"Dementors!?"
The moment Glenn uttered those three words, everyone in the compartment gasped in unison, Hermione included.
The young girl quickly climbed over Glenn and wiped a clean patch on the frost-covered window, which had somehow become obscured without anyone noticing.
"Eagle Vision."
Hermione swept her left hand, equipped with the Hand of Sorcery, over her eyes. A faint green aura shimmered and escaped from her gaze.
Her sight pierced through the layers of rain and mist, revealing the ominous silhouettes swaying in the sky above.
A portion of the dark figures broke away, flying directly toward the Hogwarts Express. The oppressive, nauseating atmosphere grew even heavier.
"…It's true. The Dementors are heading straight for us."
Hermione's voice was grave. Her words sent an involuntary chill down everyone's spine.
"But… this doesn't make any sense. Aren't Dementors supposed to guard Azkaban? Why are they here?" Draco asked, swallowing hard. He pressed his face against the rain-speckled window, trying to see more clearly since he couldn't cast the Eagle Vision spell.
"…Could it be because of Sirius Black?" A trembling voice broke the tense silence. Ginny, her fists clenched tightly, voiced her speculation.
"Are you suggesting these Dementors are here to capture Sirius Black?"
"That's possible, but… why?" Hermione returned to her seat, her gaze fixed on Ginny.
The idea wasn't entirely implausible. Sirius Black was an exceptionally dangerous Azkaban escapee. The Ministry of Magic, having failed to apprehend him, might deploy Dementors for a more efficient search and capture.
But the Dementors' target was clearly the Hogwarts Express.
Could it mean…?
"Could it be that Sirius Black is hiding on the Hogwarts Express right now?!" Hermione's eyes widened slightly as she voiced the most logical conclusion she could think of.
But Glenn interrupted her train of thought.
"No, I haven't detected any adult males on the Hogwarts Express apart from the conductor and the new professor, R.J. Lupin," Glenn said, his voice calm and measured.
"And I can confirm that R.J. Lupin isn't in disguise."
"The Dementors must have another reason for targeting the Hogwarts Express."
"I overheard my dad telling Harry that Sirius Black's ultimate goal is Harry," Ginny interjected, her voice rising slightly.
"Because Harry defeated You-Know-Who, and Sirius Black is one of You-Know-Who's most fanatical followers. He wants revenge for his master!"
"I understand your point, Ginny," Hermione said thoughtfully. "The Ministry of Magic might suspect that Sirius Black could be hiding on the Hogwarts Express to get closer to Harry. That's why they sent the Dementors."
"But that's just a baseless assumption. Sirius Black isn't on the train."
"Even if he were, sending Dementors to capture him is completely reckless!" Hermione exclaimed, her trust in Glenn's judgment unwavering.
"How could they do this?!"
Hermione's frustration boiled over as she slammed her small hand on the table, the sound reverberating through the compartment.
What on earth was the Ministry of Magic thinking?
Was the decision-maker behind this plan even remotely rational?
Deploying Dementors—creatures with little reason and highly erratic behavior—onto a train full of young witches and wizards without verifying their information was beyond irresponsible.
Dementors were dangerous beings, perpetually hungry and indifferent to whom they harmed. They could easily injure innocent students during their search. After all, what they consumed was a person's most precious memories and emotions!
Even if no one was physically harmed, their mere presence could leave lasting psychological scars on the young witches and wizards.
In a train packed with innocent passengers, sending such volatile creatures was an utterly incomprehensible decision.
While Sirius Black was undeniably dangerous, the Ministry should have deployed Aurors to search for him, not Dementors!
Moreover, Sirius Black boarding the Hogwarts Express was an unlikely scenario to begin with. If the Ministry truly wanted to prevent such an event, they should have implemented protective measures at Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, rather than reacting after the train had already departed.
Hermione was both furious and exasperated. She had heard rumors about the Ministry of Magic's incompetence, but she hadn't expected it to be this appalling.
As her thoughts raced, a hand gently covered hers, trying to calm her emotions.
"Hermione, you're the only one in this compartment who can protect everyone from the Dementors," Glenn said, his eyes still closed as he focused on tracking the Dementors' movements.
"Among us, you're the only one who knows how to cast the Patronus Charm."
"If you cast the Patronus Charm to surround us and block the compartment door, the Dementors won't be able to enter."
"What?! The Patronus Charm? Hermione, when did you learn that?" Draco's eyes widened in shock, his disbelief evident as he stared at Hermione.
The Patronus Charm was one of the most powerful, ancient, and mysterious defensive spells in the wizarding world. Its fame stemmed not only from its effectiveness but also from its extraordinary difficulty.
Most wizards couldn't successfully cast the Patronus Charm, and those who could were often regarded as exceptionally skilled.
For someone as young as Hermione to master it was nearly unheard of. The significance of her achievement was staggering.
"What? Do you have a problem with that?" Hermione shot Draco a disdainful glance, her confidence returning under Glenn's reassurance.
"I learned it last year!"
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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