HARRY: Whatever youve heard, the Theodore Nott story is a fiction, Amos, Im sorry.

DELPHI: Hello.

ALBUS jumps a mile as DELPHI - a twenty-something, determined-looking woman - is revealed, looking through the stairs at him.

Oh. Sorry. Didnt mean to startle. I used to be a big stair-listener myself. Sitting there. Waiting for someone to say something the tiniest bit interesting.

ALBUS: Who are you? Because this is sort of my house and . . .

DELPHI: Im a thief, of course. Im about to steal everything you own. Give me your gold, your wand, and your Chocolate Frogs! (She looks fierce and then smiles.) Either that or Im Delphini Diggory. (She ascends the stairs and sticks out a hand.) Delphi. I look after him - Amos - well, I try. (She indicates AMOS.) And you are?

ALBUS (rueful grin): Albus.

DELPHI: Of course! Albus Potter! So Harry is your dad? Thats a bit wow, isnt it?

ALBUS: Not really.

DELPHI: Ah. Have I just put my foot in it? Its what they used to say about me at school. Delphini Diggory - there isnt a hole she couldnt dig herself into.

ALBUS: They do all sorts with my name too.

Pause. She looks at him carefully.

AMOS: Delphi.

She makes to depart and then hesitates. She smiles at ALBUS.

DELPHI: We dont choose who were related to. Amos . . . isnt just my patient, hes my uncle, its part of the reason I took the job at Upper Flagley. But thats made it difficult. Its tough to live with people stuck in the past, isnt it?

AMOS: Delphi!

ALBUS: Upper Flagley?

DELPHI: St. Oswalds Home for Old Witches and Wizards. Come see us sometime. If you like.

AMOS: DELPHI!.

She smiles and then trips as she travels down the stairs. She enters the room with AMOS and HARRY in it. ALBUS watches her.

DELPHI: Yes, Uncle?

AMOS: Meet the once-great Harry Potter, now a stone-cold Ministry man. I will leave you in peace, sir. If peace is the right word for it. Delphi, my chair . . .

DELPHI: Yes, Uncle.

AMOS is pushed out of the room. HARRY is left, looking forlorn. ALBUS watches on, thinking carefully.

ACT ONE, SCENE SEVEN.

HARRY AND GINNY POTTERS HOUSE, ALBUSS ROOM.

ALBUS is sitting on the bed as the world goes on outside his door. Still against the constant motion outside. We hear a roar from JAMES (off).

GINNY: James, please, ignore your hair, and tidy that damn room . . .

JAMES: How can I ignore it? Its pink! Im going to have to use my Invisibility Cloak!

JAMES appears at the door, he has pink hair.

GINNY: Thats not why your dad gave you that Cloak!

LILY: Whos seen my Potions book?

GINNY: Lily Potter, dont think youre wearing those to school tomorrow . . .

LILY appears at ALBUSs door. Shes wearing fairy wings that flutter.

LILY: I love them. Theyre fluttery.

She exits as HARRY appears in ALBUSs doorway. He looks through.

HARRY: Hi.

Theres an awkward pause between them. GINNY appears in the doorway. She sees whats happening, she stays a moment.

Just delivering a pre-Hogwarts gift - gifts - Rons sent this . . .

ALBUS: Okay. A love potion. Okay.

HARRY: I think its a joke about - I dont know what. Lily got farting gnomes, James got a comb thats made his hair turn a shade of pink. Ron - well, Rons Ron, you know?

HARRY puts down ALBUSs love potion on his bed.

I also - this is from me . . .

He reveals a small blanket. GINNY looks at it, she sees HARRY is trying, and then she softly walks away.

ALBUS: An old blanket?

HARRY: I thought a lot about what to give you this year. James - well, James has been going on about the Invisibility Cloak since time itself, and Lily - I knew shed love wings - but you. Youre fourteen years old now, Albus, and I wanted to give you something which - meant something. This . . . is the last thing I had from my mum. The only thing. I was given to the Dursleys wrapped in it. I thought it had gone forever and then, when your great-aunt Petunia died, hidden amongst her possessions, surprisingly, Dudley found this and he kindly sent it on to me, and ever since then - well, anytime Ive wanted luck Ive found it and just tried to hold it and I wondered if you . . .

