Chapter 167: Time Turns

When they saw Dumbledore, Harry and Hermione were stunned for a moment, and both started talking at the same time.

"Professor, they're accusing Black unfairly, we saw Peter Pettigrew!" said Harry.

"It's Ron's rat - in the hall, he said it all!" said Hermione.

"Peter Pettigrew took control of Ron. Last night, he framed Professor Lupin, and today he was still setting up...", said Harry

"Peter Pettigrew died; he's been killed in the Forbidden Forest by the Acromantulas....," Hermione said.

But Dumbledore held up his hand to stop the torrent of explanations, his light blue eyes, looked carefully at Ivan through his semicircular glasses.

"I already know what you are telling me, please listen to me now, and I beg you not to interrupt me, because there is very little time, Cornelius and the Aurors are arriving at Hogwarts, they are likely to arrive at the castle at any moment." Dumbledore said quietly, "Indeed, they have done very well tonight, but there is not a shred of evidence to support Black's story, except his words and the word of four twelve or thirteen year old wizards will convince no one."

"But Peter Pettigrew...," Harry said.

"Twelve years ago, a street full of witnesses swore they saw Sirius murder Pettigrew. I myself gave proof to the Ministry that Sirius had been the Potters' secret keeper," said Dumbledore.

"Peter Pettigrew did not die at that time, Professor! We can prove it, his body is still in the Forbidden Forest, in Acromantula territory," Ivan said.

"It's too late, Ivan! By the time we find his body, it will be too late." Dumbledore turned to Ivan, "We don't have time, the Dementors have already asked. The Ministry of Magic agreed to execute Black directly."

"But...," Ivan said.

"Without Pettigrew, dead or alive, we have no chance of overturning Sirius' sentence, nor can we stop the Dementors. No one will believe Black," said Dumbledore.

"But you believe us," said Harry and Hermione.

"Yes, I do," Dumbledore said quietly. "But I have no power to make other men see the truth, or to overrule the Minister of Magic...."

Hearing this sentence, Harry and Hermione's faces went pale, especially Harry's. He stared into Dumbledore's face and felt as if the ground beneath him was dropping sharply. He had grown accustomed to the idea that Dumbledore could figure anything out.

A moment ago, when he'd heard Ivan say that Peter Pettigrew was dead, he'd expected Dumbledore to pull an amazing solution out of the air. But no.... His last hope was gone!

Ivan didn't speak, he looked at the calm Dumbledore, he knew he would definitely have a way to change things; otherwise, he wouldn't have been there tonight.

"In fact, we haven't run out of chances. What we need," Dumbledore said slowly, and his light blue eyes moved from Harry to Hermione, "is more time."

"More time?!" Harry repeated, his expression was confused, and he didn't know what Dumbledore meant.

Ivan suddenly thought, Hermione's time-turner.

No wonder he felt strange all night. From the moment Harry and Hermione walked into Professor Lupin's office, the story had changed. He met Harry and Hermione from the future in a normal time stream.

Ivan was confused. He couldn't understand how the time-turner worked. If they changed their history with time travel, then the time and space before the trip would not exist, creating a paradox in this trip, and a contradiction between history and time.

If they caught Peter Pettigrew and saved Black earlier, then they wouldn't have needed to use the time-turner to go back in time at this point; if they don't go back in time, they naturally won't be able to change history.

Ivan shook his head and felt he was in a vicious circle.

But this is not the time to think about it, he is going to include the time-turner in his magical research. However, he saw no related books in the library. He could only ask at Flourish and Blotts bookstore to see if they could help him find something.

As Ivan thought about these things, Hermione's eyes became very round. She clearly understood what Dumbledore meant and said with surprise, "Oh, Professor..."

"Now, pay attention," Dumbledore said, speaking very quietly and very clearly. "Miss Granger, you know the law, you know what's at stake.... You must make sure that you cannot be seen, especially by yourselves. You... must... not... be... seen!"

Hermione nodded, nervously fingering the necklace on her chest.

Harry had no idea what was going on. Dumbledore spun on his heel and looked back as he reached the door.

"I'm going to lock them in, NOW, it's five minutes to midnight!" Dumbledore consulted his watch, "Miss Granger, six turns, I wish you good luck."

"Good luck?" Harry repeated as the door closed behind Dumbledore, and said in astonishment, "Six turns? What are you talking about? what are we supposed to do?"

He saw that Ivan and Hermione had left their beds, and Hermione was reaching into the collar of his robes, pulling out from under him a very long, very thin gold chain.

"Ivan, Hermione, what are you doing?" said Harry in confusion.

"We'll explain later, come here now," Hermione said urgently.

"Quickly, we must hurry!" Ivan also followed.

Ivan saw Hermione's nervous face and unconsciously held her small cold hand.

Hermione turned and smiled at Ivan.

Hearing their insistence, Harry ran towards them.

He saw Hermione holding the chain, with a small, shiny hourglass dangling from it.

"Here!" Hermione had put the chain around Ivan and Harry's necks, he asked breathlessly, "Ready?"

Ivan nodded, and Harry was completely lost. He asked hurriedly, "Wait, what are we doing?"

Before he finished his words, he saw Hermione turn the hourglass six times.

In the blink of an eye, the dark room dissolved.

Harry had the sensation of flying very fast, backwards. A blur of colors and shapes rushed past him, his ears were ringing.

He tried to scream but couldn't hear his own voice. And then he felt solid ground beneath his feet, and everything came back into focus. He was standing next to Ivan and Hermione in the deserted entrance to the infirmary and a stream of golden light was falling onto the paved floor from the open doors of the entrance.

Harry was startled to see the familiar scene around him. He didn't understand how it was midnight, and now it was daylight, what did Hermione and Ivan do?

"What happened, where are we?" Harry hurriedly turned his head towards Ivan and Hermione.

"Back in the past!" Ivan replied quietly. "We've gone back in time!"