75 Dementor
The Hogwarts Express train continued to head north steadily.
The scenery outside the window grew more captivating as the sky darkened and clouds thickened above them.
People kept walking back and forth outside their compartment door, but it had no effect on the inside.
Astoria was still sharing her experiences in Eastern France:
"The weather there is much better than in England, and the sun is warm. Although I suspect I've gotten a little tan."
"French food is delicious. They don't like fish very much, but their oysters, foie gras, and mussels are excellent. I'll have trouble readjusting to English food after returning home."
"I bought this dress while passing through Paris..."
Jon listened with a smile, occasionally interjecting a few words.
At one o'clock, the food trolley arrived at their compartment door.
Jon purchased a tray of scones, while Astoria opted for dried fruits, vegetables, and pumpkin juice.
"I need to lose some weight!" she exclaimed with an annoyed expression. "I gained a few pounds during summer vacation..."
"I think you're worrying too much!" Jon said as he handed her a large tray of scones. "I'm so full, be careful not to stunt your growth..."
In the afternoon, it began to rain, and the rolling hills outside the window became blurred.
"I dislike rainy days like this!" Astoria complained, looking drowsy.
"No one enjoys this kind of weather," Jon agreed, feeling the same way.
Touching his wand in his cloak, Jon anticipated the appearance of the Dementor, assuming the original plot hadn't changed.
Astoria took out a three-sided mirror from her suitcase and loosened her new ponytail in front of it.
Her golden hair cascaded down as she leaned back in her seat, closing her eyes to rest. She murmured, "Jon, I'm so sleepy..."
Jon didn't respond immediately as he noticed the train slowing down. The sound of the wheels decreased, and the wind and rain outside grew louder.
Suddenly, the train shook and came to a halt. The sound of luggage falling from the racks could be heard in the distance.
Then, all the lights went out, plunging them into total darkness.
"What's happening?" Astoria asked anxiously, standing up.
"Don't panic!" Jon reassured her, conjuring a bright light from his hand with a spell. The light illuminated Astoria's worried face. "Are you alright?"
"I'm okay," Astoria nodded, glancing curiously at the light source in Jon's hand. "What kind of magic is this? Lumos? Lumos isn't taught until third-year spell class. Have you taken extra lessons?"
"No," Jon shook his head. "This is just a simple flashlight."
Though the flashlight wouldn't be much help against a werewolf, it could still illuminate the dark train.
Jon gestured for Astoria to stay still, then pocketed the flashlight, opened the compartment door, and surveyed the corridor.
People emerged from every compartment along the corridor to investigate the situation.
A squeaky, short, harsh sound came from outside the window.
Jon closed the compartment door and directed the flashlight towards the window. Astoria wiped a clean area on the window glass with her handkerchief and peered out. "There's movement outside. It appears to be moving towards the train. Floating."
Jon hurried over and observed the dark shadows through the window.
"Don't be nervous!" He placed a hand on Astoria's shoulder and spoke calmly. "It's going to be alright."
Astoria nodded, dumbfounded, and moved closer to Jon as she felt a chill in the air.
...
Jon held the flashlight in his left hand and drew his magic wand with his right.
He could sense Astoria trembling beside him, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
Suddenly, the compartment door swung open, and a cloaked figure, towering to the ceiling, floated in.
"Astoria, I feel so cold..." Astoria hugged Jon tightly from behind, her body trembling once again.
The monster's face was completely obscured under the hood, and a hand emerged from the cloak. The hand was a ghastly gray, extremely thin with scabs, resembling the arm of a deceased person soaked in water for months and beginning to decay.
"A Dementor!" Jon exclaimed, even though he had been prepared, a chill still ran through his body.
He began to recall the Defense Against the Dark Arts exam from a few months ago, with two Albus Dumbledores appearing before him.
"Clear your mind!" he whispered, the softest voice only audible to himself.
Instantly, all the images in Jon's mind vanished, and his awareness returned to the compartment.
In just a second or two, the Dementor had drifted to a position merely a few yards away from him.
Astoria had lost consciousness behind him, and he could only feel her faint breaths.
The bright light from the flashlight illuminated the face beneath the Dementor's cloak—it had no facial features, only a horrifying, abyss-like hole where its mouth should have been...
That grotesque face seemed to glance at Jon, and then quickly turned away, appearing somewhat disgusted. The bottomless hole shifted its focus to Astoria behind Jon.
It seemed to be sucking something, and a wisp of white mist began to flow towards its mouth...
"Expecto Patronum!" Jon shouted without hesitation.
Silver strands emerged from the tip of his wand, intertwining to form a mass of gas. Then, a hazy cloud of silver aura hovered in front of Jon and Astoria.
Jon didn't dare to summon his true Patronus, as he couldn't control the panda at all. If his magical power went out of control again, it could potentially cause an explosion on the train, and they would have to make their way to Hogwarts on foot.
The silver aura served as a barrier between them and the Dementor.
However, to Jon's surprise, the Dementor didn't leave the compartment.
It continued to advance, though its speed had significantly slowed, its attention fixed on the unconscious Astoria.
Although Jon was somewhat afraid of his "false Patronus," it appeared that the girl seemed more enticing to the Dementor...
The turbid silver aura began to weaken gradually.
The horror of the Dementor surpassed Jon's expectations...
He took a deep breath and began to recall a truly "happy" memory—
"Death is but the next great adventure..."
"Expecto Patronum!" a commanding voice resonated from outside the compartment.
A real Patronus soared into the compartment, positioning itself between Jon, Astoria, and the Dementor...
The Dementor quickly retreated and drifted farther away.
Dementors on the train!
