"Heh, then just stay here. Conservatively… another forty-eight hours or so," Snape rolled his eyes. Clearly, he couldn't comprehend this bizarre obsession Kasenhis had with his "image" or "personal mystique." After muttering a few more words, he turned and left.
Cedric looked at Kasenhis, then at Snape's retreating back, finally letting out a long sigh of relief. Then, as if performing a magic trick, he pulled a wax-paper-wrapped bundle out from under his robes. "Professor? You must be hungry, right?"
Kasenhis nodded. "That's… actually true."
The scene somehow turned strangely harmonious—Kasenhis eating inside the coffin, Cedric sitting beside it, watching with a kind and gentle expression.
Then Cedric suddenly remembered something. "Professor, you're planning to lie here for forty-eight hours, at least?"
Kasenhis nodded while chewing. "Yeah."
"Then why don't you just teleport back to your office?" Cedric asked, hitting him squarely with the question of the day.
"…Huh?" Kasenhis froze mid-bite. He lowered his gaze and thought for a solid three seconds.
"...."
"....."
"I forgot."
"Then, uh… should I bring you another dinner later?" Cedric asked awkwardly.
"Obviously. Yes. Thank you," Kasenhis said, still lying in the coffin as he kept eating. Only after finishing everything in the paper bag did he finally teleport out of the coffin, pick up the wooden fragment Cedric had drilled out earlier, and pat it neatly back into place.
"Alright then, I'm heading back to my office. You should get some rest too. As for the food… if you really insist on bringing it, just leave it in my bedroom on the 3rd floor," Kasenhis said, stretching hard until his joints cracked like dry twigs. Then, with a soft whoosh, he vanished.
Cedric rubbed his chin thoughtfully, then finally decided to head toward the kitchen.
Meanwhile…
"So… you don't have your own bedroom?" Kasenhis had barely returned and was about to dive straight into bed when he saw Dumbledore sitting casually on a chair in the corner.
"No choice. I've always liked your interior design style. Shame you've never done mine," Dumbledore shrugged.
Kasenhis remained silent. Then Dumbledore spoke again.
"So that means… you've come back to life."
A shiver ran down Kasenhis's spine—the sarcasm and amusement in that tone were unmistakable.
"I haven't come back to life. I'm still dead. I'm a ghost now," Kasenhis grumbled, crawling into his blanket and wrapping himself up completely. A moment later, the blanket seemed to reject his clothes and spat them back out.
"Oh, I've always thought you weren't the type to become a ghost… To be honest, I can't quite picture you groveling and wagging your tail before Death himself," Dumbledore said, crossing one leg over the other leisurely.
"Uh-huh… what's that supposed to mean?" Kasenhis asked warily.
"For example, all the ghosts at Hogwarts—they became what they are because they feared death. They linger between life and death, pitiful, don't you think?" Dumbledore said softly.
"Worry about yourself. Fear of death is something everyone has. Just because you're not afraid doesn't mean you get to stand above others and point fingers," Kasenhis shot back, rolling over to face him.
"You're afraid of death, too?" Dumbledore asked.
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"I always thought you weren't—because of that little golden figure you have. But earlier today, I felt that same golden aura from Harry…" Dumbledore said suddenly.
"Yeah. I don't have much use for it these days. I just hang around Hogwarts doing nothing or tinkering in my office. Figured it was better off with him," Kasenhis said casually.
"You only had one?"
"That thing wasn't made by me… it was given to me by someone," Kasenhis replied sullenly.
"Your teacher?"
Kasenhis gave Dumbledore a long, speechless stare. "You've been lying for so long you've started believing your own nonsense? When have I ever had a teacher?"
"My apologies—you know how it is, old age makes one forget important things. Who was it?" Dumbledore asked, shaking his head.
"My future self," Kasenhis sighed, sitting up in bed and leaning against the headboard.
"Oh… that time. When you caused that great mess… But I still don't think that was a wise idea. If your future self gave that thing to you, it means you'll definitely need it one day, doesn't it?"
"Whether I use it or give it to Harry, it's the same, isn't it? Saving a life—what's the difference?"
"I mean, if we're talking about contribution to the world, it would be far more efficient for you to keep it for yourself," Dumbledore said carefully, choosing his words.
"So? You're… let me think of the right phrase—you're cherishing my life now? That's rich, considering you were the one who stuffed me in a coffin," Kasenhis said with a pout.
"Heh~ That was just a joke—no harm done. Much like the ones you play on me," Dumbledore said with a wink.
"I'm not mad about that," Kasenhis shook his head.
Dumbledore merely shrugged. "Of course not. I just think you deserve another choice. If you ever regret acting on impulse, now's your chance to take it back."
As he spoke, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small golden figure.
"How the hell did you dig that out of the beacon cube?" Kasenhis smacked his lips in disbelief.
"A little bit of magic. What I mean is—Harry's just one of your students. You really didn't have to go that far for him," Dumbledore said, placing the little golden figure on his palm and handing it toward Kasenhis.
"Oh, sorry. That thing's already soul-bound to Harry. It can't be reassigned."
"I think you'll find a way."
"I won't. And even if it weren't Harry but any other young wizard who needed it, I'd have made the exact same choice," Kasenhis said as he picked up the Totem of Undying, conjured a magic mirror with a flick of his hand, and tossed the totem through it—sending it straight back into Harry's beacon amulet.
"...Very well," Dumbledore said with a nod before leaving the bedroom. He went downstairs to the office, just as Cedric arrived carrying a paper bag of food.
"Uh… Headmaster?" Cedric asked, scratching the back of his head with one hand while holding the bag with the other.
"He's upstairs," Dumbledore replied.
"Thank you, Professor Dumbledore." Cedric hurried past him and went upstairs.
Dumbledore, meanwhile, reached into his pocket and pulled out an old envelope signed Kasenhis. Clicking his tongue, he gave it a casual wave—then a flicker of fire consumed it, erasing it completely from the world.
_________
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