Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: 19 years later is just the beginning

We experienced 19 years later this week and it reminds us the importance of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. And the cast that celebrated it!

Everybody in the Harry Potter universe, from writers to actors to fans, celebrated September 1st with extra fondness this year. This was the year Harry put his son, Albus, on the train to Hogwarts. And like Harry,  for most fans this day felt bittersweet, because this was the last actual day from the books that we could celebrate in our own time. But for the cast and crew of the play, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, this day was only the beginning.

The very first scene of Cursed Child enacts the final chapter from Deathly Hallows, when Harry, Ron, and Hermione see their children off to Hogwarts from Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. Draco Malfoy is also there on the platform to say goodbye to his son, Scorpius. The play revolves around the relationship between Albus and Scorpius and the lingering effects of the war with Voldemort. So this day was extra special to the play’s cast and crew, and they made a video to tell us why:

Cursed Child cast and crew members tweeted how much the day meant to them. From playwright, Jack Thorne, about 11 year old Scorpius Malfoy:

From James Howard, who plays Draco Malfoy:

And from Samuel Blenkin, who plays Draco’s son, the adorable Scorpius:

As you saw in the video, when in costume as adult Draco, James Howard looks incredibly like his movie dad, Lucius Malfoy, played by Jason Isaacs. Jason couldn’t help a wistful moment, maybe because he and Draco have been estranged ever since the Battle of Hogwarts:

There may be big September First celebrations in New York next year, because Harry Potter and the Cursed Child  is coming to Broadway, Spring 2018. They just released their first billboard on September first, 2017, in honor of the play’s first scene – Albus Potter and Scorpius Malfoy setting off for Hogwarts on that very day.

Back in London, witch and wizard fans apparated to where it all began, King’s Cross Station on Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, for the 19 Years Later celebration.

They cleverly transformed any lit object into a wand for the wand salute. Professor McGonagall wept with pride. Gotta keep the Muggles happy.

What magic is this?

Other fans boarded the Hogwarts Express in the badly-kept secret that is the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The Muggles know all about it,  but chalk it up to theme park magic.

Next: Platform 9 3/4: My favorite moment going back to Hogwarts

So we say goodbye to our last real-time Harry Potter day. But the story moves on, and with time turners, and good apparation spells, we can always be home at Hogwarts.