Chapter 217: I Really Didn't Mean To
"Ah… it… it just died!"
George blinked as he looked at the Dementor reduced to ashes, revealing a slightly astonished expression.
He had only wanted to test whether Fairy Tail's light-based magic would have any effect on Dementors—whether it could drive them away like the Patronus Charm or at least deal some damage.
But he hadn't expected it to be so effective—one strike and it was instantly destroyed.
"How am I supposed to explain this to the Aurors?"
George scratched his head, feeling a headache coming on.
You had to understand, while Dementors were dark creatures, they were currently employed by the Ministry of Magic as Azkaban guards.
And it wasn't like they'd attacked them as they did Harry—they were just performing their duty aboard the train. Taking one out like this was a bit hard to justify.
But on second thought, it wasn't completely unjustifiable.
Because he suddenly remembered that this surprise inspection by the Ministry had not been communicated to Hogwarts, nor to the students on the train.
So under normal circumstances, seeing a Dementor suddenly appear at the door and even poking its head inside—his reflexive counterattack was understandable, right?
Besides, who could prove that the Dementor wasn't about to attack them? After all, in the third-year compartment, a Dementor had indeed attacked Harry—an undeniable fact.
As if hearing the dying screams of their fellow, the other Dementors searching the rest of the train quickly abandoned their search and rushed over.
Dementors were intelligent dark creatures. They could communicate with wizards and had agreed to work with the Ministry of Magic as Azkaban guards in exchange for a stable food source.
They had even negotiated and collaborated with Voldemort later on, helping him attack Hogwarts.
So naturally, they wouldn't just ignore a companion's terrified scream before death.
When they entered the second-year compartment and saw the pile of ashes left by the slain Dementor at George's door, their round mouths emitted angry howls and they prepared to suck the life out of George and the others.
"I advise you not to act rashly."
Seeing this, George helplessly cast another light spell:
"Domain of Light!"
Dazzling light radiated from George as the center, spreading outward. The Dementors, sensing the holy light's threat to their existence, shrieked in fear and fled in all directions.
This scene was also witnessed by the other young wizards in the second-year compartment.
With such a commotion happening at George's spot, it was only natural for the nearby students to be curious and peek out to see what was going on.
Meanwhile, at the front of the train where the Aurors were controlling the driver, they were also alarmed by the disturbance in the second compartment.
Head of the Auror Office, Rufus Scrimgeour, ordered a few Aurors:
"Hurry and check what's going on!"
Several Aurors immediately Apparated to the entrance of the second compartment.
"The Minister truly is wise! That little Sirius really was hiding on the Hogwarts Express!"
A middle-aged, plump witch standing beside Scrimgeour, wearing a pink hair clip, a pink frilly dress, and carrying a pink umbrella, had her eyes light up when she heard the noise from the second compartment.
Scrimgeour's face darkened as he said:
"Undersecretary Umbridge, judging by the Dementors' reaction, it doesn't seem like they've captured Sirius.
I still think it was highly inappropriate for the Minister to authorize Dementors to search the Hogwarts Express without Dumbledore's consent."
From the beginning, he had disapproved of the operation, but the Minister and the Undersecretary had completely ignored his opinion, stubbornly believing Sirius was hiding on the train and forcibly ordered him to lead the search.
Umbridge's expression shifted slightly. She spoke with a harsh tone:
"Scrimgeour, please remember your position. You are the Head of the Auror Office, not a Hogwarts professor. You only need to follow the orders of the Minister and myself.
In the British wizarding world, the one with the highest authority is the Minister, not a school headmaster. Get that straight!"
"Dumbledore is the greatest wizard of this century. His wisdom guides the wizarding world. I believe the Minister and Undersecretary should heed his advice more often."
Scrimgeour retorted firmly.
Umbridge was so furious that her stomach ached, but she had no proper rebuttal, so she could only snort coldly and remain silent.
At that moment, one of the young Aurors who had gone to investigate Apparated back.
"It wasn't Sirius who was found, it was... it was…"
"What was it? Spit it out!"
Upon hearing that it wasn't Sirius, Umbridge grew even more irritated. Seeing the young Auror stammer, she nearly wanted to fire him from the Ministry on the spot.
"It was a second-year wizard who killed a Dementor and scared off the others."
The young Auror quickly reported his findings.
Scrimgeour and Umbridge widened their eyes in shock.
"Say that again? A second-year wizard killed a Dementor? Are you sure you're not out of your mind?"
Even half of adult wizards feared Dementors, and the Patronus Charm could only drive them away—not kill them.
And now one had been killed by a second-year student? That was sheer fantasy—impossible.
The two strongly suspected that the young Auror had been tricked.
"Many young wizards saw it happen. We also confirmed it from the Dementors we retrieved."
The young Auror didn't believe it himself, but that was the result of the investigation. And he wasn't the only one—other Aurors had reached the same conclusion.
"Take us there."
Scrimgeour and Umbridge, still in disbelief, followed the young Auror quickly to the second-year compartment.
There, they saw the remains of the Dementor on the floor and George being interviewed by other Aurors.
"Hello, Mr. Scrimgeour."
Seeing Scrimgeour, George took the initiative to greet him.
Scrimgeour looked at George for a while, then seemed to recall something and pointed at him:
"You're… you're that little Dora's…"
Though George's appearance had changed considerably in a year, Scrimgeour still recognized him.
After all, Tonks often mentioned George around him, and he had also heard of George making the international Quidditch team and receiving the French Medal of Bravery.
"I suppose I should call you George now. What happened here? Did you kill the Dementor?"
"Mr. Scrimgeour, I really didn't mean to…"
George quickly repeated the explanation he had made up.
He said he didn't know the Dementors were there to search for Sirius, and he had assumed they were attacking, so he instinctively fought back using a spell he'd created himself.
He hadn't expected the Dementor to be so fragile and to die so easily.
"Impossible. How could someone your age create magic—magic that can kill a Dementor no less? Are you working with Sirius? Was he hiding in your compartment and jumped off the train after killing the Dementor?"
Umbridge shoved past Scrimgeour and interrogated George.
(End of chapter)