Out-of-Control Dementors

"What?"

Hermione did not understand what Albert meant.

Holding up his Binoculars as he watched the sky, Albert said to the two of them, "They won't let an opportunity like this pass."

"They?"

Hermione looked up at the sky in confusion, still unable to figure out what Albert meant by "they." He always spoke so mysteriously that it was impossible to tell what he was getting at.

"Dementors." Even Isobel could not stand it anymore and explained for Albert.

"Dementors?" Hermione lowered her Binoculars and looked at Isobel in confusion. "But didn't Dumbledore forbid Dementors from entering the school?"

"Being forbidden from entering the school does not mean they cannot enter it. The Ministry of Magic's control over the Dementors is nowhere near as reliable as you think." Albert spoke meaningfully. "Especially when it comes to a group of starving Dementors."

"Did you know this would happen all along?" Isobel asked softly.

"This was inevitable." Albert shook his head. "There is a huge crowd around the Quidditch Pitch, which is an enormous temptation for Dementors. Not to mention that the place is filled with excitement and heightened emotions right now. To those starving Dementors, it is like a feast."

"But the Ministry of Magic should have..."

"The Ministry of Magic is already having trouble providing enough human sacrifices to satisfy the Dementors. Faced with such temptation, starving Dementors will definitely rush in without a care for the consequences. Even Dumbledore's verbal warning that they were not to enter the school will not work." Albert knew full well that to truly intimidate Dementors, one needed force, not verbal warnings.

The rain grew colder.

Faint, eerie black shadows could be seen in the flickering light and darkness of the sky. Just as Albert had expected, the Dementors nearby had all been drawn