HOGWARTS, HEADMISTRESS'S OFFICE

Lights come up on an argument in progress. DRACO MALFOY — in a fine black housecoat with silver and green embellishments — stands before PROFESSOR McGONAGALL — she seems to have not aged a day in twenty years. PROFESSOR McGONAGALL looks drained and disheartened by their conversation. A large desk separates them in a high-ceilinged, circular room filled with all sorts of magical objects. This is the office for the Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. HARRY reaches the office door. He waits for his moment to enter.

DRACO: What do you mean Hagrid cannot recall seeing them leave the train? Get that oaf up here so I can jog his memory!

McGONAGALL: Mister Malfoy, I share your concerns. But I need you to calm down.

DRACO: Forgive my impertinence, but...calm down?

McGONAGALL: I've already told you, we have confirmation that they were on the Hogwarts Express. At some point.

DRACO: That's fine and great and dandy, but you're suggesting... what exactly? Did they — jump? Is that what you're saying?

McGONAGALL: Harry. You got my owl.

DRACO (not taking his eyes off PROFESSOR McGONAGALL): Finally joining us, eh? Can you believe this, Potter? They lost our sons. I'm about to combust.

HARRY: Relax, Malfoy. I found them.

DRACO spins to face HARRY, his jaw set.

DRACO: You did?

McGONAGALL (with a sigh of relief): Where were they?

HARRY: The forest.

DRACO: What on earth...?

McGONAGALL: Does no one respect authority? Hogswood was renamed the Forbidden Forest for a reason. And now — with the Centaurs huffing and whinnying each time someone dares look at the trees — they're lucky to be breathing.

HARRY: I spoke with Bane when I first arrived. He — helped me find them.

DRACO: And we know — where — in the Forbidden Forest?

HARRY: Does it matter?

DRACO: Where are they now? Where is Scorpius?

HARRY: I strongly advised the boys to march directly to bed.

DRACO is visibly conflicted. He is still angered by the situation but wants to show appreciation to his adversary for tracking down his only son and heir.

DRACO: I — you have my gratitude, Potter. Without my son, I...

HARRY nods but refuses to make eye contact with DRACO. It's evident that HARRY is still upset by how DRACO derailed the Extraordinary General Meeting at the Ministry.

McGONAGALL: Good. That settles things. (beat) If there's nothing else, I think we could all use a good night's rest. I'll have Mister Filch call off the search party.

HARRY: There is something else, actually. (he reaches into the pocket of his housecoat and removes GINNY's red egg) I have somewhat of a strange request.

DRACO moves swiftly over to HARRY, his expression keen.

DRACO: Is that a fossilized Chimaera egg? (his interest turns to skepticism) The product of another midnight raid, on a poor, unsuspecting collector, no doubt.

HARRY: This belonged to the Weasley family, if you must know.

DRACO (laughing): Charity, then? Or theft.

HARRY: I don't have the patience for you, Draco. Not tonight. Really, not ever.

McGONAGALL: What is it you request, Mister Potter?

DRACO (smirking): He wants access to the Slytherin dormitory, so he can place that old egg beneath his son's pillow.

McGONAGALL: Really, Harry... relying on a superstition does nothing to help the boy.

HARRY (shrugging): Ginny wouldn't let me leave the house without it. She's been rather nervous lately, talking to a seer.

DRACO: Makes sense, doesn't it? One feels an overwhelming sense of guilt after stealing a priceless artifact.

HARRY: Who's told you that you have to talk to me?

McGONAGALL: Must you both? It's late and your sons —

DRACO: Potter, there are less than thirty fossilized Chimaera eggs in all of Wizendom. I know. I own four. The magic is a sham. Do not waste your time.

HARRY: I don't need suggestions from someone who has contributed nothing to this world since leaving this castle.

DRACO (hesitating and serious): I'm a father. A good one.

HARRY (slowly, meeting his gaze): Were that the truth, you wouldn't have needed me to rescue your son.

McGONAGALL: I think we're finished here.

PROFESSOR McGONAGALL steps around the desk to get between the two men. DRACO turns to leave. He stops at the open door.

DRACO: The boys have been found. I take back what I said about — well, I won't be contacting the school governors.

PROFESSOR McGONAGALL — expressionless — watches DRACO leave. HARRY faces PROFESSOR McGONAGALL, his gaze earnest.

HARRY: I would still like to —

McGONAGALL: The answer is no, Harry. I will not be giving you the password to the Slytherin dormitories. If you want your son to sleep on that... thing... you'll need to put it in a box and have an owl deliver it to him.

HARRY: I thought that, as Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, I would be —

McGONAGALL: I know who you are, Mister Potter, but even you must understand that it's against school covenant for parents or professors to enter a House quarters without express permission. And the only reason you were allowed to walk the castle unattended tonight is because I informed the house elves that you would be coming.

HARRY (after a beat): What will happen to Albus?

McGONAGALL: I should expel him — but, all things considered, I think it might be safer for your son to remain in my care. Although the point loss will set Slytherin back six months for the Inter-House Championship.

HARRY: James won't see a problem with that.

McGONAGALL: Nor, I imagine, will your daughter.

HARRY (suddenly eager): Where was she Sorted?

McGONAGALL: Gryffindor.

HARRY (with a single clap): See! It's that house. Slytherin has ruined Albus. (he scowls) And then there's Malfoy's son. If I were you, I'd try separating them as a punishment. Scorpius is a bad influence on my boy. That — is how this happened.

McGONAGALL: You are not me, Harry Potter. What you and Ginny choose to do as parents is your matter. But this is my school, and these are my students, and I will choose what punishment they will face.

HARRY: Who is to blame when real harm is done? My son jumped off the Hogwarts Express and successfully avoided being seen in Hogsmeade. Was he planning to go to class tomorrow without anyone being the wiser? It does my head in.

