Chapter 64: Maria Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban 【End】

Never before have I felt so grateful for the Invisibility Cloak as I do today.

The very first thing I did after turning back time was to secure the Invisibility Cloak from my dormitory.

"Maria... Maria... this is—this is unbelievable."

The two of us were under the cloak. Huddled close against me, she turned paler by the second as she began to fully comprehend the situation.

"It's a taboo. Do you understand? This isn't just breaking school rules; it's breaking the fundamental laws of the wizarding world. Altering time—it's something that must absolutely never be done."

Even under the Invisibility Cloak, feeling exposed and restless as if being watched, Hermione clung to my arm and spoke as if to lecture me. If anything, it sounded more like she was warning herself.

"I know."

That—Draco and I are probably the ones who understand that best in this world. How many times had I lectured my second son and his best friend about the very same thing?

And now... I am breaking the resolve of my future 'self'.

"What if... what if someone catches us... Oh, and I promised Professor McGonagall!"

"If that happens, I'll testify that I forced you to come along. Yeah, let's go with that."

At my words, the determined spark returned to Hermione's eyes, which until then had been wide with shock at the sheer scale of the rules we were breaking.

"Don't underestimate me, Maria. I have never broken a rule on my own. ...I've always broken them with someone else. It's the same thing. From now on... I'm breaking them with you."

The hands that had gripped my arm for mere support now felt incredibly reassuring. Just as I thought, she is the bravest of our trio.

"...Thank you, Hermione."

Smiling beneath the cloak, I guided her forward. Before I knew it, her steps had become firm and steady.

"Now then, first we need to find myself."

Where was I, and what was I doing at this time?

I wasn't in the dormitory. In that case, was I on my way to Professor Lupin's office? With the Marauder's Map as my goal... Ah.

I stopped in my tracks and patted my robes. Hermione held the cloak in place to match the movement of my elbows.

...Ah, just as I thought. Here it is.

"Maria? That... why did you—did you bring it with you?"

Peeking from the side, Hermione spotted a few names and looked completely dumbfounded.

Right, I took it with me along with the Goblet—the Marauder's Map.

Swept up in the rapidly changing situation, I had completely forgotten I even had it on me.

Bizarrely, this meant that there were currently two Marauder's Maps existing within this single time frame.

We moved to the edge of the corridor and examined the map together.

It seemed the map couldn't perceive irregular existences that had traveled back in time. Relieved by that, I spotted the clustered names of Harry, Ron, and Hermione, as well as my own name walking near the Courtyard.

The Courtyard... Was this right after I went back to the dorm to get the communication parchment? That means this is the 'me' heading to meet up with Draco.

"After this, I go to Professor Lupin's office, and your Bowtruckle helps me out."

I muttered as I followed the moving dot labeled 'Maria'. I hadn't even been able to thank it properly back then. If I can catch it, I'd really like to express my gratitude this time. Even if I can't, I at least need to make sure it completes its mission safely.

"My Bowtruckle?"

Hermione looked puzzled.

"Yeah. The Bowtruckle that lived in your hair. It helped me pick the lock to Professor Lupin's office."

"............That's illegal."

Hermione gave me a deadpan stare.

"And another thing. ...That wasn't the Bowtruckle I was with."

"Eh?"

I stopped just as I had started walking. Hermione continued with absolute certainty.

"I told you, didn't I? We were together the whole time. I never saw it leave my side. Look, right here."

Hermione pointed to her own name on the map.

"It's moving in the exact opposite direction of where you are at this time. There's absolutely no way it would make it in time."

I stood there, rooted to the spot, lost in thought.

If that was the case, was it just a stray Bowtruckle? Is that even possible? For it to be that convenient...

"............It was me."

I grabbed Hermione's hand and spun on my heel.

"Maria? Where are we going?"

Though confused, Hermione didn't try to stop me.

A Bowtruckle didn't just conveniently appear. ...I was the one who made it convenient.

Hagrid was conducting a final exam for some year or another—Salamanders were the test subjects for this one. Knowing we were invisible, we still crept stealthily to the back of his hut.

"M-Maria, is this really okay?"

"Of course it's not okay."

But I have to do it.

We used Hermione's Alohomora to unlock the door and slipped inside. Our year's Care of Magical Creatures exam should have been one or two slots prior to this one. If so, they might still be hiding around here somewhere. It's too soon for them to be released back into the forest.

Because we were sharing the Invisibility Cloak, we couldn't split up, so we rummaged through the cupboards together. Anything that could be a clue... ah.

"...They're alive."

Hermione shook a jar, looking as if she desperately wanted to drop it. Inside were a few freshly caught insects. ...You know, you do the exact same thing when you find out Rita Skeeter's true identity.

I took the jar from Hermione and opened the lid. I rolled two or three bugs out onto the shelf.

—Squeak!

A single Bowtruckle that seemed to have been hiding behind the shelf gleefully grabbed the insects. ...Ah, the eating scene is surprisingly grotesque.

Feeling somewhat conflicted, I waited for him—or her—to finish their meal. Then, I poked my face out of the Invisibility Cloak and offered my palm, and the Bowtruckle gently climbed aboard.

"I have a favor to ask. Will you come with me?"

The Bowtruckle bobbed the two leafy sprigs on its head up and down in agreement.

