Beaten by Dementors

After confirming Professor Lupin wouldn't wake up, the four exchanged information about Sirius. Harry couldn't help but sigh, "I really don't look for trouble, but why does trouble always find me?"

They chatted the whole way, and Professor Lupin slept the whole way. He was sleeping so soundly that Ron couldn't help but want to check his breathing.

It was already dark outside. The four could feel the train slowing down. Ron put down his licorice "We're finally here. I'm starving."

"No, the timing is wrong."

"Then why did we stop?"

The train shook violently and then came to a complete halt. All the lights went out, plunging everyone on board into darkness.

Harry looked outside. He felt the temperature dropping. Using the faint light from outside, he saw a tall figure in a cloak floating over. The hand revealed beneath the cloak was grey and white, shining with an eerie light. It was covered in slime and spots, like a bloated corpse that had been left in the water.

"Harry! Come closer, away from the door. Ron, you too!" Bing Huan sensed an extreme malice, he didn't know how strong it was, but it was pure.

This monster was definitely not human. At least Bing Huan had never seen a human whose entire being was driven by the instinct to do evil. Harry was still a step too slow. The monster approached him and took a deep breath.

Instantly, an bone-chilling cold swept over them, and frost formed on the windows. Harry, closest to the monster, felt the cold penetrate every inch of his body.

He felt like he was sinking into a deep pool, constantly being pulled towards the bottom of the lake. He could hear screams and pleas for mercy from far away, like the suffering of his life before he was eleven at the Dursleys', but a hundred times worse.

As for the others, they only saw the monster take a breath near Harry. Harry immediately rolled his eyes and trembled all over, white mist-like substances constantly being sucked out of him and into the monster's body.

"Dragon Flame!" Bing Huan immediately drew Crimson Trail and slashed down. The blade passed through the monster without resistance. If he hadn't pulled back in time, he might have damaged the train carriage.

"No physical form? A ghost?"

Without time to think, Bing Huan took out all the talismans he had that could restrain ghosts, but they were all useless. He forced himself to calm down. The monster in front of him was clearly a special kind of evil spirit, and it might require a specific method to work.

The methods he hadn't used yet were Lightning Magic, but he hadn't cultivated Righteousness, so its restraining effect wouldn't be strong. He needed to use a powerful attack, but the carriage was too narrow, and he would only end up hurting his own people. That left only... Life-shortening Summoning.

Bing Huan glanced at Harry, whose face was growing paler. There was no time to hesitate. He bit his thumb and formed a hand seal.

"I respectfully summon Taiyi Lord of Tang Palace, Lotus Platform Mars Step Black Wheel, wielding the Demon-Subduing Seven-Star Sword to sever the hundred ghosts and spirits of the underworld... This disciple wholeheartedly prays for Marshal of Tang Palace to descend. Divine Soldier, Urgent as the Law."

Just as Bing Huan was about to press down, his hand was caught.

"Calm down, child."

Professor Lupin had woken up at some point. He spoke in a hoarse voice, his wand pointed directly at the monster.

"Expectopatronus!"

A silver-white light emanated from the tip of his wand. As soon as the monster saw it, it fled. Harry stopped trembling, and the temperature in the carriage returned to normal.

They helped Harry to a seat. He soon woke up, and Professor Lupin gave everyone a piece of chocolate.

"Eat this, it will help."

"What was that?" Bing Huan suddenly felt a sense of urgency. He realized he still had significant weaknesses. He was completely helpless against this special kind of monster.

"Dementors. Dementors from Azkaban."

"I just felt..." Ron shivered, recalling the feeling. "Like I would never be happy again."

Hermione hugged Ginny, who was terrified.

Bing Huan: "I'm going to get some air."

He went out onto the platform outside the train. Bing Huan finally couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of blood. He gripped the railing tightly, his mind filled with the image of himself being utterly useless against the Dementor in the carriage just now.

A small pair of hands from behind grasped the railing, which the culprit had deformed. "Are you okay, Huan?"

Bing Huan took a deep breath, trying hard to calm himself. "I'm fine. The summoning ritual was interrupted, so my lifespan is saved, but I still have internal injuries. It's not serious though, I'll be fine in a few days. I'm just angry that I'm so useless."

Hermione shook her head. "No, if Dementors were that easy to deal with, they wouldn't be the guards of Azkaban. The one who is truly useless is me. I could only watch as you and Harry were harmed. Call me selfish, but please don't use that again in the future. I'm scared."

"...I promise. I won't use it unless it's absolutely the last resort."

The train began to move again. Bing Huan thought of Professor Lupin's spell.

"Min, do you remember the spell that drove away the Dementor?"

"I think it's Expectopatronus."

The two took out their wands and began practicing. They were already within Hogwarts' territory, so they didn't have to worry about being discovered by the Ministry of Magic. However, no matter how they corrected their pronunciation, their wands remained unresponsive.

"The Patronus Charm isn't a spell that can be cast with just the right incantation and magic," Professor Lupin's voice came from the carriage doorway.

"Professor."

Lupin patted Bing Huan's shoulder. "Until I recover my strength, I'll have to trouble you."

Bing Huan shook his head. "You jest, Professor. I'm useless."

"You're not a child who can do nothing. I'm afraid I couldn't withstand even one of your three moves." As he spoke, he took out another piece of chocolate. "Even if you didn't cast that last spell, it still had a price, didn't it? Eat this to regain your strength."

"Thank you."

"Professor," Hermione asked from the side, "the spell you used to drive away the Dementor?"

"Oh, that. The Patronus Charm is very different from other spells in two ways. Other spells are more like causing a phenomenon, while the Patronus Charm is more like a summoning."

"Summoning?"

"Yes, summon a Patronus. It's the Dementor's bane. It waits like a guardian between you and the Dementor, making you unable to be harmed by it."

"Why can a Patronus counter Dementors?"

"That's the second difference. A Patronus is a positive force. The desire for happiness and survival. Dementors feed on exactly these things; they make people feel pain and then suck away their joy. But a Patronus doesn't feel despair like a real person. So, the Dementor will be helpless against it.

Let's hope so. When casting the spell, you must concentrate all your thoughts on happy memories for it to be effective. This is still difficult for you all. Many very powerful Wizards may not be able to master the Patronus Charm."

"What will the Patronus look like?"

Professor Lupin, who had walked to the door, turned back and smiled. "It depends on your heart. Don't rush. We'll be at Hogwarts soon, go back now."

"Expectopatronus"

Lupin turned back sharply. Bing Huan scratched his head sheepishly. "Still didn't succeed. Sorry to make you laugh, Professor." Except for Lupin, no one noticed the faint silver light at the tip of the young man's wand.