MINISTRY OF MAGIC, CORRIDOR

Dim lights come up on an empty corridor of dark, olive-green tiles. Splashed across the wall is graffiti of a sorrowful black bird with broad wings — the Dark Mark of the Augurey. Footsteps are heard from off. HARRY and DRACO enter, stage right. PERCIVAL CLEARWATER and ETHEL, stage left. Moments later, DELPHINI DRAKE enters with a few GUARDS. The separate groups meet at center stage, bookending the graffiti. PERCIVAL does not look pleased. HARRY shoves DRACO past them.

HARRY: The door. Down the hall. Wait there and don't move a muscle.

DRACO inhales loudly, smacks his lips, and complies. PERCIVAL waits until they are out of earshot before shaking his head at HARRY and narrowing the gap between them. DRACO takes his time exiting the stage in an effort to eavesdrop.

PERCIVAL (to HARRY): I am not happy.

HARRY: That makes two of us.

PERCIVAL: This is very unacceptable. As the Head of Magical Law Enforcement, you are both a mouthpiece for my regime and a symbol of the Ministry of Magic.

HARRY: Uh-huh.

PERCIVAL: Your conduct this morning on platform nine and three-quarters is most reprehensible. It is vital that we show a unified front — now, more than ever before. Yet here you are, once again... going off on your own... leaving me with the task of having to either side with your actions or come out against you.

PERCIVAL points to the graffiti.

Do you know why I left this here, Harry?

HARRY: Enlighten me.

PERCIVAL: As a reminder that we have underestimated The Tempest. Once assumed to be a rabble without a creed, they have become a force beyond reckoning, bent on bolstering anarchy throughout the greater wizarding world.

HARRY: Anarchy?

PERCIVAL: There are giants sabotaging Quidditch matches. Werewolves are obstructing commerce in villages across Europe. Gringotts shut its doors with a possible goblin rebellion on the horizon.

HARRY: How do you always know about these things and I don't?

PERCIVAL (continuing): There's been a strike in the Department of Magical Transportation ever since the Floo Network was decimated. And then there's Hogwarts...

HARRY: What's wrong with Hogwarts?

PERCIVAL: Parents are declining acceptance letters, Potter. They are refusing to send their students to Hogwarts under fear that their education is being controlled by the Ministry. The fact that Professor Shacklebolt was Minister of Magic temporarily doesn't help matters.

Beat, PERCIVAL takes a sobering breath.

Confidence in this governing body is waning and the Daily Prophet continues to pursue the narrative that a coup is imminent. All while I'm in the process of issuing a tax to aid in our protection and in upholding our sovereignty.

HARRY: Taxation can lead to an uprising.

PERCIVAL: I have no choice. There has been a war raging behind closed doors for the soul of Wizendom and the truth of the matter is that we've been infiltrated. The forces of the Tempest are everywhere and in everything. There's no telling how deep this goes, Harry.

HARRY: And you're still talking to me?

PERCIVAL (with a snarl): I'm out there — every day — hearing about it — while you...

There is a pause. PERCIVAL wipes his brow and adjusts his cravat, looking drawn and unsure of himself for the first time.

I realize that... with what happened to Ginny and — and Al...

There's another pause.

The past few months have been difficult for us all.

HARRY: Heavy is the head that wears the crown.

He stares coldly at PERCIVAL.

Especially when it was you who gave the orders to kill them both.

PERCIVAL: You can't... you know that I...

HARRY: That's quite some burden, Percy.

PERCIVAL glances back as DRACO exits.

PERCIVAL: I know you have questions, I know you're upset. But the press from this morning is not good, Harry. Not good at all. My contacts at the Daily Prophet say they have pictures of you holding a wand on Scorpius Malfoy.

HARRY: Tell them I'm through giving autographs.

PERCIVAL: Harry, this is a serious matter. (beat) And this book by Rita Skeeter...

HARRY (annoyed): Don't believe everything you read, Percy.

HARRY tries to leave the conversation. PERCIVAL stops him.

PERCIVAL: Need I be concerned?

HARRY: About what?

PERCIVAL: Its contents?

He lowers his voice.

Are there any — quote-unquote — revelations we need to get in front of? I could halt the publication, if need be.

HARRY: I have nothing to hide. And if I did, isn't manipulating the press beyond the bounds of your command, Minister?

They share a look filled with accusation.

PERCIVAL (bluntly): You need more time off. Time... so you may... fittingly address the severe pain to which you have been subjected. Spend the summer with James and Lily. Allow your second-in-command to run the department and leave this matter with Malfoy to the future. Release him. You know, as well as I, that you broke protocol bringing him in like this.

HARRY (with a laugh): I do not care what your opinion is on the matter.

PERCIVAL: I want answers as much as you, Harry. We have a Time-Turner out there — somewhere — and the merpeople of Hogwarts completely deny the bogus claim that it was lost in the black lake. I agree that Draco can shed some light on the matter. Perhaps, if a more reasoned voice —

HARRY: The time for diplomacy is over.

