[Your artwork brought tremendous shock to everyone!]
[Soul fusion increased by 2%!]
[70% → 72%]
In an instant, brilliant golden light enveloped Ethan's form. In the dim evening, he stood before everyone like a shining star descended to earth. The radiance highlighted his handsome face with an almost divine dignity. His cobalt-blue eyes reflected the brilliant glow like twin sapphires catching sunlight. Every strand of black hair floated gently in the magical wind, shimmering with flowing luminescence—truly like some ancient deity made flesh.
Even Ron stared dumbfounded, his earlier scepticism evaporating. Like the other boys crowding the corridor, he couldn't help imagining himself in Ethan's position—so dazzling, as if revered by all creation itself. So incredibly cool!
Hermione cupped her face with both hands, cheeks flushed bright pink, staring at Ethan unblinkingly with stars practically shining in her eyes.
Luna sat peacefully in her seat, glancing briefly at Hermione's worshipful expression. She gently swung her feet, golden hair cascading down like silk, making her resemble an exquisite porcelain doll in a shop window. Smiling to herself, she thought, 'Ethan, my very best friend, is truly amazing. I knew it—Ethan would protect everyone'.
"Alright, I must work hard too," Luna said softly to herself, opening her pale, delicate hand. Ghostly blue magic leaped out gracefully, condensing into a semi-transparent rose in her palm—beautiful and mysterious. This was pure ancient magic flowing into her body automatically whenever she encountered anything related to those lost arts.
The train continued rattling steadily onwards through the Scottish darkness. Ethan leaned back in his seat, resting with closed eyes. Luna sat beside him, shoulder to shoulder, quietly reading her worn copy of The Quibbler. Professor Lupin had gone to find the conductor and deal with Ministry representatives.
The three younger students sat across from them in tense silence. Hermione stroked her ginger, flat-faced cat Crookshanks, occasionally glancing hopefully at Ethan as if wishing he'd open his eyes and speak to her. Unfortunately, each time she was struck by the intimate scene of Ethan and Luna sitting so comfortably together, and she'd pout with visible disappointment. The cat named Crookshanks seemed completely unaffected by any shock or fear, constantly staring with predatory focus at Ron's bulging pocket, muscles tensed and ready to pounce.
After experiencing events worthy of traumatic nightmares, everyone was thoroughly exhausted. The compartment atmosphere turned peaceful and drowsy as adrenaline faded.
Ethan felt the profound changes in his body. The 2% soul fusion increase had greatly replenished his stamina and awakened deeper reservoirs of magic in his bloodline. Like shedding dead skin to reveal fresh flesh beneath, he felt refreshed inside and out. Now I feel like I could use "World-Devouring Serpent" to swallow Hogwarts twice over. Wonder what will happen when fusion reaches 100%... Will I become some kind of human weapon? Or perhaps transformation into something else entirely would be fitting. Flesh is weak, after all.
Ethan was amused by his own grandiose thoughts and opened his eyes—not noticing Hermione's suddenly brightening, hopeful gaze. He took out a dark, oily sphere that resembled a compressed ball of shadow—the Dementor drop item—and examined it carefully with professional interest:
[Name: Dementor Essence]
[Description: Contains powerful dark energy that can devour everything and nullify any magic]
[Essence condensed after killing Dementors... Strange, why has no one obtained this before?]
Magic nullification! Ethan gasped internally in shock. In the magical world, the ability to nullify magic was like throwing oxygen-dependent humans into a vacuum—absolutely devastating!
"An ultimate weapon... Maybe I can use this against the goblins," Ethan murmured, staring at the compressed essence in his hand, eyes sparkling with strategic possibilities. There are still many Dementors stationed at various locations, aren't there?
Meanwhile, Dementors stationed at distant Azkaban collectively shivered in their posts. Hiss... I feel like something very evil is watching us...
The train finally arrived at Hogwarts under a sky full of glittering stars. Ethan stepped off the Hogwarts Express cheerfully, immediately encountering Professor McGonagall with an expression blacker than a cast-iron cauldron—a look usually reserved for Professor Snape's face.
Oh ho.
"Mr Vincent! Please come with me!" McGonagall commanded sternly.
This harsh command made new first-years shrink and tremble, heads down, quiet as frightened chickens. Isn't Hogwarts supposed to be like a second home? Home isn't this terrifying!
Summoned, Ethan turned to tell Luna, "See you later." She nodded serenely and left first with the other students. Then Ethan walked over unhurriedly, looking perfectly obedient and harmless—no one could possibly connect him with that twisted "monster slayer" from the train.
Professor McGonagall's voice trembled with barely contained anger, "How dare you... you know how dangerous... the Ministry—"
Just then, a large, warm hand pressed Ethan's shoulder protectively. Ethan looked up to see Professor Lupin's tired but peaceful face.
"Ethan was also very... frightened," Lupin said diplomatically.
