DIAGON ALLEY — 2020

HARRY inhales deeply.

HARRY: Do you want to know why I'm so stressed? I'll tell you. No one has any idea where Voldemort's body was hidden. The one I had cursed as a child. The Tempest have given it life — turned his animated body into a recruitment tool. The sightings are growing, people are beginning to talk, and the Daily Prophet gets bolder by the day. If they're willing to print the rumors...

GINNY: Then it's time to panic. So, the Tempest have had Voldemort's body all this time?

HARRY: No, I think they stole the body from wherever it was being kept. But only Dumbledore knew the location.

GINNY: And the secret died with him. Thank you for sharing this with me. I know how guarded you are with that sort of information.

HARRY looks up at his wife.

HARRY: I have to be. So many people are counting on me.

She takes HARRY's hand.

GINNY: After I had opened the Chamber of Secrets — after Voldemort had bewitched me with that terrible diary and I'd almost destroyed everything —

HARRY: I remember.

GINNY: When I came out of the hospital wing, everyone ignored me, shut me out — other than, that is, the boy who had everything — who came across the Gryffindor common room and challenged me to a game of Exploding Snap. People think they know all there is to know about you, but the best bits of you are — have always been — heroic in really quiet ways. My point is — just remember that sometimes people — but particularly children — just want someone to play Exploding Snap with.

HARRY: You think that's what he and I are missing? Exploding Snap?

GINNY: No. But the love I felt from you that day... I'm not sure Albus feels that.

HARRY: I'd do anything for him.

GINNY: Harry, you'd do anything for anybody. You were pretty happy to sacrifice yourself for the world. But you can't do that anymore. You have responsibilities. At home. Our son needs to feel specific love from his father. It'll make him stronger... and you stronger, too.

HARRY: You know, it wasn't until James was born that I truly understood what my mother was able to do for me. A countercharm so powerful that it was able to repel a killing curse.

GINNY: The only magic Voldemort couldn't understand. Love.

HARRY (introspectively): I do love him specifically, Ginny.

GINNY: I know, but he needs to feel it.

HARRY locks eyes with GINNY, it becomes clear what she wants him to say. They are talking about more than HARRY's relationship with ALBUS.

The conversation is interrupted when a witch stops to genuflect to HARRY. Seeing this, others come near to either complain that he isn't doing enough to stop Voldemort, or to praise him for all he's done to save them. This exchange is short and improvised. HARRY sends them away and looks apprehensively at GINNY. He knows that sort of attention bothers her. GINNY takes a newspaper clipping out of her pocket.

HARRY (gesturing to her hand): Don't tell me you're believing the papers now...

GINNY: What was it that Dumbledore said to Fudge all those years ago — when he refused to admit that Voldemort had returned?

HARRY: I don't know. What does that have to do with Albus?

GINNY: Everything! There's no way you don't remember. You told me that you'd never seen Dumbledore so angry.

HARRY: Well, he was already frustrated with Fudge at the time.

GINNY: He said that it matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be. (beat) Take a step back, Harry. Have a good look at what you've become, and how you judge Al for the company he keeps. If that great man were here today, the man after whom we named our son, he would be shouting those same words at you.

GINNY looks at HARRY, unsure of what he's become. He doesn't look back. GINNY hands HARRY the newspaper clipping.

And the Daily Prophet isn't always wrong.

HARRY looks down, distressed. Something about the clipping makes him very uncomfortable.

HARRY: This is —

GINNY: Don't say it's nothing.

HARRY (looks off, irritated): It's that damned clock, isn't it? Or your so-called seer?

GINNY tilts her serious gaze toward the clipping. HARRY gets more nervous.

You spoke with Hermione?

GINNY: Should I? No... that photo told me all I needed to know. (GINNY takes a breath) Albus left it on the stairs for me to see.

HARRY: That explains the love potion comment. (beat) Ginny, you don't understand.

GINNY (her voice raised): So, it's me, then. I don't understand. You know what? I'm done with being made responsible for your unhappiness.

HARRY (off his wife's glare): Sorry that my job makes me feel important.

GINNY: And I don't? We don't?

HARRY: You know what I'm saying. I mean, we've been together so long — and married for so long —

GINNY: If this is your way of saying you want a marital break, Harry, then, to be clear... (GINNY reaches into one of her shopping bags and takes out a feather quill) I will skewer you with this quill. Is that what you're saying?

HARRY: No. I mean... We can't.

GINNY looks at HARRY, surprised that he phrased it that way.

GINNY: We can't? That — is the wrong answer.

HARRY: That's not... No, I meant...

GINNY: Don't even —

GINNY turns to enter the bookstore. She takes hold of the doorknob. HARRY pulls her back, looking desperate.

