But while my back of head reflected from phantom sensations enhanced by both influence of Dementors and flash of light on tip of wand in hand, this very flash of light literally exploded with one powerful wave, pushing away and driving away Dementors screaming in horror.
Worth noting that girls, although pressed backs tighter to me, kept "circle," and wands were ready. Someone taught them something more than in school? Will need to find out.
"How are you?!" violet-haired girl in red robe ran up to us. "Alive? Everything alright?"
"I am interested," I smirked. "Dementors feed on positive emotions, happiness. Patronus is formed at expense of positive emotions, happiness. Do they run away in fear of overeating?"
"I am much more interested," violet-haired girl didn't give even second for reflection, "why this couple attacked specifically you? Maybe you are involved in their disappearance?"
"Disappearance?"
"Tonks!" hoarse roar rang out from side, and from around corner of house came out elderly plump wizard in cloak, with prosthesis instead of one leg and big staff in hands. "You blabber too much, and work too little!"
Man approached us, examined with native eye, and large artificial analog held on straps in special mount on eye socket replaced second for him.
"Scram to some eatery for hot chocolate, kiddies," man said much calmer, while I noted multitude of scars on his face. "And I'll go to one old fart, find out if his senile marasmus is so deep that he releases children close to Dementor guard zone."
We silently followed with gaze limping and leaning on staff man moving quite briskly and quickly.
"Come on-come on, kiddies," pushed us in back named Tonks. "Nothing to stand here after such. Cool Patronus, by the way."
"Trained for almost two months," I answered, picking up girls still in quiet shock and fear by arms. "First time so powerful. From fear, probably."
"Hee-hee," Daphne laughed stupidly, obviously relieving stress. "Last time you smashed wardrobe with Boggart, Boggart and half of staff room to smithereens from fear."
"Mm-yeah?" surprised Tonks walking nearby and urging us on. "And if you see dragon—will smash Hogwarts?"
"Not excluded."
Tonks led us to Three Broomsticks and went away. This establishment was one of first meeting Hogwarts students, and stood almost closest of village houses to castle. Around was much livelier, and as soon as we approached closer, crowd of Slytherins tumbled out from there, including Malfoy. They saw us, we saw them, and Pansy clearly couldn't explain situation offhand, but had to explain.
"Oh, Mr. Malfoy, what joy!" I immediately headed to them. "You are exactly who we were looking for. Handing over these ladies into reliable hands of colleagues."
With short gesture I pushed girls to colleagues from House.
"Granger," Malfoy's pleased face changed to neutrally dismissive.
"We saw two Dementors here. Think in circle of talented pureblood wizards young ladies will be in complete safety. By the way. Dementors are somewhere here. Feel, Mr. Malfoy? Have a good day!"
Saluting in parting, I hurried to castle, catching up with group of older Hufflepuffs.
"Hi, folks, how did day pass?"
"Oh, hi. Alone? We are already returning," answered seventh year.
"Walked enough for two months ahead already."
"Happens," nodded guy, while two of his colleagues continued talking about their own. "This is from overabundance of emotions."
We reached castle quickly. While I reached common room, changed, put away some purchases, practiced magic a little, time came to go down to festive dinner already, for today is not only first trip to Hogsmeade in year, but also Halloween.
The closer I approached Great Hall, the brighter smell of pumpkin was felt. Entering hall, I was amazed by quantity of various decorations on Halloween theme, but much more strange seemed to me that precisely ordinary people's holiday was celebrated, which is hellishly perverted in its true essence, and has no connection with magic at all. But this is no reason to refuse tantalizingly smelling food and cheerful company, and therefore I joined dinner without any pangs of conscience.
But there was something... Something alarming. And longer dinner lasted, more tense this feeling was. In end, when, following at least some etiquette, one could leave holiday, I got up from table, like twenty percent of students from different Houses and years, and hurried to exit.
"Hector!" someone called me in doors of Great Hall, but I didn't attach importance, almost breaking into run, following intuition.
Intuition is strange thing. It can be silent all your life, but at some certain moment suddenly sound alarm with such force that from lack of habit throws you into panic. Not my case, but I followed this feeling desperately.
"Wait!" called me again. "Damn it..."
Voice was quite far, and I hurried, so next time.
Almost breaking into run, I reached exit from castle, passed through open doors, inner courtyard, left territory. Outside already darkened, strip of sunset almost extinguished, and stars flared up brighter with every second, like full moon minus couple of days. Precisely in light of this moon it was easy for me to move along night path down to Black Lake, where intuition led me.
Only when I almost reached shore, when could clearly see almost smooth surface of lake and stars with moon reflected in it, I stopped. On shore stood completely unknown and huge crap, as if woven from lianas. This creature looked like animal; four powerful paws, powerful body, head, maw, tail of several lianas. It seemed its body was in constant motion, lianas moved, intertwined and distorted body, creating feeling of amorphousness. Familiar critter...
I took step from forest, for knew that monster won't touch me. This knowledge came from somewhere from such depth of consciousness, subconsciousness and soul that impossible to dig down there independently. Another step...
"What are you doing?" I was pulled by sleeve of robe, attempted to drag back into forest. "Gone mad?"
"What are you doing here?" I answered out of breath Daphne in same whisper.
"I needed to talk, and talk now. And no, won't let go. I didn't waste time on preparing partner for him to die ineptly," she hissed, looking angrily at me with blue eyes.
"It won't touch me, believe."
Again I took step toward creature shifting on shore, but Daphne didn't let go. But her anxiety is in vain, and I trust my feelings. Putting hand on hers, squeezed soothingly.
"Can stay here, but Dementors might be around. You acted unreasonably."
Looking at me angrily, she exhaled, and not releasing sleeve of my robe, went together with me to this animal.
"Group suicide. Wonderful," she mumbled. "Know. If you die, I'll kill you."