The day they arrived at Hogwarts was a friday. So naturally, on the morning of a saturday. He was mobbed in the Common Room. "Happy birthday." A cheer was heard from in the room. Edmund laughed as he walked out from behind Neville, "Happy birthday!" The Hufflepuffs repeated, with a little less energy.

His birthday was the only one on the calendar for the first week of school? September fifth. Some of the first years stepped up and handed him some candy. "Ah, thank you." He was flattered.

A few of the older students clapped him on his back, congratulating him. Cedric came over and pulled him in for a hug. "I knew you'd get the damn firebolt. You impulsive buyer." He said, "With all that new speeds comes the need for a better grip."

Edmund let out a laugh and accepted the new gloves, "Thank you, Ced."

Neville gave him another present, "A new camera." Longbottom said, "You've sent those pictures from your vacation with Hermione, but I figured you needed a better one."

"Are you saying my camera quality is bad?" He teased and pulled the guy in for a hug, "Thank you, Nev." He said.

Then a piece of paper was pushed in his hands, "What is it?" He asked as he looked at the blank space on it.

Susan blushed, "Life is short, the art long." She quoted Hippocrates, "Say that in Greek." Edmund opened his mouth in silent protest that he couldn't. "You've used our paper as an actual paper, accidentally. We know that you know greek."

Edmund gave her a cheeky smile and said it out loud in greek. Then a picture of creatures appeared on it, drawn with charcoal. "It's a list of animals or creatures that you've seen before." Susan said and looked down on it, "You've seen a werewolf before?"

That got the noise of talking even louder, everyone asking where and how he was still alive. "In some town." He answered with a broad smile. "I'm just glad that this Basilisk can't petrify me." He teased Susan as they looked at the snake.

He was sure that he heard a whimper from Justin, which was a valid response. The day continued as Friday started. Some approached him with a gift and most just said happy birthday. Naturally he kept an eye out for his birthday enemies, such as Fred and George.

No more was he going to wear that damn crown for a whole day.

Hermione gave him a hug and a book that she had bought in France, he didn't notice that she did. Then she also handed him two ties, blushing, "From my parents."

In the mail came a new set of unbreakable vials for potions, from his uncle Snape. The man noticed his thankful look and just nodded before looking over at his other uncle Remus, who just called him over.

"She knew that you'd be speaking Greek at this point, especially if your Uncle Severus had a say in your education." Remus chuckled and slid over a leather bound book, just like last year. "I'm thinking she conspired with your other uncle to make you a scholar."

Edmund laughed softly and took a hold of the book, "And this one is from me." He returned his attention to his uncle again. It was a book full of medical spells. "I heard from my friend, Poppy. That you're both your mother and father in the areas of getting hurt."

Edmund chuckled. "Thank you, uncle." He said and took a step back.

"Don't forget about our appointment, Mr. Lupin." A voice called out and there sat Dumbledore, who had decided to join them all for breakfast. His uncle looked like he wanted to reply, even though he looked confused at whom Dumbledore was addressing.

"Of course not, professor." Edmund nodded and returned to his table, with three books in his hands. Then another owl flew down and dropped a small package.

"You're rather famous, aren't you?" Padma asked as she ate her sandwich.

"I'm more well-known, I think is the word." He answered and opened the package. Out of it he pulled out another small vial, a memory. Then when he went to put it aside, he felt another. Quite confused, he pulled it out as well.

They all looked at him curiously. Edmund looked back at them, "Stop being so nosy, they're memories from my dead mother." He said casually and his friends quietly nodded, saying no more. He snorted and shook his head, "It's fine, ask away." He said and immediately he was bombarded with questions.

Harry had gotten him a shared gift with Ron. A poorly made blanket. They tried to make a fancy sweater of it, but couldn't really get it under their hand at how they had to make it. Edmund would treasure it forever

The meeting with Dumbledore was nice. He received a gift from the man, a phoenix feather quill. Said that Fawkes willingly gave it up for him. Another book, but said to be rare and ancient. Filled with forgotten spells and potions.

Edmund was really loving the trend of books as birthday gifts.

