Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

They are returned from time, at the edge of the woods, and RON is in a lot of pain. SNAPE looks around, immediately aware of the mess they’re in.

RON: Ow. Ow. Owwwwwww.

HERMIONE: Ron . . . Ron . . . What has it done to you?

SNAPE: Oh no. I knew it.

SCORPIUS: The Time-Turner did something to Albus too. The first time we went back.

RON: Useful — time to — ow — tell us.

SNAPE: We’re aboveground. We need to move. Now.

HERMIONE: Ron, you can still walk, come on . . .

RON

does stand up, shouting in pain.

SNAPE

raises his wand.

SCORPIUS: Did it work?

HERMIONE: We blocked the spell. Cedric kept his wand. Yes. It worked.

SNAPE: But we came back to the wrong place — we are outside. You are outside.

RON: We need to use the Time-Turner again — get out of here —

SNAPE: We need to find shelter. We’re horribly exposed.

Suddenly from around the auditorium, the feel of the breath of an icy wind.

Some black robes arise around people. Black robes that become black shapes. That become dementors.

HERMIONE: Too late.

SNAPE: This is a disaster.

HERMIONE (she realizes what she has to do): They’re after me, not any of you. Ron. I love you and I always have. But the three of you need to run. Go. Now.

RON: What?

SCORPIUS: What?

RON: Can we talk about the love thing first?

HERMIONE: This is still Voldemort’s world. And I am done with it. Reversing the next task will change everything.

SCORPIUS: But they’ll kiss you. They’ll suck out your soul.

HERMIONE: And then you’ll change the past. And then they won’t. Go. Now.

The dementors sense them. From all sides, screaming shapes descend.

SNAPE: Go. We go.

He pulls on

SCORPIUS

’s arm.

SCORPIUS

reluctantly goes with him.

HERMIONE

looks at

RON

.

HERMIONE: You’re supposed to be going too.

RON: Well, they are after me a bit and I really am in quite a lot of pain. And, you know, I’d rather be here. Expecto —

As he reaches up to cast the spell,

HERMIONE

stops his arm.

HERMIONE: Let’s keep them here and give the boy the best chance we can.

RON

looks at her and then nods sadly.

A daughter.

RON: And a son. I liked that idea too.

He looks around — he knows his fate.

I’m scared.

HERMIONE: Kiss me.

RON

thinks and then does. And then the two are yanked apart. And pinned to the ground. And we watch as a golden-whitish haze is pulled from their bodies. They have their souls sucked from them. And it is terrifying.

SCORPIUS

watches — helplessly.

SNAPE: Let’s get down to the water. Walk. Don’t run.

SNAPE

looks at

SCORPIUS

.

Stay calm, Scorpius. They may be blind but they can sense your fear.

SCORPIUS

looks at

SNAPE

.

SCORPIUS: They just sucked out their souls.

A dementor swoops down low over them and settles in front of

SCORPIUS

.

SNAPE: Think of something else, Scorpius. Occupy your thoughts.

SCORPIUS: I feel cold. I can’t see. There’s a fog inside me — around me.

SNAPE: You’re a king, and I’m a professor. They’ll only attack with good reason. Think about those you love, think about why you’re doing this.

SCORPIUS: I can hear my mother. She wants me — my help — but she knows I can’t — help.

SNAPE: Listen to me, Scorpius. Think about Albus. You’re giving up your kingdom for Albus, right?

SCORPIUS

is helpless. Consumed by all the dementor is making him feel.

One person. All it takes is one person. I couldn’t save Harry for Lily. So now I give my allegiance to the cause she believed in. And it’s possible — that along the way I started believing in it myself.

SCORPIUS

smiles at

SNAPE

. He steps decisively away from the dementor.

SCORPIUS: The world changes and we change with it. I am better off in this world. But the world is not better. And I don’t want that.

Suddenly

DOLORES UMBRIDGE

emerges in front of them.

DOLORES UMBRIDGE: Professor Snape!

SNAPE: Professor Umbridge.

DOLORES UMBRIDGE: Have you heard the news? We’ve caught that traitorous Mudblood Hermione Granger. She was just out here.