For the Greater Good

They spent the entire day in the Room of Requirement. Even lunch was delivered there by house-elves.

Because they were still early in their magical training, Cho and Hermione did not have especially deep reserves yet. After casting a dozen spells or so, they needed to rest for a while.

Neither girl complained. They had never had such freedom to cast spells before.

That was one thing Edmund had to criticize about Hogwarts. Its education really did have problems.

Students were forbidden from casting spells in the corridors. In class, actual practice was limited and controlled. During summer, they were not allowed to use magic outside school.

As a result, Hogwarts students rarely had enough opportunities to practice magic properly.

It was like teaching Muggle students a concept in class and then forbidding them from doing exercises afterward.

No wonder each year seemed weaker than the last. Harry had carried Expelliarmus all the way to the end.

"All right. We will stop here today."

Edmund checked the time and realized dinner was approaching.

Harry let out a long breath. He had spent the entire day reading A Beginner's Guide to Defence Against the Dark Arts. Whenever his attention wandered, one of Edmund's spells flew over.

The spell was not dangerous, but it made his whole body itch. It was real damage as far as Harry was concerned.

Still, the day had not been useless. He had forgotten several of the spells he learned last year, and after a day of reading, he had remembered most of them. He had even learned a new one.

Fred and George were thrilled as well. Their talent was indeed good, and they could already cast Levicorpus smoothly. At the moment, the two of them were whispering and snickering about who should experience the spell first.

The group left the Room of Requirement and headed toward the Great Hall. Halfway there, Harry suddenly slapped his forehead.

"I forgot. I have to help Lockhart answer fan mail tonight."

This was McGonagall's punishment for Harry and Ron arriving at school by flying car. Ron had to polish trophies. Harry had to help Lockhart answer letters.

Harry would rather trade places with Ron than spend an evening alone with Lockhart. Edmund thought for a moment. He also needed to speak with Snape about Wolfsbane Potion.

"I need to find Snape for something," he told Cho and Hermione. "You two go on to the Great Hall."

The girls nodded and separated from him. Edmund went to Snape's office instead.

Snape did not especially enjoy eating in the Great Hall. He preferred staying alone in his office, particularly after Edmund gave him Eden's Realm. Since then, Snape had gone to the Great Hall even less often.

Edmund knocked. After receiving permission, he entered. Snape's office was as cold and damp as ever. To Edmund's surprise, Malfoy was there too.

The instant Malfoy saw Edmund, the blood drained from his face. He shot up from his chair and hid behind Professor Snape, his legs shaking.

Edmund saw the clear signs of trauma and smiled at him anyway.

"Oh, Malfoy. Here to complain to Professor Snape?"

"No! No, I'm not!" Malfoy said immediately. "Professor punished me by making me copy the Potions textbook. I did not come to report you."

He was terrified Edmund would misunderstand. He did not want to become a hamster again. That day would haunt him for the rest of his life.

Edmund had not expected Snape to be that ruthless. The moment the transfiguration wore off, he had made Malfoy stay and copy a textbook.

"Why are you here, Gaunt?" Snape asked, ignoring their exchange.

Edmund lifted the bottle in his hand.

"There is a matter of great benefit to peace in the magical world. I would like to discuss it with you."

As he said that, his eyes deliberately moved to Malfoy. Snape frowned, unsure what nonsense Edmund was planning this time. Then he turned to Malfoy.

"You may leave. And remember this clearly: some words should not be spoken."

Malfoy nodded quickly and hurried toward the door, as if granted a pardon. Before he could leave, Edmund called after him.

"Wait a moment, Malfoy."

Malfoy stopped uneasily.

"I do not think the honor of pure blood can be proved by a few vicious words."

Malfoy froze. He had not expected Edmund to say that.

"I am not pure-blood," Edmund continued. "But would you dare offend me?"

Malfoy lowered his head.

"You would not. Because you know I am strong. Weakness and ignorance are not what destroy people. Arrogance is."

Malfoy's fists clenched. He raised his head slightly as if he wanted to speak, but no words came.

Edmund waved him away.

He had only spoken on impulse. Malfoy looked rotten now, but the environment he had grown up in was partly responsible.

After Malfoy left, Edmund relaxed at once. Without waiting for Snape to invite him, he found a sofa and sat down.

At the same time, he sent the potion bottle and the parchment recipe floating to Snape's desk. Malfoy returned to the Slytherin dormitory and collapsed onto his bed.

A day of running and detention had exhausted him. He had wanted nothing more than sleep. But when he closed his eyes, Edmund's words kept circling in his mind. What was the honor of pure blood?

Since childhood, his father had taught him that being pure-blood meant he was born above others. But after coming to school, Malfoy had discovered that not only could he not compare to Edmund, he could not even compare to Hermione.

The cruel words he had thrown on the pitch had come partly from jealousy.

Edmund's words cracked the worldview his father had built for him. For the first time, Draco Malfoy began thinking on his own.

He wanted to be like Edmund, to rely on his own strength and become a figure the entire school had to acknowledge.

Even in Slytherin, where blood purity was worshipped, Edmund had more than a few admirers. Malfoy's confused gaze slowly gathered focus. He made a decision in his heart.

Edmund knew nothing about Malfoy's change in mood. He was currently staring at Snape, and Snape was staring back.

At last, Snape could not bear it anymore.

"Why did you develop Wolfsbane Potion? Most werewolves in the wizarding world are destitute. They will not create much profit for you."

Snape was displeased. Did Edmund not know one of his teacher's old enemies was a werewolf?

Edmund ignored the dissatisfaction and said with a sincere expression, "I am not doing it for money. I simply cannot bear to see werewolf wizards suffer discrimination while other wizards live in fear of being hurt."

"For the prosperity of the magical world, I created this potion so werewolf wizards can return to society."

Snape watched Edmund's passionate speech without moving. After a long silence, he finally said, "Speak like a human being, Gaunt."

He knew Edmund too well. The boy did not get out of bed unless there was something to gain. He did not believe a word of that noble speech.

"Fine. I want an Order of Merlin."

Edmund spread his hands and stated his real goal.

"You are serious?" Snape asked.

A young wizard winning an Order of Merlin was almost absurd. Snape himself did not have one, though that might have something to do with his past as a Death Eater. With his potion skill, he could have earned one by publishing a few papers under different circumstances.

"Of course, Professor. You are a respected Potions master with real connections. If you help me push this properly, it should be possible."

Snape considered it. Annoyingly, it might actually work.

Cornelius Fudge was a politician through and through. If a werewolf issue could be improved during his term, and if Snape's old contacts supported the claim, awarding Edmund an Order of Merlin was not impossible.

After thinking it through, Snape looked back at him.

"You are certain you want to publish the recipe for free, all for a medal and a hollow title?"

Edmund nodded.

"Very well. I will try. Do not expect too much. Awarding an Order of Merlin to a second-year has no precedent."

"In 1827 they awarded one to Sean Leavens, and he was a first-year," Edmund countered. He had read the history of the Order rather carefully.

"Because he died protecting ten Muggles," Snape said with cutting sarcasm.

Edmund fell silent. Fine. He had forgotten that part.

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