The five of them plunged into the Forbidden Forest, flying straight toward the centaurs' territory.
Meanwhile, in the Hidden Valley Forest—
Barty Crouch Sr. arrived with David Morley and Pomona Sprout.
The moment they saw Sean A—
the three exchanged glances.
Confusion flickered across their faces.
"Could someone have used Polyjuice Potion to impersonate that Sean and lure us in?" Sprout wondered.
"No," Crouch said coldly.
"There would be no reason for that."
"Wagadu did cheat—and severely."
Below them—
the Runespoor writhed through the forest.
"Forget that for now. Subdue it first."
Morley took the lead, diving on his broom.
Among the three—
he was the strongest in direct combat.
Sprout followed closely behind.
As for Crouch—
years in office had dulled his edge.
Spellcasting demanded constant practice.
Without it—
even muscle memory slowed.
Sean A looked up, puzzled.
Three top-tier wizards… just from a signal?
Do they already know something big happened?
Under their combined assault—
even the Runespoor couldn't hold.
It twisted violently—
and fled.
In the Forbidden Forest—
they arrived at the battlefield.
Firenze was firing enchanted arrows at Herpo the Foul.
One arrow had already pierced him—
yet—
passed straight through.
Sean B's pupils shrank.
That…
That's like Obito…
"Spatial magic," Dumbledore murmured.
Sean instantly activated his Magic vision .
A spell like that—
missing it would be a lifelong regret.
But—
Herpo didn't use it again.
Still—
Sean saw something else.
A faint black aura.
The same aura—
he had seen on Horcruxes.
On Tom Riddle.
And once—
in the Leaky Cauldron.
"Dumbledore!" Firenze called.
Herpo turned.
"So—you are the headmaster. Albus Dumbledore?"
Dumbledore didn't answer.
"Some things belong in the past."
"You should remain there."
Herpo laughed sharply.
"History? I will become history."
"Starting with you."
A flash—
blinding white light erupted from Dumbledore's wand.
Sean, standing behind him—
couldn't even see the spell structure.
"Go. The hut. The mirror."
"Retrieve the scepter."
Sean nodded.
No time to watch.
No time to learn.
He ran.
Inside the stone hut—
everything unfolded as before.
The mirror.
The pull.
The temptation.
But he was ready.
Moments later—
he stepped out—
holding the Golden Scepter.
Herpo's voice trembled.
"Give it to me!"
Sean didn't hesitate.
He activated his Magic vision —
resisted the pull—
and launched into the air.
He flew.
This time—
everything changed.
Herpo rose—
and chased him himself.
Sean's heart dropped.
This didn't happen before!
Last time—
Coates handled pursuit.
Now—
Herpo had no choice.
"Firenze—retreat!" Dumbledore commanded.
Below—
the centaurs withdrew.
Rubeus Hagrid grabbed McGonagall onto his motorbike.
Snape blasted aside a dark wizard—
then shot upward.
The sky turned into chaos.
Four figures—
chasing one.
Herpo vs.
Dumbledore, Snape, McGonagall, Hagrid.
Even he—
couldn't break through that.
"Damn it… without my main soul…"
Herpo snarled.
"Do not underestimate Hogwarts," another voice beneath his hood whispered.
Herpo scoffed.
"That fool ruined everything."
The "fool"—
was Coates.
Still locked inside Hagrid's hut.
Herpo slowed.
That was enough.
Sean dropped altitude—
weaving through the trees—
escaping.
He reached the towering cedar.
The hidden passage.
Back to the castle.
Inside—
he hid the Golden Scepter in Snape's office.
No hesitation.
No rest.
He turned—
and prepared to go back.
To the Hidden Valley Forest.
To find—
himself.
Only then—
could this rewritten hour replace the original—
and become reality.
Far away—
Mick Jarger looked up at the sky.
Dumbledore and the others—
pursuing a dark figure.
"…So the plan failed…"
he murmured.
Sean drank another potion—
and shot into the sky.
Full speed.
I have to make it.
Before 4:50.
Before he turns the Time-Turner.
Otherwise—
everything resets.
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