Who let this Dementor into Hogwarts!

Chapter 552 Death, after death will I be torn apart by some old man named Death...?

Listen to the elders' advice and eat your fill.

With Dumbledore's reminder, Cohen immediately decided to corner Nick, who was nearly headless, at the end of the dinner and interrogate him thoroughly.

"When I died?" Nick asked, his eyes filled with confusion. "You mean how it felt when I died? My neck was cold, and then it hurt—"

“I mean, after you die, what do you feel after you die?” Cohen said. “Or do you see anything? Like an old man in a black robe…”

“All I saw was my own swaying head and body, and a pool of blood on the ground,” Nick said, shaking his head. “It was like I was being dragged out of my body—but I didn’t see the old man in the black robe, I only saw that damned executioner who slashed my neck forty-five times.”

"Pull the body out?" Cohen asked.

“That’s right,” Nick said sadly. “It felt like I was being pulled out by something… It hurt a little when I was pulled out, but I still miss that feeling because it was the last chance I had to experience pain.”

“Okay… thank you, I think I understand,” Cohen said.

“I’m glad I could help you.” Nick gave Cohen a deep bow. “I can’t believe it, when you first enrolled I thought my ghostly life was about to end.”

Not only did Nick fail to see Death, but Cohen also asked several ghosts the same question, including the Crying Myrtle.

None of these ghosts had ever seen the Grim Reaper who wanted to take them away, but their experiences all had one thing in common...

"It was like some terrifying guy hooked me out, and then..."

The weeping Myrtle proudly declared, "I am about to die."

“There’s no need to be so excited about death,” Cohen said, covering his face. “I understand…”

Each ghost recounted the experience of being hooked out of their body, accompanied by a sudden pain.

In short, they were all killed by death (not really).

Or rather, it's quite possible that an unseen Grim Reaper really does pull their souls out of their bodies.

As for whether he was taken away by Death or remained on Earth, according to Nick, who almost lost his head, he became a ghost because he was "afraid of being dragged away and desperately wanted to stay here." These are choices that the soul can make itself.

Slughorn was in a similar situation when he was dragged out by that old man of death. However, Slughorn was only flustered and did not resist the hand that was dragging him away. If it weren't for Cohen, he would most likely never have been able to walk in the real world again.

"You shouldn't be wandering around in the hallway right now."

As Cohen was heading towards the Gryffindor Tower, he was caught red-handed by Filch, who was patrolling around.

It took a lot of time to search for and ask the ghosts, and now it's almost nine o'clock.

"Are you plotting something?" Filch said ominously, chasing after Cohen. "I know what your friends are up to—they're trying to shove manure balls into my office again, aren't they?"

“They only bought candy today,” Cohen said impatiently. “No matter how long you follow me, you won’t be able to—”

Suddenly, Cohen realized something, stopped on the stairwell, and turned back to look at Filch.

Filch wouldn't follow the students around saying so much.

Moreover, when Cohen's gaze focused on him, he couldn't see the strength of his soul—this wasn't Filch, this was still that old man, the Grim Reaper.

"You're finally willing to talk to me."

Filch, who had been hunched over, slowly straightened up, his appearance gradually transforming into that of the withered, tree-like old man, the Grim Reaper. "Alright, alright, you win. Okay, I'll talk to you." Cohen scratched his hair impatiently. "How long are you going to follow me? Don't you have a job? So many people are dying all over the world; you should be moving on to the next place—"

“I can be anywhere.” Death’s face was expressionless. “But in any case, none of these things are as important as what’s coming next, Cohen Norton.”

“Hmm,” Cohen said.

“We need to make a deal,” Death said. “You will give up your soul, and in exchange, I will protect the souls of your loved ones until they die of old age.”

"?" Cohen's expression twisted in disbelief. "What did you say? Is this still English?"

"You are willing to abandon your soul, and I will protect you—"

“I don’t mean for you to repeat yourself,” Cohen said. “I won’t do it. Why should I give up my own soul? I can protect them myself.”

“You can’t protect them,” Death said.

“If you dare lay a hand on them, whatever you are, I will capture you and destroy you.” Cohen narrowed his eyes. “And you can’t do that, can you? Otherwise, you would be threatening me with their souls.”

“I will not threaten you, child,” Death said. “I am helping you…you will make the things you fear a reality with your own hands.”

"Why would Death help me?" Cohen said distrustfully. "When did your job become 'helping others'?"

“Because I want to help you,” Death said. “Because I love every soul in this world, I will help every soul in need.”

“That’s not a valid reason,” Cohen said, frowning.

“This is my reason,” Death said. “You need to consider it. You have time to consider, and I have time to wait, before everything becomes irreversible…”

“Why would I turn what I fear into reality?” Cohen asked.

“You’ll find out soon enough,” Death said. “I’ll come back to you when you’re ready to give up…”

Just like before, Death suddenly vanished.

"What you fear"...

Cohen felt that the only thing that truly frightened him was losing his current life.

What could possibly frighten you? What could possibly cause you to lose the family you cherish most?

Edward and his companions are not going to die; the Silver Key experiment has already proven that.

Able to kill them...

It seems like Cohen is the only one left?
How could he possibly kill Edward and the others? If an irreconcilable conflict were to arise, Cohen felt he could simply find a place to hide. After all, with Sissoko and the others around, even a reclusive life wouldn't be too boring for Cohen...

Suddenly, Cohen remembered the spell Edward and the others used to mend Cohen's soul.

With this remnant soul, we call Him back.

What Death was talking about—was there something... a "bad thing" that had returned from somewhere inside Cohen's body?
"Hiss—" Cohen rubbed his temples, and his head suddenly throbbed with pain, as if something there was really trying to disrupt his thoughts.

(End of this chapter)