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The Gryffindor common room was packed, upstairs and down. As long as Professor McGonagall didn't show up, nothing could go wrong during the Christmas holidays.
Just as Cohen was about to lie down behind the goat for a nap, the chat slate he had in his pocket suddenly grew warm.
This meant the Change Charm had worked, and someone on the other end had written something.
Sliding off the Chimera, Cohen took out the slate and glanced at it.
Fine scratches appeared on the surface.
> [Are you there? I came back early. Did you go home for Christmas?]
It seemed that Carlton's "goal" had been successfully completed.
He just didn't know what goal that was.
> [Yeah, at school for Christmas] Cohen wrote back after the words disappeared.
> [This little thing of yours is pretty cool. Is it an alchemical product?] Carlton wrote another line.
> [Just carved a Change Charm on it. Not that hard]
> [That's pretty impressive for a student. My brother used to be a Hogwarts student too. He even took alchemy classes back then—but Ginny told me that Hogwarts hasn't offered alchemy in years because no one's interested.]
> [Mostly because it's not on the O.W.L. or N.E.W.T. exams.]
Cohen felt like his conversation skills were about to hit a dead end.
> [I really wish I could go to Hogwarts, too] Carlton wrote.
> [?] Cohen suddenly perked up. [You're not an adult yet?]
> [I never said I was an adult. I've never told you who I am. My brother said that age and gender should be kept private.]
Cohen remembered. Ginny also said this person never told her their age. The Baron hadn't either. The Baron only said they were very old.
> [Hogwarts isn't all that great. You don't learn much and you have to get up for classes in the morning] Cohen wrote.
> [Being able to make friends with so many people is amazing] Carlton wrote. [My brother is always telling me stories about Hogwarts. They're so interesting, but he doesn't come back much anymore.]
> [So you have a wand? You learn magic at home?]
> [Yes, and my brother's friends teach me magic, too] Carlton wrote. [I've told Ginny about some of it, but she said those things can't be learned at Hogwarts.]
Got it!
A pure-hearted girl who's been led astray.
> [Do you know why the spells that can't be learned at Hogwarts are forbidden?]
> [Because they're too powerful and hard to control?] Carlton wrote.
> [Because using violent, cruel, and malicious curses will make a person extreme and fanatical. Your brother's friends don't happen to be part of an organization called the Silver Key, do they?]
> [How did you know?!] Carlton wrote, the lettering looking a bit frantic. [They told me not to tell outsiders—are they bad people?]
> [I guess so, if you think destroying the world is an evil goal.]
> [Destroy the world? But my brother said they can find a way to cure my disability so I can go to Hogwarts. If their goal is to destroy the world, then curing my leg wouldn't matter, right?]
It seemed Carlton didn't believe him.
> [I can cure your leg] Cohen wrote.
There was a long pause before a reply.
Almost ten minutes went by.
> [I don't believe you.] Carlton wrote. [Even a powerful wizard like Dumbledore couldn't cure this illness. We wrote to him for help, and he came to see me and said there was nothing he could do... My brother said only the 'god' they're searching for can do it.]
> [Then it's even more perfect, because I'm that guy.]
> [Dumbledore?]
> [No, I'm the 'god' your brother is looking for.]
A little more time passed.
> [Liar.]
"Pffft!" Cohen spat out a mouthful of water he had just taken.
"ROAR!" The lion happily bounded over, thinking Cohen was ready for a cuddle.
"Not you. I'm chatting with someone online," Cohen said, pushing the drooling lion head away.
This is interesting. You've successfully piqued my interest, woman.
> [How about I just show up at your house? I'll prove it to you?] Cohen wrote.
> [You know where I live?!] Carlton's lettering became sharp, the smooth cursive 'M's turning into rigid, single strokes.
> [If you dare to track an owl—I'll report you to the Ministry of Magic!]
> [Do you know that members of the Silver Key are wanted by the Ministry of Magic?] Cohen wrote, amused.
> [I don't care. If you come here without permission, I'll report you immediately.]
> [Alright, alright.] Cohen wrote.
With Edward's campaign in a crucial phase, Cohen couldn't afford any slip-ups.
Otherwise, Crouch would have a field day with headlines like, "Edward Norton's Son Breaks Into a Minor Witch's House at Night."
> [My name is Cohen Norton. Ask your brother if that's the name of the person they're looking for,] Cohen wrote. [But don't say you know me from a letter. Say you saw it in the newspaper.]
> [My brother only gets the Quibbler,] Carlton wrote. [But I'll ask him. I'll say I heard it in the village. If I find out you're lying, I'll never write to you again—and I'll tell Ginny too, so she won't be your friend either.]
Well, that would be tough since Ginny wanted to report her in the first place.
> [You can also ask Ginny if I'm Cohen Norton,] Cohen wrote.
> [I hear my brother coming back. I have to hide this. Wait—I'll know whether you're lying or not soon enough.]
"What's so funny?" the goat asked, seeing Cohen laughing like he was watching a comedy.
"I'm just having a blast pretending to be myself," Cohen said, satisfied. "It feels like pretending to be a pig to eat a tiger—no, she's not a tiger."
"Happy endings are often painful," the goat said matter-of-factly. "You should be prepared for that."
"That won't happen for many years. I've already prepared myself for everyone growing old and dying—" Cohen said, suddenly stopping.
The prophetic vision he had previously dismissed as useless.
The grey-haired person hanging in front of the archway in the Department of Mysteries...
He'd thought Carlton was a mad zealot before, so he hadn't cared much about her death.
But now he'd discovered that Carlton was just an innocent kid.
> [You still there? Don't tell your brother about this.]
There was no news from the other end.
It seemed Carlton had really hidden the slate.
"How long would it take to get to Devonshire from here?" Cohen asked the Chimera.
"Being impatient will only make things worse," the goat said. "If that person is in danger right now, you're already too late. Besides, I don't think a brother would harm the sister he lives with. It would be like me biting my own tail."
> [Wrong. You've bitten me.] the water snake tail said.
> [That was because you were trying to bite the lion but bit my hind leg by mistake.] the goat retorted.