Hogwarts: I'm Truly a Model Wizard

While Harry continued nibbling on his chocolate, Professor Lupin left the compartment, letter in hand, heading toward the front of the train to find the driver. He needed to inform the school about what had happened with the Dementors. The driver used to keep an emergency owl on board, though Lupin wasn't sure if that was still the case.

After Lupin departed, Ron kept watching Harry with lingering concern. "Are you really okay?"

"Much better," Harry replied, taking another bite of chocolate. He wiped the remaining cold sweat and rainwater from his face. "But I still don't understand... what exactly happened back there."

"That's what we're all wondering," Fred chimed in. The effect of the Dementor had been unsettling for everyone, but it hadn't been enough to make anyone else pass out. Out of all the students on the train, it seemed only Harry had been affected so severely. Even Ron had been fine.

"When the Dementor looked at you… you just went strange," Ron said, still looking uneasy as he recalled the scene. "It was like you'd been Jinxed. You froze up, fell out of your seat, and started twitching…"

He and Hermione went on to explain the whole incident in detail, from Harry fainting to Professor Lupin finally scaring the Dementor away.

"It was a silver light," Hermione added. "I didn't see it clearly, but the Dementor seemed really frightened."

"Silver light?" George murmured. "That must've been the Patronus Charm."

"I didn't think he'd know that," Fred said with a hint of surprise. "Seems our Defense Against the Dark Arts professor has some skills this year."

"Don't get too excited," Cedric cut in. "He might also be the new Care of Magical Creatures professor. Remember? Professor Kettleburn's retiring this year."

"Oh no, I'd forgotten about that," Fred groaned, scratching his head. "We'd better not have to do more readings. I'm done with that!"

Cedric just shrugged, though he felt the same. Defense Against the Dark Arts professors at Hogwarts had been a disappointment the past couple of years. After recent experiences, he wouldn't be surprised if this year's professor turned out to be another letdown.

"The Patronus Charm?" Hermione said suddenly, realizing something important.

"Yep," Fred explained. "Kyle used it to keep the Dementors at bay. Look at us—we're all in way better shape because of it."

Realizing this, Hermione glanced around. It was true: Ron, Neville, and the students peeking from outside the compartment all looked pale, and she guessed she looked just as shaken. But Kyle and the others appeared unaffected, as if they'd just been through an ordinary journey. Even Ginny, the youngest of the group, looked perfectly normal.

"Patronus Charm…" Hermione murmured, filing away the Charm for future reference.

Just then, Lupin returned. Smiling at everyone, he announced, "I just spoke with the driver. We should be arriving at Hogwarts in about thirty minutes."

This was a welcome relief for Harry, who was eager to return to the warmth and safety of the castle. Most importantly, Hogwarts had the professors—and Dumbledore. The Dementors wouldn't dare enter there.

Still, Harry couldn't shake his confusion about why he alone had fainted. He turned to Professor Lupin for an explanation, but Lupin only shook his head gently, trying to reassure him.

"Dementors force us to relive our worst memories. They feed on pain, and it gives them power. Perhaps it affected you more because of the difference between what you've experienced and what others here have."

He continued casually, "But don't let it worry you. I noticed that this Dementor acted unusually in your compartment. It didn't restrain itself—it was actively feeding on the emotions around it. That pull is something even adult wizards can hardly resist. You're only thirteen, so fainting is perfectly normal."

Harry wasn't fully convinced. The explanation still felt a bit thin.

"But Ron and Hermione didn't faint," Harry whispered, "and neither did Neville."

Seeing Harry's downcast expression, Ron wanted to comfort him but struggled to find the right words. Just as he was wracking his brain, he noticed a slight glimmer on Hermione's shirt. Ron's face lit up as he had an idea.

"Could it be because we're wearing our badges?" he suggested, pointing to a matching badge under his collar. "Remember? Kyle gave these to us before. They're made from the scales of a Dragon. A creature as powerful as a dragon… even Dementors might be wary of it."

"No way," Hermione countered, shaking her head. "Even if Dementors are afraid of dragons, I doubt a single scale would make a difference."

"Maybe… well… it has some kind of protective effect," Ron persisted, though he didn't entirely believe it himself. But with no better explanation, he pressed on, "We were wearing the badges, and we're fine. Harry, who was the first to change into his robes and take off his badge, fainted."

