"Detention?" Edmund repeated to Professor Sprout, sounding flabbergasted. "Does Dr- Malfoy happen to have detention as well?" He asked as he folded his arms.
Professor Sprout gave him a look and he immediately unfolded his arms. "I believe so, quite harsh punishment from your uncle if I may say so." She said and took a closer look at his bruise. "You might want to visit Madam Pomfrey, Edmund, I believe she has a potion against the swelling and the pain. You can't sleep with that." She then gave his shoulder an affectionate pat before she hurried down the corridor, to get to her class in time.
Edmund turned to look back at his friends only to see Harry and Ron with slouched shoulders and Professor McGonagall walk off with her perfect posture. Hermione was at the table eating lunch while she talked with Padma, she looked up and he waved, awkwardly. She gave him a small smile before turning back to the Ravenclaw and listening to her story. Susan and Neville were looking at him in concern.
Edmund just pointed at his black eye and then in the direction of the hospital wing. The two nodded and Edmund turned around to walk up to the hospital wing. The moment the doors opened he was ushered to sit on a bed. "Oh you," She said, concern laced her tone, "What happened?" She took a closer look at his eye, "Was it the accident proneness of your mother in you or the trouble, like your father?" She asked.
"Father." He said quietly as let the feeling of shame wash over him.
She walked around her turf with ease and rotated back to him with two potions in her hand. She had set them down before him. "I believe that it might be something you got from your Uncle Lupin." She hummed with a fond smile as she thought of the man. "I believe you didn't go out looking for trouble and were merely defending your friends, were you?"
He gave her a small smile, "Unpleasant words were exchanged." He just answered.
"As well as fists." She tutted and shook her head. She poured a potion in a glass and set it out in front of him, "For the bruising," She then poured in another potion, "For the swelling. I should warn you though, they taste quite bad."
He grimaced at the sound of the taste and just decided to get it over with and chug it. He couldn't describe the horrendous taste in fear that he might have to gag at the thought of it. At the other potion he gagged a little but held it in. Madam Pomfrey looked at him, "Have you eaten lunch yet?" She asked.
"No, Madam." He answered.
She gave him a small smile and led him to her office where they sat. "Your mother and uncle always visited me here quite a lot." She hummed as she placed a warm shepherd's pie down in front of him. They were sitting by a window that looked over the courtyard, students were running around but most were in groups, talking and laughing. Edmund had a small smile on his face when he recognized the brown hair of Collin running across the courtyard.
"Accident prone and protective came here a lot?" Edmund asked in an amused tone.
"Quite the handful, your mother was always getting injured during quidditch. Somehow she only got hurt during training." It was obvious that Madam Pomfrey had a distaste for the sport, Edmund could understand but never disliked it like she did. "And your uncle because of his condition."
"It's been easier to bear with it," Edmund said, quietly. "The potions that Uncle makes for him are really helping him. But they still send me away when it happens." He thanks her for the food before digging in, "He talks about you quite often," The matronbrightened at his words, "How you used to heal him, take care of him and walk him over to the Whomping Willow."
"Don't go visiting that place." She said mournfully as the two looked outside the window at the tree which was still, nothing was moving around, "Or the Shack. That place has history." Edmund just gave her a sombre smile.
He had thought about it, visiting the tree and the place that had tormented his uncle. He knew of the means to get inside, which spell to use and such but the place had so much history, like Madam Pomfrey said.
—
"Toujours pur." Edmund clenched his jaw as the gargoyled moved and revealed the spiralling staircase that led towards the Headmaster's office. Edmund felt quizzed when he received an owl from Dumbledore that stated that his detention will be happening in his office. He had been there before, in Dumbledore's office, before he even attended the school and quite honestly, Edmund was glad that he didn't have to spend his detention in his uncle's dungeon. The offer had been put on the table but Edmund couldn't go through another lecture while he would be scrubbing every cauldron clean and using potions to get rid of the smallest stain.
He walked into the office and the smell of it hit him. The smell of parchments and the smell of distinctive fire that Edmund knew came from the phoenix pet that Dumbledore has, it reborns whenever the bird reaches an age. From the way that he wasn't glowing as brightly anymore, Edmund would guess that the phoenix had until the end of the year. His eyes snapped up to the sound coming from the painting. "Good evening!" The man said, proudly.
Edmund's eyes snapped over to the painting of Phineas Nigellus Black, his ancestor. "Good evening, Professor Black." He greeted back.
"How is my blood doing?" Edmund cringed.
"Serving detention, sir."
