When the train stopped at Hogsmeade Station, it was pouring rain outside.
The rain lashed against the platform, making a splattering sound.
Students crowded off the train, with screams and complaints everywhere.
Hagrid's voice rang out in the rain.
"First-years over here! Follow me!"
He stood in the rain, holding an oil lamp, like a small mountain. The first-year students followed him towards the lake.
Charlie pulled up his hood and walked along another muddy path.
Dozens of carriages were parked there, and as soon as they were filled, black Thestrals spread their wings, pulling the loaded carriages towards the school.
Just as he reached the school gate, Charlie saw two figures standing at the main entrance.
Hoods covered their faces, and black cloaks fluttered in the rain.
Dementors.
Charlie's eyes narrowed slightly. Were these things even in the school?
But he didn't pay attention. In Hogwarts, Dementors couldn't cause much trouble.
The carriages stopped at the Castle gate, and students disembarked, splashing through puddles as they ran into the Great Hall.
Draco shook the rain from his hair and saw Harry get off another carriage, a sneer on his face.
"I heard you fainted from a Dementor, Potter," his voice was full of schadenfreude.
"Hope you weren't too scared when you passed the entrance just now."
Ron pushed his way over, gritting his teeth.
"Get lost, Malfoy."
Draco rolled his eyes.
"I wasn't looking for you, what's it to you?"
He turned around and quickly caught up with Charlie.
Harry's face turned crimson, and Ron pulled his arm, whispering, "Don't mind him, let's go."
The stone steps were crowded with students, all eager to enter the Castle to escape the rain.
Water dripped from their hoods, and their shoe soles were covered in mud.
Charlie walked up the steps and pushed open the oak doors.
The Great Hall was brightly lit, and warm air rushed out.
Golden plates and goblets were already set on the long tables, and the ceiling reflected the storm outside, with lightning rolling in the clouds.
The first-year students hadn't arrived yet.
Professor McGonagall stood at the entrance of the Great Hall, her voice cutting through the noisy crowd: "Charlie, Harry, Hermione, come here."
Charlie and Hermione looked as usual, only Harry's heart was thumping.
Professor McGonagall always made him feel like he had done something wrong, even when he hadn't done anything.
The three followed Professor McGonagall down a long corridor to her office.
Opening the door, Dumbledore was sitting inside, holding a lemon sherbet and slowly peeling the wrapper.
"Professor Lupin said you weren't feeling well on the train, Harry," Professor McGonagall began.
Harry's face instantly turned red.
Everyone else was fine, only he fainted, which made him wish he could find a hole to crawl into.
"I'm fine," he quickly said.
"Professor Lupin gave me chocolate, and I feel much better."
Professor McGonagall frowned slightly, clearly not quite believing him.
"Do you want to stay in the hospital wing for a week for observation? Madam Pomfrey has beds available."
"No!" Harry almost jumped up.
"Really no, Professor, I'm fine."
He was already imagining Malfoy's face.
If he had to stay in the hospital wing for this reason, that guy would mock him all year.
Professor McGonagall saw that Harry was indeed fine, so she didn't insist.
She turned around and looked at Charlie, her expression immediately becoming serious.
"Mr. White, how could you lock Aurors and Dementors together?" Her voice was tinged with annoyance.
"Fortunately, the Ministry of Magic discovered them in time and rescued them. Those two Aurors were almost sucked senseless when they were rescued."
Charlie pouted, what a pity, the Dementors didn't suck them to death.
"Alright, alright, I was wrong, I was wrong, I know, I know."
He humored her verbally, but there was no remorse in his tone.
Dumbledore was slightly lost in thought at the side.
Charlie had not taken the two men's wands; if he wanted to, he could have done so completely.
So Charlie didn't want to kill the two men, he just wanted to teach them a lesson.
Dumbledore knew this well, so he didn't think Charlie had any major problems.
This sharp, uncompromising demeanor reminded Dumbledore of his younger self.
"Professor Dumbledore, please say something."
Professor McGonagall was looking at him with confusion.
Dumbledore looked up, pretending to have just come back to his senses.
"Ah, what? Oh, the feast should be starting soon, we should go to the feast."
Professor McGonagall was speechless; it was this rotten Principal who set the example, leading to the current students being lawless.
She sighed and turned to Charlie and Harry, saying:
"You two wait outside for a bit. I need to talk to Hermione about the timetable."
Charlie and Harry walked out of the office and stood in the corridor.
A few minutes later, the office door opened.
Hermione and the two Professors walked out. Hermione's face showed a bit of excitement, and she seemed to be in a good mood.
The group came to the Great Hall together. The Sorting Ceremony had already ended, and the new students were all sitting at their respective House tables, their faces still showing nervousness and excitement.
Charlie returned to the Hufflepuff table, and as soon as he sat down, Ernie and Justin leaned over.
"How was it?" Ernie whispered.
"Did Professor McGonagall punish you?"
Justin was also very nervous.
"Those two Aurors from the Ministry of Magic were scared half to death by the Dementors; will they cause you trouble?"
Charlie waved his hand.
"It's nothing, the Professor just wanted to understand the situation."
Ernie breathed a sigh of relief, patting his chest.
Dumbledore stood up and walked to the front of the staff table, his silver-white beard shimmering in the candlelight.
The noise in the Great Hall gradually quieted down.
"Welcome back to Hogwarts, everyone," his voice was clear and loud, audible in every corner.
"Before the new school year begins, there are a few things I need to make clear to everyone."
The Great Hall was silent, everyone looking at him.
"First, for safety reasons, the Ministry of Magic has dispatched several Azkaban guards—Dementors—to be stationed around the school," Dumbledore's tone became serious.
"They will remain at Hogwarts for some time, until Sirius Black is captured."
The students' faces all looked grim. Their experience on the train just now was still vivid, that bone-chilling cold feeling, no one wanted to experience it again.
Listening to Dumbledore's tone, Charlie felt that he probably wasn't very satisfied with the Ministry of Magic's actions either.
Dumbledore paused, then continued:
"I must warn everyone, Dementors are extremely dangerous creatures. They do not distinguish between prey and innocents, nor do they obey anyone's orders other than the Ministry of Magic." His gaze swept across the Great Hall.
"Therefore, I hope everyone does not give them any excuse to harm you."
"No one is allowed to leave the school without permission, otherwise, the consequences of encountering a Dementor will be unimaginable." His voice became even more severe.
"I hope the Prefects and Head Boy of each House will ensure that students do not come into conflict with Dementors."
Percy immediately puffed out his chest, his face full of pride and responsibility. He looked around, as if he had already begun to fulfill his duties as Head Boy.
Charlie noticed a few snickers from the Gryffindor side, but in his opinion, Percy's conscientiousness was commendable.
Of course, if he tried to manage him, that would be another matter.
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