The arrival at Hogwarts had never been so quiet.
The sky was covered by thick purple-gray clouds that seemed to squeeze the joy out of the atmosphere. There was no laughter or conversation, nor the usual bustle of the first day of school.
The students walked with heavy steps, breathing tensely, and an icy air that, although no longer belonging to the Dementors, still clung to everyone's skin.
The carriages moved slowly along the path, pulled by thestrals invisible to most. A heavy and somewhat painful feeling of emptiness accompanied them like a silent shadow, a reminder to relive their worst memories.
Aurelian stepped down from the carriage. Hestia and Flora followed immediately, clinging to his arms as if they still feared the cold would return. Their touch was warm and desperate.
Luna jumped out of the carriage with gentle movements, looking around with her misty eyes. Although she maintained her distracted smile, her hands still trembled slightly.
"Too bad... the atmosphere is still sad," she muttered, hugging her bag to her chest.
Hestia pursed her lips and Flora patted her gently on the back to reassure her, although visibly displeased to have her so close.
The group made their way through the crowd.
Everyone was the same. Downcast, sad, and pale.
A Ravenclaw boy trembled as he walked, and a Hufflepuff prefect offered comfort to two second-year students who were crying silently.
"I've never seen Dementors so close up..." whispered a student in the crowd.
"They say they were looking for Sirius Black..."
"But why get on the train like that? We're students!"
Aurelian listened to everything, remaining calm.
His eyes observed every corner, every emotion, every tremor.
The basilisk Patronus he had conjured still left a warm mark on his chest, a reminder of his own power. But clearly, the rest of the castle did not have anything like that to protect itself.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Flora asked quietly, clinging to him.
"Yes... don't worry," Aurelian replied with a smile. "But not everyone here can say the same."
Hestia sighed, resting her head briefly on his arm.
"I hated that feeling... I felt like everything good was disappearing," she confessed.
Aurelian stroked both their hair, a gesture that made them blush slightly even in that gloomy atmosphere.
"Dementors feed on that," he said. "And those at the Ministry have become careless or truly desperate."
As they spoke, a muffled scream was heard not far away.
A third-year student collapsed on the floor, gasping for breath. A prefect tried to help him while another ran toward the castle entrance in search of a professor.
"This is going to cause problems," Hestia muttered, her eyes narrowed.
"Dementors always cause problems," Aurelian said in a cold, calculating tone. "As usual, Fudge doesn't know what he's doing."
The castle door burst open. The tall figure of Albus Dumbledore stood in the doorway, his blue robe fluttering gently, his expression serious, a look he rarely showed his students.
"Students," his voice rang out above the general murmur, firm and calm, "please enter the Great Hall. Remain calm. Everyone is safe now."
Although his tone was reassuring, many could not help but look at him with fear in their eyes.
Aurelian noticed something else.
A hidden concern in the depths of the archmage's gaze. A concern he almost never showed.
The group moved toward the entrance.
Luna moved closer to Aurelian and whispered softly in his ear.
"Your Patronus... it was beautiful. Very large... very strong."
Hestia and Flora turned to look at her with frowns, but Aurelian simply smiled gently at her.
"I'm glad it helped you," he replied.
Luna nodded, hugging him for a few seconds before letting go and moving ahead of the group.
The steps continued toward the Great Hall, where the students would begin to regain the color, voice, and hope that the Dementors had tried to devour.
The floating candles seemed to emit a dimmer light than usual... perhaps it was just the effect of collective morale being shattered.
Hestia sighed.
"I really hate those things..."
"They're aberrations," Flora replied with a frown. "They shouldn't be near the castle."
Aurelian simply brought them closer to him.
"They won't come near you again while I'm here."
The twins blushed, tightening their grip.
He knew he wasn't the only one who had intervened on the train. He had sensed a series of Patronuses, some weaker than others, in some of the carriages... he just hoped that his had helped the others.
When everyone sat down, Dumbledore rose from his seat at the teachers' table. His magical presence helped to dispel some of the fear.
The headmaster raised a hand and the murmuring died down.
"My dear students," he said in a firm voice that echoed throughout the dining hall, "We have all had a particularly unpleasant start to the school year. Unfortunately, the Dementors from Azkaban will be guarding the school grounds for an indefinite period of time."
A sudden chill ran through the dining hall.
Flora muttered under her breath.
"Great. Just what we needed..."
Aurelian frowned. He was thinking exactly the same thing.
Dumbledore continued.
"I want everyone to remember that Dementors do not distinguish between the guilty and the innocent. Therefore, I urge you not to leave the castle without permission and to avoid direct confrontation. The teachers will be vigilant and will increase surveillance in the corridors, but it is best not to take unnecessary risks."
After a brief pause, the headmaster adopted a different, more professional tone.
