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Part 1, Act 1, Scene 17
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Parenthood
Time, Mistakes, and the Past
Friendship, Family, Love, and Bravery
Reputation and Expectation
Death and Sacrifice
Summary
Analysis
Outside Hermione’s office, Scorpius, Albus, and Delphi (still transformed into Harry, Ron, and Hermione) try to act casually. They’ve used Veritaserum on a Ministry official and found out that the Time-Turner is in Hermione’s office. Suddenly, they hear the real Harry and Hermione approaching the office. They quickly decide that Scorpius and Delphi have to hide in the office, while Albus (as Ron) will distract Hermione and prevent her from getting into her office. They quickly slip inside even as Albus protests that he doesn’t know what to say.
It’s apt that Scorpius, Albus, and Delphi have transformed themselves into the trio of Harry, Ron, and Hermione. It creates parallels between these two trios: just as Harry leaned on Ron and Hermione during all of his adventures, Albus is relying on Delphi and Scorpius. This again demonstrates how friendship is key to fostering bravery and overcoming obstacles in one’s life.
Themes
As Hermione and Harry approach in an argument, Albus (as Ron) greets and kisses Hermione. Turning back to Harry, she explains that Harry shouldn’t dwell on telling Albus that Harry wished he weren’t his son. Hermione says that everyone says things they don’t mean, but Albus/Ron explains that sometimes people say stuff they do mean. Hermione dismisses Ron, saying that this isn’t the time, and Harry leaves. When Hermione tries to get inside, Albus (as Ron) blocks the entrance. Hermione stares at him suspiciously, but she’s due for another meeting anyway, so she exits. Albus goes inside the office, relieved.
This exchange is poignant in two ways: first, it shows how Harry relies on his friends to work through and overcome his obstacles (like the pain that he has caused Albus). But the fact that he says it around Albus, who is pretending to be Ron in order to ultimately prove his worth to Harry, makes literal Albus’s and Harry’s difficulties in being honest and open with one another.
Themes
