noveltune Chapter 243 Driving Away the Dementors
Chapter 243 Driving Away the Dementors
Chapter 243 Driving Away the Dementors (5K) (1/2)
Almost at the same moment Lynch appeared, the Dementor outside the door, which was sucking Harry's pleasure, suddenly stopped.
The greedy suction that had been directed at Harry suddenly stopped, and the hole hidden under the hood seemed to "turn" towards the new uninvited guest.
A deeper, more focused sense of "gaze" enveloped the entire private room.
The Dementor seemed to completely ignore Professor Lupin, who had just stood up and whose wand tip was already emitting a faint silver light, and also temporarily spared Harry's intense fear and despair, which was so close and easy to absorb.
Its inhuman "attention" was firmly locked onto Lynch's raven clone, its tattered cloak fluttering without wind, exuding a mixture of doubt, vigilance, and—something even stronger, almost greedy, desire.
It seemed to perceive something from this newly emerged being that was far more "interesting" or "richer" than the soul of an ordinary human being.
Professor Lupin had clearly noticed the strange change as well. He kept his wand glowing and his suspicious gaze darted rapidly between the Dementors and Lynch.
The raven clone seemed completely unaware of, or rather, indifferent to, the Dementor's unusual "attention."
He immediately crouched down, placing two fingers precisely and swiftly on Harry's neck to check his pulse, his dark eyes calmly sweeping over the boy's pale face and weak breathing.
Only after confirming that Harry was not in immediate danger did he turn around and stand up, his gaze finally landing on the Dementor that was still staring intently at him.
Looking at the Dementor that was practically drooling over him, Lin Qi frowned slightly.
Dementors.
This strange monster, born from the negative emotions of Azkaban, is almost an unsolvable problem for the wizarding world; the only proven effective spell is the Patronus Charm.
At this moment, without any special investigation, judging from the chilling atmosphere that permeated the air, almost freezing, and the faint screams of terror coming from the front and back of the train, it was clear that there was more than one Dementor that had intruded into the train.
The power of these monsters increases dramatically as their numbers accumulate.
To resolve the crisis quickly, a powerful enough guardian spell must be released to cover the entire train.
However, he did not have a magic wand.
While the magical energy within the body is immense, attempting to precisely guide and release a specific spell of such scale is like trying to scoop up a large puddle of water with bare hands without a hose—most of the power will be lost during the process.
If he were to adopt a slow and steady approach to engage in a protracted war with numerous Dementors, it would not only be inefficient but could also lead to a protracted conflict, which was certainly not the situation he wanted.
Just as he frowned, the Dementor seemed to have seized some opportunity, or perhaps something deeper within Lynch had completely aroused its primal greed.
Its tattered cloak suddenly bulged, and the hole hidden under the hood seemed to transform into an invisible vortex, unleashing a suction force far more intense than when it was directed at Harry.
"Watch out!" Professor Lupin cried out in alarm. Almost instinctively, he took a step forward, his wand rising rapidly, ready to cast a spell to save the situation, even though he knew it might be too late.
However, what happened next made his raised wand freeze in mid-air.
Standing directly in front of the Dementor, Lynch remained motionless, like a towering mountain in a raging storm, amidst the terrifying suction that could instantly sever the soul of an ordinary wizard and plunge them into a permanent coma.
The hem of his gray suit was pulled by the Dementor's suction, but his face remained calm and expressionless, as if what was coming towards him was not a deadly attack from the Dementor, but just a trivial breeze.
Let's turn back time a few seconds.
When the Dementor opened its gaping black mouth beneath its cloak, Lynch intended to use a Patronus Charm on its face.
But then he changed his mind; after all, the opportunity to have a living Dementor delivered right to his doorstep was a rare one.
So Lynch, in his true form, sitting before the fireplace in the Forbidden Forest of Hogwarts, didn't even change his posture. He merely moved his lips slightly and uttered the spell he had shelved for months: "Soul Armor!"
In the next instant, a layer of dark crystal wall, like the most resilient soul armor, instantly covered the surface of Lin Qi's soul, completely isolating it from the predatory power from the outside world.
Inside the private room, the Dementor's deadly suction, powerful enough to freeze and detach the soul of any wizard, struck the invisible "soul armor," but it was like waves crashing against an ancient reef, causing only a barely perceptible ripple of energy without shaking it in the slightest.
The dark crystal wall stood as steady as Mount Tai, firmly blocking all attempts to erode and extract from the soul.
The Dementor seemed stunned.
Its empty "gaze" lingered on Lynch; it had never encountered such a situation before.
The suction force that could easily suck away a happy soul seemed to sink into the ocean, drawing nothing from the wizard in the gray suit—no happy memories, no warm emotions, not even a trace of fear or despair.
It seemed to be facing not a living soul, but a void, an absolute emptiness that even beings like them, who feed on emotions, could not comprehend.
This anomaly completely unleashed its ferocity.
