Who let this Dementor into Hogwarts!

Chapter 226 What about me? Where’s my Christmas present?

Martha didn't care much about Dobby's old Cohen clothes and his employment relationship with the Norton family.

"If you ask me, it's really too cruel to still have this kind of slavery system in modern times," Martha agreed. "Work should be rewarded. Even Alvin and Leila (the two cats Martha raised after Mr. Frondo left) can get cat food from me - as long as they are willing to accompany me while I knit sweaters..."

"I'm going to pack Christmas presents for my friends." Cohen planned to leave the living room as soon as possible because Martha planned to watch a very old movie with Edward and the others. Cohen was not interested in old movies. "But luckily Harry and Ron are at school, so the Earl can save himself a trip."

The gifts indeed had to be packed up and sent out by the Count as soon as possible.

"Harry's... Ron's... Hermione's... Herbert's..."

Cohen counted the rows of gift boxes he had spread out in his bedroom, labeled them one by one, and stuffed them into the expansion bag next to the Count's paw.

"Christmas is such a hassle..."

"What are you yelling about? You weren't the one delivering the gifts..." the Count complained, "And did you prepare gifts for Sissoko and the others?"

"Yeah, it's boring for them to stay in the box all day long. Give them some gifts to change things up." Cohen looked at another pile of gifts - those that the earl didn't need to give away, Cohen would take to the box himself at night.

"That's very good," said the Count.

"I always said that I have always been a sunny, positive and healthy Dementor." Cohen said proudly.

"Every one of them?" The count still did not move, trying to ask Cohen something indirectly.

"Sissoko's scarf, Yali's juice, Chimera's yarn ball, 'The Republic' and a litter of rabbits, the little basilisk's cumin barbecue, the old basilisk's sex toys..." Cohen counted the items. "Nothing is missing. I'm going to give the unicorns some orange trees to change their taste..."

"Have you really got every one of them?" the Count asked, staring at Cohen. "Think about it again?"

"Norbert is sleeping. He probably won't wake up until next month. He's so full of food." Cohen said, "Forget about those sheep and dwarf pig monsters. They're just food. Don't get attached to it."

"Think again?" said the count impatiently.

"I didn't keep Dumbledore in a box—" said Cohen. "Oh, and there's Mr. Frondo's gift."

"What about me? What about me?!" the Count cried out in frustration. "Where's my Christmas present? I've been with you the longest! How come even Frando has one, but I don't?"

"Oh, oh, oh..." Cohen said, pretending to understand suddenly, "Didn't I ask you to deliver the gifts? You can handle a lot of Christmas gifts..."

"..."

The Count stared at Cohen in silence, as still as a stone.

"Be happy. Other animals only have one gift, but you can take several out today..." Cohen said, scratching the fluffy feathers next to the earl's neck.

"..."

"Okay, okay, I won't tease you anymore," Cohen said. "I've prepared a secret gift for you, the kind you want most - you'll see it when you come back from delivering the gifts."

"Really?" The Earl's originally depressed expression suddenly brightened up.

"Really." Cohen nodded.

The Count believed Cohen's words and flew out of the window with the gift.

After making sure the Count had left, Cohen immediately rushed downstairs.

"I know it sounds crazy."

Cohen hurriedly pulled Edward, who was watching a movie on the sofa with Rose and Martha, and said, "But we have to go to London before dinner and get back in time, otherwise something bad will happen..."

"Huh?" Edward asked in confusion, "What happened?"

"I need to buy a new owl," said Cohen. "Quick, quick, quick!"

……

Cohen and Edward were on the road soon. It was the beginning of the holiday and there were not many cars on the streets.

"Did something happen to the Earl?" Edward asked Cohen on the way. "Why do you suddenly want to buy a new owl?"

"Because I promised to give the Earl a Christmas present, but I didn't prepare anything," Cohen said, "and I also promised him that the gift would be 'what he wanted most' - the Earl had always wanted a female owl."

"Shouldn't it go find something like this on its own?" Edward raised his eyebrows. "There must be many single female owls in the Hogwarts Owlery..."

"Guess why it's been single for over two years?" Cohen said, "and it's hatched an egg that isn't its own."

"Cough cough——" Edward choked on his saliva.

After more than two years, Cohen walked into Eeylops Owl Shop in Diagon Alley again and was treated the same way. All the owls here suddenly stopped moving after Cohen came in.

Edward went to Ollivander's shop to get his wand repaired - his wand had been a little clumsy lately.

"Christmas Eve! Are you here to buy an owl?" asked the store manager. "Oh, I remember you. Two years ago you bought the Earl - poor old owl, who was almost going to work in the post office..."

"I need to buy one for my family," Cohen said. "A whole...female?"

"Female?" The store manager was a little confused. Other young wizards would choose owls with attractive fur or ones that were young and strong enough to deliver packages, but this one wanted a female...

Various possibilities began to run through her mind, and her curiosity made her finally choose a possibility that defied all odds. She also gave Cohen a look of regret.

"What a cute child..." the store manager sighed and said in an almost inaudible voice, "Why is he so mean to the owl..."

"..." Cohen heard it—he heard it with both ears!

"I was looking for a companion for my owl..." said Cohen.

"I understand... I understand..." the store manager said sadly, "But you still have to work hard to change in the future. Owls are not really—"

"Hurry up," Cohen said with a sullen face, "I'm anxious to get home..."

Finally, the store manager picked out an owl for Cohen with brightly colored feathers, which was not common at all. It looked like it was wearing a fancy dress.

As Edward walked out of the store with the "Countess", he hurried over from the other end of Diagon Alley.

"Is the wand repaired?" Cohen asked, "If not, I can send it to Dumbledore for you. He repaired my wand when it was broken in two last time..."

"I got a new one," Edward said nonchalantly. "The old one really needed replacing. It's a miracle I didn't break it off. What are you going to name this owl?"

"The Countess," Cohen said casually, "if it and the Count hadn't gotten along..."

Cohen thought for a moment.

"I'll give it to you—choosing a name is difficult—and it just so happens that you need an owl to deliver your mail. This way you don't have to wait for the Earl to come back before you can write to me."

(End of this chapter)