It's not easy to explain, but . . .

Chapter 3

"No, tempting as it was to use that name, it's just a modified Time Turner," Draco reassured him.

Opening the leather bag, he removed a black lacquered box, not much bigger than a shoe box, and set it on the coffee table.  Unlatching the lid, he opened the box and everyone drew in their breath.  Sitting on a bed of velvet were three Time Turners; one that looked like Hermione's from Year Three, sitting on a little stand/holder.  The second one looked like a sleeker, modern version and it, too, was on a little stand.  The third and largest one was multileveled, with numbers, dials and levers sticking out of the sides. 

"Whoa!  That's some serious equipment, Draco!  Do you know how to run that thing?" Rupert asked, leaning forward for a better look.

"Rupert! you wound me to the quick!" gasped Draco, hand over his heart. "I don't know about Tom, but I really was a good student, best in Slytherin House and second in the school . . . as if we have to guess who always had top grades . . ."  he grumbled and then swung around to gaze at Hermione, who sat blushing and giggling next to Ron.  "And I'm still bitter about that,  mind you!"

"You are not, Draco!"  Hermione sputtered.  "I may have been good at studying but I'm rubbish on a broomstick, to this day, so you're way ahead of me . . . stop being foolish!"

"Right . . . anyway," Draco winked at Tom and continued. "The major improvement to this new Time Turner is that instead of having to do one spin for one hour of travel, and trying to keep track of how many spins you have done or would need, with this little darling," pointing to the gleaming instrument sitting in front of them, "you can enter, on the dials, the date and time at which you would like to arrive, to the minute!"

"That's bloody brilliant!" Emma smiled at Draco. "Well done, Draco!"

"You made this yourself, did you?"  Dan was admiring the trio of Time Turners, but looked up at Draco to hear his answer.

"Yes.  That's my job in the Department of Mysteries.  Started out by helping to repair all of those Time Turners that Harry and his 'posse' managed to smash all those years ago."  This statement was greeted with muffled boos, hisses and snickers which Draco ignored, carrying on with his explanation.  "Then Hermione came to me with the idea for the trip back to our past, so I've been focused exclusively on this little beauty," pointing to the third one, "for almost eight months, now."

"Whoa!  That's a lot of effort, mate!"  Tom patted Draco on the shoulder. "I know I wouldn't have the patience to do that kind of detailed work for so long."

"Oh, I'll be the first to admit it was a royal pain in the arse, but I had a better motivation than most."

"Yeah, to save yourself from being remembered as a total git for ALL of your years at Hogwarts . . . sounds about right to me," Ron agreed, nodding solemnly, then breaking out in laughter, along with the others, including Draco.

"Okay, random thought here." Dan sat back with a scowl on his face. "Why aren't you all going back, why are you asking us to go in your stead.  Harry and Hermione went back in Prisoner of Azkaban without any trouble, except for the bit with Professor Lupin."

"That's the bad news, Dan.  It was discovered, as the Time Turners were being repaired, that they had become unstable and sensitive to too much magic and when they were being tested, we found out that it was actually dangerous, if not deadly, for anyone magical to attempt to go back  more than twenty-four hours.  We're still trying to figure out why that's happening and how to adjust them. The good news is; Muggles can use the Time Turners with no adverse effects."

"And that's where we come in?"  Rupert asked.

"You all are the perfect ones to go; you know the story, you know the people involved and although you did play us in the movies, the fact that you are . . . but aren't . . . us will help with the psychological aspect of your visit."  Hermione told them.  "Remember how distracted we became at certain points, Harry, when we went back.  I kept saying 'we must not be seen!'  This way, we can get the message back without the confusion and chaos seeing our real selves might cause."