Chapter 296 Dementors board the car for inspection
"Dementors!" Ron exclaimed, his face turning incredibly pale. "Are you sure they were Dementors? They aren't supposed to be in Azkaban; why would they be on our train?"
"How should I know?"
"I remember now," Harry suddenly said. "Mr. Weasleymentioned that Azkaban guards would be stationed at Hogwarts. They suspect Sirius might come to the School."
"Seriously, they're mobilizing prison guards like this just for one wanted criminal," Aaron said, exasperated. "But that's still not right; Dementors have no business being on our train!"
Bang!
The compartment suddenly shook.
A figure over three meters tall, clad in a tattered black cloak, stopped outside the door.
"Lumos."
Aaron drew his wand, and a white light illuminated the entire compartment, as well as the figure outside.
Hiss!
Aaron felt nauseous just from a glance. He had seen disgusting things, but never anything this disgusting.
Aside from the cloak, the Dementor's entire body looked as if it had rotted in water.
A grayish-white bony hand slowly extended from within the cloak and pulled open the sliding door.
An eerie atmosphere spread through the compartment. Harry, Hermione, and Ron trembled with tension, and Crookshanks and Scabbers both hid in their owners' arms.
"Mr. Dementor, the person you're looking for isn't here," Aaron said calmly. "We didn't invite you, so please close the door."
The Dementor ignored him, scanned the compartment briefly, and turned its head towards Harry Potter, seemingly showing intense interest.
It began to inhale, a rattling sound coming from its throat, like a howling cold wind.
Harry felt an ominous chill envelop him, his fear magnified infinitely. He plummeted into darkness, his consciousness growing increasingly blurry.
Roar!
Abey roared, lunging forward and knocking the Dementorout of the compartment.
Harry came to, gasping for breath, drenched in sweat.
Before he could fully process the feeling of surviving a near-death experience, he saw the Dementor looking back at him, making him shrink back in terror.
At that moment, his greatest relief was having a ClassProfessor in the compartment. Regardless of whether this year's Defense Against the Dark Arts Class Professor was reliable, he had to be reliable now.
Professor Lupin seemed to hear his plea and suddenly opened his eyes wide.
He quickly drew his wand, and a thick white mist swirled at the tip. The Dementor seemed to have met its natural enemy and decisively chose to retreat.
"It seems our Defense Against the Dark Arts Class Professorthis year is reliable after all," Aaron said with a knowing smile, then placed a piece of chocolate in Harry's hand. "Eat it. Chocolate works better than a sedative after a Dementorattack."
Harry nodded, numbly tore open the wrapper, and took a bite.
Feeling a little warmer, he reluctantly sat back in his seat.
"Harry, are you alright?" Ron asked anxiously.
"I'm fine," Harry said, still shaken. "I heard a woman screaming, and for some reason, it made my heart ache."
"That was the Dementor draining your soul; you would have seen the memories you least wanted to see," Lupinexplained. "You should thank this cat. If it hadn't knocked the Dementor away in time, you would have at least fallen unconscious."
Harry paused, then gave Abey a grateful smile.
"Is it really a cat?" Lupin asked Aaron, puzzled. "No offense, but a normal cat should be like that one."
Lupin pointed to Crookshanks, the orange tabby who was still trembling in a basket, seemingly not yet recovered from the fear.
"Abey is certainly a cat," Aaron said without batting an eye. "I've raised it since it was born."
Abey unhappily raised his head. He was a dragon, and he had the pride of a dragon.
Aaron immediately glared at him, pushing his proud dragon head back down.
"It seems to be an unusual cat," Lupin didn't seem to have much doubt. "I'll excuse myself for a moment to speak with the driver."
After Lupin left, Harry looked at the three of them glumly. "I feel like the Dementor was targeting me."
"Be confident, and drop the 'feel like' part," Aaron said, holding Abey in his arms. "Compared to others, someone like you who has lived for over a decade but hasn't experienced much joy is more likely to be a Dementor's target.
If you don't want to be helpless when facing Dementors, you need to learn a defensive spell, a very difficult defensive spell."
"The one Professor Lupin used to drive away the Dementor?" Hermione asked curiously.
"Exactly," Aaron nodded. "It's called the Patronus Charm, and it can drive away Dementors."
"Thank goodness," Ron breathed a sigh of relief. "Our Defense Against the Dark Arts Class Professor knows this spell; he'll definitely be willing to teach us."
"It's not easy to learn," Aaron gave Harry a meaningful look. "Especially for you."
"What do you mean?"
"The most important factor in casting the Patronus Charm is happiness or hope.
I'm not trying to discourage you, but how many happy memories do you think you have from the past thirteen years?"