Phineas' face conformed into a sneer with a hint of anger, "Already dishonoured the family being a Hufflepuff but you-"
"That is enough from you, Phineas." The Black looked mad at him and scoffed before walking into the side of the frame, disappearing from his usual place. "He isn't quite happy that you are a hufflepuff."
Edmund looked back at the abandoned painting once again before following Dumbledore to his desk, where he sat down in front of the wise man. "Toujours pur." He repeated, "Will that always work?"
"I reckon he ingrained it into the gargoyles, only works when a Black says it though." He then chuckled, "Imagine what a mess your father would've made if he knew."
Edmund chuckled and it got quiet again, "What do I need to do for my detention?" He asked, quietly. The noise of the big office made his voice sound even smaller than it already was.
"Drink some tea and listen to my stories, I believe with the amount that I have, that it is quite a lot, maybe even torturing." Dumbledore chuckled, Edmund looked at the man with a frown, he didn't know what led to this since the stories surrounding Dumbledore had been about his accomplishments rather than his life. "Well, I guess I'll start then."
"My life was marked by the tragedy of my little sister. She was attacked by muggle boys who saw her play around with magic." The man sighed as he looked off into the distance, "She was left unstable, mentally and emotionally. As you know, suppressing your magic at a young age would-"
"-Make you an obscurial." Edmund said breathlessly. He was surprised that Dumbledore's family, he who was so achieved, had an obscurial in their family.
"After seeing the aftermath, my father set out for justice and attacked the boys. Sentenced to Azkaban, where he took his last breath." Edmund shivered at the sound of Azkaban, all that he had heard was that the worst people were imprisoned, along with his father. "As you can imagine, we weren't very loved."
"We moved to Godric's Hollow, a lovely village. Eventually, Ariana Dumbledore was sent to St Mungo's Hospital." Albus shook his head. "My time at Hogwarts came." Nostalgia filled his eyes.
"They were formative and enlightening, I was a Gryffindor, haunted by my father's imprisonment. I was eager to learn and hungry for knowledge. The library became my sanctuary." He sipped his tea and looked at Edmund, "Much like it has turned into yours."
Edmund gave the man a small smile and continued to listen. "I didn't leave no stone unturned. Becoming a prefect was great for me, I realised the importance of unity." His eyes glazed over, "My friendship with the now known Grindelwald had cast a shadow over my years."
The Hufflepuff's eyes widened, slightly, Gellert Grindelwald, a dark wizard who had terrorised many wizards and muggles alike with his ideals.
"We were ambitious and eager to change the world, dreams of a new order that holds us together. But darkness appeared in his vision. Our friendship was fractured and I vowed to never allow my desire for power to corrupt my principles." Just when the old man opened his mouth again.
"I believe that it is time to go to bed." A painting said, Edmund read the name 'Basil Fronsac'.
Dumbledore looked at the time and nodded, giving Edmund a kind smile, "I would love to do this again with you, what do you think of next week?"
Edmund blinked and nodded, "Of course, Professor." He said and stood up, his teacup was empty and the leaves were left in. As soon as Edmund left the office after saying goodbye, the old headmaster reached over to the teacup and read the leaves.
"A cross," He shifted the cup, "And a sun. Isn't that curious, Phineas?"
"We'll see, Dumbledore." The black spit from his painting. The cross meant trials and suffering and the sun meant great happiness. He wondered what came first, the happiness or the trials and suffering. Dumbledore wishes that he knew.
—
"Happy birthday." That was the first he heard when he woke up, he yawned and wiped away his tears as he looked at Neville, who held a package right in front of his nose. "This is for you, from my gran and I."
"Mostly from you though, right?" Edmund teased as he accepted the gift, "Thank you, Neville." He said quietly. He tore through the paper that it was wrapped in and blinked as he saw the goggles.
"Are these the new ones?"
"Anti-fog and water-resistance." Neville smiled, "My gran likes watching your quidditch through those omnioculars that she bought for me. I'm starting to think that she did it for herself." Edmund laughed.
They got dressed and Edmund couldn't get out of the Common Room without people handing him gifts, Cedric had gotten him a new sweater, with the Hufflepuff badge that could be taken off and replaced with the extra badge that he gave him, the badge of his favourite Quidditch team.
The captain of the team had bought him a new Broomstick Servicing Kit since the one that he uses was running out, the newest captain must've noticed it after practice. He had to put three different books that he had gotten as a gift back into his dorm alongside everything else, except for the sweater that he immediately put on.
The corridors were getting a bit draughty.
