This world was never short of geniuses.
That was clear from what Anton knew about the Harry Potter World.
Dumbledore and Grindelwald, the couple, had been so dazzling in their youth that words could hardly describe it.
By Voldemort's generation, the Dark Lord had already mastered the advanced Dark Magic of Horcruxes while still a student.
In Harry Potter's father's generation, the Four had easily mastered the highly difficult art of becoming Animagi and created the amazing Marauder's Map, while Snape invented a new spell, Sectumsempra.
And in Harry Potter's generation, Harry, who excelled at the Disarming Charm, and the Twins, who were skilled at making magical objects, had both reached heights beyond the average wizard.
With the Old Wizard's guidance, Anton had embarked on a path of research combining Potions and Charms.
Anna, a little girl who had yet to experience even the first burst of awakened Magical Power, had already inherited Goblin Pedro's complete Time-Turner technology. She had even built an enormous machine that the Department of Mysteries at the Ministry of Magic couldn't have made.
Yes, Anna had finally completed her oversized Time-Turner. (Pedro had helped make its core components earlier.)
Every day, she quietly stayed by the French windows, basking in the sun, drinking tea, and fussing over flowers as she waited for Anton to have some free time to go somewhere with her.
Anton couldn't go right away, because the next full moon had arrived. He had no choice but to drink Polyjuice Potion and take Lupin's place.
Lupin had his own way of managing the company. Though he didn't have the same exceptional business skills as Anton,
he had a kind and understanding heart that embraced everyone.
Everyone at his company trusted him as their leader, and the company's overall productivity far surpassed what Anton could achieve by relying on his own abilities alone.
Anton was glad to see things turn out that way.
It meant Lupin was truly finding his own way to make a living.
The most obvious change was that the household had grown wealthy. Lupin had lavishly bought the entire floor below and turned it into a dining room for the family. He'd also hired an adorable, plump cook.
They had finally gotten rid of the ill-tempered delivery boy from the restaurant.
Lupin filled everyone's wardrobes, and Anna was so happy that she started calling him Uncle Lupin, just like Anton did.
"Damn, Ilsa's way too enthusiastic!" Anton came home, took a shower, then grumbled to Anna.
Anna smiled sweetly. "Maybe she's got someone in mind?"
Anton's expression turned strange. He shrugged. "That's Lupin's business. I'm staying out of it."
Although Lupin still lived upstairs in the room Anton had arranged for him, he had bought a flat downstairs and set up a reinforced room there specifically for transforming on full-moon nights.
Otherwise, Anton would definitely have teased him about it.
With his Dragon Hide Sling Bag slung over his shoulder again, full of Potions, and his Wand tucked into the Hidden Holster, Anton gripped it tightly. "I'm ready."
The night breeze stirred the hem of Anna's dark red velvet dress. She tilted her head and looked at Anton with earnest, deep green eyes. Then she grinned and said softly, "Thank you."
Anton waved his Wand. The vine climbing the living room wall suddenly shot out at incredible speed, wrapping around the entire house in an instant as flowers bloomed everywhere.
It was an Elephant-Eating Vine native to Africa. It had tremendous resistance to magic and naturally carried a Repelling Charm, causing all living things to instinctively keep their distance.
The plant could hardly survive for long once it left Africa, and Anna had no idea how Anton had managed to keep it alive.
Anna led Anton into her room and opened the Suitcase. They stepped inside the enormous Mechanical Factory.
Anna touched the machine, her expression unreadable.
"My mother loved me very much when I was little."
Anton nodded and didn't interrupt. He had a feeling this was going to be a sad story.
"A huge snake attacked me. My mother died protecting me."
Anton sucked in a sharp breath and stared at her in shock. "I'm sorry. I didn't know. Maybe I shouldn't have kept that snake at home. I..."
Anna gently shook her head. "I only have to endure the fear and revulsion in my heart, and you can bring it back to life. I think it's worth it."
She didn't dwell any longer on the big snake at home.
"Manyflower Manor, outside London. That's where I lived when I was little. My mother loved all the flowers in the back garden."
Anna's eyes turned distant, and a happy smile bloomed across her face. "Back then, I used to follow her around with my little watering can."
She gently traced the machine with her fingers. "Later, Father took me everywhere to find people who could treat my illness. He said I had a strange disease."
Anton frowned. "A strange disease?"
Anna nodded lightly. "Father wouldn't tell me what kind of disease, but he said it would show itself after my Magical Power erupted."
"He was always so charming and funny around other people, but in private, he just kept drinking. He often got dead drunk and called out Mother's name."
Anna closed her eyes as she spoke of the painful memories.
"I didn't dare mention Mother in front of him. I was afraid it would make him even sadder. But I really, really miss her."
Her eyes shone with hope. "I want to see her."
Anton sighed and pressed his lips together. "We can't change anything with a Time-Turner."
The Time-Turners still hidden away in the Department of Mysteries at the Ministry of Magic were the last shred of hope for the desperate wizards in the chaotic lands. But any wizard with even a little sense knew that Time-Turners could bring nothing but despair.
"I know." Anna's voice was soft but firm. "Even if I can only see her for a moment."
"All right!" Anton smiled and gently took the poor girl's hand. "Let's go."
Anna looked into Anton's eyes and nodded. Then she pulled the machine's lever with all her strength.
Countless gears and mechanical parts spun into motion. Magical light spread everywhere like blue smoke, easily sweeping the two of them away.
They didn't notice the magical smoke spreading farther and farther.
It flowed out along the Suitcase and spread through the entire room, reaching Pedro's bed, the space beneath Nagini's bed, and the Old Wizard's bathtub.
At last, the Elephant-Eating Vine blocked the smoke.
Bang!
A faint sound rang out. The smoke quickly withdrew into the machine, and the entire house fell so silent that it seemed no one was there.
London, Britain, 1953.
That year, after Hogwarts rejected Voldemort's application to become the Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor, he was searching far and wide for treasures to make into Horcruxes.
That year, Grindelwald had spent eight years locked in a Castle by his lover, who had broken their vow.
Anton stared in shock through the shop window at the calendar inside. The date was clearly marked.
"When you were little?"
Thirty-six years ago? So she wasn't a little girl, but an old witch?
Anna smiled. "You've discovered my secret."
Seeing Anton's mouth fall open as if he were about to swallow an egg, she giggled. "I didn't live through all those years. After Mother died, Father took me to a secret frozen place belonging to our family, where I was put into a deep sleep."
"Two years ago, Grandpa got angry and ordered them to thaw me out. He said he couldn't stand by and watch his granddaughter go through life without getting to live it."
Anna scrunched up her little face, imitating an old man's expression and tone. She looked both stern and ridiculous. "Whether it's good or bad, that's her Fate!"
"Father spent thirty-six years looking for a solution. Though he never gave up, he stopped being so determined to keep me frozen."
"Good grief..." Anton stared at her in shock and smacked his lips, at a loss for words.
Anna, however, looked a little sad. "My tenth birthday is just a few days away. I've only lived for ten years, but thirty-six years have passed in between. Everything's different now."
Anton fell silent. In his previous life, he'd seen a line like this online: all precocious children had unhappy lives. But it was those experiences that made them so astonishingly gifted.
P.S. Thanks to the reader who pointed out the issue with the dates. I've corrected the year. My apologies to anyone who read the earlier version.
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