DRACO: And whats brought that on?

SCORPIUS desperately thinks for a way of describing his story.

SCORPIUS: Ive seen myself in a different way.

DRACO: You know what I loved most about your mother? She could always help me find light in the darkness. She made the world - my world, anyway - less - what was the word you used - "murky."

SCORPIUS: Did she?

DRACO studies his son.

DRACO: Theres more of her in there than I thought.

Beat. He looks at SCORPIUS carefully.

Whatever youre doing - do it safely. I cant lose you too.

SCORPIUS: Yes. Sir.

DRACO looks at his son one last time - trying to understand his head.

DRACO: For Voldemort and Valor.

SCORPIUS looks at him and backs out of the room.

SCORPIUS: For Voldemort and Valor.

ACT THREE, SCENE FOUR.

HOGWARTS, LIBRARY.

SCORPIUS enters the library and starts desperately to look through books. He finds a history book.

SCORPIUS: How did Cedric become a Death Eater? What have I missed? Find me some - light in the darkness. Tell me your secrets. What have I missed?

CRAIG BOWKER JR.: Why are you here?

SCORPIUS turns to look at a rather desperate-looking CRAIG, his clothes tattered and worn.

SCORPIUS: Why cant I be here?

CRAIG BOWKER JR.: Its not ready yet. Im working as fast as I can. But Professor Snape sets so much of it, and writing the essay in two different ways. I mean, Im not complaining . . . Sorry.

SCORPIUS: Start again. From the beginning. Whats not ready?

CRAIG BOWKER JR.: Your Potions homework. And Im happy to do it - grateful even - and I know you hate homework and books and I never let you down, you know that.

SCORPIUS: I hate homework?

CRAIG BOWKER JR.: Youre the Scorpion King. Of course you hate homework. What are you doing with A History of Magic? I could do that assignment too?

Pause. SCORPIUS looks at CRAIG a moment and then walks away. CRAIG exits.

After a moment SCORPIUS returns with a frown.

SCORPIUS: Did he say Snape?

ACT THREE, SCENE FIVE.

HOGWARTS, POTIONS CLASSROOM.

SCORPIUS runs into the Potions classroom, slamming back the door. SEVERUS SNAPE looks up at him.

SNAPE: Did no one teach you to knock, boy?

SCORPIUS looks up at SNAPE, slightly breathless, slightly unsure, slightly exultant.

SCORPIUS: Severus Snape. This is an honor.

SNAPE: Professor Snape will do fine. You may behave like a king at this school, Malfoy, but that doesnt make us all your subjects.

SCORPIUS: But youre the answer . . .

SNAPE: How very pleasant for me. If youve got something to say, boy, then please say it . . . If not, close the door on your way out.

SCORPIUS: I need your help.

SNAPE: I exist to serve.

SCORPIUS: I just dont know what help I - need. Are you still undercover now? Are you still working secretly for Dumbledore?

SNAPE: Dumbledore? Dumbledores dead. And my work for him was public - I taught in his school.

SCORPIUS: No. Thats not all you did. You watched the Death Eaters for him. You advised him. Everyone thought youd murdered him - but it turned out youd been supporting him. You saved the world.

SNAPE: These are very dangerous allegations, boy. And dont think the Malfoy name will prevent me inflicting punishment.

SCORPIUS: What if I was to tell you there was another world - another world in which Voldemort was defeated at the Battle of Hogwarts, in which Harry Potter and Dumbledores Army won, how would you feel then . . .

SNAPE: Id say that the rumors of Hogwartss beloved Scorpion King losing his mind are well-founded.

SCORPIUS: There was a stolen Time-Turner. I stole a Time-Turner. With Albus. We tried to bring Cedric Diggory back from the dead, when he was dead. We tried to stop him winning the Triwizard Tournament. But by doing so we turned him into an almost different person entirely.

SNAPE: Harry Potter won that Triwizard Tournament.

SCORPIUS: He wasnt supposed to do it alone. Cedric was supposed to win it with him. But we humiliated him out of the tournament. And as a result of that humiliation he became a Death Eater. I cant work out what he did in the Battle of Hogwarts - whether he killed someone or - but he did something and it changed everything.

SNAPE: Cedric Diggory killed only one wizard and not a significant one - Neville Longbottom.

SCORPIUS: Oh, of course, thats it! Professor Longbottom was supposed to kill Nagini, Voldemorts snake. Nagini had to die before Voldemort could die. Thats it! Youve solved it! We destroyed Cedric, he killed Neville, Voldemort won the battle. Can you see? Can you see it?

SNAPE: I can see this is a Malfoy game. Get out before I alert your father and plunge you into deep trouble.

SCORPIUS thinks and then plays his final, desperate card.

SCORPIUS: You loved his mother. I dont remember everything. I know you loved his mother. Harrys mother. Lily. I know you spent years undercover. I know without you the war could never have been won. How would I know this if I hadnt seen the other world . . . ?

SNAPE says nothing, overwhelmed.

Only Dumbledore knew, am I right? And when you lost him you must have felt so alone. I know youre a good man. Harry Potter told his son youre a great man.

SNAPE looks at SCORPIUS - unsure whats going on. Is this a trick? He is quite seriously at a loss.

SNAPE: Harry Potter is dead.

SCORPIUS: Not in my world. He said you were the bravest man hed ever met. He knew, you see - he knew your secret - what you did for Dumbledore. And he admired you for it - greatly. And thats why he named his son - my best friend - after you both. Albus Severus Potter.

SNAPE is stopped. He is deeply moved.

Please - for Lily, for the world, help me.

SNAPE thinks and then walks up to SCORPIUS, taking out his wand as he does. SCORPIUS steps back, scared. SNAPE fires his wand at the door.

SNAPE: Colloportus!

An invisible lock slams into place. SNAPE opens a hatch at the back of the classroom.

Well, come on, then . . .

SCORPIUS: Just a question, but where - exactly - are we going?

SNAPE: Weve had to move many times. Everywhere weve settled they destroyed. This will take us to a room hidden in the roots of the Whomping Willow.

SCORPIUS: Okay, whos we?

SNAPE: Oh. Youll see.

ACT THREE, SCENE SIX.

CAMPAIGN ROOM.

SCORPIUS is pinned to the table by a magnificent-looking HERMIONE. Her clothes faded, her eyes blazing, she is full warrior now and it rather suits her.

HERMIONE: You make one more move and your brain will be a frog and your arms will be rubber.

SNAPE: Safe. Hes safe. (Beat.) You know you never could listen. You were a terrible bore of a student and youre a terrible bore of - whatever you are.

HERMIONE: I was an excellent student.

SNAPE: You were moderate to average. Hes on our side!

SCORPIUS: I am, Hermione.

HERMIONE looks at SCORPIUS, still very distrustful.

HERMIONE: Most people know me as Granger. And I dont believe a word you say, Malfoy - SCORPIUS: Its all my fault. My fault. And Albuss.

HERMIONE: Albus? Albus Dumbledore? Whats Albus Dumbledore got to do with this?

SNAPE: He doesnt mean Dumbledore. You may need to sit down.

RON runs in. His hair spiked. His clothes scruffy. He is slightly less good at the rebel look than HERMIONE is.

RON: Snape, a royal visit, and - (he sees SCORPIUS and is immediately alarmed) whats he doing here?

He fumbles out his wand.

Im armed and - entirely dangerous and seriously advise you - He realizes his wand is the wrong way around and turns it right.

To be very careful - SNAPE: Hes safe, Ron.

RON looks at HERMIONE, who nods.

RON: Thank Dumbledore for that.