On his way to the Great Hall he was stopped outside by the twins who approached him happily with smiles on their faces. "Happy Birthday Eddy!" Fred said and behind his back he pulled out a crown. "For the birthday boy." George said and took it in his hands.
Before Edmund could refuse a crown, because seriously, a crown. They had put it on his head, when Edmund moved to take it off, his eyes widened when it didn't want to get off. "No." He let out, not believing it.
"Happy Birthday." Fred said and the crown popped, in front of his eyes came confetti. "It works!" He high-fived his twin. George grinned and looked at him, "Have a nice day, birthday boy." More confetti popped.
Edmund put a hand over his mouth as he couldn't believe it. "Oh Merlin." He sat down at the Hufflepuff table and Susan looked at him, squinting at his crown.
"Why do you have a crown?"
"Fred and George thought it'd be a nice gift."
"It says 'Birthday boy'." As soon as the words left her mouth, confetti popped from the top of his head and into his food. Slowly he picked it out of his food and gave her a contemplative smile.
"Let's just not say-"
"-Happy Birthday, Edmund!" A voice said and more confetti popped. He was too late to cover his breakfast again. With a tense smile he turned around to look at Ron, "Ah, they got to you."
"They did." He nodded.
Ron held out a package and Edmund smiled as he slowly unpackaged it, "Oh nice." Edmund grinned as he put the scarf around his neck, "I bet you didn't like buying this." Their favourite teams were opposing ones.
"It was for your birthday, I had to." Ron said and grinned. "Despite that, I nearly threw it in the trash though." at that Edmund laughed.
"Happy birthday." Cue the confetti. He looked at Harry and smiled.
"Thanks, Harry." He said and looked at the gift in front of him. He unpackaged it and grinned ear to ear, "You got me some new guards?" Everyone seems to know how much he loves quidditch.
"Here." He looked up from the protective gear and put them aside as Hermione held out a present. She smiled at him as he opened the package.
"Oh merlin," He looked up at her, "You remembered."
"Of course." She smiled, "You walked into me because of it, can't forget about it now, can I?" She teased.
Edmund laughed and looked at the cover 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' written by Newton Scamander. "Did you know he was a hufflepuff as well?"
Hermione smiled, "Did you know that his boggart is a desk job."
Edmund laughed and nodded in understanding, "I do agree with him," He smiled at her, "A desk job would be very boring."
She scrunched her nose in amusement, "It wouldn't be very fitting for you, would it?"
They shared a laugh until someone else said 'happy birthday', causing even more confetti to appear, "When does this work out, Ron?"
"After exactly a day."
Edmund sighed loudly and looked over at the table of the lions, "Fun." To be honest, he quite likes the crown, he'd definitely keep it after his late-birthday as some memory. Their breakfast disappeared and then the sounds of owls were heard. Edmund blinked as five packages were dropped in front of him.
He could recognize the handwriting at first sight of the one person with the smallest present. 'Another year, congratulations.' It was elegant just as the Professor was. He ripped open the present and dropped a few memories in a vial. "What's that?" Neville asked as he held a letter in his hand.
"Some memories." He answered shortly and put them in his front pocket, imagining if someone got their hands on it.
"From who?"
"From my parents, maybe." He sighed, "Some friends still send them every year, especially on my birthday." He was now wondering what his mother had wrapped for him, years ago. Something in him already knows.
He then grabbed the other package, 'Coming over next week, Professor Dumbledore has already given a permission slip and let Hagrid supervise you. -Uncle Moony.' A smile graced his face and he unwrapped the present. He pulled the box out and with it fell a note. 'I couldn't get my hands on your father's box, but this is something likewise, I believe. You wouldn't fall asleep because of this.' He turned the letter around, seeing as there were instructions.
Edmund smiled, something in him really wanted his hands on the sleeping music box as his sleeping had gotten a bit worse. He appreciated the effort that his uncle put into it. Unwrapping the next present, he was surprised to see it still intact.
'I'll see you tomorrow evening.' The note said but Edmund knew that it was their headmaster, for the tea set to have paintings of Greek myths on them. After he had read the odyssey, he recognized the fall of Troy, certainly since the big pot has the horse on it. 'Professor Flitwick was nice enough to have bewitched them for me, rendering them unbreakable.'
Then as the next present, he was reluctant to open it once he recognized the Malfoy seal on them. Alas, he had put them aside, subtly casting a look in the direction of the Slytherin table, only to see that he wasn't there. Instead, he made unintentional eye contact with Daphne.
