Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

with a flick of his head.

SNAPE: Well, at least I’m not married to him.

HERMIONE: Which spells did you use?

SCORPIUS: Expelliarmus in the first task and Engorgio in the second.

RON: Simple Shield Charms should set both of those right.

SNAPE: And then you left?

SCORPIUS: The Time-Turner took us back, yes. That’s the thing — this Time-Turner, you only get five minutes in the past.

HERMIONE: And can you still only move in time, not space?

SCORPIUS: Yes, yes, it’s — uh — you travel back in the same spot you stand in —

HERMIONE: Interesting.

SNAPE

and

HERMIONE

both know what this means.

SNAPE: Then it’s just me and the boy.

HERMIONE: No offense, Snape, but I’m not trusting this to anyone, it’s too important.

SNAPE: Hermione, you’re the most wanted rebel in the wizarding world. Doing this will require you to go outside. When was the last time you were outside?

HERMIONE: Not for a long time, but —

SNAPE: If you’re found outside, the dementors will kiss you — they’ll suck out your soul.

HERMIONE: Severus, I’m done with living off scraps, making failed attempts at coups. This is our chance to reset the world.

She nods at

RON

, who pulls down a map.

The first task of the tournament took place at the edge of the Forbidden Forest. We turn time here, get to the tournament, block the spell, and then return safely. With precision — it can be done and it won’t require us to show our faces outside in our time at all. Then we’ll turn time again, make our way to the lake, and reverse the second task.

SNAPE: You’re risking everything —

HERMIONE: We get this right, Harry’s alive, Voldemort’s dead, and the Augurey is gone, for that no risk is too great. Though I am sorry what it will cost you.

SNAPE: Sometimes costs are made to be borne.

The two look at each other,

SNAPE

nods,

HERMIONE

nods back,

SNAPE

’s face crumbles slightly.

I didn’t just quote Dumbledore, did I?

HERMIONE (with a smile): No, I’m pretty sure that’s pure Severus Snape.

She turns to

SCORPIUS

, she indicates the Time-Turner.

Malfoy—

SCORPIUS

brings her the Time-Turner. She smiles at it, excited to use a Time-Turner again, excited to use it for this.

Let’s hope this works.

She takes the Time-Turner. It begins to vibrate, and then explodes into a storm of movement.

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 . . .

There is a bang and a flash and our gang disappear.

ACT THREE, SCENE EIGHT

EDGE OF THE FORBIDDEN FOREST, 1994

And we watch our scene from Part One replayed, but at the back of the stage rather than the front. We pick out ALBUS and SCORPIUS in their Durmstrang robes. And through it all we hear the “brilliant” (his words again, his words) LUDO BAGMAN.

SCORPIUS, HERMIONE, RON, and SNAPE watch out anxiously.

LUDO BAGMAN: And Cedric Diggory has entered the stage. And he seems ready. Scared but ready. He dodges this way. He dodges that. The girls swoon as he dives for cover. They cry as one: Don’t damage our Diggory, Mr. Dragon! And Cedric skirts left and he dives right — and he readies his wand —

SNAPE: This is taking too long. The Time-Turner is spinning.

LUDO BAGMAN: What has this young, brave, handsome man got up his sleevies now?

As

ALBUS

attempts to summon

CEDRIC

’s wand,

HERMIONE

blocks his spell. He looks at his wand — disconsolate, unsure why it hasn’t worked.

And then the Time-Turner spins and they look at it and panic as they’re pulled into it.

A dog — he’s transfigured a stone into a dog — dog diggity, Cedric Diggory — you are a doggy dynamo.

ACT THREE, SCENE NINE

EDGE OF THE FORBIDDEN FOREST