Edmund had to stay in that room for another day before he could be released, or that Madam Pomfrey thought it would be fine to let him go. By that time he knew that he doesn't like to be the patient rather than the occasional helper in the Hospital Wing. He hated being useless and it was eating at him.

The Gryffindor Quidditch team talked to Edmund a bit before disappearing. Fred and George were complimenting him how it looked as if he was in an action movie. Edmund thought it was funny. The three Gryffindor Chasers all praised him with flushed, blushing faces. He just smiled and thanked them but said that he'd do it again. The only thing left unspoken was that he'd do anything for family.

On the last day before Edmund was released from the Hospital Wing, Hagrid sent him and Harry a bunch of flowers that looked like yellow cabbages. Edmund thought that it was peculiar but he still appreciated the flowers. Ginny gave Harry a letter and Edmund a smile before running away, her face as red as her flaming-red hair.

Edmund and Harry only exchanged a few words about what had happened in Professor Lupin's office, but it was never about quidditch. Relief had spread through his chest as some sense of normalcy returned to the two of them, he had missed his friend.

The occasional uncomfortable, tense silences were mostly made by Edmund and Ron along with Edmund and Harry. Maybe Hermione and Ron if it was a bad day. His heart just keeps sinking with how out of it they all were. The only thing constant in the group would be Edmund's feelings for Hermione, those would never leave. Guessing by the flutter in his stomach and the furrowing eyebrows as he listened to her, she'd never not have his attention.

The first class that Edmund returned to was Transfiguration, Harry hasn't returned to class yet. Edmund got many praising looks from his fellow students but he'd always look away to not meet their eyes.

Draco had passed him a note with it saying that he was glad that Edmund was alright. Edmund now keeps that paper in his wallet that is on his desk.

The day Harry returned, the boy had lagged back to speak with his uncle Remus. Edmund noticed and started to pack his bag instead of staying behind and talking with his uncle. But as soon as he neared the door, Harry's hand grabbed onto Edmund's. "How did you make those dementors back off?"

"Patronus charm." Edmund answered and Harry's grip on his arm loosened. He shared a look with his uncle before looking back at Harry. "It's a hard spell, Harry. Advanced wizards even struggle with it."

Harry had the same look on his face when his uncle told him that Edmund's mother was his father's twin sister. The same look of questions that were never answered. His hand was removed from his arm and Edmund nodded at the two before making his way out of the room. He had to go to Ancient Runes.

"Edmund?" Hermione said, quietly as he placed her set of books in front of her. "Why did you do that?" It was the first time they were alone, well alone was loosely said since they were in the back of a classroom.

"Do what?" He asked and shot her a look.

"Jump to catch Harry like that, you could've hurt yourself."

Edmund let out a short breath and looked at her. "It would be a big fall." He whispered to her, "I didn't want him to get hurt."

"Ron says it was because Dumbledore was watching the match." Hermione whispered back to him and his stomach just dropped. Edmund straightened his posture as Hermione whispered Ron's name out, it just happened automatically.

"Ron says a lot of things lately." Edmund said through grinding teeth and looked away, breaking eye contact and thus the short conversation between them. He felt particularly annoyed when Draco turned around to look at the two of them sitting together, the blonde had a smug look on his face.

He was starting to hang out less and less with Ron but talked with Harry more. Harry had seemed to warm up to the idea of them being family. For the first time since that meeting Harry had asked to hang out and Edmund brought all of the memories and pictures that included Harry's parents.

The end of term neared and he still hadn't told Hermione. He just couldn't, the guilt that ate at him when he told Harry the truth was still sore. Hermione doesn't even fully know him as Edmund Black, she doesn't know that he is family of Harry, she doesn't know that he had lived with his mother for years before she passed and she doesn't know that their Professor Lupin isn't his blood.

She just doesn't know.

"Edmund!" Harry caught his arm as soon as he laid his eyes on the Hufflepuff. Edmund was out by the wooden bridge, watching over the land as snow fell. It was nice scenery that he'd go outside to enjoy.

Edmund looked up at him with rosy cheeks from the cold. "Harry? What is wrong?" Edmund's hand immediately inched towards his wand that was carefully stuffed into his waistband. A piece of parchment was pushed into his face and a look of recognition spread across his face. "No way." Edmund let out a cloudy breath.

He read the words that were written on top of the parchment, "Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs." Edmund looked up at Harry, "You know what this is right?"

"My father and your father and Professor Lupin made it." Harry nodded enthusiastically, "Fred and George had it."

"Wormtail." Edmund said bitterly as he looked over at the paper. "Peter Pettigrew."

"The one who betrayed our-"

"Parents." Edmund nodded, "You should call him Uncle Remus, Harry. You deserve that." Edmund said after he took a good look at the paper and saw his Uncle walk around the first floor, and Professor Dumbledore pace around in the Headmaster's office.

