY: You sound like McGuffin.
HARRY POTTER: And you sound like an incompetent political puppet.
HERMIONE WEASLEY: That is a vile thing to say.
HARRY POTTER: Hermione, wait, I
HERMIONE WEASLEY: Please. Don’t bother.
HARRY POTTER: What happened to us?
HERMIONE WEASLEY: We grew up.
HARRY POTTER: I don’t know what I would do without you, Hermione.
HERMIONE WEASLEY: Probably would have died a long time ago.
They embrace. RON enters the hallway.
RON WEASLEY: Hermione, love.
She moves past HARRY to kiss RON.
RON WEASLEY: I was just about to head to pick up Lily. Malfoy, what are you doing here?
SCORPIUS MALFOY: Umm. I was, just... I was just, well I was close to the hospital, not particularly close, I was in the area, I was, erm, I was in the alley, and I just thought that, well, it might be nice, if I - Hello. (He extends flowers) They’re for Mrs. Potter. I figured it was the least I could... I mean, is there anything I can do? Harry, erm, Mr. Potter, I just. I miss Albus.
HERMIONE WEASLEY: We do as well. And no, but you’re very sweet, it was lovely to bring the flowers.
SCORPIUS takes this as a dismissal. HARRY clears his throat.
HARRY POTTER: Scorpius, did you... did you know the girl, this, Cecilia, that he was seeing?
SCORPIUS MALFOY: (Scoffing) Well, seeing, that is strong, it was more like, occasional snogging, a bit more than occasional, it was really (Notices their expressions) Yeah, I, erm, I knew her. Sort of. I knew she went to Ilvermorny, and... she had a propensity for being out at night.