Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Harry Potter, #8)

HARRY: You’d watched her murder Craig, you were angry, Albus, and that’s okay. And you wouldn’t have done it.

ALBUS: How do you know that? Maybe that’s my Slytherin side. Maybe that’s what the Sorting Hat saw in me.

HARRY: I don’t understand your head, Albus — actually, you know what, you’re a teenager, I shouldn’t be able to understand your head, but I do understand your heart. I didn’t — for a long time — but thanks to this — “escapade” — I know what you got in there. Slytherin, Gryffindor, whatever label you’ve been given — I know — know — that heart is a good one — yeah, whether you like it or not, you’re on your way to being some wizard.

ALBUS: Oh I’m not going to be a wizard, I’m going into pigeon racing. I’m quite excited about it.

HARRY grins.

HARRY: Those names you have — they shouldn’t be a burden. Albus Dumbledore had his trials too, you know — and Severus Snape, well, you know all about him —

ALBUS: They were good men.

HARRY: They were great men, with huge flaws, and you know what — those flaws almost made them greater.

ALBUS looks around himself.

ALBUS: Dad? Why are we here?

HARRY: This is where I often come.

ALBUS: But this is a graveyard . . .

HARRY: And here is Cedric’s grave.

ALBUS: Dad?

HARRY: The boy who was killed — Craig Bowker — how well did you know him?

ALBUS: Not well enough.

HARRY: I didn’t know Cedric well enough either. He could have played Quidditch for England. Or been a brilliant Auror. He could have been anything. And Amos is right — he was stolen. So I come here. Just to say sorry. When I can.

ALBUS: That’s a — good thing to do.

ALBUS joins his dad in front of CEDRIC’s grave. HARRY smiles at his son and looks up at the sky.

HARRY: I think it’s going to be a nice day.

He touches his son’s shoulder. And the two of them — just slightly — melt together.

ALBUS (smiles): So do I.



The End