Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

“ALBUS Dad… Do you think—what if I am—what if I’m put in Slytherin…

HARRY And what would be wrong with that?

ALBUS Slytherin is the house of the snake, of Dark Magic…It’s not a house of brave wizards.

HARRY Albus Severus, you were named after two headmasters of Hogwarts. One of them was a Slytherin and he was probably the bravest man I ever knew.”

At the play’s beginning, Albus voices his fears about being in Slytherin to Harry. Besides foreshadowing Albus’s eventual sorting into Slytherin, Harry’s response also foreshadows the eventual bravery Albus will display. The conversation also indicates that father and son were once able to talk honestly and freely.

“ROSE Al. We need to concentrate.

ALBUS Concentrate on what?

ROSE On who we choose to be friends with. My mum and dad met your dad on their first Hogwarts Express you know…

ALBUS So we need to choose now who to be friends with for life? That’s quite scary.

ROSE On the contrary, it’s exciting. I’m a Granger-Weasley, you’re a Potter—everyone will want to be friends with us, we’ve got the pick of anyone we want.”

Rose stresses the importance of making friends right off the bat, highlighting the importance of this theme throughout the play. Rose’s and Albus’s different responses to this challenge also point to their contrasting temperaments.

“SCORPIUS Did you really think she’d come to us? Potters don’t belong in Slytherin.

ALBUS This one does. I didn’t choose, you know that? I didn’t choose to be his son.”

Lily is sorted into Gryffindor, prompting even Scorpius to note that Potters don’t belong in Slytherin. Besides displaying how out-of-place Albus feels, his response shows the bitterness and resentment he has begun to feel about being Harry’s son.