Albus Dumbledore
The first time I came into contact with a dementor, was a sad day indeed. It was during the First Wizarding War, and the Lestranges were being put in Azkaban. In those days, we sent a Ministry official with each sentencing to the prison, to oversee the criminals being put in. I had just arrived with Professor McGonagall, who was an Auror at the time, and we were awaiting instructions. It was windy and the rain was pounding.
As we stood just inside the first set of gates, a dementor passed closely in front of us. In that moment while he was near, I experienced a terrible feeling in the pit of my stomach. Minerva breathed in sharply next to me, I suppose she was feeling similarly, and my head was filled with memories from my childhood and young adult life. Ariana's attack and loss of her magic. My father's conviction. Ariana's death, at my hands. My own failures as a son, brother, and man. The final duel with Gellert. Deaths of close friends and students since then.
These memories rushed back to me, bringing with them an ocean of grief I believed I would never escape. I could see Aberforth standing next to my sister's crumbled body, screaming. The magic was still buzzing in the air and I couldn't breathe. I sank to my knees, overcome with hopelessness.
I opened my eyes. The dementor had come and gone, on its way to take up a new position I assumed. Minerva was looking at me with an odd sort of heavy expression on her face, as if she knew exactly what I had just relived.
I felt her hand on the inside of my elbow, and I straightened. We were here to do business which must be done. Looking back at the ward who had been checking on the Lestrange's cell block numbers, I found he was waiting patiently for me to regain my composure.
"Nasty creatures, the dementors are," he told me. "Most people take some time gettin' used to them." I nodded my understanding. I had heard so much about them and the feelings they provoked, but I had not prepared myself for the torment. Glancing back at Minerva, I noticed she was still looking at me, as if inspecting me to ensure I was alright. I nodded my thanks, and we followed the ward up a twisting staircase.
