As evening approached, Professor McGonagall, who had been busy all day, finished her dinner and prepared to return to her office for a well-deserved rest.
With Professor Dumbledore absent and no one to help, the entire school affairs rested solely on her shoulders, along with being responsible for seven years' worth of courses. Even though Professor McGonagall was accustomed to such a life, she inevitably felt somewhat weary.
As she passed Slughorn's office, she clearly heard bursts of laughter coming from inside.
It seemed that the crisis had passed, and Slughorn had once again begun hosting his classic dinner parties.
Professor McGonagall shook her head and walked briskly past.
What a leisurely life... there isn't a single person in the entire school who doesn't cause her concern, especially Slughorn, who even though she has clearly refused twice, sent in another request yesterday to purchase an Automatic Stirring Cauldron.
He doesn't consider that the Board of Governors would never shell out money for something so expensive.
Professor McGonagall headed back to her office. Just as she was about to close the door, she suddenly noticed an owl perched on the railing.
Seeing owls at Hogwarts was nothing out of the ordinary; these messengers made multiple flights daily, delivering letters and packages. A day without sighting them would be rare.
But this one looked different; Professor McGonagall sensed that something was amiss.
"Who are you?"
She immediately drew her wand, her gaze turning sharp.
"Don't be alarmed, Professor," the owl spoke.
Professor McGonagall was taken aback for a moment as the voice sounded familiar. After pondering for a bit, she tentatively asked, "Kael?"
"It's me."
The owl jumped off the railing and began to rapidly expand and grow larger, its feathers merging into a robe once more.
"Hold on a second." Professor McGonagall did not let down her guard upon seeing Kael's appearance and sternly asked, "What was Miss Granger intending to do when we last saw her?"
"Submit an article to 'Today's Transfiguration Technique, '" Kael said, "She wants to try to win the Most Promising Newcomer Award before graduation."
Professor McGonagall nodded and put away her wand.
"I had to verify," she said, "What do you mean by that?"
"To avoid the Death Eaters' prying eyes around the school." Kael explained briefly about the situation at Hog's Head Pub, "In such circumstances, turning into an owl was the best choice.
"I thought I'd done a pretty good job; I didn't expect you to see through it immediately."
"The magical traces of human transformation are too heavy; any skilled in Transfiguration Technique can see through it at a glance."
"Luckily, there aren't any such spies among those Death Eaters," Kael said with some relief.
"But why did you use Transfiguration Technique to evade their investigation?" Professor McGonagall wondered: "Wouldn't it be more convenient for a Phoenix to bring you directly?"
"There's a special situation that temporarily prevents the Phoenix from Apparating with me." Kael explained.
"Special situation… what do you mean?" Professor McGonagall asked nervously: "Did the Death Eaters do something while we were unaware?"
"No, it's unrelated to them." Kael shook his head, "It's about Professor Dumbledore."
"Dumbledore… what happened to him?"
"This isn't the place to talk; let's go to the Headmaster's Office, and I'll explain there." Kael said, "But before that, please wait a moment while I find my wand."
Kael rummaged with his hands inside the robe.
Since transforming the body couldn't conceal the wand, he had to hide it within the owl's fluffy, thick feathers. Once the feathers transformed back into the robe, the location naturally shifted.
After some searching, Kael finally found his wand near the shoulder.
"If you mastered becoming an Animagus, you wouldn't face such an awkward situation," Professor McGonagall chuckled lightly.
"But if I were an Animagus, I might not be an owl." Kael shrugged.
Then he concealed his form and together with Professor McGonagall proceeded to the eighth-floor Headmaster's Office.
"Can you say now what happened to the Headmaster?" As soon as she pushed open the oak door, Professor McGonagall eagerly asked, "And do you know where he is?"
Professor McGonagall had a hunch that Kael might know Dumbledore's whereabouts.
"He's trapped in past time."
Kael's words caught not only Professor McGonagall off guard, but even the surrounding portraits were stunned; none continued pretending to sleep and all gathered into the nearest frame.
"What did you just say?"
"Where is Albus trapped?"
...
"He's trapped in the past." Kael softly said, "Strictly speaking, about a hundred years ago."
The office plunged into silence, then the Heads gathered to fiercely debate something.
Professor McGonagall stared at Kael, bewildered, "So, what's this all about? How is it possible for Dumbledore to return a hundred years, when the existing Time Turner can't even achieve that, with reaching a month ago being the limit?"
"Not possible now, but a thousand-year-old one can." Kael said, "You surely remember, when the Chamber of Secret was opened, a damaged Time Turner made its appearance…"
Subsequently, Kael narrated the discovery of the Time Turner and the circumstances of Dumbledore using it to travel back in time from start to finish.