Untitled

Chapter 1

GODRIC’S HOLLOW, 1981

Albus looked up as wind whipped up on the ground infront of them. They were huddled in a bus shelter shivering. One moment it was nothing but the wind disturbing the snow, in the next. Harry, Ginny, Hermione, Ron, Draco and Astor.

Relief flooded across the boys faces. As the Adults looked around relieved.

“Mum?” Albus said grinning.

Harry beamed. “Albus Severus Potter are we pleased to see you”

Albus waddled to Ginny and hugged her tightly. Pressing against her belly as best he could. Ginny hugged him back delighted.

“You got our note?” Albus questioned.

“We got your note” she confirmed. Scorpius trotted up to Draco and Astor.

“Is Alice okay?” Albus asked concerned.

“Recovering from the stunning spell, Madam Pomfrey is keeping an eye on her,” Hermione told him.

“You are in so so so much trouble” Astor said as he hugged Scorpius tightly.

“Mum. I was kidnapped” Scorpius said relaxing in Astors tight hug.

“Yet you didn’t hand the time turner in when you had the chance” Astor pointed out. “But I’m glad your safe”

“We can hug too if you like ?” Draco suggested quietly.

Astor nudged Scorpius with an elbow, “go on..”

“I was going too” Scorpius insisted, as he hugged Draco’s round belly. “I missed you Dad.” Draco smiled and patted Scorpius affectionately.

“Now, where’s this Delphi?” Ron said pulling out his wand ready for a fight. Even if he was pushing five hundred pounds.

“You know about Delphi?” Scorpius asked straightening.

“She’s here, she’s trying to kill you we think. Before Voldemort curses himself. She’s going to kill you and so break the prophecy and…” Albus said explaining to his Dad and the others.

“Yes, we thought that might be it too. Do you know where specifically she is now?” Hermione asked firmly.

“She’s disappeared. How did you – how did you without the Time-Turner…” Scorpius frowned realising.

“That’s a long and complicated story, Scorpius” Harry said interrupting. “And we don’t have time for it.”

Draco smiled at Harry gratefully. Astor just called it his arms around Scorpius tightly.

“Harry’s right. Time is of the essence. We need to get people into position. Now, Godric’s Hollow is not a large place, but she could be coming from any direction. So we need somewhere that gives us good views of the town that allows for multiple and clear observation points and that will, most importantly, keep us hidden because we cannot risk being seen.” Hermione looked around cursory and smiled as she turned back to you. “They all frown, thinking. I’d say St Jerome’s Church ticks all those boxes, wouldn’t you?”

The church was locked but it didn’t take much to open it. “So are we going to make a barricade?” Astor said looking at Draco. “Or are we just going to keep pacing” he said eyeing Ron who waddling back and forth.

Draco sat down on a pew next to Astor. Scorpius was lying down, struggling to keep himself awake. “Your allowed to have a nap. It’s been a long day for you.”

“But…” Scorpius yawned.

Astor took off his jumper and offered it to Scorpius. “Use this as a pillow. Go on, your Dad’s right.”

Scorpius bundled up Astors jumper and lay down curling up.

“You know this most be exercise Ron has gotten in years. He might give himself a hernia?” Astor said grinning.

“How do you stay so positive? I don’t know how I would have got through it without you.”

“Because it was Scorpius. If it was August, then I would have been worried” Astor smiled wryly.

“I’m not asleep Mum” Scorpius commented.

“Well don’t tell your brother” Astor smiled.

“But really?” Draco prompted. His hand rubbing Astors leg.

“Because if I let all the bad thoughts in all the time. I don’t think I’d ever want to get up. I just try to make the best of it” Astor smiled.

Draco smiled and kissed Astors lips. “If we get through this. We need a holiday”

“Understatement” Astor grinned. “Let’s go somewhere warm. So I can spend six months working on my beach bod.”

Scorpius sat up quickly. “Six months?” He squinted.

“What happened to sleeping?” Astor said firmly.

“Mum. Are you?” Scorpius said gasping.

“I’m pregnant, due in March” Astor smiled. “Our plan wasn’t even to tell you kids. Pick you up in June with a baby sibling and see if you notice.”

“We would never get away with that” Draco smiled.

“I can’t believe your having another baby” Scorpius said shaking his head.

“We’ve been locked down for a year, having all you kids at home. It’s been nice, and good for us” Astor smiled.

Scorpius looked horrified, “please stop.”

“Oh never ever” Astor promised. “One day if you have that special person in your life. You’ll understand.”

“I look forward to enjoying the extra 100lbs on you” Draco whispered.

“Should we tell the others?” Astor said as Draco’s hand slipped up his shirt.

“Tell the others what?” Scorpius frowned.

“The time turner we used. Has a side affect. Whoever uses it that isn’t the intended owner. Puts on 50lbs each return trip.

Scorpius blinked immediately erect. “Instantly?”

“Pretty much. You’ll barely notice it…” Draco explained. “Probably.”

“I’ll notice” Scorpius frowned. “I’m skinny.”

“Yeah we messed up there” Draco grinned.

Scorpius rolled his eyes. “I can diet. I’ve done it before” he sighed.

“Not quite” Draco admitted. “It’s more like fifty pounds you can’t get rid of.”

“What?” Scorpius said frowning. “Who puts a hex like that on something.”

“He greatful it’s not a broken arm.”

“I’d prefer that” Scorpius said shaking his head.

“Next time we’ll leave you here then” Astor replied wryly.

❧

The group are gathered and full of confusion. Astor was seated near the window, shaking his head.

