bacchusnovels Chapter 292 It was just an accident
Chapter 292 It was just an accident
Chapter 292 It was just an accident
"What—what is that?" Harry asked weakly, his voice filled with unease and fear.
"Dementors." Lupin's hoarse voice suddenly rang out from beside him, carrying a deep warning in his tone, "The Dementors of Azkaban, they suck people's happiness, leaving only fear and despair. What you just encountered was their power."
As he spoke, Lupin rummaged through his worn-out crossbody bag, pulled out a few chocolates, and handed them to Harry and the other students.
"Have some chocolate," Lupin said softly, his tone comforting. "It will help you recover and dispel the cold and fear brought by the Dementors."
Harry weakly took the chocolate. Although his hands were still trembling slightly, he took a small bite and immediately felt a warm sensation spreading through his chest, dispelling the lingering chill in his body.
The echoes of the screams began to fade slowly, still unsettling, but no longer as intense.
Hermione and Ron also accepted the chocolates Lupin offered and ate them carefully. The worry on Hermione's face gradually subsided; her hands stopped trembling, and her breathing became steady. Ron also regained some color, and his previously tense expression eased considerably.
"It was terrifying," Neville said, his voice louder than usual. "Did you feel how cold it was when it came in?"
"I feel weird," Ron said, shifting his shoulders uneasily, "like I can't be happy anymore..."
Ginny huddled in the corner, looking about as bad as Harry.
She let out a small sob, and Hermione went over and put her arm around her.
"But none of you fell off your seats?" Harry said awkwardly.
“No,” Ron said, looking at Harry with concern, “but Ginny is shaking like crazy—”
Just then, Lupin, who had crumpled the chocolate wrapper into a ball, suddenly turned to look at Sean.
"Professor Phillips, let's go talk to the driver."
After he finished speaking, he straightened his old cloak.
Sean nodded, his gaze deep, then stood up and replied, "Of course, Professor Lupin. I also think we need to figure out why the Dementors approached the train."
The two professors exchanged a knowing glance, then Sean turned to Hermione, Ron, and Harry and said, "The three of you stay here for now and remain calm. We'll find out what's going on as soon as possible."
Although Harry was still somewhat uneasy, he knew he had no choice but to follow instructions. He nodded slightly, and Hermione and Ron also expressed their understanding.
"Don't worry, we'll take good care of Harry," Hermione said firmly, though her voice was still trembling slightly, her eyes revealing determination.
Sean gave her a reassuring smile, then walked out of the compartment with Lupin. The atmosphere outside the carriage remained somewhat oppressive; raindrops pattered against the windows, making an unsettling sound. The two professors walked side by side in the narrow aisle, occasionally exchanging hushed conversations.
"Professor Phillips, do you think the appearance of these Dementors is merely a search for someone?" Lupin's voice carried a hint of doubt.
Sean frowned slightly, gazing out the car window at the dark, rainy night. After a moment of thought, he replied, "That possibility cannot be ruled out, but Dementors don't usually approach the Hogwarts Express without reason. Even when searching for criminals, their actions shouldn't be so arbitrary. Perhaps we need to consider another possibility—whether they are looking for something, or whether someone is guiding them."
Lupin nodded, his brow furrowing slightly. "Regardless, we must proceed with caution. The students of Hogwarts are now our responsibility; we must ensure their safety."
The two remained silent for a moment before continuing to walk towards the driver's cab at the front of the train.
As Sean and Lupin gradually disappeared into the aisle of the carriage, the compartment where the three little ones were located returned to silence.
The air was thick with lingering tension, as everyone seemed to still be processing what had just happened.
After a short while, Ron broke the silence.
His tone held a mixture of confusion and curiosity: "Just now, did anyone see Professor Phillips's Patronus clearly?"
Hermione frowned, trying to recall what had happened. "The light was too bright, I couldn't see clearly—but it looked like a very large animal, right?" she said, her brow furrowing slightly, clearly still trying to remember.
Harry had recovered somewhat from the fear he had just experienced, though he was still a little weak. He tried to recall the Patronus he had encountered in that instant. "I only remember the light was incredibly bright, instantly dispelling the chill from the Dementors," he shook his head. "But the shape—I really didn't get a good look at it."
Ron stroked his chin thoughtfully and said, "I didn't see it clearly either, but it looked very fierce, like a big cat—or maybe a wolf."
