PROFESSOR McGONAGALL is full of unhappiness, HARRY is full of purpose, GINNY is not sure what she’s supposed to be.
PROFESSOR McGONAGALL: I’m not sure this is what the Marauder’s Map was intended for.
HARRY: If you see them together, then get to them as quickly as possible, and keep them separate.
PROFESSOR McGONAGALL: Harry, are you sure this is the right decision? Because far be it from me to doubt the wisdom of the centaurs, but Bane is an extremely angry centaur and . . . it’s not beyond him to twist the constellations for his own ends.
HARRY: I trust Bane. Albus is to stay away from Scorpius. For his sake, and others.
GINNY: I think what Harry means is . . .
HARRY (with finality): The professor knows what I mean.
GINNY looks at HARRY, surprised that he’d talk to her that way.
PROFESSOR McGONAGALL: Albus has been checked by the greatest witches and wizards in the country and no one can find or sense a hex or a curse.
HARRY: And Dumbledore — Dumbledore said —
PROFESSOR McGONAGALL: What?
HARRY: His portrait. We spoke. He said some things which made sense —
PROFESSOR McGONAGALL: Dumbledore is dead, Harry. And I’ve told you before, portraits don’t represent even half of their subjects.
HARRY: He said love had blinded me.
PROFESSOR McGONAGALL: A head teacher’s portrait is a memoir. It is supposed to be a support mechanism for the decisions I have to make. But I was advised as I took this job to not mistake the painting for the person. And you would be well-advised to do the same.
HARRY: But he was right. I see it now.
PROFESSOR McGONAGALL: Harry, you’ve been put under enormous pressure, the loss of Albus, the search for him, the fears as to what your scar might mean. But trust me when I tell you, you are making a mistake.
HARRY: Albus didn’t like me before. He might not like me again. But he will be safe. With the greatest respect, Minerva — you don’t have children —
GINNY: Harry!
HARRY: — you don’t understand.
PROFESSOR McGONAGALL (deeply hurt): I’d hope that a lifetime spent in the teaching profession would mean . . .
HARRY: This map will reveal to you where my son is at all times — I expect you to use it. And if I hear you don’t — then I will come down on this school as hard as I can — using the full force of the Ministry — is that understood?
PROFESSOR McGONAGALL (bewildered by this vitriol): Perfectly.
GINNY looks at HARRY, unsure of what he’s become. He doesn’t look back.
ACT TWO, SCENE ELEVEN
HOGWARTS, DEFENSE AGAINST THE DARK ARTS CLASSROOM
ALBUS enters the classroom — slightly unsure.
HERMIONE: Ah yes. Our train absconder. Finally joining us.
ALBUS: Hermione?
He looks amazed. HERMIONE is standing at the front of the lesson.
HERMIONE: Professor Granger I believe is my name, Potter.
ALBUS: What are you doing here?
HERMIONE: Teaching. For my sins. What are you doing here? Learning, I hope.
ALBUS: But you’re . . . you’re . . . Minister for Magic.
HERMIONE: Been having those dreams again, have you, Potter? Today we’re going to look at Patronus Charms.
ALBUS (amazed): You’re our Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?
There are titters.
HERMIONE: Losing patience now. Ten points from Gryffindor for stupidity.
POLLY CHAPMAN (standing, full of affront): No. No. He’s doing it deliberately. He hates Gryffindor and everyone knows it.
HERMIONE: Sit down, Polly Chapman, before this gets even worse. (POLLY sighs and then sits.) And I suggest you join her, Albus. And end this charade.
ALBUS: But you’re not this mean.
HERMIONE: And that’s twenty points from Gryffindor to assure Albus Potter that I am this mean.
YANN FREDERICKS: If you don’t sit down right now, Albus . . .
ALBUS sits.
ALBUS: Can I just say —
HERMIONE: No, you can’t. Just keep quiet, Potter, otherwise you’ll lose what limited popularity you already have. Now who can tell me what a Patronus is? No? No one. You really are a most disappointing bunch.
HERMIONE smiles a thin smile. She really is quite mean.
ALBUS: No. This is stupid. Where’s Rose? She’ll tell you that you’re being ridiculous.
HERMIONE: Who’s Rose? Your invisible friend?
ALBUS: Rose Granger-Weasley! Your daughter! (He realizes.) Of course — because you and Ron aren’t married Rose —
There’s giggling.
HERMIONE: How dare you! Fifty points from Gryffindor. And I assure you if anyone interrupts me again it’ll be a hundred points . . .
She stares around the room. No one moves a muscle.
Good. A Patronus is a magical charm, a projection of all your most positive feelings, and takes the shape of the animal with whom you share the deepest affinity. It is a gift of light. If you can conjure a Patronus, you can protect yourself against the world. Which, in some of our cases, seems like a necessity sooner rather than later.
ACT TWO, SCENE TWELVE
HOGWARTS, STAIRCASES
ALBUS walks up a staircase. Looking around as he does.