Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Part 1, Act 2, Scene 20 Summary & Analysis

In 1995, Albus and Scorpius swim through the lake, hearing Ludo Bagman announce above the surface. Cedric Diggory swims through the water, and Albus and Scorpius fire an Engorgement charm at him. Cedric starts to grow and float out of the water, and Bagman announces that Cedric is out of the second task. Bagman also states that Cedric is turning into a balloon, and that fireworks are exploding around him, declaring, “Ron loves Hermione.” Albus and Scorpius high five as people laugh.

Just then, the world becomes darker, almost black, and the Time-Turner stops ticking in a flash. Back in the present, Scorpius emerges from the lake, triumphant. But then he quickly realizes that Albus isn’t coming up. Scorpius looks back into the water, calling Albus’s name, and then he starts to panic.

Whispers in Parseltongue erupt, and Dolores Umbridge pulls Scorpius Malfoy out of the water. She says that his family may be important, but she’s the headmistress and she doesn’t have time for his dillydallying. Scorpius says there’s a student in the lake—Albus Potter. Umbridge explains that there hasn’t been a Potter at the school for years, and he died. Scorpius is aghast—Harry Potter is dead.

Wind blows throughout the theater, and dementors begin to fly, sucking the happiness from the stage. Whispers grow; Harry’s nightmares have come to life. Umbridge says that Harry died as a part of a failed coup on the school more than 20 years earlier. She says to stop the nonsense—he’s upsetting the dementors and ruining Voldemort day. Giant banners with snake symbols descend over the stage, and Scorpius is horrified.