Louisa Weasley enters the attic bedroom of her home in Knockturn Alley, shuts the door and breathes a sigh of relief. Her three-year-old Bertie won’t settle and tomorrow they have to make a long journey by portkey to Argentina.

CHARLIE: You ok? (he was concerned the kids had been feeling her concern for ages)

LOUISA: Dandy (her regular use of this word recently was not easing his worry)

CHARLIE: We can always leave him with my mum. (he tried hopefully)

LOUISA: No, he’ll just be worse without us.

CHARLIE: Then I’ll stay behind, I know how much it means to you.

LOUISA: Then I’d miss you both. It’s all or none. We have to do this. It’s important, look at Astoria. Who knows how much time she has with Scorpius. And whose to say I’m not like her.

(There was a knock at the door, and Delphi entered. Screams suddenly erupt again from the children downstairs.)

CHARLIE: I’m going, I’m going. (he leaves the room as Louisa organises the last of their things.)

DELPHI: It’s important to you isn’t it, this game. (stopping slightly)

LOUISA: Yes, it actually is.

DELPHI: Why do you want me there?

LOUISA: Because as much as you hate to admit it Delphi, you are as much of this family as anyone else. Listen
when I went to the World Cup … before. I was your age. You always tell me you want to live the life I had well I want you to experience the World Cup, hopefully not quite the same way, but still. Teddy will be there and he’s your cousin so you can’t say fairer than that.

DELPHI: What about Draco?

LOUISA: Not sure on that one. I don’t know if Astoria is fit for Portkeys. I mentioned it so it will depend on the day.

DELPHI: Did you enjoy it?

LOUISA: (smiling) immensely. Even with the bad bits. He was my best friend.

DELPHI: Better than Fred and George?

LOUISA: Different. He didn’t prank like Fred and George but he understood what was important. He was kind and loyal.

DELPHI: A bit soft then.

LOUISA: NO! Just the sort of person I needed. (takes her hand) And one day you’ll find what you need too.

DELPHI: Can I ask you some…

CHARLIE: Asleep…! Finally! Sorry am I interrupting? (the silence from the girls leaves the air awkward.) right I see.
I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me. (backs away out the door).

LOUISA: Go on then ask what you want.

DELPHI: Did you really hate her?

LOUISA: Hate who?

DELPHI: My mum?

LOUISA: Oh! (laughs. no, I never hated her)

DELPHI: Then what? You never say anything good about her.

LOUISA: And I doubt she’d say anything good about me either but it doesn’t make it right.

DELPHI: Why would she hate you?

LOUISA: Probably because I was everything she wanted (Delphi was puzzled) YOU! I was the daughter of the Dark
Lord the one she wanted. But she wasn’t my mother and she was angered by that. She saw that he would go to any lengths to protect me and that is what she had always wanted. For you.

DELPHI: But you still hated her.

LOUISA: We came to an… understanding. In the end. Narcissa and Dromeda helped me see. She had been through a lot in her life. Your grandparents, Azkaban. But you’ve heard this before why do you want to hear it again?

DELPHI: I just want to hear about her.