Professor McGonagall raised her eyebrows sky-high in obvious disbelief.
"Anyway, Dementors tried to attack Ethan and Harry first, undeniably," Lupin continued with quiet firmness. "The children are exhausted—let's discuss this at the castle."
McGonagall pursed her lips tightly and slowly nodded in reluctant agreement. Then she turned, a sharp gaze shooting toward Harry and the others trying to sneak away unnoticed, "Mr Potter, you come too."
They took the staff passage, quickly reaching the castle's entrance. Pushing open the massive doors, warm orange light spilt out welcomingly. Ethan took a deep breath, already reminiscing about last semester's wonderful times creatively remodelling the school. Harry, who'd been anxious the entire walk, also relaxed slightly seeing the familiar Great Hall ahead.
However, this relaxation vanished instantly in the Headmaster's office upon seeing Professor Snape's looming presence.
"Well, well... Look who's here..." Snape's large hooked nose slowly turned like a gloomy bat smelling prey. After a summer away, his black hair remained greasy as ever.
"The famous Chosen One..." Snape's cold gaze fell on rigid Harry, then landed heavily on Ethan, eyes narrowing sharply with dangerous intensity. "And our talented, bold genius who obviously thinks Hogwarts curriculum can't keep up with his great strides... Ethan Vincent!"
The last words were squeezed through clenched teeth like venom. Harry's eyes widened in genuine surprise. I'm not Snape's primary target?? Ethan, what did you do to him?! Please teach me your secrets!
Besides Snape, the circular office also contained Dumbledore seated behind his desk and Minister Fudge pacing anxiously.
"All the Dementors the Ministry sent are missing!" Fudge shouted, pointing an accusing finger at Ethan. "What did you do?! You attacked public servants, boy!"
Dumbledore said with grave authority, "Mind your forms of address, Fudge!" His tone carried real anger—clearly this old headmaster cared far more about his students' safety than Dementors "disappearing".
Fudge's aggressive momentum immediately deflated like a punctured balloon. He said reluctantly, "Regardless, the Ministry suffered heavy losses! I must have an explanation...!"
More than anger, Fudge felt genuine shock and fear. The Dementors he'd thought would definitely frighten this troublesome brat had vanished without a trace. The only intelligence was that Ethan had somehow acted. What exactly did Ethan do to subdue—even kill—Dementors? Even the Dark Lord never killed Dementors!
Fudge shuddered involuntarily. Must control and restrain Ethan Vincent early—can't let him threaten my position!
"Ethan, can you tell us what happened?" Dumbledore asked warmly, gazing at Ethan through his half-moon spectacles with those penetrating blue eyes.
Snape said with obvious smugness, "What's there to say? Obviously in our talented Mr Vincent's eyes, even the Ministry's precious 'employees' can be killed at will with his evil painting magic."
Under multiple gazes full of probing intensity and urgency—as if ready to immediately pin charges on him and extract his secrets to firmly control "how to kill Dementors"—Ethan needed a proper reason to exonerate himself completely. Though verbally destroying Fudge would be satisfying, Ethan stated he was acting in legitimate self-defence! A righteous act!
"Because Harry's expression looked very wrong, so I acted immediately," Ethan said calmly. "They surrounded Harry, deeply inhaling his essence. That moment, Harry nearly received the Dementor's Kiss."
At these words, sharp gasps filled the circular office!
Professor McGonagall said incredulously, "The Dementor's Kiss—Dementors actually tried to kill Harry Potter!" If the Chosen One was killed by Ministry-sent Dementors, that would be the world's greatest scandal.
Minister Fudge immediately denied it, "Impossible! Dementors only went to find Sirius! How could they attack a student midway?!" Though saying this loudly, Fudge felt uncertain—after all, no wizard dared approach Dementors closely enough to truly control them. But he absolutely must not admit that! Admitting it means admitting Ministry negligence!
Ethan turned to Harry, saying flatly, "In that moment, didn't you see or hear something? Tell everyone what you experienced."
Somehow, Snape suddenly had an ominous premonition, his stomach dropping.
"Uh..." Harry paused, frowning painfully as terrible memories surfaced, but speaking bravely. "I saw a green light. Bright, terrible green light."
At these simple words, the room fell into deathly silence. Even Headmaster Dumbledore slightly raised his eyebrows. Snape's heart trembled as his eyes widened—he realised with dawning horror what Harry would say next but couldn't stop it, couldn't leave, and couldn't do anything but stand frozen.
Harry's painful voice rang clearly in the oppressive silence, "I heard a woman's scream, so shrill, so desperate... She was begging in agony, pleading for mercy, but the other party ignored her completely. Only that green light appeared, then maniacal laughter echoing..."
Harry raised his emerald eyes, staring directly at the seemingly frozen Professor Snape, saying with absolute conviction, word by word:
"I believe that was my mother's voice."