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"You see it?" Hermione asked, pointing downward with her wand.
Harry stared at the spot on the seat where the shadowy figure had hovered moments before. He breathed a deep sigh of relief, his shoulders slumping. He had not been kissed by a man. He touched his lips with lingering fear and confusion.
"What exactly is a Dementor?" he asked, his voice still hoarse.
Hermione finished her apple with a final, crisp CRUNCH, dropping the core onto a napkin. "They are dark creatures, Harry. Sentinels of Azkaban. They feed on human happiness. If they perform the 'Dementor's Kiss' on you, they will suck your soul out, leaving you as a screaming, soulless husk."
Harry's scalp tingled, and he shuddered, imagining the terrible emptiness. "Luckily you were here, Hermione," he whispered. "Or I would have…"
He looked at Professor Lupin, who was watching them with a gentle, patient expression. "Professor, I owe you an apology. I misunderstood your intentions just now."
Lupin offered a sympathetic smile. "It's quite alright, Harry. Given the circumstances, your suspicion was understandable. No harm done." He then formally introduced himself. "I am Remus Lupin, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor."
"Another Defense Against the Dark Arts professor," Harry muttered under his breath, the phrase heavy with the weight of Quirrell and Lockhart. He felt a familiar sense of doom.
Hermione, however, vouched for him. "Professor Lupin is different, Harry. He has real ability. He fought on the front lines against Voldemort with your father. He was part of the original Order of the Phoenix."
Harry's attitude shifted instantly, his expression of adolescent cynicism replaced by a look of sincere respect. He had finally found a connection to his parents, and a DADA professor who seemed worthy of the title.
The train finally pulled into Hogsmeade Station. The Great Hall was bustling with students exchanging summer tales and greeting friends. The Sorting Ceremony was quickly concluded.
As the feast was served, Dumbledore rose, the sudden silence in the Hall profound and absolute. His voice, loud and gentle, carried the weight of terrible news.
"Welcome back to Hogwarts. I must announce that there has been a prison break from Azkaban. The notorious Death Eater, Sirius Black, has escaped."
A wave of palpable fear swept through the student body.
"The Ministry has determined that Hogwarts may be his target," Dumbledore continued, his expression grim. "Therefore, the prison guards—the Dementors—will be stationed at the various entrances and boundaries of the school. I must warn you: Dementors are dangerous. They feed on happiness. Do not approach them."
The fear in the Hall solidified. Hogwarts, their sanctuary, was now a fortress surrounded by monsters.
When dinner concluded, Dumbledore's eyes swept the room and landed on Hermione. "Miss Granger, please wait a moment. Come to my office."
Hermione nodded, expecting the summons. It was now an annual tradition.
Inside the Headmaster's office, the air was warm and smelled of cinnamon and old books. Dumbledore sat behind his desk, holding a small, golden pendant. The pendant was round, containing a tiny, exquisite hourglass, the sand sparkling with captured light.
"I was going to give this to you this year, Miss Granger, to help you take all of your elective courses," Dumbledore said, handing her the object. "A Time-Turner."
Hermione took the pendant, its gold cool against her palm, its mechanism thrumming faintly with powerful, contained temporal magic.
"But now," Dumbledore added with a knowing smile, "I suspect it may be of no use to you."
Hermione held the Time-Turner up, her internal grimoire instantly analyzing the artifact.
[Wondrous Object: Time Converter (Collected)]
Note: Can only support magical operations of Level 2 or below. Maximum temporal reversal: 48 hours.
She realized it instantly. Her power was too great. A simple spell cast while wearing the device would overload and shatter it.
"The original Hermione needed this to survive her class schedule," Hermione mused internally. "But with my current power, it's a death sentence."
Dumbledore smiled, confirming her realization. "It was a necessary safety feature for a brilliant young girl whose ambition outstripped her power. But now, your power is far beyond its simple capacity."
"You know, Headmaster," Hermione said, "I agreed to be your teaching assistant for one year in exchange for the Philosopher's Stone. But that contract has expired. Why the continued interest in my academic schedule?"
Dumbledore chuckled. "I originally intended to use the Time-Turner as payment for you to take on one day a month of substitution for Professor Lupin." He paused, a mischievous glint in his eye. "However, Professor Snape vehemently opposed the idea. He was concerned that you would teach something too… masculine."
Hermione rolled her eyes. Snape, the great guardian of the wizarding world's fragile gender norms.
"In the end, I decided to let Professor Snape handle the substitution duties himself," Dumbledore concluded.
Hermione left the office, clutching the now-useless Time-Turner. As she reached the corridor, she saw a familiar figure waiting. Luna Lovegood trotted up to her, holding a brand-new volume of The Quibbler.
"Here," Luna said, handing her the magazine. "The latest issue. My dad just printed it!"
Hermione took the magazine, flipping through the strange, brightly colored pages.
"What did you do during the holiday?" Luna asked, her silvery eyes blinking slowly.
Hermione shrugged, a small, wry smile touching her lips. "Nothing special. Just took care of some problems here and there. And by the way… fought aliens."
Luna nodded calmly, accepting the information as easily as if Hermione had said she had gone to the seaside.
"I see," Luna said, turning to walk away. "Well, I'll see you in class."
The two separated, the magical genius and the serene weirdo, both carrying knowledge that the rest of the world couldn't begin to comprehend.