“So let me get this right – we’re fighting to protect Voldemort?” Ron said crossing his arms and standing firm his gut bulging enormously.

“Voldemort killing my grandparents. Voldemort trying to kill my dad?” Albus said firmly, as insane as it sounded.

“Of course, Ginny. Delphi’s not trying to kill Harry” Hermione grinned lighting up as she realised. “she’s stopping Voldemort trying to kill Harry. Brilliant.”

“So – we just wait? Until Voldemort turns up?” Draco said frowning.

“Does she know when he does turn up? Hasn’t she come here twenty-four hours early because she isn’t sure when he’ll arrive and in what direction? The history books” he glanced at Scorpius. “Correct me if I’m wrong, Scorpius show nothing about when and how he arrived in Godric’s Hollow?” He smiled at Scorpius.

Scorpius smiled back “You’re not wrong.” Hermione and Scorpius answered simultaneously.

“Blimey! There are two of them!” Ron said laughing.

“So how can we use this to our advantage?” Draco asked firmly. Trying to get a plan out of it.

“Oh for Merlin’s sake your going to be working on this for hours” Astor said walking to the door and opening. He pulled out his wand. “Delphi Diggory you get here right now or I will happily travel forward in time and step on your infant neck. How dare you use a cruciatas curse on my son!” Astor stopped and smiled and stepped inside.

“There’s no way that’s worked. He’s also probably blown our cover” Ron said shooting a look to Draco.

“Astor. really we were…”

Above a stained glass window shattered as Delphi flew in with a sick grin.

“Oh” Ron said surprised.

HERMIONE Positions. Everybody. And remember, don’t come out until he’s got her in the light. We’ve one shot at this, we don’t want to mess it up. They all move fast. DRACO Hermione Granger, I’m being bossed around by Hermione Granger. (She turns towards him, he smiles.) And I’m mildly enjoying it. SCORPIUS Dad . . .

HARRY Fine. I’ll deal with you alone. He moves to attack her again. But she is

far stronger. HARRY’s wand ascends towards her. He is disarmed. He is helpless. How did you . . . ? What are you? DELPHI I’ve watched you for a long time, Harry Potter. I know you better than my father did. HARRY You think you’ve learnt my weaknesses? DELPHI I’ve studied to be worthy of him! Yes, even though he is the supreme wizard of all time, he will be proud of me. Expulso! HARRY rolls away as the floor explodes behind him. He crawls frantically under a church pew, trying to work out how he can fight her. Are you crawling away from me? Harry Potter. Hero of the wizarding world. Crawling away like a rat.

Wingardium Leviosa! The church pew ascends into the air. The question is whether it’s worth my time to kill you, knowing that as soon as I stop my father, your destruction will be assured. How to decide? Oh, I’m bored, I’ll kill you.

DELPHI Two of you? Choices, choices. I think I’ll kill the boy first. Avada Kedavra! She fires the Killing Curse at ALBUS – but HARRY throws him out of the way. The bolt smashes into the ground. He fires a bolt back. You think you’re stronger than me? HARRY No. I’m not. They fire bolts mercilessly at each other as ALBUS rolls quickly away and slams a spell into one door and then another, opening them. ALBUS Alohomora! HARRY But we are. ALBUS Alohomora!

HARRY I’ve never fought alone, you see. And I never will. HERMIONE, RON, GINNY and DRACO emerge from the doors, and fire up their spells at DELPHI, who screams out in exasperation. This is titanic. But she can’t fight them all. There are a series of bangs – and then, overpowered and devastated, DELPHI tumbles down to the floor. DELPHI No . . . No . . . HERMIONE Brachiabindo! She’s bound. HARRY advances towards DELPHI. He doesn’t take his eyes off her. All the others stay back. HARRY Albus, are you okay?

ALBUS Yes, Dad, I’m okay. HARRY still doesn’t take his eyes off DELPHI. He’s still scared of her.

HARRY keeps advancing towards DELPHI. HARRY A lot of people have tried to hurt me – but my son! You dare hurt my son!

DELPHI I only wanted to know my father. These words take HARRY by surprise. HARRY You can’t remake your life. You’ll always be an orphan. That never leaves you. DELPHI Just let me – see him. HARRY I can’t and I won’t. DELPHI (truly pitiful) Then kill me. HARRY thinks a moment. HARRY I can’t do that either . . . ALBUS What? Dad? She’s dangerous. HARRY No, Albus . . .

ALBUS But she’s a murderer – I’ve seen her murder— HARRY turns and looks at his son and then at GINNY. HARRY Yes. Albus, she’s a murderer, and we’re not. HERMIONE We have to be better than them. RON Yeah, it’s annoying but it’s what we learnt. DELPHI Take my mind. Take my memory. Make me forget who I am. RON No. We’ll take you back to our time. HERMIONE And you’ll go to Azkaban. Same as your mother.

DRACO Where you’ll rot.

HARRY hears a noise. A hissing noise. And then there is a noise like death – a noise like nothing else we’ve heard before. Haaarry Pottttter . . . SCORPIUS What’s that? HARRY No. No. Not yet. ALBUS What? RON Voldemort. DELPHI Father? HERMIONE Now? Here? DELPHI Father!

DRACO Silencio! (DELPHI is gagged.) Wingardium Leviosa! (She is sent upwards and away.) HARRY He’s coming. He’s coming right now. VOLDEMORT comes through the back of stage, and across it, and walks down into the auditorium. And the air fills with the hatred and fear he spreads. He brings death with him. And everyone knows it.