A new chapter is up.
Come in, get comfortable, and let’s see what kind of trouble waits this time ❤️ ✦ After that, Snape divided everyone into pairs.
To keep Hermione from helping Harry, he paired her directly with Edmund.
Edmund’s usual desk partner, a Ravenclaw named Malcolm Conroy, was sent to work with Hermione’s partner, Lavender Brown.
Edmund looked at the bushy-haired girl in front of him.
Her unruly hair framed delicate features, while her slightly prominent front teeth gave her an earnest, faintly awkward look.
If anything, the imperfection made her look more endearing.
Hermione was, he decided, a very attractive girl.
He nodded to Hermione in a friendly way, then lowered his head and began preparing the ingredients in front of him.
Ingredients.
Not food.
Potion ingredients.
Hermione seemed to want to say something, but hesitated.
Eventually, she spoke.
“Edmund Gaunt.
Did you go to Garden Primary?” Edmund looked up in surprise.
“Yes.
I graduated from Garden Primary.
How did you know?” Hermione let out a long breath, as if a suspicion had finally been confirmed.
“So it was you.
When I heard your name at the Sorting Ceremony, I thought it might be.” Then she extended her hand openly.
“Hermione Granger.
Your primary school classmate.
I was in Class Four.
I heard all about you back then.
You barely came to school all year, but whenever you did, you got full marks in every subject.” Edmund understood at once.
So he and Hermione had attended the same primary school.
He had not recognized her because, at the time, he had been too busy making money to spend much time at school.
If he had known earlier that Hermione was his classmate, he would have made a point of getting much closer to her.
The direction of that thought was anything but innocent.
‘Not now.
Snape is practically breathing down my neck.’ Edmund shook her hand.
“A pleasure to meet you, Miss Granger.
It seems we have rather good luck with coincidences.” “Call me Hermione.
Also, you were ahead of me all through primary school, but I will not lose here at Hogwarts.
I am going to outrank you.” The girl looked at him seriously, swearing it like a vow.
Edmund smiled and did not take offense.
That was simply the sort of person she was.
Stubborn, earnest, and rather cute.
“Mr.
Gaunt,” Snape’s cold voice slid in from the side, “if I were you, I would spend less time charming my classmates and more time adding the powdered snake fangs to the mortar.” Hermione flushed scarlet.
Edmund, whose skin was far thicker, calmly added the powdered snake fangs and began stirring.
When Snape saw that Edmund remained unmoved, he gave up targeting him and swept over to Harry’s side instead, staring at every movement and clearly waiting for a chance to strike.
An hour later, the students filed out of the Potions classroom with weary faces.
Harry looked especially battered.
Snape had scolded him until his spirit nearly left his body.
Just moments earlier, Harry’s improper handling of the potion had cost Gryffindor five more points.
Edmund stayed behind.
After seeing Harry’s miserable state, he felt it was necessary to talk to Snape.
He did not want Snape watching him all year.
He was not afraid, but it would be troublesome.
“Mr.
Gaunt,” Snape said icily, “I believe you should be leaving my classroom.
Unless you intend to earn yourself detention by lingering here.” There it was.
Snape had begun again.
Edmund went straight to the point.
“Professor, I believe we should talk.” Snape said nothing.
He only stared at the boy before him with black eyes like stagnant water.
Edmund continued.
“I am sorry about what happened at the Sorting Ceremony.
I did not mean for it to happen that way, but as you saw, the Sorting Hat’s mouth was faster than anyone expected.” “As you said, I may come from House Gaunt, but I am half-blood.
From what I understand, Slytherin would not be especially welcoming to someone like me.” “For me, Ravenclaw was the better choice.
Better for me, and better for the other students in Slytherin as well.” After saying this, Edmund watched Snape and waited.
Snape’s expression did not change.
He simply stood there, silently looking at Edmund.
For a while, the classroom was so quiet Edmund could hear Snape breathing.
At last, Snape spoke.
“Mr.
Gaunt, some matters on my side can end here.
Certain students, however, may not be under my complete control, even if I am their Head of House.” Edmund let out a quiet breath of relief.
The issue had finally been settled.
He still wanted to build a decent relationship with Snape.
Potions knowledge was too valuable to ignore.
“Of course, Professor.
I care only about your attitude.
As for everyone else, they do not matter.
I will take my leave.” Edmund gave a slight bow and left the classroom.
Snape watched the empty doorway for a long moment.
Lily’s name rose unbidden, along with the old question he had never managed to silence.
His expression tightened.
Then he turned back to the cauldron and said nothing.
Edmund knew nothing about what Snape was thinking.
At that moment, he was being stopped by Fred and George.
“Ah, Lord Gaunt.
Good afternoon.” Fred and George bowed with exaggerated ceremony.
Edmund rolled his eyes.
“Enough.
What do you want?” Fred grinned and threw an arm around Edmund’s shoulder as if they had been friends for years.
“George and I solemnly invite you to tonight’s Hogwarts Night-Roaming Party.
This Saturday at midnight.
Third-floor corridor, right-hand side.
Do not be late.” Edmund was curious.
What were the twins planning this time?
He had nothing urgent to do, and he wanted to see what they were up to.
He agreed at once.
Seeing how easily he accepted, Fred and George left arm in arm, pleased with themselves.
After saying goodbye to the two troublemakers, Edmund hurried to the Great Hall and ate a quick lunch.
He had History of Magic that afternoon, and time was tight.
In History of Magic, Edmund fell asleep.
Their professor was a ghost, Professor Binns, and his delivery was so flat it made time feel slower.
Edmund lasted ten minutes before successfully drifting off under Hermione’s disappointed glare.
At the same time, in the headmaster’s office on the eighth floor, Snape and Dumbledore sat facing each other.
A conversation about Edmund Gaunt was about to begin.
CREATORS’ THOUGHTS AuroraVale Thank you for reading.
I hope this chapter pulled you a little deeper into the story.
Stay close, because things are only getting more interesting.