bookbashuk Chapter 187 Driving Away the Dementors
Chapter 187 Driving Away the Dementors
I quickly ran towards the location of my dragon scale. I sensed that Harry seemed to be in trouble, so I activated the power of the dragon scale hanging around his neck.
On the other hand, everyone who had stood up was nervously staring at the Dementor in the cloak who opened the carriage door.
"What is this? Why do I feel unhappy all of a sudden?" Fred and George are usually cheerful, but now they both feel like they've been caught in some strange magnetic field, and suddenly they're unhappy.
“I feel really bad, Harry, how are you?” Ron, who was sitting next to Harry, felt bad, so Harry, who was standing by the door, must feel even worse.
Harry couldn't respond to Ron right now. His mind was in turmoil, filled with memories of his mother protecting him when he was a child, and every moment he spent at his aunt and uncle's house—all those unpleasant scenes flashed through his mind.
At that moment, the dragon scale I had put around Harry's neck emitted a dazzling light.
Harry could feel a warmth spreading through his body in an instant.
Then he felt himself leave that uncomfortable atmosphere and was now surrounded by a super warm feeling.
"This is..." Harry, coming to his senses, realized that the warmth emanating from the scale that Ayers had given him was enveloping him, and it was also emitting a very warm light.
The Dementor, 'Goo Goo Goo,' was uncomfortable with the light around Harry's neck and retreated.
"Patriot." As I ran quickly down the corridor, I finally saw a brightly lit compartment and a Dementor standing in front of it, illuminated by the light.
He quickly took out his wand from the mobile box and used 'Call of Protection' on the Dementor.
A silver Eastern dragon formed and charged toward the Dementor.
The Dementor seemed to have encountered something it was terrified of, and it rammed its head into the window in the corridor.
"You ran really fast." I appeared in their private room, slightly out of breath. "Are you alright?"
“I’m fine.” Harry really is very fine now, bathed in a warm glow.
"We're alright. The warm light emanating from Harry has chased away the chill," Oliver said, looking curiously at the light source around Harry's neck.
"Here are some small cakes for you. Stay in this box and don't wander around. The three of us are going to check out the other boxes." Seeing that Harry and the others were alright, I took out a box of small cakes and handed it to Harry, who was sitting by the door. Then I turned around and, together with Cedric and Percy, who had run over with me, began to check each box one by one.
I rode the silver dragon, Patronus, through the Hogwarts Express.
Many young wizards were affected by the Dementors and were sullen, but when they saw a silver dragon pass through the box, they cheered up again.
"Is anyone feeling unwell?" I opened a carriage door and saw that it was Draco and his small group.
After a holiday break, Draco has grown a lot taller this year, and he's matured a lot. He no longer has a chubby baby face, and his hair is no longer stuck to his head with hair oil.
"Senior Ayers, we're all fine." The social butterfly Breszabini happened to be sitting by the carriage door.
"Um, don't wander around. These are some small cakes I made myself. You can take them and eat them." I don't know if they were concerned about saving face or something else, but they didn't seem to be in a very bad mood, though they weren't much better. So I handed them a box of homemade chocolate-flavored cakes.
"Thank you, Senior Ayers." Breszabini politely took the food box from my hand.
"Okay, don't wander around. See you at school." I gently closed the door and went to check the next private room.
"How are you all? Are you feeling unwell?" Unexpectedly, the next carriage contained Neville Longbottom, Ginny, Luna, and Remus Lupin, who was pretending to be asleep.
It's really unexpected that Remus Lupin didn't sit with the three little ones, but instead sat with these people.
Even without Harry there, he showed no signs of waking up; he was really putting on a convincing act.
"We're fine, Brother Ayers, it's just a bit cold." Among these people, Ginny was the only one who knew me well. She wrapped her coat tighter around herself.
"Is this any better?" I let Silver Dragon wander around the private room for a bit.
"Thank you, Brother Ayers. I feel much better now." Ginny looked at the silver dragon flying above her head and felt much better.
"Alright, I need to check the back carriages now. See you later." Silver Dragon and I closed the door and left. However, I didn't see that as I left the compartment, Remus Lupin, who was pretending to be asleep, opened his eyes and glanced in the direction I left.