—

The morning that classes began he sat at the Hufflepuff table, enjoying the company of Susan and Neville along with the Ravenclaw, Padma. To anyone else it must have been an unusual sight to see. They talked about their vacation, Neville had gone away to some rural village with his grandma, Padma had visited some family in India and Susan went on a family vacation to the mountains of France, to visit some friends and even tour along the gardens of Beauxbatons. "You have to understand Edmund, the boys there were very nice to look at."

Edmund snorted and sipped from his tea, "I understand, Susan." He replied, "I just don't understand that during all those times, you didn't approach them."

"Like you have ever approached her." Padma joined the conversation, Edmund pursed his lips at the jab while Neville just looked a bit lost.

"I'll do something about it this year." Edmund clicked his tongue and rolled his eyes.

"-dementors are coming!" Came from the otherside of the room and Edmund looked up, Pansy was mocking Harry and he just dropped down into a seat at the table filled with people donned in red. Edmund let out a breath and shook his head.

"You have a lot of facial expressions." Padma noted, "I wonder how she hadn't noticed it before."

"Noticed what?" Neville broke his silence.

Edmund bit the inside of his cheek, "My feelings for Hermione." He whispered and looked back at her again, she was very happy with her new schedule so it seems. "I think you already knew, Neville."

"Well, you talked a lot about her." Neville said looking a bit surprised, "I thought it was because she is your best friend."

"You're all my best friends."

"That just shows how much he talks about Hermione." Susan teased and Edmund felt his neck warm up. "He talks so much about her that he has to remind us that we're his best friends too."

"Oh shove it." He muttered and pulled out his own schedule, "I have arithmancy first period." He hummed and looked up at his friends, "But you lot are taking divination, right?" They all hummed in confirmation but at least he had Hermione. He snorted as he thought about it, they had Hermione as well. "I need to talk with Hermione about something, actually." He hummed and stood up.

Harry only noticed him, having a bit more colour to his face rather than when they first arrived at Hogwarts. With Hermione and Ron's back turned to him he grinned and leant down. "Hermione Granger, you are failing potions." He said with the best impression of his uncle.

"Bloody hell I nearly didn't hear the difference." Ron said as he put a hand over his racing heart.

Hermione was a bit red in the face. He let out a short laugh and sat down beside her. "Nice necklace, is it new?" He asked, trying to see her reaction.

With a poker face the girl nodded, "Yes it is, I got it in France." The answer was definitely rehearsed. Edmund raised an eyebrow at her and waited for her to correct herself. Instead she saw her look over to Ron and Harry, who were talking about quidditch and not paying any attention. "You know, don't you?"

"Of course I do." He nodded and took the ring off of his ring finger. It was the unfoldable type of ring, something he had bought in Diagon Alley to fidget with. The questions about the faint light that comes off of his necklace won't be questioned anymore if they notice him fidgeting with a normal ring. Edmund was quite tired of the wrong people being nosy.

As a joke he let it unfold, doing the same kind of spinning motion as the Time Turner makes, he jokingly looked around, "Am I seeing myself double? Merlin, he's still eating breakfast." He joked. Hermione blushed and punched his shoulder.

"Don't scare me like that, how did you know?"

Now he was drawing a blank. "Well, my family knew a graduate student who was very ambitious, like you, in their studies." He shrugged, technically it's true. Kelly was very ambitious. "Do you need me to bring your books to our class? I heard you have a busy schedule."

The girl nodded and slid over two books. "I have Muggle Studies, Divination and our subject together."

Edmund cringed, "Divination." He said, "Don't like it." He shrugged and took a hold of the books. "I'll see you in class?"

"Of course, maybe a bit late."

"Now, now." Edmund clicked his tongue, "That wouldn't be possible, would it?"

Hermione rolled her eyes and smiled at him, before her smile faltered. He frowned but quickly learned why Hermione's mood fell. Two hands rested on his shoulder before leaning over his shoulders to interlink over his chest. Edmund frowned, disturbed as he slowly turned around to look at the culprit. Her face was very close to his and he looked away as he tried to loosen the grip of her hands. "Lavender." He let out an annoyed breath. The girl wasn't budging.

"Why won't you bring my books to the divination tower?" She pouted.

He blinked and looked in panic at Harry. The boy still looked frail. "Because I'm not heading in that direction. Besides, why do I need to do that when you have two hands?" He said and finally got her grip off of him.

