A broken Hogwarts

Owen slowly opened his eyes and took a gentle breath of the moist and cold air in the box.

Melete lay obediently on his lap, her furry tail wrapped around his wrist, making a purring sound that was heavy and warm.

The bright white fluorescent light shone brightly on the tips of the wands in Daphne and Draco's hands, illuminating the dark box. It was dark outside the window, and the misty rain covered the windows with a thick curtain.

The screams and noises coming from each box disappeared, as if those who were crying desperately had their throats strangled at the same time, leaving only the sound of wind and rain outside beating the car windows louder. .

"What's going on?" Daphne held Astoria's hand tightly, looking around uneasily, her voice trembling slightly, "Is the battle outside over?"

"My father will know about this..." Draco was also worried, and he hummed feebly, "He will soon catch those who dare to attack the train, and then take this car The unsafe and low-grade junk cars were swept into the garbage! Maybe we can use Floo powder to go to school in the future..."

With a "hoo" sound, a ball of black fireworks suddenly ignited in the box, startling several young wizards. Nyx flew out of the fire and stood arrogantly on Owen's shoulders, looking down arrogantly at the three frightened guys.

"Nix, how's it going outside?" Daphne breathed a sigh of relief and asked quickly.

Owen raised his hand and touched the smooth feathers on Nyx's wings that were not stained by any water. The warm feeling made him squint his eyes slightly in comfort.

He pretended to communicate with Nyx, and watched the Phoenix, who was not enjoying himself, disappear in a ball of flames and teleport back to Hogwarts. Then he said: "The fighting outside is almost over. The people who attacked the train escaped..."

Before Owen could finish his words, Draco pointed out the window and screamed: "There's something moving outside!"

Melete, who was lying on Owen's knees, also raised her head, her big ears stood up high, and her golden cat eyes looked at the ceiling uneasily.

Daphne suddenly turned her head to look out the car window, where there seemed to be a vague black shadow sliding against the window glass. A biting chill spread along the glass into the car, making people shiver.

"Daphne, I'm so cold." Astoria said weakly, tugging on her cloak tightly. Her thin body couldn't stop trembling, and her lips became very pale.

"Astoria!" Daphne hugged her sister, pressed her head into her arms, and spoke with a crying voice, "Are you feeling better? Hold on for a while, soon... we will be at school soon. Already..."

Owen stroked Mao Zizi's back to express comfort, then glanced at the trembling people, slightly raised the wand in his hand, and ignited a ball of orange flames above the table in front of everyone. The flames burned vigorously in the air, bringing a reassuring light and warmth.

"I haven't finished speaking yet. The mastermind of the attackers escaped..." He continued unhurriedly, glancing outside the box door, "because the dementors are coming."

The damaged box door was open, allowing them to see several blurry black figures drifting down the aisle. A cloaked figure suddenly stopped outside the door. His face was completely hidden under the hood. A hand covered with mucus and spots was vaguely exposed under the cloak. The gray-white skin shone darkly, like rotting under the water. corpse.

It breathed slowly, a gurgling sound came from its throat under the cloak, and a chill enveloped everyone.

The little wizard in the box looked gray.

Owen's eyes flickered, and compared to the ashen-faced state of the others, he didn't feel any discomfort. A colder feeling filled his body and mind, isolating the influence of the dementors, and even contained a bit of malicious intent.

"The Dark Guard can indeed protect me from the Dementors. Voldemort didn't lie to me." He thought lightly, stroking Melete's smooth and soft hair with his fingers. "It seems that I don't have to worry about being imprisoned. Zika is out of control, which is really gratifying."

"Hoo... call the gods - guards!" came a trembling voice.

Daphne raised her wand with some trembling, trying to summon her patron saint, but the spell that could be successfully cast in the study group last semester failed at this time. She felt that all the happiness and hope were being sucked away, and the beautiful memories she was trying to recall in her mind were cast into a dark haze.

"Invoke the gods to protect you!" She gritted her teeth and repeated it again, her voice becoming much firmer.

Wisps of silvery white mist emerged from the tip of her wand, and her beautiful white swan patron saint did not condense into shape. The thin mist, with its fragile yet beautiful warmth, stood between the Dementor and everyone, causing the Dementor's inhalation to stop abruptly, and a gurgling sound stuck in his throat.

At this time, Draco also reacted. He raised his wand and recited the Patronus Charm skillfully, and a thin mist spurted out from the tip of the wand. Although he has not yet learned to summon a complete patron saint, he can still do it with some mist.

