Edward was montarily stunned—this was…quite the surprise.
"Either sothing unexpected happened and the Ti-Turner that was originally supposed to be there was taken away," he said slowly, "or the Ti-Turner was never found there in the first place, and my future self made it up."
Grindelwald spoke up at that mont. "Actually, those two things are one and the sa. As long as you find another Ti-Turner before you et Albus on the 25th, there won't be any problem at all."
Edward imdiately understood what he ant—still the sa principle:
The past, as long as it's unknown, is equal to never having happened. And even if it's known, it might not be true.
All you have to do is make the outco match what the future you rembers.
"I think I get it."
Edward took out the Ti-Turner and sat down on the sofa, pulling out a quill and a piece of parchnt. He began to write the divination prompt:
"The origin of this Ti-Turner."
"The origin of this Ti-Turner."
"The origin of this Ti-Turner."
He repeated it seven tis in a murmur, then leaned back—and slipped into the dream.
As always, darkness ca first. Then a faint light appeared, and the dream slowly ford into a blurry image. The view zood in gradually—it was a lavish manor: the Malfoy estate.
The scene shattered and shifted. Edward entered the Malfoy manor and spoke to Lucius, who looked visibly surprised by sothing he said.
The image shifted again. A woman in a white dress appeared. She walked toward him slowly, smiling as she spoke a few words and pulled out a golden hourglass-shaped device.
Snap!
The vision shattered completely.
Edward jolted awake, eyes wide with shock and disbelief. That woman in the dream—she looked exactly like the woman who called herself Cecilia, the one he'd t in Godric's Hollow, who resembled a grown-up version of Ariana Dumbledore!
How could it be her?!
She's the one behind Lucius?
Is that her true appearance now?
If it is, what does it an?
And if it isn't…what is she trying to do?
Question after question flooded Edward's mind, making it impossible to keep a calm expression.
"What did you see?" Grindelwald asked, eyes narrowed with curiosity. Though he'd already heard from Dumbledore about Edward's divination talent, this was his first ti witnessing it in action. Compared to his own vague prophecies, this thod—usable anyti, anywhere—was fascinating.
"I…I know where to get the Ti-Turner now."
"Where?"
Edward glanced at Dumbledore, hesitating. Should he tell the truth? Then it struck him—on the 25th, Dumbledore had claid he found the Ti-Turner in the Minister's office, not the Malfoy estate. Didn't that an his future self had chosen to hide the truth from Dumbledore and made up a story?
"Professor, why do you think, on December 25th, you told the Ti-Turner was found in the Minister's office?"
Dumbledore imdiately caught on. "That must've been sothing we agreed on today—because…you weren't supposed to tell where it was really found."
"My thoughts exactly."
Edward nodded. "But I won't know the full picture until I get there myself."
"You didn't tell Audrey about going back in ti?" Dumbledore suddenly asked.
"Not yet."
Grindelwald scoffed and muttered, "Hmph, you're the kind of cold-blooded brat who can lie even to those closest to him!"
Dumbledore: Why does it feel like you're throwing shade at ?
Edward sighed inwardly. One of them constantly warned him, "Those who ddle with ti will be undone by it," while the other stood on the sidelines making snide remarks. This couple really was sothing else.
"Well then, I'll head out now to retrieve the Ti-Turner."
He decisively chose to make his exit. He would go to the Malfoy estate and see that "Cecilia" again—then decide what to do next.
———
[Wiltshire—Malfoy Manor]
Edward had barely stepped through the gate when Dobby appeared. The house-elf looked just the sa as before, his large eyes filled with surprise and delight.
"Mr. Edward, sir—you've co!"
"Yeah, did Lucius send you to et ?"
"Yes, sir. Master is preparing for bed—he's changing clothes right now."
"Alright. Take in."
Edward handed Dobby a few Knuts. The elf hesitated for a few seconds before giving in and accepting them—money wasn't the point. What mattered was the gesture, the feeling that his value was being recognised.
His steps instantly beca livelier. When they arrived at the massive front doors of the manor, Dobby raised his hands and pushed them open with great effort.
"Please co in, sir."
"Thank you."
As soon as Edward stepped inside, he saw Lucius descending the grand staircase, dressed in his usual black suit and wearing a smile.
"Welco, Mr. Edward."
"Good evening, Mr. Malfoy."
Edward gave him a slight nod. "Where are Mrs. Malfoy and Draco?"
"They've already gone to bed."
Lucius stepped forward and gestured for Edward to sit. "Can I get you sothing to drink?"
"A glass of milk, please."
Lucius snapped his fingers at Dobby. "So, what brings you to us so late tonight?"
His tone was mild and courteous, as though he'd entirely forgotten the humiliation of being questioned under the Imperius Curse not long ago.
"First of all, I want to thank you, Mr. Malfoy. Thanks to your information, Hogwarts was able to prepare in advance and fend off the attack from the Death Eaters and goblins."