HARRY: I need to say sorry to you and sorry to Albus, will you give me that chance?

GINNY: Harry, as heartfelt apologies go this is wonderfully anemic, so better to quit while you're ahead.

HARRY: No matter what I try —

GINNY: Trying is not succeeding though, is it?

GINNY opens the door.

You should probably leave me alone for a while.

HARRY: Ginny, please — you know, I've never wanted our life to be this hectic.

GINNY closes the door, she studies her husband.

GINNY: Fine. (she hesitates) Then leave it all behind.

HARRY (stunned silent): And what then? There's hardly anyone keeping your brother from starting a war. Should I roll over and stop fighting. Is that what you wish?

GINNY (roar): No! I just wish you weren't... the famous Harry Potter, savior of the wizarding world!

HARRY (an equal roar): Well, there are times I wish you...

HARRY stops himself. People are looking. GINNY is really upset. She waits until everyone moves on before speaking.

GINNY: Go on. Say it.

HARRY: I misspoke. I wouldn't change a thing about you. I didn't mean —

GINNY: Yes. You did. You meant it, Harry, without saying a word. And, honestly, I don't blame you. It's not been an easy journey.

HARRY: It hasn't.

GINNY: And I can tell, you know, when you're putting on your Harry Potter front. It's there more and more these days. And Albus sees it. He wants to see the real you. So do I.

HARRY: I don't know who else to be.

GINNY: I just — don't want to see you like that. The man I love shrouded in the man I hate.

HARRY: It's going to be okay, you know that.

GINNY: I know it is. Or I hope I do. I can forgive you for one mistake, Harry, maybe even two, but the more mistakes you make, the harder to forgive you it becomes.

HARRY: Can we not treat this as if the battle is already lost? I never let you down, you know that.

GINNY looks at HARRY, still very distrustful.

Ginny... Please... Why are you doing this?

GINNY: Because I know that when the time is right you'll say that I'm not overreacting. That what I saw concealed... other things. You can be honest with me, Harry. That's all I need.

HARRY: I can't ask you to forget what you saw that day but I can hope we move past it. I'm going to try to be a better husband for you, Ginny. I am going to try and — be honest with you and...

GINNY looks at HARRY and then nods sadly. She points to the newspaper clipping in his hand.

Really? You're going to believe a photograph over your husband.

GINNY: Enchanted photographs don't lie, Harry.

HARRY (with a half-laugh, trying to bring levity): Okay, whatever was holding your brain together seems to have snapped.

GINNY takes HARRY eagerly by the hand. She turns it over and places her other hand on top.

GINNY: That lightning bolt isn't your only scar, Harry. You would think that someone with the words "I must not tell lies" carved into the back of their hand would be better at telling the truth.

HARRY: Ginny.

GINNY: Tell me the truth. Right here. Now. No more lies.

HARRY: I... I don't know. We have a connection, I guess.

GINNY: Will you please do me the courtesy of saying her name.

HARRY: Yes. I... have a connection with Delphi.

GINNY: Thank you. (she lifts his hand and kisses it) So, my seer isn't such a fraud after all?

HARRY: It's confusing. I'm confused.

GINNY: And that makes it okay?

HARRY: I'm trying to shake it. Can't that be enough for now?

GINNY: But you work with her. You can't just reverse — a connection.

HARRY: I think it's magical. It has to be. Which means I need to solve it with magic.

GINNY: Want to solve this with magic, Harry? Try summoning the courage to cut her out of your life. Or have you forgotten how to be a Gryffindor?

HARRY: No. I'm still me.

GINNY: That's where you're wrong. I want you, Harry. I want my husband back. This... This is not Harry Potter. So, I don't know what happened, I don't know what she's done to turn you into this, but it's the kind of thing you can't reverse. The damage is done. Question is, what to do about it.

HARRY: Ginny, you're making it so much more than it is. I told you, it's just...

GINNY: A connection. I heard you the first time you said it.

He meets her look. There's real emotion in this moment.

I'm your wife. I'm the one you chose to spend your life with. We were supposed to take on the world together — you and me — us. You need to decide what matters to you, Harry. Because we're here. What we made together is here. Alive. Hearts beating. A family. The only one who seems to be having trouble with that lately is you.

GINNY kisses him firmly on the lips.

I still haven't given up on you. Just... come home, Harry.

She kisses him again.

Come home.

GINNY looks at HARRY a moment and then walks away.

HARRY (calling after her): I'm lucky to have you, aren't I?

GINNY (her back to him): Extremely. And I'd be delighted to discuss just how lucky at another time. But for now —

HARRY: Must get on. Supplies to sort out.

GINNY enters the bookshop, she finds her children. HARRY is standing alone on the busy cobbled lane of Diagon Alley.