"But-"

Edmund took a step away and shuddered, "No but." He said, a bit quietly, not wanting to make a scene. "You shouldn't touch me like that, or at all. I'm not comfortable." He took in a breath, "And stop acting as if I am your boyfriend." He lectured her.

The girl started to cry and Edmund's eyes widened. "Oh merlin." He whispered and looked over at the group in panic. Hermione looked a bit smug while Ron looked a bit mad.

"Bloody hell, Edmund? Why did you have to say that?" Ron snapped as he stood up to comfort the Gryffindor girl. "Come on, Lavender, you didn't deserve that." He whispered as he rubbed her upper arms and led her away.

Edmund blinked a few times and looked around, many eyes were on him and his glancing around finally ended on Hermione, who looked a bit confused as she looked between Ron and Edmund.

Edmund let out a frustrated breath as he realised what kind of confused look it was on her face. Deciding he had enough of Gryffindors he walked back over to the place of comfort, the Hufflepuff table. He plopped down in his seat and buried his head in his hands. "Oh bloody hell." He muttered.

"We didn't even have our first subject and you already rejected a girl." Padma said and snorted, "Nice going, Edmund."

Edmund groaned silently.

"Did you see how confused Hermione looked though?" Susan said, quietly as she leaned forward into their small group. "Looking between Ron and Ed like that?"

"She's probably trying to figure out what she wants more, caring Ron or rejecting Edmund." Padma said as she looked back at her best friend. "But she looked smug before Lavender started to cry."

Edmund shook his head and dropped his hands, "Doesn't matter now, does it?" He glanced back at them to see Hermione's slightly jealous look on her face. "She's jealous of Lavender, don't you see? Because Ron is touching her like that, comforting."

The group hummed and Neville patted his forearm, "Next year?"

Edmund shook his head, "This year." He answered. "I don't think I can hold out or even handle next year." He looked back at his friends, "Did you know that her mother started hinting at me that she knew of my feelings? Calling me son-in-law and such?"

"Oh wow." Padma said, "Must be nice to get parents approval without even being in a relationship. My parents are strict at that."

"Well, at least you have parents." Edmund held his fist out to Neville. "Orphans." He jokingly whispered as Neville bumped it in slight confusion. The boy didn't spend as much time around Muggles as Edmund did. He didn't have that muggle reality tv humour.

The friends looked at him in horror and Neville just dropped his head in his hands and groaned softly. "You're going to make two people cry before our first class." Padma joked as she patted Neville's back. "I'm going to bet you're going to make five people cry today."

"No-" He protested and just sighed. "I'm just gonna go, don't want to make it three, would I?" Edmund cringed.

Susan reached out and grabbed the Ravenclaw, acting like Padma was her shield. "Please protect me from his words, Paddy!" She jokingly said, "I already feel like crying!" She was laughing so hard tears were forming in her eyes.

Edmund rolled his eyes, "Ha ha ha." He said slowly. His hands were full with his and Hermione's books. "I'll see you in transfiguration." He nodded at his friends and smiled before exiting the Great Hall. He didn't spare a look in Lavender or Ron's direction, he didn't want to risk anything such as Ron going fully psycho against him for making her upset, and not looking in Lavender's direction or else he'd try to comfort her and she'd cry even louder.

He smiled and waved at some of the first years and had some small talk with some older students, mostly the quidditch fans. He put a hand on the doorknob and pushed it open. A smile came on his face as he greeted her. "Hermione." He sat down beside her and grinned.

"Theseus." She smiled back at him and opened the books he had put out in front of her. "I'm excited for this class."

"I can expect so." He snorted, "Books can only take you so far in divination." Hermione frowned at him and he shrugged. "You'll see." The class slowly filled up with students, but not a lot since most are taking divination.

The teacher was strict, of course, it's a precise subject. Why let your students make mistakes when they can be prevented. But the class was lovely, he rather enjoyed it. Their professor was strict because she knew what her class needed, focus and their attention.

—

Edmund was the only one clapping as Professor McGonagall transformed into a cat. Hermione put a hand over his and just lowered them onto their shared desk, shaking her head 'no' when she did it. "What has gotten into you all today? That is the first time that Mr. Lupin here is alone in his applause." Professor McGonagall asked as she stood in front of the class.

