Chapter 176: Time-Turner, A Small Flap of Butterfly Wings
After Ethan got the elective course list, he once wanted to choose all courses, thereby temporarily getting a Time-Turner.
Then slowly dropping a few courses he actually didn't like, embezzling this Time-Turner, thereby having more time to complete things he wanted to do.
However, when Ethan chatted with Cyril about the topic of course selection, this idea of his met with the old man's firm opposition.
Cyril's tone was very serious: "From your relaxed description, I judge that you only know about the existence of the Time-Turner, but you don't understand its dangers."
"Is it the time paradox? The user cannot meet their past self, cannot change things that happened in the past?
"But many students in the school who chose many courses are using them for time regression to avoid missing conflicting classes. I just want to get a few extra hours to conduct some research."
The old man shook his head: "It's not just the paradox of time, there are other problems as well.
"Let me first tell you the origin of the Time-Turner."
Cyril slightly organized his words: "Time magic should be one of the most mysterious magics in the wizarding world.
"Long ago, in the cognition of all wizards, time could only move forward and not backward, but the appearance of the Hour-Reversal Charm broke people's cognition.
"Because the Hour-Reversal Charm is very unstable, the regression of time is either long or short.
"So, to better exert the function of this spell, make this spell as stable as possible, wizards stored this spell on various instruments. These manufactured magical items are Time-Turners."
"The Hour-Reversal Charm is an extremely dangerous and mysterious time magic. The name of the wizard who invented this spell has disappeared into history, we have no way of knowing.
"But the invention of this spell had a great impact on the entire wizarding world.
"When this spell first circulated, many wizards who wanted to go back to the past to change history directly disappeared into history, even implicating their relatives and friends, making them either disappear or die suddenly.
"Moreover, the fluctuations of the timeline caused very serious consequences. This influence lasted for a very long time before being gradually repaired by the world itself."
Ethan interjected, "Grandpa, if such serious things really happened, why doesn't History of Magic record these things?
"Even the family seems to have no related records?"
"History doesn't record it because the people compiling History of Magic, either voluntarily or required by Ministries of Magic of various countries, deleted this paragraph, because they didn't want people to know the existence of the Hour-Reversal Charm, reducing the possibility of people searching for it, nipping the danger in the bud."
Cyril fell silent for a moment and said: "As for our family, actually there were ancestors who recorded this history, but I took them all away, because I didn't want you to know the existence of this spell."
"Why?" Ethan didn't understand.
"This spell is too dangerous, including Time-Turners made using the Hour-Reversal Charm, are all too dangerous. People of our family, after having more lives, always unconsciously ignite enthusiasm for adventure.
"So, I took all related records away, planning to give them to you before I die.
"But I didn't expect that Hogwarts would actually open Time-Turners to you students for use because of course selection problems.
"Those records are in the manor. I will show them to you later." Cyril was very helpless. His plan was actually broken by a course selection.
"Isn't it said that Time-Turners have restrictions, each regression can only be at most three hours? In this way, besides the time paradox, the danger seems not great either, right." Ethan remembered when rescuing Sirius, Dumbledore seemed to say so.
"That's just the safe upper limit, not the upper limit of the Time-Turner. Theoretically, a wizard can use a Time-Turner to go back hundreds of years, but in this way, this wizard basically cannot return to the current timeline.
"Moreover, the impact he caused in the past will directly reflect on the current time, leading to very serious consequences.
"There is such an example here in the UK. An Unspeakable in the Ministry of Magic, when conducting an experiment, made an operational error, accidentally returning to hundreds of years ago.
"This action caused her twenty-something descendants to disappear out of thin air. And she herself, after returning to the present world, directly increased age by several centuries, dying soon in St. Mungo's.
"And that period of time was also affected. Daily duration was no longer twenty-four hours. Time was chaotic. Ministries of Magic of various countries had to spend great effort to eliminate this influence.
"This was told to me by Dumbledore and Nicolas, the purpose was to stop me from using this magical instrument, desperately going back to the past, saving Ralph and Jenny's lives."
Cyril's tone was calm, but Ethan felt the despair in his heart at that time from these calm words.
