Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, a two-part stage play set 19 years after the events of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, follows the story of Harry Potter, now a middle-aged wizard working at the Ministry of Magic, and his youngest son, Albus Severus Potter. The play explores themes of legacy, family, and the impact of the past on the present.
—
Act One: The Struggles of a Son
The story begins as Albus prepares to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Despite being the son of a legendary hero, Albus feels overshadowed by Harry’s fame and struggles with the weight of his family’s legacy. On the Hogwarts Express, he befriends Scorpius Malfoy, the kind-hearted son of Draco Malfoy, who is rumored to be Voldemort’s child. This unlikely friendship isolates Albus further from his family.
During Albus’s first years at Hogwarts, he is sorted into Slytherin, performs poorly in school, and becomes estranged from Harry, who struggles to connect with him. Their relationship grows tense as Albus rejects his father’s legacy, feeling like a disappointment.
—
Act Two: The Time-Turner and a Dangerous Mission
Albus overhears a conversation about a Time-Turner discovered by the Ministry of Magic. When Amos Diggory, Cedric Diggory’s elderly father, pleads with Harry to use it to save Cedric from his tragic death during the Triwizard Tournament, Harry refuses. However, Albus sees this as an opportunity to prove himself.
Albus and Scorpius steal the Time-Turner with the help of Delphi, a mysterious young woman claiming to be Amos’s niece. Together, they travel back in time to the Triwizard Tournament, intending to prevent Cedric’s death. However, their interference alters the timeline, causing unintended consequences in the present.
—
Act Three: Alternate Realities
The boys’ actions create a series of alternate realities. In one timeline, Cedric survives but becomes bitter and joins Voldemort, leading to a dystopian world where Voldemort rules and Harry is dead. In another, Albus is never born. Each altered reality showcases the dangers of tampering with the past and the ripple effects of even small changes.
Realizing their mistake, Albus and Scorpius attempt to fix the timelines, but they are betrayed by Delphi, who reveals her true identity: she is Delphini, the daughter of Voldemort and Bellatrix Lestrange, conceived before the Battle of Hogwarts. Delphi intends to bring her father back to power by ensuring he survives his fateful encounter with Harry as a baby.
—
Act Four: The Final Confrontation
Delphi takes Albus and Scorpius back to the night when Voldemort killed Harry’s parents, intending to prevent the event. Harry, Ginny, Ron, Hermione, and Draco, having discovered their children’s disappearance, follow them using the Time-Turner.
In a climactic confrontation, the group stops Delphi from altering the past. Harry, disguised as Voldemort, confronts her, and the group manages to subdue her without disrupting the timeline. Delphi is captured and sent to Azkaban.
—
Conclusion: Reconciliation and Growth
After returning to the present, Harry and Albus reconcile. Harry admits his struggles as a father and reassures Albus that he does not need to live up to his legacy. The play ends with a hopeful tone, as father and son come to a deeper understanding of each other.
—
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child expands the original series by exploring themes of parental expectations, identity, and the consequences of our actions. Though the play has faced mixed reactions from fans, it offers a new perspective on beloved characters and the enduring legacy of the wizarding world.