The Augurey symbolizes Delphi’s desire to shape her own future. Literally, Augureys are “sinister-looking black birds that cry when rain’s coming.” Delphi explains to Scorpius and Albus that wizards used to believe that the Augurey’s cries foretold death. Delphi’s guardian, Euphemia Rowle, used to tell Delphi that her Augurey would cry because it could see that Delphi would come to a “sticky end.” Delphi then gets the bird tattooed on her neck because she wants to believe that the future can be whatever she wants it to be. This is why, in the timeline in which Voldemort lives, the Augurey becomes a major symbol of his regime—with Delphi ruling by his side, she implements the symbol to suggest that she is the master of her own destiny, and of the world’s destiny, too.
The Augurey Quotes in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
SCORPIUS: You—Polly Chapman—want me to take you to a—ball?
There is the sound of screaming behind him.
What is that screaming?
POLLY CHAPMAN: Mudbloods, of course. In the dungeons. Your idea, wasn’t it? What’s going on with you? Oh Potter—I’ve got blood on my shoes again…
She bends and carefully cleans the blood of her shoes.
Like the Augurey insists—the future is ours to make—so here I am, making a future—with you. For Voldemort and Valor.
SCORPIUS: For Voldemort it is.
POLLY walks on, SCORPIUS look agonized. What is this world—and what is he within it?
HERMIONE: We get this right, Harry’s alive, Voldemort’s dead, and the Augurey is gone, for that no risk is too great. Though I am sorry what it will cost you.
SNAPE: Sometimes costs are made to be borne.
SCORPIUS: An Augurey?
DELPHI: Haven’t you met them in Care of Magical Creatures? They’re sinister-looking black birds that cry when rain’s coming. Wizards used to believe that the Augurey’s cry foretold death. When I was growing up, my guardian kept one in a cage.
SCORPIUS: Your… guardian?
DELPHI looks at SCORPIUS, now she has the Time-Turner she’s enjoying the game of this.
DELPHI: She used to say it was crying because it could see I was going to come to a sticky end. She didn’t like me much. Euphemia Rowle… she only took me in for the gold.
ALBUS: Why would you want a tattoo of her bird, then?
DELPHI: It reminds me that the future is mine to make.
The Augurey Symbol Timeline in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