"But Neville doesn't have a badge either," Hermione pointed out, frowning.

In the corner, Neville flinched at the mention of his name. He looked even worse off than Harry, trembling uncontrollably despite having eaten a large piece of chocolate.

Somehow, combining Professor Lupin's words with Ron's theory helped Harry feel a bit better. It might be a stretch, but he much preferred believing the dragon badge had some protective power than admitting he might be weaker or more afraid than everyone else.

And in the compartment, there was one more person who wanted to believe it, too.

"A dragon badge…" Neville said, his eyes lighting up with hope as he looked at Kyle. "Is there any chance you have more? I'd buy one."

He desperately wanted to avoid experiencing that bone-chilling cold ever again.

"Well… yes, I do," Kyle said, pulling a handful of colorful badges from his pocket. "But honestly, I don't think these will work against Dementors…"

"I'll take them!" Neville interrupted, grabbing the entire handful of badges from Kyle before he could finish.

"How much?"

"Um… two Galleons each," Kyle replied.

Neville's hand froze halfway to his pocket. "Two Galleons… each?"

"They're genuine dragon scales," Kyle explained. "They're valuable as it is, and the designs are hand-carved by craftsmen in Romania. At two Galleons apiece, I'm barely breaking even."

Neville looked down at the six badges in his hand, hesitating. Twelve Galleons in total… He didn't have that much money. His grandmother, Mrs. Longbottom, rarely gave him much pocket money, as he had a habit of losing things.

"Honestly, don't worry about it. They're probably not even useful," Kyle said, trying to dissuade him.

Kyle knew he didn't need to sell the badges this way. With Dementors stationed at the castle for the year, it would soon become clear whether the badges had any effect at all. Overpromising on their power could lead to returns and risked damaging the reputation he and his friends had spent three years building. It simply wasn't worth it.

Just as Neville was hesitating, Lupin unexpectedly spoke up.

"Perhaps… it really might help," he said.

This simple comment seemed to seal Neville's decision. He handed three badges back to Kyle, then reached into his robe pocket, fishing out six Galleons. "I'll buy three. This is all I have."

Kyle hesitated, looking to Lupin for clarity. He didn't quite understand why the professor would encourage this purchase. But Lupin, noticing Kyle's questioning look, gave a small shake of his head and, waiting until no one was watching, walked over to whisper an explanation.

"The most important thing when facing Dementors is courage," Lupin murmured. "Only by confronting them without fear can one remain unaffected. If Mr. Longbottom truly believes the badge can ward off Dementors, then, for him, it will be helpful. I think you, as the youngest Order of Merlin recipient, might understand what I mean."

If you truly believe something works, does that make it effective? Kyle pondered this for a moment.

The concept wasn't foreign to him. Many magical practices, including the Patronus Charm, relied heavily on inner conviction. Newt had emphasized that the Patronus could only be summoned if one had a powerful and unwavering belief in the magic. Likewise, when he was learning Apparition, doubt could easily lead to failure.

"So, you mean…" Kyle said thoughtfully, "the badge might give him the confidence to stand up to the Dementor without fear?"

"You could put it that way," Lupin replied with a nod, "but this only works if the Dementor manages to control its urge to feed."

He glanced over at Neville and continued in a whisper, "At least for now, it seems to be doing the trick."

Kyle glanced over as well. Neville, now clutching his new badges, looked significantly calmer. His face had regained some color, and the trembling had subsided.

"A badge is just a medium. It could be anything—a stone, a leaf, a branch… What matters is that people believe, deep down, that it's effective."

Then Lupin turned back to Kyle with a slightly amused look. "But isn't two Galleons a bit steep for a badge?"

"Not at all, Professor," Kyle said with a grin. "Ask anyone in Diagon Alley. A dragon scale costs fifteen Sickles each—no discount. Then there's the cost of the engraving, plus the portal key to Romania. Two Galleons is just the cost price. I'm not making a profit."

Lupin raised an eyebrow, momentarily taken aback. Indeed, anything associated with dragons didn't come cheap. With a sigh, he turned and made his way back to his seat.

Just then, a bit of commotion sounded from outside the compartment. As soon as Lupin left, a new figure entered, looking around with an eager expression.

"Excuse me, I couldn't help overhearing," they said. "Do you still have any of those badges you were just talking about?"