Fudge stopped smiling, stopped greeting him, and turned to leave.
He continued to question Snape: "It's strange, those Dementor... Do you know what made them back down, Snape?"
"I don't know, Minister."
Harry, naturally, didn't want to let the four of them leave. He wanted to chase after them, but Madam Pomfrey stopped him. He could only stand there and shout, "Stop! Professor Dumbledore, Director Lorne, Ron's rat is Animagus — Madam Pomfrey, I'm not agitated, please bring them back!"
The doors to the Hospital Wing were tightly shut, then suddenly opened a crack.
Dumbledore poked his head out from the doorway, adjusted his glasses, and said, "Now it's my turn to speak. Please don't interrupt me; time is limited."
"The testimonies of three thirteen-year-old wizards prove nothing. Besides, Sirius once sneaked into Hogwarts with a knife and scared away the Fat Lady. You need to let everyone see the truth. You know, the Hogwarts Headmaster is below the Minister for Magic. Although I hold a high position, I cannot control the Ministry of Magic."
"What we need," Dumbledore, looking at Hermione, "Is perhaps time."
Hermione exclaimed in realization, "Oh!"
" Sirius is locked in Professor Flitwick's office on the Seventh Floor of the castle, right by the thirteenth window. The Ministry of Magic has set up a barrier, so we can't make too much noise, and we have to fly high enough. Magic brooms can't carry people... I don't have any good ideas," Dumbledore winked at Ron. " Honeydukes seems to close at midnight. If only someone could bring me some spicy popping candy."
Finally, Dumbledore solemnly said, "Time is a very good tool, and a dangerous one. If you wish to manipulate time, you may do so in three strokes, but remember two things: you must not be seen, and you must return to your original position immediately."
Dumbledore left behind some cryptic words and then stuck his head back in.
"What is he talking about?" Ron asked with a wry smile.
Harry still didn't understand, and he still insisted on going out to appeal.
The door to the Hospital Wing suddenly opened a crack again.
This time it's Lorne.
" Madam Pomfrey, Professor Dumbledore requests your presence—well, now I'm locking you inside; no one will disturb you."
"Oh, by the way," Lorne smiled wickedly, "You're welcome."
Ron finally couldn't hold back and shouted, "Does everyone have to be a riddle solver?"
Hermione shushed him, then pulled Harry back from rushing out, drawing them both to her side. "Ready?"
Harry was also very puzzled. "Prepare what?"
Hermione pulled an hourglass necklace from her own neck and slipped it around the necks of the three of them. "This is Time-Turner. It can take us back a few hours. Professor McGonagall prepared it for me so I can take two classes at the same time."
Ron suddenly realized, "So that's how you manage to take so many courses!"
Hermione turned the hourglass three times, then put her arms around Harry and Ron's waists and explained, "Listen to me, and follow my orders. We need to hide immediately. The Time-Turner has many important rules, which I'll explain in a bit."
As soon as he finished speaking, a sound like shattering glass came from behind them, and everything around them seemed to rush backward. Harry saw the sunlight gradually returning from the dark clouds. When everything stabilized, they had arrived at the castle's Entrance Hall. It was here that they parted ways. Harry and Ron discovered Crookshanks.
Before the three could react, Hermione immediately led Harry and Ron behind a large rock. Panting, she began to explain slowly, " Professor McGonagall forbade me to tell anyone. She even wrote several letters to the Ministry of Magic to get the Time-Turner."
"Because it's just too dangerous; one wrong move and it could lead to disaster. Now I have to explain: First, the Time-Turner can't reverse life and death, which is why I was in such a hurry just now. If Sirius had already been subjected to the Dementor's Kiss, it would have been too late."
"Secondly, the Time-Turner can only rewind to five hours ago; I was previously using two hours."
"Third, during the transition, we cannot meet with ourselves, and it is best not to meet with anyone. This is something we need to pay close attention to. I planned my route during class. If I knew I was traveling back in time, I would deliberately take my second route. If I didn't have the memories of traveling back in time, I would honestly take the first route."
Ron muttered again, "No wonder I never seem to run into you."
Fourth, at the end of the transition period, we need to return to our original positions.
"What will happen if we can't go back?" Harry couldn't help but ask.
"I don't know, and I don't want to know," Hermione said very seriously. "Let's pray it doesn't happen!"
While the three were whispering, the trio outside the rock had also started arguing. The three listened intently, holding their breath, with Ron's words being the sharpest and most jarring.
Harry and Hermione both looked at Ron, who gave them an apologetic smile, "Everyone makes a foolish mistake sometimes..."
The three waited quietly until Crookshanks appeared, and Harry and Ron from the original timeline gave chase, before they finally emerged.
"I still don't know what we should do," Harry, somewhat bewildered. "Even knowing the future, there's nothing we can do. We still can't beat the Dementor, Peter, and Snape."
Hermione was also thinking, " Dumbledore just mentioned the location where Sirius is imprisoned. He must be asking us to rescue Sirius, but how can we rescue Sirius silently from high above?"
Ron's mind raced, recalling Dumbledore's words: Don't make too much noise... and fly high enough...
Got it!
"A magical airplane!" Ron suddenly exclaimed. " Dumbledore reminded me to use a magical airplane. Honeydukes is still open; I can go there and use Summoning Powder."
Harry and Hermione's eyes lit up. They had never seen a magical airplane before and had never thought of this condition. Now it seemed that it was indeed the only solution.
"I left the summoning powder in the dorm, we'll go get it now—no, let's not go together for now," Ron quickly recalled. "You guys keep an eye on the Shrieking Shack, we need your help with some things. I'll meet you in the Forbidden Forest after I get the plane."
Harry thought for a moment. They definitely needed to operate on multiple fronts; someone needed to go to the Shrieking Shack, the Forbidden Forest, the dormitory, and Hogsmeade. Without further hesitation, he reminded him, "Then we'll split up. Be careful on your way back to the dormitory, don't get spotted."
Ron nodded, then looked at Hermione: "Can't I be discovered by anyone?"
"The key is that you can't be in someone else's sight at the same time," Hermione explained. She used the Time-Turner specifically for attending classes, so how could she possibly disappear? Most importantly, she couldn't meet with anyone. "But it's still best to hide yourself; it's never a bad idea to be cautious."
Ron nodded, clenching his fist as if to encourage himself. "I'm off now, see you later."