As he watched the three speechless Gryffindor students, the gloom in Amosta's eyes deepened, but he still asked in that playful tone,
"Let me ask again. The three of you—what did Dumbledore send you here for? To kill me?"
"It's a misunderstanding, Professor!"
Hermione said after catching her breath for several moments,
"Professor Dumbledore did send us back to find you. But not to kill you. Actually, our future has encountered a crisis that could destroy the wizarding world. Professor Dumbledore sent us to seek your help, Professor!"
"Quiet, beautiful young lady!"
To Harry and Ron's astonishment, when Hermione revealed that they had come back from the future, Professor Breen showed no surprise whatsoever. Instead, he snapped sharply,
"Of course I know you came from the future. I remember every Hogwarts student's face. You aren't students at the present-day Hogwarts at all. I saw that Time-Turner!"
Seeing that the three had been stunned silent, Amosta's tone eased slightly. He spun his wand around his fingers a few times.
"Don't try to interfere with my judgment, understand? You only need to answer every one of my questions truthfully. If I notice that you're lying—"
Amosta's voice sank low.
"I'll pry open your brains and examine your memories myself. My memory magic isn't particularly refined, you three, so don't blame me if you end up as idiots—"
Harry had to admit that he was a little frightened.
Snape had told them that Professor Breen from this era was rather different from the one they knew, but wasn't this difference a bit too obvious?!
All three nodded in unison.
"Very good—"
Amosta nodded in satisfaction.
"First—"
His gaze settled on Harry's scar.
"You really are that Harry Potter—the one Dumbledore sent to be raised by Muggle relatives?"
Harry nodded.
"You're Ron Weasley."
Amosta