The moment the three Dementors burst out of the box, they instinctively recoiled from Charlie.
Even though Charlie hadn't cast the Patronus Charm, the three Dementors veered in the air as if they had seen something terrifying.
Driven by hunger, they turned their tattered bodies slowly towards Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
"Run!"
Ron squeezed out a single word, and the three of them turned and fled.
The Dementors floated silently in mid-air, pursuing them. The surrounding temperature plummeted, and frost spread across the ground.
Charlie stood still, then the shoulder blades on his back, along with his clothes, gradually elongated, transforming into a pair of enormous red wings.
The wing membranes glowed with a dark luster under the moonlight, their framework thick and their edges sharp as blades.
This was his Animagus partial transformation.
As his wings spread, they kicked up a gust of wind, and Norbert roared excitedly in the distance.
Charlie's feet left the ground, and with a flap of his wings, he soared into the air.
He hovered above the Dementors, looking down at the three people desperately fleeing below.
"Just running won't help," Charlie's voice came from above.
"You need to learn the Patronus Charm, otherwise... you'll die."
["The foolish monarch is not acting human, scaring the young page, tyrant points + 5"]
Ron looked back and nearly tripped over a stone on the ground.
"Charlie, are you crazy!"
Hermione gritted her teeth and abruptly stopped. She turned around, raising her wand.
"Expecto Patronum!"
Silver mist surged from her wand tip, forming a thin film in front of her. The Dementors charged, crashing into the film with an ear-splitting shriek.
Ron and Harry also stopped, each raising their wands.
"Expecto Patronum!"
"Expecto Patronum!"
Three streams of silver mist connected, barely holding back the Dementors' attack.
The Dementors circled outside the film, repeatedly assaulting the defense.
Each impact made the film vibrate violently, and the trio's arms trembled along with it.
The surrounding temperature dropped lower and lower. Harry could see his own breath, and his fingers were numb with cold.
Memories he wished to forget began to surface in his mind—his mother's scream, the green light, and the tall black shadow.
Charlie continued to circle in the air.
Judy was perched on his head, peeking down before shrinking back, finding it too brutal to watch.
Hermione gritted her teeth: "Can you please, take these things back—"
"No," Charlie's tone was calm.
"Only true danger can make you unleash your potential."
Normally, the Dementors' proximity would make people unable to recall any happiness, but Hermione and the others' combined Patronus Charm temporarily held them back.
A thin, wavering silver mist formed a barrier in front of the three, but it was enough to keep the Dementors from getting close.
Hermione gritted her teeth, sweat already beading on her forehead. She could feel her stamina slowly draining, like she was running a long race.
"This won't do," Hermione took a deep breath.
"Harry, you stop first, Ron and I will cast the Spell. We'll switch every few minutes; rotating rests will help us last longer."
Harry nodded, lowering his wand.
His Patronus disappeared, and the silver barrier immediately shrank. The Dementors sensed an opportunity and floated closer.
A cold sensation crept up Harry's spine, but it was still within a tolerable range; at least it wouldn't incapacitate him.
Ron's Spell proficiency wasn't high to begin with, and casting the Patronus Charm was very difficult for him now.
"Ron, concentrate!" Hermione shouted.
"I know! I'm already concentrating hard!"
But he still managed to persevere.
Five minutes later, Harry raised his wand again.
"Expecto Patronum!"
Silver mist surged out once more. Ron immediately put away his wand, gasping for breath, and collapsed onto the ground.
"I can't do it, I really can't."
"Is Charlie trying to kill us?"
"Shut up, save your strength," Hermione said through gritted teeth.
Another five minutes passed, and Ron stood up, taking Hermione's place.
This time, his Patronus Charm was noticeably stronger.
The silver mist was no longer so thin; it condensed into a mass in the air, still shapeless, but at least thicker than before.
Charlie watched this scene and nodded with satisfaction.
"Not bad, very quick progress," his voice came from above.
"You see, people can only unleash their greatest potential when facing life and death."
"Just hold on a little longer. Once you can summon a corporeal Patronus, I'll take them back."
"Corporeal Patronus?" Ron exclaimed.
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