Ethan walked to Cyril's side and sat down, grabbing his hand which was clenched somewhat white.
After a while, Cyril smiled and patted Ethan's shoulder: "I'm fine. It's been so long. Now I still have you by my side, I'm already very satisfied.
"So, listen to me, Ethan, don't try to manipulate time.
"Although Time-Turners are relatively safe, they also have a service life. In case of being swept into the torrent of time, those few extra lives of ours really are powerless to save anything.
"Time is the most uncontrollable power. All who want to play with time will be punished by time.
"And I suspect, the reason why the spell inventor didn't leave a name, is very likely because he went back to the past time, having all traces of existence erased."
"Mm, I know." Cyril already spoke to this extent, Ethan also didn't insist anymore.
Actually he wanted a Time-Turner, more because of curiosity. After all involving mysterious time, anyone would have curiosity.
However, he thought secretly in his heart: "Moreover, if Grandpa came into contact with Time-Turners before, does it explain actually the family collected one? After all this kind of instrument is strictly managed by the Ministry of Magic because of danger, but it doesn't mean this kind of thing is rare, right?
"And judging from the previous scenario, various countries should all have some Time-Turners. Obtaining one from the Ministry of Magic of some weak and small countries seems not a difficult thing either, right?"
However, he indeed had no idea of utilizing a Time-Turner to gain a few extra hours every day now, because compared to potential dangers, it wasn't that worthwhile.
So, finally he still chose three courses according to his wish.
Bringing his mind back, Ethan said, "I chose three courses based on my own situation, respectively Ancient Runes, Care of Magical Creatures, and Arithmancy."
Tapping the names of the three courses on the list Hermione had full of marks, Ethan explained the reasons for his course selection to them:
"Ancient Runes is what I might use when I study Charms and other courses deeply later; Care of Magical Creatures is because I like it, and family has businesses like dragon reserves; as for Arithmancy, I feel it's very interesting, I want to learn and try."
Harry again compared the brief introductions of the two courses, obviously feeling Divination was more magical, so he asked:
"Why choose Arithmancy instead of Divination? Judging from the introductions of these two courses, Divination seems to have broader prospects, and can make prophecies.
"Moreover, I heard from others in the Gryffindor Quidditch team that Divination class is an easy course to pass, Arithmancy is relatively harder."
Ethan answered: "Arithmancy and Divination these two courses, in principle, are completely different.
"Simply put, one uses the magical properties of numbers to calculate the future, and the other relies on various signs for artificial interpretation.
"And the reason I chose Arithmancy, besides feeling my interpretation might not be accurate, is because I feel I probably don't have the talent of the 'Inner Eye'."
"'Inner Eye'? What is this?" Hearing this word, Hermione asked very anxiously.
"'Inner Eye' refers to an ability to see the future, is an essential talent to become a true Seer.
"What Harry said just now, Divination can make prophecies, this is not wrong. But so many students electing Divination, which one truly became a 'Seer' who made prophecies?
"This is because, wanting to become a true Seer, the prerequisite is having the talent of seeing the future, the 'Inner Eye'.
"And this talent is basically passed down among descendants of wizarding families that have had Seers. Like Divination class Professor Trelawney, she is the great-great-granddaughter of a Seer.
"But, even for wizards whose families have had Seers, there is a high probability of not awakening this ability." Ethan explained to the girl.
He checked his family's bloodline pedigree, didn't find his family had intermarried with any Seer family.
So, if learning these two methods of foreseeing the future, both couldn't make prophecies, then he chose Arithmancy which he was more interested in.
"Then saying this, shouldn't I not choose this course either?" Regarding this magical subject related to the future, Hermione was very interested, but hearing Ethan's words, she began to hesitate.
"You can choose. Not having the 'Inner Eye' only means you cannot truly become a Seer, you can still learn some things.
"Like The Dream Oracle I borrowed before, can also be considered a branch content of Divination. Even if I haven't learned Divination, I can still analyze my dreams according to the book's content, right?"
Whether Divination or Arithmancy, predicting the future is uncertain, so people without talent just choose based on preference.
"I know. I'll think about it again." The girl began pondering how she should choose.
Harry lacked interest in this: "I am not interested in Divination-type courses, so I don't quite want to choose either of these two."