"We've just had our first Divination class, Professor." Ron answered.

Edmund let out a snort and leant back in his chair. "Ah of course, who's dying this year?" He joked.

Everyone turned around to stare at him and he blinked. "I am." Harry answered after some silence.

"I see." Professor McGonagall said, "Then you should know, Potter-" She began going on the rampage about how Trelawney is inaccurate and that she loves giving death omens as a greeting. Edmund thought it was rather correct. As a nine year old, he was once taken up to the tower by a Slytherin student who Snape had trusted him with. The first thing that the lady had done was to sprout some old song's lyric. Quite mad. "-I assure you that if you die, you need not hand it in."

Hermione and Edmund bursted out in silent laughter in the back. Eventually the class was less nervous as they joined in on their sniffling laughter. When the class was finished, they all headed up to the Great Hall for lunch, merlin, he was starving.

"Oh Ron, cheer up." Hermione said, "You heard Professor McGonagall."

Ron wasn't listening, clearly unoccupied with all the possibilities. "Harry," He said seriously, "You haven't seen a great black dog anywhere, have you."

Edmund shrugged off the thought of his father. "Yes I have, I saw one the night I left the Dursleys." Edmund dropped his spoon with a loud clatter, a great big black dog.

"If you'll excuse me." He said, unusually high pitched and quickly moved out from between the crowd and ran to his uncle's office. With a heaving chest he threw the door open, "Uncle!" He then quickly corrected himself by the sight of the two of them, "Uncles."

"Edmund?" His uncle Lupin.

"Theseus?" His uncle Snape. It looked like the potions teacher was handing over a potion. "What requires our, what seems like, our immediate attention."

Edmund swallowed, "I was wondering if I could ask Uncle Remus a few questions about our upcoming lessons?" He kept his eyes on uncle Remus, he wondered if uncle Sev even knew about his father's animagus form.

"How about we have lunch in my office, then?" The newest teacher said and put the potion aside, "It seems that most think that you are my nephew after all. So I don't think that could be considered nepotism but just, quality time?"

Edmund let out a short laugh, "You're right."

Uncle Severus looked between the two and just dismissed it, they were known for having their random bursts of energy. "I will be in my classroom." He looked over at his nephew, "You should be well prepared for class, tomorrow, Theseus." The man said and slowly walked out of the class.

"I'll see you in class tomorrow, uncle Sev!" He called out with a smile before the man could even close the door. Snape hummed and left. Immediately, Edmund turned to his remaining uncle, "Harry saw a great black dog the night he left the Dursleys."

"A great black dog?"

"I think that he saw father." Edmund said and took in a breath. "Why would he be at the Dursley's, why wouldn't he be trying to find me?"

"I think that it is a complicated matter, Edmund." Remus answered as he poured in some tea for him. "But Harry seeing your father is rather concerning, considering that he is a wanted escapee." Remus hummed, "Harry was the last kid he saw before he was arrested, maybe it is the guilt that had followed him to prison." Edmund nodded and deflated in his seat nonetheless, he felt a tinge of disappointment. "Your father is trying to find Harry, find out what is happening to him after Harry was found under the rubble of what used to be their house."

They continued the conversation just a bit before their lunch arrived and they ate. Talked a bit about Lavender actually. "I just don't understand." Edmund sighed, "I never showed the fainted interest in her and she acts as if I am her boyfriend?"

"You had to let her down slowly, not as snappy as you did then." His uncle Remus shook his head, "Just like your father, you are. He had done that a few times in his time at Hogwarts as well."

"She left me no choice, uncle." Edmund said and sipped his butterbeer, "She kept touching me."

"Then she definitely crossed a boundary." His uncle nodded, "I'm sure that she won't try again."

"I'm sure that she can't even get close to me without bursting out crying." He answered and sighed, "What's even worse, Ron won't even acknowledge me for hurting her."

"Makes you think that he has feelings for her, innit?" Remus said with a smug tone and sipped his tea.

Edmund blinked, "Oh blimey." He looked up at his uncle, "When I was at the Weasley's, Ron had a decent pile of letters on his desk, I knew I recognized the handwriting. It was Lavender!"

His uncle Remus raised his eyebrows, "Just when I thought things were dramatic in my time."

"Your time? You mean the Jurassic age?" Edmund snorted, "What was the biggest thing happening then? A meteor?"

