HOGSMEADE, TOWN SQUARE — PRESENT

The stage is dark. Out of the darkness, we hear a loud, persistent ticking. It's coming from the Time-Turner. There's a crescendo in the ticking, it gets louder still. And the Time-Turner ticks to a stop. And we're back in the present.

Lights come up on a lovely little wizarding town, shopfronts with steeply sloping roofs, a magical fountain, and many young people in black robes shuttling past one another. Among them, standing beside the fountain, is PROFESSOR McGONAGALL. She is wearing a stern look.

McGONAGALL: Slow your pace — will you, please. Merlin's waistcoat! You act as if there's not enough space on the train!

RAVENCLAW STUDENT: Bye, Professor McGonagall.

McGONAGALL: Goodbye.

HUFFLEPUFF STUDENT: Bye, Professor.

GRYFFINDOR STUDENT: See you next fall.

McGONAGALL: All right.

SLYTHERIN STUDENT: Toodle-oo.

A magnificent owl flutters over the rooftops. It comes down to greet PROFESSOR McGONAGALL. There is an envelope under its wing. McGONAGALL takes the letter and reads it as the owl exits. Her expression moves from one of disinterest to great consideration, worry, and sympathy. Other students pass her to say goodbye. She ignores them and lowers the letter, her eyes strained and sorrowful. PROFESSOR McGONAGALL looks around, searching the storefronts keenly.

HARRY enters between the buildings. He is carrying BABY DELPHINI. When PROFESSOR McGONAGALL notices him, she takes a full breath and seems unwilling to exhale until he is close and within her protection.

McGONAGALL (with much exertion): Mister Potter.

HARRY (evenly): Professor.

McGONAGALL: Welcome back... to Hogsmeade.

HARRY: You received my owl?

She takes another substantial breath and raises the letter.

McGONAGALL: I did. This is quite the... quite the story.

HARRY glances over his shoulder. He sees the young students making their way through town without a care in the world.

HARRY: You don't know how good it is to be back here, Professor.

McGONAGALL: You changed things. (beat, she shakes her head disapprovingly) You had a chance and you changed time.

HARRY: Only because I knew what should be different.

PROFESSOR McGONAGALL leans over to look at BABY DELPHINI. She seems overwhelmed by the knowledge of what HARRY has experienced.

McGONAGALL: And this must be... the heir?

HARRY: Of Voldemort and Bellatrix Lestrange.

McGONAGALL: The ineffective living Horcrux. My word...

HARRY (leadingly): So... you'll...?

McGONAGALL: Yes.

She takes the baby from HARRY and appears far less awkward holding a child than we might have anticipated. There is a tender moment.

And the Time-Turners?

HARRY: Right.

HARRY hands those to her as well. She pockets them.

If I never see one of those again it'll be too soon.

McGONAGALL: What you've gone through, I cannot imagine. And you actually recall both accounts of history?

HARRY: I do, though one is... beginning to fade.

There is a pause. HARRY looks around himself as if seeing Hogsmeade for the first time.

I know everything has worked out for the better, and yet I'm having difficulty trusting these memories. Things were so different in this time. Delphi was never here. Not during Ron's violation, which meant I was more willing to give him another chance. Ron has moved up in the department, in fact. He's Second In Command to the Prime Enforcer.

McGONAGALL: And your son?

HARRY: I saved Al from himself. He was never in Azkaban, which meant there was never a breakout at the start of his schooling. There were no photographers on the platform when we arrived that day — which kept me from embarrassing him. Al was confident that morning, and there was nothing encouraging him to be different than his father.

McGONAGALL: Albus Potter was Sorted into Gryffindor.

HARRY: Yes... I don't know how I feel about that.

McGONAGALL: He had a choice. He chose Gryffindor. He wanted to be like his father.

HARRY: And he still sat with Scorpius Malfoy on the train. Along with Rose Weasley. They're very good friends, those three.

McGONAGALL: As well as rivals on the Quidditch pitch.

HARRY: That's right. She's a Ravenclaw.

HARRY smiles. He looks away, reminiscing. His smile widens with a small laugh.

There is a photograph of us all — standing in front of the Hogwarts Express — when Lily, Hugo, and Roxanne were leaving for Hogwarts. We're all so happy. It's my favorite photo. I have it framed on my desk.

McGONAGALL: I take it things were not so agreeable between you all? Before?

HARRY: No, sadly.

McGONAGALL: Am I the only one who is aware of this... alternate time?

HARRY: I'm not trusting this to anyone else, it's too important.

McGONAGALL: Understood. And may I offer an apology for... well... there's no polite way of saying this...

HARRY: For strangling me?

McGONAGALL: Hmm. Yes.

HARRY: No need. It was effective and I... sort of had it coming.

McGONAGALL: I see.

She nods down at BABY DELPHINI.

And what, may I ask, is your plan for the interim?

HARRY glances over across the Town Square as a woman with long red hair exits a pub — The Three Broomsticks. She sees HARRY and PROFESSOR McGONAGALL and waves politely. It is GINNY POTTER! She's alive!

HARRY runs to her.

He throws himself into GINNY's arms. GINNY receives him, delighted. HARRY kisses GINNY hard, smiling intensely as he does.

MCGONAGALL (to herself): I needn't have asked.

She turns a curious student away from the public display of affection and exits with BABY DELPHINI.

GINNY (giggling, embarrassed): Harry...

He kisses her hard again.

Everyone can see!

HARRY: Let them.

HARRY takes GINNY in his arms. There is a big pause filled with pure happiness. HARRY lifts GINNY as they kiss. Then sets her down. He gets close to her face and smiles, gaze focused and unmoving.

GINNY: You're being awfully affectionate.

HARRY (effusively): You have no idea how good it is to see you again.

GINNY: You just saw me two minutes ago.

HARRY: A lot has happened since then. I've just done a brilliant thing.

GINNY: You talk a lot of rubbish.

HARRY: I consider it my speciality.

GINNY pulls back. She can sense that there is something different about her husband. She tilts her head and smiles pertly.

GINNY: Get that strange look out of your eye and tell me what's going on.

HARRY: I'll explain later.

HARRY touches her face.

I love you, Ginny. More than anything. I hope you know that.

GINNY: Of course, I do. And I'm still very much obsessed with you.

HARRY: Even though I'm... (beat, he falters) the famous Harry Potter?

GINNY: Especially.

HARRY kisses her again.

HARRY: I've never deserved you. You know that?

GINNY: Yeah, I know. I'm a hot commodity.

She smiles demurely. He is enamored with her.

What's got into you, Mister Potter?

HARRY: Nothing, Missus Potter. Just very glad to see you.

He puts an arm around her and they walk through the town square.

GINNY: The kids are coming home. I think it's going to be a nice day.

HARRY: So do I.

She faces him.

GINNY: Shall we, then? Let's not leave them waiting.

HARRY pulls away but holds firmly to her hand. He looks back to where the students are headed.

HARRY: I have to do something first. I owe an apology to a dear friend. Will you... wait for me inside?

GINNY: Harry. I'm not going anywhere, are you?

HARRY: Never.

HARRY exits at a run. GINNY watches him.