Who let this Dementor into Hogwarts!

Chapter 302 The bigger the reaction, the more uncertain one actually is.
“Okay, okay,” Hopkins nodded vigorously.

“Now that we’ve finished talking about business, just say what you were trying to explain,” Cohen said. “Don’t tremble. I promise I won’t give you the little gift for now after I hear it.”

"I..." Hopkins seemed choked up, "I was just... carried away, I didn't mean to blame you..."

“I said I understand human emotions,” Cohen said. “Your strong reaction is simply because you know in your heart that joining the Death Eaters violates your moral bottom line, and this doubt about your own sanity makes you try to find others to judge you.”

"But in reality, everyone else's opinions are wrong for you, whether they agree with you joining the Death Eaters or criticize you for joining the Death Eaters—you will be angry because what really annoys and makes you regret is your own choice."

Hopkins stared blankly at Cohen.

Isn't he a Dementor? How come...

No, Dementors can access people's emotions, so that seems reasonable...

So, do you now know which answer you truly have in your heart?

Cohen asked.

"..."

Hopkins lowered his head, his mind filled with complex emotions.
"I...I think I know—"

"To confuse the public!" Cohen raised his hand and cast a spell.
-
After Hopkins left with the note that read "Harry Potter" and "Azkaban-Cohen Norton," the Earl, who had been watching from the sidelines, flew with Cohen into the cabin.

"When did you become so perceptive?" the count asked with amusement.

“You mean when I was counseling this Death Eater?” Cohen’s expression wasn’t good. “Isn’t it obvious? I wanted to relax his mind so that the Confusion Charm could work—if I used it in front of him, he would be more defensive, especially when facing me.”

“That’s terrible,” the Earl said, looking at Cohen.

“That’s terrible,” Cohen said. “The ‘humanity’ I’ve collected will take several more months to fully develop, but I feel like something’s really wrong with me right now—especially when he yelled at me just now. I just wanted to kill him, simply because he was so noisy.”

“Considering his Death Eater status, there’s not really anything wrong with what you’re doing—at least you haven’t started planning to attack us yet.” The Earl thought for a moment. “Unfortunately, I’m a bird and can’t help you judge whether this is right or wrong—in my eyes, all wizards are pretty much the same.”

"Do you need my help?" Sissoko crawled out of the study, his lightbulb-like yellow eyes staring at Cohen.

“You’re a snake. Can a snake have human nature?” Cohen said uncertainly.

"I don't know, I've never been a human." Sissoko leaned closer. "But if you need anything, just tell me."

“I’ll ask Nicole later,” Cohen said, turning to the Earl. “Whose letter is it?”

“Dumbledore’s.” The Earl tossed the letter from his paw to Cohen. “He should know about your affair with this ‘Hufflepuff student’.”

“I didn’t even intend to hide it from him.” Cohen opened the letter. “Dumbledore needs to know about this, and he will definitely agree.”

"You agree to put Harry's name in the Goblet of Fire?" the Earl asked incredulously.

“He agreed to let me put my name in the Goblet of Fire,” Cohen corrected. “But whether he agreed or not is really meaningless, because…”

[Cohen, please come to the Headmaster's office before lunch tomorrow. I have some new Honeyduke fig nougat. —Dumbledore]
“By then, it will all be over,” Cohen said. “Fig nougat? Is this what Britain tastes like…”

“Enjoy this year’s French cuisine,” the count said regretfully. “It’s a pity you don’t eat field mice…”

“The soul of a field mouse is like soil,” Cohen shook his head. “I don’t like it. Humans taste the best.”

"Then I'll get you a few students," Sissoko said. "Don't try to tempt me with that," Cohen said. "It's dangerous—because I was just tempted."

Half an hour later, Hopkins completed the task—he had to turn back once, during which Cohen gave him a new Confusion Charm to cast his second vote.

After everything was settled, Cohen returned to the lounge with the suitcase and ran into Ron, who looked dejected.

"You went too?" Ron asked in surprise when he saw Cohen, who had just returned from outside, just like him.

"No, I went to the Owl's Hut to see the Earl," Cohen casually made up an excuse.

"If you put stones in my owl food again, I'll tell your mother," the Earl said to Cohen, who had flown back to his lounge early after circling the castle.

Ron was still clutching a crumpled piece of parchment in his hand, and his back was dusty, clearly indicating that the voting attempt had failed.

"Well, I'll go to sleep now." Ron's ears were as red as his hair as he hurried upstairs.
-
The next morning, Cohen arrived at the headmaster's office at the time Dumbledore had indicated.

“Why is it always you…” the stone beast muttered and jumped away. Cohen didn’t need any password to come here—which was why Dumbledore hadn’t given Cohen any password.

Taking the escalator upstairs, Cohen pushed open the wooden door to Dumbledore's office.

“Ah, Cohen,” Dumbledore said with a smile, “Have a seat. Have you made friends with students from other schools? Beauxbatons has several very outstanding students—”

“Did I hear that right? The principal is leading the way in encouraging students to have early romantic relationships…” Cohen said. “I’m going to write to my mom right now.”

“Exchange, it is exchange,” Dumbledore corrected.

Why is this unlucky kid always trying to find ways to mess with himself? Does he get some pleasure from bullying the elderly?

"Voldemort wants Harry to participate in the Triwizard Tournament." Cohen sat down in the armchair in front of Dumbledore's desk.

"As expected," Dumbledore said calmly. "Although the news didn't come early, at least it's here."

“I have my own methods, and you didn’t ask me,” Cohen said.

“I’m not blaming you,” Dumbledore said gently. “Cohen, do you feel yourself changing—I mean, changing from yesterday to today?”

“Yes,” Cohen said, “but Nicole’s medication won’t be available until Christmas, so there’s still time.”

“I can help,” Dumbledore said.

“I have a lot of family,” Cohen said.

"That's wonderful," Dumbledore said with a smile. "Then, would you mind sharing your thoughts on Voldemort's plans?"

“I told you last time that Voldemort’s fourth Horcrux is gone, that locket,” Cohen said.

“Thanks to the contributions of the Black family,” Phineas Black says proudly in the framed portrait.

“We do not deny the enormous contribution Regulus made, Phineas,” Dumbledore said to the portrait, then turned back to Cohen. “I received your letter, which means we are getting closer and closer to dismantling Voldemort’s final defense—but I also have a bad feeling that the more Harry grows, the closer this feeling gets to the truth.”

“Harry is a Horcrux,” Cohen said. “And I can’t destroy it like I would destroy any other Horcrux because it’s protected along with some kind of spell that protects Harry.”

(End of this chapter)