Who let this Dementor into Hogwarts!

Chapter 573 I've never heard of having to go to a driving school to get a driver's license.
When Christmas Day arrived, everything was actually quite normal; at least everyone at home was family.

But the day after Christmas, from morning till night, all sorts of Ministry of Magic officials began to appear at my doorstep to visit me.

At first, I thought it was quite amusing that people came to try and connect with me, but since everyone's story was pretty much the same, it got boring after a few people showed up.

“Even if I said you were my favorite staff member in the Department of Magical Creatures Control, you still couldn’t take Mr. Diggory’s place…” Cohen said after shooing away a bald man who was trying to get close to him by mentioning his child, and then slammed the door shut.

Cohen didn't even know his daughter, Morag McDougal.

However, one of the people who came to visit the minister was someone Cohen was very familiar with.

"You're still alive!" Cohen exclaimed in surprise upon seeing Frick, the old priest he had met in Greece.

He brought his grandson and great-grandson with him, or rather, he was dragged along by his grandson who worked at the Ministry of Magic, and his great-grandson came along as well.

"Isn't it obvious? I didn't even send you a funeral invitation." Old Frick sighed helplessly.

After his grandson, who worked at the Ministry of Magic, handed old Frick and young Frick over to Cohen, he went off to chat with Edward.

"I originally advised him not to bother your family..." old Frick said apologetically, "but—"

“Let the officials handle their own affairs,” Cohen waved his hand dismissively. “Want to see the old water snake? He’s upstairs with those little Greek devils…”

Soon, another young man, Mr. Frick, who worked at the International Department of Magical Cooperation, successfully gained Edward's encouragement by leveraging his grandfather's and son's connections with Cohen.

Of course, Edward only offers encouragement; he never accepts favors from outsiders.

"This personality comes from me—oh my!"

After Cohen said that, Edward hit him on the head again.

The Christmas holidays passed by in a flurry of activity, and when Cohen returned to school, his house felt cramped.

"Alas, the dark side of political bribery."

Cohen said this while packing his luggage.

"Then why did you keep stuffing the food they gave you into the box?" Edward said, rubbing his forehead.

“I deserve it,” Cohen said, head held high. “I’ve already recommended them to you—as for whether they’ll actually get promoted, that’s another story…”

“You’ve made all the money.” Edward chuckled and patted Cohen on the back. “Hurry up, I’ll take you to the station today, then I have to go to work.”

"Also, you're not allowed to cause any more major trouble this year—"

“It’s all packed up,” Cohen said.

"You haven't agreed yet."

"Hurry up—any later and you won't have to go to work this afternoon—"

"You're not really planning to cause any more trouble, are you?" Edward asked warily.

“Okay, okay, I promise, I promise, alright,” Cohen said. “I won’t bomb the Ministry of Magic.”

“If I blow you up again, I won’t be able to save you from your mother’s clutches,” Edward warned, holding up a finger.

“Whoever bombs the Ministry of Magic is a lowly Dementor,” Cohen swore.

“You’re already a low-level Dementor.” Edward narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

“Then let’s go with the lowest-grade Dementors, the kind that can only eat half a meal,” Cohen urged. “Alright, let’s go—”
-
Back at Hogwarts, everything still retained the Christmas spirit. The mistletoe hanging on the walls wouldn't be removed until the official start of classes the next day, and they could enjoy another Hogwarts Christmas-themed feast at the dinner party.

Harry and Ron spent Christmas in Grimmauld Place, where they overheard quite a bit of the Order of the Phoenix's plans. Ron insisted they had access to the core details, but Hermione disagreed.

“A plan that you overheard can’t possibly be that important,” Hermione said. “The core focus of dealing with Void is definitely not the Death Eater parade in the south. I think their focus will be around Hogwarts. Remember, the three people Void most wants to kill right now are all here.”

“But they can’t get in at all,” Ron said. “I mean—”

“Sirius can come in.” Harry suddenly remembered. “Remember, he came in to see me when he was in his third year.”

“There aren’t that many Animagus in the world,” Ron reassured her. “Besides, they definitely couldn’t beat Cohen. Cohen alone drove them all away at the Ministry of Magic.”

“Cohen, what do you think?” Harry asked.

“I’m thinking about charging you and Dumbledore protection money,” Cohen said thoughtfully. “Ten Galleons a month—Dumbledore’s going for more, he’s rich, so twenty a month.”

"What will happen if we don't hand it in?" Harry asked with a grin.

“If you don’t hand it over, I’ll let the Death Eaters in,” Cohen said, raising an eyebrow.

Harry laughed out loud, shook his head, and thought that Cohen would never do such a thing—Voldemort had already revealed his hand.

At first, everyone thought it was just a joke...

"That was just a joke, but I definitely won't let Death Eaters in," Cohen said. "I'm not short of money right now."

Back in the common room, they chatted about their holiday experiences, with Ron expressing his envy of Cohen for receiving numerous money bags and snacks from Ministry of Magic officials.

“But isn’t this bribery?” Hermione asked with some concern.

“It’s okay, my dad didn’t agree to a single thing they asked for,” Cohen said casually.

“That’s a bit unethical,” Harry said, suppressing a laugh.

“Then they won’t be coming next year,” Ron sighed.

“That suits my family perfectly. My grandma doesn’t like too many outsiders in the house,” Cohen said. “The police on Privet Drive have come several times, thinking we were doing some kind of cult activity—Edward used a Muggle-blocking charm on the house to calm things down. That 'Loyalty Charm' shouldn’t have been dispelled…”

The next morning, as they went downstairs to leave the lounge to find something to eat, a large notice was posted on the common room bulletin board.

This used to have nothing to do with them, but now it does.

[Phantom Manifestation Lesson]

If you are seventeen years of age or older, or will turn seventeen on August 31, you may attend a twelve-week Apparition course taught by Apparition instructors from the Ministry of Magic.

Those who wish to participate, please sign below.

Tuition fee: 12 Galleons

"I knew it! Why did Mom suddenly give me a sum of money she couldn't use?" Ron slapped his forehead. "So that's what it was!"

“I remember Apparition wasn’t very comfortable.” Harry thought of his experience when he went to find Slughorn with Dumbledore and Korn.

“It’s not so bad if I use it myself,” Cohen said. “But I don’t really want to participate; I’d rather just take the exam.”

“This might not work, Cohen,” Hermione warned, pointing to a line of smaller print below the announcement.

This course is linked to the Apparition exam. Do not believe any other advertisements claiming that you can directly register for or pass the Apparition exam.

"I've never heard of having to go to a driving school to get a driver's license?" Cohen frowned.

(End of this chapter)