Chapter 368: Time Shavings
Chapter 368: Time Shavings
"This is of great significance to the entire Hall of Time's research, Mr. Forrest."
Broom said seriously.
"Because of countless failed experiments like William's throughout history, we now have people like us researching time magic."
"Before the Time-Turner was created, no wizard ever thought that future magic could allow us to control time, even though it comes with significant risks."
"And although William's Timeform itself didn't successfully materialize a time simulation, it still has its unique functions."
"If the golden part representing the past is placed at the top and the silver part representing the future at the bottom, the user of the hourglass will see events that occurred at the current location in the past."
Sherlock was captivated by Broom's words.
"Does nothing happen when the silver part is on top?"
"No, it also allows the user to see the future", the fat man said with a mysterious smile.
This concept represents a different perspective on time. Sherlock had seen William's Timeform with his own eyes, and a moment's thought made it clear what seeing the future meant.
After all, time is a human perception. For a living person, every second they experience is the future of the previous second.
The silver "sand" falling represents the consumption of people's future.
This realization led Sherlock to another question.
"If inverting the hourglass allows one to see the past, wouldn't this be a great help to the Auror Command Center? Why hasn't the Ministry of Magic given it to the Aurors to use, instead of just leaving it in the Hall of Time?"
His question made Kingsley look a bit embarrassed, but Broom still answered seriously.
"Even though it's a failed product, it remains a masterpiece worthy of deep study by every Time Silencer in the Hall of Time. It's more useful for us to study it than for the Aurors to use it."
"Moreover, the key point is that when the hourglass is inverted, the past it reveals is unpredictable. It could be a few minutes ago or even hundreds of years ago."
Just hearing about this, Sherlock found it unreliable.
After thoroughly understanding William's Timeform, he asked the core question with a serious expression.
"You mentioned earlier that the golden 'sand' in the hourglass is actually an important material for making Time-Turners?"
"That's correct. However, the crafting method for Time-Turners has been lost, mainly because no one knows how to collect this golden substance, known as Time Shavings."
Sherlock wasn't interested in how to obtain this material. He asked seriously:
"I want to know if the Time Shavings you mentioned could be absorbed into a human body and, if so, whether they can be removed."
This question made Broom's expression change in surprise.
He blinked his small eyes, as if trying to confirm Sherlock's words for a long time before responding.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Forrest, but I don't know. There has never been a recorded instance of such an event in the Hall of Time's documents. Not once. Time Shavings inherently repel the human body."
Sherlock fell silent.
Back at the Hall of Time, things were so urgent that neither he nor Eddie noticed the state of the young girl who was then called Amy.
Now, no one could figure out why the Time Chips, which had never caused any issues in William's Timeform, would suddenly fly into Amy's eyes.
The tea gathering became somewhat awkward at this point.
Sherlock sighed inwardly. He was about to thank Bloom and look for other ways to find a solution when the plump Wizard suddenly continued.
"Well, although I'm not quite sure why you're asking this, Mr. Forrest, even if I don't know the reason, someone else might."
"When I started working at the Hall of Time, my mentor was a descendant of William Matthews. If it's her, she might know something about what you're trying to understand."
Sherlock's spirits immediately lifted.
Even if Bloom couldn't answer the question, he had provided Sherlock with a new lead.
The hourglass that directly caused Amy's eye problem was made by the Wizard named William Matthews, who lived in the 17th century. He was certainly long gone, but meeting his descendant might be helpful.
Sherlock said immediately, "If you have no other commitments today, we can go see your mentor right now. Would it be convenient for her?"
Bloom hadn't expected Sherlock to be so eager. He nodded and said, "I have no problem with that. My mentor is retired and spends most of her time at home, drinking tea and tending to her garden. If you want to visit her today, I can write her a letter to let her know in advance."
"That would be very much appreciated, Mel."
"Just a small favor, I'm glad to help Mr. Forrest."
With that, the tea gathering came to an end.
Kingsley had nothing else to do, so he returned to the Ministry of Magic, where he had matters to attend to at the Auror Command Center.
Bloom rented an owl from Diagon Alley to write a letter to his mentor, informing her of the visit time. Then, he and Sherlock Apparated to an old house on the outskirts of London.
"My mentor is quite old and usually stays at home, researching time magic, so she can be a bit eccentric", Bloom warned Sherlock before they went in.
Sherlock nodded. "I'm here to ask for help, so I'll be humble."
With that, the two approached the door. Bloom gently knocked on the old wooden door, and a peculiar eye appeared on it. The eye blinked, glanced at Bloom, then at Sherlock, and the door opened on its own.
The yard behind the door was small but filled with flowers, and there was a patio in the middle of the garden.
An old witch, wearing a violet robe and not wearing a Wizard hat, sat in a lounge chair, sipping tea as she watched Sherlock and Bloom enter.
"It's rare for little Mel to come visit me on his own. But I'm sure this isn't just a casual visit, is it?"
(End of Chapter)
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