What to know before watching Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
A quick synopsis of what has happened in the first seven instalments of Harry Potter’s life.
Before Harry was born, the wizarding wold was at war. On one side was Lord Voldemort, and his followers (the Death Eaters) who brought about a reign of terror. At the peak of the war, Voldemort learnt about a prophecy that predicted his defeat, a prophecy about a child. He tracked down James and Lily Potter, and their young child, Harry, at their home in Godric’s Hollow, and killed James, and then demanded Lily hand over the baby. She protected her child and in doing so set up a protective charm on her son. After killing Lily, Voldemort tried to klll Harry, but the spell rebounded, leaving Harry with a lightning shaped scar on his forehead, and Voldemort nearly dead, fled into hiding.
Harry was left with his non-wizarding uncle and aunt, until the age of 11 when he learnt of his wizarding heritage. He left home and headed to Kings Cross Station, where he walked through a wall on to Platform 9 and 3/4, and caught the Hogwarts Express, a steam train, that took them up in to the Scottish highlands, to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. On this magical train he met Ron Weasley and Hermione Grainger, who would become his best friends. On arrival the new students encountered the Sorting Hat, which would choose which of the 4 houses each student would go into: Griffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff or Slytherin. Harry, Ron and Hermione were sorted into Griffindor, and encountered Draco Malfoy, who they swiftly disliked, who was sorted into Slytherin, which has historically been where many of the most evil wizards have started out. Harry also first meets the legendary headmaster of Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore, who will become a sort of father figure to Harry over the next few years.
Harry swiftly learnt that some of the factions behind the wizarding war still existed. One of the key dividing points between the factions was heritage. Ordinary, non-wizarding people are often referred to as “muggles”, or more snobbishly as “mud-bloods”, who are unaware of the existence of the wizarding world. Voldemort’s faction had been vehemently against anyone not descended from a “pure” wizarding family, and also felt they should rule over the muggles. Draco Malfoy comes from a pure blood family, and is often encouraged by his dad, Lucius Malfoy, to deride and insult Harry and his friends.
Harry’s time at Hogwarts included many notable adventures. In his 4th year (the book, Goblet of Fire), Harry took part in the TriWizard Tournament, an event that saw him compete against fellow school mate Cedric Diggory and two other students from other schools in a series of tasks on the grounds of Hogwarts: taming a dragon (on the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest), an underwater task (in the lake), and a race through a maze of hedges (on the Quidditch pitch). With the other competitors eliminated, Harry and Cedric decided to win together, but upon touching the trophy they were transported away - the trophy had been turned into a portkey to bring Harry to a ritual that would undo the curse on Voldemort. Being surplus, “a spare”, to this ritual, Voldemort orders Cedric be killed in front of Harry. Over the next few years Voldemort regains his strength and his power, and restarts his reign of terror. But there seems to be some sort of psychic link between Harry and Voldemort, caused by Voldemort’s attach on Harry as a child. Harry’s scar hurts whenever Voldemort is angered by something.
At school, Harry, Ron and Hermione learnt how to fly a broom, to use a wand, how to cast spells and how to mix potions together. One of the teachers they encounter is Severus Snape, who they are convinced is working secretly. for Voldemort. They eventually learn that Severus was at school with Harry’s mother, Lily, and had been in love with her; and that Severus had been working to protect Harry, and had been working as a double agent for Dumbledore.
After several more turbulent years, where many of Harry’s friends are killed, including Professor Dumbledore, Harry and Voldemort faced off in a decisive battle, the Battle of Hogwarts, that left Harry the victor and Voldemort dead. Though, it was the often underestimated Neville Longbotton who turned the tide of the battle, killing Voldemort’s powerful snake and horcrux, Nagini.
When the Harry Potter books and movies ended, Harry had become the head of the Department of Aurors at the Ministry of Magic, and married Ginny Weasley. Together, they have three children: firstborn James, middle child Albus Severus and their youngest Lily. In the final chapter of the seventh book, we see Harry, standing on the platform at Kings Cross Station, now in his mid-thirties, saying goodbye to James, and to Albus, who is starting his first year at Hogwarts, about to depart on the Hogwarts Express. Lily. Ron and Hermione have married, and are there as well, sending off their daughter, Rose.
As the book ends, Harry touches his scar and we were told it hasn’t pained him in 19 years. All is well. This is where Harry Potter and the Cursed Child starts.
Learn more about the journey of bringing the stage production to life: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: The Journey
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child soundtrack by Imogen Heap