NUMBER FOUR PRIVET DRIVE

A single, golden light illuminates a street sign on a darkened stage — Privet Drive. JAMES, ALBUS, and LILY enter, followed by HARRY, his hair a mess. They pass the sign and walk up to the façade of a brick house, a brass number four beside the front door.

LILY: I was wondering if we'd ever see this place.

ALBUS: This is where you grew up, huh? Bit drab, wouldn't you say?

HARRY ignores ALBUS, who looks ready to start an argument.

JAMES: You need to explain this one, Dad. How are we safer here than at The Burrow? They're Muggles.

HARRY stops at the front door, LILY admires the flowerbed.

HARRY: The Tempest are still after you. Or, rather, me. Until you return to Hogwarts, you aren't safe. And home.... it's not the same without your mother. This is the next best option.

HARRY knocks on the door.

In terms of magic, number four Privet Drive is still considered my home. And although the Blood Dwelling charm that Dumbledore placed on me expired when I turned seventeen — a charm that was sealed when my Aunt Petunia took me in — it has transferred to you three. Your grandmother's sacrifice lives on in her blood, which has passed on to her heirs. As long as a Dursley owns this home, you are protected under its roof. Uncle Dudley is your blood. That bond will safeguard you while I am away.

ALBUS: What are we supposed to do here?

JAMES: That's why we brought our schoolwork, Al.

HARRY: And I expect you to pull out your books and quills straight away. Mum would want that. Everything is changing, I know, but that shouldn't. School will always be important.

The door opens. JUNE DURSLEY and DUDLEY DURSLEY are there with bright smiles. Lights come up on the rest of the house behind them. It looks quite familiar.

JUNE (pleasantly): Welcome, Potters!

DUDLEY: It's so good to have you.

HARRY: Hi, Dudley. Thanks, again.

DUDLEY: Don't mention it.

JUNE: Come in, won't you?

The Potters enter the house. HARRY gestures to their shoes and the kids take them off. This had been discussed beforehand.

Make yourselves at home.

LILY (eagerly): Do you have a television? Poppy told me about televisions once. He has a broken one in the shed. It lights up and everything. Nana doesn't know about it.

HARRY: I'm sure your Aunt June would be happy to show you the telly, once you've completed your scrollwork.

JUNE: Gladly.

DUDLEY: How are you holding up, Harry?

HARRY (sighing): I wish I knew how to answer that.

JAMES makes his way into the kitchen, where he sits. The unsteady tower of thick books he empties onto the table does not match the size of his schoolbag. LILY joins him, unrolling a scroll across the table. JUNE looks on, mesmerized. ALBUS finds a lounge chair in the living room and puts his feet up on the coffee table. He fishes a rolled-up comic from his pocket and reads at his leisure.

DUDLEY: Remember when Dad thought you wanted us to leave so you could get the deeds to the house?

HARRY: A plot! (he laughs) How could I forget?

DUDLEY: I'd like to say that he's relaxed in his old age, but... he's still Vernon Dursley. Mum has softened, though. She calls June at least once a week.

JUNE walks past them and heads upstairs, touching HARRY's arm reassuringly as she goes.

JUNE: I'm off to find something Muggle-ish for Lily.

DUDLEY (to JUNE): Try the desk in my office. (he turns to HARRY) Your old bedroom. There's all sorts of things in there to amuse them, I'm sure. That reminds me, I have something for you. I'll be right back.

DUDLEY follows JUNE upstairs and HARRY strolls into the kitchen, looking at everything as if his mind is overflowing with memories. From the other room, ALBUS gets up from the chair and starts inspecting the framed photographs on the wall.

HARRY (to JAMES and LILY): So, what are you working on?

LILY: History of Magic.

JAMES: Color me jealous. It's Arithmancy for me. If I pass out, don't be alarmed.

LILY (to HARRY): We're studying you, actually.

HARRY: Me?

ALBUS (snide, from a distance): Yes, the famous Harry Potter. From page one hundred to page five thousand and seven.

JAMES: You're surprised?

HARRY: A little. Is it the Battle of Hogwarts?

LILY: No, the earlier stuff. Triwizard Tournament, Voldemort's return. I really need to memorize your prophecy. There's a test on the way.

JAMES: "...either must die at the wand of the other, for neither can live while the other survives..."

HARRY: Close, James. It's "hand". "...either must die at the hand of the other..."

ALBUS (from a distance): That's not what our history book says.

JAMES: He's right, dad.

HARRY takes one of the books from the unsteady tower. He opens it, licks his finger, and begins flipping pages.

HARRY: Then it's a mistake. The prophecy was "hand", not "wand".

Glass shatters in the next room as ALBUS drops one of the smaller framed photographs. HARRY rushes into the room. ALBUS looks guilty but dismissive. HARRY picks up the broken frame.

ALBUS: I didn't mean to. I was only curious. None of us were moving, and —

HARRY: They're Muggles, what did you expect?

ALBUS: Why are we even here?

HARRY: I'm needed at the Ministry.

ALBUS: And babysitting was the right choice? Really?

HARRY: I want to keep you safe.

ALBUS: Ya-huh.

HARRY: Have you forgotten? This all happened because you were abducted.

ALBUS (defiant): I'm stronger than you think I am. We don't need Grandma's blood, or you. I can protect Lily and James myself.

HARRY: Stop talking.

He carefully sets the shattered frame on the coffee table as ALBUS sits and reclines again. HARRY swats his son's legs off the table.

I'm getting a broom. You will clean up this mess immediately and apologize to your aunt and uncle.

ALBUS shrugs and HARRY instinctively walks to the cupboard under the stairs. He opens the door and a broom falls to the ground. HARRY takes a deep breath and holds out his hand.

UP!

The broom doesn't move. Not even a millimeter. He laughs at himself and bends to pick it up. Once there, lower to the ground, HARRY looks into the cupboard under the stairs. And everything seems to stop, as lights dim elsewhere.

Very slowly, HARRY steps into the cupboard. For a sad, yet perfect moment, Harry seems to find peace inside the cupboard. He closes the door and tries to turn around, only to bang his head on the underside of the stairs. A few envelopes are knocked free from a gap in the wall. HARRY is stunned as he sits and looks at them. They are identical and carry the insignia of Hogwarts. We are to understand that these have been trapped since the owl post fiasco — before HARRY turned eleven — before he discovered that he was a wizard.

His curious grin hardens. Suddenly and violently, HARRY tears the letters to shreds. Then — holding the pieces — he slumps, exhausted. And he begins to cry.

Above him, DUDLEY comes down the stairs with a thin plastic bag. He looks around and notices the broomstick lying beside the partially open cupboard door. DUDLEY sighs, he knows where to find HARRY. He opens the door and sees HARRY on the ground. DUDLEY holds out a hand and lifts him up. They embrace. DUDLEY takes a step back, HARRY nods and wipes his eyes. There is a lot that could be spoken. It doesn't have to be.

DUDLEY: I found something when I was cleaning out the bedrooms. I've been meaning to send it to you.

DUDLEY looks at HARRY, he pulls something from the plastic bag. He reveals a small blanket.

HARRY: What's that? An old blanket?

DUDLEY: It's the baby blanket you were wrapped in, back when you were left on our doorstep.

HARRY looks at DUDLEY, and then back at the blanket.

I think — believe — Mum wanted you to have it, that's why she kept it. This... is the last thing you have from your mother.

HARRY: The only thing. Thank you, Dudley. I'm not sure what to say.

DUDLEY: I didn't really know your mother — but I think she'd have wanted you to have it. Especially now, under the circumstances.

HARRY nods, touched by this. He takes the blanket.