"It's all your fault, bad Scabbers," Ron said gently, tapping the rat's head.
"Oh, because your cute rat ran away, now every compartment is full of people," Hermione complained.
"This one's still empty," Harry said, finding an unoccupied compartment and calling to his companions.
The four settled into the compartment, with Harry sitting beside the man slumped in the corner seat. Hermione, Ron, and Aiden squeezed together on the opposite bench, with Ron sandwiched between the other two.
"Is this guy dead?" Ron asked, eyeing the sickly man.
"Ron, show some respect. This is our professor, Remus John Lupin," Hermione explained.
"How does she know everything? And isn't it a bit cramped in here?" Ron complained.
"Perhaps there's something we can do about the space," Aiden said thoughtfully. He drew his black walnut wand and pointed it at the wall.
The compartment expanded smoothly, the space doubling without even disturbing the sleeping man nearby.
"Cool," Ron praised. "And Harry, you did great too with your aunt."
"I really didn't mean to inflate her—I just couldn't control it," Harry defended himself.
"Ron, this isn't a joke. Harry almost got expelled," Hermione scolded.
"It doesn't matter. Their memories have all been wiped anyway. I did it myself, and it's technology that even Dumbledore praised," Aiden said with a wink.
"Is he asleep?" Harry asked, nodding toward Lupin.
"Should be," Ron replied.
"I have something to tell you guys," Harry said, standing up to close the compartment door.
Aiden casually tapped the wall, covering the entire carriage with a silencing charm.
Harry told his friends about Sirius Black, sharing all the intelligence Aiden had given him.
"You mean Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban specifically for you?" Ron's voice rose in surprise.
"But he'll be caught, right? I mean, everyone's looking for him," Hermione said.
"Of course, but no one has ever escaped from Azkaban before, and he's completely mad," Ron said grimly.
"Thanks, Ron," Harry said dryly.
"Alright, let's not talk about these heavy things. Let me share some of your aunt's memories with you," Aiden said, changing the subject.
"Harry's aunt? Wasn't she just inflated? What else happened?" Hermione asked, confused.
"You don't know this, but Harry, your aunt likes to deliberately buy expensive gifts for Dudley and then watch your reaction. Also, although she claims to love dogs, she throws weak ones into the river to drown them. Now you know how to deal with her next time you meet her."
Aiden gave Harry a knowing wink, and Harry's eyes lit up with understanding.
"Looks like I can really give her a hard time when I see her again. Thank—"
Harry was cut off as the train lurched violently, the sound of wheels grinding against tracks filling the air.
"Why did the train stop? We haven't reached the station yet," Hermione said, looking out the window in confusion.
"Aiden, what's wrong with you?" Ron asked in horror.
Aiden had removed his hat, and anger and disgust were clearly visible in his heterochromatic eyes.
'System, this is...' Aiden's voice echoed in his mind.
'Yes, this is the product of dead souls being forcibly detained in the world,' the system answered.
'No wonder they're called dark creatures. I can't imagine what kind of torture could make creatures degenerate into this state,' Aiden thought furiously.
Outside the door, Ginny and Neville appeared, drawn by the train's sudden stop. The train shook violently again—Ginny fell into Harry's arms, and Neville sat down hard on Crookshanks.
"What happened? Did something get on the train?" Ron asked, staring at the frost-covered windows in terror.
"Yes. Dead souls. What a disgusting smell," Aiden said, making a nauseated expression.
Accompanied by bone-chilling cold and suffocating despair, a tall shadow with a vaguely human outline, wrapped in tattered black robes, floated into the compartment.
Harry felt his emotions draining away while hearing a woman's scream in his ears. Like Ginny, he fainted.
"Get out. There's nothing you're looking for here. If you don't leave, I'll make you disappear completely," Aiden said in a language the others couldn't understand.
"Heh heh heh heh~"
The Dementor ignored Aiden's threat. Days of hunger had made it lose all reason, and it squeezed completely into the carriage, wanting to devour the happiness of the young wizards present.
"Expecto Patronum!"
Endless swarms of butterflies erupted from the compartment, and the Dementor faced the Patronus's impact head-on. The butterfly swarm gathered in the air, forming a magnificent silver-white dragon outside the carriage. The dragon opened its mouth and swallowed the Dementor whole.
The creature dissolved continuously in the dragon's belly, emitting sharp, agonized shrieks.
The powerful Patronus magic also drove away all the other Dementors that had boarded the train. Those outside, hearing their companion's miserable cries, scattered and fled.
With such a commotion, Lupin couldn't pretend to sleep anymore. He stood up, watching the dragon chase the remaining Dementors outside the window, momentarily speechless.
Aiden saw his embarrassment and gave him a warm hug.
"Long time no see, Uncle Lupin," Aiden said, a bright smile blooming on his face.
"Oh, wait—you are?" Lupin's memory carried him back to that night thirteen years ago. "You're the Prewett child! You've grown so big already!"
Lupin finally recognized Aiden, his voice filled with emotion.
"Wait, how do you still remember me? Weren't you only one year old then?" Lupin asked, puzzled.
"Perhaps I'm naturally gifted," Aiden said mysteriously.
"Oh, this is really... Well, child, I need to go to the front of the train to check the situation. Please help me look after these young wizards."
Lupin took out a bar of chocolate and handed it to Aiden. "When Harry wakes up, feed him some. It will make him feel much better."
After speaking, Lupin headed toward the front of the train.
"Harry, Harry, are you alright?" In the darkness, Harry heard Hermione calling him.
Harry opened his eyes and sat up. His friends were sitting around him, concern written on their faces.
"Eat this—it will help," Aiden said, handing him the chocolate.
"What was that just now?" Harry asked, putting the chocolate in his mouth.
"Dementors. Guards of Azkaban. Disgusting, filthy, nauseating dead souls," Aiden said with venom.
This was the first time Harry had seen such enormous hostility from his friend, who rarely revealed strong emotions.
"You went completely rigid. We thought you were having convulsions," Ron said.
"How are you guys? Did you faint? I thought I heard someone screaming," Harry said, holding his head.
Ron and Hermione exchanged glances. "Harry, no one was screaming," Hermione said carefully.
"We didn't faint, but it was really strange. It felt like all the happiness was being drained from our bodies. Fortunately, Aiden used the Patronus Charm," Ron said with lingering fear.
"What charm?" Harry asked.
"The most ancient, powerful white magic—the weapon that ancient wizards used to protect themselves in the age of madness," Aiden said, his eyes distant and deep.
"Can you teach me?" Harry asked eagerly.
"There will be a chance."
Aiden didn't elaborate further and went outside the compartment to patrol, leaving the three conscious friends to watch over Ginny and Neville, who were still unconscious.
[Chapter Complete]
***
Want more? Check out my Patreon for:
✓ Advanced chapters of all my stories
✓ Exclusive novels & fanfics
✓ Early access content [email protected]/meowthtl
💪 Community Goal: 500 Power Stones unlocks a bonus chapter!
Thanks for reading and supporting the story!
Want more? Check out my other stories!