0305 The Visit

Early in the morning at eight o'clock.

At this time in the past, it was the peak period for the students and staff of the school to have meals in the great hall. However, the intense and exciting Quidditch match yesterday kept most of the students from sleeping, especially Gryffindors. They celebrated all night crazily as their house retained the chance in the title race for House-Cup.

The staff members were also exhausted from the events that happened late last night. So, on this rainy morning, even the most diligent professors were catching up on sleep in their quarters.

Madam Pomfrey, who had been busy all night, was also resting in her room. Harry, who couldn't sleep, sneaked into Ron's ward early in the morning. After seeing Ron's face looking relatively good, the two boys knocked on Hermione's door.

Hermione's face didn't look much good. She leaned against her pillow, her usually bushy hair even more disheveled than usual, and her eyes filled with bloodshot veins, as if she hadn't slept all night.

"You're absolutely unreasonable!"

Ron exclaimed, his cheeks puffing out in surprise as he saw the large book spread open on Hermione's lap, despite the bandages wrapped around his head.

"After everything that's happened, you still have the heart to read?!"

After midnight last night, everyone who participated in the duel with the werewolf was notified. Peter had been captured and Sirius was now under the custody of the Ministry of Magic. Until the trial of the Wizengamot was over, everyone had to keep this matter confidential.

But Ron, who hadn't been part of the time-traveling adventure, was unaware of the details of Peter's capture. As Harry rapidly explained the situation, Ron's puffed cheeks deflated, but his mouth hung open in astonishment.

"I missed such an interesting thing. Oh, darn it, you should have woken me up. Time travel, my goodness, how many wizards can experience this in their lifetime?"

"Interesting?" Harry forced a weak smile. "If you had seen Hagrid's 'spider friends' in the Forbidden Forest, Ron, I bet you wouldn't say that. I'll never let any spider come near me in my life."

Now they all knew why Hermione didn't lie in bed and rest after experiencing so many things last night, but instead ran to the library using Harry's invisibility cloak.

"I can't imagine!"

Hermione finally reacted holding her face in her hands.

"If my mom and dad knew that I would face prosecution by the Ministry of Magic, or even be sent to wizard prison, how would they feel?"

Her voice broke with a heavy sob.

"I've looked up many laws. The Time-Turner is a strictly regulated magical item by the Ministry of Magic. If I can't provide a reasonable explanation for its damage, the Ministry will definitely not let me off easily."

"But--" When Ron heard that Hermione might be imprisoned for fooling around with the magical hourglass, he no longer regretted not experiencing the wonderful adventure in the second half. He said with wide eyes, "You did this because you were following Dumbledore's orders, right? He--I mean, he definitely won't just stand by!"

"But the problem is--" Harry had obviously considered this question. He sighed and said, "Although we were acting on his hint, we can't just come out and say it, can we? I mean, we've probably broken some serious laws, but how do you explain that to the Ministry? Among all the uses of the Time-Turner, capturing criminals is definitely not one of them."

Ron furrowed his eyebrows, deep in thought.

"Maybe... I can write a letter to my dad, you know, he has many acquaintances in the Ministry. Maybe he can give us some good advice. Of course, the premise is that this thing called the Time-Turner is not particularly valuable."

While the three of them were worried about the damage to the Time-Turner, the conversation from the Hospital-Wing's main hall suddenly made them stop talking.

"Just a few minutes, I came to see how everyone is doing, Madam Pomfrey--"

"Their condition is fine, Professor Watson," Madam Pomfrey's irritated voice followed, "The only thing they need now is to be left undisturbed to rest properly, just like me!"

"It's Professor Watson!"

Harry jumped up from Hermione's bed and said excitedly,

"Just like I said last night, Hermione, Professor Watson is good at fixing things. If he can help you!"

Professor Watson had managed to keep Ron's broken wand working for a while, and he had restored Harry's Nimbus 2000, which had been shattered by the Whomping Willow. Although it couldn't fly anymore, it was still suitable for Quidditch beginners to get a feel for flying.

"That's a good idea." Ron nodded heavily. "It seems like there's nothing he can't do."

Hermione couldn't care less about her anxiety now. She quickly opened the covers and jumped off the bed, rushing to the door.

In the hall, Professor Watson, who had been arguing with Madam Pomfrey, had anticipated the commotion before the door opened. He turned around and gave Hermione, who was panting, a warm smile.

"You don't look well. Did you have a nightmare?"

To be honest, Harry had a bit of resentment towards Professor Watson because he had known the truth about his parents's death before Christmas, but he didn't reveal a word to him. However, he quickly forgot Dumbledore's instructions and spilled the beans about everything that had happened in the Forbidden Forest.

Bryan listened quietly to those thrilling experiences until he finished, then he smiled affirmatively at Harry.

"You did a great job, all three of you. Especially you, Harry. Your parents would be proud of you. You and Hermione caught that traitor Peter, avenging your parents personally."

Harry grinned, but then his expression turned anxious again,

"Professor, Professor Lupin turned into a werewolf and got lost in the Forbidden Forest in the end... Dumbledore told us he would be fine, but... he's missing!"

"Oh, about that--"

Seeing that these three children were in a stable state, Professor Watson straightened his robe and stood up from the chair.

