Chapter 12
In the hallowed halls of the Ministry of Magic, Harry's office was a sanctuary of organized chaos. Amidst the scattered papers and scattered thoughts, Hermione diligently sifted through the paperwork strewn across the desk. Suddenly, Harry burst in, a trickle of blood marking his cheek, a testament to the tumultuous events he had just faced.
"How did it fare?" Hermione inquired, her gaze fixed on Harry's troubled countenance.
"It was true," Harry confessed, his voice laden with the weight of recent revelations.
"Theodore and Astoria Nott?" Hermione pressed on, her curiosity piqued by the mention of a familiar name.
"In custody," Harry affirmed, his tone tinged with both relief and apprehension.
"And the Time-Turner?" Hermione's eyes sparkled with anticipation as Harry unveiled the enchanted object, its lustrous glow captivating her senses.
"Is it authentic? Does it still possess its powers?" she questioned eagerly, her mind racing with the possibilities.
"I believe so," Harry replied, a hint of uncertainty lingering in his voice.
"Well, then, it is in our possession now," Hermione declared with determination, her eyes never leaving the mesmerizing artifact.
"And are you certain you wish to keep it?" Harry asked, a note of caution underlying his words.
"Yes," Hermione affirmed without hesitation, her conviction unwavering. "Behold, the Time-Turner that once graced my possession."
As Harry tended to his wound, Hermione surveyed the cluttered office with a critical eye, unable to suppress her concern.
"Do you ever manage to work amidst this chaos?" she questioned, a hint of exasperation in her voice.
With a flick of his wand, Harry transformed the disarray into ordered stacks, a smile gracing his lips as he marveled at the transformation.
"Chaos no more," he proclaimed proudly, though Hermione's words lingered in the air, a reminder of the tasks left neglected amidst the turmoil.
"But still overlooked," Hermione remarked pointedly, her curiosity piqued by the hidden treasures buried within the piles of paperwork.
"You know," Harry remarked, breaking the silence, "there's some intriguing material in here." He glanced up at Hermione Granger, who was organizing a stack of parchments nearby.
"Oh?" Hermione looked up, intrigued. "What have you found?"
Harry leaned forward, his eyes alight with excitement. "Mountain trolls riding Graphorns through Hungary, giants with winged tattoos traversing the Greek Seas, and werewolves lurkin in the shadows underground," he recited, his voice tinged with a sense of adventure.
Hermione nodded thoughtfully. "Interesting indeed," she mused. "But Harry, we can't ignore the importance of this paperwork. These creatures were once allies of darkness, fought alongside Voldemort in the wizarding wars."
Harry waved her concern away. "I'm always in the thick of it, Hermione. I don't need to pore over files to know what's going on."
Hermione sighed, realizing she needed to approach the matter differently. "But Harry, these documents, combined with what we uncovered at Theodore and Astoria Nott's, could hold crucial information. The Head of Magical Law Enforcement should be familiar with these details."
Harry bristled slightly at her implication. "I don't need a lecture, Hermione. I heard the rumors about the Time-Turner and acted on them."
Hermione met his gaze, her expression softening. "I'm not lecturing you, Harry. I just need you to stay informed. Consider it a gentle reminder from the Minister for Magic."
Harry nodded, understanding her point. "Alright, I'll take a look," he conceded.
Changing the subject, Hermione offered a distraction. "Fancy a toffee?" she asked, a mischievous twinkle in her eye.
Harry chuckled, shaking his head. "Can't. We're laying off sugar for now."
Hermione laughed lightly. "You can get addicted to that stuff, you know?"
Harry smirked. "Tell that to Ron."
As they shared a moment of levity, Harry couldn't help but think of his son, Albus. "How's Albus?" he asked, his tone turning more serious.
Harry's expression dissapointed. "Seems he's hapy abouth his Slytherin side," he replied in disappointing voice. "Can you believe it? He say that we are prejudiced, he is best friend with Malfoy's and unbeauty pug face Pansy 's son, and now he wants visit Scorpius during break.But enough about that. Let's talk abouth you. How’s Rose? How’s Hugo? I think they are doing better than my Slytherin son." Hermione, with a playful grin, responded, "You know, Ron complains that he sees more of my secretary, Ethel," gesturing towards the door, "than he does of me. Do you ever wonder if we have to choose between being Parent of the Year or Ministry Official of the Year? Anyway, go home to your family, Harry. The Hogwarts Express is ready to depart for another year. Enjoy having two normal Gryffindor children, then come back with a clear mind to tackle these files." Harry pondered her words for a moment before asking, "Do you really think all of this could mean something?" With a reassuring smile, Hermione replied, "It could. But if it does, we'll face it head-on, Harry. We always have." With that, she popped a toffee into her mouth and left the office, leaving Harry alone to contemplate. Packing his bag, he walked out of the office and down the corridor, feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders. Exhausted, Harry entered a telephone box and dialed 62442. The box whispered, "Farewell, Harry Potter," as he was lifted away from the Ministry of Magic.