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Chapter 138: The Road is Narrow
🕑 Added 2025-05-05 12:52:19 +0000 UTCThe number of Dementors isn’t exactly overwhelming, but it’s certainly not small either.
Because of the unique way Dementors are created, typically formed from corrupted souls, they’ve existed for a long time. So naturally, their numbers have accumulated over time.
Of course, these creatures don’t just linger in one place. Dementors can be found scattered across the magical world in various countries.
However, in the British wizarding world, they are treated rather uniquely.
While most magical governments across the globe despise them and destroy them on sight, Britain gave them a job.
One could call it "official recognition" or simply "waste repurposing."
Either way, Dementors have been living quite comfortably in the UK, especially in Azkaban, where they’ve spent decades tormenting the prisoners locked inside.
As a result, the British Ministry of Magic has a far higher population of Dementors than any other country.
Still, there are only a few hundred, perhaps close to a thousand. And now, Noah had slaughtered dozens in one go. No matter how you spin it, that’s a big deal!
Cornelius Fudge had a pounding headache. Dementors are indeed difficult to kill, but they can be dealt with.
A properly cast Patronus Charm is more than enough to repel or even injure them, and what graduate of a magic academy doesn't know this spell?
The problem wasn’t the spell; it was that Fudge had never considered using it against them. Why would he? They were a free, effective way to punish criminals. Giving them up so easily? Not a chance.
But now, a new problem had emerged, Noah Finniel.
If he were just an ordinary student, that would be one thing. But he’s anything but ordinary. No third-year Hogwarts student should be able to obliterate dozens of Dementors like that!
Fudge had known of Noah for some time, ever since the U.S. Ministry of Magic filed a formal protest about him traveling to America.
Gradually, the protests stopped. The American Ministry started using Noah for certain assignments, and that's when Fudge began paying serious attention to the boy.
He knew Noah had incredible magical talent. He knew the boy was clever, clever enough to outsmart both his allies and enemies.
But that wasn’t even the most shocking part.
The real kicker? The U.S. Ministry of Magic had actually invited the Sorcerer Supreme, yes, the Sorcerer Supreme from Kamar-Taj!
And Noah had not only gained her recognition, but was now her disciple.
At first, Fudge thought it was an elaborate April Fools’ prank. But after some "discussions" and a deep internal investigation, he was 99% sure it was all true.
And so, Fudge buried it deep in his heart.
Since Noah hadn’t made this public, Fudge had no intention of doing so either. He couldn’t, and more importantly, didn’t want to.
Now what was he supposed to do? Ask Noah why he killed all those Dementors?
Hell no. He’d rather deal with those infuriating Wizengamot members and their endless budget proposals!
At least they played by the rules. Noah? He wasn’t even in the rulebook!
He wasn’t a Ministry employee. He was a student!
Normally, even students would fall under the Ministry’s jurisdiction. But this one had a teacher that nobody wanted to provoke.
If Noah ever revealed his real identity publicly, the wizarding world would erupt in chaos.
Fudge, still frustrated, pulled Lucius Malfoy aside. Though Lucius looked puzzled, he had begun to put the pieces together.
Clearly, even the Minister of Magic was afraid of Noah’s teacher. Lucius became more cautious, more observant.
Meanwhile, Noah had no clue about the argument brewing between Dumbledore and the Ministry. He returned to Hogwarts and resumed his usual routine.
Compared to his intense training in Kamar-Taj, Hogwarts life was practically a vacation. Though he still woke early every day, it was a relaxing schedule overall.
Outside of his standard classes, Noah spent most of his time in the Room of Requirement. He cherished every moment there, he knew he wouldn’t have much time left at Hogwarts.
The new recruits to the League of Mages were initially stunned by what they saw. But after settling in and swearing secrecy, Noah introduced them to the most basic methods to enhance their magic.
The Room of Requirement quickly became a vital hub. Like the earlier members, the new students went straight there after class to train every day.
Besides practice, they also began diligently reading magical texts, because according to Noah, getting into Kamar-Taj University in the future would require excellence in everything.