"In other news, I must announce a change in the teaching staff this year. Professor Gilderoy Lockhart, due to certain... events that I am not at liberty to discuss, has retired from his position as Defense Against the Dark Arts professor."
There were murmurs among the students, some surprised and others clearly relieved.
Aurelian raised an eyebrow with amusement.
Hestia and Flora looked at each other, rolling their eyes.
"I guess it was about time," whispered Flora.
"That man was really pathetic," added Hestia with a snort.
Dumbledore raised his hand once more.
"In his place, this year we will have an experienced wizard of great character and exceptional abilities. Let's give a round of applause to Professor Remus Lupin, who will be joining us tomorrow in his classes. I'm sure you will welcome him with open arms... Welcome, Professor."
Lupin stood up slightly, greeting everyone with a kind, tired smile. He had a calm air about him, with a modest character, and his eyes revealed great experience, something difficult to find in young teachers.
Aurelian watched him with a smile.
"Interesting..." he murmured.
Dumbledore concluded.
"Welcome, everyone, to a new school year. Despite this turbulent start, I hope you will all learn and grow. Above all, remember to stay safe. Now, let the feast begin!"
The food appeared on the tables, yet the atmosphere remained strange... as if no one could really relax after the encounter with the Dementors.
Aurelian took a breath, put an arm around each twin, and said quietly,
"Eat. You need to regain your strength. What happened today will not happen again... not while I am here." Hestia and Flora smiled and began to eat.
The students talked to each other in low voices, unable to shake the feeling of emptiness left by the train ride.
At the Slytherin table, Draco Malfoy slammed his hand on the table in indignation.
"I can't believe it!" he exclaimed, frowning. "Who in their right mind lets those things onto a train full of students? My father is going to send a letter to the Ministry, you can be sure of that!"
Pansy Parkinson beside him tried to maintain an elegant pose, although her dark circles betrayed her. She sighed dramatically.
"The worst part is that they weren't even looking for someone from the train... right?" she whispered, looking around uneasily. "If they're after Black... why attack all of us?"
Draco puffed out his chest, seizing the moment.
"Well, that's because the Dementors don't care. They suck the happiness out of anyone. Thank goodness someone scared them away..." He glanced sideways at Aurelian with an expression that mixed respect and admiration. "Well... that would have been an even bigger disaster."
At the Hufflepuff table, Cedric Diggory spoke quietly with a group of younger students.
"Take a deep breath, okay? We're already in the castle; they can't get in here," he said with a calm smile. "If they come back, Dumbledore will stop them. Trust that."
A first-year girl nodded with effort, though Cedric could see her hands shaking. His gaze sought out Aurelian in the distance, and they exchanged a look of recognition. Cedric knew that Patronus had saved several people.
Elsewhere at the Hufflepuff table, Susan Bones spoke with her classmate Hannah Abbott, visibly concerned.
"My aunt Amelia already had problems with the Ministry..." Susan murmured, frowning. "But allowing the Dementors to be near us is completely irresponsible. I wouldn't be surprised if this comes up at the next Wizengamot meeting..."
Hannah nodded, speaking in a trembling voice.
"I felt like... like I was about to forget all the good things that have happened to me in my life."
Susan took her arm.
"That's what they do. But we're safe now."
At the Gryffindor table, Fred and George Weasley were trying to cheer up their classmates, although the seriousness of their faces betrayed their usual humor.
"Well, well, well," said Fred as he poured himself some pumpkin juice. "If the Dementors wanted to ruin our first day of school... they did a wonderful job!"
"I already had plans to cause some chaos," added George, "but now we'll have to up the ante. Nothing cures depression like a good prank... accompanied by the occasional explosion... controlled."
"Very controlled," Fred pointed out with a wry smile, "lest a Dementor appear, attracted by your negative emotions, George."
George placed a dramatic hand on his chest.
"Are you implying that I'm negative? I'm hurt. Deeply hurt, my brother."
Fred rolled his eyes.
"Well... if you hug me as much as you hugged Aurelian on the train, I'd want the Dementors to stay forever," he said, speaking louder so that everyone could hear him.
George laughed mischievously.
"It was Luna Lovegood, wasn't it? It would have been such a charming scene to see... although also somewhat suicidal."
Hestia and Flora Carrow, who were listening from afar, glared at them, clenching their cutlery so tightly that it began to bend.
Meanwhile, Aurelian watched everything and everyone with seriousness. The students seemed to seek his gaze, confident that he had been the barrier between them and utter despair... it seemed he had earned himself a new reputation.
His eyes fell on the teachers' table.
Dumbledore looked at him for a second, raising his glass gratefully. The Dementors had arrived, and the shadow of Sirius Black was just beginning to show itself.
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