Terrible things happen to those who meddle with time.
I remembered that saying as I looked over the collection of time-turners now in my possession. Some could turn back the clock by hours, others by days, and a few by years.
I had always enjoyed Doctor Who, and if that show had taught me anything, it was that time travel was a dangerous game. One wrong move and entire lives could be erased—sometimes even your own. The paradoxes, the butterfly effects… messing with time was the fastest way to get yourself into deep shit.
Even I wouldn't be reckless with it.
But having these time-turners meant I could control who did.
The Ministry had proven time and time again that they were incapable of handling power responsibly. They hoarded magic they barely understood, locking it away under the pretense of "protecting the world," and yet, they had nearly let Voldemort return right under their noses. Their incompetence was staggering.
Now, all of these time-turners belonged to me.
I turned one over in my hand, watching the tiny hourglass glimmer under the light. Such a small device, yet so powerful. With enough turns, a person could relive an entire lifetime—or erase it.
I wasn't foolish enough to use them carelessly. But as an insurance policy? A weapon in the right hands? My hands?
That was a different story.
Still, there were limits, even for me. I had no intention of jumping back decades or rewriting history on a grand scale. That kind of meddling always ended in disaster. No, if I ever used time magic, it would be controlled, precise. A last resort, a second chance in the worst-case scenario.
I set the time-turner down with a smirk.
"Terrible things happen to those who meddle with time," I muttered.
Good thing I didn't plan to meddle, at least not in this world.
For now there was no need, I picked up the time turners and returned it to my Gate of Babylon.
~~~~
The Second Day of School
The morning started like any other—until the owls arrived.
Ryan idly ate his breakfast as a flurry of wings filled the Great Hall, delivering letters, packages, and newspapers. The usual rustling of parchment and casual morning chatter surrounded him—until a loud gasp from a group of Ravenclaws broke the rhythm.
"Murder at the Ministry!" someone exclaimed.
That caught his attention.
Ryan casually reached for a copy of the Daily Prophet, unfolding it just as Yue and Rachel leaned in to read over his shoulder. The bold, black headline practically screamed at them:
BREAK-IN AT THE MINISTRY! SENIOR UNDERSECRETARY UMBRIDGE AND WALDEN MACNAIR FOUND DEAD!
A wave of murmurs swept through the Great Hall as more students read the shocking news. Across from him, Luna tilted her head in curiosity, while Hermione, seated beside her, quickly grabbed her own copy.
Ryan's eyes skimmed the article, a smirk tugging at his lips.
"Late last night, an unknown intruder infiltrated the Ministry of Magic, bypassing its wards and security measures. The bodies of Senior Undersecretary Dolores Umbridge and Walden Macnair, a high-ranking official in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, were discovered early this morning. Sources confirm that Macnair was found in his office, killed instantly, while Madam Umbridge was discovered in her personal quarters, her body showing signs of struggle."
Yue hummed softly, her face unreadable.
"In addition to the murders, the Department of Mysteries was also breached, with several high-security artifacts reported missing. Ministry officials have refused to disclose what was taken, but an internal investigation is currently underway."
Hermione lowered the paper, her brow furrowed. "This… This is huge. Someone actually broke into the Ministry and—" She swallowed. "—killed two of its officials? This will shake the entire government!"
"Good," Yue murmured, sipping her tea.
Luna, who had been silently observing, blinked and tilted her head. "Macnair was a terrible man," she said in her usual dreamy tone. "He killed creatures without a second thought. But Umbridge? I suppose I should feel bad… but I don't." She heard far too many things about that nasty woman.
Rachel set down her cup, her eyes flicking toward Ryan. Unlike the others, she knew the truth. He met her gaze with an almost imperceptible smirk before returning his attention to the article.
Hermione sighed, clearly conflicted. "I mean, I can't say I'm sad about either of them being gone, but this is going to cause chaos." Hermione didn't really know the people.