Who put a hand over her mouth to suppress a laugh, she must've noticed the silver crown over his head. He rolled his eyes playfully and stuck his tongue out at her, before blushing as he realised that Susan and Neville were watching him. Clearing his throat, he awkwardly smiled at them, "Apologies." He cleared his throat.
The next was a present from his other uncle, a book on advanced potion and the offer to make any potion together, of his choice. Edmund raised his head as he was surprised at the offer.
He wondered what his uncle would think if he chose an animagus potion.
—
He could recognize the cosy office that was Professor McGonagall's. His mother was fidgeting with her necklace and her free hand rested on the growing bump on her stomach. A wide range of emotions were on her face but mostly joy and anxiety.
"Dear, this is a grand moment for you, but sit down, stress isn't good for your child." Edmund swallowed as he saw his mother listen fast and sit down immediately. "I am honoured to walk you down the aisle in your parents' place."
He remembers, in another memory James couldn't walk her down because he had just gone off into hiding, the moment that he learnt that she was pregnant. In the eyes of McGonagall, the woman put a gentle hand on Amanda's shoulder.
Glistering tears in her eyes, Amanda looked up at McGonagall, "Thank you, Professor. I couldn't imagine anyone else walking me down the aisle."
"If only your parents could've seen you now. Now, dry those tears and get ready to get married." With renewed confidence, Amanda stood up and took a deep breath.
When the doors opened, the memory ended.
—
"Edmund Theseus Black." His mother said, looking quite strict, into the camera, the camera being Snape. "You better not be a womaniser like your father."
"Or a bully." Snape muttered.
Her gaze softened immediately and nodded, "Or a bully, but I don't think you could ever be one, Theseus." She chuckled and Snape let out a fond breath of his best friend, someone he could call a sister. "This'll be your second year at Hogwarts, if this would be your first," She looked over to Snape and squinted, "Someone didn't do their job into making you a prodigy."
Edmund let out an amused chuckle, that was why his uncle was very adamant into making him a potions prodigy and his other uncle making him into a charms and Defence Against the Dark Arts prodigy.
"I know that you'll be a handsome boy, tall, I'm guessing, like your father. You've always been a tall child. Most likely that you'll reach Severus' height by your 14th." She snickered as she teased her friend, "Doesn't look like it's that hard."
Snape rolled his eyes.
"But on a serious note, be careful, be loving, be kind and behave yourself. I think you're a bit too young to receive the talk from me." Edmund snorted and blushed as he even thought of getting a message like that.
—
Finally he took the gift with the Malfoy family seal on it. Contemplative, he stared at it before carefully opening it. 'The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts'. He opened the book and saw that it was written in and a letter sat there.
Edmund swallowed and opened the envelope to reveal the letter. It sounded apologetic.
'Edmund.
If you opened this letter it means that you didn't hold an extreme grunge against my son for calling you, out of all people, those profanities. Despite who you gather yourself around with, you're still the little boy who used to fly around with my Draco.
I gave my son a letter as well, to apologise to you for being foolish. You're the only one he can consider a friend, and it is what I think as well. Crabbe and Goyle are just foolish lackeys, Parkinson quite likes our boy, for the money that he will hold.
You've truly been a friend to him ever since Hogwarts where you've been sorted into another house, and turned out to be one of the most loved students so far, so I've heard.
Forget his foolish actions, for he didn't mean a single word.
Narcissa Malfoy
He blinked and felt a pit in his stomach, he stuffed the letter back into the envelope and looked at her words that she wrote in the book.
'To know history is to not make the same mistakes in the future.'
He blinked and opened the book, Hermione had mentioned it in their first year. It was quite a thick book, leatherbound by black leather.
—
October came and damp chills were spread over the grounds and into the castle. He had seen Madam Pomfrey a lot more than usual, taking care of the cold among students and staff. Her Pepperup potion worked miracles, and worked if you wanted smoking ears. He had visited her and helped out quite a lot around the Hospital Wing.
Halloween quickly approached and Edmund was surprised at the invitation that he had gotten through Harry. Ron and Hermione were going as well. He shuddered as he thought of the last deathday party that he had attended.
The real-life bats flying around the Great Hall, the big pumpkins carved into lanterns and even the rumour of Dumbledore having booked dancing skeletons really made the Halloween atmosphere electrifying. Dumbledore was interesting, the stories he told about his life captivated him and the tea was just one part of it.
"A promise is a promise," Hermione said and Edmund nodded. So at seven, they walked past the doorway of the Great Hall and stepped into the dungeons instead. Edmund was the only one prepared for it.