The tattered cloak billowed even more violently, and the invisible suction suddenly intensified, causing the unsecured items inside the private room to tremble slightly and make soft, rustling sounds.
It even drifted forward somewhat involuntarily, the darkness beneath the hood almost touching Lynch's face, trying to get closer...
It sucks harder, trying to pry open a crack in that indestructible armor of the soul and find the "food" it craves.
However, it was all in vain.
Lynch calmly gazed at the Dementor, which was so close he was almost face to face with it. There was no emotion in its dark eyes, only a deep, cold stillness.
Having personally verified once again that the "Soul Armor" provided absolute defense against the Dementors' true power, he temporarily suppressed his interest in continuing his experiments with the Dementors.
He spoke, his voice steady: "Could you take charge of clearing out the Dementors from the first half of the train?"
Although Lynch wasn't looking at him, Lupin immediately understood that the words were directed at him.
He forced himself to snap out of the shock of witnessing Lynch ignore the Dementors' attacks, took a deep breath, suppressed the turmoil in his heart, and answered in as firm a voice as possible, "Of course!"
Without exchanging any further words, the two acted in perfect unison.
Lupin stepped forward, facing the front half of the train, gripping his wand tightly with both hands, his face showing unwavering concentration, and loudly chanted the spell: "Patriot!"
A silvery-white light surged from the tip of his staff, flickering at first, but quickly coalesced into a shape—a strong and sharp-eyed silver wolf leaped out of thin air!
It radiated a warm, bright light, raised its head, and let out a silent roar before transforming into a dazzling silver torrent, fiercely rushing towards the dark corridor at the rear of the carriage. Wherever it passed, the frost melted, the chill dissipated, and the Dementors hidden in the shadows let out silent wails, retreating and dispersing rapidly like shadows scorched by the sun.
At the same time, Lynch also made a move.
He continued to gaze at the Dementor that was still futilely sucking at him, calmly raising his right hand, his palm facing the empty darkness hidden beneath the hood so close to him.
"Protect the Gods." The same incantation as Lupin uttered escaped from his lips.
The next second, a powerful silver-white light burst forth from his palm!
The light was not as warm and bright as Lupin's spell; instead, it carried a cool, pure, and ancient quality.
The light instantly coalesced, not into a common beast shape, but into the silhouette of a huge and elegant raven. Its entire body was composed of condensed, almost tangible silver light, with star-like specks of light flowing along the edges of its wings.
The moment the silver raven appeared, its wings suddenly spread wide, almost filling the corridor space at the entrance to the private room. Instead of flying forward, it enveloped the Dementor in an almost embracing embrace!
A burst of silver light!
The Dementors seemed to be ice blocks thrown into a furnace, emitting an unprecedented, sharp, and piercing howl—a sound mixed with pain and fear, far exceeding their usual whimpers.
Its form, composed of darkness and despair, twisted and churned violently in the pure power of the guardian, becoming thin and unstable, as if it might collapse at any moment.
No longer caring about its greed, it abruptly shrank back, its tattered cloak covering its damaged body, and with an almost fleeing speed, shrieked as it disappeared into the shadows of the carriage behind it, fleeing in panic.
After eliminating the immediate threat, the Silver Raven gracefully changed direction, transforming into an unstoppable silver torrent that roared away along the corridor of the latter half of the train.
Wherever it passed, darkness receded, and the chilling, despairing atmosphere was completely dispelled. The Dementors hidden everywhere, under the pressure of the silver light, let out terrified howls and scrambled to escape the carriage, disappearing into the night outside the window.
A wolf and a crow, two guardians with vastly different styles yet equally powerful, surged toward the front and back of the train like two unstoppable silver tides.
As the Dementors departed, the temperature inside the carriage quickly rose, the lights came on one by one, and the screams and commotion in the distance gradually subsided, replaced by a sense of relief after the ordeal.
Moments later, the silver wolf and the silver raven completed their missions almost simultaneously, disappearing into the light at either end of the train.
Inside the box, only the lights that had been turned on again, the gradually warming air, the unconscious Harry, the still-shaken Ron and Hermione, and the two professors who had just joined forces to dispel the darkness remained.
Lupin watched as Lynch withdrew his hand, the enormous silver raven vanishing. He took a deep breath, trying to calm the shock in his heart—not only because of the powerful Patronus Lynch had displayed, which required no wand and had a unique form, but also because of the incredible, absolute defense Lynch had just displayed against the Dementors.
"Lin Qi—" Lupin began, his voice still slightly hoarse from tension.
He knew, of course, that Lynch was now a professor at Hogwarts. Given his special circumstances, Professor Dumbledore had given him a detailed list of professors when he was recruited, including names he was familiar with and warnings about things to be careful about. Among these warnings was one about Lynch: Professor Lynch is a good man, but you should be careful when dealing with him.
This is a very interesting statement, as it contains both trust and vigilance.
After what happened at King's Cross Station today and what just occurred in the box, Lupin felt he was starting to understand Dumbledore's meaning a little better—a mysterious and powerful wizard—which usually meant danger in the wizarding world.
