Chapter 106: The Next Genius Seeker

The train kept driving further north; the rain became heavier; the scenery outside the window had gradually darkened, and the lanterns in the corridor and on the luggage rack flickered with silver-gray light. Now the train still made a rattling sound, the rain fell like hammers, and the wind roared.

It was getting colder in the room, the clanking sound of the train moving stopped, and the wind and rain outside the window sounded louder than usual.

Harry stood behind Lupin, looking nervously at the dim corridor; intuition told him this was not a good sign.

The train shook once and stopped, and the luggage in the distance made a banging sound. Then, without warning, all the lights went out together, and they instantly fell into complete darkness.

After a soft, crisp sound, the tip of Professor Lupin's wand began to glow, illuminating the entire compartment. It also illuminated a shadow that was slowly floating from outside the compartment toward here.

Lupin opened the door, and Harry saw that nauseating sight: a shadow in the shape of a cloak, with a face completely hidden under a headscarf. It stretched out a scabbed hand, looking like the color of gray mud, and also like a corpse soaked in water.

It only appeared for half a second. The person under the cloak seemed to feel Harry's gaze, and the hand suddenly retracted into the folds of the black cloak.

That thing was completely beyond common sense. No matter what it was, that long, fast-and-slow breathing sound seemed to want to suck up all the air around it.

A strong chill swept over them. Harry felt his breathing almost stop. Compared to his skin, the chill went deeper into his chest. Harry felt his eyes seem to roll back into his head, and his ears felt like they had water in them.

"Expecto Patronum." Lupin said softly, and a thick white mist emerged from the tip of his wand. The monster in the cloak was driven away. Harry recovered some consciousness, and a warm feeling spread from his fingertips.

"What was that?" Harry said with lingering fear.

"Dementors, the guards of Azkaban." Lupin said. "The Patronus Charm is the only spell that can repel them."

"Return to your own post, Black is not here!" Harry heard Johnny's voice. He noticed that the cloaked monster was standing in front of a compartment door not far away, and the same white mist of the Patronus Charm was coming out of that compartment.

"Are you teaching me how to do my job?" Johnny said angrily. "The train was checked by me personally. Now you can get out."

"Can Dementors communicate?" Harry asked. He felt Johnny shouldn't be talking to himself.

"Yes, some Aurors can communicate with them through magic." Lupin nodded. "But the intelligence of Dementors is not high, and they have no morality to speak of."

"Johnny seemed to have said that there would be guards at school." Luo En recalled the news he heard at dinner that day. "Could it be that these guys will appear at school?"

"It seems that's the case." Lupin said with some worry. "Perhaps I should also add the Patronus Charm to the teaching syllabus."

"Oh, Jin Ni." Luo En said. "I'm really worried about her; I want to go back to the compartment to see."

"Harry, you go back too. Oh, by the way, remember to eat some chocolate." Zhang Qiu handed over a particularly large chocolate bar. "Give everyone a piece."

Harry noticed that Zhang Qiu's mood was very stable; it seemed she was not affected at all, so he nodded and prepared to return to the original compartment with Luo En.

As soon as they went out, Harry was surprised to find a silver-white lion at the end of the corridor, but when he blinked and wanted to see it clearly, the lion disappeared again.

Returning to Jin Ni and Eve, Harry found that the two little girls were not too affected either, because Johnny happened to be in this compartment just now. There were some snack wrappers scattered on the table, and they were each eating Chocolate Frogs, looking like they didn't need to worry.

They discussed Dementors and the Patronus Charm. Jin Ni vividly described how Johnny had driven away the monster just now, and then Eve began to say how Johnny had teased them by moving his ears and juggling jelly beans. She also tried to throw a jelly bean high and catch it with her mouth, but it fell to the ground, and several jelly beans were already scattered on the ground.

Jin Ni, however, could always accurately catch the thrown jelly beans, whether with her mouth or hands. Harry tried it slightly; he felt this trick was indeed not difficult, much easier than catching a Snitch.

"Hey, Jin Ni!" Harry said happily. "I think you have quite a talent, do you want to try being a Seeker?"

"What?" Jin Ni looked a bit confused.

"Your dynamic vision and hand-eye coordination." Harry said. "It just so happens you are in second grade this year, why not come to the team for a trial? This way we can have two Seekers and can store some different tactics."