At those words, Lucius's expression shifted slightly. "But I heard…the Dark Lord still escaped, didn't he?"
"Regretting it now, are you?"
Lucius's expression shifted uncertainly. After a brief pause, he said coolly, "Regret won't help anymore. Since I chose to betray the Dark Lord, I can only keep walking this path to the end." He paused again. "At least I'm better off than those who were either killed or captured at Hogwarts yesterday."
According to Dumbledore, no fewer than six or seven pure-blood families were likely to be purged. These families didn't just have one or two Death Eaters—they could almost be called Voldemort's "martyrs with their entire clans."
What pained Lucius most was that among them were even so Hogwarts students.
He continued, "Now that Fudge has fallen, and Dumbledore is all but guaranteed to beco the new Minister for Magic, the Malfoy family will give him our full support. Our only hope…is that he shows so rcy to the Malfoys."
"I'll pass along that request to the professor."
At that mont, Dobby ca over with a steaming glass of milk for Edward and poured Lucius half a glass of red wine before silently retreating.
Lifting his wine glass, Lucius asked, "So, what else brings you here tonight, Mr. Edward?"
"The second reason is that I'd like to borrow sothing from you, Mr. Malfoy."
"Oh? What is it?"
"A Ti-Turner."
Lucius froze. "A Ti-Turner? Isn't that sothing that's always been under the Ministry's control? Why would I have one?" His response seed genuinely surprised. Edward gave him a thoughtful look and said, "You could have one."
"???"
What does that even an? If I don't have one, I just don't. What do you an I could have one?
Was Edward deliberately provoking him?
But logic told Lucius there was no reason for that. He furrowed his brow and replied, "I'm sorry, I don't understand what you're implying."
Edward wrapped his hands around the milk glass and took a small sip. "How about…you ask your new backer?"
Lucius's heart gave a jolt, though his face remained a mask of confusion. "What new backer? I've already pledged myself to Dumbledore. If anyone's my backer now, it's him."
"No. I'm talking about a woman in a white dress."
"…"
Lucius's pupils shrank visibly, and beads of sweat began to form on his forehead. His tension was clear. "I…I don't know what you're talking about."
Click. Click. Click.
Soft footsteps rang out as a slender figure appeared.
It was a woman in her twenties, clad in a flowing white robe. Her golden curls cascaded down her back. She wasn't especially beautiful, but her skin was so pale it was almost paper white.
It really was her.
The woman who had appeared in Godric's Hollow—the one who claid to be Cecilia, and looked like an adult version of Ariana Dumbledore.
The mont she appeared, Lucius sprang to his feet as if burned, then stepped aside and bowed his head respectfully.
As she walked past, Lucius bowed even lower. "Mistress."
"We et again, Mr. Edward."
She sat gracefully in the seat Lucius had vacated. "Your friend didn't co with you?"
"No."
Edward eyed her cautiously, quietly raising his guard. "Should I call you Cecilia, or…sothing else?"
"A na is just a label," she said with a soft smile. "But if you really must ask…I suppose you can use the first na I ever had—"
"Ariana Dumbledore."
"!!!"
Edward's expression changed. It really is her? And she's admitting it so easily?
But…how was this even possible?
Just like he had told Audrey before—even if Ariana hadn't died, she'd be well over a hundred years old by now. How could she look like she was only in her twenties?
Could it be like Nicolas Flal—had she used the Philosopher's Stone?
No…the Stone grants immortality, but not eternal youth.
Or maybe…maybe he was overthinking it. Perhaps her current appearance was due to Polyjuice Potion or advanced Transfiguration?
"You really are Ariana…Professor Dumbledore's sister?"
The smile disappeared from her face. "What do you think?"
Edward didn't want to guess. He didn't want riddles either. He took out a Galleon and flicked it into the air: "The woman in front of is Ariana Dumbledore."
Clink. The coin landed in his palm—heads up.
Confird.
He flicked the coin again: "Ariana's current appearance is her true form."
Heads up again.
So, not only was Dumbledore's sister alive—she had also found a way to remain young forever?
"No wonder you knew I was here."
The woman claiming to be Ariana smiled. "Looks like even without the Malfoys sending word, you'd still have known about the Death Eater and goblin attack ahead of ti."
Her words reminded Edward of sothing. "Then why did you have Lucius Malfoy send a warning to Hogwarts? From the way you spoke before, and how you talked about the Dumbledore brothers…it seed like you hated them deeply."
"That was for your sake."
"For ?"
She held his gaze for a mont, then smiled faintly. "In fact, I should've said this to you back in Godric's Hollow."
???
"It's been a long ti."
Edward was stunned, then realised what she ant. "You're saying we t…before Godric's Hollow?"
"Of course."
She nodded gently and spoke the words that sent a tremor through Edward's mind—
"Sixteen years ago, I was the one who personally delivered you to Grindelwald."
———
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