"Ha ha, laugh it off." Remus snorted, "It was a mere twenty years ago, I believe."

"You are the skeletons in the closet that people speak of." Edmund snorted and continued his jokes.

—

Ron wasn't talking to him.

On top of that, he realised that he was getting this class with the whole lot of them, every student who chose Care of Magical Creatures. It was a disaster bound to happen. He noticed that Ron wasn't talking to him, and Hermione. He wondered what happened in the brief break that they had. "We're not going into the forest again, are we?" Ron asked Harry as the ginger walked beside Harry. Up ahead stood Hagrid with Fang by his side, the usual.

"Come on, you lot!" Hagrid called out, "Got a real treat ready, great lesson. Everyone here? Right so, follow me!" Hagrid strolled off around the edge of the forest and they found themselves outside some paddock. "Open your books, would you?" He called out.

"How?" Came the drawlin voice of Draco.

Edmund, who stood near Draco, took a hold of his gnawing book and showed it. "You've got to stroke the spine." Edmund said and showed it. "It's how most of the monsters can be subdued."

"Not all of us fought a basilisk." Draco said before grabbing the subdued book of his with a sneer on his face. "Sorry." He whispered, quickly realising that Edmund was just helping him.

"Right so, Lupin!" Hagrid called out, a smile on his face. "I'll go and get him, hang on." He then walked away into the forest and out of sight.

"God, this place is going to the dogs. That oaf teaching classes? My father-"

"Your father has other things to do, Draco." Edmund sighed, "You really want to bother with this? Respect your mother's wishes of leaving him alone at his workplace." Only the conversation was heard between the two of them. Despite their standing, they were still friends, albeit having some tension between them most of the time. The time of being friends with no issues was long over.

"Durmstrang-"

"Would've ruined you." Edmund hissed, "You're already cracking under your father's expectations." Sighing, Edmund looked back at the class, "Just hang back for this class, please. I don't think you're making yourself loved by our peers." They looked up and noticed that some of them had split off in groups. Whispering to one another, looking over at the boys dressed in yellow and green.

Hermione especially, had a look of disdain towards Draco, her face softened up a deal when she looked over at Edmund though. "I don't understand what you see in her." Edmund just stayed quiet. "Well, at least it is better than, her." They unconsciously casted a look towards Lavender, who was wiping away a few tears and getting comforted by Padma's twin sister. Edmund snorted and nodded in agreement.

The sound of trotting happened and a dozen of beautiful creatures came. Hippogriffs, with bodies, hind legs and tails of a horse. Front legs and wings, also what seemed to be the head of a giant eagle. The talons were deadly looking and excited Edmund even more. They were all wearing leather collars around its neck, attached to a long chain held by the giant hands of Hagrid. Everyone took a step back except for Edmund who kept staring in fascination. "So, if you want to come a bit nearer-" No-one did except for Harry, Ron and Hermione.

"Mad." Draco hissed behind Edmund.

Edmund raised his eyebrows as he looked back at Draco. "First thing you need to know is that they're proud. Easily offended, never insult one, it might be the last thing you do." Hagrid said. "Always wait for it to make the first move, it's polite, see? You walk towards him and you bow, if you wait and if he bows back, you are allowed to touch him. If he doesn't," Hagrid looked like he wanted to laugh but didn't because of the pen full of alert creatures. "Well, you better get away fast, those talons hurt." He cleared his throat, "Well, who wants to go first?"

"I do!" Edmund volunteered, excited. Hermione seemed to try and reach out for him but he really didn't realise. He slowly climbed over the fence and approached it.

"Good man!" Hagrid roared and untied one of the chains, a grey hippogriff approached Edmund. Not too close, close enough for Edmund to take the first step.

Edmund had read about them in Newton Scamander's book, a fellow Hufflepuff. He barely blinked and Buckbeak was staring at him with a fierce orange eye. Not needing Hagrid's guidance, Edmund slowly bowed, making sure the back of his neck was exposed.

After a single moment, the hippogriff bent its front knees and sank into an unmistakable bow. Edmund smiled as he looked up from his bow and directly into its eye. He slowly reached out and patted the beak. Buckbeak closed his eyes, looking like he was enjoying it.

