After class ended, Kael hurried to the Auditorium to grab a quick bite before heading to the Quidditch Pitch.
Ever since Slytherin acquired seven Nimbus 2001s, even Harris had become uncharacteristically anxious.
Those brooms were too fast; Fred and George had secretly scouted the Slytherin Team, and according to them, when those players took to the air, all you could see were seven pale green blurs, zipping back and forth in the sky.
This was not good news for Hufflepuff.
Originally, the gap in equipment between them and Slytherin could be made up for with skill and teamwork... but now that Slytherin had upgraded their gear, there was no way for Hufflepuff's skills to be enhanced in such a short time.
With no other choice, Harris resorted to constant training to find tactics to deal with those "pay-to-win masters."
However, the progress of this idea wasn't very smooth; until today, none of the tactics he formulated had lasted until the next day. Every time they'd get halfway through training, they'd be overturned without exception.
Today was no different.
As dusk approached, Kael wearily returned to the castle.
Nearly a month of intense study and training had taken its toll on him; he felt a bit overwhelmed, his head was dizzy, and all he wanted was to get back to the dormitory and have a comfortable sleep.
"If only I had a Time Turner..." Kael thought to himself.
As he returned to the castle, he ran into Professor McGonagall.
"I was just looking for you."
"Bad news..." Professor McGonagall handed a letter to Kael, "I'm sorry, but your second application for a Time Turner has also been declined."
"Still because there aren't any extras?" Kael took the letter, feeling his headache worsen.
"That's correct."
Professor McGonagall nodded, "They specifically mentioned that this year is quite special, and all Time Turners are currently in use."
Kael glanced at the letter in hand, which contained just a few short lines.
"Dear Albus Dumbledore.
We regret to inform you that due to some special reasons, all Time Turners are currently in use. Hence, we must temporarily retract their usage rights until June next year.
We hope you understand.
...Department of Mysteries, Broderick Bode."
"Dumbledore?" Kael murmured.
"The Headmaster personally wrote the application," Professor McGonagall explained, "but it was still rejected."
Kael let out a sigh, "So I'm definitely not getting a Time Turner this year?"
"I believe so."
Professor McGonagall gave him a glance, fully aware of Kael's jam-packed schedule.
Whether it was her Transfiguration Club or Professor Flitwick's Charm Club, the content was more challenging than regular coursework.
Moreover, Kael had to study twelve subjects; it's no wonder he wanted a Time Turner so badly.
But with the Department of Mysteries not granting approval, there was little she could do, as all Time Turners were kept in their custody.
As Kael was looking down at the letter, he suddenly heard a sound... a sound entirely different from the wind or the crackling of candle flames.
It was a voice, old and whispering, mechanical, cold, and emotionless.
"Come... come here... I can give you everything you want."
Kael's hand shook, almost tearing the letter he was holding.
"What?" he exclaimed, looking up suddenly.
"I said, regrettably, you really won't be able to use a Time Turner this year," Professor McGonagall said quietly.
"Not that, Professor." Kael shook his head, hesitated for a moment, then said, "I just heard someone speaking, as if calling me over."
Professor McGonagall looked around questioningly, then frowned slightly, her fingers making a subtle motion...
Kael felt a gentle breeze waft past him, heading towards the depths of the castle.
A few seconds later...
"No one's speaking, Kael. There's nothing around us."
Professor McGonagall said, "Even Mrs Norris is twenty feet away, separated by two walls. Her voice certainly couldn't reach here."
"Maybe I misheard." Kael rubbed his ears.
"You might just be too tired. A love for learning is a good thing, but don't push yourself too hard."
Professor McGonagall pondered for a moment and continued, "Although we can't cancel your elective courses now, I will visit Professor Burbage and Professor Trelawney later to see if they can exempt you from homework.
And as for Quidditch training, I think you could ease up on that too... From my personal perspective, attending just one practice a week should be enough.
Additionally, I allow you to take a leave anytime from the Transfiguration Club; this should make things a bit easier for you."
Charity Burbage was the professor of the Muggle Studies Class, and Trelawney taught Divination.
And the exam grades for these two subjects weren't particularly important.
Only Professor McGonagall didn't know that besides these, Kael also participated in a "Magic Text Club."
The study of Magic Text itself was difficult, and coupled with having to watch for Riddle's deliberately set traps... this was why his time was increasingly insufficient.
As for training and homework... those were minor issues, not that important.
However, since Professor McGonagall offered, he naturally wouldn't refuse.
After saying goodbye to Professor McGonagall, Kael left alone, filled with doubt.
In the Hufflepuff Common Room, quite a few people were still catching up on homework.
Cedric hadn't returned with them; being the Seeker of the team, Harris had pinned all hopes on him.
At this moment, he was probably still on the Quidditch Pitch, practicing those classic Seeker feints.
Kael greeted a few familiar faces and returned to the dormitory.
Mikel and Ryan were also outside catching up on homework, so for the time being, he was alone in the dormitory.
Kael lay on the bed, still pondering over what happened at the castle gates earlier.
Who could possibly be speaking...
A Basilisk?
Probably not.
While the Basilisk could traverse through the pipes within the walls, emitting sounds where it couldn't be seen, it still needed someone to release it first.
But Riddle's diary was still locked in his trunk, with no chance of causing trouble.
The setups he had placed in the second-floor bathroom hadn't shown any movement either... if nothing unexpected happened, the Basilisk should still be sleeping within the Chamber of Secret.
Most importantly, he had heard the Basilisk's voice last year; although equally emotionless, it hadn't sounded old... it even seemed quite young.
But if it wasn't the Basilisk, then who could it be...
Kael turned over in bed, staring blankly at a potted flower on the windowsill.
It couldn't truly be that he's too exhausted and merely misheard.
...