No matter how fast Fred and George ran, Vincent always stayed close behind.
According to Murphy's Law:
Nothing is as simple as it seems;
Everything takes longer than expected;
Things that are meant to go wrong will always go wrong.
As expected, the twins did not return the way they came.
They slowed their pace and smelled a faint aroma that resembled barbecue.
I trained all afternoon, didn't eat dinner before coming out, and I was running so fast just now.
"Gurgle—" My stomach was growling from hunger.
They looked in the direction from which the smell was coming.
There was a very faint light there, probably from students who had sneaked out for a picnic.
But after only a few steps, they suddenly smelled a nauseating stench that smelled like Dungbombs.
Fred and George quickly pinched their noses.
"Merlin's big shorts! Who has such a grotesque taste?!"
"This is disgusting, let's go back right away."
A new Hogwarts legend has been born.
Perhaps they were too disgusted by dipping that stuff in the grilled meat, because they turned around and quickly walked back.
In the darkness Vincent carefully collected the broken eggshells, removed his gas mask, and tensed up again before he could even breathe a sigh of relief.
That direction...
Although the distance is far, if we keep going, we will surely find light again.
Hermione, who had caught up, paused for a moment, then reached out and gently patted his shoulder, lowering her voice:
"As you said, besides stopping them, we also can't let the others in the time loop detect anything." (Short)
She hesitated for a moment, "The longer we delay, the more dangerous it becomes. Actually, we have a better way."
Vincent frowned. "A better way..."
Each time loop contains a past version of oneself, and they are unique and know each other.
The altered past is merely what you see now and perceive as the past.
The real past has not changed; the question should be how to keep the secret of the Time-Turner.
Gambling on luck?
Let Fred and George wander around aimlessly?
Or perhaps we should guide them away from safe spots?
Once is a coincidence, twice is an accident.
Instead of trying to prevent it, we should take the initiative to intervene and decide the uncertain future.
"Phew—" After Hermione's reminder, Vincent was no longer so nervous.
He drew his wand. "Thank you, I understand."
The light from the tip of the staff illuminated the surroundings, and the two strode forward without hesitation.
Fred and George sensed the movement behind them, stopped, and turned to look at the two men.
"No way, we've run this far."
Seeing that the twins were about to run away, the two quickly stood still.
"Wait, let's go back together."
Fred and George were initially a little skeptical, but they walked quickly ahead, looking like they were in a hurry.
There's a problem.
He was in such a hurry; he probably felt guilty.
"Tsk tsk tsk~" The twins ran forward and squeezed between the two.
"Don't worry, we'll keep your secret."
"Huh?" Vincent looked completely bewildered. "A secret? What secret?"
Hermione tensed up again.
Ron once said that his older Bill had 12 OWLs certifications, which might have given him the right to use the Time-Turner.
Could it be that they've discovered something?
Well, if they find out, they find out. As long as they don't spread it around, there shouldn't be any major problems.
"Hehe~" George reached out and hooked his arm around Vincent's neck, snorting
"You sneaked into the Forbidden Forest in the middle of the night, really just to test that Alchemy Arm thing?"
"What!?" Hermione tensed up, reacting with extreme excitement.
Fred gave Vincent a knowing wink.
Even if they did, they wouldn't do it secretly, would they?
Hermione was both embarrassed and angry as she pushed away the twins who were leaning in.
"I have a question: how did you know we were in the Forbidden Forest?"
The situation is not good.
"Yes—it was Neville who said you were outside the castle."
"Oh." Hermione lowered her head, obscuring her expression.
"Then why don't you go to Black Lake?"
Fred and George pouted.
If you're going to do something shady, a densely wooded Forbidden Forest is the best option.
The area around Black Lake is completely bare, with nothing to cover it up in.
Hermione suddenly looked up, staring directly into their eyes. "Don't you think the Alchemy Factory is a secret?"
What if Malfoy and his crew find out and it's been copied like Gwent?
Fred and George lowered their heads under her gaze.
Just kidding, why are you taking it so seriously?
"Um, we haven't had dinner yet~"
The twins ran towards the castle with big smiles on their faces.
Vincent gave Hermione a thumbs up.
Sure enough, he calmed the mischievous Weasley Twins down with just a few words. It seems the rumors on campus weren't unfounded.
"What rumor?"
"Little McGonagall."
Hermione raised her little fist and lightly punched his arm.
"If you hadn't been in such a rush to finish the experiment, we wouldn't have almost been exposed tonight."
Vincent clutched the spot where she had punched him, feigning pain as he gasped for breath.
"It's okay, you can continue, I can handle it."
Hermione lowered her hand, both amused and exasperated.
She also bears some responsibility for this, and there's no need to pursue it any further.
Besides, she didn't really want to hold anything against it.
Seeing her performance, Vincent was completely relieved.
"Shall we continue later?"
"Certainly."
October 16,
Lavender's worst fears came true.
She received a letter from home early in the morning, and after only glancing at it a few times, she screamed, waking up her roommates.
Hermione had only been asleep for a short while, groggily sat up.
"What happened?"
Lavender, her eyes red and swollen, burst into tears. Hermione and Parvati, wide awake, tried to comfort her for a long time, but to no avail.
It's impossible to sleep a little longer, but thankfully it's Saturday.
Last night I was joking that the Prophecy was false, but I never expected it to turn out like this just as dawn broke.
Lavender, in unbearable agony, accepted the tissues they offered.
"The Prophecy has come true. I shouldn't have made that joke last night..."
She wiped her face slightly, then continued to cry.
Hermione picked up the letter, which was soaked with tears.
Lavender's interests are the same as other little girls; she loves all the cute things in the world.
She adopted a rabbit named Binchi during this summer vacation.
Hermione remembered hearing about it.
If it weren't a baby bunny, their dorm room would probably have another adorable pet.
Unfortunately, something unfortunate happened.
Just the day before yesterday, a fox broke into Lavender's house and brutally mauled Binchi to death.
[By the way, the thing you fear most will happen on Friday, October 16th...]
Today is Saturday. Although the letter was mailed yesterday, the incident happened the day before yesterday.
"The Prophecy did not come true." Hermione lightly brushed Lavender's back with her hand.
"Binchi's death has nothing to do with the joke you made last night. See, the dates don't match up."
Lavender stopped crying and looked at the calendar on the bedside table.
It doesn't match up. Could it be that the owl delivered the message too late?