The class broke into applause by everyone, Malfoy was nudging Crabbe and Goyle to do so as well. "I reckon he might let you ride him!" Hagrid said and Edmund looked back at the man.

"Really?" He croaked out and slowly hoisted himself onto its back. Edmund slowly held onto its neck with one arm. Without warning, the hippogriff stood up and flapped its wings open.

"Edmund!" Hermione's slightly panicked voice sounded. Before Edmund knew it, he was soaring upward on a hippogriff. Buckbeak flew around the paddock and then headed back to the ground, a heavy thud indicated that they had hit the ground.

"Good work!" roared Hagrid again, everyone cheered, "Who else wants a go?" Harry stepped up and some of the girls called out to be careful and heed the warning of the grim. Edmund stepped off and walked around the paddock, keeping a close eye on Malfoy and his chosen Hippogriff.

Following closely behind him, Buckbeak walked. Malfoy and his friends had taken over a liking to Buckbeak. "You better watch your words, Draco. He's already letting you pet him, don't ruin it."

Draco snapped his mouth shut and continued to pet the beak. After the class, Draco tripped on the fence of the paddock and shouted out. His arm looked like it was broken. Edmund cringed and Hagrid had sent him to Madam Pomfrey, to be guided by his oaf friends, Crabbe and Goyle.

"You wouldn't be fired about this, Hagrid." Edmund comforted the crest-fallen man. "He just tripped, nothing to worry about." Edmund patted Hagrid's shoulder before running a bit over to Hermione and Harry.

"Where's Ron?" He asked.

"With Lavender." Hermione answered swiftly. He looked down to the ground as he could hear the jealousy in her voice. Harry leant over and patted his arm, subtly as Hermione continued to stare a hole in Lavender's sweater.

"Right so." Edmund cleared his throat and continued to walk with them to their next class. The silence was thick and Harry looked like he wanted to fall on the Sword of Gryffindor rather than spend another minute in it.

—

The next morning, Draco didn't appear for breakfast. But did appear in double potions where he staggered in with his arm covered in bandages along with a sling around it. "Must you really?" Edmund asked, quietly as Draco sat down at the other table besides him.

Draco just kept quiet and looked out in front of him.

Edmund sighed as he realised it must be some kind of ploy to get his father's attention. He turned to look at Harry, but noticed behind the boy that Hermione was staring in front of her, with a frown on her face.

She was staring at Ron and Lavender, who sat with his Gyrffindor friends. He focussed his attention back on Harry and gave the boy a small smile, "Haven't seen any big dogs around anymore, have you, harry?" He asked jokingly.

Harry rolled his eyes, seemingly not in the mood for it. "No I have not, Edmund."

His uncle had tried to force Edmund to help Draco with his potion but the boy quickly retaliated by stating that Pansy might be a better idea, since she was so eager to help the Malfoy. "-Longbottom. Tell me boy, does anything penetrate that skull of yours-" Edmund started coughing and the potions teacher turned to look at him. "A dash of leech juice would suffice, understand, Longbottom?" His rampage had stopped and he talked with forced tranquillity.

"Please sir, I could help Neville put it right-"

"I do not remember asking for you to show off, Miss Granger." Snape said coldly and Edmund frowned. The man was going on a rampage today. The hufflepuff turned around and started instructing Neville how to fix the shrinking potion, sneakily, not wanting to catch his uncle's careful eye.

He blocked all the talking from Seamus out, about how his father has been sighted. "Don't you know, Potter?" Edmund dropped the caterpillars and snapped his head to look over at Malfoy.

He didn't know, did he? The only thing people know is that Sirius Black had no family, but was the godfather to Harry. Maybe that was what Draco was insinuating. Nobody knows, the only thing that Draco knows about Edmund is that he is in some way family friends to Severus Snape.

After the class was dismissed, Snape held Edmund back to talk about respect and to not interrupt his class in that way ever again. Edmund just argued that respect goes both ways and that he didn't appreciate him doubling down on his friends who had done nothing wrong and were there to learn, not to get degraded.

He let out an annoyed breath as suddenly Hermione appeared beside him, walking down the stairs. Clutching her bag and tucking something down the front of her robes. "Cutting it a bit close, aren't you?" Edmund noted.

"How'd you do that?" Ron asked.

