A cold wind suddenly blew through the scorching summer, making the guests who had been enjoying the revelry in the large tent shiver. Harry, already sensing that something was wrong, pulled out his wand and tried to summon a Patronus before the Dementors descended in force, but Albert raised a hand beside him and pressed his wand down.
"Go join the others first," Albert told the three of them. "Whether you plan to stay and fight alongside everyone else or leave before the Death Eaters arrive."
"What about you?" Hermione asked nervously.
"I need to stay. Only if I stay will they feel confident enough to fight."
"Come on, Hermione!"
Harry understood perfectly well what Albert meant. He actually envied him and wanted to become someone like Dumbledore—someone who could calm people's hearts and give them confidence.
Unfortunately, Harry's magical ability did not allow him to do something that foolish.
Watching the three of them leave, Albert turned his gaze forward again. His eyes seemed to pierce through the darkness ahead, seeing the Dementors surging toward them.
Though the Protective Magic around the perimeter was not particularly sophisticated, it was still doing its job. It temporarily held back the Dementors and kept those damned Dark Creatures from rushing straight in.
Of course, that Protective Magic would only make the Death Eaters put in a little more effort. Still, delaying them even slightly was better than letting the Death Eaters and Dementors charge straight at everyone before they could react.
As shrill alarms rang out around him, Albert looked up at the shadow sweeping overhead. Feeling the cold rushing toward him, he raised his wand at the Dementor gliding toward him. A pale orb of light gathered at the tip of his wand and sent the foolish Dementor lunging at him