The rain had turned the evening into a pitch-black shroud, with the surrounding environment enveloped in dense fog, as if the entire world had been veiled by a murky net.
The rain showed no sign of stopping, and the heavy fog lingered stubbornly, refusing to dissipate.
Suddenly, a gust of wind seemed to tear through the mist, creating a rift where the air currents swirled, gradually dispersing the fog in that area.
However, after a short while, the mist began to reform, though a faintly cleared pathway remained visible within the dense fog. It was indistinct and shifted further away with time.
Even under the cover of night, rain, and fog, Glenn showed no intention of dispelling the Disillusionment Charm cloaking him. Maintaining his semi-demonic transformation, he flew swiftly at low altitude, his heightened perception locked firmly onto a group of drifting black shadows above him.
"The distance isn't far enough yet. It's not time to act," he thought silently.
It had been forty-seven minutes and fifty-eight seconds since he began following the Dementors as they moved away from the Hogwarts Express. However, the distance covered so far was insufficient to eliminate suspicion. Moreover, the current location was not an ideal place for disposing of evidence or sealing them away.
Well, "disposing of evidence" might not be the most accurate term, but if spells couldn't kill Dementors, completely sealing them with alchemy would render them no different from lifeless corpses.
Nevertheless, the optimal distance Glenn had in mind was about to be reached.
…
Emotions play a crucial role in the wizarding world. Many profound spells and magical techniques are, to varying degrees, intertwined with emotions. Magic infused with emotions often exhibits greater power and uniqueness than similar types of magic.
The Patronus Charm is a prime example. This miraculous spell holds a status in magical academia that far surpasses even Dumbledore's standing in the wizarding world.
However, its learning difficulty and prerequisites ensure that not everyone can master it. Those who attempt to learn the spell face exceptionally high challenges, as the spell demands one essential element from its caster: emotion.
Positive emotions. A great abundance of positive emotions.
Thus, Dark Wizards, who dwell in the shadows of the wizarding world, are generally incapable of using this spell. Their hearts, long filled with the malice they have endured and the evil they naturally harbor, leave no room for positive emotions.
Glenn's situation was slightly better. At the very least, he knew how to control the overwhelming negative emotions within him and protect the hard-won positive emotions in his heart. He also understood the source of his negative emotions and ensured they wouldn't taint his positive feelings.
Yet, he still couldn't cast the Patronus Charm. Despite his steadfast will and resilient soul, which allowed him to quickly master other spells he wished to learn, he always felt an inexplicable repulsion when attempting to learn the Patronus Charm.
It was as if the spell itself was actively rejecting him, mocking him for being unworthy of learning it.
Glenn wasn't particularly disheartened by this. He understood that while he had changed somewhat in this life, influenced by those around him, the change was only partial.
Glenn had found redemption, but it was far from complete.
Deep within his bones, in the soul forged by the fusion of two lifetimes, he was still the figure lurking in the shadows, absorbing negative emotions—a killer labeled as evil, ruthless, and corrupt in the eyes of the world.
Perhaps only when he could successfully cast the Patronus Charm would the individual known as "Glenn" truly achieve redemption.
But Glenn didn't care much about this, just as he didn't care about how others perceived him—well, that might require some clarification. His family and Hermione would need to be excluded from the category of "others" for this statement to be entirely accurate. Similarly, he didn't mind not having the "qualification to learn the Patronus Charm."
At the same time, he had no intention of completely giving up on the Patronus Charm.
If positive emotions were a resource he could scarcely draw upon, what about the vast reservoir of negative emotions surging within him?
After all, Glenn was a genius at mimicking, modifying, and innovating spells.
Taking a different approach, if the structure of the Patronus Charm guided the spell's formation and its energy source was positive emotions, then Glenn could simply replace the energy source.
That would be a "Patronus Charm" driven entirely by negative emotions.
Just as Hermione had effortlessly succeeded on her first attempt at casting the Patronus Charm, Glenn found that the modified version of the spell he envisioned was surprisingly easy to cast.
It was as if it had always been meant to exist in this world.
After comparing it in detail with Hermione's Patronus Charm, Glenn discovered that the effects of the negative-emotion-driven "Patronus Charm" were entirely opposite to those of the traditional one.
The traditional Patronus Charm, driven by positive emotions, brought warmth, joy, hope, and happiness to those around it. Its defensive effect was a gentle, soothing repulsion, and its color was a bright, sacred silver.
And Glenn's version?
Fueled by the opposite of positive emotions, it naturally brought cold, disgust, despair, and fear to those nearby. While its function remained "protection" due to its shared origin with the Patronus Charm, its effects were vastly different.
The Patronus Charm gently repelled threats, while this spell…
…ravenously devoured them.
By consuming and erasing enemies before they could approach, it achieved protection in its own way.
However, a spell that brought pain and despair to those around the caster was inherently unsuitable for use near those the caster sought to protect.
In that case, the enemies would simply need to be eliminated before they could get close.
"Glenn, you've created another new spell!"
"Huh? You want me to name it and come up with an incantation again? No way! This time, it's a spell on par with the Patronus Charm. I insist you think of a name yourself."
Hermione's excited words echoed in Glenn's mind as he drew closer to the mass of Dementors overhead.
"How about we compromise? I'll name the spell, and you come up with the incantation."
"I've got it! The incantation for this new spell will also be 'Expecto Patronum~'"
"You see, the intent behind the spell hasn't changed. It's still about protecting those around you, and it can still summon a Patronus."
In his memory, Hermione smiled mischievously at Glenn, her delight evident as she basked in her cleverness and his speechlessness.
"…Alright, fine."
Positive and negative emotions are opposites, and while the names might be the same, there had to be a difference somewhere.
Yet the intent behind casting them was the same.
"In that case… let's call it…"
"Daemonium Custos."
Glenn uttered the incantation for the spell.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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