第2章 ACT ONE SCENE TWO

PLATFORM NINE AND THREE-QUARTERS

Which is covered in thick white steam pouring from the HOGWARTS EXPRESS.

And which is also busy–but instead of people in sharp suits going about their day, it's now wizards and witches in robes mostly trying to work out how to say goodbye to their beloved progeny.

ALBUS

This is it.

LILY

Wow!

ALBUS

Platform nine and three-quarters.

LILY

Where are they? Are they here? Maybe they didn't come?

HARRY points out RON, HERMIONE and their daughter ROSE. LILY runs hard up to them.

Uncle Ron. Uncle Ron!!!

RON turns towards them as LILY goes barrelling up to him. He picks her up into his arms.

RON

If it isn't my favourite Potter.

LILY

Have you got my trick?

RON

Are you aware of the Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes certified nose-stealing breath?

ROSE

Mum! Dad's doing that lame thing again.

HERMIONE

You say lame, he says glorious, I say ... somewhere in between.

RON

Hang on. Let me just munch this ... air. And now it's just a simple matter of ... excuse me if I smell slightly of garlic ...

He breathes on her face. LILY giggles.

LILY

You smell of porridge.

RON

Bing. Bang. Boing. Young lady, get ready to not being able to smell at all ...

He lifts her nose off.

LILY

Where's my nose?

RON

Tada!

His hand is empty. It's a lame trick. Everyone enjoys its lameness.

LILY

You are silly.

ALBUS

Everyone's staring at us again.

RON

Because of me! I'm extremely famous. My nose experiments are legendary!

HERMIONE

They're certainly something.

HARRY

Parked all right then?

RON

I did. Hermione didn't believe I could pass a Muggle driving test, did you? She thought I'd have to Confund the examiner.

HERMIONE

I thought nothing of the kind, I have complete faith in you.

ROSE

And I have complete faith he did Confund the examiner.

RON

Oi!

ALBUS

Dad ...

ALBUS pulls on HARRY's robes. HARRY looks down.

Do you think–what if I am–what if I'm put in Slytherin ...

HARRY

And what would be wrong with that?

ALBUS

Slytherin is the house of the snake, of Dark Magic ... it's not a house of brave wizards.

HARRY

Albus Severus, you were named after two headmasters of Hogwarts. One of them was a Slytherin and he was probably the bravest man I ever knew.

ALBUS

But just say ...

HARRY

If it matters to you, you, the Sorting Hat will take your feelings into account.

ALBUS

Really?

HARRY

It did for me.

This is something he's never said before, it resonates around his head a moment.

Hogwarts will be the making of you, Albus. I promise you, there is nothing to be frightened of there.

JAMES

Apart from the Thestrals. Watch out for the Thestrals.

ALBUS

I thought they were invisible!

HARRY

Listen to your professors, don't listen to James, and remember to enjoy yourself. Now, if you don't want this train to leave without you, you should leap on ...

LILY

I'm going to chase the train out.

GINNY

Lily, come straight back.

HERMIONE

Rose. Remember to send Neville our love.

ROSE

Mum, I can't send a professor love!

ROSE exits for the train. And then ALBUS turns and hugs GINNY and HARRY one last time before following after her.

ALBUS

Okay, then. Bye.

He climbs on board. HERMIONE, GINNY, RON and HARRY stand watching the train–as whistles blow up and down the platform.

GINNY

They're going to be okay, right?

HERMIONE

Hogwarts is a big place.

RON

Big. Wonderful. Full of food. I'd give anything to be going back.

HARRY

Strange, Al being worried he'll be sorted into Slytherin.

HERMIONE

That's nothing, Rose is worried whether she'll break the Quidditch scoring record in her first or second year. And how early she can take her O.W.Ls.

RON

I have no idea where she gets her ambition from.

GINNY

And how would you feel Harry, if Al–if he is?

RON

You know Gin, we always thought there was a chance you could be sorted into Slytherin.

GINNY

What?

RON

Honestly, Fred and George ran a book.

HERMIONE

Can we go? People are looking, you know.

GINNY

People always look when you three are together. And apart. People always look at you.

The four exit. GINNY stops HARRY.

Harry ... he'll be all right, won't he?

HARRY

Of course he will.