However, he still used this more personal title, which carries some memories of the past, rather than a purely official title.
They were classmates, though in different years, but because of Lily and the raiders, they knew each other. Although they were never close, they were still friends who could exchange a few words: "You————"
Lupin wanted to ask Lynch about his sudden appearance in the carriage and his ability to ignore the Dementors' absorption, but he hesitated, realizing it wasn't the right time, especially in front of the two frightened students.
Lynch turned around, and the dark light fell on Lupin's tired yet inquisitive face, as if it could see through his unresolved questions.
He nodded slightly, his tone calm, a warm smile on his face: "Professor Lupin... it's been a long time."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the unconscious Harry and the pale-faced Ron and Hermione, before continuing, "Do you know how to treat the wounded after a Dementor attack?"
Lupin nodded: "Of course, hot water and chocolate will do."
"Very good," Lynch said. "Then, you're in charge of Harry. I need to go and calm the other students down; the train needs to be back in order as soon as possible."
"no problem."
Lupin agreed, lifted Harry onto a chair and laid him down, then turned and took out several large pieces of chocolate from his worn-out suitcase, preparing to break them up and share them with Ron and Hermione.
Lin Qi said no more, turned around, pushed open the compartment door, and stepped into the train corridor, which had been brightened but was still filled with panic and whispers.
He could hear suppressed sobs, lingering whispers, and the clamor of prefects trying to maintain order coming from various boxes.
Lin Qi did not go to any specific private room, but simply stopped in the middle of the corridor, his slender figure casting a steady shadow under the lights.
He placed two fingers of his right hand on his neck, then took a deep breath. Immediately, a clear, steady voice, as if it were right next to everyone's ears, spread throughout every corner of the train with the help of magic: "Dear students, please remain calm."
The sound wasn't loud, but it possessed a strange penetrating power and a calming force, instantly overwhelming all the noise.
"I am Professor Lynch of the Magic Studies class."
As it turns out, Lynch's reputation was quite useful.
In the corridors and private rooms, many panicked faces immediately showed signs of relief. They had great confidence in Lin Qi, who could be considered the most renowned professor at Hogwarts. The whispers noticeably subsided, and everyone subconsciously pricked up their ears.
"The train just encountered a small number of Dementors for a temporary inspection." Lynch's tone was as calm as stating a fact, downplaying the terrifying attack as a "temporary inspection," which greatly reduced the students' psychological pressure. "They have now been driven away by Professor Lupin and me. The train will soon restart and continue to Hogwarts."
He paused briefly: "If you feel cold or unusually down, please stay with your companions as much as possible. Class leaders, please help comfort your classmates. The student council president will coordinate everything. Chocolate and hot drinks can help relieve discomfort; if you have any with you, please share them with those around you."
"Stay calm, help each other, just as your college has always taught you."
His words were clear and concise, providing both an explanation of the situation and a method of reassurance, effectively guiding the chaotic situation toward order.
Having said all that, he said no more, and the "loud voice" spell that had enveloped the entire car dissipated.
But he didn't immediately return to Harry's box. Instead, he began to walk slowly down the corridor, his deep black eyes calmly scanning the box doors on both sides.
Although he did not speak again, his composed figure itself was a silent comfort.
Wherever they went, the students' restless emotions were noticeably calmed down.
As Lynch walked, he kept an eye out for any students who seemed seriously unwell and needed urgent help. At the same time, he quickly assessed the impact of this sudden event in his mind, and—how to communicate this matter with Dumbledore.
Harry gradually regained consciousness in a warm, drowsy state.
The train's regular clattering sound filled my ears, and the rough texture of the seat beneath me was soothing.
He struggled to open his heavy eyelids, and his blurry vision gradually cleared. He found himself lying on a seat in the compartment, covered by a slightly worn but clean travel cloak.
He struggled to sit up, and a slight dizziness washed over him.
"Slow down, Harry," Hermione's concerned voice rang in his ears.
Harry turned around at the sound and saw Hermione sitting beside him, looking at him with concern, holding a large, broken piece of chocolate in her hand.
But to Harry's even greater surprise, Uncle Lynch was sitting calmly in the seat opposite him.
He was still wearing that sharp gray suit, his demeanor composed, as if he was meant to be on that speeding train.
He was talking to the professor named Lupin, who had been sleeping, when he heard Harry's movement. He turned around, his dark eyes falling on Harry with a hint of concern.
"Uncle Lynch? You—what are you doing here?" Harry asked in surprise, rubbing his still slightly stinging forehead.
His last memories were of the bone-chilling cold, the woman's screams, and the faint vibrations from his fingertips as he frantically pressed the badge.
"I happened to be taking care of some things nearby when I sensed something was off with the train, so I came to check it out," Lin Qi explained casually. He didn't mention the badge or the apparition that had appeared so suddenly, his tone as natural as if it were truly a coincidence.
But everyone in the carriage knew that it was no coincidence; Lynch's appearance must be related to Harry.
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