Chapter 56 - Expelled from Hogwarts? (1/2)

When Harry, Ron, and Hermoine got woken up by Hagrid in the middle of the Forbidden forest with little injuries here and there, Hermoine found out that she lost her Time-Turner. Then, as Hagrid asked them about the time turner, Harry said, ”not sure, while we're returning to our dormitories, we used the Time-Turner for some reason and ended up here”.

Harry looked at Hermoine, ”what did we use Time-Turner for, anyway?”. Hermoine thought for a while and looked at Hagrid, ”you said something about Buckbeak. Neal kept it somewhere safe. After that Ron said we should expose Neal or something and then we used Time-Turner. Argh. My past few hours of memories are a bit jumbled. Did we want to find out something?”.

Hagrid scolded them, ”you three. Don't you know it's illegal to use time turners for personal use? How did you even manage to steal them?”. Hermoine replied, ”no, we didn't steal it. It was given by Prof. McGonagall to me”. Then Ron suddenly asked, ”Hagrid, how do you find us here, anyway?”.

Hagrid replied, ”oh, Neal just told me that you were lying around here. You know he has the habit of roaming in the forest”. Ron shouted, ”no, Neal must have done something. I was certain that I was excited to go as we have landed in the past”.

Harry then said, ”And yet, we don't have any memories of it and we even lost Time-Turner. Coupled with injuries...”, Hermoine mumbled, ”Neal must be involved somehow. I should get back my Time-Turner. Otherwise, my classes...”

As she stood up and started walking in a hurry, Ron tried to stop her, ”wait”, she turned back and scolded him, ”shut up. This is all because of you”. Ron then said, ”look around you. We're in the forbidden forest. It's almost dark. You will get lost”. She looked at him and screamed loudly in frustration, ”Ron”.

As they were following Hagrid, as Ron still doesn't get it why she was so frustrated when she can just tell Prof. McGonagall that she lost it somewhere, Harry was still in thinking made what is it that they used it for and who did they fought. He was wondering whether Neal is behind everything or is it something else.

After the dinner is over, while everyone is returning to their dormitories, Draco spoke, ”Potter, I heard that you and your two friends are going to be expelled. I wonder if you will be ok with Sirius Black lurking around there”.

As Harry frowned, ”what are you talking about?”, Neal stopped beside him and said with a blank face, ”you can talk with Prof. McGonagall, tomorrow morning”. As he turned back, Hermoine called him, ”wait, then, did you take my Time-Turner?”.

Neal looked at Ron coldly, ”You are really trying to test my patience, aren't you? Did you forget, last year, I saved your sister from dying despite being framed for Mrs. Norris' death by her? Instead of gratitude, what did I receive...”. then he looked at Hermoine, ”we'll talk about it, tomorrow”.

Draco sneered, ”you did a grave mistake this time by offending Neal, Weasley”. After he went away laughing loudly with excitement, the trio was taken back in shock and became worried. Ron patted Harry and Hermoine, ”don't worry, Harry. They're just scaring us. Do you think Professor will expel us just because we used it for personal use? c'mon”.

Hermoine knocked his hand off in anger, ”you idiot. Can't you see that Neal was the one who took the Time-Turner and might've handed over it to Prof. Snape or Prof. McGonagall? Don't you know what that means? It means we have broken an important rule of Time-Turner”.

Before they go to bed, three received a letter saying that they are to report Prof. McGonagall at 9 A.M. The next day, as they stepped inside Prof. McGonagall's office, they found Neal, Dumbledore, Snape and McGonagall waiting for them.

She looked at them in anger, ”I can't believe you used Time-Turner for personal purpose, Hermoine. I'm very disappointed in you”. Snape then said, ”these three never stop making troubles. I believe we should expel them for this act”.

Dumbledore replied, ”Severus, they are from her house and it is her right to give them the necessary punishment”. Then, Neal interrupted him, ”I'm sorry Professor but the victim here is me. I think Prof. Snape has the right to suggest the punishment”.

Ron mumbled, ”honestly, we look more like victims and he looks like the perpetrator”. As everyone heard it, Snape snarled at him, ”Quiet, Weasley”. As Harry said, ”but we don't even remember what happened exactly. I accept that we used the Time-Turner for something but how was Neal related to it and became a victim?”.

Dumbledore then looked at Neal, ”tell us what happened, exactly?”. Neal then said, ”well, you all know about how Buckbeak was sentenced for hearing, right? As he asked me for help, I told him that I will talk to Mr. Lucius Malfoy and will send Buckbeak to a safe place.

Then, as I was returning, these three are following me for some reason. When I've spotted them, Hermoine shouted, ”we're seen. Knock him out”, and Ron attacked me all of a sudden. So, I was forced to defend myself.