"We can go to town." Harry whispered.

Edmund raised his eyebrows at his cousin. "I mean, we could but should we?"

"Where is the danger, Edmund?" Harry questioned, "Let me tell you, it's not your father." Edmund let out an amused breath the moment his cousin said that, he shook his head and nodded.

"Fine, let's go." He said. His uncle Severus would give him a disappointed look but he knows Edmund, he is prone to peer pressure. Edmund himself isn't proud of it but it isn't in his nature to deny anyone or say no to fun. He just can't utter any sort of rejection. Unless you're Lavender.

The Black followed closely after Harry as they navigated through the school to stand in front of a statue. "We need to avoid Uncle Moony at all costs." Edmund whispered to Harry. "He'll recognize it." Harry nodded and tapped the stone witch statue.

It opened enough for a fairly thin person and Edmund blinked. "Do I?"

Harry nodded, "Just squeeze through, I don't care, we need to hurry so we have some time before the store closes." Edmund nodded and followed after Harry. They followed some weird tunnel and when Harry climbed something, Edmund had to suppress a laugh when he heard a thud. "Don't laugh, you wanker." Harry hissed and slowly pushed open the trapdoor, letting in a stream of light that barely made a difference.

Edmund followed after Harry with wide eyes and kept his head ducked. He didn't want to get recognized, out of all people to get caught, he would be in the most trouble. Trouble with his uncle Severus, most likely he would have to clean every table and cauldron. Trouble with his Uncle Remus, most likely that he would have to clean the grindylow's tank and at last, trouble with Professor Dumbledore.

The old man was already taking his free time and spending it on mentoring Edmund. It wasn't necessary for him to teach Edmund. He does it because he wants to. The Hufflepuff walked into Harry's back as the boy suddenly halted in his step. "Edmund wouldn't want those, he'd certainly find them interesting, but he wouldn't want them." Hermione said to Ron.

Edmund had a small smile on his face now.

"Who cares what Edmund wants, such a bloke." Ron huffed, "She still isn't over it, you know? Lavender doesn't deserve anyone inconsiderate like Edmund, besides, he's just tall, there is nothing else to him except. No personality, nothing. He's just Cedric's 'yes'-man."

Harry had to keep Edmund from taking out his wand and hexing the Weasley. Hermione had an annoyed look on her face when Ron talked but with the way she looked at Ron, Edmund knew that she wasn't going to defend him, in fear of not getting Ron to like her. Edmund scoffed.

It was a loud scoff because Ron and Hermione's eyes met his stormy grey ones. Blue eyes widened, "Ed, Edm-" The boy stuttered and Edmund just clenched his jaw as he glared at the ginger Gryffindor.

"Shut up Ron." Edmund crossed his arms, his voice staying relatively steady. "You already said enough, didn't you?" He looked over at Hermione. "I don't need anything from Honeydukes, thank you for looking though." He said, already feeling for the cold tone that he had used with her.

Harry reached out for his arm but Edmund just shook his head, "I'm going back." He said shortly. "See you later, Harry." The boy then disappeared behind the counter and into the basement.

—

"Hermione and Ron now think that your father was a double-agent for Voldemort." Harry said as soon as they were alone in the library.

"And why would they think that?" Edmund frowned as he continued to look for the book that he needed for his homework.

"Minister Fudge was in town. Decided to get some drinks with Professor Flitwick, McGonagall and Hargrid." Harry explained, "Flitwick and Fudge were mostly talking. McGonagall looked uncomfortable and Hagrid just left."

Edmund had a small smile on his face and he grabbed the spine of the book that he needed to find. "That means that Professor Flitwick doesn't know, and that our Minister is still under the illusion that my father is guilty." Edmund hummed. "Thank you for telling me, Harry."

The silence was uncomfortable and Edmund could feel Harry wanting to explain everything that Ron had said and Hermione didn't do. "He didn't mean it." Harry said and Edmund knew that he was right. "You know how he is."

"I know exactly how he is, Harry." Edmund sighed and the two walked over to the table that Edmund was using. "He meant it. He doesn't like me for what I did to Lavender," Even though it happened months ago, "And he thinks that I'm just a yes-man for Cedric."

"Still, Hermione doesn't deserve your cold shoulder."

Edmund's heart broke a bit, "It's for the better." He said quietly. "She likes Ron and doesn't dare defend me to lose his 'interest' in her." He glanced up to see Harry already looking at him. "I'm keeping my distance, for me."

Harry nodded, understanding what Edmund was trying to say. "I see." Harry said quietly. "At least speak a bit, it doesn't have to be some deep conversation. Just be friendly to her, no cold shoulders."

Edmund nodded and sat down in his seat, before Harry had the chance to leave the library, Edmund called out for him. "Harry?" The boy turned around, "I'm glad you decided to be my cousin."