Watching them, Noah couldn’t help but chuckle.
“One by one… just like how I used to study,” he muttered with a shake of his head.
They didn’t care much about regular classes, going only when necessary. Noah had to follow, even to the ones he disliked, like Divination.
Who knew what Kamar-Taj University might test during admissions? Though he thought Professor Trelawney was a bit mad, her prophecy about Harry had actually been spot-on.
More accurately, she hadn’t seen Harry’s future, but Voldemort’s.
Harry was Voldemort’s last connection to humanity, not a Horcrux per se, but certainly tied to his fate.
Only Noah and Dumbledore, who had pieced things together, knew this truth.
Even Voldemort himself probably didn’t know that a fragment of his soul resided within Harry.
Naturally, Harry was annoyed by Professor Trelawney, but he still attended class to earn enough credits.
Other classes, like Care of Magical Creatures with Hagrid, were also problematic.
The first time Noah attended, he was nearly bitten by the textbook.
As for Hippogriffs? Noah had zero interest in touching, much less riding them.
He thought they were ugly and had no desire to perform the required respectful bow.
“If it were an eagle that could sync with my vision and act as a scout, that would be useful,” Noah had said.
His disinterest gave Hagrid a headache, but at least the other students were enthusiastic.
Draco Malfoy, however, got himself kicked, literally, by a Hippogriff because of his arrogance. Though he made a fuss, Noah could tell Draco wasn’t actually hurt and was more focused on trying to get close to him or to others in the Mage Alliance.
Noah understood what Draco was aiming at, but didn’t care. In his eyes, the Death Eaters were irrelevant.
Meanwhile, Dumbledore and the others had worked tirelessly to find Voldemort’s Horcruxes during Noah’s time abroad.
Some truth potions may have been involved.
For example, the Hufflepuff Cup was in the hands of Bellatrix Lestrange, who later gave birth to Voldemort’s child, and they likely used Veritaserum to extract that information.
The Slytherin Locket was easier to find. Snape located the cave using magical tracking methods, confirming Regulus Black’s betrayal of Voldemort.
Eventually, they tracked it down to Dolores Umbridge, of all people.
The most dangerous artifact was Marvolo Gaunt’s ring. It was located in the Gaunt family home, but cursed with lethal dark magic.
A curse that could have killed any ordinary wizard.
Thankfully, Dumbledore was no ordinary wizard, he had surpassed Level Five.
As for how he removed the curse, Noah didn’t ask. He just noted that Dumbledore’s hand looked perfectly fine.
With only Harry and Nagini left, Voldemort’s resurrection prospects were bleak.
And as for the deformed fetus that Peter Pettigrew once threw into the cauldron?
Even if Voldemort attempted resurrection now, Noah doubted he’d be able to recover his former strength.
The road ahead for him was growing narrower and narrower.
“Maybe this is what a doomed future looks like… being outwitted by a traveler who knows the whole plot. Ah well, serves him right.”
Despite finding the Magical Creatures class dull, Noah memorized all the key points.
In subjects like Potions, Transfiguration, and Charms, Noah always delivered flawless demonstrations.
Time passed quietly.
Although most members of the Mage Alliance felt that time flew by, Noah remained calm.
Soon, it was time for their first Defense Against the Dark Arts class of the term.
At this point, it seemed that the Defense Against the Dark Arts position really was cursed.
In just three years, Noah and his friends had gone through four professors. Other than Snape, none had been remotely reliable.
“Noah, what do you think of Professor Lupin? Is he good?” Evan asked curiously as they walked toward class.
“Why are you asking me? But he’s definitely better than Quirrell or Lockhart,” Noah shrugged.
“Yeah,” Lance added, still groggy. “When the Dementors attacked, he stepped in to help Harry, though you handled the real threat. Still, let’s see how he teaches.”
“I heard he was in the same class as Professor Snape, and even gave him a hard time once,” Kate chimed in with a yawn. “If that’s true, he should be solid.”
Noah stayed silent. Lupin giving Snape a hard time?
Actually… that was true. But only when Lupin was a werewolf.
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