The day after the troll commotion was resolved.
Even though the students' efforts had brought the situation under control without any major issues, the fact that trolls had invaded Hogsmeade without any warning was, needless to say, a major incident.
While it was a relatively small-scale attack compared to the previous assault on the Quidditch pitch, the fact that no one had been able to properly respond while trolls appeared in Hogsmeade, Britain's only all-wizarding village, was a rather serious matter.
This was even more so because it was Hogwarts students who had subdued them before any professors or Aurors arrived.
Naturally, a strict investigation was a given, but…
"It was obviously Bellatrix's doing, wasn't it?"
"It was obviously Bellatrix's doing."
In the common room, Harry and I nodded in agreement.
Although Albus hadn't shared the results of the investigation with me, my intuition, honed over long years of hunting Dark wizards, had already more than guessed the source of the commotion.
Besides, I couldn't think of anyone other than Bellatrix who would even attempt to attack Hogwarts. Who else would do something like this?
Harry, who had already faced Bellatrix in battle once, thought much the same.
He shook his head and said, "No matter how lax Hogwarts security might be, how many people are there who would just unleash trolls on Hogsmeade?"
"That's true. Most Dark wizards with that level of ability are in Azkaban these days."
No matter how much I tease Dumbledore for being incompetent, he still has the reputation of being the strongest wizard of this era. Most would find it difficult to even entertain the thought of confronting him.
Only by gathering under a name as renowned as Voldemort's would they consider a fight. Otherwise, Dumbledore's name itself serves as a deterrent.
People like Lucius Malfoy or Bellatrix Lestrange, who would think of taking on Dumbledore without such a banner, are very rare exceptions. This type of person is usually either very stupid or very insane. Or both.
The downside to having a big name is that it makes Dark wizards more cautious. I hated that, so I killed every Dark wizard who learned my name, but a reputation, once earned, tends to grow.
Anyway, to get to the point, Bellatrix was the only one who could have caused such an incident.
And, in all likelihood, Sebastian was still with her.
…Sebastian Sallow.
And as that name brought another to mind, a feeling of emptiness arose in a corner of my heart.
Even if my magical power has stabilized for now, I don't know what will happen when I face them again.
I might have to feel that sense of powerlessness again, that bizarrely uncontrollable surge of emotion.
I nodded, my face hardening.
No matter our past connection, it's not in my nature to just sit back and take it.
Somehow, an idea that had been tickling the back of my mind since the last attack began to blossom, and I let my consciousness sink inward.
***
"Hah."
Hermione sighed.
*Click, click.*
She turned the Time-Turner twice. At the same time, everything around her began to rewind.
People, objects—everything went backward while she alone moved forward in time. It was a beautiful miracle, the very essence of time magic.
But as with anything, familiarity breeds contempt. To the Hermione of today, this grand spectacle was nothing more than the travel time to her next class.
She couldn't measure the exact time since the flow of time was reversed, but after what felt like about ten seconds, the feeling of buoyancy acting on her body disappeared.
Looking around, she saw the once-gloomy classroom was now faintly illuminated by the setting sun outside the window.
Hermione plopped down on a random chair in the empty classroom.
No one would be in this classroom at this hour, so it didn't matter…
With that thought, Hermione laid her head on the desk and muttered, "I'm so tired…"
Even if she could turn back time with the Time-Turner, it didn't reduce the time she herself experienced. On the contrary, while others spent 24 hours a day, she was using nearly 30, so it was no exaggeration to say her fatigue had almost doubled.
As much as Hermione loved to study, she couldn't help but feel exhausted sometimes.
Lying there, Hermione thought blankly. *How did it come to this?*
After a moment's thought, the face of one person who held a large share of the responsibility for this choice came to mind. *Right, I just wanted to take other classes while being in the same ones as Aisen.*
Realizing this, Hermione felt a surge of resentment toward someone who wasn't even there and deliberately pouted.
"Idiot."
"Who's an idiot?"
"Eek! Merlin!"
That is, toward someone who shouldn't have been there.
"A-Aisen? What are you doing here?" Hermione exclaimed, flustered.
"That's my line. What are you doing in this dark classroom?"
"Me… I used the Time-Turner!" Hermione whispered after a quick glance around to confirm they were alone.
Aisen shrugged. "That's a useful little thing. At this time, you must be heading to Divination, right? Let's go together."
He then turned and led the way toward the Divination classroom.
As Hermione scurried to follow, a question popped into her head.
*'But why did he come to the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom, which is so far from the Divination classroom?'*
She was curious, but that secretive Aisen would never tell her straight.
Hermione asked without much expectation, but surprisingly, Aisen answered earnestly.
"Hmm? Me? I came to see Professor Lupin. And to check on a few other things while I was at it."
