Betrayal is common in the Harry Potter universe. In Harry's first year, one of his trusted teachers had Voldemort's head growing from the back of his own, for Dumbledore's sake. Harry couldn't turn a corner at Hogwarts without bumping into a kid or adult with ties to the Death Eaters. Harry even ended up betraying himself in a way, when he turned out to be a Horcrux.
So yeah, betrayal is pretty much par for the course in Harry's world. We expect someone to get double-crossed (maybe even triple) during the course of the play.
However, for the younger characters in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, like Albus and Scorpius, betrayal stings much more. Not only are they younger, but Hogwarts isn't the teeming nest of Death Eaters it once was. Betrayal's harder to handle when it comes from people that are on the side of right.
Questions About Betrayal
- How do Albus and Harry betray one another's trust?
- How do you feel about Cedric's betrayal? Does it seem strange that he would become a Death Eater?
- Does Delphi care about betraying Albus' trust?