Sean had already spent four months experimenting with the Time-Turner.
From that—
he had reached a terrifyingly precise conclusion.
Right now—
Sean A must return to Snape's office
and turn the Time-Turner at exactly 4:50.
Only then—
would this newly altered hour overwrite
that original, tragic hour.
If he turned it too early—
Sean B would disappear.
Everything he had changed—
gone.
If he turned it too late—
the same result.
And then—
a new Sean C would appear.
A new loop would begin.
A loop with no guarantee of success.
Meanwhile—
the competition in Hidden Valley Forest continued.
Barty Crouch Sr., unaware of the deeper conspiracy, simply judged based on what he saw.
Wagadu—
disqualified.
After subduing the Runespoor—
he recovered three trophies,
hid them again,
and restarted the match.
Three teams.
Full members restored.
Even Theo—
who had fired a red signal—
was allowed back.
As if—
nothing had happened.
Sean B avoided the campsite—
flying directly into the forest.
But the battlefield—
was empty.
"Damn it… only half an hour left."
From forest edge to castle—
7 to 8 minutes.
That meant—
he had less than 20 minutes
to find himself.
Fail—
and everything resets.
He flew above the canopy—
scanning desperately.
Then—
he saw it.
A giant bat.
Claven.
Claven also saw him—
and immediately dropped into the forest.
Sean didn't care.
He had only one goal.
Find himself.
"This won't work…"
Sean clenched his teeth—
and exhausted his magic.
A small phoenix appeared.
Fawkes.
"Go. Higher. Louder."
The tiny phoenix shot into the sky—
its cry echoing across the forest.
Sean drank a potion—
and hid.
Four minutes.
That's all the phoenix could last.
Elsewhere—
Matthew and Jerry looked up.
"A bird?"
"…A phoenix?"
"…No way."
They dismissed it—
and moved on.
But not everyone did.
"Sean, look—that's Dumbledore's phoenix, right?" Zack said.
Sean A looked up through the branches.
It was smaller—
but unmistakable.
"A phoenix…"
Then—
it vanished.
Sean's pupils shrank.
A phoenix that disappears…
There's only one person who can do that.
"…Me."
"Zack, go north. I'll check something."
Without waiting—
Sean A activated his flight spell—
and shot into the sky.
His mind raced.
Time-Turner…
Another me…
Something's wrong.
Two minutes later—
he saw him.
Another Sean—
flying.
Searching.
They locked eyes.
Then accelerated—
closing the distance instantly.
They landed.
Spoke at the same time—
"You first."
"You first."
They paused—
then laughed.
"As expected of me," Sean B said.
"No time. Listen."
He spoke fast.
Precise.
"The Runespoor? Coates' pawn."
"His real goal is the Golden Scepter."
"Herpo the Foul is already in the Forbidden Forest."
Sean A's expression hardened—
but he didn't interrupt.
"In the original timeline—"
"You get captured."
"You retrieve the Scepter from the Mirror of Erised."
"Then—"
"Coates kills Rubeus Hagrid… and Mick."
A tremor ran through Sean A's body.
"You escape. Return to the castle."
"At 4:50—you turn the Time-Turner."
"That creates me."
Sean B pointed to himself.
"I changed everything."
"Now Herpo is being held back by Dumbledore and the others."
"Hagrid and Mick should still be alive."
"You need to go back."
"Right now."
"Turn the Time-Turner."
"Let this version overwrite the original."
Silence.
Then—
Sean A nodded.
"I understand."
No hesitation.
No doubt.
"I'll go now."
"You stay. Continue the match."
"You brought potions, right?"
"Of course," Sean B said.
"…Though only two left."
Sean A grabbed one—
drank it immediately.
"I'm going."
He turned—
"Wait."
Sean B stopped him.
"Wand."
He raised the one in his hand.
"This is christina crouch's."
"I'll need mine."
Sean A handed it over.
"Oh—and one more thing."
"I saw the Ilvermorny trophy."
"Northwest. On a tree."
They exchanged a look—
and grinned.
"…Ilvermorny really is unlucky."
Two Seans.
One timeline.
Now—
everything depended—
on a single second.
4:50.
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