"Why Professor Lupin?"
"I had something to ask him. I thought it might help with my magic studies."
"I see…"
After a brief conversation, they soon arrived at the Divination classroom.
*Ugh.* Hermione wrinkled her nose at the sight of Professor Trelawney.
To be honest, Hermione hated Divination. How could she possibly enjoy a class that consisted of nothing but vague, incomprehensible pronouncements and insults disguised as prophecies?
"Ooh, Miss Granger. I see something in your future… Yes, black! Beware the hunter's black in winter! But that does not mean you should not be wary of what is not black. Sometimes, what is not black can be more dangerous than what is black…"
See? Even now, she was spouting nonsense in the name of prophecy.
Beware of black and not-black? Didn't that just mean to be wary of everything? Of course, something of some color was bound to be dangerous.
What was even more annoying was that there were quite a few foolish students who actually agreed with Trelawney.
Parvati Patil shrieked dramatically, "Oh my! Professor, Hermione's uniform is black! And it has non-black colors mixed in too. Could it be that she'll be strangled by her uniform?"
"That is a very good interpretation, Miss Patil. Yes, I have always thought the color of the winter uniform to be far too dangerous…"
Unable to listen any longer, Hermione interjected.
"Professor, so what am I supposed to do? If I can't wear black or non-black, are there any clothes left for me to wear at all? And if it's black, it's black. What is 'hunter's black'?"
"Alas, Miss Granger. It seems you sorely lack the talent to understand the dreamy language of prophecy… But do not be disappointed, Granger. The gift of prophecy is a very rare thing. It is only natural that it has not manifested in you…"
*Snap.* Hermione felt as if she had heard a blood vessel pop in her head. She had to say something that made sense for her to listen.
The only reason Hermione didn't storm out of the class was because of Aisen, sitting on the other side of the room. For some reason, he was watching the babbling professor with intense interest. He was paying quite close attention to the lesson.
Half of her was trying to discover what charm Aisen, a wizard of incredible skill, found in Divination, and the other half was just attending because Aisen was.
Nevertheless, as Professor Trelawney's bestial pronouncements became particularly severe today, Hermione's mind began to wander.
*Could it be that Aisen believes in Divination? It seems so different from his usual rational self. No, even if he does believe in Divination, does he really believe Professor Trelawney? He shouldn't.*
*They say these minor differences in belief systems—though this isn't a religion—are one of the important factors in a relationship…*
Realizing what she was thinking, Hermione blushed furiously and shook her head. Her face turned red for a different reason when she heard Parvati whisper, "Her head must hurt from wearing black clothes!"
In any case, she really hated Divination.
***
"…So, you're saying that Aisen Potter, no, Aisen Knightly, is actually a wizard of a higher caliber that even you cannot treat lightly, Professor?"
"That is correct."
Meanwhile, in the Headmaster's office at Hogwarts.
There, Lupin was experiencing a collapse of his common sense.
In fact, anyone would have reacted the same way. The student you're teaching is actually the most dangerous wizard in the world?
And that wizard is the guardian of your friend's child?
The truth was so hard to accept with a clear mind that Lupin found himself desperately craving a glass of Madam Rosmerta's mead.
Lupin asked in a stuttering voice, "N-no. But why on earth is a wizard like that attending Hogwarts?"
"That sunbae of mine owed me a debt. I had him enroll at Hogwarts as payment."
Dumbledore nodded proudly, as if it were no exaggeration to call it the greatest achievement of his life.
Completely bewildered, Lupin asked, "...So what exactly is the benefit for Hogwarts? Isn't it just harboring an unpredictable disaster?"
"What is the benefit, you ask? Why, it's obvious, isn't it? It is none other than absolute safety."
"Safety?"
At Lupin's question, Dumbledore's eyes gleamed.
"Yes, of course. No matter what threat we face, as long as he is here, it is as if there is no threat at all."
Lupin asked back in disbelief, "But, for such 'absolute safety,' haven't there been quite a few incidents? What if someone were to lay a trap for Aisen…"
Dumbledore chuckled, flicking his ear as if he had just heard something utterly preposterous.
"Heh, heheh. If that were to happen, it would be quite a spectacle. If you ever happen to witness it yourself, I would be grateful if you would show it to me in the Pensieve."
Unable to comprehend Dumbledore's words, Lupin trudged out of the office in a daze.
And as soon as he closed the door, he came face to face with a very familiar pair of golden eyes, and couldn't help but let out a yelp.
"Hwaaah!"
Aisen's golden eyes shone as he asked, "Professor. I was hoping you could help me with something."
He asked with a glint in his eyes, as if Lupin's consent was of little importance.
"You'll help me, won't you?"
There was only one answer Lupin could give.
***