Chapter 174: Hoping the Dementors Will Be Durable
"Honestly, these Dementors scare so easily."
Dylan stood in the train corridor.
By now, all the Dementors had left.
They didn't seem to have noticed that some of their companions were missing.
They simply instinctively didn't want to get close to this particular young wizard.
The corridor was now empty.
Dylan had ultimately captured seven Dementors.
Which was a decent number.
And this quantity was just right, barely enough for his needs.
"Dementors can't be like those Goblins, where you use one and lose one, can they?"
Dylan had tried his best to use aphrodisiacs on those Goblins.
He'd experimented with all sorts of reproductive spells, including some Dark Arts rituals.
But even then, it was only just enough to keep the Goblin species from going extinct in his pet space.
He recalled how those Goblins always looked sickly, and after all the breeding methods he put them through—they even developed dark circles under their eyes.
Every single one of them was utterly spent.
In the end, Dylan even wanted a male and female to mate.
But the males clutched their fronts, and the females clutched their backs, both desperate to escape his control.
Dylan was quite helpless about it.
Fortunately, the Basilisks joined later.
His need for Goblin flesh had diminished considerably.
"W-w-what was that thing just now!"
Dylan stood in the corridor, listening to the muffled sobs from inside the compartments, and shook his head.
The Dementors' impact on these young wizards was undoubtedly immense.
They might even try to secretly siphon off happy memories from the young wizards, just like they tried with Dylan.
Even if they didn't directly attack the young wizards, their very presence would cause emotional depression and a sense of gloom in anyone nearby.
However, Dylan couldn't intervene and cast happiness charms on everyone.
In any case, his patrol had yielded some Dementors for him, and also prevented many Dementors from secretly feeding.
Therefore, the young wizards in the compartments would mostly be fine.
He didn't need to worry about them.
Just as Dylan was walking back, preparing to return to his compartment, the sliding door of the compartment ahead of him suddenly opened.
Two identical heads peered out.
"Dylan?"
"What are you doing here!"
George and Fred exclaimed in surprise upon seeing Dylan.
Dylan blinked: "Oh, just taking a stroll."
The twins paused.
"Uh... you're quite laid-back."
"Never mind that for now, Dylan, have you seen Ginny anywhere?"
Dylan gently shook his head.
"Ginny? No, I haven't seen her. Did you leave her in the compartment again to go out and play?"
"No, Ginny wanted to go for a walk."
"I guess she might have wanted to find you."
"We're going to look for her now."
Fred and George said, and without waiting for Dylan's reply, they darted out of the compartment and began searching for Ginny in each one.
Dylan watched their busy backs, shrugged, and walked back to his own compartment.
He pulled open the sliding door.
Neville inside jumped in fright.
But upon seeing it was Dylan, he grew excited again.
"Dylan, you're finally back!"
Dylan smiled, closed the compartment door, and sat beside Neville.
"There shouldn't be any Dementors coming back now."
"Yes—yes!"
Neville nodded repeatedly.
"It's so strange! I kept feeling like something was watching me, and after Dementors floated past the compartment outside, it seemed like they wanted to come in, but as soon as they got close, they'd go to another compartment."
Dylan chuckled: "They probably saw you were alone here and decided not to search."
Neville nodded gently: "That must be it."
....
As the Dementors departed, the Hogwarts Express resumed its journey.
This time, the train arrived at its destination without incident.
It finally pulled to a stop at the familiar station.
Neville packed up his belongings.
Seamus also hurried back and grabbed his luggage.
Dylan, still carrying only a small bag, led the two off the train.
He didn't see the Weasley twins.
They must have found Ginny by now.
The air was damp and chilly.
Even though summer had just ended, in late summer, a hint of its warmth should have lingered.
However, this rain seemed to have completely washed away the summer's warmth, bringing with it a touch of autumn.
The large numbers of Dementors seemed to have frozen the entire atmosphere.
The weather was cold, and their influence made it bone-chillingly frigid.
"Thermo Enchantia!"
Dylan had used this charm back when Hogwarts first started.
It was one of the first spells he had mastered.
After casting a warming charm on himself, Dylan cast one on Seamus and Neville each.
The warmth pushed back the biting cold wind that seemed to want to seep into their bones.
Neville's pale complexion gradually improved.
Seamus took a breath, clutching his luggage, and rubbed his hands: "Thank you, Dylan—that really scared me."
Dylan smiled slightly, raising his wand again.
Instantly, a surge of magic erupted, gathering above the heads of the three of them.
