Tensions had steadily been escalating between the blood purists of Slytherin and the vast majority of the rest of the school. Most had been anticipating another fight to break out, as there seemed to be no other way to resolve things.
However, one day, everyone woke up to find that the friction between the two parties had simply vanished. Without any explanation, several of the foremost perpetrators of blood purity seemed to have suddenly given up on harassing those they considered beneath them.
The end of the hostilities was confusing, and many remained cautious for weeks after what seemed like a deceptive ploy. Those people were in for a pleasant surprise.
While still maintaining a smug, holier-than-thou attitude, Malfoy and Bletchley had stopped interacting with 'mudbloods' entirely. They still acted snooty and disgusted whilst in the presence of their objects of disdain, but no bigoted rhetoric spewed from their mouths as it would have only a few days prior.
For some incomprehensible reason, the group had come to a private ceasefire agreement.
Edmund was the only one who knew otherwise...
That was not to say that things were perfect. While others may not have noticed, Edmund had caught a number of pained looks on the faces of those he had visited that night. Grimaces would grace their features for a split second, only to be replaced with blankness, and then complete disregard once more.
Edmund's magic was working. In fact, it was probably working overtime to create the degree of results that were being seen. The side effects of this were subtle but clearly discernable.
Miles and Draco, in particular, had shortened the length of time they spent in public places to alleviate their chances of suffering. Apparently, their thought processes were causing them such agony that they had been reduced to implementing measures to stop them from occurring altogether.
Edmund likely would have felt bad if it weren't for the knowledge that they possessed such little control over themselves that they were in such a situation. As it was, he felt no reason to intervene any further. Perhaps they could rectify their behaviour with time, given their circumstances. Or maybe it would only make their hatred grow.
Either way, it was of no concern to Edmund.
*-*-*-*
- (Scene Break) -
*-*-*-*
Easter break was quickly approaching, and Edmund knew the rest of the school year would likely fly by just as fast. Before then, he would have to solidify his plans for the summer and get his affairs in order.
He had discussed the topic at length with Marvolo, and the two had agreed that it would be wise for Edmund to find an official place to reside within the magical world rather than join up at Voldemort's location. The chance of someone noticing something amiss with a cover story was slim, but there was no reason to take any risks.
The arrangments were finalized on an early March morning when a tawny owl dropped a thick roll of parchment onto Jeremy's head with a smack.
The boy massaged his scalp with one hand as the other went to pry open the wax stamp keeping the letter sealed. As he read the contents of the missive, his eyes widened, and a grin formed. Whooping with joy, Jeremy leaned across the table and handed the message to Edmund's hands, who skimmed over it eagerly.
"My man! We're gonna be living it up over the summer. Todd style!" Jeremy cheered happily.
Edmund smiled, trying and failing not to show his excitement. "At least when we share a room at your house, your mum won't let you turn it into the pig sty you've made our dorm," he admitted with an exaggerated sigh of despair.
Jeremy chuckled, far too thrilled to bother getting offended at his friend's joke. "I've done my part! Now you go do yours," he shooed him towards the High Table.
"Right," Edmund said determinedly. "Game face on!"
He walked towards McGonagall's spot at the dais, his look of seriousness morphing into the most pitiful puppy eyes he could form. The skill was not a magical one, but its results could be no less miraculous when wielded effectively.
The professor's eyes narrowed as soon as she caught sight of him. She was familiar with Edmund's antics and was knowledgeable about the tricks he liked to employ.
"Can I help you, Mr. Cole?" she said as sternly as she could, aware of the eyes on her at the moment.
"Well, Professor, you see, the thing is..." Edmund waffled.
"Spit it out, Mr. Cole," McGonagall demanded exasperatedly.
"Jeremy's parents have given me permission to stay with them over the summer," the words tumbled out of Edmund's mouth quickly, "and I was hoping you could help me get permission to leave the orphanage for that time?"
McGonagall made to respond, but Edmund was on a roll.
"Please, please, please, professor. If I ask the matron, she's definitely going to say no," Edmund pleaded. "But she likes you! If you ask on my behalf, there's no way she'll refuse!"
"Mr. Cole, such a thing goes far beyond my duties as a prof—" McGonagall began protesting before being cut off by Edmund clinging on to the sleeves of her robes.
