Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: 8 best cameos in JK Rowling's new script

** Spoilers for the script below **

Jack Shepherd
Sunday 31 July 2016 10:16 BST
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Poppy Miller and Jamie Parker as Ginny and Harry Potter
Poppy Miller and Jamie Parker as Ginny and Harry Potter

After months of waiting, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has finally hit bookshelves, many eager fans having now read the entire script back to front, analysing every small scene.

Already, the first review has appeared online in thanks to a 10-year-old speed-reader, while Twitter has been discussing the script’s many merits and flaws.

Notably, there are numerous cameos for fans to enjoy throughout. Not only do Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny return, but also a whole host of other characters, some completely unexpected.

For those who have read Cursed Child (and for those who don’t want to but are interested anyway) we’ve rounded up the eight best cameos. As you may have suspected, there are some major spoilers ahead. You’ve been warned.

8. Bane

Having foretold Harry Potter’s fortune years previously by looking at the stars, Bane is back once more, this time to see the future of Albus Severus Potter. After telling Harry a black cloud hangs around his son, the Boy-Who-Lived makes it his mission to split up best friends Scorpio and Albus. It’s a short inclusion of the centaur, but a pivotal one, and a nice nod to a minor character.

7. Minerva McGonagall

Arguably not really a cameo, McGonagall’s return as headmaster of Hogwarts will surely make fans smile. As always, she lays down the law of her school, sticking to Dumbledore's principles, leading to an argument with Harry.

6. Cedric Diggory

Another call-back many fans were probably not expecting, the entire plot of Cursed Child revolves around the death of Cedrick Diggory by the hand of Voldemort. Only once do we actually see Cedric, during the tri-wizard tournament, the Gryffindor student helping Albus and Scorpio. Surprisingly, in an alternate reality, Cedrick kills Nevil, something none of us saw coming.

5. Hagrid

Yes, the lovable giant returns, and better yet, he delivers the now-infamous line “You're a wizard, Harry” during a nightmare scene. For those in attendance at the theatre, seeing Hagrid’s huge body burst into the Dursley’s holiday home was a goosebumps moment, reminding everyone just how this whole franchise started.

4. Dolores Umbridge

Having taken over Hogwarts during The Order of the Phoenix, it turns out that - if Voldemort had won the Battle of Hogwarts - the devilish Dolores would still be in charge. Her appearance leads to many laughs in thanks to her quirky and terrifying persona, marking her return as one of the script’s many highlights.

3. Moaning Myrtle

Another character the audience was likely not expecting to see, Moaning Myrtle once again plays a pivotal role in the story while also, once again, flirting with our titular hero and Draco Malfoy. It’s a fun moment in the story, and a lovely call-back to the previous books.

2. Albus Dumbledore

(Warner Bros

One of the biggest moments from the whole production was Dumbledore’s magnificent entrance. Of course, the old headmaster wasn’t there in person, merely as an old portrait, but his numerous appearances bring wise council to Harry, the last of which gives way to an emotional scene in which the two share their love for each other.

1. Severus Snape

It’s only right Snape holds the top spot; the unsung hero of the original saga once again helps save the world from Voldemort. His brief appearance in part two will no doubt stir memories of the late Alan Rickman’s portrayal of the Potions master, leading to the most emotional cameo in the play and also one of the most surprising.

Meanwhile, JK Rowling has said Cursed Child could very well be the last adventure for Harry Potter, the author recently saying: ‘Harry is done’.

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