Chapter 30
At the edge of the forbidden forest, Scorpius and Albus turned a corner, revealing a gap in the trees. Through it, a glorious light shone, illuminating the sight of Hogwarts.
"There it is," Scorpius exclaimed.
Albus, in awe, remarked, "Hogwarts. Never seen this view of it before."
The majestic Hogwarts appeared through the trees, its bulbous buildings and towers standing proudly.
"Still get a tingle, don’t you? When you see it? And revealed through the trees is HOGWARTS — a splendid mass of bulbous buildings and towers. From the moment I first heard of it, I was desperate to go. I mean, Dad didn’t much like it there but even the way he described it . . . From the age of ten I’d check the Daily Prophet first thing every morning — certain some sort of tragedy would have befallen it — certain I wouldn’t get to go," Scorpius confessed
"And then you got there and it turned out to be terrible after all," Albus said.
"Not for me," Scorpius replied with a smile.
Albus was surprised by his friend's response.
"All I ever wanted to do was go to Hogwarts and have a mate to get up to mayhem with. Just like Harry Potter. And I got his son. How crazily fortunate is that?" Scorpius explained.
"But I'm nothing like my dad," Albus remarked.
"You're better. You're my best friend, Albus," Scorpius assured him. "And this is mayhem to the nth degree. Which is great, thumbs-up great, it’s just — I have got to say — I don’t mind admitting — I am a tiny bit — just a tiny bit scared. "
Albus smiled reassuringly, "You're my best friend too. And don't worry, I have a good feeling about this."
Just then, they heard Ron calling Albus's name nearby.
"We have to go, now," Albus said urgently.
He took the Time-Turner from Scorpius and activated it, causing it to vibrate and explode into a whirl of movement. Light flashed, noise erupted, and time seemed to stop before reversing, slowly at first, then speeding up.