Chapter 325 Few People Will Believe It, Challenge Time
Harry and Ron were sent to the School Hospital. Madam Pomfrey prepared chocolate for Harry and put a cast on Ron's right leg.
Professor Snape quickly bandaged his head and left in a hurry. He had to explain the bizarre events of the night to Dumbledore.
After more than ten minutes, Harry slowly woke up, feeling groggy.
Aaron broke off a brick-sized piece of chocolate and put it into his mouth. "How do you feel?"
"Terrible."
"Then you'd better be prepared, because it's going to get worse," Aaron said playfully. "Two of the three Gryffindors are lying in hospital beds. Professor Lupin has turned into a Werewolf and is nowhere to be found. Sirius has been captured, his fate unknown, while Peter Pettigrew, the real culprit, has escaped and is at large.
But no one is to blame. You are too impulsive. If we had killed Peter using my method from the beginning, it wouldn't have been so troublesome.
At the very least, if you hadn't attacked Professor Snapewhen Professor Lupin transformed into a Werewolf, things would have been much easier to handle."
"Please," Hermione rolled her eyes. "Can you be a little more compassionate? This isn't the time for sarcasm."
"Hermione, I'm just stating facts.
Besides, no one is more compassionate than me; it's just that my compassion isn't so obvious.
Perhaps the education I received from a young age was too rigorous; I have to consider many aspects before doing anything."
"Let's not talk about that for now," Harry asked with some concern. "How will the Ministry of Magic deal with Sirius?"
"They'll most likely hand him over to the Dementors!" Aaronsighed. "The punishment of having one's soul sucked out is worse than death. Your godfather will get to experience it."
"What?" Harry quickly jumped out of bed. "I have to go find Dumbledore and Fudge and explain clearly that Black is innocent."
"It's useless," Aaron waved his hand. "Sirius Black is a condemned criminal. The Ministry of Magic will deal with his case seriously and show no leniency.
Compared to that, the words of a few young Wizards are completely insignificant, especially since your condition is so poor. They will suspect that Sirius has cast some kind of evil curse on you, otherwise you wouldn't plead for the person who murdered your parents."
"Professor Lupin will help testify," Harry said.
"Forget it!
I'm not trying to discourage you, Harry.
Our Werewolf Professor should be deep in the Forbidden Forest right now, howling at the full moon.
By the time he returns, Sirius would have died several times over."
"What about Snape? He'll testify, right... probably," Roninterjected, somewhat unsure. After all, Sirius's pranks on Snape during their student days were so terrible that Snapeheld a grudge for over a decade.
It would be good if he didn't kick them while they were down; testifying was just a pipe dream.
"It's no use," Aaron directly extinguished that glimmer of hope. "Without evidence, let alone Professor Snape, even Dumbledore would be powerless.
Don't forget, twelve years ago, many eyewitnesses swore that Sirius killed Peter Pettigrew. Compared to that, our testimonies are too weak."
At this moment, the door of the School Hospital suddenly opened, and Dumbledore walked in quickly.
"Principal, you must stop them," Hermione said urgently. "They've arrested the wrong person."
"Yes, Principal, Black is innocent," Harry added.
"Scabbers did it all," Ron said. "He's my rat, but he's not a real rat. He used to be a rat, my brother Percy's rat, but then Percygot an owl..."
"Enough, Weasley," Dumbledore interrupted. "Severus has told me everything, everything before he fell unconscious."
"Professor Snape told you?" Ron was somewhat surprised, and Harry and Hermione also exchanged glances.
They had misjudged him; Snape hadn't held a grudge.
"However, he only told me. When Fudge asked him, he simply said he was ambushed by three young Wizards and knew nothing.
And he specifically emphasized that the three Gryffindors might have been under the Confundo, otherwise they wouldn't have been so foolish as to attack their Professor."
The three:... "That's a bit too harsh!" Ron's mouth twitched. "Now no one will believe anything we say."
"No one would believe it anyway," Aaron shrugged. "Professor Snape played that perfectly, both revealing the truth and completely distancing himself from it.
What happens next has nothing to do with him, and Sirius's life or death also has nothing to do with him."
Dumbledore looked at Aaron approvingly. "Crude words, but sound reasoning. That's how it is.
No matter how honestly you speak, if others are unwilling to listen, it's meaningless.
Unless Peter Pettigrew is found, we can't clear Sirius's name."
"Peter Pettigrew can't be found, but there are other things," Aaron hesitated for a moment, then pulled a piece of paper from his pocket. "Peter Pettigrew's signature and his left thumb."
Dumbledore's pupils slightly widened at the words. He held the evidence provided by Aaron and was stunned for several seconds before regaining his composure. "Gaius, do you have some special Hobbies?"
