Chapter 219: It's Time to Come Clean, No More Pretending
There was once a witch named Eloise Mintumble, who, as a member of the Department of Mysteries, used a Time-Turner in an experiment to travel back in time. However, because she stayed in the past for more than a few hours, she died.
In the time travel experiment, Eloise was trapped in the year 1402 for five whole days.
When she finally returned to the present, her body had somehow aged five centuries, causing irreversible damage to her body. She eventually died of old age at St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries.
Her journey altered the life trajectories of everyone she met in the past. At least twenty-five of her descendants vanished from the present, becoming people who had "never been born."
Moreover, there were other worrying signs that time itself had been disrupted. After she returned to the present, Tuesday lasted for two and a half days, while Thursday was reduced to only four hours.
Even under normal use, time would still pass when using a Time-Turner.
Just like how Hermione used the Time-Turner to extend her study time and attend all her classes simultaneously, eventually leading to near collapse.
Although it seemed like she was studying for eight hours, in reality, she had been studying for more than ten hours using the Time-Turner. Her body experienced all those hours, and she felt the fatigue of studying for that long.
With long-term use, if a year passes for others, two years may pass for you. Your age increases accordingly.
So, while using it for studying does improve efficiency, it merely overdrafts time from the future.
Because Time-Turners are too dangerous, the Hour-Reversal Spell used to make them has been sealed by the Ministry of Magic and cannot be learned through normal means.
All completed Time-Turners are sealed and stored in the Department of Mysteries' Hall of Time.
Due to the special nature of Time-Turners, the Ministry of Magic has created hundreds of laws concerning them. Unless under exceptional circumstances, applications to use them are generally not approved.
As for Time Magic and Time-Turners, George was of course very interested. Time Magic was one of the essential forms of magic he had to learn.
Because in any world, Time Magic is among the highest forms of magic.
Even if the laws of time differ across worlds, and even if one learns Time Magic, it cannot change established events—but using it to improve study efficiency is still very impressive.
Since he had already achieved immortality, he didn't mind overdrawing his future time—his future was limitless.
Of course, that was easier said than done. Applying for a Time-Turner was relatively easy, but learning and mastering the sealed Hour-Reversal Spell was an entirely different matter.
"It seems it's time to show some real strength."
After parting ways with Professor McGonagall and Hermione on the eighth floor, George followed Snape to the Headmaster's Office.
Inside, Dumbledore was reading a Muggle-published book about knitting techniques.
"Have a seat first."
Seeing Snape bring George in, he put the book down and gestured for the two of them to sit.
"Headmaster, the Ministry of Magic secretly allowed Dementors to search the train. George acted and accidentally killed one; he did nothing wrong."
Snape was the first to speak after sitting down.
He would protect the students of his own House—especially since George was his personal protégé.
Whether or not Dumbledore intended to reprimand George, it couldn't hurt to speak in his defense first.
"Looks like joining Slytherin was a wise decision."
Seeing how Snape spoke entirely in his favor, George couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
Among the four Heads of House, Snape might not have the best ethics or be the most fair and just, but he was definitely the most protective.
This was also one of the reasons he hadn't exposed Scabbers as Peter Pettigrew.
Sirius Black was innocent and just, but George had no personal ties to him.
On the contrary, during school, Sirius and Harry's father had bullied Snape—a fact.
Of course, Snape was also partly to blame; he had undoubtedly said many things he shouldn't have.
But since Snape was his Head of House and had always looked out for him, George naturally favored Snape's side.
So, he had no intention of clearing Sirius's name early—let him suffer a bit longer. It would make Snape happy.
As long as he didn't let Peter escape and help Voldemort resurrect, it would be fine.
"Severus, I have no intention of blaming George. He did well to protect his classmates by killing the Dementor.
I just want to see the magic he used to do it."
Dumbledore explained with a smile.
When he heard from Fudge that George had used magic to kill a Dementor, he had been quite shocked.
Because even he couldn't directly kill a Dementor—a dark creature.
Or rather, in the current wizarding world, no one had any known method to directly kill a Dementor—not even the Killing Curse.
The Dementors had a cooperative relationship with the Ministry of Magic. They helped guard Azkaban, and the Ministry allowed them to openly feed on the prisoners' happiness.
Why didn't Dementors dare to go around sucking happiness indiscriminately?
Because although wizards couldn't kill them, they could use the Patronus Charm to drive them into confinement.
For example, into a box made with an Undetectable Extension Charm, sealed with some binding spells.
In such a box, the Dementors would be trapped until they eventually faded away from starvation.
"I heard it was a new magic spell you created?"
At this moment, Snape also turned to look at George, equally curious.
Among all the students at Hogwarts, George was undoubtedly a genius among geniuses. By the end of his first year, he had already amassed magical knowledge close to that of a seventh-year.
He was also exceptionally skilled in magical dueling and had invented a special flying spell.
Even Snape himself hadn't created his own spell until fifth year.
To be honest, based on what he knew of George's magical level, he was surprised George could create new magic.
He didn't think George was yet capable of creating his own spell.
But spell creation always carried an element of chance. Often, luck played as big a role as skill.
"Actually... not entirely."
George looked at Snape and Dumbledore, paused for a few seconds, then slowly replied.
He was ready to come clean—no more pretending.
Initially, he had planned to say he created a new spell based on the Patronus Charm to kill Dementors. After all, he had indeed learned the Patronus Charm from Amy and could demonstrate it on the spot.
But after thinking it over carefully on the train, he realized there were too many holes in that story.
With Dumbledore and Snape's intelligence and knowledge of magic, they probably wouldn't believe it.
(End of chapter)