Martha didn't seem to mind Dobby wearing Cohen's old clothes or its employment relationship with the Norton family.
"If you ask me, keeping up this kind of slavery in modern times is really too cruel," Martha agreed. "Work should be rewarded. Even Erwin and Lyra (the two cats Martha adopted after Mr. Fluffy left) get cat food from me – as long as they're willing to keep me company while I knit…"
"I'm going to pack Christmas presents for my friends," Cohen said, planning to retreat from the living room as quickly as possible because Martha was about to watch a very, very old movie with Edward and the others, and Cohen wasn't interested in old movies. "But it's good that Harry and Ron are both at school, so the Earl won't have to make an extra trip."
The presents did indeed need to be packed quickly so the Earl could deliver them.
"Harry's… Ron's… Hermione's… Herbert's…"
Cohen counted the row of gift boxes he had spread out in the bedroom, labeled each one, and then stuffed them into the expanded pouch next to the Earl's talons.
"Christmas is such a hassle…"
"What are you complaining about? You're not the one delivering the gifts…" the Earl retorted. "And didn't you also prepare presents for Sithrak and the others?"
"Yeah, they're stuck in the trunk all day, which must be pretty boring. Giving them some presents will liven things up," Cohen said, looking at another pile of gifts – the ones that didn't need to be delivered by the Earl; Cohen would take them to the trunk himself later that night.
"That's nice," the Earl said.
"See? I told you I've always been a sunny, positive, and wholesome Dementor," Cohen said smugly.
"Does everyone have one?" The Earl still hadn't moved, trying to subtly probe Cohen about something.
"Sithrak's scarf, Arya's juice, the Chimera's yarn ball, The Republic, and a nest of rabbits, the little Basilisk's cumin-roasted meat, the old Basilisk's… adult toys…" Cohen counted. "No one's missing, right? For the unicorns, I plan to give them some orange trees so they can have a change of pace…"
"Does everyone really have one?" The Earl stared at Cohen and asked, "Think again?"
"Norbert's asleep. He probably won't wake up until next month; his belly's stuffed," Cohen said. "Forget about those sheep and Snargleffs. They're food. Don't get attached to food."
"Think again?" the Earl said impatiently.
"I'm not keeping Dumbledore in the trunk –" Cohen said. "Oh, right, and there's Mr. Fluffy's present."
"What about me? What about me?!" the Earl blurted out, his composure breaking. "Where's my Christmas present? I've been with you the longest! How come even Mr. Fluffy gets one, but I don't?!"
"Oh, oh, oh –" Cohen said, feigning sudden realization. "Isn't this letting you deliver the gifts? You get to handle so many Christmas presents –"
"..."
The Earl stared silently at Cohen, as still as a stone.
"Cheer up. The other animals only get one gift. You get to take several out today…" Cohen said, scratching the fluffy feathers around the Earl's neck.
"..."
"Okay, okay, I'm just teasing you," Cohen said. "I've prepared a big secret gift for you, the kind you want the most – you'll see it when you get back after delivering the presents."
"Really?" The Earl's previously dejected expression instantly brightened.
"Really," Cohen nodded.
The Earl believed Cohen's words and flew out the window with the presents.
And as soon as he was sure the Earl was gone, Cohen immediately rushed downstairs –
"I know this sounds crazy."
Cohen hurriedly pulled Edward, who was watching a movie with Rose and Martha on the sofa, aside.
"But we need to go to London and get back before dinner, or something really bad will happen…"
"Huh?" Edward asked, looking completely bewildered. "What happened?"
"I need to buy a new owl," Cohen said. "Quick, quick, quick!"
...
Cohen and Edward quickly set off. The holidays had just started, so there weren't too many cars on the streets.
"Did something happen to the Earl?" Edward asked Cohen on the way. "Why the sudden urge to buy a new owl?"
"Because I promised the Earl a Christmas present, but I didn't prepare anything," Cohen said. "And I also promised him that the gift would be 'the kind he wants the most' – the Earl has always wanted a female owl."
"Shouldn't he be looking for that himself?" Edward raised an eyebrow. "There are definitely plenty of single female owls in the Hogwarts owlery…"
"Guess why he's still single after more than two years?" Cohen said. "And he even hatched an egg that wasn't his."
"Cough, cough –" Edward choked on his saliva.
More than two years later, stepping back into Eeylops Owl Emporium in Diagon Alley, Cohen received the same treatment as before. All the owls inside suddenly stopped moving as soon as Cohen entered.
Edward, meanwhile, went to Ollivander's shop. He needed to get his wand repaired – it had been acting a bit wonky lately.
"Christmas Eve! Here to buy an owl?" the shopkeeper asked. "Oh, I remember you. You bought the Earl two years ago – poor old owl, he was almost about to start working at the post office…"
"I need to buy one for home," Cohen said. "A whole one… female?"
"Female?" The shopkeeper was a bit confused. Other young wizards buying owls usually chose ones with pretty plumage or young, strong ones good for delivering packages, but this one immediately asked for a female owl…
Her mind started racing through all sorts of possibilities, and her curiosity led her to settle on a rather unconventional one, giving Cohen a look of pity.
"Such a cute kid…" the shopkeeper sighed, saying in an almost inaudible voice, "How could he be into owls…"
"..." Cohen heard it – heard it with both ears!
"I wanted to find a companion for my owl…" Cohen said.
"I understand… I understand…" the shopkeeper said melancholically. "But you still need to try to change a bit in the future. Owls aren't exactly –"
"Hurry up," Cohen said, looking dejected. "I'm in a rush to get home…"
In the end, the shopkeeper picked out an owl with brightly colored feathers for Cohen. It was quite unusual, looking like it was wearing a fancy outfit.
Carrying this "Countess" out of the shop, Edward hurried over from the other end of Diagon Alley.
"Is your wand fixed?" Cohen asked. "If not, I can help you mail it to Dumbledore. He even fixed my wand that was snapped in half last time…"
"Got a new one," Edward said nonchalantly. "The old one really needed replacing. It's a miracle it didn't break when I sat on it – what are you going to name this owl?"
"Countess," Cohen said casually. "If she doesn't end up with the Earl, then…"
Cohen thought for a moment.
"Then she's yours – naming things is too much trouble – and you guys need an owl to send letters anyway, so you don't have to wait for the Earl to come back every time you want to write back to me."
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