Harry Potter and the Cursed Child : the next-gen Potter steals the show

'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child' is a play based on a story by Rowling, along with theater director John Tiffany and theater, film and radio writer Jack Thorne, who also adapted it for the stage. The last Harry Potter book that is “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” published a little over 9 years ago.

Going through the 1st few pages was like going through the memory lanes famous Harry Potter, Kingsroad Platform, Platform Nine And Three-Quarters and our favorite Hogwarts who can forget those places, reading them again was a pleasure that I would love to have again. Albus Severus Potter is a lovable character and his friendship with Scorpius reminded me of Harry, Ron & Hermoine. Like every other character he had his faults but I loved him more for those. The special father-son relationship of Harry and Albus, Time travels, Haunting dreams of Voldermort all these made this story all the more interesting.

The story opens from where “the Deathly Hallows” had concluded in the epilogue when Harry Potter and his friends, all grown up and with Hogwarts-going children they had come to drop at Platform Nine and Three Quarter. The tension started when the hat chose Albus as a Slytherine, he was not given a choice like his father when we saw the Sorting Hat ponders whether Harry belongs in Gryffindor or Slytherin and at decided to put him in Gryffindor as requested by Harry.

From the beginning we can see Albus struggling being the son of a famous father is an explainable pressure and at times he blurted out: “I didn’t choose, you know that? I  didn’t choose  to be his son.” The mind of a young boy is beautifully portrayed through his actions and gestures in the story. Albus wanted from the very beginning to prove himself. He is suffering from serious inferior complex

The new Harry, Ginny and Albus Potter

 issues and loves to stay alone. As in his mind people look at him even when his father is there as “Harry Potter and his disappointing son”. He had only one friend and that is none other than Scorpius, son of Draco Malfoy.

Scorpius is a very sensitive, kind hearted bibliophile and a great friend. He gave up a reality for his friend in which he had great importance. Snape’s word still rings in my ear “Listen to me, Scorpius. Think about Albus. You’re giving up your kingdom for Albus…” sorry for the spoilers but can’t stop going about it.

Without revealing any more just let me conclude with the following highlights:

• The time-turners are back and played a great role in this story.
• Dark lord have a child… we will meet him/her here
• Efforts of saving Cedric will result in alternate realities
• Snape will return but only for a while in an alternate reality

All in all the book is a delightfully interesting and gripping read.