Henry had said that activating the Time-Turner required an exceptionally strong desire. Hermione had an exceptionally strong thirst for knowledge, so Minerva gave her the device. She was the key to that experiment.
Oh, everyone was watching Harry Potter. He had summoned a Patronus with his wand and driven away the Dementors. What a hero he was.
In fact, if Hermione had failed to activate the Time-Turner and transport Sirius and Harry away, Sirius's last direct heir would have been cut off at that very moment. Another pure-blood line would have perished.
"Do you really think I'm that awful?"
Dumbledore appeared again, dressed in his ridiculous star-patterned robe.
"You have no idea how hurtful the things you said were back then."
"But I think I made up for it at Christmas. Do you remember what I gave you?"
"A huge box of chocolates?"
Dumbledore shook his head comically. "That would be my style, but think again."
Pomona remembered. It was the Headmaster's Pardon Decree, allowing Hogwarts' House-elves to serve designated wizarding families.
There were more and more House-elves at Hogwarts, but fewer and fewer places for them to work. Dobby had been Malfoy's elf, yet after only one day at Hogwarts, he had become so "free." No one knew what changes might occur when the other House-elves left the kitchens and common rooms.
As old pure-blood families vanished, new noble families constantly emerged. Those families all needed House-elves. Hermione Granger's idea of giving hats to those House-elves had inspired her. She wanted to give them a little "freedom" too.
"Can you forgive me?" Dumbledore asked.
"Forgive you for what, Professor?" She opened one of the gifts. Inside was a toy sold by Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes.
"What I said in the office that day."
Dumbledore was right. She had been rather