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.