The topic between Helga Hufflepuff and Rowena Ravenclaw that just happened was already sufficient to shock the Harry trio who came from the future. Imagine the kind of storm it would unleash if scholars a thousand years from now learned about this hidden affection between the two founders of Hogwarts.
However, for the two individuals, this seems like just a casual chat between close friends.
After the discussion turned to the islands of the North Sea and the terrifying creatures there, Helga and Rowena's expressions became much more serious. The unexpressed aura of power that surrounded both witches made them look like legendary witches and founders again in the eyes of Harry and his friends!
But what is it exactly?
Hermione immediately had a guess. She looked at Professor Brain, but unfortunately, this time Professor Brain did not kindly help them understand. He himself listened with a serious expression.
Rowena Ravenclaw did not speak. In the eyes of everyone present, a wand appeared silently in her hand. She left her seat and walked to an empty spot in the office. With a deft swipe of the wand through the air, a silver-white bird emerged from the tip, hovering beneath the low ceiling.
"That's a Patronus!"
Harry said immediately.
The Patronus charm was a spell that Harry learned from Remus to defend against Dementors last year. It was the most advanced spell he had mastered.
"It's exactly the same as the one on the Ravenclaw crest!"
Ron, with his cheeks puffed out in surprise, also said.
Rowena Ravenclaw summoned her own Patronus - a glimmer of Hermione's brown eyes collected slightly, further proving her guess. Just now, the islands mentioned by the Hufflepuff lady on the North Sea were actually Azkaban, and those terrifying creatures were Dementors!
As Rowena Ravenclaw's wand settled, the powerful eagle spinning in the air abruptly halted in mid-air. It raised its head and gave a crisp cry, a shadow wrapped in white light emerged from the bird's beak.
After encountering the air, this shadow quickly expanded, becoming a terrifying creature clad in a black robe that looked like death himself. Just by looking at it, one could feel an icy chill!
Clang!
Harry's face changed greatly, he retreated quickly, and his back collided heavily with the wall. However, he didn't feel the pain as he quickly reached for his wand, gasping urgently and pointing it at the Dementor!
"Don't worry, mate, it's just a dummy!"
Ron grasped Harry's wrist and said quickly.
Just a dummy.
Staring at the Patronus, which was surrounded by a screen of white light exhaled by Rowena Ravenclaw's guardian spirit, who seemed unaffected by Harry's frantic movements, Harry was momentarily stunned and then looked relieved.
The Dementors had a profound impact on him. At the end of last year's adventure when he and Hermione rescued Remus Lupin from the Forbidden Forest, they were discovered by dozens of Dementors sent by the Ministry of Magic. At that time, both Remus and Hermione were unconscious, leaving Harry to face the terrifying Dementors alone. Harry can be sure that those were the most desperate two minutes of his life.
Harry nervously looked at Professor Black, seeing that Professor Black did not seem to be displeased by his panicked and comical behavior, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief, covering his racing heart with both hands, and continued watching.
"Have you tried to continue to destroy it, Rowena?"
The Hufflepuff lady also left her seat and came to stand beside Ravenclaw. Even though it wasn't the first time that Rowena had shown them, seeing the Dementors still caused the Hufflepuff lady to look serious, and there was an undercurrent of anger in her tone.
"Tried many times--"
Rowena Ravenclaw spoke in a voice as cold as ice spring,
"The results are consistent with our previous discussions. This type of creature, resembling a ghost, exists between life and death. It is both ethereal and real, almost like a rule. Ordinary magic cannot cause it any damage. I have tried many times, including using some ancient magic that can have an inhibitory effect on it, and the most effective is the Patronus..."
"This was expected, Hufflepuff."
The lady looked unsurprised and only whispered,
"So, the only solution is the one we discussed before—"
Rowena Ravenclaw nodded slightly, while Amos Tuttle's eyebrows furrowed.
During their visit to Azkaban, when Amos Tuttle followed Rowena Ravenclaw and Gryffindor's memories, the two founders had discussed this topic. They had said that it was necessary to destroy Dementors, and Amos had been puzzled by this at the time.
These Dementors were made from the empty shells left behind by wizards who had repeatedly split their souls into Horcruxes. To restore themselves, these shells absorb all of an individual's positive emotions and use them as food to create more of their kind.
No independent-soul creature would like Dementors, but Amos Tuttle has always been puzzled as to why the four founders of Hogwarts were so determined to destroy them.
Not just because this creature is evil. The truth may not be so simple.
In the memories before, Gryffindor and Ravenclaw mentioned that the Hufflepuff lady had received certain revelations. She probably foresaw the possibility of Hel bow returning to the world, and if this were to happen, the disaster it would bring would be catastrophic.
Merlin and the Four Founders had some arrangements in place to prevent this from happening. Therefore, the destruction of the Dementors and the prevention of Hel bow's return must be closely related.
Amos Tuttle's brain was racing, but there was always a thin membrane separating him from the truth!
"Only time will tell the importance of this matter—"
Rowena Ravenclaw said calmly.
"However, it is also very important to restrain the number and behavior of these creatures. I once thought of placing a soul-based enchantment around the island, but it would be meaningless. After we die, our soul power will dissipate, and they will lose their restraints immediately. Eventually, they will leave the island because they crave even more emotions."
"What is your solution, Rowena?"
Hum...
Rowena Ravenclaw raised her wand again, and in the complex spell that even Amos Tuttle couldn't keep up with, her ice-blue eyes shone brilliantly, and her entire body emitted a faint blue glow. In the void, a paper-like figure enclosed in green light gradually took shape.
Splashing!
With the paper shaped, suddenly, dozens of green-glowing chains burst out from the paper, encircling the Dementors in an instant. The shaking shackles looked like venomous snakes, menacingly eyeing the Dementors.
While the already agitated Dementors faced these chains, they revealed a fearful expression. They fluttered in the narrow space within the light screen, emitting a stench beneath their cloaks.
