Destiny

With a bang, Professor McGonagall slammed the book shut.

"I'm sorry, it seems there are some problems with the data compilation. Please give me a little more time to find it. Please trust me, as long as you use the Time-Turner carefully, you won't encounter any danger."

Professor McGonagall muttered to herself as she stood up, intending to search through the old documents in the cabinet behind her.

It's unclear whether the words she spoke were meant for Bell and Hermione, or for herself.

"Professor McGonagall, perhaps you would be willing to take a moment to listen to what I have to say?"

Bell suddenly said.

Although he used a question, Bell didn't wait for Professor McGonagall's reply and continued speaking on his own.

"I think any wizard who is keen to explore the mysteries of magic would be interested in Time-Turner that can manipulate the power of time, right?"

And I, too, happen to be a wizard who is passionate about exploring the mysteries of magic.

Hearing Bell begin to speak, Professor McGonagall temporarily suppressed her anxiety and sat back down in her chair. The old professor was very curious; what exactly did Bell intend to say?

"I investigated all the information I could find about Time-Turner Time-Turner spent a long time thinking about the rules for using them. In the end, I came to a conclusion that left me feeling hopeless."

"What is it?"

Hermione asked curiously.

She could hardly imagine what else, besides not being able to see her sister, could make her boyfriend feel desperate.

Bell smiled slightly at Hermione, but did not answer the question immediately.

"For example, suppose I'm in danger right now and I've passed out. When I wake up, I realize I don't know who saved me. I want to know who saved me, so an hour later, I use Time-Turner to go back to the present. But I find that there's no one else there. That's when I realize that it was 'me' who saved me."

Professor McGonagall, according to the rules of Time-Turner, would the situation I just described be feasible?

Bell looked at the old professor who was listening intently.

"Yes, you haven't changed the past. Your future self is also a part of the past."

Professor McGonagall nodded, acknowledging Bell's example.

"So, is there no problem with this example? No! It may seem fine, but there's actually a huge problem here!"

Bell leaned forward, glanced at Professor McGonagall and Hermione, and his expression turned serious.

"The scenario described in the previous example was based on the perspective of the future 'me'. So, what if we re-examined the whole process from the perspective of the past 'me'?"

I will return to the present in one hour and save myself!

"Is there a problem with this?"

Hermione asked, puzzled.

Professor McGonagall nodded in agreement, also not seeing any problem with it.

"What's the problem? It's a huge problem!"

Bell looked at the two of them seriously and said, word by word:

"My future is set in stone!"

The future, which should have had infinite possibilities, is now reduced to only one possibility!

Although I don't know it now, and no one else does either, it's certain that I will return to the present in one hour.

What would happen if we extended this timeframe?

From the moment I was born until the moment I died, everything I experienced was preordained!

Even everything that happens to humanity from the moment of its birth until its demise is predetermined!

"... Perhaps, I mean perhaps, this is just how the world is ruled? Everything is under the control of fate?"

After digesting what Bell had said, Professor McGonagall spoke with some difficulty.

"Yes, Professor, you're right. Although I'm reluctant to admit it, it seems that this is the most reasonable explanation."

Bell leaned back in his chair and said in a low voice.

"But I am not resigned to this, I am not resigned to being a puppet of fate!"

So I then searched for all the information about Time-Turner in great detail.

Finally, I discovered the suspicious point!

First, just like the question I asked you before.

Who invented the Hour-Reversal Charm? Who created the Time-Turner? How many people used the Time-Turner? Who were they? What were their names? What became of them?

The answer is, "I don't know".

No one knows, and no record of it has been left.

Secondly, based on the records in the Ministry of Magic regarding the number of Time-Turner, we can infer that the creation of Time-Turner should not be difficult.

So why was its production method lost?

Finally, there is the Ministry of Magic's attitude towards the Time-Turner.

A magical artifact, whose crafting method has been lost, possessing terrifying power and incomparably precious, has been handed over to us so easily, to two 13-year-old Little Wizard for their use?

Furthermore, the Ministry of Magic has not taken any oversight measures.

Aren't they afraid the Time-Turner will be damaged? Aren't they afraid we'll use Time-Turner for other things?

"Mr. Menethil, excuse me."

Professor McGonagall suddenly interjected.

"The application for the Time-Turner requires a professor's guarantee and goes through a rigorous application process before a license can be granted. Therefore..."

"Of course, Professor. Of course I know those things."

Bell snatched the microphone back.

"Please allow me to ask a rather impolite question. Professor, do you really think you have that much influence?"

"Can the Ministry of Magic really entrust such a valuable magical artifact to a few underage students for classroom use based solely on your guarantee?"

"..."

Professor McGonagall fell silent.

Under the gazes of Bell and Hermione, the old professor longed to simply answer, "Yes!"

But she couldn't deceive herself.

Her years of teaching experience certainly gave her a wealth of connections. But in reality, very few of the Little Wizard continued to keep in touch with her after graduation.

If it were some trivial matter, she believed that with her reputation, some people would still give her face.

However, if something truly important happens, Albus's reputation might not be enough, let alone hers.

Seeing Professor McGonagall's silence, Bell already knew the old professor's answer.

"According to the Ministry of Magic's records, most of the Time-Turner have been damaged for one reason or another."

"Professor McGonagall, has there ever been a case of the Time-Turner that Hogwarts requested being damaged?"

"...No."

Professor McGonagall said somewhat uncertainly.

She's starting to doubt her own memories. She's even starting to wonder if someone has altered them.

"So who damaged those Time-Turner?"

Didn't the Ministry of Magic impose any corresponding punishment?

Why wasn't there more stringent oversight?

Where is the damaged Time-Turner?

Doesn't anyone want to research and analyze how it's made?

(To find out the answer, stay tuned for the next installment.)