"C'mon, professor, please don't say no!" Edmund appealed once more.
McGonagall looked around, flustered by the amused gaze of the other professors watching the interaction. She pursed her lips, looking at Edmund with annoyance, before leaning in next to his left ear.
"You little rascal," she hissed. "You think you're clever? Don't think you're going to get away scot-free with this. Do you remember I mentioned that I needed a test subject to demonstrate for my seventh-year human transfiguration class? Thank you for volunteering for the position."
Edmund shivered, trying to draw away from her grasp, but the professor held him steadfast.
"No ifs, ands, or buts!" McGonagall forged on as Edmund squirmed. "That's the price you pay! Deal?"
Edmund nodded slightly, and McGonagall released him immediately.
She smiled at him tightly, enjoying his fidgeting.
"Alright, Mr. Cole," she said, audible for those nearby to hear. "I'll see what I can do."
Edmund bowed jerkily before dashing back to his seat. The woman could be terrifying sometimes, and she made sure to remind him of it when he pushed too far.
Would Edmund learn not to antagonize her again?
A smirk tugged at his lips. 'Probably not.'
*-*-*-*
- (Scene Break) -
*-*-*-*
Jeremy may not have explicitly mentioned it, but Edmund had figured it would be a good idea to gain employment over the summer to make the time go by faster. Loitering around inside the Todd household would only make him more of a hassle, and Edmund did not wish to inconvenience the family any more than was necessary.
For that purpose, a long list of potential applications was written before him, although many had been crossed out by those beside him.
"You have to understand that there are some unspoken rules to this kinda thing!" Cedric gesticulated wildly.
"Yeah?" Edmund responded. "Like what?"
"Well, you're sorta lucky this year, considering most of the shops in Diagon are hiring," Cedric explained. "With Sirius Black on the loose, not many parents are keen to let their kids work out in the open. In fact, even some full-time workers have left their jobs in fear of Black."
"So there are lots of openings," Edmund surmised. "I don't see the problem here."
"The problem," Cedric emphasized, "is that there are lots of jobs that you aren't qualified for, some who wouldn't hire you, and even those that wouldn't be safe for you."
"I know about the Leaky Cauldron," Edmund shrugged. "I'm not old enough to be serving alcohol, so they probably wouldn't want to hire me anyways."
"The Leaky Cauldron is the only place where there's a legal problem involved with hiring you," Cedric agreed. "But take Quality Quidditch Supplies, for example. I've worked there for three years, and all the student employees are on the Hogwarts quidditch teams. They only take in those who know how to handle the equipment properly or those they know will help boost sales. The owner even has a whole wall full of pictures of Quidditch stars who used to work at his shop before they became famous."
"Alright, I get that. But it doesn't exactly apply to a quill shop, does it? Why did you eliminate Amanuensis Quills from the list?" Edmund questioned.
"No chance, mate," Jeremy dismissed. "That's a luxury goods store if anything. They've got feathers of phoenixes, thunderbirds, occamies, and who knows what else stored in there. They're not letting an eleven-year-old handle their supply no matter what."
"Fine," Edmund conceded. "Why have you crossed out Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, then? What special qualities do I need for that?"
Cecilia, sitting off to the side, laughed at that. "You need a different gender. Old man Fortescue only ever hires young girls. Are you still interested?"
Edmund blushed, swiftly moving on without giving her a response.
"What about Flourish and Blotts, then?" he asked curiously.
"Flourish and Blotts is the cushiest and most popular job out there. You get paid well, there's not much work to do, and you get to read the books there for free in your spare time. You could try, but I guarantee you all the spots were filled by Ravenclaws months ago as soon as the applications opened," Cedric lectured. "And don't even mention Obscurus Books. It's way too close to Knockturn Alley for you to think about."
Edmund huffed. "Well, what am I supposed to do then if you guys are going to be so picky?"
"We're picky?! You're the one who immediately got rid of all the easier shops that you have a shot with," Cedric said incredulously. "What's wrong with them?"
Edmund held up his fingers, listing off the options he had removed. "Eeylops Owl Emporium and Magical Menagerie are not for me. They're unbearably loud, messy, and chaotic. I was tired of them in the two minutes I spent inside during my first trip to Diagon Alley. No way am I going to spend months in there. The only other one I've gotten rid of is Gambol and Japes. I don't want to become the test sample for all the pranks they've got there, alright?"