"I'm glad to be your cousin." They had their quiet exchange that went unnoticed by anyone in the deserted library. It was empty because of the holidays. Everyone was gone and the usual group stayed.

His Uncle Remus went back home, having to undergo yet another transformation as some wicked Christmast present. His Uncle Severus couldn't leave because of the worrisome sightings of Black around the wizarding village. The ministry thought that it would be a good idea to have many teachers posted at Hogwarts.

Edmund roamed the empty corridors. Occasionally coming across a teacher who was out on patrol. Each telling Edmund to hurry down to the basement and sleep. He didn't have anything to do, because there was nothing to do. Professor Dumbledore and him continued to have their bi-weekly mentoring sessions but it was a monday, they didn't do anything on a monday. His Uncle Remus was out, and his Uncle Severus wasn't to be disturbed for some reason.

He wasn't about to go ahead and talk with Ron or Hermione. The only thing that really helped him through his loneliness would be Hagrid and Harry. Hagrid was kind and would pour him some tea whenever Edmund visited his hut, and if it was a nice day, Hagrid would let Edmund help with taking care of the animals that roamed around the property.

Harry, his cousin. Would be normal. It was something that Edmund had missed. They talked about quidditch most of the time and sometimes even argued about their teams. "Edmund." His head turned around as he heard someone call out his name.

"Hermione." He nodded at her and stopped walking. The girl walked up to him with an apologetic look on her face. "Did you just come from the library?" He asked.

She nodded, "I did." The Ravenclaw said, "I couldn't find you."

"I'm just walking around." Edmund shrugged.

"Look I'm sorry for what happened in Honeydukes." She said. Edmund let out a breath and just nodded.

"It's fine."

"No it isn't." Hermione argued with him. The way she looked at him with determination to apologise made his walls crumble. Just like it always did whenever she was around him, her mere present being was enough to make him fold. "I didn't say anything-"

"Because you like Ron." Edmund hummed, "That's fine."

Hermione looked at him with a raised eyebrow, "Is it really?" She asked, quietly. She was now doubting herself.

"Why wouldn't it be?" Edmund asked and shrugged. At this point in life, acting as if it doesn't bother him was something he had mastered. "You can like Ron. Doesn't mean that I have to."

"But he's a nice guy." She defended.

"Yeah, to you maybe." Edmund took in a breath. "He has been nothing but an ass to me since the beginning of the school year because he likes Lavender." Hermione's eyes had a flash of hurt in them. "I'm sorry." He said quietly.

"For what?"

"For saying that." He apologised. "You like him and I shouldn't have said that he likes another when I'm not even sure of that." Edmund looked around the corridor and saw the Fat Friar floating around. "Look I should go, they're patrolling a lot around the first corridor. Don't get caught for being out this late, yeah?"

She looked like she wanted to protest but reluctantly nodded. Edmund turned around and walked down to the Hufflepuff entrance. His heart was beating as he just couldn't think of what had just happened.

He wanted to confess, saying that he can be better than Ron. That he is the one who actually likes her, not Ron who only sees Lavender, him. Edmund was the one to look at. Edmund took in a breath and just closed his eyes as he sunk in the first couch he came across. "Bloody hell."

Edmund was being distant to her for his own sake, but whenever she gets close, his walls crumble at an instant. He wishes that she couldn't do that, what was even worse, is that Hermione doesn't even know what effect that she has on him.

—

Edmund had helped the staff put up the Christmas decorations around the castle. Holding the ladder still for Filch, who didn't even want the help. He had helped Hagrid pick and pull a tree into the Great Hall. He then helped Professor Flitwick hang up the Christmas bulbs.

"We were opening presents together." Harry started to explain why Ron and Hermione weren't present at breakfast as early as Harry, "And Crookshanks just went after Scabers." He explained. "Poor rat was scared straight."

Edmund cringed. "What did you get?" He asked quietly.

"A firebolt." Harry nodded. "There wasn't a note. You don't think it was Professor Lupin, was it?"

Edmund shook his head, "Uncle Remus isn't a fan of spending money." Harry snorted and Edmund cracked a smile. "You know that."

Then the only other students walked into the Great Hall. Edmund stood up and sat down at the big table. Dumbledore thought that it would have been foolish to not put the tables together since they were with such a little group. Edmund looked up at the two nervous first-years, recognizing one from the train. A Ravenclaw. And there was a sullen faced Slytherin, a fifth year.

"Merry Christmas." Edmund greeted Dumbledore back with a nod. He also greeted the other teachers present with the same greeting and a smile. Soon they were joined by a grudgingly Hermione and Ron.

Hermione kept glancing in Ron's direction and Edmund was slowly missing his desire to eat. Then Professor Tibyl appeared and Edmund just couldn't eat at all, not wanting to choke on his food trying to scoff at how ridiculous her 'Inner Eye' is.