The silvery white mist exudes a faint brilliance in the darkness, cutting off the chill that pierces the heart, creating a warm haven for everyone in the box, giving people warmth and hope like a fireplace in the cold winter.

The dementor was circling anxiously outside the white mist, and even stretched out a rotten and scabbed hand without giving up, trying to push aside the silver-white mist blocking it like a curtain.

Seeing that the fog in front of him was getting thinner and thinner, Draco shouted eagerly: "Owen, help quickly!"

Owen blinked slowly, his expression helpless and even a little innocent. He's really not good at dealing with this kind of situation. He can't release the Black Demon Guard in this kind of place.

He could use the soul version of the coma spell to stun this guy, but with so many dementors surrounding him, such an approach would only attract more dementors, intensify conflicts and misunderstandings, and make the situation worse. Completely out of control.

Dementors are, after all, the guards of Azkaban and can be considered civil servants of the Ministry of Magic. It's one thing to drive them away, but if you knock them out, the nature of the matter changes.

Owen squinted at the reluctant Dementors outside the door, with a formulaic smile on his face, and said in a polite and distant tone: "There are no fugitives you are looking for here, please leave." He knew that the Dementors could hear it. Understand human language.

The dementor stood still at the door and continued to fiddle with the white mist in front of him. The fog became lighter and lighter.

The smile on Owen's face turned cold in an instant, and he slightly released a hint of the dark guard's aura, and his eyes were filled with mist. He said coldly: "Get out!"

A creepy feeling passed away. The Dementor outside the door suddenly paused, then retreated far away as if sensing some terrible danger, and slid away quickly and silently.

The others invariably let out a long sigh of relief, looked at each other with pale faces, and then looked at Owen with suspicion.

"What are you looking at me for? Why did that Dementor fly away? Don't they like nice words and prefer people to be tougher on them?" Owen tilted his head in confusion. Slowly clenching his left hand, his fingers opened as gracefully as petals, and several beautifully packaged chocolates appeared in his palm.

He distributed the chocolate to everyone and said slowly: "Eat some chocolate, it will make you feel better."

Daphne didn't care to think about what had just happened. She peeled off the wrapping paper of a piece of chocolate and stuffed it to Astoria, who was curled up in a ball and shivering.

Draco took a bite of the chocolate and felt a wave of heat rush to every part of his body, and the expression on his face suddenly paused. Then he jumped up from his seat, dug out a large bag of candies from his suitcase, and poured a pile of chocolates onto the table.

"I'm usually tired of eating these things. It's rare that they come in handy." He said in a long voice, quickly tearing open the wrapping paper of a chocolate frog.

"I can't believe that dementors would attack us." Daphne saw that Astoria's face became less gray after eating the chocolate, and then she breathed a sigh of relief and took a bite of the chocolate in her hand.

"Dad said they were completely unreliable, and he was right." Draco curled his lips, his cheeks bulging with chocolate.

"They probably just came here to search for fugitives." Owen said lazily. "Maybe they suddenly became hungry after seeing such a large amount of delicious food..."

At this time, a silver-white four-legged animal flew along the aisle, driving away the lingering dementors that were unwilling to leave, and swept away the coldness around the train.

Owen blinked and vaguely saw that it was a big dog.

"Well, whose Patronus was that just now?" Draco said slowly, "It doesn't look like Harry's."

"Maybe it belongs to Sirius." Owen said casually, biting off the head of a chocolate frog, and handed Melete a beef-flavored teething stick.

"It seems that this year's Defense Against the Dark Arts professor is not a fool." Draco muttered.

"It's terrible. I just felt like I would never be happy again." Astoria finally calmed down and said in a soft voice. She hugged the pink velvet tightly, with a demure and gentle smile on her pale face.

"Yes, no wonder many of the prisoners imprisoned in Azkaban have gone crazy. If it were me, I would rather die than go there." Draco clicked his tongue.

Owen tilted his head and looked at Astoria silently. He was a little curious about the curse spread in the Greengrass family's bloodline. As far as he knew, this blood curse would make people gradually weaken and die. It was more like the "Blood of Decline" curse he had studied, but it seemed to be slightly milder.

Not everyone in the Greengrass family inherits this blood curse, just like Daphne does not. But this curse will be randomly activated in their descendants, so it has always been difficult for the witches of the Greengrass family to marry, at least no pure-blood family is willing to introduce the curse into their own bloodline...

Just when Owen was thinking about some messy things, Draco suddenly glanced at him sideways and said with a bad smile: "By the way, Owen, you didn't summon the Patronus in that situation just now..."

