"I'm going for a walk, feel free to do whatever," Cohen said. "Be back here when the clock strikes ten. I'll take you all back then."
[Relax, will you? It's not like I'd get lost in my own backyard,] hissed Xisoko casually, waving his hand. [Let's go have some fun. Maybe I'll even find a nice little lady snake tonight...]
After that, Cohen found the unicorn and gave it the same instructions—especially the part about shaking its head instead of nodding if anyone tried to invite it somewhere, lest it get dragged off by random students again.
He and Harry left the castle and headed into the fully grown rose garden outside. The place was dotted with strolling students, occasional bursts of laughter, and even a few professors walking about.
Twisting paths, elaborate flowerbeds, stone statues... Cohen walked alongside Harry, who was still preoccupied with thoughts of Ron and Hermione. Cohen, on the other hand, was scanning the area for a very specific beetle—one that, for some reason, radiated human soul energy.
To prepare, he had even downed a bottle of Happy Potion and brought the empty vial along—to trap a certain beetle reporter inside.
"Severus... I've heard whispers..." came Karkaroff's voice from a secluded corner of the garden.
Harry immediately grabbed Cohen and ducked behind a bush to eavesdrop.
"About that monster... and You-Know-Who. I don't think I can go back—I've felt the mark growing stronger these past months. I'm stuck between two burning walls..."
"Then run," Snape said flatly. "If the boy finds out where you stand, I'm not sure whether your ending will be better or worse for it."
"Doesn't Dumbledore care? Isn't he worried—"
"Dumbledore trusts him," Snape said, with a touch of scorn. "Unless you have a better plan? This time, even if you blab some secret again, it won't save your life. No one is safe anymore."
"Maybe you're all overreacting..."
"Then volunteer to test that theory," Snape said coldly. "Be useful for once. I'm not helping you. I'm staying at Hogwarts."
"Maybe I'll... switch sides again?" Karkaroff offered. "I'm not saying their plan will work, but—"
"If you wanted my help, you'd tell me the plan, not dance around it like some gossiping ghost. You're not trying to switch sides. You're just scared."
"Anyone would be scared, Severus—anyone!"
Karkaroff suddenly looked toward the snowy pine that shielded Cohen and Harry.
"Just out for a walk," Cohen said as he peeked out from behind the tree. "Sorry to interrupt, Professor Karkaroff."
All the color drained from Karkaroff's face. He stared at Cohen, breathing hard, his fingers twitching.
"Co-continue your walk—" Karkaroff mumbled before practically running away like he was fleeing a scene of disaster.
Snape stared after him, then turned his gaze toward Cohen and Harry.
"Walking's not a crime, is it?" Harry said. "Ten points off?"
Oddly enough, Snape didn't deduct any points. He simply snorted and swept off after Karkaroff.
"You've been possessed by your godfather or something?" Cohen turned to Harry. "Didn't know you had it in you to sass Snape like that."
"Sirius told me to never back down unless I actually break a rule," Harry said, relieved. "Still, I'm glad he didn't give me detention. Why was Karkaroff so scared of you?"
"Guilt," Cohen said. "Try being a triple agent—loyal to three sides. Even fence-sitters usually only have two sides."
"You think Voldemort's planning something again?" Harry frowned. "Maybe he's the one behind the vote scam... I mean, Karkaroff looked like he was gonna faint when he saw you—"
They walked deeper into the garden. Harry's theories spiraled from "Karkaroff trying to kill him" to "Snape being Voldemort's mole and they should tell Dumbledore immediately."
"Shh..." Cohen hushed him, gesturing toward a corner.
Hagrid and Madame Maxime were sitting together on a stone bench beside a fountain, deep in conversation. Thanks to Cohen's earlier warning, Hagrid hadn't drunk much tonight, and the topic had stayed safely within the range of Blast-Ended Skrewts and unicorns.
"Erm... Rattlesnake—no, I mean Blast-Ended Skrewt..." Hagrid stammered, blushing.
"My Abraxans are thriving under your care," Madame Maxime replied with a soft chuckle. "I imagine you're... very capable in many areas."
Hagrid turned red as a lobster.
Still, something was holding him back. Every time the conversation threatened to get more personal, Hagrid stumbled over his words and Maxime had to shift the topic herself.
While Harry watched anxiously, Cohen had his eyes on something else—a patterned beetle, soul strength reading: 28.
"Stupefy!" Cohen whispered, firing a Stunning Spell at it.
"What are you doing?!" Harry hissed, startled.
"Catchin' a Pokémon," Cohen muttered, crawling into the bushes like a sneaky predator and scooping the bug into his glass jar.
Mission accomplished, Cohen was ready to return to the castle—but Harry still looked baffled.
"What's a Pokémon?" Harry asked as they walked back.
"You'll find out in 1996," Cohen said, waving dismissively. "Right now, I need some sleep. Gotta send Xisoko and the others home. Unless you wanna stroll with the little snake girl again—I could convince Xisoko for you—"
"Yeah, I think I'll pass," Harry muttered, remembering what the real Basilisk looked like and immediately getting goosebumps.
As soon as they reentered the hall, Little Basilisk came running up to Cohen with two giant turkey legs clutched in her hands.
[Dad! Can I take the turkey legs home?!]
"Sure. Why not? They're free," Cohen said, glancing around. Dumbledore wasn't nearby, so there was no need to ask for permission.
Food at Hogwarts really did feel like it came from the wind.
"..." Harry looked at the basilisk calling Cohen "Dad" and seemed to fall into some kind of emotional crisis.
"Still not interested in being my son-in-law?" Cohen teased. "Name the face you want on her human form, I'll make it happen. Just say 'Dad' and we're set—"
"Not in a million years," Harry snapped.
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