AN: Hi guys, thanks for the positive reviews so far, be sure to leave more! When we hit 10 REVIEWS, I'll release an extra chapter!
Sh*t. I've never practiced Expecto Patronum before - only once in first year! I never thought I'd come face to face with these things. What are they even doing here? Aren't they meant to -
Blake's heart sank with realization.
Sirius Black. They're here to look for Sirius Black. Does that mean they'll be in the castle?
"What the f*ck are Dementors doing here?" Zabini gritted through his teeth, wand held high as the creatures moved towards them inch by inch.
"Never mind that!" Charlotte said, fear in her voice. "They can't be hurt by spells, can they? What are we going to do?"
"Listen, guys," Blake said, trying to keep calm. "Think of the happiest moment of your life, and repeat the incantation: 'Expecto Patronum'!"
A blinding, silvery light came from Blake's wand just as the Dementor was about to come into contact with him. With a screech, the creature backed away. Blake lowered his wand in relief.
"Expecto Patronum!" Tracey, Zabini and Charlotte shouted, and light was produced from their wands too, momentarily driving away the Dementors - but their light was weaker, and shorter-lived.
The Dementors recuperated, and came at them again, this time faster, seemingly with intent.
"Again!" Blake commanded - but this time, it was different. The light manifested itself, yes, but all of the Dementors targeted him specifically, and against their full force, Blake crumbled.
"Blake!" Tracey screamed, and he could idly hear Zabini and Charlotte yell Expecto Patronum, but it was futile. He was already somewhere else.
/
"James!" Mrs Renshaw screamed, clutching the man's gasping body.
"Ma'am, we need space-"
"That's my husband!" she screamed as she backed off, falling to her knees.
"Blood oxygenation at 80% - dropping!"
"Pulse - cardiac arrest!"
The man's body had begun to seize up, moving around erratically.
"Dad!" Connor screamed, as Blake covered his eyes and ears despite the younger boy's protest, pulling him out of the room. He couldn't bear to let his younger brother watch any longer, even as his own eyes were glued to the scene.
"James!"
"Stay with us, James!" a nurse urged.
"Defib! Now!"
"Stop, Doctor. Listen."
The ECG monitor, which mere moments ago had been erratic with beeping and lines, now only showed a flatline, producing a high, monotonous, sorrowful noise.
Blake's world became blurry as he finally let go of his brother.
There was a short silence for a moment. No one dared to speak.
"I'm so sorry, Mrs Renshaw. He's-"
"No!" she shrieked, shaking the man's lifeless body. "James! Wake up!"
"Dad!" Connor yelled, tears flowing freely from his eyes as he ran up to the hospital bed and clutched his mother, both of them sobbing into the chest of the man who had been alive and smiling just minutes ago.
The doctor and nurses looked solemnly at the scene.
It was minutes before anyone noticed Blake at the entrance of the room, staring at his family, eyes wide, tears silently streaming down his face.
"Blake," the doctor said quietly, crouching down to his level. "It's going to be okay."
The words seemed to jolt the boy out of his stupor, as he shook his head and wiped his tears. His mother and brother were still crying at his father's bed. He approached them, crying no more, placing an arm around each of them, but not daring to look up at the dead man's body.
"I know."
/
"Blake! Blake!"
Blake was back - suddenly - being shaken awake by Tracey. Next to her were Zabini and Charlotte, both wearing relieved expressions on their faces, and a stranger - a much older, scraggly looking man, who immediately thrust something at him.
"Here, take this," he said kindly. "It's chocolate - helps after a Dementor attack."
"Thanks," Blake said cautiously, as he sat up. The chocolate was nice - and it did indeed help.
"What happened?"
The man smiled.
"Well, I heard shouting from this carriage, and I guessed that it would have something to do with the Dementors. When I came in, I was pleasantly surprised to see that you, and your friends, know the Patronus charm, Blake. That probably helped you out a fair bit - you were only out of it for a few seconds."
"Oh," Blake said, embarrassed. "So you helped me? Thank you."
"Not at all," the man said, still smiling. "It's my job, after all."
His job?
"Your job?" Charlotte asked uncertainly.
Oh. He must be-
"You're the new Defence teacher, right?" Tracey surmised. Professor Lockhart had been outed as a fraud at the end of last year. Someone had spiked his tea with Veritaserum, and he'd confessed to Obliviating the true heroes of his stories, and taking the memories as his own, profiting off those. Blake had a sneaking suspicion about who had spiked Lockhart's tea - a certain dark and greasy haired, long nosed, Potions Master. He had no proof, of course.
The man gave an odd bow.
"Professor Lupin, at your service. Your names?"
"I'm Tracey Davis, that's Blaise Zabini, that's Charlotte Rosier-"
Blake saw Lupin's eye twitch at Charlotte's surname. Judging by the expression on Charlotte's face, she did too.
"-and he's Blake Renshaw."
Lupin smiled.
"Ah, yes. I've heard about you, Blake."
Uh oh.
"The only muggleborn student to ever be sorted into Slytherin in the entire History of Hogwarts? The Headmaster was singing your praises indeed."
Blake's cheeks coloured as Zabini and Tracey snorted.
"Oh - thank you, sir."
"At any rate, I'll need to talk to the driver. You're the second student that's been attacked. Excuse me."
Professor Lupin slid past them and into the next carriage. For a moment, there was silence in the carriage.
"How did you know that spell?" Zabini asked.
"Read about it," Blake said with a shrug, eating more chocolate. Zabini's eyes narrowed, but he didn't comment any further.
"Who d'you think the first student to be attacked was?" Tracey asked eagerly. "My money's on Potter."
"Agreed," Charlotte nodded, sitting back down. "It's always him, isn't it?"
As the other three talked, Blake was still recovering from the Dementor's attack. That memory… I've not thought about that moment once since it happened, and these things brought it back.
He shuddered involuntarily, pushing down emotions that threatened to surface.
They won't be forgiven.
AN: If you would like to view up to 20 more bonus chapters on all my fics so far including this one, and would also like to support me, please visit my P@TR30N, at pa tr eon.com / GhidorahWriter (remove the spaces).
Thanks for reading and make sure ADD to your COLLECTION!