ALBUS: Wanted to hold it too? Okay. Done. Lets hope it brings me luck. I certainly need some.

He touches the blanket.

But you should keep it.

HARRY: I think - believe - Petunia wanted me to have it, thats why she kept it, and now I want you to have it from me. I didnt really know my mother - but I think shed have wanted you to have it too. And maybe - I could come find you - and it - on Hallows Eve. Id like to be with it on the night they died - and that could be good for the two of us . . .

ALBUS: Listen, Ive got quite a lot of packing to do, and you undoubtedly have Ministry work coming out of your ears, so . . .

HARRY: Albus, I want you to have the blanket.

ALBUS: And do what with it? Fairy wings make sense, Dad, invisibility cloaks, they also make sense - but this - really?

HARRY is slightly heartbroken. He looks at his son, desperate to reach out.

HARRY: Do you want a hand? Packing. I always loved packing. It meant I was leaving Privet Drive and going back to Hogwarts. Which was . . . well, I know you dont love it but . . .

ALBUS: For you, its the greatest place on earth. I know. The poor orphan, bullied by his uncle and aunt Dursley . . .

HARRY: Albus, please - can we just - ALBUS: . . . traumatized by his cousin, Dudley, saved by Hogwarts. I know it all, Dad. Blah, blah, blah.

HARRY: Im not going to rise to your bait, Albus Potter.

ALBUS: The poor orphan who went on to save us all. So may I say - on behalf of wizarding kind - how grateful we are for your heroism. Should we bow now or will a curtsy do?

HARRY: Albus, please - you know, Ive never wanted gratitude.

ALBUS: But right now Im overflowing with it - it must be the kind gift of this moldy blanket that did it . . .

HARRY: Moldy blanket?

ALBUS: What did you think would happen? Wed hug. Id tell you I always loved you. What? What?

HARRY (finally losing his temper): You know what? Im done with being made responsible for your unhappiness. At least youve got a dad. Because I didnt, okay?

ALBUS: And you think that was unlucky? I dont.

HARRY: You wish me dead?

ALBUS: No! I just wish you werent my dad.

HARRY (seeing red): Well, there are times I wish you werent my son.

Theres a silence. ALBUS nods. Pause. HARRY realizes what hes said.

No, I didnt mean that . . .

ALBUS: Yes. You did.

HARRY: Albus, you just know how to get under my skin . . .

ALBUS: You meant it, Dad. And, honestly, I dont blame you.

Theres a horrible pause.

You should probably leave me alone now.

HARRY: Albus, please . . .

ALBUS picks up the blanket and throws it. It collides with RONs love potion, which spills all over the blanket and the bed, producing a small puff of smoke.

ALBUS: No luck or love for me, then.

ALBUS runs out of the room. HARRY goes after him.

HARRY: Albus. Albus . . . Please . . .

ACT ONE, SCENE EIGHT.

DREAM, HUT-ON-THE-ROCK.

Theres a LARGE BOOM. Then theres a LARGE CRASH. DUDLEY DURSLEY, AUNT PETUNIA, and UNCLE VERNON are cowering behind a bed.

DUDLEY DURSLEY: Mum, I dont like this.

AUNT PETUNIA: I knew we made a mistake coming here. Vernon. Vernon. Theres nowhere we can hide. Not even a lighthouse is far enough away!

Theres another LARGE BOOM.

UNCLE VERNON: Hold on. Hold on. Whatever it is, its not coming in here.

AUNT PETUNIA: Were cursed! Hes cursed us! The boy has cursed us! (Seeing YOUNG HARRY.) This is all your fault. Get back in your hole.

YOUNG HARRY flinches away as UNCLE VERNON holds out his rifle.

UNCLE VERNON: Whoevers there, I should warn you - Im armed.

Theres a MASSIVE SMASH. And the door falls off its hinges. HAGRID stands in the middle of the doorway. He looks at them all.

HAGRID: Couldnt make us a cup o tea, could yeh? Its not been an easy journey.