"Don't misunderstand, Principal," Aaron immediately denied. "It's just that Professor Trelawney made a prophecy today: 'Tonight, the one who betrayed his friends, the one who became a murderer, shall break free from his chains, and the blood of the innocent shall flow.'
'The Dark Lord shall return with the help of his servant, more powerful and terrifying than before.'"
As soon as he finished speaking, Dumbledore's expression changed slightly, but he quickly composed himself.
He had been mentally prepared for this for a long time, so it was easy to accept.
Hermione and Ron, however, couldn't help but shiver. Lord Voldemort was synonymous with fear in many people's hearts, and hearing that he would return made it impossible not to be afraid.
"This prophecy isn't true, is it?" Ron asked uneasily.
"I don't know about the second half, but the first half has undoubtedly come true.
But don't worry, before our great Principal passes away peacefully, he can at most dominate everything; he's still a long way from completely ruling the Magical World."
Dumbledore:... That's true, but does it have to be so blunt?
Hermione swallowed hard. "That's still terrifying enough."
"It's alright," Aaron calmly waved his hand, then meaningfully patted Harry's shoulder and chuckled, "The famous Savior Harry Potter is still alive!
With him attracting Lord Voldemort's attention, we are safe."
Harry:... What you're saying puts a lot of pressure on me!
Should I just ask the Principal to let me stay at Hogwartsforever?
"All in all, it's better to believe some things than not.
After Peter Pettigrew appeared, I thought he might escape, so I found a way to make him leave a piece of evidence."
"Principal," Harry looked at Dumbledore with relief. "With these, can Sirius be cleared of his charges?"
Dumbledore hesitated for a moment, then shook his head under Harry's hopeful gaze. "It's not enough. Sirius's case is too big; almost everyone in the Magical World knows about it.
These things can at most prevent him from being sentenced to death, but until Peter Pettigrew is found, he will probably still have to remain in Azkaban."
"No, absolutely not," Harry said without thinking. "Black has been wrongly accused for twelve years. If he continues to rot in prison, he will break down.
And the Dementors won't let him go; his future life will be worse than death."
"I can only do this much," Aaron said indifferently. There were countless unjust cases in the world, and he wasn't familiar with Sirius. Saving his life was already showing utmost benevolence.
"Principal," Harry asked, almost pleadingly, "Is there really no hope?"
Dong!
The clock outside suddenly chimed, and Dumbledoresuddenly thought of something, slowly saying, "Time is so mysterious, so powerful. Time disturbed is dangerous.
Black is locked in the highest cell of the Black Tower.
You know the rules, Hermione, no one must see you.
It's best to return before the last chime of the clock, otherwise, the consequences will be unimaginable.
If you succeed tonight, you will save more than one innocent life."
With that, Dumbledore turned to leave, but after two steps, he turned back and reminded, "Three turns will be enough.
By the way, when in doubt, it's wise to go back the way you came. Good luck to you."
"What the hell? What's going on?" Ron asked, bewildered.
Hermione struggled for a moment, then made up her mind and pulled out a thin, long golden chain from her clothes.
"I advise you not to do this," Aaron immediately stopped her when he saw it. "Do you know what this means? The risks involved are much greater than you think."
"There's no other way," Hermione said firmly. "This is the only viable option."
"Viable, my foot. Don't forget what you promised Professor McGonagall: only to use it for classes.
Cornelius Fudge, the Minister for Magic, is here at Hogwarts. If he finds out, let alone you, even Professor McGonagall will be punished."
"Can't you have some sympathy!" Hermione shouted angrily, but the next second she regretted it. "Sorry, I'm too anxious."
"Haha!" Aaron laughed in exasperation. "So you're challenging time for so-called sympathy?
If I may ask, what is Sirius to you, that he's worth you changing the past for?
This isn't a class. Have you considered the consequences of failure?"
"I..." Hermione was speechless for a moment.
"What are you two talking about?" Harry said worriedly. "If there's a way, please hurry. Any later, and Sirius's soul will be sucked out by the Dementors."
Hermione took a deep breath and still took out the Time-Turner.
"Perhaps you're right; we are impulsive.
But I promise you, this is the last time. At this moment, I hope you can help me; of course, if you don't want to, then forget it."
With that, Hermione hung the chain around her neck, and also looped it around Harry's neck.
Aaron was in an internal struggle, and as he hesitated, the system timely 'added money,' helping him make a decision.
"Rescue Sirius Black; complete mission reward 800 magicpoints; accept?"
"Wait," Aaron sighed deeply. "I never said I wasn't going."