The arrival of the vanguard broke the paralyzing spell of the alleyway.
Professor McGonagall didn't hesitate, even for a fraction of a second. She swept past Orion and dropped to her knees beside the unconscious Ravenclaw girl. She placed two fingers against the girl's neck, her sharp eyes scanning the pale features.
"Marietta Edgecombe," McGonagall identified her quickly, her voice tight with professional concern.
Behind her, Harry and Sirius rushed toward the still-frozen Hermione. Sirius knelt, gently shaking the Gryffindor girl's shoulder, his voice low and soothing as he tried to pull her out of the Dementor-induced shock.
Daphne Greengrass, bypassing the Gryffindors entirely, hurried straight to Orion.
"Are you alright?" Daphne demanded, her icy composure slightly ruffled by genuine worry. Her blue eyes scanned him for injuries.
"I am fine, Daphne," Orion nodded automatically, his voice steady.
Internally, however, Orion was furiously berating himself.
What the hell is wrong with my perception? Orion thought, staring at the spot where McGonagall's silver tabby cat had so effortlessly driven the monsters away. Why am I still not able to make it corporeal? A shield is functional, yes, but it is passive. It requires constant, draining maintenance. This is the bloody second time I have had to be rescued in a Dementor situation because I couldn't drive them back. The first time on the train was understandable; it was a new threat. The second time is unacceptable tactical failure.
Remus Lupin moved to the front of the group, his wand drawn and glowing faintly. He took up a defensive posture, his amber eyes scanning the dark, icy depths of the alleyway, ensuring the Dementors had truly retreated.
"Minerva," Lupin called back, keeping his eyes on the shadows. "What is her condition?"
"She is alive," McGonagall reported grimly, rising to her feet. "But severely weakened. She was very close to receiving the Kiss. We need to move her to the Hospital Wing immediately. How is Miss Granger?"
Sirius looked up from Hermione. "She is traumatized. Physically unharmed, but the mental shock is deep. She needs to be taken back as well." Sirius turned to his godson. "Harry, can you support her?"
Harry nodded quickly, slipping his arm around Hermione's waist and helping her to her feet. She leaned heavily against him, still shivering violently.
Orion looked at Daphne. "Daphne, assist Potter with Granger."
Daphne hesitated for a millisecond, her pureblood instincts rebelling against the idea of supporting a Muggle-born Gryffindor, but she quickly masked it, moving to Hermione's other side and taking her free arm. "Come on, Granger," she murmured softly.
Sirius stood up, rolling his shoulders. "I will carry the fallen girl," he announced, moving toward Marietta. He scooped the unconscious Ravenclaw into his arms with surprising ease, despite his own recent recovery.
"Let's go," McGonagall ordered, raising her wand to cast a wide, warming charm over the group.
"You guys go on ahead," Lupin interjected, taking a few steps further into the alley. "I will do a quick sweep of this immediate area and ensure there are no straggler Dementors lingering near the shops before joining you at the carriages."
McGonagall nodded sharply, trusting the former Marauder's competence.
Before she could turn away, Orion stepped forward.
"Professor," Orion asked, keeping his tone perfectly level despite the adrenaline still pulsing in his veins. "Have the other students left the village safely? My brother could still be out there."
Orion implicitly trusted his brother's self-preservation instincts—mostly because Draco's first reaction to danger was usually to run in the opposite direction—but he needed confirmation.
"The students are being actively evacuated to the carriages by the Auror trainees," McGonagall assured him. "I specifically remember seeing Draco Malfoy being practically dragged up the street by Mr. Crabbe and Mr. Goyle the moment the chaos begun, so he should be well on his way back to the castle."
Orion relaxed marginally. Good. Guess, I should take some time to find good enough Christmas gifts for those two bodyguards, once this mess is over.
"We should leave," McGonagall prompted.
"Actually, Professor," Orion said smoothly, shifting his stance. "I would like to stay with Professor Lupin. I want to talk with him about something, and I can assist in securing the perimeter."
McGonagall frowned deeply, clearly unhappy with the idea of a thirteen-year-old volunteering for Dementor sweeping duty. She looked at Orion, then at Lupin, weighing the boy's proven defensive capabilities against the inherent danger.
She decided not to argue. Time was of the essence for Marietta.
"Do not be reckless, you two," McGonagall warned sternly, turning to lead the group back toward the main street.
Orion couldn't resist a final, parting shot.
"I am not a Gryffindor, Professor," Orion smirked, his voice dripping with cool, aristocratic disdain, throwing a heavy shade at both her House and the several members and ex-members of said House that were present.
Daphne shook her head with a weary, knowing sigh as she supported Hermione, but she didn't comment.
The group hurried away, leaving Orion and Lupin alone in the freezing, shadowed alley.
Lupin lowered his wand slightly, turning to look at Orion with a mixture of amusement and exasperation.
"You really couldn't let them leave without an insult, could you?" Lupin chuckled softly.
"It maintains the natural order of the universe, Professor," Orion replied mildly.
"Right," Lupin sighed, turning back toward the deeper shadows of the village. "Follow me, Orion. We can talk as we walk."