After skipping the uncomfortable Dementor topic, the compartment atmosphere became peacefully mundane once more.
Even the battle-hardened Lupin felt some discomfort and wariness when discussing these supposedly unkillable pure dark creatures.
"So, how was your summer vacation, Ethan?" Lupin asked casually.
After asking, he suddenly fell silent as unwelcome images flashed through his mind—battling goblins at Gringotts, fighting more goblins in the distant past, returning home only to seamlessly transform into a werewolf and get thoroughly beaten down...
Quite eventful. The stuff of nightmares, really.
Fortunately, history hadn't changed dramatically. The history books merely recorded a brave warrior named "Light" who, with his "servant", descended like heroes from legend to repel the goblins and defend the besieged camp.
The originally doomed "Fire-Eater Battle" had been renamed the "Battle of Dawn".
[Humanity dealt a devastating blow to goblin forces, laying important groundwork for subsequent war victories and greatly reducing human casualties.] Thus wrote the revised history books, making Lupin breathe a sigh of relief with a warm feeling in his chest.
"I had an excellent summer vacation," Ethan's clear voice brought Lupin back from his worried thoughts. "Now I'm helping an old father bring his runaway descendant home for a family reunion."
Translation: Capture Sirius and drag him to the ancestral home.
Ethan smiled with spring breeze gentleness and complete harmlessness.
"Oh, that's wonderful! Very kind and enthusiastic behaviour," Lupin said with genuine surprise, like witnessing something completely unexpected and wholesome.
So Ethan does have a compassionate side after all.
His earlier indifference to Dementors must simply be because he doesn't understand their terrifying nature yet. 'I must protect this young magical talent,' Professor Lupin thought with renewed determination.
As they spoke, the train slowly started moving with its characteristic rhythmic clacking. Outside the compartment, the corridor became crowded and lively with students greeting friends and searching for seats. Occasionally, careless students would slide open their door, see Ethan sitting there, instantly freeze as if afraid of disturbing some dangerous predator, then carefully and quietly close it again.
Professor Lupin watched this pattern repeat: "..." Must be because Ethan's reputation shines too brightly, causing others to keep their distance.
This new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor suddenly realised his career might be significantly longer and more challenging than his predecessors'.
Just then—whoosh! The compartment door slid open once more with force.
"Thank goodness! There's an empty compartment here—Guh!" The visitor made a choking sound upon spotting Ethan.
But this time, Ethan didn't let them escape.
"Oh, Ron, long time no see!" Ethan opened his arms like greeting an old friend, his enthusiasm warm and borderline overwhelming.
Ron's eyes widened in alarm: "??!!" He instinctively stepped back half a step, one hand flying protectively to his bulging pocket.
Then—"Ethan!" A delighted cry came from behind Ron.
Hermione's face lit up with a brilliant smile as she ruthlessly pushed Ron aside like an inconvenient obstacle and plopped down across from Ethan with obvious excitement.
Her cheeks flushed pink as she asked breathlessly, "Ethan, how was your vacation?"
Before Ethan could answer, Hermione continued in an excited rush, "I memorised all the Ancient Runes I needed to during summer! Though they looked impossibly complex at first, with careful reading and memorisation, you discover fascinating patterns! I find this subject absolutely captivating! Maybe I'll get top marks, Ethan..."
Hearing Hermione's excited academic chatter, Ron rolled his eyes dramatically and muttered, "Merlin's sake," exchanging long-suffering glances with his best friend Harry, who'd squeezed in behind them.
Meeting the terror enthusiast right at the start of term doesn't seem like a good omen.
But predictably, they'd arrived late again after lingering on the platform. Walking through the train, only this compartment had available seats. Moreover, Ron glanced at the unfamiliar man sitting quietly in the corner—shabby clothing, haggard appearance, but remarkably peaceful and composed demeanour. He introduced himself as the new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, Lupin.
With a professor present, nothing should go catastrophically wrong, Ron thought, sitting down with visible relief.
The snack trolley came and went, laden with sweets. The sky gradually darkened as green fields outside transformed into increasingly desolate countryside.
Ethan leaned against the window, turning to gaze at the thick darkness gathering outside. In his vision, several unusual magical presences gradually appeared on the horizon, moving closer with purpose.