"Do what?" Edmund asked, he didn't like lying but this was to keep Hermione's secret hers. With a hand he supported her bag and quickly pulled his wand out, "Your bag is literally breaking by the seams of it, Hermione." He said quietly and fixed it. "You should let me keep some of your books with me."

"Fine." Hermione puffed out, she must've been hoping to be independent during her Time Turner year. "You can take our shared subject books."

"I'll also take muggle studies." He whispered, "Runes is right beside it, I'll drop it off before going to class."

"Ok," She said and turned around her backpack so it rests on her stomach, slowly she handed over three different books and Edmund put them in his bag.

"I can also carve some lightness runes in them." He offered, "Make them feel light but by all logic their physical mass still obtains heaviness in your backpack."

"That would be helpful."

"I'm still holding onto them for you, though." He said with a small smile. They had lost Harry and Ron's attention the moment they started talking about class. They walked off into the Great Hall and the seating was a bit different this time.

Harry and Ron sat with Parvati Patil and Lavender. Hermione sat with Edmund and the rest of his friend group, the tension between her and Ron must've really gotten to him because the two usually sit together through every rough patch they hit.

It was all getting a bit too confusing for him. Lunch was nice though, he could get into discussions with Padma and Hermione. But would get side-tracked by the way that Susan would wiggle her eyebrows at him, teasing.

After lunch they all walked towards the Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson, Hermione was constantly asking questions about his uncle, trying to gauge how she'd get on his good side. "He already likes you Hermione." Edmund would say, "He's allowed me to go on vacation with your family." After saying that he knew that it was a bad idea, now she had to live up to expectations that she didn't know of.

They all sat down and took out all the necessary things, except for Edmund who knew how eccentric of a teacher his uncle could be. He was the reason why Edmund was far ahead of his peers.

With a smile and subtle wink in his nephew's direction, Remus Lupin put his tattered briefcase on his desk. "Good afternoon, would you please put all your books back in your bags. Today will be a practical lesson, you will only require your wand." Professor Lupin smiled as everyone listened.

Interested students quickly got to their feet and followed Professor Lupin out the door. Following them to the familiar staffroom. The poltergeist was quickly put in his place after they passed him in the hallway.

They all walked into the staffroom and his other uncle sat at the table, a sneer on his face. "You know of Longbottom, Remus." The man said, "Don't let him do anything difficult unless your nephew is there to help him."

Edmund frowned at his uncle, it seemed like they both weren't happy at each other with their previous encounter. Instead of heeding Snape's warning, the new teacher just smiled, "I was hoping that Neville would assist me with the first stage of the operation."

Neville blushed and Edmund smiled as he patted his back. "Now then," The Professor stood next to the wardrobe that was wobbling, banging off of the wall. "Nothing to worry about, except for the boggart."

Neville gave the teacher a look of pure terror, and Seamus looked a bit apprehensive. "Boggarts like dark, enclosed spaces." Professor Lupin started his lecture. "Wardrobes, the gap beneath beds, cupboards under sinks. Personally, Edmund knows of this." Curious eyes looked at him. "One lodged itself in a grandfather clock, scared little Ed real good." A few laughs and Edmund blushed as he gave his uncle the stink eye.

"This one moved in yesterday afternoon, I asked the headmaster if the staff could leave it to give my class something new to try." He said and cleared his throat. "First question, what is a boggart?"

Hermione raised her hand.

"Ah Miss. Granger. Edmund told me about how smart you are." The man said and Edmund just blushed as he crouched to hide among his peers, sometimes it was hard to be as tall as him. "Tell me, what is it?" Her eyes stopped looking at Edmund and her blush settled.

"A shape-shifter." She answered, "It can take the form of what frightens us."

"Couldn't have put it better myself." The man said and Hermione glowed, "Edmund's words were correct." He crouched down again to hide behind a laughing Susan. "A boggart sitting in the darkness within has not yet assumed a form. Nobody knows the true form of a boggart, when I let him out, he will immediately become whatever each of us fears."

Edmund swallowed as he stood up to his full height again, looking over the heads of his fellow students. "This means that we have an advantage over the boggart before we begin, have you spotted it, Harry?"

Harry struggled to answer but did, finally. "Because there are so many of us? It wouldn't know what shape it should be?"