Owen raised his eyelids slightly and looked at him with a smile.

"Is your Patronus really a dung beetle?" Draco asked with a gossipy look on his face, his eyes sparkling with the excitement of watching a good show.

Owen shook his head without changing his expression and said in a brisk tone: "My patron saint is very powerful and very violent. It can't help but tear the dementors outside into pieces, and then fight with more dementors." One game. Then I will be held accountable by the Ministry of Magic, and maybe thrown into Azkaban."

"Hey - keep making it up." Draco showed a disgusted expression.

They were eating chocolates in the box, and there was gradually noisy noise outside. The male prefect from before shouted loudly: "We are safe! The professors are here! Everyone, please stay in your own car for a while, because The train is badly damaged and needs repairs, and the school will send a car to pick us up soon!”

"The professors came so fast." Draco sarcastically said, "They arrived after everything was over. Are they Aurors?"

"Speaking of which, where was Harry? Did he really die outside?" He said ruthless words, but his expression and movements seemed a little anxious.

They waited for a quarter of an hour, and it was not until the prefects of each college organized everyone to get out of the car that they finally saw Harry.

In the endless rain, more than a hundred carriages were parked on the muddy grass. In front of the carriage, the Thestrals stood motionless, as quiet as sculptures, staring at them silently with pairs of white eyes without pupils.

Harry poked his head out of one of the carriages and waved to them.

Owen and Draco got on the carriage and saw Hermione and Neville who had chased Harry there before. Daphne and Astoria got into a nearby car.

Hermione's big ginger cat scurried into the carriage very quickly, holding a bag of candy in its mouth, which contained Neville's toad.

"Crookshanks!" Hermione hurriedly picked up her cat, "You found Neville's toad! That's great!"

She raised her eyebrows at Owen, glanced at the cat in his arms, and said enthusiastically: "Crookshanks is very smart, right? Just like Melete! Last time I was in the pet shop I fell in love with it at first sight…”

Owen smiled and was very happy to share his cat-raising experiences with others.

Harry sat opposite Owen, his face was very pale and he looked uncomfortable. Hermione and Neville would steal glances at him from time to time, with worried expressions on their faces.

"Are you hurt?" Draco snorted arrogantly at Hermione, sat far away from her, and then looked Harry up and down.

"No..." The corner of Harry's mouth twitched, and he lowered his head with a red face, as if he wanted to shrink himself into a gap in the carriage.

Owen glanced at him with interest, then looked at Hermione and Neville: "What have you experienced?"    "Nothing!" Hermione hugged her shoulders angrily, "We were blocked in the middle carriage. There were so many people rushing in front that we couldn't squeeze through. Then the dementors arrived..." She glanced at Harry worriedly again.

"Then Harry, you summoned a handsome Patronus in front of the crowd?" Draco raised his slender chin and said slowly.

Harry was speechless and buried his face lower, his ears and neck turning bright pink.

"Harry...he fainted." Neville said cautiously, holding in his hand his toad that failed to escape from prison again.

"Have you fainted?" Draco said one word after another, and then he couldn't help but laugh out loud, "I didn't realize that you were so timid? I thought you were fearless. Don’t be afraid! I was frightened and fainted by the dementors... Hahaha, I can laugh about this for a whole year!"

Harry lowered his head deeply, digging his toes into the soles of his shoes in embarrassment and shame.

Seeing Harry blushing so hard that steam was rising from his head, Owen tugged at Draco's robe in amusement. Draco wiped the tears from his eyes, trying to hold back his laughter and pursed his lips tightly.

Owen shook his head and said softly: "Dementors will awaken people's most desperate memories. Most people don't react much to dementors because they have not experienced the worst things. This has nothing to do with timidity and It’s okay to be weak.”

After hearing his words, everyone in the carriage fell silent, and Draco didn't smile either.

Harry slowly raised his head and stared at Owen with complex and grateful eyes.

He couldn't figure out why he fainted. He was obviously the first one in the study group to summon the Patronus, but when facing the dementors, he realized how weak he was after waves of terrifying screams, pleas and wild laughter.

At this time, Owen was like a shining little angel in his eyes, saving him from embarrassment and self-doubt.

"Sure enough, Owen is really a good man." Harry thought and made up his mind. He must work harder next and overcome the influence of the Dementors on him as soon as possible, otherwise he would have the nerve to continue to accept Dumbledore's teachings.

