Chapter 93 The Young Wizards' Patronuses
The endless darkness completely filled the Quidditch field, and the young wizards watched in silence as the Dementors floated above them, dreadful things flooding their minds.
They felt despondent, powerless, and terrified, as if the end of the world had come.
"Expecto Patronum!"
Just when all seemed in despair, a slightly young yet firm voice echoed from the Gryffindor stands.
Like a dawn ray in the darkness, a silver and white animal emerged, becoming the lone source of color and light in that dark world of black and white.
The young wizards turned their heads in unison. They saw a slender boy with his wand daring over a hundred repulsive Dementors. The light at the tip of his wand formed a strong barrier against the Dementors, like the dawn light that dispels darkness.
This image would imprint in their memories for years to come.
"It's Evan Mason, that's his Patronus."
No one knew who shouted that, but suddenly everyone remembered reading an article about Dementors in the "Hogwarts Magical Journal" and how the "Patronus Charm" was the only thing that could resist them.
The young wizards hastily drew their wands and cast the spell into the sky.
Like small stars in the night sky, silver and white lights shone in the stands.
Soon, Evan realized how many people were secretly practicing the Patronus Charm. Around 600 silver and white lights appeared in the stands.
The dense light mist created by all their wands dispersed the fear and cold of the moment.
Many of them started conjuring a corporeal Patronus.
Percy's Patronus took the lead as it emerged from the mist. It was like a weasel. Behind it, more than a dozen patronuses of all kinds appeared.
Evan also saw an otter at the tip of Hermione's wand. It twirled twice and then flew towards the Dementors.
Following those, the white light mist floated upwards and countless Auras emerged.
Like a sharp arrow, the light mist struck the Dementors under the will of their casters.
The Dementors seemed to have never faced such a situation before. Faced with so many Patronuses and a large amount of smoke made of happy emotions, they panicked and retreated. Those creatures that had always brought fear and despair to others felt fear themselves for the first time and instinctively wanted to flee.
A moment later, a beautiful voice came from the top of the castle.
It was the voice of the Phoenix. Evan had heard it once in the secret room the previous semester. He turned and saw a giant silver and white phoenix flying out of the headmaster's office. It was Dumbledore's Patronus, a very rare and powerful magical creature.
It approached the Quidditch field with a huge white Aura more dazzling than all other Patronuses. Under its illumination, the Dementors, reluctant to escape, turned into a cloud of smoke in full view of all present and disappeared completely.
Common Patronuses can only repel Dementors, but Dumbledore's Phoenix can truly annihilate them.
The Dementors that had invaded the castle truly angered the greatest White Wizard of modern times.
Along the Phoenix's flight path, Evan saw Harry falling from a great height and hurried towards the center of the Quidditch field.
Ron and Hermione stood dumbfounded for a moment and then hurried to follow him.
"Thankfully, the ground is so soft."
"I thought he would die, but he didn't even break his glasses."
Harry heard their whispers but couldn't understand what they were talking about.
He did not know where he was, how he had arrived there, or what he had been doing before.
All he knew was that he felt pain throughout his body, as if he had been beaten.
"Fortunately, Evan and his Patronus woke us from fear and despair."
"One hundred Dementors, it's the most terrible thing I have ever seen in my life."
Indeed, the most dreadful and terrifying! Harry recalled the dark shadows of the cloaks and the terror that lay beneath them...
He also remembered the chilling screams that relentlessly pounded his mind, and the man who seemed to be saying something at the end.
The next time Harry opened his eyes, he was lying in the hospital bed.
The members of Gryffindor's Quidditch team were splattered with mud from head to toe, surrounding his bed. Evan, Ron, and Hermione were also there, looking as if they had just emerged from the pool.
"Harry, Harry! How are you feeling?" Ron's face looked pale.
"What happened?" Harry's consciousness quickly returned; he suddenly sat up and saw several people around him looking surprised.
"You fell from over fifty feet," said Ron.
"We thought you were dead!" added Alicia, standing there trembling.
At her words, Hermione let out a sharp, grave voice, and her eyes turned red.
"But the game..." said Harry. "What happened? Can we play again?"
No one spoke, and Harry began to realize the horrible truth.
"We... didn't we lose?"
"Diggori caught the Snitch!" said Fred. "Right after you fell, he didn't understand what was happening. When he looked down and saw you falling to the ground, he planned to interrupt the game to replay it later."
"But they won fair and square, Wood even admitted it," George continued.
"Where's Wood?" Harry looked around and suddenly realized Wood was not there.
"He's still out in the rain!" said Fred. "We think he's going to drown."
Harry buried his face in his knees and grabbed his hair with both hands.
"Well, Harry, you used to always catch the Snitch," said Fred.
"You'll miss a few like this!" said George. "The tournament isn't over yet!"
"We lost a hundred points, right? So, if Hufflepuff loses to Ravenclaw and we beat Ravenclaw and Slytherin..."
"Hufflepuff has to lose at least two hundred points," said George. "But if they beat Ravenclaw..."
"No way, Ravenclaw is great. But if Slytherin loses to Hufflepuff..."
"It all depends on their scores; whoever wins gets a hundred points."
Harry lay on his bed listening to the discussion between Fred and George. He didn't say a word.
They lost because of him. He lost for the first time in a Quidditch match.
About ten minutes later, Madam Poppy Pomfrey arrived to tell the team members to let Harry rest.
"We'll see you later," Fred told Harry. "Don't blame yourself, Harry! You're still our best Seeker."
The team left, leaving a trail of mud behind them. Madam Pomfrey closed the door behind them and looked displeased.
Evan, Ron, and Hermione glanced at each other and stood there.