Who let this Dementor into Hogwarts!

Chapter 614 Darkness
Cohen couldn't quite remember how he had agreed to their request—perhaps he had become impatient with their pestering, or perhaps he was genuinely worried that the little snake monster would starve abroad with them.

In short, Cohen reluctantly agreed to let them go abroad with him to find Herpo's Horcrux.

But before that, they were to attend a party to celebrate Voldemort's complete defeat.

The party was held at the Ministry of Magic—because there were so many people that Grimmauld Place was no longer big enough.

Edward's announcement spread throughout the wizarding world in just half a day, letting everyone know the truth, and Cohen no longer had to be the "demon who killed Dumbledore".

That's why, when they heard that the Ministry of Magic was going to hold a celebration party, almost everyone they knew and had ever met showed up, as if Dumbledore had held another funeral.

This time, however, Dumbledore, who didn't look too good, was also present.

Cohen knew why, because he saw that Dumbledore's nose looked like it had been broken again—it was obviously Aberforth's doing.

"I'm so glad that the shadow that had hung over the wizarding world has finally lifted, and the one who contributed the most to that is sitting among us. Young, upright, able to resist the world's worst temptations, and possessing a heart full of love—I must say from the bottom of my heart, he is the noblest person I have ever met..."

Dumbledore, his voice slightly nasal, raised his glass and smiled at Cohen, saying...

"Respect to Cohen."

"To Cohen!" Hagrid raised his glass and shouted in a thunderous voice.

"Respect to Cohen!"

Everyone in the room raised their glasses and cheered for Cohen.

After toasting Cohen, the group moved around in small groups, some talking about the bright future without Voldemort, others exchanging stories about their lives.

"You didn't even tell me!" Arnold dragged Edward aside like he'd caught a traitor. "I thought you were really dead! I even spent seven thousand Galleons to buy you a nicer burial plot—"

"Huh?" Edward's eyes widened. "You really paid? Did you use my name? Can I get a refund—"

"Go to hell!" Arnold punched Edward hard in the kidneys.

Meanwhile, Professor McGonagall was also complaining that Dumbledore's silent feigned death had increased her workload considerably. However, despite her complaints, it was clear that she had a slight smile on her lips; she was overjoyed to hear that Dumbledore was still alive.

Harry and the others pressed Cohen for details about his next plans.

"What are you going abroad to find?" Harry asked. "Is it dangerous?"

“It’s a Horcrux belonging to a dark wizard—not Voldemort, of course,” Cohen said. “So the Horcrux could be hidden anywhere…but I’ve found some clues, and we need to head north; it might be buried very deep underground.”

"Underground?" Hermione pondered. "Is there any other information? You know, underground is a very broad area..."

“‘I hid it in an abyss where no one sets foot, my soul became the heart of the world, and to kill me is to kill themselves,’ Cohen said.”

“The uncharted abyss…the heart of the world…” Hermione murmured, “Who is that wizard?”

"That dark wizard's name is Helbo."

“That despicable Helbo?!” Hermione’s eyes widened. “But wasn’t he from thousands of years ago?”

“He was banished from this world by Merlin, and now, he’s coming back soon,” Cohen said. “I have to find his Horcrux before he returns, destroy it, and then kill him too—otherwise…”

“It’ll be just as much trouble as Voldemort,” Harry said, frowning.

“It sounds like he hid the Horcrux in the center of the Earth—but that’s impossible. Even wizards can’t go down there; the temperature there is five or six thousand degrees…” Hermione said.

“It could just be a boast,” Cohen said. “He kept some giant worms that could burrow anywhere underground. I think he might have attached a Horcrux to the worm and let it carry it underground—as for how deep the worm burrowed, he probably didn’t even realize it himself…after all, people thought the world was flat back then.” “Something containing the soul of an evil, ancient dark wizard was buried underground…” Ron said. “Do you think this thing will affect people on the surface? Maybe we could check out those strange places, like haunted houses or forests where Muggles die…”

“Horregularities can indeed have some adverse effects on ordinary people who come into contact with them, but buried underground…” Hermione shook her head, “too far away and they definitely won’t have any effect—Cohen? What’s wrong with you?”

Hermione noticed that Cohen's expression suddenly turned a little strange.

"There's a strange feeling about it."

Cohen touched his chest.

A sudden surge of suffocation, as if his heart had stopped beating, washed over him. Then, Cohen felt as if something had appeared outside.

"Outside--"

As Cohen spoke, he immediately walked out of the party room.

Harry and the others followed closely behind, wanting to see what Cohen had sensed.

It is nighttime, the sky is pitch black, and only the crescent moon and dim stars can be seen.

However, the color of the moon seems a bit off.

It's like a light bulb emitting a soft glow has been stained with black dirt.

"Why is the moon so dark?" Ron asked, frowning as he looked in the direction Cohen was looking.

“No, the whole sky went black,” Cohen said.

A spell has locked down this sky, or rather, this world.

Suddenly, as if it were a hallucination, the strange celestial phenomenon disappeared, and the moon returned to its original brightness.

"Hmm?" Harry asked, puzzled by the sky's fluctuating brightness.

Cohen understood what had happened.

Merlin guessed wrong.

Helbo didn't even need a year; he had already found him.

Although the part of Helbo's soul within him was dead, Cohen was still very familiar with him—especially the moment he returned to this world, when that aged soul's scent permeated almost every part of him.

“Helpo is back,” Cohen said. “I can feel him.”

"What?!" Hermione exclaimed in horror, "Should we tell Dumbledore and the others—"

“I think he’ll go back to Greece first,” Cohen said. “Also, I know how to find his Horcrux.”

Herpo's return brought good news—Cohen now felt that Merlin's "prophecy that didn't seem like a prophecy" suddenly had a higher degree of credibility.

Because Cohen sensed the return of Herpo's soul, he also sensed the existence of another "Herpo".

It was hidden in a remote location, but Cohen was able to find it by following the directions he felt.

(End of this chapter)