He had earmuffs on and around his mouth was an air bubble, giving him clean air whenever he felt like breathing. The robe around his shoulder was warm, working against the cold room that was Headless Nick's party venue. "Don't walk through anyone, they don't like that." Edmund said loudly. They passed a group of nuns, a man wearing chains and the Fat Friar who cheerfully waved at Edmund.
"Oh no." Hermione stopped in her step, causing Edmund to walk into her, "Turn back, turn back, I don't want to talk to Moaning Myrtle.-"
"She haunts a girls' bathroom on the first floor." Edmund answered, remembering his first time meeting the dead girl. Some of the older years were talking about her with Edmund around, and well, they just brought him up to meet her when he asked.
He held Ron back from reaching out for the food. Large rotten fish were carefully decorated on the platters, cakes were made into coal and cheese was moulded. They watched a ghost go through it and float out disappointed. Then Peeves, good old Peeves called over Myrtle as Edmund was talking with the Fat Friar about how Hufflepuff was doing good in the latest years.
He made his way back to Harry and Nick's side when the galloping horses came in. "Welcome, Patrick." The man just exclaimed something at the students and dropped his head jokingly.
Nick then started to gather everyone's attention for a speech but quickly lost it to Patrick who started a game of Head Hockey. Edmund quickly stepped up in the middle of their game and watched as the head went through his body.
The remainder of Patrick's body shuddered as he picked his head up. "That's a nice head." Edmund called out as he looked at it, "Clean decapitation, wasn't it?"
Sir Patrick nodded, proudly.
"That must've been pretty weak of you." Sir Patrick's face fell at Edmund's feet. "You barely had to go through any pain, unlike Sir Nicholas here. At least he is man enough to have been hacked 45 times before he died." He hummed, "I don't think that you'd be able to do that." The crowd of ghosts listened to him and murmured in agreement.
After that, he listened to Nick's speech when he realised that Harry, Hermione or Ron were nowhere to be seen. Nick floated over to him and smiled at the boy, "You're a good lad."
"Kindness worthy of a Hufflepuff." The Fat Friar said proudly and Edmund smiled at them. He stayed around until the clock chimed, midnight. He said goodbye to the dead and walked to the Hufflepuff Common Room, surprised to see that everyone was still awake.
The room was bustling with students, most were split up into groups and he walked over to Neville and Susan. "Why is everyone awake?" He asked quietly, the bubble was gone from his head and earmuffs were hung around his neck.
"An attack." Susan answered quietly as she rubbed Neville's back, the poor boy was scared very badly about this all. "Something about the Chamber of Secrets being opened and that the enemies of the heir should heed themselves."
Edmund sat down beside Neville, "Don't you worry, Neville." He whispered, "We've got each other's back." Eventually the boy stopped overthinking about it and went off to go to bed, leaving Edmund and Susan alone. Only a few remained in the Common Room.
"Where were you?" She asked quietly.
Edmund looked at her, "I was at Sir Nicolas' deathday." He answered and looked at Cedric who was talking hushedly to a younger girl. A first year. She looked inconsolable. "We should take precautions." He whispered and didn't take his eyes off of Cedric and the girl. "It'll ease everyone up."
Susan nodded. "You're right." She whispered, matching his tone. "How though?"
"We walk in groups, stay in groups and stay in the basement." He answered. "A group is stronger than just one person."
Susan nodded, "I'll start telling people." Edmund smiled and reached over to pull her in a hug. "What's that for?" She asked, her arms hugging him back.
"Well, I can imagine that it affected everyone." He whispered and let go of her, "I should go to bed."
"Me as well," Edmund moved to leave the room but was held by as Susan held his wrist.
"Thank you, Edmund." She whispered. Edmund smiled and nodded at her.
"That's what friends do." Edmund said and left for his dorm that he shared with Neville.
—
"Argh." Hermione said frustratedly. Edmund looked up from his books and looked at the Ravenclaw. He was studying herbology, but his uncle was quite disappointed to hear of the skills portrayed in the class and nudged him to study more for it.
"What?" Edmund frowned.
"I can't find Hogwarts: A History. Everyone has been lending it from the library ever since the Secret Chamber opened."
Edmund blinked, "But Hermione, I gave you a copy of my personal book for your birthday."
The girl's eyes widened and she slapped her forehead. "Right! You've rebounded it into another cover right?"
"Yes, I did." He said a bit proudly, he had done quite a good job on that. He was very proud of it and had given it to her on her birthday in september.
"Great," She cheered, "I'll go get it. Completely forgot about it." She murmured and Edmund pursed his lips at that. How could she forget what he had done for her, did she not like the present?