THE LEAKY CAULDRON, WALLED COURTYARD

RON and HERMIONE enter an ordinary exterior courtyard with tall brick walls, home to little else than dustbins and weeds. They hold the door open for HARRY, who looks like himself again. He then holds the door for DRACO. There is a long moment of pause, where much is spoken without words.

DRACO: You have everything you need?

HARRY: No, but that's why we're going back.

DRACO: Right. Well, then. You must get on and do it.

HARRY: Thank you.

DRACO: The cursed child will be in the secret bedchamber below the drawing room — but you already knew that.

HARRY: Yes.

DRACO: As I said, I'll be on the floor beside the Vanishing Cabinet.

HARRY: Room of Requirement, got it.

DRACO: I'd fallen asleep an hour after dinner. And I'm a light sleeper, so...

DRACO has a hard time looking into HARRY's eyes. RON and HERMIONE watch them closely.

I hadn't eaten at all that day. I brought an apple along... Don't know why. I was sick to my stomach with fear.

HARRY: But I thought... At the Astronomy Tower... You told Dumbledore you weren't afraid. That he was the one who should've been scared.

DRACO looks up.

DRACO (breathless): Are you joking, Harry? I was terrified.

HARRY: I know the feeling.

There is a short pause.

And perhaps — for the first time — DRACO and HARRY truly see one another.

DRACO (clearing his throat): That should leave you enough time to pluck a hair or two before the Death Eaters enter the other cabinet at Borgin and Burkes.

HARRY: And you're certain about the hour? We've got one shot at this.

DRACO: Yes. Absolutely. I realize it's... a deed of mine you can never forgive. (beat) But it's also a night I'll never forget.

DRACO reopens the door to The Leaky Cauldron. He hesitates and looks back.

My son — my son is the best thing that ever happened to me. I hope you have it in you. To do what needs to be done. To set this right.

HARRY: I do.

DRACO: And if you don't?

HARRY looks to RON and HERMIONE.

HARRY: I won't be alone.

DRACO extends a hand to HARRY. They shake like colleagues.

DRACO: Best of luck, Potter. I hope we can put the past behind us... in this new future...

He looks to HERMIONE, then RON.

Weasley. I know you'll be tempted to kick me or something. Don't.

RON grins as DRACO exits. HERMIONE looks beside herself with shock.

HERMIONE: Harry, how in God's name did you convince Draco to help us?

HARRY: I didn't have to convince him. I merely told Draco the truth.

HARRY watches the door as it closes.

That the inquiry into his son was my doing. I'm the one who stopped the rumors about Scorpius.

RON faces the brick wall.

RON: Shall we get to it then?

HERMIONE and HARRY face the wall.

HERMIONE: Yes. I can't believe we're actually doing this. Kind of a thrill, isn't it?

HARRY takes out his wand. He taps the third brick from the left. Suddenly the wall begins to open. The bricks move and reorganize into the shape of an archway, beyond which a winding cobbled street is just visible. We see only a glimpse of Diagon Alley between their shoulders, but it is more than enough.

HARRY nods at them and then takes out the Time-Turner. HERMIONE smiles at it, excited to use a Time-Turner again, excited to use it for this. They step through the archway and pause, looking eagerly around.

HARRY: Now, let's sort this mess out once and for all...

HERMIONE: Honestly, I'm scared.

HARRY: I'm scared, too.

RON: Nothing scares me. Apart from spiders. Can I just say —?

HERMIONE: No, you can't. Just keep quiet.

HERMIONE is still smiling as she takes the Time-Turner — it begins spinning wildly as the others take their places around it.

RON: Let's hope this works.

HERMIONE: Three.

She looks to HARRY.

HARRY: Two.

He looks to RON.

RON: One.

The Time-Turner begins to vibrate and then explodes into a storm of movement. And there is a giant whoosh of light. A smash of noise. And time stops. And then it turns over, thinks a bit, and begins spooling backwards, slow at first... There is a bang and a flash. The brick wall begins to reseal itself. And our gang disappears.

The stage goes black. The curtain lowers.

END OF ACT 3