The Dementors
Mithrandir registered how all present but the one called Umbridge steeled themselves for the encounter with the Dementor. Umbridge, who had waved her stick in the air to summon the Dementor, smiled, seemingly pleased with herself. She did not appear to notice the disapproval that radiated from the others.
Soon after, two shapes appeared at the entrance of the little room. They were tall, and cloaked from head to foot, hoods covering their faces. Not one, but two Dementors had responded to Umbridge's summons and now slid over to the group of people, bringing with them a sense of great dread and cold. At once, Gandalf felt for his connection to Anor and drew strength from her, just enough to ward off the unpleasant feelings the Dementors evoked in him.
The others in the room had no such link and had to fight off the effects with their will power alone. The black wizard seemed especially bad off (though he stayed absolutely calm on the outside), which was no surprise to Gandalf. Those who had dealt with the Dark side were sure to have bad memories that would affect them in the presence of creatures like the Dementors. Minerva McGonagall, who was in admirable control of her emotions, spoke in a very disapproving voice.
'That is quite enough. As you well know, you are not to drain us. If this continues, I will summon my Patronus.'
The coldness vanished and Gandalf no longer needed the help of Anor to fend off unpleasant emotions. In fact, the whole room seemed to sigh of relief, even Umbridge seemed glad that Minerva McGonagall had taken charge of the two Dementors. Now she stepped up to stand beside the stern woman and talk to the cloaked Dementors, swelling and puffing with importance.
'You are to watch this suspect here.' She said with her inimitable air of self-importance.
The Dementors nodded, their hoods having turned towards Gandalf as if to inspect him. One of them breathed in with a sucking sound, drawing warmth out of the aged wizard's heart, but he did not waver. Anor was with him, the Secret Fire gave him ample strength, and no Dementor would ever be powerful enough to harm his soul. He raised his arm to send a bolt of power against the creature, which would weaken it, but there was no need.
Minerva McGonagall had already raised her stick and shouted 'Expecto Patronum!' From the tip of the stick, a misty form emerged, taking the form of a big cat whose head reached to Gandalf's waist. 'I said I would have no more of your draining.' Minerva McGonagall said firmly, while the cat stood at her side, baring its fangs at the Dementors.
They backed away, clearly afraid of the cat. Gandalf was impressed. He knew a protection charm if he saw one, and this one was especially powerful. Not everyone could summon such a -what had she called it? - Patronus, and even fewer people could control it so that it waited till they sent it towards the danger they had to avert.
Umbridge intervened, flustered. 'Now, now, Minerva, there is no need to be so upset. I am sure they meant no harm.' -Someone of those present snorted at that, but when Umbridge looked around sharply, she could not detect the culprit. Choosing to ignore the interruption, she went on, 'The Dementors will follow my orders and will not harm the creature I have put in their charge.'
'They had better.' Minerva McGonagall said sternly, and the Dementors bowed their heads to her and stopped trying to drain Gandalf at once, clearly anxious to convince her that they would do as she wished, so great was their fear of the Patronus. At that, she nodded and gave a wave with her wand. The cat dissolved into thin air.
'Do not harm the prisoner and take him to Azkaban. Tell the authorities that this creature broke through the wards of Hogwarts and that it is of greatest importance that he be watched closely, or he might break out of Azkaban.' Dolores Umbridge ordered in her flutey voice, batting her eyelashes in an excited way. Mithrandir wondered once again, why she and not Minerva McGonagall was the headmistress of Hogwarts.
He saw the stern witch purse her lips and exchange an exasperated glance with the little man called Flitwick. It was clear that she could not intervene. Quickly, for he needed some information about this world before he went, he asked her the first of many questions that went round in his head.
'What do you call these?' He said, waving at the sticks they all still held in their hands, 'What is Azkaban and are all Patronuses in the form of a cat?'
'Why, these are our wands!' Filius Flitwick exclaimed, very astonished at the question. Then he added, his voice turning very serious all of a sudden. 'Azkaban is a prison guarded by Dementors.'
Gandalf nodded. He doubted that Azkaban could be worse than his battle with the Balrog and knew he would manage. He wanted to insist that his last question be answered, but before he could do so, the Dementors slid on either side of him and put scabby hands, that looked like they had lain dead in the water for quite some time, on his arms and pulled him though the doorway and further into the castle.
He had just enough time to say Farewell to the witches, wizards and ghosts present, then they were out of his sight, as he followed the lead of the Dementors. It would have been very easy to escape out of their slimy grip, but he was not yet sure if he wanted to. If he freed himself while they were still inside the castle, he might induce its guardians to attack him. The witch McGonagall had said it was a school, and he did not doubt that she and the other teachers would do everything to keep him from harming the students.
No, he would not escape as long as he was in the castle. He would wait till he was outside, or maybe he would not do so even then. Perhaps it was better to play along for a while and see how the guards of Azkaban dealt with him.
