DIAGON ALLEY — 2020

Months have passed. A new school year is beginning. Lights come up on a charmingly cobbled thoroughfare of impressive wizarding shops – packed with stalwart wizards admiring items through many-paned windows, witches shopping enthusiastically, and a few wild-looking warlocks and raucous dwarfs appearing irritated by the arrival of so many students.

This is magic. This is Diagon Alley.

The Potters enter. Present are HARRY, GINNY, JAMES, and LILY. GINNY is wearing a cloche hat with matching bow. She is trying to look her best, despite the usual mayhem.

GINNY: We are running out of time. James, where's your brother?

JAMES is busy smiling at a girl nearby. ALBUS weaves through the crowd with a grin. He's holding a shiny purple bag. HARRY exhales as he admires the magical world around them.

HARRY: I always loved coming to Diagon Alley. It meant I was leaving Privet Drive and going back to Hogwarts. Which was...well, compared to the Dursley's...

GINNY (to ALBUS): No more wandering off, d'you hear?

HARRY: If it's not too out of the way, I'd like to visit Ollivanders. Need him to look at this new wand.

LILY: Dad! Another wand? Already?

HARRY: Yes, regrettably. This one is just about the worst.

GINNY: At least it doesn't backfire. (beat) I loved those curtains.

JAMES and ALBUS speak in whispers. Peeking into the purple bag, JAMES takes out a seemingly normal comb.

JAMES: This guarantees that she'll notice me? You're sure?

ALBUS (with a wry smile): Ab-so-lutely.

JAMES: I need to find a mirror. Quick.

JAMES slips into a shop called "Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions".

LILY (to ALBUS): What'd you buy? Anything for me?

ALBUS hands the purple bag to his little sister. She squeals.

ALBUS: Use the mirror in Madam Malkin's. James can help you put them on.

The Potters come to a stop outside of the bookseller, "Flourish and Blotts". The wide windows show shelves laden with books and a table with some on display.

HARRY (to GINNY): Flourish and Blotts. Do you want a hand with their course books? I know you like a bargain. There's bound to be used copies near the —

A distracted witch carrying many bags slams awkwardly into GINNY. Her hat goes askew.

GINNY (to HARRY): Listen, I've got quite a lot of shopping to do, and you undoubtedly have Ministry work coming out of your ears, so...

HARRY: Are you mad at me about something?

GINNY: Harry, please — can we just —

HARRY: What's going on?

GINNY (looking shocked): What did you think would happen? We'd hug. I'd tell you I always loved you. What? What?

HARRY: Ginny, I thought we were past all that. What you saw —

GINNY: When did you become so dimwitted?

The brewing argument is stopped by a few passing wizards, eager to shake HARRY's hand. JAMES appears at the door of "Madam Malkin's", he has pink hair. JAMES is very unhappy. LILY appears at the door. She's wearing fairy wings that flutter. LILY is overjoyed. GINNY stops JAMES from strangling his brother. ALBUS is loving this.

ALBUS: What's the problem? She'll notice you. Guaranteed.

JAMES: I'll kill him. Mum, let me kill him.

LILY (twirling): Thank you, Albus. This will make me the most popular second year at Hogwarts.

While HARRY enjoys his doting public, GINNY struggles to put out the fires.

GINNY: Lily Potter, don't think you're bringing those to school tomorrow...

LILY: I love them. They're fluttery.

GINNY: Al, stop instigating.

ALBUS: Oh, all right.

GINNY: James, please, ignore your hair.

JAMES: How can I ignore it? It's pink!

He stares at his reflection in the window of the bookstore.

I'm going to have to use the Invisibility Cloak!

GINNY: That's not why your dad has that Cloak.

HARRY rejoins the family, looking perplexed.

HARRY (to JAMES): What happened to your hair?

GINNY: Albus gave James a comb that's made his hair turn a shade of pink.

She takes off her cloche hat and slams it onto the head of her oldest son.

There! Invisible.

GINNY inspects the comb.

Haven't seen one of these for a while. (she looks closer) Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. Of course.