HARRY tries to leave the conversation again. PERCIVAL stops him again, this time with a hand to his chest.

PERCIVAL: You're wrong.

HARRY (suddenly fierce): Don't touch me, Percy. You will regret it.

PERCIVAL moves aside and HARRY takes a step past him. Then he reaches into his pocket. HARRY turns back with a smirk.

Here, picked something up for you on the way over. Catch!

HARRY tosses PERCIVAL the item he stole from the TROLLEY WITCH on the platform — it is a Pumpkin Pasty. The corner of its shiny package is torn open. PERCIVAL stares at it, eyes widening in horrified expectation, as HARRY leaves with long, confident steps. HARRY lingers on stage to fill out paperwork delivered by the guards as PERCIVAL drops the package and covers his head with his hands, ETHEL mimics the gesture while the rest look on with perplexed expressions.

After the moment passes without an explosion, PERCIVAL lowers his arms and adjusts his cravat, trembling in anger and humiliation. Seeing this, DELPHI makes her approach.

DELPHI: Sir, if I may...

PERCIVAL: No.

DELPHI: Minister Clearwater...

PERCIVAL (to HARRY): You are insolent and unapologetic! Maybe you are determined to compound the problem.

HARRY (casually): Maybe I am.

PERCIVAL: Potter, get back here!

DELPHI: He's living in constant anguish. You have to understand.

PERCIVAL: You're covering for him. The whole department is breaking rank. See, Ethel? See what I'm talking about?!

ETHEL: Clear as day, Minister.

PERCIVAL kicks the Pumpkin Pasty down the hall.

PERCIVAL: I demand loyalty and order. Nothing less.

ETHEL (to DELPHI): The Minister of Magic will not be spoken to with such indignancy.

PERCIVAL: Potter's authority is limited. Mine is not so. Had my mother not pleaded with me —

DELPHI (interrupting): He needs to understand what happened. So do you.

PERCIVAL and ETHEL look at one another.

ETHEL: She's right.

ETHEL absently rubs her ear. PERCIVAL picks up on the signal.

PERCIVAL (to DELPHI): Fine. I will not interfere. The interrogation may proceed. But Harry will answer to me when this is through, or he will be given the sack. Is that understood?

He turns his back to DELPHI.

DELPHI: Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.

PERCIVAL (loud enough for HARRY to hear): And find me that Time-Turner.

PERCIVAL and ETHEL exit. HARRY hands the completed paperwork to the GUARDS and is also about to exit when DELPHI holds him back. They wait as the stage clears. They are alone in the darkened corridor. A subtle music is heard. It is choral and enchanting, yet dissonant.

HARRY: What is it, Delphi?

DELPHI: Are you okay? You're bleeding.

She motions to the cut on his cheek and he pulls away.

HARRY: Stops people staring. (beat) Don't worry, it'll go with the scar.

DELPHI: I am worried.

HARRY: I'm touched.

DELPHI: Stop.

She purses her lips crossly.

Was it worth it? The ruckus on the platform? I can't keep them off you much longer.

HARRY: I've got Malfoy right where I want him. He's not leaving until I know everything.

DELPHI: Okay. Well, at least let me...

DELPHI moves to fix his hair with a spell, wand out.

HARRY: Don't...

HARRY grabs her wand hand. He holds it for a moment, looking down silently at their interlocking fingers. DELPHI looks away, and HARRY knows why she does. When she turns back, he gazes into her eyes. Their connection is so evident that if a spark of electricity manifested itself between them, neither would be surprised.

DELPHI (composes herself for a moment): Harry —

HARRY: I know.

DELPHI: We have yet to talk about —

HARRY: Your Patronus. I know. I wasn't sure. Whether we should.

HARRY and DELPHI both know what this means. HARRY moves closer, pulling her hand to his chest. His intentions cannot be misunderstood. DELPHI stops breathing, surprised by this, she looks up with a smile.

DELPHI (softly, blushing): What are you doing?

HARRY: Whatever I want... for once in my life. I don't care what anyone thinks.

HARRY looks past DELPHI in the direction of where PERCIVAL had left the corridor. He releases her hand and steps back. DELPHI is disappointed, though she won't admit it.

Go on.

DELPHI turns towards him. She gladly moves into their old routine. She enchants his hair to lay flat, adjusts his clothes, and even cleans the cut on his cheek.

DELPHI: This is your shot. You can do this. Harry Potter is twice as powerful as any wizard alive today.

HARRY (grinning): That goes double for a git like Draco Malfoy.

DELPHI: But he's a good talker. Don't let him manipulate the conversation.

HARRY: Never.

DELPHI (melting slightly): I have faith in you.

HARRY: I know.

DELPHI says nothing, HARRY looks long at her. He leads DELPHI toward the edge of the stage. HARRY looks off.

Now... about that policy of mine on the use of Veritaserum...

DELPHI: What policy?

DELPHI smiles devilishly, raising her voice as she lifts her chin.

Why don't I fetch two butterbeers...

HARRY (with a wink): Better make that two firewhiskeys.