The play “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” attempts to address certain inconsistencies within the original Harry Potter series, yet its core concept is founded on elements that conflict with details established 18 years earlier. The original books introduced various magical rules and insights about how magic functions in that world, and some of these concepts, such as the limitations of Felix Felicis and the Time Turner, remain consistent. However, “Cursed Child” introduces modifications to established lore, particularly with Albus’s story, which diverges significantly from Harry’s experiences in the original series.
Albus’s placement in Slytherin raises questions since he is apprehensive about this outcome. The Sorting Hat’s role in determining house placements contradicts the notion that Albus’s fears should have permitted him a choice, especially given that Harry himself was nearly sorted into Slytherin but explicitly requested Gryffindor. Dumbledore’s perspective suggests that our choices profoundly shape our identities, which implies Albus could have made a different decision regarding his sorting.
The play seems to challenge the negative stereotypes associated with Slytherin, yet it does so by breaking the established Sorting Hat lore. This inconsistency underscores a key dilemma for the sequel: attempting to align “Cursed Child” with the original canon without reworking its foundation. Although there is a discussion about the nature of Slytherin characters, the dilemma created by Albus’s Sorting placement strains the narrative.
If Albus had been depicted as actively choosing Slytherin rather than being assigned to it due to fear, the narrative might have been richer, potentially fostering more intriguing dialogue between him and Harry. If reimagined, “Cursed Child” could have offered a more compelling narrative without disrupting the integrity of the established lore.