Fine drops of rain were repelled by the magic.
This was the power of the Hover Charm.
"Alright, hurry back to school now. Don't linger on the way."
After the students disembarked, they quickly boarded the school's horseless carriages.
They rode all the way back to Hogwarts.
Dylan, Neville, and Seamus got off the carriage.
As they reached the entrance of the Great Hall, they saw Professor McGonagall standing far off at the doorway—as if waiting for someone.
Upon seeing Dylan, Professor McGonagall immediately waved him over.
Dylan walked towards her, and Professor McGonagall gently pulled him behind her.
"Come with me in a moment."
Dylan blinked but said nothing, simply nodding.
He looked at Neville: "You two go on ahead."
Neville had a good relationship with Professor Sprout, but that didn't mean he felt the same way about Professor McGonagall.
On the contrary, he was even a little afraid of Professor McGonagall.
So, seeing Dylan being taken away, he merely nodded.
Then he quickly pulled Seamus and hurried into the Great Hall.
After waiting for a short while at the Great Hall entrance, Dylan soon saw Harry and Hermione.
Ron wasn't with them.
Professor McGonagall apparently had no intention of calling Ron either.
She simply led the three of them, turning and heading towards the Deputy Headmistress's office.
They walked through the corridor and arrived at Professor McGonagall's office.
Professor McGonagall waved her wand lightly, and the door opened.
The four of them stepped inside.
...
The office was filled with the familiar scent of old books that Dylan knew well.
Warm yellow light flickered softly.
As soon as Dylan crossed the threshold, his gaze was immediately drawn to something unusual.
He instinctively slowed his steps, remaining at the back of the group.
He slowly looked up, his gaze sweeping across the surrounding walls.
Sure enough, among the familiar magical portraits and hanging books and tapestries, Dylan immediately spotted an extra portrait.
It was a half-body portrait of Professor McGonagall.
However, unlike the other portraits, this painting of Professor McGonagall, though spirited in expression, only conveyed a sense of sentience rather than actual movement.
Dylan blinked, looking at Professor McGonagall.
She was now standing in front of her desk, and upon sensing Dylan's gaze, Professor McGonagall turned and offered him a faint smile.
Then, Professor McGonagall turned her attention to Harry.
"You've already met Professor Lupin on the train, haven't you? His owl flew ahead to report that you encountered some difficulty on the train that left you feeling very unwell?"
Dylan paused slightly.
Professor McGonagall called them over just to talk about this?
If so, why not just call Harry?
Why call him too?
Could it be that...
Dylan secretly shook his head.
No.
Even Lupin couldn't have observed traces of his magic use on the train.
Because he hadn't even seen Lupin.
He had only walked a short distance on the train, not back and forth across its entire length.
He hadn't even encountered Harry and the others.
So, if they hadn't even met, was Lupin secretly watching him from somewhere?
That seemed unlikely too.
Dylan stood aside, silent.
Harry opened his mouth, about to answer.
Knock-knock.
Someone suddenly knocked on the office door at that moment.
Professor McGonagall lightly waved her wand, and the door opened.
Madam Pomfrey entered in a few quick steps.
Harry paused, but still replied to Professor McGonagall: "I think I'm fine."
However, Madam Pomfrey walked up to Harry, her brow slightly furrowed.
After carefully scrutinizing Harry's face for a while, Madam Pomfrey's gaze shifted.
"What dangerous thing have you done again? You look as if you've had a strong fright."
Madam Pomfrey's gaze moved, sweeping over Dylan and Hermione.
"Strange, you three, two of you are like this... So what dangerous things did you two do this time?"
Good heavens, there's a stereotype already.
Dylan chuckled.
Harry opened his mouth again, but he didn't know how to reply.
Professor McGonagall slowly and gravely spoke: "Poppy, it's not what they did, but the Dementors."
"Those creatures again..."
Madam Pomfrey's brow instantly furrowed into a knot, her lips turned down, and a clear expression of displeasure appeared on her face.
"How dare they send Dementors near the school? It's utterly incomprehensible, I simply can't believe it!"
Madam Pomfrey gently massaged Harry's temples: "This will make you feel better."
While massaging, Madam Pomfrey muttered softly.
"Are they mad? Who knows how many students will be affected by those things."
"Oh, dear, child, look at you, so cold and clammy. Were you exposed to those things up close?"
"How dreadful—don't these awful creatures know how to keep their distance and maintain decorum!"