"They're coming," Ethan said softly, smiling with anticipation.
Ron stopped his thirty-eighth retelling of battling mummies in Egypt. Like the others, he looked at Ethan in confusion, asking foolishly, "Coming? What's coming? The snack cart just—Ah!"
BANG! A tremendous crash shook the entire carriage! The train suddenly stopped with violent force!
Massive inertia threw everyone forward against the seats! Heavy trunks and objects hitting the floor echoed from compartments ahead.
Pop! All lights went out simultaneously, plunging them into complete darkness.
In the sudden blackness, only Ethan remained steadily seated, one arm securing Luna in place. His eyes sparkled with excited anticipation as magical cards flashed briefly in his hand—like a predator awaiting long-expected prey.
Cold rushed into the carriage with supernatural speed. Windows rattled shut on their own as frost formed across the glass with sharp crackling sounds.
"Ow ow ow..." Harry grimaced, grabbing his crooked glasses from the floor and jamming them back onto his nose. In the darkness, he looked at the now-tense Professor Lupin with growing alarm, "What—what happened...?"
Professor Lupin's voice came out grave and controlled, "Stay where you are. Don't move."
He raised his hand toward the compartment door, intending to open it, but before he could reach the handle, the door began sliding open on its own with ominous slowness.
Creak... The rolling sound seemed to scrape across everyone's hearts, making their bodies involuntarily tense with primal fear.
A terrible grey hand extended inside—thin, skeletal fingers draped in tattered black robes like something dragged from a grave. The skin looked dried, rotting, and covered in dark scabs. Harry's blood instantly froze, his breath catching painfully in his throat.
In the deathly silence, a long, rattling inhaling sound came from beneath that hood—as if the creature was sucking in far more than just air.
[—AHHHHH!!!] Instantly, an extremely shrill scream exploded inside Harry's mind! Filled with desperate pleading and utter despair. And that green light—dazzling, terrible green light filling his vision—
Bang! A warm, solid hand pressed firmly on Harry's shoulder, instantly waking him from the nightmare memories!
"E-Ethan...!" Harry gasped heavily, shaken to his core but incredibly grateful to see Ethan's calm face beside him.
Ethan smiled gently. "Extra training after we reach school."
Fainting? A true warrior should punch Dementors! That's what Morning Star Club members do!
Harry stared at him: "..." He suddenly felt that the black-robed horror in their doorway seemed much kinder by comparison.
Professor Lupin held his wand defensively, shouting at the creature, "We're not hiding Sirius under our cloaks! Move along!"
However, the Dementor remained completely unmoved, its hooded face turning to stare greedily toward Harry with palpable hunger.
Lupin frowned, preparing to cast the Patronus Charm when, from his peripheral vision, he saw Ethan suddenly stand up with disturbing enthusiasm!
Standing directly before the Dementor, Ethan pointed at himself and said eagerly, "Come on, try mine instead."
Lupin's eyes widened in horror: "?!!" So—so reckless!
He stared in disbelief, unable to stop it in time. The Dementor, never one to pass up prey that voluntarily offered itself, suddenly inhaled with terrible force—
"Hisssss~~~hiss?!" Its body suddenly went rigid, then began trembling violently with what could only be described as shock!
Dense, writhing darkness flooded its senses—supreme joy mixed with deepest despair—like countless faces leaping and dancing, enlarging then shrinking in chaotic patterns. A thousand faces laughing maniacally, a thousand faces crying in anguish simultaneously...
Extreme, overwhelming emotions assaulted the Dementor like a violent hurricane!
Such—such pure concentrated flavour!! A hundred times more intense than those wretches rotting in Azkaban!!!
The lead Dementor immediately released a low, rattling growl—a hoarse sound that echoed throughout the entire carriage like a hunting call. Extending its stick-like skeletal fingers, it pointed directly at Ethan with unmistakable intent!
Brothers! We've got a massive catch here!!
Professor Lupin stared in complete bewilderment:"???"
Wait—how did Ethan become their primary target?!
On the floor, Ron muttered in stunned confusion, his voice carrying odd resignation, "Bloody hell... I knew Ethan's true identity would be exposed eventually..."