Chapter 242. The "Fallen" Dementors
As Adrian Wesson was looking for the staff responsible for managing the Dementors, the one at the very front suddenly burst into action, surging at him with a blast of bone-deep cold.
Adrian twisted aside at once and only just avoided the sudden attack, swiping sweat from his brow.
So even Dementors would resort to ambush—truly without honour.
But since they had made the first move, he no longer needed to hold back.
"Expecto Patronum!"
His wand carved a streak of silver through the rain.
White light gushed forth like a tide, and in an instant a hazy mist formed around Adrian.
For a moment, every Dementor stilled.
However, there was no way Adrian would let them off so easily.
Today, he had to make these monsters learn a lesson.
After all, Albus Dumbledore had already made it clear: under no circumstances were these Dementors to be allowed near any student.
If he hit a little harder… that should be fine, right?
Just then, a little white hedgehog emerged in the mist and hopped lightly onto Adrian's shoulder.
Adrian reached out his left hand to rub its head and murmured, "Looks like you're thinking the same thing."
"Awoo~"
The little hedgehog let out a vicious cry at the mass of Dementors.
The mist billowed madly, rolling and spreading through the rain as if alive. Silver-white light continued to surge from the tip of Adrian's wand, blanketing the entire clearing in white haze.
At this, the Dementors seemed to sense something; they shrieked as one and retreated, as though they had encountered something unspeakably terrifying.
"Too late!"
Adrian gently stroked the little hedgehog on his shoulder and smiled.
As soon as the words left his mouth, all the mist suddenly contracted and rapidly gathered above his head. A colossal Tree of Wisdom Patronus took shape in the sky.
Pure light drove back the gloom, glaringly bright against the darkened heavens.
The Dementors went mad at once and scattered in a rout.
Clearly, the Patronus before them filled them with a tremendous sense of threat.
Yet the Tree of Wisdom had no interest in reasoning with them.
The roots of the silver-white oak suddenly extended and, like living things, coiled around each Dementor that tried to flee.
The instant those dark creatures touched the silver roots, black smoke hissed up as if they were being seared, and they let out heart-rending howls.
Adrian watched coldly and shook his head.
In truth, he wasn't certain whether his Tree of Wisdom Patronus could actually slay these dark creatures.
Still, it would surely teach them a harsh lesson.
If they wanted to harm his students, they would pay the price.
Gradually, the Dementors' howls grew louder.
Soon, some could no longer hold on. One by one they dropped from the air, their rag-draped bodies slapping into the mud and lying there without the slightest movement.
When the last Dementor within sight had fallen, Adrian gave his wand a light flick. The gigantic Patronus dissolved into motes of silver, vanishing into the rain.
The little hedgehog on his shoulder cried out in triumph.
Before him, the clearing was littered higgledy-piggledy with the remains of the Dementors.
Their bodies had completely vanished, leaving only tattered robes behind.
Even so, Adrian did not think they were truly dead, for the "corpses" of those Dementors still emanated an ominous, icy chill.
He did not bother with those "corpses." Taking advantage of the fact no one had noticed, he slipped away quietly.
He had only meant to give the Dementors a small lesson, and the result had barely met his expectations.
By the time he returned to the Quidditch pitch, the match was nearing its end.
"Where did you go, Professor?"
Ernie, seeing Adrian vanish without a trace and then reappear all of a sudden, couldn't help asking.
"The loo."
After giving that universal answer, Adrian looked over the stands.
The downpour and the fierce match had perfectly masked the commotion from earlier; everyone's attention was fixed entirely on the game.
Which was just as well—fewer troubles for him.
At that moment, Madam Hooch's whistle sounded.
In an instant, cheers thundered through the entire Quidditch pitch—especially from the Hufflepuff stands, which were all but boiling over as students waved flags madly and chanted Hufflepuff's name.
Adrian hastily looked toward the pitch. A figure hovered in mid-air, holding the Golden Snitch high.
It was Cedric!
"We won!"
Ernie leapt to his feet in excitement and nearly dropped his binoculars.
Cedric did not immediately return to the ground. He banked his broom and swept a few stylish laps in front of the Hufflepuff stands, even raising a hand to wave in Adrian's direction.
Adrian smiled and nodded back.
Naturally, he was in fine spirits seeing Hufflepuff take the match.
Harry had ultimately been a hair too slow and lost to Cedric in their duel for the Snitch.
Even so, this might not be a bad thing for Harry.
Since he'd begun playing Quidditch, he had never lost a single match.
Failure is an important step on the path to growth.
An hour later, in the Hufflepuff common room.
By the warm hearth, the "little badgers" were holding a small victory party.
Adrian was there, too.
It was just as ever—comfy sofas and a cosy fireplace.
Professor Sprout came in smiling with a great armful of Butterbeer and handed bottles round to the students.
As Head of House, she was naturally delighted that her team had won.
It had been many years since Hufflepuff's Quidditch team had achieved anything in competition; this year might be their best chance at the Cup.
Adrian accepted the Butterbeer Professor Sprout passed to him and said with genuine admiration, "Cedric is a splendid student."
"Ah, of course," Professor Sprout replied, wearing a proud expression. "In fact, if you ask me, Cedric may be Hogwarts's finest student."
Adrian nodded.
Indeed. He remembered that in the original course of events, when the Triwizard Tournament was held, it was Cedric who became Hogwarts's champion—proof enough of his excellence.
A pity he died then.
But since Adrian was here now, he naturally would not let that happen.
At this moment, Cedric pushed his way out from the celebrating crowd. Seeing Adrian off to the side, his eyes lit up.
"Professor!"
He hurried over to Adrian and handed him a long, cloth-wrapped item. "The Firebolt… I'm returning this to you."
"Keep it, Cedric," Adrian said with a slight smile. "It isn't for you alone—it's for the whole Hufflepuff team. Anyone can use it. Of course, I think it will do its best work in your hands right now."
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly to every Hufflepuff student present.
Only then did they realise that the Firebolt in Cedric's hands had been given by Adrian.
A cheer at once drowned the Hufflepuff common room.
Like this story Leave a review ; it would really help me out a lot.
Want to Read Ahead in Advance?
Join my Patreon!
+75 Chapters
Support me in
Patreon.com/BestElysium