Who let this Dementor into Hogwarts!

Chapter 513 Slug Club
"Didn't you sleep well last night?"

Rose asked on the way back.

"Ah."

Cohen yawned, and when his soul returned, Rose and the others were already in the car—he almost floated back to Grimmauld Place on his own…

As summer vacation came to an end, they began packing their bags to return to school.

Due to the various Death Eater activities that occur from time to time in different places, the Ministry of Magic has arranged heavy security along the students' way back to school to ensure that the students can arrive at school safely on September 1st.

Once they arrive at the school, the task of protecting the students will be left to Dumbledore.

The course selection for this semester still needs to be discussed with Professor McGonagall after the semester starts—because he promised Edward, Cohen abandoned his original plan to only take three courses and selected five from Hermione's course schedule so that he could continue to be a slacker.

Ron and Harry had similar plans, which could be described as great minds thinking alike—except that they didn't plan to have Potions class, because Snape wouldn't allow someone with a grade below O to continue taking the class.

Cohen had intended to tell them that Slughorn would most likely be teaching Potions this semester, but seeing Harry and Ron's expressions that said "Finally, I don't have to see Snape this semester," Cohen decided not to shatter their beautiful fantasy.

Harry, in particular, was not only happy that he could finally get rid of Snape, but also that he had been chosen as the captain of the Quidditch team. Cohen didn't want to be the spoilsport in such a cheerful atmosphere.

On the morning of September 1st, they boarded a Ministry of Magic vehicle, but this time it wasn't Tonks who was taking them; instead, it was two Aurors whom Cohen didn't recognize.

The two Aurors, dressed in Muggle suits, looked so serious they seemed to be going to war. The atmosphere in the car was very tense the whole way, and no one was willing to speak.

This atmosphere didn't dissipate until Cohen and his group boarded the train.

“Terrible,” Ron said. “I almost thought I was going to be taken to Azkaban.”

“I guess they were just nervous,” Cohen said. “They were afraid that if they talked too much, they would lose their Auror image in front of me, like that guy in the passenger seat who was speaking Morse code to the driver, saying ‘What’s for lunch?’”

Ginny found Luna, the Weasley brothers went with Lee Jordan, and Cohen and his group found an empty carriage in the middle.

“Cohen, we can get to the prefects’ car earlier this time,” Hermione said, pulling Cohen along as soon as she finished putting her luggage away. “Then we have to patrol the train corridors—”

"I'm tired of being a prefect. Can I resign from this job?" Cohen said, sounding somewhat weary. "I'm sure I won't catch anyone spreading rumors about me this semester, so the prefect badge isn't as appealing anymore..."

“Of course not!” Hermione said. “This is your duty. You can’t have just experienced power last semester and then plan to step down when it’s time to fulfill your responsibilities!”

"But isn't power supposed to make people feel good?"

Cohen sighed.

"The prefect's power is meant to make the school safer and more harmonious..." Hermione said, covering her head.

Fortunately, Cohen didn't have much to do. He only needed to listen to the male and female student council presidents give a few formulaic speeches in the prefectural carriage, and then patrol the carriages to make sure no students suddenly pulled out wands to fight.

After the inspection, Cohen finally sat back in the carriage where Harry and Ron were.

Before they could even settle in, a panting third-grade girl pushed open the door to their private room.

"These are for Cohen Norton and Harry Potter." The girl, her face flushed, shoved the rolls of paper with their names on them into Cohen and Harry's hands, then slipped away as if fleeing.

“She’s asking you both out at the same time!” Ron’s eyes widened. “What about me?” “While this situation could easily lead to misunderstandings, it’s obvious she’s just a messenger,” Cohen said, opening the roll of paper.

Cohen:
I would be very pleased if you could have lunch with me in Box C.

Your faithful
Professor Slughorn (HEF)

“Who is Professor Slughorn?” Ron asked.

“The new professor this semester,” Harry said. “Didn’t we tell you? Dumbledore took me and Cohen to invite him to teach.”

“No, because I got distracted by Edward talking about the OWL results as soon as I got home,” Cohen said. “Hermione kept screaming—”

“I wasn’t screaming the whole time…” Hermione pursed her lips. “So… what’s your impression of Professor Slughorn?”

“Very vain,” Harry said.

“And he’s very rich,” Cohen said. “He’s willing to pay thirty-five Galleons for a lion’s saliva.”

“Ugh…” Ron’s expression crumpled.

“Chimera saliva can be used in some high-level potions, which means he is at least a very skilled potion master, right?” Hermione said astutely.

“But then shouldn’t he teach Defense Against the Dark Arts? Or—” Harry suddenly thought of something and abruptly shut his mouth.

He was afraid that if he spoke out, the possibility he had guessed would actually come true.

Surely Snape isn't going to switch positions with the new professor...

“I swear I will never drink any potion containing animal saliva,” Ron said firmly. “It’s disgusting—”

“Looks like we have to go,” Harry said. “It looks like it’s just for a meal…”
-
Clearly, Slughorn's invitation was not just a simple "dinner."

When Cohen and Harry arrived at Box C, it was already quite full.

Among them was their roommate Neville—Neville looked extremely uneasy, and after seeing Cohen and Harry come in, he stood up as if relieved and ran over.

"Harry! Korn!" Slughorn stood up as he saw Korn and Harry enter, calling out happily, "It's so good to see you!"

Today he was still wearing an expensive-looking velvet coat, and his big belly almost filled the rest of the room—his bright bald head and silver beard shone in the sunlight, just like the buttons on his coat.

Most of the invited students sat very quietly in their seats to the side, and they also noticed Ginny looking bewildered in the corner next to Slughorn.

“You must know all these people, right?” Slughorn asked Korn and Harry.

It's not that they didn't know him; some of the younger students had even been punished with solitary confinement by Cohen. So when they saw Cohen come in, they were all very reserved and chose to avoid eye contact with him.

“I know him,” Cohen said, and Harry nodded in agreement.

“You must know these two too,” Slughorn said to the students around him. “Cohen Norton and Harry Potter! Two bright kids who have visited my home—it’s delightful, and now we have a chance to get to know each other better.”

(End of this chapter)