Arya's complaints were useless. Cohen wouldn't allow it to drink until its blood alcohol level went down.
After delivering the presents, Cohen also decorated a fir tree brought from the unicorn enclosure with the black goat. Due to the unicorns' living habits, Cohen had previously allocated a piece of land for them to plant trees.
However, the decorations on this Christmas tree were not as "normal" as human ones. At the strong request of the little Basilisk and the lion, the fairy lights that should have been hung were replaced with lamb legs and pork chops.
"Why does this feel a bit bloody and terrifying?"
Cohen took a few steps back after finishing and looked at his work – it could only be said that it looked nothing like a Christmas tree.
Lamb blood and pig blood soaked the fir branches. The green and red tree, coupled with the bloody meat hanging on the top…
But the smell of blood didn't make Cohen nauseous. All the animals except the unicorns didn't feel anything was wrong with the tree. In fact, most of them looked like their appetites had increased greatly.
The little Basilisk bit into a lamb leg on the tree. Since Cohen had fixed the tree branches with a Hardening Charm, it hung straight down, shaking its body in the air, trying to tear the lamb leg off.
The lion was much stronger, especially when its limbs were on the ground. It bit a slightly smaller piece of meat hanging on the lower part of the "Christmas tree" and pulled it off the tree with a single tug.
"Be gentle when you eat," the black goat reminded the lion, because the lion liked to shake its head while tearing at the meat, and the black goat's book was leaning against the back of the lion's head. "You don't need to shake that much to bite it off."
**[Looks delicious.]**
Sithrak said it had already put on the scarf, but not around its body. Instead, it was piled on top of its head.
"Why do you look like Quirinus Quirrell…" Cohen clicked his tongue. "Anyone who didn't know better would think you had Voldemort on the back of your head too."
**[Having something to cushion Sophia makes her more comfortable. She's so big now but still likes to curl up on top of my head…]** Although the words sounded like complaint, Sithrak's tone was anything but. **[She'll shed her skin in a few months. Once she's bigger, she won't be able to stay on my head anymore.]**
Before leaving, Cohen also left the little Dementor, Mirk, here.
When asked what Christmas present it wanted, Mirk didn't say anything – so Cohen gave it some silk clothes.
It would be hard for a normal person to imagine a Dementor wearing a pile of sweaters and scarves.
But Mirk seemed very happy, so Cohen didn't care how strange it looked. Considering that the Earl no longer lived here, a Dementor living here wouldn't panic any creature. So, Cohen let Mirk choose a room in the cabin to live in and moved all its belongings out of Cohen's pocket.
Cohen's scent was everywhere here. Mirk didn't feel any discomfort from moving, and there were many creatures here, which was much more interesting than the empty pocket.
After arranging everything, Cohen climbed out of the trunk, planning to go to sleep.
The colorful owl had already been let out of its cage and was nuzzling the Earl, making noises – but Cohen couldn't understand owl language.
"No," the Earl said, glancing away.
"No," the Earl refused.
"I have my standards," the Earl shifted its body.
"How rare, you actually rejected another owl's advances?" Cohen said admiringly.
"If you keep talking, the memoirs you write later will turn into a sensational, messy, and… adult story," the Earl said. "When did you learn to speak owl?"
"I didn't. I guessed."
Cohen changed into his pajamas.
"Anything related to you will definitely become perverted."
"Anything related to you will definitely become terrible," the Earl retorted. "How did you find the only owl among a pile of owls that's related to me? Or is this actually part of your plan – you're terrifying…"
"Nonsense, the shopkeeper at Eeylops Owl Emporium helped me choose it. I even specifically told her I wanted a female – I was even mistaken for a little weirdo who likes owls."
Cohen snuggled into bed.
"..." The Earl sighed.
The colorful bird nuzzled closer to the Earl.
Late at night, Cohen's room welcomed two uninvited guests again.
Dark clouds covered the moonlight, and everything was as dark as spilled ink.
One was wearing pitch-black clothes that almost blended into the night, and so was the other.
"Damn it, does this family really have a million pounds in cash savings?" Black-Clad Man A whispered, complaining. "Your intel better not be bull. I've been staking out for days. Which millionaire goes to the Hellfire Club every Saturday to play freaking Dungeons & Dragons?"
"We gotta steal something, right? Two months without a score. We gotta take something this time…"
Black-Clad Man B said,
"At least the other information the guy gave us was correct. This family never locks their doors…"
"That's even more freaking suspicious!" A said angrily. "What rich family doesn't lock their doors?!"
The Earl stared curiously at the two men in its cage.
"Shush, shush, shush—" B quickly shushed A. "This family even keeps a pigeon."
The sound did sound a lot like a pigeon.
"I'm a freaking owl…"
The Earl couldn't help but grit its teeth and curse under its breath.
"Who's talking?" B asked warily.
"Probably the TV. This family's downstairs watching TV," A said, feeling around the various cabinets in the room. "Never mind this cooing idiot bird. Hurry up and search this room. If there's nothing here, we'll go to the next room. I've seen that old movie this family is watching. It's only a third of the way through. We have a whole hour to search this house…"
First, the wardrobe. No money inside.
Then the bookshelf. All rubbish.
The bedside table… nothing.
"Kid!" A exclaimed in surprise after touching the living person on the bed.
"Grumble…" The kid on the bed rolled over.
"Did you bring the knockout potion?" A whispered. "Don't let this little brat wake up and start yelling…"
"Yeah…" B took a small bottle out of his pocket and gently applied the knockout potion under Cohen's nose. "If we really don't get any money, we'll take this kid too…"
The Earl watched this scene with amusement.
"Coo-coo?" The colorful owl was also very curious.
"Does this stuff work on birds?" B asked uncertainly.
"Pigeon sounds aren't that loud anyway." A glanced at the direction of the two birdcages and waved his hand at B. "Continue—"
Suddenly, he stopped.
A pair of rather large yellow eyes were staring at them in the darkness.