Screech!!
A piercing screech of metal on metal rang out as the carriage jolted violently.
John was jolted awake.
“Are we there yet?” he asked, his eyes still bleary with sleep.
“I don’t think so.
There’s still a long way to go before we reach Hogwarts.” Neville spoke slowly, looking at the flickering lights overhead with a sense of foreboding.
With a loud bang, the train came to a sudden halt.
The massive jolt sent everyone swaying, and it took a moment for them to steady themselves.
The lights in the carriage went out completely, plunging the compartment into darkness.
Panicked voices began to drift in from the other compartments on both sides.
Even though this was John’s first time on the Hogwarts Express, he realized that this was definitely not normal.
“The train hasn’t broken down, has it?” John asked uncertainly.
“I hope so…” Neville replied uneasily.
If it was just a mechanical failure, that would actually be the best-case scenario.
After all, who knew if some monster might appear to attack the train in the wizarding world?
Luna exhaled a puff of warm air and noticed the temperature was dropping.
She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to stay warm.
Through the rain-streaked window, they could see the water droplets beginning to freeze into frost, covering the glass.
Seeing this, John took off his school robe and draped it over Luna.
Before she could thank him, he pulled open the compartment door and stepped out.
In the corridor outside, other students were also poking their heads out to investigate, but no one knew what was happening.
“Aaaaaah!!” Suddenly, a scream erupted from the carriage ahead, drawing everyone’s attention.
People in the other compartments seemed frightened and retreated back inside.
Hearing the scream for help, John instinctively dashed toward the carriage ahead.
Neither Neville nor Luna had time to stop him.
When John entered the next carriage, he was met with a terrifying sight.
A tall, black figure was floating in the corridor, and his body froze instantly.
It was draped in tattered black robes.
Its hunched form was reaching into a compartment.
Its face was hidden, leaving only two withered, oversized hands visible.
It looked exactly like a ghost or monster from a movie.
Although John was mentally prepared for the magical world, seeing such a creature for the first time — radiating an aura of ominous dread and chilling cold — left him momentarily paralyzed with fear.
The terrifying shadow, drawn by the earlier scream, reached out a hand, and the compartment door slid open on its own.
The screaming from inside the compartment grew more frantic.
“Aaaaaah!!
Don’t come any closer!!
Help!!” The scream snapped John back to his senses.
In a surge of adrenaline, he lunged forward.
“Stop right there!” With a thud, John tackled the terrifying shadow, attempting to knock it down and push it away.
However, the moment he made contact, a wave of intense cold washed over him.
It felt like passing through a piece of iced, tattered cloth.
There was no sense of solidity, only a bone-chilling cold where he touched it.
The tall shadow was not knocked down.
Instead, John tumbled to the floor.
However, this drew its attention to him, and it looked down at John.
Just then, two urgent voices called out from behind.
“It’s a Dementor!
John, run!” It was Neville and Luna.
They had followed right after seeing John rush toward the screams.
John was only a first-year who had not learned a single spell yet.
There was no way they could let him face it alone.
Neville’s heart sank when he saw the Dementor.
He had no idea how to deal with such a creature.
He could not understand why something like this was on the Hogwarts Express.
They were supposed to be far away in Azkaban guarding prisoners.
Wait, could Sirius Black be on the train?
The more he thought about it, the more Neville broke into a cold sweat.
But John was in the most immediate danger, as the Dementor had already drifted right in front of him.
John looked up at the Dementor.
Beneath its dark, hollow hood, a gaping abyss of a mouth opened.
In the next moment, he felt a weightless sensation as if his soul was being pulled away.
He felt as if he were being swallowed by an abyss.
His happy memories faded one by one, replaced by painful memories from his past life.
Like the time his infected toe hit a table leg, his shin slammed into a coffee table, or his finger got caught in a door — all memories of phantom pains…
The Dementor took a few breaths, felt the “flavor” was off, and stopped.
Neville and Luna almost thought they saw a look of confusion beneath the Dementor’s expressionless black hood.
Before anyone could react, a figure appeared at the other end of the carriage.
“Expecto Patronum!” A ripple of bright white light appeared, bathing both the Dementor and John.
John felt the bone-chilling cold melt away like spring snow.
A warm energy replaced the discomfort.
After being struck by the white energy, the Dementor let out a faint, low hiss and slipped out through the window.
That was the last Dementor.
As it left, the carriage lights flickered back on, and the biting cold began to recede.
John remained dazed for a moment after the Dementor left before his eyes refocused.
The newcomer was a sickly-looking middle-aged man wearing patched robes, his hair tinged with gray.
Despite his appearance, he was clean and tidy, giving off the vibe of a down-on-his-luck gentleman.
“How are you feeling, lad?
The taste of a Dementor’s kiss.” Seeing that John was mostly alright, the man crouched down and teased him lightly as he pulled a piece of chocolate from his robes.
“Eat this.
It will make you feel better.” John took the chocolate and thanked him.
“What was that… that Dementor thing?” John scrambled up and shook his head.
Recalling the scene just now, he could not help but ask curiously.
“They are the guards of Azkaban, and they are also Dark creatures.
They are here looking for Sirius Black, but sometimes they can’t distinguish between their prey and those in their way, so they end up hurting innocent people.” “Eat it.
It will make you feel better.” John nodded, only half-understanding, and ate the chocolate.
He felt a warmth spread through his body.
Neville and Luna approached.
Though he seemed fine, they were still worried.
“Um, thank you for coming to save me just now.” A chubby boy emerged from the compartment the Dementor had been targeting.
He thanked John while still looking visibly shaken.
Two girls followed behind him and also thanked John.
They had been terrified.
The middle-aged man looked at the three of them and then back at John.
He realized what had happened.
“So you weren’t even in this carriage?
You came to help after hearing the screams?” John nodded.
“While your actions were very brave and commendable, it wasn’t a wise choice.
Next time, you should find an adult to handle these things immediately.” The man lectured John with a serious expression.
If he had not arrived in time, the prolonged draining of soul and memories by a Dementor could cause permanent psychological damage or even be life-threatening.
“I understand.
Thank you for saving me.
By the way, are you a professor at Hogwarts?” John nodded obediently.
It had indeed been a bit reckless, but he simply could not stand by and do nothing when he heard someone crying for help.
Then he asked his savior curiously.
“You’re welcome.
I’m your new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor this year.
You can call me Professor Lupin.”