Checking my current self's position on the map, we waited in a spot where we could see Professor Lupin's office. ...Here I come. No matter how many times I experience it, looking at myself objectively is something I just can't get used to.

Confirming Professor Lupin's absence, I watched my past self pull out a wand. ...Now!

"I'm counting on you."

I gently placed the Bowtruckle on the floor. It slipped out from under the safety of the Invisibility Cloak and dashed off.

"I've committed two crimes today."

"It's not a crime if you don't get caught."

"I wonder if you're actually better suited for Slytherin, Maria."

"Actually, the Sorting Hat did try to put me in Slytherin."

The Bowtruckle returned proudly, chittering away. Sticking just my hand out from the cloak, I welcomed it back. Once you get used to them, they really are adorable creatures. Even if they do possess the ferocity to gouge out someone's eyes when threatened.

The past 'me' entered the room, tilting her head in confusion. Our job here is done. Now then... how should we spend our time until the map gets confiscated by 'him'?

"...Hey, Maria."

Hermione was still staring at the door through which I had just disappeared.

"You... you can actually use magic properly, can't you? Are you just pretending you can't normally? Or... can't you?"

"............"

"How did you get into the Shrieking Shack at that exact moment? From where? Since when were you... friends with Sirius Black? Did you know about Crookshanks, too? And when did you realize I was using a Time-Turner?"

"...Hermione."

"Is there even a single one of those you can answer?"

I looked down and shook my head. Not yet. It's still too soon. But... someday...

"...Do you see me as a traitor?"

"Were you betraying us?"

"...I didn't intend to."

"Then you aren't, right? You keep way too many secrets, but even I can tell there's a reason for it. Harry knows it too. As for Ron............ I'll handle him."

It seemed Ron really was bothered by my secrets after all. He always did hate feeling left out.

"I trust you, Maria."

When I returned Hermione's smile with a grateful one of my own, the sudden, looming appearance of a man in black from down the corridor had us instantly clamping our hands over each other's mouths to stifle our screams. Even the Bowtruckle covered its own mouth. It was a little heartwarming.

Exchanging a glance with a cold-sweating Hermione, we slowly edged away with our backs against the wall. Professor Snape, his fist still raised to knock, had a terrifyingly suspicious look on his face upon seeing the door already unlocked.

...Ah, maybe he came to check if Professor Lupin was taking his potion properly? And then he finds a student he's been deeply suspicious of sneaking inside... Well, of course he'd be suspicious.

We managed to put enough distance between us that the room was out of sight, then practically speed-walked away from the scene, feeling half-dead with terror.

"I-Is that going to be okay? The 'you' inside is still—"

"It wasn't okay at all, which is exactly why I got detention in the first place."

"Ah... That happened while we were going to Hagrid's to return the Bowtruckle."

"Exactly."

"That was when we ran into Crookshanks attacking Scabbers... I mean, Pettigrew. I remember it well because I kept thinking, 'If only Maria were here.'"

"Eh?"

I stopped. That's right. I don't know what happened while I was serving detention—how exactly they discovered Pettigrew.

"—Tell me exactly what happened."

Moving to the side, I asked Hermione to explain everything that unfolded after that.

How they safely returned the Bowtruckle to Hagrid, and saw a rat sprinting away while walking back to the castle from the hut. How Crookshanks suddenly appeared and chased it. How Ron chased the two animals, how Harry and Hermione chased Ron, and how the three of them and the two animals ended up at the base of the Whomping Willow. How a large black dog attacked Ron, who had caught Scabbers. (Hermione added that in hindsight, it probably wasn't trying to attack Ron, but rather snatch the rat.)

"So that means I have to part with the Invisibility Cloak before dinner is over."

When I muttered this thoughtfully, Hermione tilted her head in confusion.

"Why?"

"Because you guys are going to use the Invisibility Cloak, right?"

"We didn't use it."

"But Professor Snape said—"

Besides, letting Harry go outside without the Invisibility Cloak amidst this heavy security... No, wait. Now that I think about it, things moved faster this time than last time. Last time, they knew they would definitely be stopped if they went out after dark, which is why they used the Invisibility Cloak. This time, it was still light out when the three of them headed to Hagrid's hut. The level of alert was different, so Harry didn't attract any unnecessary attention.

Seeing me fall silent with a grim expression, Hermione must have realized something, as she quietly lowered her voice.

"...You're right, I'm sorry."

"Hermione?"

"Just because it was still light out, we shouldn't have taken Harry without the Invisibility Cloak—not that having it would make it entirely okay, of course. Exams were over, and I got carried away. The real Sirius Black turned out not to be a murderer... but if he had been... I nearly put Harry in mortal danger."

"Hermione..."

As she bit her lip in frustration, I couldn't find the right words to say, resulting in an awkward silence.

"I'm going to change my mindset. I won't ever think 'It's Harry, so he'll be fine' again. ...I don't want to cry like Pettigrew did. I refuse to shed such lonely tears."

To this girl, whose heart was endlessly strong and beautiful... Even though it would never reach her, I offered my sincere gratitude to the Hermione of 'my' time.

"Please do that. I want you guys, at least, to always see Harry just as Harry."

Because eventually... he—I—will become a hero.