Act two, scene four

EDGE OF THE FORBIDDEN FOREST

ALBUS and DELPHI face each other, holding wands.

ALBUS: Expelliarmus!

DELPHI’s wand flies through the air.

DELPHI: You’re getting it now. You’re good at this.

She takes her wand back from him.

(In a posh voice.) “You’re a positively disarming young man.”

ALBUS: Expelliarmus!

Her wand flies back again.

DELPHI: And we have a winner.

The two high-five.

ALBUS: I’ve never been good at spells.

SCORPIUS appears at the back of the stage. He looks at his friend talking to a girl — and part of him likes it and part of him doesn’t.

DELPHI: I was rubbish — and then something clicked. And it will for you too. Not that I’m a super witch or anything but — I think you’re becoming quite some wizard, Albus Potter.

ALBUS: Then you should stick around, teach me more...

DELPHI: Of course I’m sticking around, we’re friends, aren’t we?

ALBUS: Yes. Yes. Definitely friends. Definitely.

DELPHI: Great. Wizzo!

SCORPIUS: What’s wizzo?

SCORPIUS steps forward decisively.

ALBUS: Cracked the spell. I mean, it’s pretty basic, but I was — well, I cracked it.

SCORPIUS (over-enthusiastic, trying to join in): And I’ve found our way through to the school. Listen, are we sure this will work...

DELPHI: Yes!

ALBUS: It’s a brilliant plan. The secret to not getting Cedric killed is to stop him winning the Triwizard Tournament. If he doesn’t win, he can’t be killed.

SCORPIUS: And I understand that, but...

ALBUS: So we just need to mess up his chances supremely badly in task one. The first task is getting a golden egg from a dragon, how did Cedric distract the dragon —

DELPHI puts her hand in the air. ALBUS grins and points at her. These two are getting on really well now.

Diggory.

DELPHI: — by transfiguring a stone into a dog.

ALBUS: — well, a little Expelliarmus and he won’t be able to do that.

SCORPIUS isn’t enjoying the DELPHI-ALBUS double act.

SCORPIUS: Okay, two points, first point, we’re certain the dragon won’t kill him?

DELPHI: It’s always two points with him, isn’t it? Of course it won’t. This is Hogwarts. They won’t let damage happen to any of the champions.

SCORPIUS: Okay, second point — more significant point — we’re going back without any knowledge of whether we can travel back afterwards. Which is exciting. Maybe we should just — try going back an hour, say, first and then...

DELPHI: I’m sorry, Scorpius, we’ve no time to waste. Waiting here this close to the school is just too dangerous — I’m sure they’ll be looking for you and...

ALBUS: She’s right.

DELPHI: Now, you’re going to need to wear these.

She pulls out two large paper bags. The boys pull robes from them.

ALBUS: But these are Durmstrang robes.

DELPHI: My uncle’s idea. If you are in Hogwarts robes people will expect to know who you are. But there are two other schools competing at the Triwizard Tournament — and if you’re in Durmstrang robes — well, you can fade into the background, can’t you?

ALBUS: Good thinking! Hang on, where are your robes?

DELPHI: Albus, I’m flattered, but I don’t think I can pretend to be a student, do you? I’ll just keep in the background and pretend to be a — ooh, maybe I could pretend to be a dragon tamer. You’re doing all the spell stuff anyway.

SCORPIUS looks at her and then at ALBUS.

SCORPIUS: You shouldn’t come.

DELPHI: What?

SCORPIUS: You’re right. We don’t need you for the spell. And if you can’t wear student robes — you’re too big a risk. Sorry, Delphi, you shouldn’t come.

DELPHI: But I have to — he’s my cousin. Albus?

ALBUS: I think he’s right. I’m sorry.

DELPHI: What?

ALBUS: We won’t mess up.

DELPHI: But without me — you won’t be able to work the Time-Turner.

SCORPIUS: You taught us how to use the Time-Turner.

DELPHI is really upset.

DELPHI: No. I won’t let you do this...

ALBUS: You told your uncle to trust us. Now it’s your turn. The school is close now. We should leave you here.

DELPHI looks at them both and takes a deep breath. She nods to herself and smiles.

DELPHI: Then go. But — just know this... Today you get an opportunity few are given — today you get to change history — to change time itself. But more than all that, today you get the chance to give an old man his son back.

She smiles. She looks at ALBUS. She leans down and gently kisses him on both cheeks.

She walks away into the woodland. ALBUS stares after her.

SCORPIUS: She didn’t kiss me — did you notice? (He looks at his friend.) Are you okay, Albus? You look a little pale. And red. Pale and red at the same time.

ALBUS: Let’s do this.