Under the watchful eyes of us prefects, it seemed that none of the young wizards appeared to be particularly uncomfortable.
After we finished checking the last compartment, the Hogwarts Express started moving again, and the lights that had just been turned off came back on.
Cedric, Percy, and I finished our patrol and went back to Harry's and the others' carriage.
"Let's change into our school uniforms. I think we'll be at school soon."
When I returned to the private room, they were all happily eating small cakes.
"Then I'll go back to Ginny's to change my clothes. My luggage is still there." Hermione was just here to chat and play with her friend; her luggage was still there.
"Okay, see you at school." After Hermione left, we all took out our school uniforms to change into.
"Have you all learned the 'waterproof and moisture-proof' spell?" We sat down and chatted after changing into our school uniforms.
"Oliver and I both know this spell." Percy and Oliver, being seventh-graders, still knew the spell.
“I know this spell too.” As a top student, how could Cedric not know this spell?
"What kind of spell is this? Have we ever learned it, Ayers?" Fred and George were both full of questions.
"If Professor Flitwick finds out about this, you two are finished." How did these two kids pass their exams? Did they forget everything as soon as it was over?
“Ron and I have never actually learned this spell.” Harry pointed to himself and Ron.
“Then the three of you might need this.” I took out several black umbrellas and handed one to each of them, then cast the spell on the ones who didn’t know how to use the 'waterproof and moisture-proof' spell.
"Is it because it's still raining heavily outside?" Cedric looked out the window at the dark, gloomy sky where a torrential downpour was still raging.
"Judging from the rain, it won't stop even after we get off the bus. Giving you umbrellas now is a precaution, and the 'waterproof and moisture-proof' spell is to prevent you from getting your clothes and shoes wet and feeling uncomfortable." I explained to them step by step what we would encounter.
"Ayers, you really are always fully prepared for everything." Percy really likes this about me; I always arrange things perfectly.
"It seems to be a habit." I was like this in my past life, always making thorough preparations for everything I did.
When we got off the Hogwarts Express, it was pouring rain outside. Everyone in our group was carrying a black umbrella, even Hermione was carrying her own.
“I feel sorry for this year’s freshmen.” Fred looked at the heavy rain and then at the first-year students who were about to take the boat to Hogwarts Castle.
"Yes, it's really pitiful." Even George felt sorry for the new students.
"Let's go, we need to set off too." These two are really good at talking without thinking. I don't want to see their faces. I got into the Thestral carriage first.
Fred, George, Percy, Oliver, Cedric, and I rode in one carriage, while Harry, the three little ones, rode in another.
There don't seem to be many new students this year. It seems like there are fewer and fewer little wizards every year.
When the first-year wizards were being sorted into their houses, I kept staring at Severus on the professors' bench. He seemed to sense my gaze and looked in my direction.
Since I'm the class monitor this year, I'm sitting in the very front seat.
Severus and I made eye contact. I gave him a smile, and he stared at me seriously, but I could see the tenderness in his eyes.
Considering we haven't spent a single day together during the entire holiday, I wonder if he's found the medicinal herbs he was looking for.
The opening ceremony and warnings were the same as usual, but this year's Defense Against the Dark Arts professor was a different one.
Gilderoy Lockhart was still recovering in the hospital last year, apparently badly beaten by Hermione for lying to women; he probably died without even knowing how.
I heard that he receives black magic items from readers every day.
Remus Lupin, one of James Potter's four friends, seems to have given Harry and his friends their first lesson in something that was disrespectful to Severus's image.
I glanced meaningfully at Remus Lupin, who was sitting next to Severus.
“Professor, you’re disgracing Severus’s image.” I mouthed to Remus Lupin, then raised my hands and clenched my fists.
Severus was initially a little annoyed that I was looking at Remus Lupin, but he understood what I was mouthing and instantly became incredibly happy.
Remus Lupin recognized me at that moment; he had seen this face before.
He's the boy who protected Severus Snape a few times during his school days.
A boy who can rival him in his werewolf form.
He's actually a current student at Hogwarts. Does Headmaster Dumbledore know about this?