"Precisely." Hermione put her hand down, a little disappointed and Edmund blushed as he thought about how he mentioned her class habits to his uncle as well. "It's best to have company when you're dealing with a boggart. It becomes confused, what should it be? Option A or option B."

"Edmund, remind me of the charm that we had used on our boggart?"

"Riddikulus."

"What can you tell me about repelling it?"

"Well, it requires a force of mind, laughter is best. Make it force a shape that you find funny."

"Right so." His uncle said and winked. "We'll practise without wands first, after me please. Riddikulus!"

"Riddikulus!" The class repeated.

"Good, very good." Professor Lupin said, "That isn't the easy part, I am afraid. You see, the word alone is not enough. This is where you come in, Neville." The wardrobe shook again but so did Neville. Edmund patted the boy's back before slowly pushing him forward.

"Right, Neville." Professor Lupin said, "I have an assumption in mind about what you fear, based on Edmund's information. But tell us, what would you say is the thing that frightens you most?"

Edmund groaned as a few heads turned back to him as well, Susan just leaned back and whispered, "Do you tell your uncle everything?"

"Nearly everything." Edmund replied and cringed.

"I'm assuming a lot is about her as well."

"Oh yeah." Edmund blushed, "He knew before I did." Susan laughed as she focussed on the class again.

"Professor Snape." Neville whispered and Edmund felt his stomach drop a bit. He hated the way that Uncle Sev treated Neville.

"Hm." His uncle looked very entertained with it, "You live with your grandmother, no?"

"Yes, sir. But I don't want to boggart to turn into her either."

Edmund knew that it was a possibility, he learnt about her lectures and shivered, lovely woman, just not nice all the time. "You misunderstand me, could you tell us what sort of clothes your grandmother usually wears?"

"Well, always the same hat, tall one with a stuffed vulture on top. Long green dress and a fox-fur scarf."

"A handbag?"

"Big red one."

"Right so, can you picture those clothes very clearly, Neville? Can you see them in your mind's eye?"

"Yes."

His uncle started to guide Neville even more and the wardrobe wobbled more violently. "-the boggart is likely to shift his attention to each of us in turn. I would like all of you to take a moment to think f the thing that scares you the most, and ima-"

Edmund was sweating now, his hands were clammy. What scared him the most? His mind raced and before he knew it the door opened and Edmund tightened the grip on his wand. Edmund watched as Neville banished his boggart and the class laughed at the sight, Edmund cracked a smile, quite funny it was.

Then Parvati's turn, then Seamus, Dean hurried forward, then Ron went. Aragog, obviously. Then his uncle jumped forward, and the glimpse of a moon came. Edmund jumped forward and the room quickly changed. From the closet came dark mist, wrapping it around Edmund, rendering everyone's vision of him.

A chilling atmosphere, and in the centre Edmund stood, on his own. Under him the mist collected as white pale hands with long nails reached out of the darkness, then the whispers of a voice that haunts his nightmares whispered, a sinister undertone never able to escape it. Their icy touch tugged at his pants, trying to draw him into the collected mist. "Come to me."

He resisted the pull and took in a breath as he shouted out, "Riddikulus!" The dark, black mist disappeared into a white colour as the cupids from last year started to ride unicorns. The class exploded into laughter.

Edmund wiped away the sweat on his forehead and his uncle continued the class, sending the boy concerned looks. "Well, points to everyone who tackled the boggart, five each. Points for Hermione and Edmund for answering my questions." Edmund had a small smile on his face. "Very well, everyone, excellent lesson. Homework, read the chapter on boggarts and summarise it for me, to be handed in on Monday. That'll be all."

Before everyone could walk out of the class, his uncle called out, "Edmund, a word?"

Hermione gave him a concerned look along with Harry before being forced out of the staffroom. "Yes, uncle." He said as he sat down in Snape's seat.

"What was that? The dark mist around you. What did you see?"

Edmund swallowed, "Just the usual nightmare, uncle moony." He answered truthfully.

"Could you tell me what your nightmares are about?"

"I think you know." He said and clenched his jaw as he stood up. The day passed and no-one mentioned anything about the incident. His runes and arithmancy classes were going well, Care of Magical Creatures had lessened with the action but still had enough to keep everyone engaged in the story.