"Then you plan to choose the remaining three?"
"Don't want to choose those either. According to this theory of course selection, if I want to become a Quidditch player, don't I need not choose any other courses?
"After all if wanting to become a player, these elective courses have no use. The Flying class I want to choose is not on the list." Harry currently most hoped job after graduation was Seeker of a Quidditch team.
"In principle, it is like this. Professors also said, even if you choose zero courses, it doesn't affect your graduation from Hogwarts. And, there were such students before.
"To put it bluntly, these elective courses just provide you with more choices for finding a job later.
"So to speak, if you really don't want to take elective courses, only taking mandatory courses is also fine."
Ethan told the truth. There were many wizards in their family factories in this situation.
These people's grades were bad, mandatory courses were struggling, so they chose few or even no elective courses. Or chose a few electives, after taking for one or two years, dropped these courses, focusing on a few mandatory ones they were good at, aiming to get a few certificates.
Thinking of these workers, Ethan remembered those bottom-tier wizards in Knockturn Alley:
"Those guys in Knockturn Alley are probably also like this, even more unbearable. Dropped out or graduated without getting a single certificate, otherwise wouldn't even find a job."
Hermione ruthlessly hit Harry's confidence: "But Quidditch teams don't recruit newcomers every year. Are you sure you can join after graduation?
"Besides, even if you elect some courses, will it affect you playing ball? Wood, Fred and George, which one didn't choose a few elective courses? Didn't it not affect them participating in training?"
Harry wilted. He lay on the table, fingers swiping randomly on the list: "Then what do I choose?"
Soon, Harry eyed a course he should be very familiar with: "I kind of want to choose Muggle Studies. I want to know what Muggles are like in wizards' eyes.
"If cannot enter Quidditch team, then entering Ministry of Magic, becoming colleagues with Mr. Weasley should also be a good choice."
"As a Muggle-born wizard, I think it's a waste of time. But you should be able to get high scores in this course." Ethan felt him choosing this course was purely a waste of time.
Hearing Ethan say he could get high scores, Harry got happy, made a choice immediately: "I'll just choose this one, stably get a high score.
"In addition, add Care of Magical Creatures. Fred and the others also chose this course, should be very interesting.
"Two courses, should be enough too."
"Okay, as long as you like it." Ethan turned his head to ask the still struggling girl: "What about you, Hermione?"
"I'll think again." The girl looked at the five courses on the list, not knowing how to choose for a moment: "I heard Percy chose five courses. I also kind of want to try. Maybe I can balance all subjects?"
"Five courses! Hermione, are you really going to choose like this?" Harry looked at the girl in shock.
"I am just thinking, haven't made final decision."
"Consider carefully. Adding seven main courses, the pressure of twelve courses is very big." Ethan reminded solemnly.
"Mm, I will consider seriously." The girl nodded heavily.
Business finished. Before leaving, Harry suddenly remembered a thing.
"Did you know Percy is now an assistant for Lockhart's Dueling Club?"
"I know. Draco has always attended this club. He told me. Started from two weeks before holiday right." Ethan nodded.
Regarding this result, he wasn't surprised at all actually.
For Percy who dreamed of entering Ministry of Magic, Lockhart probably also lured him with condition of writing him into his book.
Obviously, Percy was moved. This had great benefits for his future path.
Thinking of what Cyril told him during holiday, that Armenian old wizard had almost recovered, Ethan thought: "But, Percy should be very disappointed when semester ends right?"
"Really don't understand why Percy would go help this annoying guy." Harry muttered.
"Probably Lockhart offered conditions he couldn't refuse."
"How do you know?"
"Because Lockhart also invited me, but I had no interest in his conditions."
"Hmm?" Harry turned his head in shock.
"Lockhart said he prepared to write a new book, writing assistant's name inside." Ethan shrugged.
Harry who lived in The Burrow for a period, remembering Percy's performance, nodded in agreement: "Indeed conditions Percy couldn't refuse."
After extinguishing lights in classroom, three people separated at stairwell.
Just walking down stairs, Ethan heard Harry begging Hermione to lend him homework to copy again.
Ethan shook head, entered dungeon.
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