The plan began three nights later.
At exactly eleven o'clock, when the corridors of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry had grown quiet and most students were asleep.
Albus Potter lay awake in his bed inside the Slytherin dormitory.
Moonlight slipped through the tall windows, casting pale shapes across the stone floor.
His mind refused to rest.
The plan replayed over and over again.
Sneak out of Hogwarts.
Reach Hogsmeade.
Travel to London.
Break into the Ministry of Magic.
Steal a Time-Turner.
Change history.
Even thinking about it made his heart race.
From the bed beside him, Scorpius Malfoy whispered quietly.
"Are you awake?"
Albus didn't move.
"Yes."
A pause.
Then Scorpius sighed softly.
"This is the worst idea we've ever had."
Albus turned toward him.
"We're saving someone's life."
"We're also committing about twelve magical crimes."
Albus smirked slightly.
"You counted?"
Scorpius rubbed his face.
"I couldn't sleep."
---
An hour later, the two boys crept quietly through the Slytherin common room.
The greenish glow of the Black Lake shimmered through the underwater windows.
The room was empty.
Albus whispered,
"Ready?"
Scorpius hesitated.
"Not even slightly."
But he followed anyway.
They slipped into the corridor beyond.
The castle at night felt completely different.
Long stone hallways stretched endlessly into darkness.
Torches flickered quietly against the walls.
Their footsteps echoed softly.
Every sound felt too loud.
Every shadow looked suspicious.
They moved carefully, following the map Delphi had given them.
A path through forgotten staircases and rarely used corridors.
After fifteen minutes of silent walking, they reached a narrow hallway behind an old suit of armor.
Scorpius looked around nervously.
"Are you sure this is it?"
Albus checked the map again.
"Yes."
He pressed his hand against a stone in the wall.
For a moment nothing happened.
Then—A section of the wall slowly slid open.
Behind it was a narrow tunnel descending into darkness.
Scorpius whispered,
"Merlin…"
The secret passage smelled of damp earth and ancient stone.
Albus grinned.
"This must be one of the hidden exits to Hogsmeade."
Scorpius shook his head.
"I cannot believe we're doing this."
But he stepped into the tunnel.
The wall closed behind them with a quiet rumble.
---
The passage stretched for nearly half an hour.
At first the boys walked quickly.
But the tunnel twisted and curved beneath the earth.
Their footsteps echoed strangely.
Water dripped somewhere in the distance.
The air felt colder the deeper they went.
Finally, a faint glow appeared ahead.
Scorpius sighed with relief.
"Fresh air."
They climbed a short stone ladder and pushed open a wooden hatch.
Cool night wind rushed over them.
They had emerged just outside the quiet village of Hogsmeade.
The streets were empty.
Snow glittered faintly under the moonlight.
For a moment the boys simply stood there.
Free.
Outside Hogwarts.
Scorpius exhaled slowly.
"Well."
"We're officially fugitives now."
Albus laughed quietly.
"Relax."
Scorpius pointed toward the dark sky.
"We are two underage wizards sneaking to London to steal a time machine."
When you say it like that…"
Albus grinned.
"It sounds awesome."
---
A figure stepped out of the shadows beside the Three Broomsticks.
Delphi.
Delphi looked pleased.
"Right on time."
Scorpius jumped slightly.
"Don't do that."
Delphi laughed.
"Sorry."
She studied the boys carefully.
"You actually came."
Albus crossed his arms.
"You doubted us?"
Delphi smiled.
"Not anymore."
She pulled a small magical device from her pocket.
A glowing golden disk with spinning rings.
Albus stared at it.
"Is that—"
"No," Delphi interrupted quickly.
"Just a travel device."
She twisted the rings slightly.
The air around them shimmered.
Scorpius stepped back nervously.
"I hate when magic does that."
Delphi said calmly,
"Hold on."
The world twisted.
The snow, the village, the sky—Everything blurred into spinning light.
For a moment it felt like falling through space itself.
Then—The world snapped back into focus.
They stood in a narrow alley.
Tall buildings surrounded them.
The distant lights of London glowed in the night.
Albus whispered,
"We're here."
Delphi nodded.
"Yes."
She pointed toward a massive stone building at the end of the street.
Hidden among ordinary offices.
Completely silent.
But protected by layers of powerful magic.
Inside that building—
Hidden deep within its underground vaults, Was the final surviving Time-Turner.
And the headquarters of the wizarding world.
The Ministry of Magic.
Scorpius swallowed nervously.
"Well."
"This is where everything starts going wrong."
Albus stared at the building.
His father worked somewhere inside those walls.
Harry Potter had probably walked through those doors hundreds of times.
Tonight…
His son was about to break in.
Delphi's voice was calm.
"The entrance is below street level."
She smiled slightly.
"Ready?"
Albus took a deep breath.
And nodded.
---