The Witcher: The Journey to Transcendence from Marvel...

Chapter 57 An Interlude on the Train

"The Ministry of Magic intends to allow Dementors to reside at Hogwarts." Dumbledore saw Wes about to turn and leave and quickly called out to stop him.

"Dementors, magical creatures considered extremely evil, feed on human happiness, memories, and souls. They are evil spirits from the abyss that devour the most beautiful things in people's hearts."

They are employed by the Ministry of Magic and stationed in Azkaban, responsible for guarding the souls of those condemned. Anyone who sets foot on the dark and terrifying land of Azkaban will be mercilessly tormented by these monsters.

Under the influence of Dementors, people gradually lose all happy and joyful memories, their minds are shrouded in darkness, and they fall into an endless abyss of despair.

Sirius's successful escape has further enraged these creatures. To the Dementors, Sirius's escape is not only an insult to their authority but also a provocation of their duties.

The Ministry of Magic's attitude was also perplexing. Faced with these enraged Dementors, the Ministry actually chose to compromise, which is truly unbelievable.

They agreed to let the Dementors leave Azkaban to hunt Sirius Black. This level of compromise raises serious questions about the wisdom of the Ministry of Magic's decision.

Dumbledore rattled off all the information he currently possessed in a rapid-fire manner.

Upon hearing this news, Wes, who had already reached the door, stopped in his tracks and sat back down in the soft armchair.

"Where did those officials go? The Ministry of Magic is utterly useless!"

Dumbledore leaned back in his chair, the wrinkles etched on his face by time now even deeper. He rubbed his temples, trying to relieve the fatigue from speaking so much in one breath; after all, he was getting old, and talking too much was tiring.

"They suspect Sirius's target is Harry, and that he might try to sneak into the school. Many parents are also worried about their children's safety."

"Heh..." Wes said expressionlessly, raising a hand and lightly tapping the armrest of his chair with his fingertips. "So they came up with this 'brilliant' idea? And what about the Aurors? Have they all disappeared?"

Dumbledore sighed softly. "God knows what Fudge is up to."

"However, I have firmly rejected the Dementors' request to move into Hogwarts."

"Fudge is furious and is becoming increasingly wary of me." As he said this, Dumbledore sat up, straightening his back, as if everything was under his control.

Ultimately, Dumbledore told Wes that he had reached a compromise with the Ministry of Magic.

"Dementors are not allowed to enter the Hogwarts campus, but they can patrol the surrounding area."

"Including Hogsmeade Village and the Hogwarts Express?"

Dumbledore nodded. "I'm worried the Dementors might be tempted to harm the students on the train."

Wes pondered for a moment, then said, "I understand." As a professor at Hogwarts, he had a duty to protect the students' safety.

Wes had taken the time during the previous school year to learn the Patronus Charm, and he wouldn't hold back if the Dementors dared to harm the students.

On the first day of school, under the blazing sun, Wes arrived at Hogsmeade Village.

However, unlike its usual bustling scene, the place was much quieter due to the arrival of the Dementors, and the once lively streets were now empty and silent.

Many shops had their doors tightly shut, and the "No Customers" signs swayed gently in the breeze, as if telling of the shop owners' unease.

There were very few pedestrians on the road, and everyone was in a hurry, unwilling to linger for even a second longer.

They wrapped their clothes tightly around themselves, heads down, hurrying past, afraid of being targeted by those terrifying Dementors. Even when they did talk, they kept their voices down, and quickly left after speaking.

The September sun still blazed down on the ground, but the Dementors hovering over Hogsmeade caused the temperature to plummet, as if autumn had arrived prematurely.

That coldness was not just a physical sensation, but a fear that rose from the depths of one's heart.

The Dementors roamed every corner of Hogsmeade, carefully searching for anyone or any place that might attract their attention.

These monsters have no concept of tolerance; their actions are brutal and direct. They approach pedestrians without warning, forcing people to show fear with their icy aura and terrifying figures.

For some reason, the monsters didn't seem to pay much attention to Wes, which allowed him to reach the train station without incident.

As darkness fell, the already gloomy sky seemed to be shrouded by an even thicker curtain.

Wes keenly sensed that the Dementors were becoming increasingly active, especially as the Hogwarts Express was about to arrive at the station, when that activity reached its peak.

The train, packed with students, was filled with laughter and joy. The children's innocent and carefree spirit echoed throughout the carriages, as they looked forward to the upcoming new semester.

However, this train was a delicious feast for the Dementors.

Sure enough, as the train pulled into the station, dozens of Dementors pounced on it like a pack of hungry wolves.

The train was forced to stop by the sudden attack, and the noise inside the train came to an abrupt halt, replaced by the terrified screams of children.

It appears that some staff members wanted to get out and negotiate with the Dementors, but were blocked in the cockpit by several Dementors and unable to get out.

Upon seeing this, Wes immediately used Apparition.

Not a single mistake, not a single poem, not a single post, not a single piece of content, not a single look!

His sudden appearance startled the driver and staff. Wes saw the driver, who was quite frightened, and went over to him, gently patting him on the shoulder in an attempt to calm him down.

"Don't worry, I'm a professor at Hogwarts. Leave the rest to me."

Upon hearing that Wes was a professor at Hogwarts, the driver immediately relaxed. He wiped the cold sweat from his brow and nodded repeatedly, "That's great! I certainly don't want to deal with these monsters."

Wes didn't give the Dementors a friendly look. He turned around and spoke to them.

"Get out of here, all of you!"

Wes's sudden appearance caused the Dementors in the cockpit to let out a piercing roar, a sound a hundred times more unpleasant than a sharp ice blade scraping against glass.

Those who heard the roar covered their heads and ears, their faces showing pain.

Seeing that the Dementors remained unmoved, Wes decided to teach them a lesson.

He extended his index finger, and a silvery-white light emerged from it, emitting a very bright glow.

The Dementors began to tremble under the light, and their originally terrifying figures appeared somewhat timid in the radiance.

The other Dementors quickly gathered around Wes, forming a tense standoff.

Just then, a man dressed in tattered clothes and with a haggard face squeezed through the crowd.

Seeing Wes confronting dozens of Dementors, he drew his wand, pointed it at the Dementors, and greeted Wes: "Hello, I'm Remus John Lupin, the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor this semester. What's going on?"

Although he looked somewhat down on his luck, he was in no way inferior in terms of presence.

Weiss nodded slightly and replied, "Hello, Professor Lupin. I stopped these dirty idiots from trying to search the train."

Hearing Wes say this, the Dementors became even more agitated, letting out sharp howls and gesturing as if they were about to attack.

Thank you all for your recommendations and monthly tickets! I'm currently working hard to update, and this is just a quick break from my work. Still hoping for more monthly tickets!

(End of this chapter)