Owen was chilled by this guy's disgusted eyes, and he didn't know what Harry was thinking. He lowered his head and rubbed Melete's head. He didn't plan to take out the chocolates he had prepared.

The carriage moved slowly. After a brief bump and shake, the Thestral opened its bat-like wings and pulled the carriage into the air.

More than a hundred carriages were lined up and flying in the clouds. This scene must have been spectacular. Unfortunately, the dark sky and dense rain obscured everything, preventing people on the ground from witnessing this scene.

After a period of silence, everyone in the carriage became active again and discussed the attack.

"Later we met Sirius. He released the Patronus and drove away the Dementors. He told me that it was Bellatrix and Peter Pettigrew who attacked the train." Harry said in a low mood. Although he had long been mentally prepared to face the enemy's attack, this incident made him deeply aware of the seriousness of the matter for the first time.

They don't care if they hurt innocent people or how many people they get involved. In order to kill themselves, they will do anything...

When he thought that everyone was in danger this time because of himself, Harry felt as if his heart was filled with lava. He was restless and uncontrollably angry at the same time.

He even wondered if he should leave school so as not to hurt others. But when he thought about leaving Hogwarts, he felt empty in his heart, as if his whole body was soaked in ice water.

"We can't go on like this. We must find a way to solve it..." He thought hard, but couldn't think of any good solution. For the first time, he wanted to crack open his skull to see why it was empty inside.

"It's them? They're really crazy..." Draco murmured to himself, his eyes wandering, "The madman who ran away from Azkaban... Harry, you'd better hide yourself more tightly, I I don't want to be splattered with blood." He glanced at Harry and quickly looked away.

"So, Harry, your situation is really dangerous." Hermione said with a serious face, "You must not leave Hogwarts this school year. Don't go to Hogsmeade either. Don't do it to yourself. It’s a joke about my life.”

Neville also spoke words of comfort with concern. Owen leaned lazily against the wall of the carriage, just nodding in response and not participating much in the conversation. He wanted to have dinner.

Harry was touched that his friends didn't blame him for putting them in danger, but it also made him feel even more guilty. He took a deep breath, pulled himself together, and discussed possible solutions with Hermione.

Soon the carriage began to descend, finally stopping in front of the gates of Hogwarts Castle.

Owen skillfully put a waterproof spell on everyone, then stepped out of the carriage, followed the crowd up the stone steps of the castle, passed through the majestic oak door, and entered the spacious and deep foyer. The door to the auditorium on the right is open, and candles can be seen floating on the enchanted ceiling.

"...Go into the auditorium first! Considering that some students are injured, the sorting ceremony will start later." Professor McGonagall's voice came from the front, urging the students to enter the auditorium. Then she shouted over everyone's heads: "Shafiq! Granger! I want to see you two! And Potter, come here too!"

The three people looked at each other and squeezed in the direction of Professor McGonagall.

"There's no need to be nervous." Professor McGonagall saw that Harry and Hermione were a little nervous, and she said meticulously, "Shafiq, Granger, I need to talk to you in the office."

She looked at Harry again: "Potter, Black just told me that you were feeling unwell on the train. I think you need treatment. Ms. Pomfrey is waiting for you inside..."

When passing a room, Professor McGonagall pointed to the door. Madam Pomfrey was busy in the room where the little wizards who had been injured on the train were temporarily housed.

Upon seeing Harry, Madam Pomfrey quickly took his arm and pulled him inside.

"I'm fine." Harry's face turned red again, "I don't need anything..."

Madam Pomfrey examined his condition carefully, touched his forehead, and couldn't stop muttering: "Send dementors to the school, luckily they can figure it out..."

Professor McGonagall nodded to her, led Owen and Hermione up the marble stairs, walked along the corridor, and entered her office.

The office was small and warmed by the fire in the fireplace. The two cats squatted obediently in front of the fireplace, tilting their heads and looking at them.

Owen's eyes lit up, he blinked at them, and put down Melete in his arms. The three little cuties got together and played with the poor Puff.

Professor McGonagall motioned for the two of them to sit down, and she also sat behind the desk: "I called you here because I want to explain to you about the time turner."

Hermione glanced at Owen in surprise, and then she realized that Owen had also applied for a time turner.

As soon as Professor McGonagall finished speaking, there was a gentle knock on the door. She raised her voice and said, "Please come in."

A strange wizard in gray robes walked in, nodded to Professor McGonagall, and then swept across the faces of Owen and Hermione with his wise and rational gray eyes, giving them a gentle smile.

