Chapter 355: Tom's Speech (Edited)

Hermione panicked: Talk to the Dementors? Can you interact with them freely? Don't you want me to worry?

The instant she saw the note, she really wanted to hand it over to Professor McGonagall, but then she realized that Tom was passing the note this way because he didn't want to attract attention. So, she obediently kept her mouth shut and decided to address the issue with him when they returned to the Common Room.

Of course, when Tom went to meet the Dementors, it wasn't just for a chat; he had something more significant in mind. He was attempting to establish his influence among that group of Dementors.

To Tom, the Dementors were perfect subordinates. If he wanted to cultivate his power in the magical world, that group of immortal and invisible allies was the perfect choice.

Death Eaters needed sleep, but Dementors didn't. They were perfect workers for 007-style secret missions!

Grindelwald: I have Europe in my sights; I'm going to change the landscape of the magical and non-magical worlds. The time for change has come!

Voldemort: My loyal Death Eaters will always be loyal to me (huge applause), and I'll work with my Death Eaters to shape a pure-blood wizarding world.

Tom: Wow, my little subordinates can do 007-style jobs.

Just thinking about it was exciting!

So, Tom hurriedly went to find the Dementors, believing that at this moment, they needed someone "human" to guide them.

Tom moved away to a place without anyone and transformed into a Dementor. He looked up at the sky and headed towards a place steeped in darkness.

It was convenient to find other Dementors; he just had to raise his head and follow his intuition. The sky where Dementors gathered was always filled with thick darkness.

Following his intuition, Tom arrived in a valley with a small lake where there was an endless group of Dementors.

There were so many Dementors here that ice had formed on the lake's surface. Despite being in the middle of the day, the valley was as cold as a winter night.

Upon reaching the lake's shore, Tom noticed a strange atmosphere in the place. Of course, when so many ghost-like creatures gathered, the atmosphere would always be strange. But even for Dementors, this atmosphere was particularly strange because they all seemed confused.

Yes, confused.

They were like elementary school students who had made a mistake, lost, and unsure of what to do next.

Seeing the state of the Dementors, Tom understood why Voldemort had been able to turn these guys against wizards so easily. Given the Ministry of Magic's indifferent attitudes towards them, without the need for incitement, the Dementors would eventually turn against wizards. The Dementors now realized they had made a mistake and would be severely punished by the Ministry of Magic. They didn't want to be hit by Patronuses, but they also didn't know what to do next. Each Dementor was mired in great confusion.

Should they escape to Azkaban, or return to Hogwarts to continue their service?

When a particularly short Dementor floated toward them, they showed no reaction and simply moved aside in silence to give it space.

This was how Tom flew to the center of the Dementors.

He flew a bit higher and looked at the confused Dementors before clearing his throat.

"Everyone... look at me!" A shout echoed through the valley, drawing the attention of all the Dementors.

"I see that you all are confused. I see that you're scared, like frightened and lost lambs. But it shouldn't be this way! We, the Dementors, should not be like this!"

Dementors: ...

The little Dementor that had appeared out of nowhere left them bewildered, and besides, why was it speaking so fluently?

"Do you fear the punishment of the Ministry of Magic? Fear the Patronuses summoned by the wizards?"

At these words, the Dementors hung their heads in silence: what was going on? They were afraid! Patronuses hurt a lot.

"Then I ask you, why should we be punished by the wizards?"

A nearby Dementor raised its head and said, "Because... we attacked... Ministry of Magic officials."

Other Dementors mentioned it was because they had broken into Hogwarts.

"And why did we break into Hogwarts?"

"We were hungry." This time, the response was unanimous.

"And why are we hungry? Because the Ministry of Magic hasn't sent us food!" Tom answered the Dementors' question.

The Dementors pondered for a moment and felt the little fellow had a point. Didn't they break into Hogwarts because they were hungry? They couldn't do anything about it!

Seeing that the beginning was successful, Tom continued his speech.

"Today, we are here. We are in the land of the wizards, a land that does not concern us at all. In front of us is the wizards' magic school, which also does not concern us. But we, we must protect this land and its school on behalf of the wizards."

"Before me, there is a race that groans in humiliation. Under the gaze of the wizards, the Dementors have lost everything. Wizards ride on our backs, abuse their power, and trample on our dignity. They force us to guard prisoners and watch the school gate on empty stomachs. Are you telling me that Dementors are guard dogs?"

The Dementors shook their heads. Their rigid minds struggled to grasp the little fellow's words, but their instincts told them he was right.

"No, you are guard dogs raised by wizards, isn't it the same thing? Wizards give you two bones when they are happy, and if they are angry, they beat you with their Patronuses. As long as wizards cannot communicate with you on equal terms, your dignity does not exist."

"Dignity... what is that?" One of the Dementors asked curiously.

"Dignity is equality, it is a fair exchange."

The Dementor who asked the question shrunk back and sank into thought.

"Today, I have come to help you. I hope you will follow my orders and find a land where you can live freely and with dignity."

"Freedom... dignity... land..." It was evident that the ignorant Dementors struggled to understand these words.

"Each Dementor can be sated and reproduce." Tom switched to a more concrete expression, which sparked a resonance among the Dementors.

"Sated... reproduce?" These two words seemed so distant. The Dementors in Azkaban had long been without being sated, and reproduction was just a word from fairy tales.

The number of Dementors in Azkaban always seemed to remain constant, but in reality, Dementors reproduce when the environment is suitable.

So, here comes the question: why can a race be immortal and reproduce, but its number remains constant?

Because the environment they are in is not conducive to reproduction, because they have suppressed their desires to reproduce, it's as simple as that.