บท 46: A Dance with Dementors

The Hogwarts Express was buzzing with energy as students found their compartments, laughing, sharing stories of their summers, and preparing for the new school year. Raja, seated beside Harry, Ron, and Hermione, leaned back, casually watching the rolling countryside slip by outside the window. The joy of returning to Hogwarts was almost tangible, and everyone seemed to feel it.

But as they neared the outskirts of Hogwarts, the atmosphere in the train shifted. The lights flickered, and a deep, bone-chilling cold seeped through the compartments. Hermione shivered and rubbed her arms. "What's going on?" she asked, her voice tense.

The train lurched to a stop, and a sudden silence descended. The air grew icy, and Harry's face paled as a feeling of dread washed over him. From the darkened corridor, an eerie, hooded figure glided past the compartment door. A Dementor.

Before anyone could react, the Dementor's skeletal hand reached forward, the air growing so thick it felt like drowning. Harry's face went whiter, his eyes unfocused, and he slumped forward, fainting.

Raja jumped to his feet, wand in hand, his jaw set. "Expecto Patronum!" he commanded, his voice firm. Shadow Tempest, his Patronus, burst forth—a powerful, sleek thunderbird wreathed in golden lightning. It circled the compartment, sending out shockwaves of energy as it drove the Dementor back with an indignant screech.

Professor Lupin, who had entered the compartment moments earlier, looked stunned. But Raja wasn't done. With a quiet but firm command, he ordered Shadow Tempest to drive every last Dementor from the train. His Patronus zoomed through the corridor, screeching as it forced each Dementor out, creating a shimmering wall of protection around the Hogwarts Express. Students gaped as the mighty thunderbird glided past, its presence a beacon of light against the darkness. Lupin's eyes widened in shock, and he muttered under his breath, "Incredible…"

Shadow Tempest circled back to Raja, perching briefly on his shoulder before disappearing in a soft crackle of lightning. Raja checked on Harry, who was beginning to stir, looking pale and confused. Lupin gave him a piece of chocolate and murmured, "Eat this, Harry. It'll help."

As Harry nibbled on the chocolate, Lupin shot Raja a thoughtful look. "Quite the Patronus," he said, a trace of awe in his voice.

Raja shrugged, trying to play it cool. "Just a bit of magic I picked up," he said with a small grin.

The rest of the journey passed uneventfully, thanks to Shadow Tempest's protective presence. Once the train pulled into Hogwarts, students disembarked eagerly, chatting about the unexpected Dementor encounter. Raja could hear whispers of his Patronus, the sight of which had left quite an impression.

The first week of classes at Hogwarts was filled with surprises. In Divination, Professor Trelawney greeted the students with her usual mystical air, a series of shawls draped around her and bracelets jingling with every gesture. She peered over her massive glasses, stopping when she saw Raja.

"Oh, my dear boy…" she gasped, her eyes wide with excitement. "I see… I see a trident… no, a Trishul, in your aura. The mark of a chosen guardian, a protector!" She clasped her hands dramatically, her eyes misty. "You may very well be the one destined to shield the world from darkness!"

Raja shifted uncomfortably in his seat, casting a side-eye at Harry, who was stifling laughter. "Er, thank you, Professor. I'll… keep that in mind," Raja replied, barely holding back a chuckle.

Turning her attention to the teacups on her table, Trelawney gestured for the students to take turns reading each other's tea leaves. When it was Harry's turn, she held up his cup, scrutinizing the leaves inside. Her expression grew grave.

"Oh, my dear," she said in a quivering voice. "This is most ominous indeed! The shape here… it is unmistakably the Grim."

Harry frowned, looking at her with confusion. "The Grim?"

"Yes!" Trelawney's voice trembled. "The Grim, a great black dog, a symbol of death. It's a terrible omen, foretelling a tragic fate."

Raja watched her theatrics, suppressing an amused smile. He caught Harry's eye and gave him a reassuring nod, trying to help him shake off the grim prediction. "Don't worry, Harry. You're tougher than any omen," Raja whispered as they left the classroom.

The rest of the class was spent dodging Trelawney's prophetic gazes, though every so often, she would turn and whisper about Raja's supposed destiny, much to his discomfort. As they left the classroom, Harry grinned. "Looks like you're our resident guardian deity now," he teased.

"Oh, stop," Raja groaned, rolling his eyes. "Next thing you know, she'll be asking me for blessings."

A few days later, they filed into Hagrid's first Care of Magical Creatures lesson, excited to see what he had in store. Standing beside Hagrid was a massive Hippogriff with an eagle's head and wings, its sharp beak gleaming in the sunlight. The creature, Buckbeak, ruffled its feathers majestically as it watched the students.

Hagrid explained how to approach a Hippogriff with respect, bowing before Buckbeak and waiting for him to return the gesture. Harry took his turn, bowing nervously but managing to gain Buckbeak's approval. As he petted Buckbeak's feathered neck, Draco Malfoy snickered in the background.

"What a ridiculous creature," Draco drawled, sneering. "Stupid, ugly brute." He ignored Hagrid's warning and moved closer without bowing.

Buckbeak let out an indignant squawk, tensing as if ready to strike. But before the Hippogriff could lash out, Raja stepped forward and spoke in a calm, measured tone. "Easy, Buckbeak. He doesn't mean it."

