What Exactly Did You Do? How Did This Happen?

Hermione's fair cheeks flushed scarlet. She had not expected to be of so little help…

As she discussed the proposed changes with Ivan, Hermione began to stammer and blush.

Ivan was slowly becoming aware of this, but on second thought, he was not surprised.

He had read all of the Black family's books during the summer holidays, as well as Snape's research notes, and Hermione could not have kept up with him, even if she were a genius.

Yvonne thought for a moment, then snapped her fingers.

"What can I do for you, sir?" asked an ugly house-elf.

"Dobby, go get the book I told you to get!" Ivan said.

"Yes, sir!" Dobby nodded.

To Hermione's confusion, Dobby used Apparition and disappeared, returning with a dozen books on potions.

Ivan was very pleased with Dobby, who was on call. No wonder many wizarding families liked to keep a house-elf.

Ivan didn't want to keep Dobby any longer than he had to, so he left the book after reading it.

Because there might be other times when he would have to summon it…

"If you want to help, you'll have to finish these first…" Ivan took out Snape's copy of Advanced Potion and handed it to Hermione.

The research notes that Snape had left behind had long since become useless to Ivan.

However, Ivan felt that the book would be of great help to Hermione.

Hermione looked at the books, gently holding the Time-Turner to her chest, and nodded seriously.

After giving the young witch a learning assignment, Yvonne immersed herself in the study of potions.

He did not expect Hermione to be able to help him now, but to give her something to do and not disturb his research.

Hermione, however, did not give up. She sat down quietly with the books and began to peruse them, taking notes on a stack of parchments.

This went on for three days, during which Ivan was shocked to discover that Hermione had read all of the books and was able to make useful suggestions on how to improve potions.

It was like being a different person…

'Did you cheat as well?'

Yvonne was baffled, but soon noticed the weariness on Hermione's face.

Almost instantly, Ivan thought of the Time-Turner and felt his back break out in cold sweat.

"How long have you been backtracking for?"

"Why do you ask?" Hermione asked diffidently, clutching her book to her chest. "It must have been ninety hours?"

"Are you sure that's all?" Yvonne asked, frowning. Ninety hours wasn't nearly enough time to gain a rudimentary grasp of the contents of all these books.

Hermione nodded, though she did not tell Ivan about the ninety hours, not including the time they had travelled back in time.

"The Time-Turner is powerful, but also dangerous. It's a power we don't understand at all, and if used too often in a short period of time, it could cause harm to the body. Also, Dumbledore must have told you that a single backtracking too long can lead to loss of control," Ivan warned.

"I've noted that it lasts up to five hours at a time," Hermione countered quietly.

Ivan was still worried and dragged Hermione to the hospital wing, intending to show Madam Pomfrey if there were any complications.

Inside the hospital wing,

Madam Pomfrey was treating a Hufflepuff player for a fall, and upon hearing Ivan's request, she gave Hermione a thorough examination.

"How on earth did you get yourself into this mess, Miss Granger?" Madam Pomfrey scolded, frowning.

"Is it bad?" Hermione was frightened.

Ivan was equally nervous. He did not want anything to happen to Hermione because of him.

"Not really. It's just that being in a state of stress for an extended period of time will wear you out, and you'll be fine after some rest," Madam Pomfrey explained, shaking her head.

Before either of them could relax, Madam Pomfrey turned to Ivan.

"You too, Hals! You're worse than Miss Granger, and you'd better be honest with me. How long has it been since you slept properly?"

Madam Pomfrey could not understand how two thirteen or fourteen children could be so exhausted as to be mentally drained.

They should be at their most energetic at this age…

It's only been a few days since school started. What did they do?

Ivan was embarrassed. He did not expect to be dragged into this mess by bringing Hermione with him.

Ivan was glad that the problem was not serious. All he needed to do was rest and drink some tonic.

It seemed that using the Time-Turner would not cause any irreparable harm to the body.

It made sense, or the Ministry would not have given it to them.

Some thoughts passed through Ivan's mind, and he had to face Pomfrey, who was scowling.

Apparently, Pomfrey would not have let them go without a good reason.

"I'm sorry, Madam Pomfrey. We've had too many homework assignments recently, so we haven't had much time to rest. Perhaps that's the reason. We'll take note of it in the future…" Ivan said half-heartedly.

"This is the first time I've seen someone learn to behave like this," Madam Pomfrey said, amused.

She would not have believed this if she were a lesser witch.

However, Madam Pomfrey had heard of Ivan's accomplishments over the course of his two years at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Hermione was also a top student in every subject, so this excuse was valid.

Madam Pomfrey soon returned with two bowls of the dark potion, the kind that you would not want to drink, floating on top of a cloudy surface.

How could I not drink it? Ivan felt helpless. He felt that he could brew two bottles of Energy Tonic on his own when he got back.

Madam Pomfrey shook her head firmly.

Ivan had no choice but to gulp down a bowl of potion. It tasted bitter, like the Chinese medicine he had drunk in his previous life.

After drinking it, Ivan's brain felt cold and refreshed.

Ivan turned to look at Hermione, who was sipping another bowl of potion with a frown on her face…