He looked to be in his fifties or sixties, and had neatly styled gray curly hair. His complexion is pale, there are not many wrinkles on his thin cheeks, and his back is straight, giving people a feeling of trustworthiness.

"You came just in time, Mr. White." Professor McGonagall said to him, and then introduced: "This is Mr. Adrian White, the current Director of the Department of Mysteries. He is the one who sent the time turner here this time. I'm here and want to meet you."

Hermione exclaimed a little, straightened her back, and raised her hands to comb her somewhat disheveled hair nervously and uncomfortably.

Owen glanced at the man and raised his eyebrows slightly. The Director of the Department of Mysteries, as the boss of the Ministry of Magic's top secret department, is rarely seen even by other Ministry of Magic officials... Could he be so idle?

Mr. White smiled and nodded, his deep eyes looking at Owen quietly. He said slowly: "I just want to get to know the model students of Hogwarts. This is unprecedented. It is the first time that two time turners have been approved in the same year." He spoke in a soft and gentle tone, with a The strange pause is like chanting a wonderful poem.

He moved his gaze away from Owen's face and looked blankly at the wall behind Professor McGonagall: "If you want to join the Department of Mysteries after graduation, I am more than welcome. Ah, for hundreds of years, we have been Countless mysterious things have been collected from all over the world, dedicated to exploring the mysteries of magic..."

"Oh, I'm sorry, I digressed." He patted his forehead and took out two long and thin gold chains from his pocket, with two sparkling and delicate hourglasses hanging on them. He placed them on the table in front of Owen and Hermione, and said warmly: "This is the time turner."

Professor McGonagall looked at the two of them seriously: "Before handing them over to you, Mr. Shafiq, Miss Granger, I need to emphasize the precautions again."

"First of all, never use it for anything other than academic work. I will pay attention to your use of the time turner." She said, "If I find that you are using the time turner indiscriminately, then unfortunately, I will take it back. "

Owen nodded absently. He found that Mr. White was always looking at him consciously or unconsciously.

Hermione responded excitedly, her fingers trembling slightly.

Professor McGonagall continued: "The method to use it is very simple, just turn the hourglass. Every time you turn the hourglass, the time will go back one hour..."

"However, it must be noted that you must not set time back for more than five hours!" Professor McGonagall looked at them sternly. "Countless experiments have proven that all those who try to go back time for more than five hours will eventually suffer. Severe damage occurs, most of which is irreversible."

"Don't think you can go back in time to change history and erase the facts that make you unhappy. Remember, nothing will change. Anything the time traveler does only causes the consequences of what they paid attention to before traveling. situation."

Owen nodded his chin thoughtfully.

Professor McGonagall paused and then said: "Finally, be careful not to appear in front of your past self when using it. Because there are many people who have killed their future or past selves in the past."

"Not only that, it is very easy to violate the law of time when meeting your past self." Mr. White added, "This is a very dangerous thing that will not only endanger your own life, but may also have catastrophic consequences."

Hermione suddenly raised her hands high and asked in a somewhat urgent and nervous voice: "What if I accidentally see my past self? I mean, accidentally..."

Mr. White nodded patiently and said: "Indeed, it is possible to encounter such a situation during time travel, especially for some careless travelers."

"We have studied many cases and have come to a conclusion that is currently convincing: when you meet your past self, immediately leave the other person's perception range and do not try to contact or talk to him. This can ensure your safety."

Hermione nodded quickly to show that she understood.

Professor McGonagall signaled that they could pick up their respective time turners, and finally said: "Please keep it a secret from everyone except you, okay?"

"Of course, Professor." Owen and Hermione said in unison.

Owen stood up, put the thin gold chain of the Time Turner around his neck, hid the small hourglass in his robe, and then walked out of the office with Hermione.

Mr. White also came out. He smiled kindly at the two of them: "I'm glad to see such outstanding young people as you."

He took another deep look at Owen, and seemed to mean something and said, "This is the greatest support I can give now." After saying that, he nodded slightly to them again, and then looked back without looking back. walked away.

Owen silently watched the other person's back disappear at the edge of the downward stairs, his eyes slowly narrowed. Mr. White's last words seemed to express support for the two outstanding students, but Owen somehow felt that he was speaking to himself alone.

It seems to be hinting at something...

In the midst of all kinds of random thoughts, he unknowingly returned to the Great Hall and sat at the Slytherin table. Harry just returned.

After waiting patiently for seven or eight minutes, Professor McGonagall held a gray-white sorting hat and led a group of freshmen into the auditorium. (End of chapter)