Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Quotes and Analysis

“One of them was a Slytherin and he was probably the bravest man I ever knew.”

Harry Potter; Act One, Scene Two

At Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, Albus Severus Potter tells his father that he is scared that the Sorting Hat will place him in Slytherin House, so Harry tells his son that he was named after Severus Snape, who was in Slytherin and helped him defeat Lord Voldemort.

“The truth is a beautiful and terrible thing, and should therefore be treated with great caution.”

Harry; Act One, Scene Nine

Harry quotes Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. In this moment Dumbledore did not tell him about the entire truth about the prophecy predicting his ensuring battle with Voldemort. In The Cursed Child, the quote is used to refer to Harry’s statement to Albus by saying that he wished that he wasn’t his son. When Harry quotes this, Ginny identifies it as something that Dumbledore would say.

“My father proved you don’t have to be a grown-up to change the Wizarding World.”

Albus; Act One, Scene Fourteen

This quote happens when Albus and Scorpius volunteer to go back in time to save Cedric Diggory. Amos Diggory has said that two teenagers are incapable of helping him. However, Albus reminds him that his father was a teenager when he defeated Lord Voldemort, the most powerful dark wizard that ever existed. This quote is notable because it highlights Albus's respect for his father, even in a moment of extreme distain for him.

"Because I don't think Voldemort is capable of having a kind son—and you're kind, Scorpius. To the depths of your belly, to the tips of your fingers."

Albus; Act Two, Scene Sixteen

In the Hogwarts library, Albus explains why Scorpius couldn't be the son of Voldemort. No child of Voldemort can be as kind or as good a friend as Scorpius is to Albus. This quote is the first time Scorpius ever hears a true reason why he is not the son of Voldemort, and it strengthens their relationship.

“We cannot protect the young from harm. Pain must and will come.”

Dumbledore; Act Two, Scene Eight

When Harry wants to interfere in Albus's life to protect him from the "dark cloud" around him, Dumbledore explains to Harry that Albus needs to learn on his own the types of pain that are around him because that is how children grow.

“The world changes and we change with it. I am better off in this world. But the world is not better. And I don't want that.”

Scorpius; Act Three, Scene Nine

In the parallel universe, Scorpius is more popular than he is back in his world. But he knows that even if this world is better for him than his real life he knows that it’s wrong for him to stay there. This is a clear view of the person that Scorpius Malfoy truly is: he is a loyal friend and moral person, who prefers to do what is right over what is easy.

“It is exceptionally lonely, being Draco Malfoy. I will always be suspected. There is no escaping the past.”

Draco; Act Four, Scene Four

This quote occurs in Harry’s office. Draco explains to Harry about his wife Astoria, who died of a blood curse her family has. Draco reveals that he has a Time-Turner hidden, but does not tells anyone about because he doesn’t want people to believe that Scorpius is truly the son of Voldemort. The past will never be forgotten, nor will Malfoy's family's involvement with Lord Voldemort. His motives will always be assumed to be malicious.

“Love blinds. We have both tried to give our sons, not what they needed, but what we needed. We’ve been so busy trying to rewrite our own pasts, we’ve blighted their present.”

Harry; Act Four, Scene Four

This quote occurs in Harry’s office. After Draco and Harry talks about what they wanted their children to be they discover that they didn’t think about what their children wanted and needed. However, Harry and Draco tried to give them what they wished they could’ve had when they were young.

“They were great men, with huge flaws, and you know what—those flaws almost made them greater.”

Harry; Act Four, Scene Fifteen

Harry says this to Albus when the pair visit Cedric Diggory’s grave. Albus tells his father that he won’t be a good wizard especially since he almost destroyed the Wizarding world. Harry tells his son that the wizards he was named after, Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape, both had their problems and made mistakes like any other wizard, but that was what made them better wizards.

"I think it's going to be a nice day."

Harry; Act Four, Scene Fifteen

Harry's final line in the play; it portends that the relationship between father and son is not completely mended, but will in time become warmer and grow. The hope about the nice day represents the hope that he has for his relationship with Albus, who agrees: "so do I."