Act one, scene seventeen

MINISTRY OF MAGIC, MEETING ROOM

HARRY, HERMIONE, GINNY, and DRACO pace around a small room.

DRACO: Have we searched thoroughly beside the tracks...

HARRY: My department have searched once and are searching again.

DRACO: And the Trolley Witch is not able to tell us anything useful?

HERMIONE: The Trolley Witch is furious. She keeps talking about letting down Ottaline Gambol. She prides herself on her Hogwarts delivery record.

GINNY: Have there been any instances of magic reported by the Muggles?

HERMIONE: None so far. I have made the Muggle Prime Minister aware and he is filing what is known as a misper. Sounds like a spell. It isn’t.

DRACO: So now we’re relying on Muggles to find our children? Have we told them about Harry’s scar too?

HERMIONE: We’re merely asking the Muggles to help. And who knows how Harry’s scar might be involved but it’s certainly a matter we’re taking seriously. Our Aurors are currently investigating anyone involved in Dark Magic and —

DRACO: This is not Death Eater–related.

HERMIONE: I’m not sure I share your confidence.

DRACO: I’m not confident, I’m right. The sort of cretins pursuing Dark Magic now... My son is a Malfoy, they wouldn’t dare.

HARRY: Unless there’s something new out there, something to —

GINNY: I agree with Draco. If this is a kidnap — taking Albus I understand, taking them both...

HARRY locks eyes with GINNY, it becomes clear what she wants him to say.

DRACO: And Scorpius is a follower, not a leader, despite everything I’ve tried to instill in him. So it’s undoubtedly Albus who got him from that train and my question is, where would he take him?

GINNY: Harry, they’ve run away, you and I know it.

DRACO notices the couple staring at each other.

DRACO: Do you? Know it? What aren’t you telling us?

There’s a silence.

Whatever information you’re concealing, I recommend you share it now.

HARRY: Albus and I had an argument, the day before last.

DRACO: And...

HARRY hesitates and then makes brave eye contact with DRACO.

HARRY: And I told him that there were times when I wished he weren’t my son.

There’s another silence. A profoundly powerful one. And then DRACO takes a dangerous step towards HARRY.

DRACO: If anything happens to Scorpius...

GINNY steps in between DRACO and HARRY.

GINNY: Don’t throw around threats, Draco, please don’t do that.

DRACO (roar): My son is missing!

GINNY (an equal roar): So is mine!

He meets her look. There’s real emotion in this room.

DRACO (lip curling, every inch his father): If you need gold... Everything the Malfoys have... He’s my sole heir... He’s my — only family.

HERMIONE: The Ministry has plenty in reserve, thank you, Draco.

DRACO makes to leave. He stops. He looks at HARRY.

DRACO: I don’t care what you did or who you saved, you are a constant curse on my family, Harry Potter.