Hearing this, Harry pursed his lips.
After he was one year old, he lived in the Dursley's home, which was worse than an orphanage. Because of this, his next twelve years were not good, and could even be described as living in misery.
"You can think about Quidditch," Ron reminded him. "Riding on a broomstick must be the happiest thing for you."
A flicker of light immediately appeared in Harry's eyes. "Thanks, Ron. I almost forgot my life still had bright spots."
Ron's mouth twitched, and a strong resentment towards Harry's aunt and uncle's family welled up in his heart.
This family was absolutely no good; Harry couldn't feel any happiness at all in their home.
"Aaron, do you know this spell?" Hermione asked.
"I guess so!" Aaron nodded sheepishly. He was much better at it than Lupin.
"Then you can teach us!" Ron said excitedly.
"Uh... I don't have time."
"Hey, we're still friends, aren't we? You won't even help with this small thing?"
"But I'm not a teacher," Aaron rolled his eyes. "Learning the Patronus Charm takes a long time, and I have my own things to do.
Not to mention, I've signed up for five elective classes this semester; I simply can't spread myself any thinner."
"You also signed up for five classes?" Hermione asked, surprised.
"Also?"
Aaron looked at Hermione, a hint of confusion in his eyes.
He had a thought form clone, so he could barely manage five classes. Hermione was just one person; she shouldn't be able to take five classes.
"She also signed up for five classes," Ron said, exasperated. "The worst part is that she, a Muggle-born Wizard, is even taking Muggle Studies."
"Personally, I think Muggle Studies is actually the most valuable," Aaron said seriously. His identity destined him to deal with all sorts of Muggles, and understanding more now would mean fewer disadvantages later.
Just then, the sliding door opened, and Lupin sat back in his previous spot, picking up the bottle by the window and taking a sip.
"I've spoken with the driver; the train can depart soon."
A moment later, the lights in the compartment flickered on, and the floor gently vibrated. The Hogwarts Express started moving again, only stopping at Hogsmeade Station about ten minutes later.
Aaron rummaged through his trunk, pulled out an umbrella, and got off the train, holding it open.
Due to the rain, the platform was more chaotic than usual, and combined with the Dementors boarding the train earlier, many people were still recovering from the panic.
"First Class, this way!" Hagrid shouted loudly, calling the First Class students to cross the river in the traditional manner.
As for students above First Class, they took another path, boarding carriages pulled by Thestrals and heading towards Hogwarts.
"Aaron, are you alright?" Draco asked curiously. "Many people saw Dementors enter your compartment."
"I'm fine. Professor Lupin just acted a bit faster, otherwise Abey's dragon's breath would definitely have driven him away."
"Professor?" Draco seemed to remember something, frowning slightly. "That man in your compartment is the new Defense Against the Dark Arts Class Professor?"
"You seem a bit displeased with him. Did Professor Lupinoffend you somehow?"
"He's dressed in rags, his clothes are patched, and his trunk is dilapidated. He's definitely from the bottom of the Wizarding World. I don't think he has any real ability."
"Heh heh!" Aaron shook his head. "Lockhart was considered a prominent figure in the Wizarding World, but what was he actually like?
I, on the other hand, think Professor Lupin can handle the position, at least... he can drive away Dementors."
Draco was speechless, unable to retort.
As the carriages approached the gate, students saw several Dementors hovering and patrolling above, and a chill inexplicably ran through them.
Passing through the gate, the carriages went up a ramp and stopped before the steps leading to the Castle.
Everyone successively ascended the steps, passed through a magnificent oak door, and then entered the Great Hall via a marble staircase.
Students above First Class gradually took their seats at their respective House tables. The ceiling mirrored the night's weather, overcast but without rain.
"Potter! Granger! Gaius! Come with me," Professor McGonagall said, descending from the teachers' table.
"Uh... Is something wrong?" Aaron asked, surprised. He didn't think he had done anything that would require the Principal to personally intervene.
"Don't be nervous; you haven't broken any school rules. There are just some matters we need to discuss."
The three exchanged glances and followed Professor McGonagall.
Upon arriving at Professor McGonagall's office, she gestured for them to sit, while she herself sat in her office chair.
"Harry, Professor Lupin told me you encountered Dementors on the train," Professor McGonagall said with concern. "So I've informed Madam Pomfrey; she'll be here shortly."
"I'm fine, I'm really fine," Harry said somewhat anxiously. Meeting the School Hospital on the first day of School was not a good thing.
The School Hospital had almost become an unbreakable curse for him; he visited it for various reasons almost every semester. Madam Pomfrey had seen him more than any other student, without exception.