After that tense breakfast, Hermione stayed back to talk with Professor McGonagall, supposedly about her Time Turner, Edmund assumes, otherwise Hermione would be speaking with Professor Flitwick.

Edmund however, was asked to join Dumbledore up in his office where they had enjoyed a short conversation about Harry returning back to being his friend and finally his cousin. They drank some tea and ate a small biscuit. Dumbledore had lectured Edmund in keeping friends, instead of making enemies for one cannot have too many friends without dire consequences. But making many enemies could be the end, a dire consequence.

Edmund nodded and understood. No matter how ridiculous someone can be, it is better to have an ally than a foe.

Time passed and Edmund kept to himself. He responded to letters from all of his other friends and kept distance from two particular ones. Harry and Hermione keep making excuses for Ron but the ginger never went to Edmund to apologise.

The Christmas break quickly passed and Edmund was preparing for the final match against Slytherin. He was hoping for it to be without any distractions but he couldn't say no to Hermione, especially when she had tears in her eyes. "What happened?" Edmund asked quietly as he wrapped his arms around Hermione.

The first thing she did was sob and wrap her arms around his waist, now she was just tearing up and hiding her face. "Ron." She said and Edmund stiffened before taking in a breath and patting her back. "He said Crookshanks killed Scabbers."

"Why?"

"Because there was blood in the room where we usually sit-"

"I know where." He knows but he never went ahead to join them there. They had only just found it recently, since October, he believes.

"And Ron found ginger hairs from Crookshanks." Edmund rubbed her back.

"I'm sure he'll forgive you." Edmund said, somewhat robotically. Hermione was lost in her sadness, she surely didn't notice it at all. At that moment he wished that Hermione had liked him instead of Ron. Edmund knows that he'd be a better person to her, he'd never accuse her of such things. Crookshanks even likes his cat, Piri.

"You know." Edmund started, quietly. It was time, they could have distance between them after Hermione rejects him. He'd feel less guilty about it. "I like you Hermione." He said, simply.

Hermione looked up at him with wide, red puffy eyes. "W-What?"

"I like you." Edmund said and unwrapped his arms from around her. The burst of courage stemmed from knowing he'll be rejected, so why not speak and let her know instead of leaving with yet again a heavy heart. "I like you so much, I get jealous whenever you mention Ron. I hate the way you look at him and I wish you looked at me like that." He admitted. "I've been wanting to say that for so long now."

"Since when?"

"Since France." Edmund said, "I liked you even earlier than that but I don't think I have had the courage."

She wiped her eyes. "Why have the courage now?" She asked, quietly.

"Because I know that you're going to say no." He said and she wanted to speak out, protest whatever he was saying but he couldn't let her give him an answer that would prove him right. "You're going to say no because you like Ron Weasley and not me." He said, "And that is fine."

She looked confused now. They were a few steps from one another now and Edmund just looked at his feet, with a heavy heart. "You don't like me like that and I can't force you." He clenched his jaw. "I'm going to go now."

Hermione didn't say anything as Edmund turned around and left. So many times words were left unsaid whenever he was with Hermione. He had nearly put all his cards on the table. So far, all he has done is like her from a distance, drink in the sight of her and smile at the photo he had hung up whenever he passes it. His stomach grumbled and every time his heart just begs for Hermione to fill it.

But he knows, Hermione doesn't like him like that and he will cope with it. He is going to make a good year for himself despite all that is happening around him, he will have a nice year even if it takes whatever it wants. But he will always leave a space for Hermione.

He will feel better about Ron and Hermione. Better is all that he can ask for at the moment. Better is also sometimes all that you need. He will be better because he won't hear Hermione whine about Ron, trying to be sensitive to Edmund being around.

But Edmund was fine with everything, her voice just reminded him why he was there, sitting at the table with Hermione and Padma, Susan and Neville. The three friends kept glancing at him with sympathy in their eyes, but he didn't care.

He had always been waiting, waiting for Hermione or waiting for something to change, in him or her. He wants change, he doesn't want to be cowardly, avoid talking about feelings. Hermione now knows how he feels and that is all that he needs.

The Hufflepuff wondered if Ron could see the envy in his eyes. That the girl he likes, actually likes him. How could Ron not understand the divinity that she radiated whenever she smiles, how could he not see Hermione.

"You're too polite, Edmund." Harry had said to him after Edmund recounted what had happened. "You're sad but you don't want to ruin it for anyone else."

"Especially not Hermione." Edmund had said, dryly.

Harry had shook his head, "You want everyone to be comfortable and happy, but you forget about yourself." Edmund had bitten his lip, trying to stay quiet. "You comforted me about being an orphan, while you are one as well. You are wanted, Edmund." Harry had said.

Edmund felt so happy to have a cousin like Harry.

"Thank you, Harry."