The Hippogriff paused, seeming to consider Raja's words. With his Nature's Tongue ability, Raja spoke directly to Buckbeak's mind, soothing the proud creature. Buckbeak clicked his beak in agreement, his feathers relaxing.

Malfoy gaped, too stunned to respond. Raja shot him a warning look. "Careful, Malfoy. You owe me for keeping you in one piece."

Malfoy's cheeks flushed, but he huffed and turned away. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were all grinning, thoroughly impressed.

"Nicely done, Raja," Ron whispered. "Didn't know you spoke Hippogriff."

"Just something I picked up," Raja replied, smirking. "Let's just say I'm on good terms with magical creatures."

Defense Against the Dark Arts brought another unexpected challenge. Professor Lupin had arranged for the class to practice on a Boggart—a creature that transformed into one's greatest fear. One by one, students stepped up, facing their fears with the "Riddikulus" spell. Ron's Boggart morphed into a giant spider, and Hermione's turned into a failed exam, which got a few chuckles.

When it was Raja's turn, he hesitated for a split second. As the Boggart emerged from the cupboard, it twisted into a figure with bright orange hair, a fierce expression, and a giant pair of scissors in hand: Lucy, looking furious.

Raja's face went pale. "Oh, no…"

Lucy brandished the scissors, advancing with a menacing glare. Raja quickly muttered, "Riddikulus!" and transformed her into a comical version with foam scissors and a rubber chicken, making the class burst into laughter. But the scare lingered, and Raja took a shaky step back as the Boggart retreated.

Lupin noticed and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Interesting fear, Raja. Perhaps we should discuss this later?" he suggested, his tone sympathetic.

Raja forced a smile, nodding. "Yeah… later."

After class, Harry couldn't resist teasing him. "Women with scissors? Really?"

"You have no idea," Raja muttered, still looking a bit queasy. "I'd take a Dementor over her any day."

The days continued with humor and excitement as the students settled back into their routines. One evening in the common room, Harry brought up the encounter with the Dementors on the train.

"Raja, I still can't believe how you managed to clear the whole train of Dementors with Shadow Tempest. Even Professor Lupin was shocked."

Raja shrugged, trying to act modest. "Shadow Tempest is pretty effective against dark creatures. Guess the Dementors didn't like a stormy Patronus on their tail."

Hermione raised an eyebrow. "But your Patronus stayed with us until we reached Hogwarts. That's impressive—it takes incredible power to maintain a Patronus for so long."

Raja smiled, enjoying the admiration but keeping his usual secretive air. "Just a little extra effort for a good cause."

The conversation shifted to Trelawney's Divination class, where Raja's "chosen guardian" status had become an amusing topic. Hermione rolled her eyes. "Honestly, her theatrics are ridiculous. Calling you a 'chosen guardian'—it's absurd."

Raja grinned. "She does have a flair for the dramatic, doesn't she? But hey, if she's convinced I'm a deity, who am I to disagree?"

The friends laughed, the weight of the day's challenges lifted by their shared humor. For all the dangers that lay ahead, the strength of their bond made everything feel a little easier.

The next morning, as Raja joined his friends for breakfast in the Great Hall, he spotted Lupin watching him with a thoughtful expression. Raja offered a polite nod, and Lupin smiled back, a glint of respect in his eyes.

Despite his playful act, Raja knew that Lupin suspected there was more to him than met the eye. But he wasn't worried; as the "Dark Hand Behind the Curtain," Raja was well-practiced in hiding his true nature. His only goal was to keep things running as they should, maintaining the story without causing too many ripples.

"Guardian deity, huh?" Harry murmured beside him, grinning.

"Hey, don't knock it," Raja replied with a smirk. "Could come in handy one day."

With a final, conspiratorial smile, they turned their attention back to breakfast, ready to tackle whatever the day—and the year—had in store.

[Status Window: Current Configuration]

Name: Raja Rudra Powers

Age: 13 yrs

Race: Human

Body: Peak Protagonist Body

✨ Talents:

Intelligence: EX [25% BRAIN UNLOCK]

Adaptability: EX

Comprehension: EX

Control: EX

Luck: EX (Capped to C in non-lethal situations)

🌟 Powers:

Eclipse Mirage: A lethal fusion of Shadow Clone Jutsu and Mystique's shapeshifting. Create perfect, indistinguishable copies that seamlessly blend into any environment.

Telepathy: A potent mental skill enabling silent communication. Share thoughts, information, or influence emotions without uttering a word.

Psychokinesis: Manipulate objects and energies with sheer willpower. Move or alter the state of physical matter to gain the upper hand in combat and problem-solving.

Enhanced Perception: Heightened awareness that surpasses human capabilities. Detect subtle environmental changes, read body language, and anticipate movements, making surprise attacks nearly impossible.

⚡ Energies:

Mystique Energy: Magic [SSS]

Cultivation Energy: None

🔮 Skills:

->Five Elemental Magic Affinity: [Fire, Water, Air, Earth, Thunder] {MAX}

->Swordsman [A]: "TEMPEST BREATHING" (SEALED) — Unlock the potential of Magic Swordsmanship.

->Natures Tongue [A]: " Can communicate with magical animals"

💰 Inventory:

1000 tons of gold, exquisite jewelry, priceless paintings, and ancient artifacts.