Hermione glanced at Ron warily and corrected him, "The shape of a Patronus is usually related to the caster's mind. It's not surprising that it's a fierce or feline; many powerful wizards have Patronus in animal form."
"But...this is different from Professor Phillips's Patronus in The Witcher 3, right?" Neville, sitting in the corner, suddenly asked weakly. "I remember, Professor Phillips's Patronus in The Witcher 3 was an eagle..."
Harry nodded thoughtfully. He didn't know much about the Patronus Charm, but he remembered hearing some things about Patronus before. Everyone's Patronus was unique, reflecting their deepest emotions and strengths.
Professor Phillips's Patronus was clearly very powerful; the ability to summon such a powerful force instantly in such an emergency was truly impressive.
"But whatever his guardian spirit is, it helped us a lot just now." Ron shrugged, trying to ease the tension, but his tone still carried a hint of awe.
"Yes, thank goodness he was there." Harry nodded in agreement, his heart filled with gratitude.
While the group was still discussing Dementors and Patronus, Sean and Lupin returned from the driver's cab at the front of the train.
"Professor Lupin," Neville suddenly asked as the two entered the cubicle, still somewhat uneasy, "why are there Dementors here? We're on the train to Hogwarts, not in prison."
Lupin nodded, his expression serious. "Security has been increased around Hogwarts because there have been some dangerous escapees recently, and they're worried one of them might approach the school. Azkaban sent Dementors to assist in the search. Unfortunately, they can't distinguish friend from foe."
His gaze swept over the students around him. "They won't let anyone off easily, especially those who have suffered great pain in their hearts."
Harry's heart raced slightly, as if he had realized the deeper meaning in Lupin's words.
He instinctively lowered his head, his mind filled with those lingering memories—the deaths of his parents, the appearance of Voldemort, and those screams—all seemed to echo in his ears, making it hard for him to breathe.
"Harry," Lupin gently interrupted his thoughts, handing him another chocolate, "Don't worry, you've been very strong. Dementors affect everyone differently; the important thing is that you know how to deal with them."
Although Harry didn't know why Lupin knew his name, it didn't stop him from being somewhat moved.
We have half an hour to go to Hogwarts.
For the next half hour, the cubicle was completely silent.
Ginny and Neville also returned to their respective cubicles to rest.
Finally, the train stopped at Hogsmeade Station, and everyone scrambled to prepare for the train, creating a chaotic scene.
The owl was hooting, the cat was meowing, and Neville's pet toad was croaking under his hat.
The small platform was chilled to the bone, and a torrential downpour was freezing cold.
As they were leaving the train, the students rushed toward the exit, but Hermione and Sean stayed behind, waiting for the crowd to disperse.
The cold wind blew in her face from outside the train, and Hermione's face flushed slightly. Although she tried to pretend to be calm, she couldn't erase what had just happened from her mind.
Sean glanced at her sideways, seemed to hesitate for a moment, then spoke in a low, gentle voice: "Hermione, about what happened earlier—"
Before she could finish speaking, Hermione's heart suddenly raced, and a deeper blush spread across her face.
She immediately interrupted Sean, her words hurried: "What just happened was just an accident, Professor!" she said almost urgently, afraid that Sean would overthink it, her heart filled with shame and embarrassment.
Her hands involuntarily tightened around the strap of her backpack, her gaze avoiding Sean's. She could only stare at the tips of her shoes, the image of falling into Sean's arms and kissing him in the darkness flashing through her mind. The touch of that moment, that overly intimate distance, made her face flush even more.
Sean chuckled softly, a gentle laugh that carried a sense of benevolent understanding.
He clearly noticed Hermione's embarrassment and had no intention of letting her remain in that awkward situation. "Of course, Hermione, it was just an accident. Don't worry about it." His tone was gentle, as if he was trying his best to lighten the mood.
Hermione secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but the heat on her face had not completely subsided.
She nodded slightly, secretly grateful for Sean's thoughtfulness.
Despite this, her shyness made her feel awkward and unsure of what to do with herself.
Hermione quietly moved a few steps away from Sean, trying to appear more natural, but the more she tried to calm down, the faster her heart beat.
Sean didn't say anything more; he simply turned slightly to the side and made a "please" gesture, indicating that Hermione should get out of the car first.
Hermione thanked her in a low voice and hurried down the steps, the awkwardness of that moment still lingering on her back.