Act three, scene seventeen

MINISTRY OF MAGIC, HERMIONE’S OFFICE

RON is sitting on HERMIONE’s desk eating porridge.

RON: I can’t get over it, really. The fact that in some realities we aren’t even, you know, married.

HERMIONE: Ron, whatever this is, I’ve got ten minutes until the goblins show up to talk security at Gringotts —

RON: I mean, we’ve been together so long — and married for so long — I mean, so long —

HERMIONE: If this is your way of saying you want a marital break, Ron, then, to be clear, I will skewer you with this quill.

RON: Shut up. Will you shut up for once? I want to do one of those marriage renewal things I’ve read about. Marriage renewal. What do you think?

HERMIONE (melting slightly): You want to marry me again?

RON: Well, we were only young when we did it the first time and I got very drunk and — well, to be honest, I can’t remember much of it and... The truth is — I love you, Hermione Granger, and whatever time says — I’d like the opportunity to say so in front of lots of other people. Again. Sober.

She looks at him, she smiles, she pulls him to her, she kisses him.

HERMIONE: You’re sweet.

RON: And you taste of toffee...

HERMIONE laughs. HARRY, GINNY, and DRACO walk in on them as they move to kiss again. They spring apart.

HERMIONE: Harry, Ginny, and — I, uh — Draco — how lovely to see you —

HARRY: The dreams. They’ve started again, well, they haven’t stopped.

GINNY: And Albus is missing. Again.

DRACO: Scorpius too. We’ve had McGonagall check the entire school. They’re gone.

HERMIONE: I’ll get the Aurors summoned immediately, I’ll —

RON: No, you won’t, it’s all fine. Albus — I saw him last night. It’s all good.

DRACO: Where?

They all turn to look at RON, he’s briefly disconcerted but batters on.

RON: I was having a couple of firewhiskies with Neville in Hogsmeade — as you do — setting the world to rights — as we do — and we were coming back — quite late, very late, and trying to work out which Floo I could use because when you’ve had a drink sometimes you don’t want to use the tight ones — or the turny ones or —

GINNY: Ron, if you could get to the point before we all strangle you?

RON: He hasn’t run away — he’s having a quiet moment — he’s got himself an older girlfriend —

HARRY: An older girlfriend?

RON: And a cracking one at that — gorgeous silver hair. Saw them on the roof together, near the Owlery with Scorpius playing the gooseberry. Nice to see my love potion being used well, I thought.

HARRY has a thought.

HARRY: Her hair — was it silver and blue?

RON: That’s it — silver, blue — yup.

HARRY: He’s talking about Delphi Diggory. Niece of — Amos Diggory.

GINNY: This is about Cedric again?

HARRY says nothing, thinking fast. HERMIONE looks around the room, concerned, and then shouts out of the door.

HERMIONE: Ethel! Cancel the goblins.