McGONAGALL: He seemed quite confident he could get around that fact. He's very confident, Harry, just like you.

HARRY: Yes, well... I am also confident that the two of them must be separated. You're wrong if you think otherwise.

McGONAGALL: I just don't think I can interfere in friendships and I believe — (the air leaves the room, PROFESSOR McGONAGALL shifts in position) Are you asserting that... I'm incapable of performing my duties as Headmistress... by the authority of the Ministry?

HARRY (sounding embarrassed): I thought nothing of the kind. I have complete faith in you.

McGONAGALL (refocused): And I have complete faith your son is smart enough to do the right thing. Even if he happens to make a foolish mistake. From what I have learned about him these past few years, Albus Potter was named properly. He has your pride, Dumbledore's conviction, and both of your skill combined.

HARRY: And what does he have from Severus Snape?

There is a weighty pause. HARRY and PROFESSOR McGONAGALL stand silent in her office.

McGONAGALL: You are so young. You're all so young. You have no idea how dark the wizarding wars got. We were — reckless — with the world that some people — some very dear friends of mine and yours — sacrificed a huge amount to create and sustain. Severus Snape was one of those, very flawed, very misunderstood individuals. Much like Remus Lupin. (beat) I've heard about Teddy.

HARRY (nearly falling over at the thought of him): We've gone to the giants. The trolls. Everyone we can find. No one knows a thing. Which doesn't sound good, I know.

McGONAGALL: You're correct, Mister Potter. It doesn't sound good, does it? Could he be...?

There is a deep intake of breath. A long exhale. HARRY doesn't want to imagine it, but he must.

HARRY: It is — possible.

McGONAGALL: You look overworked, Harry.

HARRY: I think you know why.

HARRY walks past PROFESSOR McGONAGALL. He lifts the folded newspaper on her desk, then slams it down.

The emergency edition of the Daily Prophet, by the special request of Percival Clearwater.

McGONAGALL: Voldemort has returned. I heard. (she cringes) And what a headline. "Harry Potter and the Misinformed Minister." This is going to cause trouble, you know. You need to calm the waters before they get too choppy.

HARRY: There's a plan. I'll be traveling to wizarding villages over the next few months to reassure the people in public. Full transparency.

McGONAGALL: That's good to hear. I shall be speaking to the students about it during breakfast. No doubt, this headline will get them talking. There were rumors today from some of the students — sightings of Voldemort throughout the summer — and that was before anyone had read this article.

HARRY: Just kids causing trouble. During the Triwizard Tournament, Fred and George started a convincing rumor that Igor Karkaroff was a Muggle impersonating a wizard.

McGONAGALL (giggling at the memory): They convinced half of Hufflepuff, as I recall.

HARRY considers the newspaper on the desk. His mind seems to be traveling to different times.

HARRY: I don't know what Percy was thinking. He's going to start a war. Bane even mentioned it to me. And we spoke at length about Albus. He said some things which made sense —

McGONAGALL: 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 should stay away from Scorpius. For his sake, and others.

McGONAGALL: I once thought the same about you and Mister Weasley. And look how you turned out.

HARRY: Have you looked recently? Because we pretty much despise one another.

McGONAGALL: I saw the article when it came out. I also heard what Ron did to save that family. It does sound as if he was brave.

HARRY: Bravery doesn't forgive stupidity.

There is a long silence. PROFESSOR McGONAGALL considers her words carefully.

McGONAGALL: It's not a coincidence, Mister Potter, that Professor Dumbledore and I both taught Transfiguration before becoming Headmaster and Headmistress. To lead a school like Hogwarts, one must appreciate all states of progress and evolution. To accept that young witches and wizards are going to become something new over time, perhaps something unexpected. The transformation can be challenging, but it is often quite marvelous. And it needs to happen.

Harry's face falls. He holds up the egg.

HARRY: Please, Professor, if there is any way you would be willing to —

McGONAGALL: I'm sorry, Harry. I cannot. As the parent of a student, the answer is no. And as a Ministry official, the answer is a resounding no. (beat, she walks him to the stairwell) My door is always open. However, it needs to be closed for the remainder of the night. I'm old, tired, and in desperate need of rest.

HARRY: Of course, Professor. Thank you for alerting us. Ginny will be relieved to hear that our son is safe.

McGONAGALL: You do look a lot like him, you know.

HARRY: Albus?

McGONAGALL: No, your father.

HARRY turns to exit. When he glances back, PROFESSOR McGONAGALL is no longer standing there. A silver tabby cat is climbing up a ramp toward a thick pillow near the window. HARRY leaves the room. He doesn't notice that DRACO has been waiting for him.

DRACO (from the shadows): Took you long enough. Were you crocheting a blanket or something?

HARRY: Stop. Please. I've had enough, Draco. You win — whatever this is. All right?

HARRY makes for the stairs. DRACO steps into the light. He straightens his housecoat.

DRACO: "Kebob Jamboree".

HARRY turns back, utterly bewildered.

HARRY: What in Merlin's name —?

DRACO: The password. Slytherin House. I have no idea what it means, but... y'know. Kids.

HARRY (mildly surprised): How did you...come upon it?

DRACO: One of the prefects had it sent to the house early. I memorized it, in case Scorpius had just forgotten.

HARRY: It wasn't sent to my house.

DRACO: I know. Everyone is aware that Harry Potter doesn't want his son in Slytherin. Albus probably asked them not to send an owl to avoid an argument at home. That's something I would've done.

HARRY: Don't act like you understand my son better than I do, Malfoy.

DRACO walks past HARRY and exits down the stairs.

DRACO (from off): Instead of being offended by the prospect of me understanding him better, perhaps you should wonder if I do.