"Alas—but they certainly have a more severe effect on those who are inherently fragile, helpless, and delicate."
Madam Pomfrey continued to massage Harry, while also examining him.
She kept muttering, unsure if she was talking to herself or to Harry.
Harry protested: "Madam, I'm not delicate! I'm not fragile either!"
"Yes, yes, yes-of course, what you say is completely true."
Madam Pomfrey replied casually, then placed her hands firmly on Harry's shoulders, her movements swift and irresistible.
She instantly turned Harry around.
Then, she extended her hand, gently yet firmly grasping the back of Harry's head, and began to massage it.
"No wonder you called me over in such a hurry—don't worry, he's fine. I think this young gentleman and this young lady just need some bed rest."
Madam Pomfrey squatted on the ground, looking up at Professor McGonagall.
Professor McGonagall's expression relaxed slightly.
"Just a quiet rest will be enough?"
"Yes, he's just had a fright-children are always fragile, just let him stay in the hospital wing for a night."
Madam Pomfrey added: "This young lady, however, won't need to—she seems a bit tougher than this young gentleman."
"Hey, I'm not fragile! And I'm fine, I don't need rest!"
Harry argued again.
He just felt like something was trying to burrow into his skull when he faced those Dementors.
This made him recall a memory, whether real or illusory.
He had witnessed his parents being killed by Voldemort with an evil curse.
This image had appeared in his mind many times before.
Harry felt that it must have been something he had personally witnessed.
But he was only uncomfortable because he saw the image of his parents being killed.
Why did it sound, from Madam Pomfrey's mouth, as if he had been severely bullied by Dementors without any means to defend himself?
—Though he indeed seemed to have no way of dealing with those dark creatures.
But he wouldn't collapse just from them getting close to him, would he?
He wasn't some delicate little baby!
Dylan watched Harry's expression and smacked his lips.
He took another sweet from his pocket.
The same kind he had given Neville.
"Have a strawberry cream sweet. It'll make you feel better."
Harry paused, wanting to say he felt perfectly fine now.
But it felt strange to say that.
In the end, he took the sweet from Dylan's hand.
"It's sweet."
Harry unwrapped the sweet; as soon as he put it in his mouth, his eyes lit up.
"Hermione, you have one too. This one should be blueberry flavored."
Dylan handed a sweet to Hermione as well.
"Thank you."
Hermione nodded: "Professor Lupin gave us chocolate on the train."
Madam Pomfrey nodded with satisfaction: "To think, Dumbledore actually found a Defence Against the Dark Arts professor with some real substance—at least someone halfway decent at last."
Professor McGonagall also nodded lightly: "I had hoped this school year wouldn't have any more incidents, but now..."
Madam Pomfrey paused, then sighed: "Now the trouble has already begun."
She stood up, looking at Harry, who was sucking on the sweet, and Hermione, who was meticulously examining the sweet's wrapper to determine its material.
"My judgment is that the two of you aren't severely ill just affected by the Dementors' proximity."
She reconfirmed: "Do you two have any discomfort, other than feeling a bit unwell mentally?"
Harry and Hermione both shook their heads: "No, Madam."
Madam Pomfrey nodded, then looked at Dylan. Seeing his flushed face and calm demeanor, she couldn't help but blink.
"Strange, child, did you not encounter the Dementors on the train?"
Dylan tilted his head: "I did, Madam."
"Then why are you..."
"That ugly creature just glanced at Neville and me and left; it didn't come close."
Madam Pomfrey nodded slightly: "Alright, good that you're fine."
She then turned her gaze to Professor McGonagall: "I suppose there's nothing more for me to do here."
Professor McGonagall's lips curved faintly: "Good, thank you for your trouble. Please wait with Harry just outside the door for a moment. Ms. Granger, Dylan, and I will discuss some course-related matters, and we'll be out shortly."
Madam Pomfrey nodded, then took Harry's hand, and they both exited the office.
Not until the door closed again did Professor McGonagall turn back to face the two students before her.
"Beginning in the third year, elective courses are available. However, you both have checked off every single subject, which will cause conflicts in your timetables. You are aware of this, aren't you?"
Dylan naturally knew, and he nodded.
Hermione, however, looked slightly nervous.
It was unclear whether she was worried that Professor McGonagall would only grant Dylan a Time-Turner.
Or if she was worried that Professor McGonagall was going to cancel some of her courses.
"Given this situation, I can tell you definitively-I have helped you apply for certain items that will allow you to complete your courses."
"But..."
....
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