The train slowly decelerated, the 'clack-clack' of the wheels on the tracks gradually dwindling, transforming from a clear rhythm into a low moan, eventually becoming as faint as a wisp of smoke, almost inaudible.
The ink-black night had long swallowed the world, a fierce wind howled like a beast across the wilderness, and torrential rain poured down like a waterfall, churning the entire world into a blurry chaos.
On the roof of the carriage, five Dementors, like shadows, enveloped Carl, their cloaked bodies subtly rising and falling, brewing deadly killing intent.
They sensed that pure joy, greed surging in their cold consciousness—this sweet aura, they had never encountered such a tempting prey!
The joy in this little Wizard's heart was so abundant that even as they approached, that emotion not only didn't dissipate but grew even stronger.
A pale, corpse-like hand slowly extended from beneath a cloak, its skin emitting an eerie sheen, covered in mottled mildew spots, as if freshly pulled from a putrid swamp, carrying a sickening stickiness.
"Meow…meow…"
The Dementors' heavy breathing rapidly approached, and Carl felt the surrounding light and warmth being frantically drained away.
A bone-chilling cold seeped through his pores into his marrow, as if to freeze his blood into ice.
"Are you going to make a move?"
Carl's tone was full of anticipation, "Then I won't be polite, alright? You've sucked away my joy, so you should return something to me, shouldn't you?"
Before he finished speaking, terrifying shadows suddenly erupted around him, and countless crows flew out from the shadows.
Carl's figure twisted and deformed within the flock of crows, transforming into a bizarre and struggling evil monster.
"Ah~ Fiddlesticks~ It's just a story~ But I'm real, you know!"
The Dementors were startled by this sudden change; in their perception, that delicious joy had vanished.
In its place was a tremor from the depths of their souls?
Fear? They actually felt fear?
Sensing the deadly danger, the five Dementors immediately followed their instincts, trying to flee from Carl in terror, but it was already too late.
"Crowstorm!"
Amidst Carl's peculiar laughter, countless dark crows spiraled and converged around him, forming a massive, rapidly rotating vortex that firmly trapped the Dementors attempting to escape.
"Five-Bone Feast!"
He opened his grotesque, gaping maw, greedily drawing in the Dementors' souls.
"Meow—Meow Meow—"
The Dementors struggled frantically in the storm, but were powerless to break free from this ancient terror, ultimately turning into specks of ash in despair, then completely vanishing in the storm of wind and rain.
"Ha! Pentakill! The Scarecrow took them all, no one gets away, except me~"
The Dementors, capable of absorbing souls, never imagined that one day their own souls would be devoured.
"Burp~ Tastes good~"
Carl patted his belly contentedly, feeling as if he had drunk a bottle of ice-cold soda on a scorching summer day, so refreshing he almost felt like flying.
"These Dementors are good stuff! They should be carefully protected!"
"I just don't know how they reproduce. It would be great if they could be farmed."
Looking at the other Dementors entering the Hogwarts Express, Carl licked his lips, deciding to let them live for now.
After all, Dementors were nominally Azkaban guards employed by the Ministry of Magic. If the Aurors discovered their colleagues had been eaten, it might not look good, and if he scared the Dementors away, it would be inconvenient to catch them later.
Carl remembered that Dementors would be guarding near Hogwarts this semester, so he could secretly catch a few to satisfy his craving then.
Hmm! Just thinking about it makes him happy!
"Time to go~ Lest Cat Mom worry~"
The form of the Ancient Terror instantly receded, and Carl transformed into a nimble Cougar, sprinting quickly towards the rear of the train, treading on the metal roof of the carriage.
With a 'clank', the Hogwarts Express came to a halt with a jolt.
Just as the little Wizards poked their heads out of their compartments curiously to observe, all the lights went out, and the train plunged into darkness.
"What's going on?"
"I don't know!"
"Is the train broken?"
"It looks like something is flying outside? Maybe someone is rushing for the train!"
Harry, Hermione, and Ron were discussing in low voices when a soft white light suddenly shone in the darkness.
"Please keep quiet, children."
Professor Lupin stood up, his tired eyes full of vigilance, "Professor McGonagall, something is wrong. The Ministry of Magic actually sent those monsters."
"I've already seen them."
Professor McGonagall's voice carried suppressed anger, her face terrifyingly serious, "Have the people at the Ministry of Magic fed their brains to Trolls? How dare they put Dementors on a train full of little Wizards!"
She returned Crookshanks to Hermione, then directly pulled out her wand, "Professor Lupin, please take care of them here. I'm going to check on the other students and look for Carl."
"Alright! Please rest assured!"
Lupin agreed in a hoarse voice. Although he should have gone with Professor McGonagall, his Patronus…
Before Professor McGonagall could reach the door, the compartment door was opened.
Accompanied by bone-chilling cold, a tall, cloaked figure appeared at the doorway.
"You are not welcome here!"
Professor McGonagall raised her wand, and a silvery-white light immediately illuminated the entire dark compartment.
Harry, Hermione, and Ron saw the monster's terrifying appearance in that instant, but before they could even gasp, the Dementor was blasted away.
A silvery-white Cat appeared in the light, driving the Dementor out of the carriage.
"Wow! Minerva, you're so cool!"
The familiar voice carried a hint of smugness and a clumsy attempt at flattery, making Professor McGonagall's lips curve into a slight smile.
Of course! Your mother is definitely—wait!
Professor McGonagall suddenly turned around and found the Kitten climbing into the compartment from the train window.
"Why were you outside?"
Cat Mom felt her blood pressure rising; the train had still been moving just now!
"Thanks!"
After thanking Harry and Ron for their help, Carl hurriedly jumped to Cat Mom's side.
"It's all Fire Treasure's fault for saying there were monsters outside, so I went to look."
Fire Treasure: (⊙_⊙)
Why am I always the one getting blamed?
"You!"
Professor McGonagall took a deep breath. Now was not the time to pursue it, and there were outsiders present. She would discipline this Kitten after they got home.
It's raining anyway! She had nothing else to do!
"Stay here obediently! I'm going to check on the others; those Dementors are too dangerous!"
Carl scratched his head, "It's too tiring to check on them one by one! Let me help you!"
"How will you help?"
Under Cat Mom's gaze, Carl raised his wand, "Expecto Patronum!"
A dazzling silvery-white light exploded like dawn, instantly dispelling the surrounding darkness and illuminating the entire compartment as if it were daytime.
In the light, a group of round, fluffy white little creatures appeared out of thin air; they were adorable Poros.
Professor McGonagall: (⊙o⊙)
She knew her Kitten was a well-behaved and kind child; the monster transformation earlier must have been an accident. Look, even his Patronus is so cute. What kind of animal is this?
Never mind, this child himself is very magical, so it's normal for his Patronus to be different from others.
"Poro, to war! Leave no blade of grass standing!"
"All units, attack! Charge for me! Drive away the Dementors! Protect the little Wizards!"
Under Carl's command, the Poros grunted and stuck out their tongues, rushing en masse into the corridor.
Charge, charge, charge—
Professor McGonagall, Lupin: (⊙o⊙)
Why are there so many Patronuses?
Looking at the brilliant silvery-white light at the tip of the wand and the constantly materializing Poros, both Professors were stunned.
Especially Cat Mom; although her Patronus could also split, it was essentially only one.
But why did it feel like every Poro on Carl's side was an independent entity?
Professor McGonagall gently patted Carl's head, "How did you do that?"
"Shout louder!"
"I mean, why so many?"
"Because my joy is endless!"
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