"As it should," Ryan replied simply, folding the paper and setting it aside. The Ministry had been corrupt for far too long. A little fear, a little uncertainty, might do them some good.
He took another sip of his orange juice, already imagining the panic that must be spreading through the Ministry halls. Serenity had done her job flawlessly. The time-turners were his now, and two of the most dangerous, prejudiced individuals in the Ministry had been permanently removed.
All in all, a very productive night.
---
As breakfast ended and students began filing out of the Great Hall, Ryan casually stood, stretching before making his way toward the courtyard. Yue and Rachel silently followed, their expressions calm but their eyes sharp with curiosity. Once they were far enough from prying ears, Yue finally broke the silence.
"You sent Serenity on a mission," she stated, more of an observation than a question.
Ryan smirked. "Figured that out, did you?"
Rachel folded her arms, her piercing gaze locked onto him. "You didn't tell us," she said, though there was no accusation in her tone—just curiosity.
"Slipped my mind honestly." Ryan replied with a shrug. "It was a simple job. In and out. She handled it perfectly."
Yue raised an eyebrow. "You do realize the entire Ministry is panicking right now?"
"And? Not like they can do anything about it."
Rachel exhaled, shaking her head. "Fine. What did she take?"
Ryan's smirk widened as he leaned against a stone pillar. "The Ministry's collection of time-turners."
Both girls blinked. Yue's lips curled slightly, amusement flickering in her crimson eyes. "Oh? I see…"
Rachel, however, looked thoughtful. "That explains the Department of Mysteries break-in. Those are powerful artifacts. But are you actually planning to use them?"
Ryan shook his head. "Not recklessly. I know the risks of time travel. This isn't about using them—it's about keeping them out of the Ministry's incompetent hands."
Yue nodded approvingly. "A wise decision. Time is dangerous to meddle with."
Rachel tilted her head. "And the assassinations?"
Ryan met her gaze evenly. "Preventative measures. Macnair was a bloodthirsty ex death eater bastard who loved killing and was just waiting for an excuse to do more. As for Umbridge… well, even in this world, she was a problem waiting to happen. She despised anyone she deemed 'impure.' She would have made our lives—and others'—miserable."
Rachel hummed, considering his words. Then, with a small smirk, she said, "Remind me not to get on your bad side."
Ryan chuckled. "You? Never. If you did get in my bad side I would just give you a spanking I know you like."
Rachel just huffed.
Yue linked her arm through his. "So, when will Serenity return?"
"She already has," Ryan said casually. "Slipped in last night while everyone was asleep."
Rachel arched an eyebrow. "Efficient."
"Always," Ryan said with a grin.
As they walked back to the castle, Yue and Rachel remained close to Ryan, still digesting the information.
"So, Umbridge," Rachel finally said. "You didn't take her out because of anything she did—just because you didn't like her?"
Ryan shrugged. "Pretty much. Some people just make the world worse by existing. She was one of them. Given enough time, she would've caused problems. I did everyone a favor. Plus any chance of her coming to Hogwarts for any reason needed to be eliminated."
Yue smirked. "Like Snape and Lucius?"
Ryan chuckled. "Exactly. There are some people I just don't have the patience for."
Rachel sighed, shaking her head but not arguing. "Well, at least you're efficient."
"I like to think so," Ryan said with a grin.
Yue leaned against him, her voice teasing. "I suppose we should expect more disappearances in the future?"
"Only if necessary," Ryan replied, his tone light but firm. "I don't go looking for trouble. But when it comes my way, I deal with it."
Rachel gave him a dry look. "Right. Because breaking into the Ministry and stealing all their time-turners wasn't looking for trouble at all."
Ryan laughed, wrapping an arm around both of them as they entered the castle. "Come on, we have classes to get to. Let's pretend we're just normal students today."
Yue giggled, and Rachel sighed again, but neither of them pushed further. They understood Ryan well enough to know that once he made a decision, there was no changing his mind. And honestly?
The world probably was better off without people like Umbridge.