The Way Back

"It's what Gryffindor stole from the Fairy King, oh, it's what they're going to... to pay for it." Daisy turned the barrel over and stood it up.

This statement contained a great deal of information, both serious and unserious. The Hogwarts professors remained silent for a few seconds before deciding to pretend they hadn't heard it.

Hermione blinked, and even without her speaking, Loren understood what she was trying to say.

Gryffindor is connected to this place, could the other members of the Big Four also be connected? And considering the speculation about the prison... Loren had a feeling that he had glimpsed something extraordinary.

"Go in from here, the barrel leads to a point in time where you once existed. Slowly spend a few months or years there until your Magic Power runs out, Sand of Time will bring you back to the 'present'," the female boss said, pointing to the barrel.

Snape's lips pressed tightly together, and an indescribable feeling gradually emerged, starting as a babbling brook, then growing more and more turbulent, until it piled up into towering waves.

It seemed like fear, but it also seemed like anticipation...

"But I must remind you! There can be no alteration of the true history that has already occurred; this is the rule of time!"

Snape remained unmoved. He had tasted pain a thousand times over; what difference would it make if he experienced it again? If only he could see those eyes again...

Loren and Hermione pushed Professor McGonagall's arm aside and peered into the bucket. There was nothing there; it was pitch black, and they couldn't even see the bottom. Occasionally, a few scattered specks of golden light would flash by.

Professor McGonagall grabbed the two young wizards by the back of their collars and pulled them back behind her. She probably underestimated their weight, as it took her some effort to pull them.

She looked into the bucket and asked Daisy, "Are we all going in?"

"No need for that. Five people are fine, four people are fine... one person is also possible." Daisy shrugged nonchalantly. "The total amount of Magic Power is the same. With more people sharing the burden, each person will have to work for a shorter period of time."

Professor McGonagall stared at the dark barrel, her expression unreadable.

The situation inside the barrels remained unknown, and the place was shrouded in mystery. Professor McGonagall could not easily entrust the safety of everyone to a complete stranger she had just met, even though the proprietress was recorded as a kind and good person in the A History of Magic.

Sensing something amiss from her question, Loren and Hermione looked at Professor McGonagall. Before they could speak, Professor McGonagall made her decision, calmly saying, "Filius, you stay here and look after Morgan and Granger. Severus, we'll go in."

Professor Flitwick was silent for a few seconds before finally nodding in agreement.

"Professor..." Hermione called softly.

Professor McGonagall ruffled her hair, said nothing more to the two young wizards, and turned to Professor Flitwick to give him instructions.

Loren also felt a little strange. He looked up at Snape, only to see him curling his lip in disgust.

"..."

All that talk about being moved is fake; it won't move you at all!

"I'll go first." Snape was probably not used to this situation. He quickly waved his wand and disappeared into the barrel in a blur.

"You're making me look like the bad guy. Let me show you, okay?" Daisy muttered discontentedly, pouring a glass of Mead into the barrel.

A golden flame rose from the barrel, burning slowly and quietly, its soft light illuminating a small area around it. Snape's face emerged from the flame, his mature features undergoing a strange transformation. His bones and features gradually shrank, his loose skin tightened... his entire face receded from maturity to childlike innocence, gradually transforming into a child even smaller than Loren and Hermione.

Cokeworth, Spinner's End.

The riverbank at Spinner's End is always littered with trash, but in the bend of the wide river, there is a rare patch of clean land, protected by a tall tree. The sturdy trunk is shielded from the scorching sun by its thick leaves, leaving only large patches of cool shade.

The tree root has a large, hollow cavity, cool and dark, a place that, in my innocent memories, could isolate me from all my troubles.

Snape stared blankly at the jagged, strange patterns inside the tree hollow, unable to believe that fate had been so kind to him.

Reaching out to touch the cracked wood, it was hard, rough, and covered with fine powder. My gaze lingered on my own hands, calloused from the untreated residue of various medicinal herbs. Most importantly, my hands were very small.

Snape took a deep breath; the deep woody scent mingled with dampness and the fishy smell of moss was so wonderful it was hard to believe.

A sudden commotion came from outside the tree hole:

"Freak! Don't run! I'm going to tell Mommy you're a freak! You're a freak, Lily!"

Snape emerged from the tree hollow and saw a girl with dark red hair being chased to the entrance of the hollow in a somewhat panicked manner. She had fair skin, freckles, and most importantly—the girl had a pair of deep green eyes.

He glanced at Petunia, who was chasing after him, with the same look he gave a student. Perhaps it was his intimidating gaze, or perhaps it was his unusually large coat and dirty hair that made him look so strange, but in any case, he scared Petunia so much that she turned and ran away.

Snape stared intently into those eyes. Lily seemed to say something, but he didn't hear a word she said.

Following the rules of time, nothing is changed.

The tall trees were reflected in Lily's eyes, a vibrant green. Snape bent down, broke off a blade of grass, and used his Magic Power to transform it into a small bird, which fluttered its wings and flew to her hand—

That's enough for now.

Professor McGonagall waved her wand, extinguishing the quietly burning flame on the barrel—it was just a display flame that easily went out.

"Filius, the original plan remains unchanged. You stay here and look after Morgan and Granger." After saying this to Professor Flitwick, Professor McGonagall turned and waved her wand, disappearing into the barrel in a blur.

"That's Harry's mother, right, Professor Snape ..."

Although their faces were different, their deep green eyes were almost identical. Despite hearing Loren mention some things from back then, Hermione couldn't help but widen her eyes as she recalled the images she had just seen.

Loren shook his head, his tone somber. "For the sake of future Potions class, I think you'd better forget about this."

Professor Flitwick, ignoring their gossipy discussion, walked to the long table beside them and said in a slightly high-pitched voice:

"Mrs. Dursley, I have a few more questions I would like to ask you..."