Albus Severus Potter is the protagonist of the play—a young wizard, the second of three siblings, and the son of one of the most famous wizards of all time, Harry Potter. As the play begins, he is 11 years old, about to start his first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry; a jump in time has the play depicting events that occur when he is 14. Albus is a mediocre wizard, not displaying any particular excellence or skill in his studies or at the wizarding sport, Quidditch. He was once close with his cousin, Rose, though now his best friend is Scorpius.

Being the middle child and the second of two sons to someone as famous as Harry Potter weighs heavily on Albus; he is also named after two other great wizards: Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape. Of his siblings, Albus most resembles his father in appearance—they share the same black, untidy hair and green eyes. This has naturally drawn comparisons to Harry all his life, and Albus constantly feels like he is falling short of expectations. Being sorted into Slytherin House, then underperforming at magical studies and Quidditch, leads to Albus’s peers whispering how unlike Harry he is.