HARRY (to ALBUS, skeptical): But we've given you no money. Did you steal this from Uncle George's shop? Empty your pockets.

ALBUS curls his lips in silent defiance. HARRY reminds ALBUS that he is the Prime Enforcer and pats him down. HARRY pauses, smirks, and takes out a small vial from his son's shirt pocket. It shimmers. ALBUS straightens his back, preparing himself for the scolding to come.

A love potion? They aren't even allowed to sell these anymore. And the comb, as well... (HARRY snatches the comb away from GINNY) You stole all of this from some box in the storeroom, didn't you?

ALBUS: It's not like he was using 'em.

GINNY (disappointedly): Al! Uncle George trusted you – and paid you. This is how you treat him?

ALBUS looks guilty for the first time.

ALBUS: Sorry, Mum.

HARRY: I've never been so disappointed. He's family!

ALBUS (with a laugh, his attitude shifting): As if you care about family.

HARRY knows a barb when he hears one. He grabs hold of his son's shirt collar. GINNY scans left and right, she fixes her hair and looks embarrassed.

HARRY: Excuse me? I am your father.

ALBUS: That's what I've been told.

GINNY: Harry, stop.

HARRY: Who put you up to this? Was it him?

ALBUS has no reply to that.

It doesn't matter. You're bringing all of this straight back.

GINNY: Harry, can you just do it. I need him to pick out his robes.

HARRY: He needs to apologize to George!

GINNY (with a sigh): Albus, just go into the bookshop.

HARRY (to GINNY): Not on his life. I am not raising a thief.

ALBUS (his eyes on the vial of love potion): You should keep that, Dad. Let's hope it brings you a heart. You certainly need one.

GINNY (to ALBUS, her gaze severe): Al, go!

She thrusts a supply list into his hand. ALBUS hangs his head as he follows LILY and JAMES into Flourish and Blotts. HARRY puts his hands on his hips, mouth slightly open.

HARRY: I cannot believe you're letting him get away with that.

GINNY: I knew we made a mistake coming here together.

HARRY: Why would you undermine me, Ginny? How is the boy going to respect me, or authority in general, if —?

GINNY: You know, Harry...

GINNY drags the hair out of her eyes to make sure that her husband can see the exhaustion on her face.

Maybe you should stay out here. We don't like you when you're like this.

HARRY: Like what? A responsible dad?

GINNY: No, you treat your son like one of your suspects.

HARRY: He just committed a crime. You baby him—that's the problem.

GINNY: He's just a kid. Fred and George were always nicking things, driving my mother crazy. Al knew he'd done the wrong thing and I would have punished him for it. But not so publicly.

HARRY: The boy needs a forceful hand.

GINNY: You've given that to him, believe me. All summer you've been at one another's throats.

HARRY: I deserve his respect.

GINNY: And he deserves yours. Albus is still angry that you told him he's not allowed to send owls to his best friend. Why not? What's the harm?

HARRY: I told him he could send owls. I just said that he had to keep the letters to once a week. I don't know why they need to talk so often.

GINNY: Stop trying to control him. Your son is best friends with a Malfoy. Come to grips with it. I have. Merlin knows, I'm no fan of Draco. But Astoria wasn't all bad. Maybe she had a positive effect on him.

HARRY: A positive effect... On Draco Malfoy... Are you even listening to yourself?

GINNY: Are you? Draco isn't a Death Eater anymore, Harry. Honestly, I don't think he ever was.

HARRY: Oh, but let's excuse the fact that he let all of them into the school the night Dumbledore was murdered.

GINNY: Draco couldn't bring himself to do it. You told me that.

HARRY: It's still his fault.

GINNY: Dumbledore knew what he was doing, Harry. He saw the bigger picture. That's something you've always had trouble with — always thinking about what's directly in front of you. Reacting. I know you're stressed, Harry, but you're handling Albus all wrong — because you're seeing things all wrong.

Beat. HARRY nods. There's a slightly uncomfortable silence. Both are trying to reach each other here, both are failing.