https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-326-Hermione-Maybe-It-s-a-Deity-/13685296/
Chapter 325: Obtaining the Time-Turner
The Simple Carriage swayed gently as it approached Hogwarts. Wade, as usual, cast a Transfiguration Charm on it first, turning the lanterns hanging on either side into glowing blue flames. The interior warmed instantly.
Theo exhaled deeply, rubbing his numb fingers. “Thank Merlin, thank Wade! I thought my hands were going to freeze off.”
“Feels unusually cold this year—this is only September!” Michael said, shaking out his Leaf Umbrella and setting it down beside his feet before blowing warm breath onto his palms.
Wade noticed Liam hesitating, repeatedly glancing at him. He stepped in proactively. “Liam, what’s on your mind?”
Liam hesitated a moment before speaking. “Wade… did you change your wand?”
Though the light had been dim earlier, Liam was certain—Wade’s wand was slightly shorter than before.
Wade pulled out his wand, gave it a light flick, then tucked it back. “It’s my spare. I’ve been using it lately.”
In truth, when Wade had captured the Bearded Man, he’d reclaimed the wand taken from him—though he hadn’t yet found the right moment to return it. Naturally, his original Poplar Wood wand had been put aside.
None of them questioned why he wasn’t using his old wand. Theo glanced at it and smiled. “Walnut wood, right? I had a hunch it suited you.”
“Walnut…” Neville paused, his expression suddenly distant.
“What’s wrong?” Theo noticed the shift in his friend’s mood instantly.
“Nothing,” Neville muttered, curling his fingers slightly and looking down. “Bellatrix Lestrange… she used a Walnut wand.”
“I remember reading in The Fundamentals of Wand Theory that walnut symbolizes wisdom and inspiration. Its master is often a magical innovator or inventor. But it also has extraordinary adaptability—it follows every command of its owner without resistance.”
“So it’s the ideal partner for a wizard… and a deadly weapon,” Michael said, resting his chin on his hand. “No morals whatsoever… I like it.”
“I heard only exceptionally gifted wizards can be chosen by a walnut wand…” Neville said, wiping his face and shaking off the sudden mood. “Wade, did you buy this one from Ollivander’s?”
“No,” Wade replied. “A secondhand miscellaneous goods shop.”
“Theo introduced me to it.”
“Hey, take me there sometime!” Michael slung an arm around Theo’s shoulders. “I want a backup wand too—feels like it could come in handy.”
“Sure, but there aren’t many options there,” Theo said.
“No connections needed—just a backup,” Michael mused. “Hmm… I’ll go for yew… or maybe blackthorn would work too.”
“Blackthorn’s fine, but yew? That’s not really you,” Liam teased.
“Who cares if it fits? Sounds cool,” Michael shot back.
At that moment, the carriage arrived at Hogwarts. Wade stepped down and patted the Night Kneazle, who snorted and steamed in the cold. The black Pegasus tilted its head slightly, its hollow eyes both terrifying and strangely endearing.
Michael picked up his Leaf Umbrella and glanced back at the empty space ahead of the carriage before falling into step with the others.
They ascended the stone steps into the castle. Mud splattered across the ground, and the portraits lining the walls began grumbling. Students ignored them, hurrying past toward the warmth of the Great Hall.
Professor McGonagall, dressed in her black wizard robes, stood with hands folded beside the marble staircase. Under her gaze, the noise from the students died down—then vanished entirely. They filed silently into the Great Hall.
“Gray, Granger!” Professor McGonagall suddenly called. “The two of you—come with me.”
Wade and Hermione exchanged a glance, then pushed through the crowd and followed her to her office.
The office was much smaller than the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor’s—possibly the smallest among all the professors’ chambers. Yet it was cozy and warmly lit, the fireplace blazing brightly.
Over the past two years, Wade had come here often to consult Professor McGonagall, so he knew the bookshelf by the wall hid a small door—behind it lay her private bedroom.
With a flick of her wand, two chairs slid out from under the table.
“Sit down,” Professor McGonagall said, settling into her seat behind the table and offering them a satisfied smile.
“Gray, Granger, you are among the most outstanding students I’ve ever taught. You both chose every elective during registration—so this term, you’ll be studying twelve courses.”
“Yes, Professor,” Hermione said, her voice tight with nervous anticipation.
Wade nodded silently, not speaking. He feared that if he opened his mouth, his longing would burst out like a flood.
“I don’t need to say it,” Professor McGonagall continued, her tone serious. “Studying twelve courses at once is an immense burden. Very few wizards can manage it.”
She warned: “Even brilliant wizards aren’t masters of every subject. If you’d like to reconsider—drop one or two courses—I’d understand completely. In fact, I’d consider it wise.”
“I’m sorry, Professor,” Hermione said. “Abandoning before trying isn’t in my nature.”
“I made my choice after careful thought,” Wade added.
“Very well,” Professor McGonagall said. “You must have noticed that some of these courses overlap in time. To help you manage, the school applied to the Ministry of Magic for a special device—something to help you balance your schedule.”
Clang.
Two golden Time-Turners were placed on the table, each connected by a slender golden chain. The dials bore tiny hourglasses filled with fine golden sand, elegant and mysterious.
Wade swallowed hard. His heart leapt into his throat, and he couldn’t tear his eyes away.
“This is a Time-Turner,” Professor McGonagall said. “Each turn rewinds time by one hour.”
“What?!” Hermione cried. “That’s impossible! Time… time can’t be reversed!”
“Though it seems incredible,” Professor McGonagall said firmly, “magic can reverse time. But it’s an extremely dangerous magic. Many wizards have tried to alter the past using Time-Turners—none have succeeded without catastrophic consequences.”
She listed them: “Killing their past or future selves… preventing people who should exist from being born… or dooming those who should live happy lives to bizarre tragedies.”
“The Ministry of Magic punishes misuse of the Time-Turner more severely than murder or breaches of the Confidentiality Act.”
“To ensure you’re allowed to use it legally,” she continued, “I wrote over a dozen letters to the Ministry, proving you’re model students—exemplary, in fact—and that you will not use these devices for anything beyond your studies.”
“You must swear to me—on your magic—that you will keep this promise. And you must never tell a soul.”
Wade and Hermione raised their hands and swore.
Magic’s power comes from within the wizard. When a wizard makes a solemn vow—even without signing a formal covenant—magic itself creates an invisible bond.
Professor McGonagall gently pushed the Time-Turners toward them. “You may take them.”
“Remember: the maximum time travel allowed is five hours. Beyond that, the risk of danger increases dramatically.”
“Use it only to rewind one hour at a time. That way, you can catch up on classes without breaking the laws of time.”
“And never change anything that’s already happened. Never let your past self see your future self.”
“The Ministry has hundreds of laws governing Time-Turner use. Read them carefully. If you break any of them, I will take these back immediately.”
(End of Chapter)
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