"Don't worry, Professor Lupin is currently receiving treatment at St. Mungo's, and His condition is stable. The only problem is that he probably won't be able to teach your Defense Against the Dark Arts class anymore. But, it's actually a good thing for him. If he had to finish the second half of the year, I can't guarantee that he would survive... I mean, that nothing more serious would happen to him."

Seeing that Professor Watson was about to leave, Harry didn't say anything leaving the time for Hermione to speak. 

"Professor--"

Hermione listened carefully for any noise at the door, ensuring no one would barge in unexpectedly. She then turned back, fiddling with the now-dull Time-Turner under her pillow, and with a bitten lip, she handed it to Professor Watson.

"Professor, this time-turner... I don't know why, but it suddenly cracked and lost its function after last night--"

Hermione said, her shoulders trembling, "I'm afraid I've gotten myself into big trouble. The Ministry has strict control over Time-Turners, and they will definitely investigate thoroughly to find out what I've done with it."

As Bryan took the Time-Turner from Hermione's hand and examined it, Harry couldn't help but interject. "Can you repair it, Professor Watson?"

"I will find a way to solve this problem--"

Professor Watson gave a strange answer. He didn't tell them whether he had the ability to repair the time-turner or not, he just said he could solve the problem. And then, he took the damaged time-turner with him.

However, with Professor Watson's assurance, the three of them breathed a sigh of relief, as if they weren't worried at all that Bryan wouldn't be able to fulfill his promise.

"Speaking of which, Professor Lupin is actually a werewolf--"

Ron shivered and took a deep breath.

"That's terrifying. Dumbledore always does unexpected things."

"He's safe, Ron--" Harry retorted, "Since all the professors know about Professor Lupin's condition, it proves that he is harmless. He's like Sirius, a friend of my parents. He never intended to harm us."

"I know--" Ron muttered, "But you've seen what a werewolf looks like when it goes mad. Honestly, I think Professor Watson is right. It's a good thing for everyone that he's leaving."

…

*Scenebreak*

…

With a creak and groan of the strained door hinges, Bryan pushed open another ward's door.

In the dimly lit room by the window, Snape leaned against the headboard, gazing out at the world blurred by the heavy rain. At the sound of the door, he turned his head to look.

Facing those deep, still eyes, like dark pools without a ripple, Bryan sighed inwardly.

The door closed, and Bryan walked to the bedside. Snape had already averted his gaze, silent and slightly forlorn, continuing to watch the rain.

Perhaps due to the humidity, the atmosphere in the room felt oppressively heavy.

Bryan didn't rush to break the silence of the ward; instead, he quietly accompanied the man whose heart had frozen, watching the rain. 

Maybe the world's sins were too dense, for the cleansing rain showed no sign of weakening. The monotonous sound of the downpour was far from healing; instead, it brought a weariness that seemed to say all was at an end.

"Last time Lucius visited you at Hogwarts, and afterwards, when I brought Draco to your office, that's when you realized Draco was under control, right?" Snape asked without turning, his voice devoid of doubt.

"Indeed," Bryan nodded slightly. "Afterwards, I followed Draco and discovered Peter Pettigrew hiding in the Owlery. That man was plotting to lure out Sirius and attempt to kill him."

Snape looked over at Bryan but remained silent. After a moment of contemplation, Bryan decided to tell the truth about his plan.

"Upon discovering Peter, I considered taking control of him immediately, discussing with Dumbledore, and then handing him over to the Ministry of Magic. This would clear Sirius's name and ensure that the murderer of James Potter and Lily Evans received the punishment he deserved."

A wave of immense pain struck Snape's heart, making it impossible to maintain the cold composure on his face.

Bryan sighed softly, looking at Snape, who was clenching his teeth to keep from making a sound, his eyebrows twisted in agony, "But then, another thought crossed my mind. Peter's betrayal led to the Potters' deaths, Sirius was wrongfully imprisoned in Azkaban for twelve years, Remus lost all his dear friends, his spirit and body wandering ever since, Harry lost his parents and had to live with his aunt and uncle who hated him, and you, Professor…"

Snape immediately locked eyes with Bryan, desperately trying his best to conceal his astonishment. But at a time like this, his Occlumency was full of loopholes.

"I am not a fool, Professor Snape," Bryan leaned back in his chair, calmly meeting Snape's gaze. However, he didn't continue to speak clearly.

"The events of that year caused irreparable harm to many people. While personally uncovering the truth, one also needs an opportunity to vent suppressed emotions. So, I created certain conditions to allow the parties involved to participate, ensuring their safety."

"Then you should have let me kill that bastard!" Snape's suppressed roar escaped his lips, his waxen face twisted with deep-seated hatred.

Since knowing Professor Snape, this was only the second time Bryan had seen him lose control of his emotions in his presence, the first time being the night before he left Hogwarts last year.

Snape's love for Harry's mother had become a life creed. Perhaps if Lily Evans were still alive, he might have had a chance to emerge from the shadow cast by this love. But Unfortunately, Lily Evans died in the Godric's Hollow twelve years ago, and with her death, Professor Snape's hope for spiritual liberation was also buried.

Allowing Peter to die at the hands of Snape, Harry, or Sirius would be meaningless. It wouldn't bring relief but would plunge them into greater pain. Therefore, Bryan didn't expose Peter to them last night.

'Fuuuu'

After a heavy sigh, there was a long silence.

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