Mithrandir registered how all present but the one called Umbridge steeled themselves for the encounter with the Dementor. Umbridge, who had waved her stick in the air to summon the Dementor, smiled, seemingly pleased with herself. She did not appear to notice the disapproval that radiated from the others.
Soon after, two shapes appeared at the entrance of the little room. They were tall, and cloaked from head to foot, hoods covering their faces. Not one, but two Dementors had responded to Umbridge's summons and now slid over to the group of people, bringing with them a sense of great dread and cold. At once, Gandalf felt for his connection to Anor and drew strength from her, just enough to ward off the unpleasant feelings the Dementors evoked in him.
The others in the room had no such link and had to fight off the effects with their will power alone. The black wizard seemed especially bad off (though he stayed absolutely calm on the outside), which was no surprise to Gandalf. Those who had dealt with the Dark side were sure to have bad memories that would affect them in the presence of creatures like the Dementors. Minerva McGonagall, who was in admirable control of her emotions, spoke in a very disapproving voice.
'That is quite enough. As you well know, you are not to drain us. If this continues, I will summon my Patronus.'
The coldness vanished and Gandalf no longer needed the help of Anor to fend off unpleasant emotions. In fact, the whole room seemed to sigh of relief, even Umbridge seemed glad that Minerva McGonagall had taken charge of the two Dementors. Now she stepped up to stand beside the stern woman and talk to the cloaked Dementors, swelling and puffing with importance.
'You are to watch this suspect here.' She said with her inimitable air of self-importance.
The Dementors nodded, their hoods having turned towards Gandalf as if to inspect him. One of them breathed in with a sucking sound, drawing warmth out of the aged wizard's heart, but he did not waver. Anor was with him, the Secret Fire gave him ample strength, and no Dementor would ever be powerful enough to harm his soul. He raised his arm to send a bolt of power against the creature, which would weaken it, but there was no need.
Minerva McGonagall had already raised her stick and shouted 'Expecto Patronum!' From the tip of the stick, a misty form emerged, taking the form of a big cat whose head reached to Gandalf's waist. 'I said I would have no more of your draining.' Minerva McGonagall said firmly, while the cat stood at her side, baring its fangs at the Dementors.
They backed away, clearly afraid of the cat. Gandalf was impressed. He knew a protection charm if he saw one, and this one was especially powerful. Not everyone could summon such a -what had she called it? - Patronus, and even fewer people could control it so that it waited till they sent it towards the danger they had to avert.
Umbridge intervened, flustered. 'Now, now, Minerva, there is no need to be so upset. I am sure they meant no harm.' -Someone of those present snorted at that, but when Umbridge looked around sharply, she could not detect the culprit. Choosing to ignore the interruption, she went on, 'The Dementors will follow my orders and will not harm the creature I have put in their charge.'
'They had better.' Minerva McGonagall said sternly, and the Dementors bowed their heads to her and stopped trying to drain Gandalf at once, clearly anxious to convince her that they would do as she wished, so great was their fear of the Patronus. At that, she nodded and gave a wave with her wand. The cat dissolved into thin air.
'Do not harm the prisoner and take him to Azkaban. Tell the authorities that this creature broke through the wards of Hogwarts and that it is of greatest importance that he be watched closely, or he might break out of Azkaban.' Dolores Umbridge ordered in her flutey voice, batting her eyelashes in an excited way. Mithrandir wondered once again, why she and not Minerva McGonagall was the headmistress of Hogwarts.
He saw the stern witch purse her lips and exchange an exasperated glance with the little man called Flitwick. It was clear that she could not intervene. Quickly, for he needed some information about this world before he went, he asked her the first of many questions that went round in his head.
'What do you call these?' He said, waving at the sticks they all still held in their hands, 'What is Azkaban and are all Patronuses in the form of a cat?'
'Why, these are our wands!' Filius Flitwick exclaimed, very astonished at the question. Then he added, his voice turning very serious all of a sudden. 'Azkaban is a prison guarded by Dementors.'
Gandalf nodded. He doubted that Azkaban could be worse than his battle with the Balrog and knew he would manage. He wanted to insist that his last question be answered, but before he could do so, the Dementors slid on either side of him and put scabby hands, that looked like they had lain dead in the water for quite some time, on his arms and pulled him though the doorway and further into the castle.
He had just enough time to say Farewell to the witches, wizards and ghosts present, then they were out of his sight, as he followed the lead of the Dementors. It would have been very easy to escape out of their slimy grip, but he was not yet sure if he wanted to. If he freed himself while they were still inside the castle, he might induce its guardians to attack him. The witch McGonagall had said it was a school, and he did not doubt that she and the other teachers would do everything to keep him from harming the students.
No, he would not escape as long as he was in the castle. He would wait till he was outside, or maybe he would not do so even then. Perhaps it was better to play along for a while and see how the guards of Azkaban dealt with him.