If I knew what Remus Lupin was thinking, I would tell him that the headmaster really did know.
We all know it, but we won't say it out loud.
"Welcome back to Hogwarts!" Headmaster Dumbledore's voice echoed through the Great Hall. "In the new term, we will face even more challenges and opportunities. I believe you are all ready."
"Now, let me introduce you to the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Remus Lupin." As Headmaster Dumbledore introduced him, Remus Lupin stood up and gestured to himself.
Remus Lupin, who was sitting down, kept staring at me. I picked up the wine glass on the table and smiled as I raised it to him in a hollow toast.
"Hagrid, the former Guardian of the Forbidden Forest, will also be a professor of the Conservation of Magical Creatures class this year." As the principal introduced him, I was a little surprised. Knowing Hagrid's personality, he really wouldn't mess things up.
"Finally, this term the Ministry of Magic will have the Dementors of Azkaban guard all entrances and exits of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry until Sirius Black is captured." These were Professor Dumbledore's final words.
Severus frowned, and Remus Lupin's expression changed drastically.
"Now, let's enjoy the food!" The headmaster waved his wand, and all sorts of delicious food appeared on the table, including roast chicken, steak, vegetable salad, fruit cake, and more.
The students excitedly picked up their cutlery and began to enjoy the sumptuous dinner.
During dinner, Harry Potter and his friends had a very pleasant conversation.
They shared their summer experiences and discussed their courses and plans for the new semester.
After dinner, as the Slytherin prefect, it was my duty to lead the first-year students back to the Slytherin common room, and then teach them how to enter the common room and tell them which areas were off-limits.
Only after everything was taken care of did I have time to go back to my dorm room.
"Senior Ayers, I'm back after finishing up." Draco had just finished showering and was sitting on his bed reading a book.
"Yeah, I never thought being a class monitor would be so tiring." The trivial things that class monitor does are a bit annoying, not physically tiring, but mentally tiring.
"Then, Senior Ayers, get some rest." Draco felt he couldn't be of much help, so all he could do was tell him to get some rest.
"No, I'll take a shower and then I need to see the Dean." She picked up her clothes and headed towards the washroom, no matter how tired she was, she still had to see Severus.
Draco didn't quite understand why they had to go to the Godfather so late when they couldn't talk about it tomorrow.
When I came out after taking a shower, Draco had already drawn the bed curtains and was getting ready to rest.
I tiptoed out of the dormitory. Even though I was in a hurry to find Severus, I first cast a Confusion Charm on myself before leaving the Slytherin common room.
They walked straight into the cellar and pushed open the door to enter Severus's territory.
Upon entering Severus's office, I didn't see anyone, but I could hear the sound of water coming from Severus's lounge, so it seemed that Severus was taking a shower.
I tiptoed into Severus's room and lay down on his bed.
"Ayers?" Just as I was about to close my eyes, Severus came out of the bathroom.
"Severus~" I was a little sleepy, and when I heard Severus call my name, I naturally responded to him.
"Tired?" Severus saw that I didn't even want to open my eyes, so he knew I was tired.
"Hmm, there were a lot of chores to do today." Finally, she mustered her energy and slowly sat up.
When I opened my eyes, I saw Severus wearing a dark green bathrobe and drying his hair.
"Did you receive the clothes I sent you? Don't you like wearing them?" I raised an eyebrow when I saw Severus wearing his old dark green clothes again.
"It's not that I don't like it, I just wanted to wear it only for you to see." Is this the Severus I know? How come his mouth is blessed? He's so eloquent. I've never heard him say anything like this before.
"Severus, have you been possessed? Why are you suddenly speaking so sweetly?" I blurted out what was on my mind.
“I met a like-minded person while I was out looking for materials. He told me that you should be straightforward with your loved one, and that beating around the bush can easily lead to misunderstandings,” Severus said to me, blushing.
"No, no, no, I really like you this way, Severus. You can tell me anything, and I can accept and listen to you. I really have to thank your friend." I really love this change in Severus. He is no longer the person from his previous life who kept everything to himself.
I truly love Siever, who can speak her mind.