Who let this Dementor into Hogwarts!

Chapter 515 An Unexpected Examination

Before returning to their box, Harry repeatedly reminded Cohen not to tell Ron about it.

“Why are you acting like something’s already happened…” Cohen said. “It’s Ginny who likes you, not that you’re already dating Ginny—and I don’t think it’s a big deal for my sister to be with my brother. Look, I’ve even put Sofia up for you as your dance partner.”

“That’s a snake! It’s different—” Harry said as if he had suddenly gained some emotional intelligence, “Who knows how Ron will interpret this, you know his personality…”

“‘Damn Harry, how did you end up with my sister?’” Cohen asked.

They had reached the carriage door when Harry suddenly paused.

"That damn Dean! I only found out today that he and my sister are having an affair!"

Ron's roar echoed from inside the carriage.

“It’s Ginny’s freedom to date whomever she wants, Ron…” Hermione advised.

“That bastard—I clearly saw him still entangled with Parvati last year…”

Harry's hand, which was resting on the doorknob, froze in mid-air, and he looked at Cohen with a "see?" expression.

“Fine, you win.” Cohen sighed. “Looks like he’s learned something from Sissoko.”

Cohen slid open the carriage door for Harry, and Ron stopped yelling, but the flush on his face hadn't faded.

"Harry, Cohen, how was that party?" Hermione tried to change the subject.

“Usually, it’s like a very snobbish family gathering,” Cohen said. “I didn’t run away halfway through because I still had to collect his Galleons.”

“I don’t really like it,” Harry said honestly. “And there’s a Slytherin student involved—what’s wrong with Ron?”

Harry's next sentence was clearly meant to show that he was on Ron's side.

“Ginny and Dean started dating, it started in the summer,” Hermione sighed. “Ron got like this after he overheard Dean talking as he walked down the hallway—if I hadn’t stopped him, he probably would have gone out and fought Dean.”

“That’s outrageous!” Ron said angrily. “He was all lovey-dovey with Parvati at the end of last semester, and before his kiss had even cooled down, he tried to kiss my sister again?! I even gave him a Chadli Artillery poster—”

“It’s really awful,” Harry quickly agreed.

“It is indeed terrible.” Cohen nodded.

“Harry would never betray his brother like that,” Ron said. “Neither would Cohen.”

“Yes,” Harry said.

"Don't worry, Harry has a little basilisk," Cohen said, helping Harry out.

“When did I have a little basilisk?!” Harry said, his eyes wide, before Cohen covered his mouth.

“Shh, my suitcase is up there, it might hear you.” Cohen pointed to the luggage rack on the upper level of the train. “It’s been learning English with the old water snake lately.”

“Look, Hermione.” Ron exhaled heavily.

As we approached the station, it was completely dark, and the starless night sky appeared extremely deep and oppressive.

The lights were on at Hogsmeade. After changing into their school uniforms, they got off the bus one by one. Instead of Hagrid, they were greeted by a group of serious-looking Aurors.

“It looks like the Ministry of Magic has increased security around Hogwarts,” Hermione said. “There must be Death Eaters around here quite often.”

“Voldemort’s most wanted killers are all here,” Cohen said. “But I still think it would be more effective to deploy security forces in other wizarding communities.”

Furthermore, Cohen didn't see any Dementors, perhaps because Dumbledore didn't want them near the school; after all, they had previously succumbed to hunger and ventured into the Quidditch pitch. However, Cohen figured that with brains that would consistently provide them with pleasure, they wouldn't be so impulsive.

Escorted by the Aurors, they boarded a carriage pulled by Thestrals.

For some reason, the Auror named Sevic got into the carriage with them, making them very uncomfortable even when they were chatting.

“Why don’t you travel with the other Aurors?” Cohen asked. “Is it because the journey is too long?”

“Because this is the minister’s arrangement,” Sević said very officially.

"Oh, Cohen, how's your dad?"

“Shut up, Harry, I know what you’re going to say,” Cohen said.

It was clear that Sevic was holding back his laughter; due to the Auror's image, he really couldn't laugh out loud in front of these four students.

When they arrived at the steps of Hogwarts, Professor Flitwick was checking them one by one.

"Routine check!" Professor Flitwick shouted. "Line up, we need to check if anyone with ulterior motives is trying to harm you through any means..."

"Mr. Frick, that snake fang in your pocket is..."

“This is a talisman my grandfather gave me!” Godfrey Frick exclaimed hastily. “Professor, it’s definitely not a dangerous item—”

“I know, I know, um… Peaceful guardian, armor protecting the body… Your grandfather certainly put a lot of effort into it, but be careful when wearing it. Even if it’s no longer poisonous, don’t let it poke your eyes.” Professor Flitwick checked it over and returned the snake fang pendant to little Flick, adding a few more reminders.

"Who would make amulets out of snake fangs?" Harry asked, puzzled.

“Others wouldn’t, but old Frick would,” Cohen said. “I knew his grandfather.”

Cohen did indeed know Flick's grandfather; he had been hosted by him when Cohen and Newt went to Greece together, and old Flick was particularly fond of Cohen's horned water snake grandfather.

"Mr. Malfoy, where are you going?" Professor Flitwick asked as Malfoy suddenly clutched his stomach and ran to the back when it was almost his turn.

"My stomach hurts, Professor, I need to find somewhere," Malfoy said in a panic.

“But—Delix? Can we go check on him? Don’t let him stray too far from the group; he might be in danger,” Flitwick said to an Auror standing next to the group.

The burly Auror immediately chased after Malfoy in the direction he had run off to.

“I don’t believe he really has a stomachache,” Ron said suspiciously, turning his head away. “He must have something that won’t pass the tests.”

“With the Aurors and professors watching, at least he can’t bring anything dangerous in,” Hermione said, standing behind Ron. “And—it’s your turn, Ron, hurry up.”

After a while, Malfoy returned, his robe looking somewhat disheveled, as if he had just taken it off and put it back on haphazardly.

He passed the inspection smoothly this time, but he didn't look very happy.

Cohen looked toward the spot where Malfoy had run off to, toward the Black Lake, where he suspected he had left the murder weapon.

But this Auror named Delilah didn't return to report anything.

“There are enemies in the team,” Cohen said.

"What?" Harry asked.

(End of this chapter)