Jin Ni's ears turned red. Harry felt that this red ear tip was probably a genetic trait of the Wei Wei Silai family.

"Would you like it?" Jin Ni whispered. "Would it not be suitable for me?"

"Yes," Eve said on the side, "Would Quidditch be too intense for girls?"

"No no no, I think this might be very suitable for you." Harry said anxiously. "Our current tactical reserve is too thin. If we can have a more team-oriented Seeker, then we can take more leading points in an advantageous game."

"I can always find the Snitch very quickly now, but if I don't find the Snitch, I don't know what I should do at all." Harry encouraged her. "But you are different; your brothers have played in every position, and you can integrate well into the whole team."

"Alright, then I'll go and try." Jin Ni said with courage.

"Almost, Wood will be in seventh grade this year, I think I want to try out for Keeper." Luo En said. "I think he needs a successor."

"You still remember the scene in the Mirror, right?" Harry said with a smile. "Wei Wei Silai is our King?"

During the rest of the journey, Harry and Luo En talked happily about interesting things on the court, and the two little girls also showed yearning expressions. Finally, with a long whistle, the train stopped.

When the returning carriages passed the gate, Harry noticed that there were indeed two Dementors guarding the school's iron gate. He could only hope that Lupin would start teaching the Patronus Charm as soon as possible; this monster made him feel uncomfortable all over.

Before the banquet started, Deng Buliduo repeated this matter again. He said, "I hope no one will leave the school without permission. Dementors will not be fooled by any tricks or disguises, even if you have the Invisibility Cloak of the three brothers."

Harry was certain that this was Deng Buliduo's warning to him; perhaps Dementors did not lock onto criminals by sight.

"Now there is another happy piece of news," he continued, "This year I am very happy to welcome two new teachers to join our ranks."

"First is Professor Remus Lupin, who has agreed to serve as our Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."

In the sparse applause, Harry noticed that Snape's complexion was extremely ugly. It seemed there was a vague rumor that he really wanted to be the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, but when Donald took office last year, his mood was still considered stable. Looking at his expression now, Harry could only hope that the Wizarding World also had psychologists.

"And Professor Teddy Bean, he will serve as the Muggle Studies professor."

Harry noticed that since entering the school, the temperament of the elite Auror on Johnny had been completely swept away. He shook his head and made faces at the children, looking just like a child who hadn't grown up.

Worthy of being the Tiger of the Auror Office, this natural disguise made Harry admire him. He even felt that the ace Auror was his disguise, and this appearance was actually Dr. Bean's true nature.

"Actually, there are more than two new professors. Our old friend Rubeus Hagrid will replace the retired Professor Kettleburn and serve as the Care of Magical Creatures professor."

This time, starting from Gryffindor, the Great Hall was filled with applause. Crabbe and Goyle, who had to eat two chickens a week, shouted especially loudly. There was no child who didn't like the hospitable Hagrid, even Luo En, who had criticized his pets as too dangerous many times, was banging on the table and laughing loudly at this time.

"Very good, I think it's time to announce something very important," Deng Buliduo said: "And that is—the banquet begins!"

Suddenly the food in front of them was filled in the golden plates, and the goblets were filled with drinks. This was a delicious banquet; the Great Hall was filled with laughter and the echo of knives and forks clashing.

Harry was planning to find Hagrid to say a few words after eating. He knew how meaningful this was to Hagrid. From Dippet to Deng Buliduo, they all chose to use his spiders to take the blame for the Chamber of Secrets attacks, but today, he knew Hagrid was finally declared innocent.

Finally, when they ate the last bite of the pumpkin that almost melted the golden plate, Deng Buliduo told everyone that it was time to go to bed. Harry and Luo En passed the professors' table. They sincerely congratulated Hagrid, and Hagrid was also unusually excited, speaking incoherent words of thanks.

To restrain his emotions, he buried his face in a napkin, and Professor McGonagall had to hiss to drive them away.

Harry felt a bit tired when he walked up the marble staircase. He heard Percy shouting behind him, tirelessly telling every child who couldn't remember the password for the "Lucky Major Course." He really admired this official-obsessed person for having such energy.

Returning to the circular dormitory, looking at his soft big bed, the bookshelf full of novels, the jumping pot on the wardrobe, and his friendly roommates, Harry felt a sense of warmth of being home. ===== CHAPTER 107 =====