第3章 ACT ONE SCENE THREE

THE HOGWARTS EXPRESS

ALBUS and ROSE walk along the carriage of the train.

The TROLLEY WITCH approaches, pushing her trolley.

TROLLEY WITCH

Anything from the trolley, dears? Pumpkin Pasty? Chocolate Frog? Cauldron Cake?

ROSE (spotting ALBUS's loving look at the Chocolate Frogs)

Al. We need to concentrate.

ALBUS

Concentrate on what?

ROSE

On who we choose to be friends with. My mum and dad met your dad on their first Hogwarts Express you know ...

ALBUS

So we need to choose now who to be friends with for life? That's quite scary.

ROSE

On the contrary, it's exciting. I'm a Granger-Weasley, you're a Potter–everyone will want to be friends with us, we've got the pick of anyone we want.

ALBUS

So how do we decide–which compartment to go in ...

ROSE

We rate them all and then we make a decision.

ALBUS opens a compartment door–to look in on a lonely blond kid–SCORPIUS–in an otherwise empty compartment. ALBUS smiles. SCORPIUS smiles back.

ALBUS

Hi. Is this compartment ...

SCORPIUS

It's free. It's just me.

ALBUS

Great. So we might just–come in–for a bit–if that's okay?

SCORPIUS

That's okay. Hi.

ALBUS

Albus. Al. I'm–my name is Albus ...

SCORPIUS

Hi Scorpius. I mean, I'm Scorpius. You're Albus. I'm Scorpius. And you must be ...

ROSE's face is growing colder by the minute.

ROSE

Rose.

SCORPIUS

Hi Rose. Would you like some of my Fizzing Whizzbees?

ROSE

I've just had breakfast, thanks.

SCORPIUS

I've also got some Shock-o-Choc, Pepper Imps and some Jelly Slugs. Mum's idea–she says (sings), 'Sweets they always help you make friends' (he realises that singing was a mistake). Stupid idea probably.

ALBUS

I'll have some ... Mum doesn't let me have sweets. Which one would you start with?

ROSE hits ALBUS, out of sight of SCORPIUS.

SCORPIUS

Easy. I've always regarded the Pepper Imp as the king of the confectionery bag. They're peppermint sweets that make you smoke at the ears.

ALBUS

Brilliant, then that's what I'll– (ROSE hits him again.) Rose, will you please stop hitting me?

ROSE

I'm not hitting you.

ALBUS

You are hitting me, and it hurts.

SCORPIUS's face falls.

SCORPIUS

She's hitting you because of me.

ALBUS

What?

SCORPIUS

Listen, I know who you are, so it's probably only fair you know who I am.

ALBUS

What do you mean you know who I am?

SCORPIUS

You're Albus Potter. She's Rose Granger-Weasley. And I am Scorpius Malfoy. My parents are Astoria and Draco Malfoy. Our parents–they didn't get on.

ROSE

That's putting it mildly. Your mum and dad are Death Eaters!

SCORPIUS (affronted)

Dad was–but Mum wasn't.

ROSE looks away, and SCORPIUS knows why she does.

I know what the rumour is, and it's a lie.

ALBUS looks from an uncomfortable ROSE to a desperate SCORPIUS.

ALBUS

What–is the rumour?

SCORPIUS

The rumour is that my parents couldn't have children. That my father and my grandfather were so desperate for a powerful heir, to prevent the end of the Malfoy line, that they ... that they used a Time-Turner to send my mother back–

ALBUS

To send her back where?

ROSE

The rumour is that he's Voldemort's son, Albus.

A horrible, uncomfortable silence.

It's probably rubbish. I mean ... look, you've got a nose.

The tension is slightly broken, SCORPIUS laughs, pathetically grateful.

SCORPIUS

And it's just like my father's! I got his nose, his hair and his name. Not that that's a great thing either. I mean–father-son issues, I have them. But, on the whole, I'd rather be a Malfoy than, you know, the son of the Dark Lord.

SCORPIUS and ALBUS look at each other and something passes between them.

ROSE

Yes, well, we probably should sit somewhere else. Come on, Albus.

ALBUS is thinking deeply.

ALBUS

No (off ROSE's look), I'm okay. You go on ...

ROSE

Albus. I won't wait.

ALBUS

And I wouldn't expect you to. But I'm staying here.

ROSE looks at him a second and then leaves the compartment.

ROSE

Fine!

SCORPIUS and ALBUS are left–looking at each other–unsure.

SCORPIUS

Thank you.

ALBUS

No. No. I didn't stay–for you–I stayed for your sweets.

SCORPIUS

She's quite fierce.

ALBUS

Yes. Sorry.

SCORPIUS

No. I like it. Do you prefer Albus or Al?

SCORPIUS grins and pops two sweets in his mouth.

ALBUS (thinks)

Albus.

SCORPIUS (as smoke comes out of his ears)

THANK YOU FOR STAYING FOR MY SWEETS, ALBUS!

ALBUS (laughing)

Wow.