"Then there's nothing else left!" Cedric threw his hands up. "We've gone through all the offers in the Daily Prophet."
Edmund sighed, rubbing his temples to soothe his developing headache.
"What about this one?" Ben asked hesitantly. "You guys didn't even mention it."
Cedric took a look at what Ben was pointing at before scoffing. "They've been trying to find someone for that for years. The job hasn't been taken because no one wants it."
His curiosity stoked, Edmund glanced more closely at the advert.
"ASSISTANT REQUIRED FOR KNIGHT BUS. RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE: DISTRIBUTING BEVERAGES, GIVING BACK CHANGE, AND MORE. APPLY NOW!"
"Hmm," Edmund stroked his chin in deliberation.
The job was uncomfortable in many aspects. No one rode the Knight Bus unless they absolutely had to, and even then, it was a real endeavour. Edmund could not blame anybody for not wanting to spend more time on it than was necessary. The fact that Ernie and Stan Shunpike were available as a driver and a conductor was a miracle in and of itself.
However, the occupation would also have its bonuses. The Knight Bus was ministry regulated, which ensured its safety. The lack of interest in the job also meant that it would pay well, far beyond any other opportunity that Edmund would come across. Money was not a significant issue for him, but having a legal source of income that he could openly spend without suspicion would definitely be handy.
These perks also paled in front of the prospect of being able to spend time aboard one of the greatest inventions of spatial magic in wizarding Britain. For such an infrequently used service, the Knight Bus was incredibly magically advanced. Its capabilities to expand and shrink at will, maintain a relatively steady interior, and speed through the streets while making maneuvers that defied the laws of physics were awe-inspiring.
Being able to examine such an artifact would undoubtedly be a big advantage for a novice spatial manipulator like Edmund.
With a decisive exhale, he grabbed a piece of parchment and a quill.
"I think this will work out just fine," Edmund smiled as he began filling out a letter of interest.
If you have any thoughts, or things you would like to see happen in the story, please share!
—
As you may have noticed, my diction is decent, while my syntax is awful. Please do not hesitate to point out any mistakes I make with a paragraph comment or a general chapter comment!
—
Thank you for reading!
Smoke hit Edmund's face as he watched the Hogwarts Express depart once more, London-bound. Through the layer of fumes, he could make out the faint silhouettes of three people waving at him, their voices echoing throughout the otherwise empty platform.
"Bye Edmund!" Ben shouted, his quiet voice barely reaching Edmund's ears.
"Catch you on the flip side!" Jeremy hollered obnoxiously.
"See ya, dork!" Cecilia chortled, causing the others with her to start laughing as well.
Edmund smiled and waved in return, waiting till the train was out of view till he began making his way back to the castle.
The second term had passed at breakneck speed for Edmund. It seemed like only yesterday that he had come to pick up his friends after Christmas, and here he was less than three months later to see them off again.
Once more, he would be alone within Hogwarts, free to roam its walls. However, Edmund doubted that the period would bring with it the same sense of loneliness he had experienced over the weeks in winter. The Easter break was shorter than the previous one and tended to be used by many older students to prepare for their O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s in peace. Rather than less than ten students being present in the castle, the number was closer to one hundred. Even without the increased presence, Edmund knew he would have been far too busy to think about his friends this time around, and he was eager for the reasons why.
That was not to mention that with the days as long as they were now, it was hard to feel any real sadness at all. The sun was shining overhead, illuminating the towers brightly. Birds were chirping merrily, performing their mating calls with glee, taking advantage of the clear skies. The first of the flowers had begun to bloom, sending a shower of pollen drifting through the atmosphere, just as heavy and thick as the snow that had preceded it.
Edmund leaned out of the side as the carriage trundled along the path, letting the sunlight hit his face. He inhaled deeply, taking in the fresh smells of spring and clearing his nostrils of the reek from the train.
Decelerating to a stop, Edmund jumped out of the coach, sending a wave of gravel airborne from his landing. Following the reins attached to the carriage, Edmund felt along until he could sense the presence of taut sinewy skin. His fingers slowly reached the front of the thestral, scratching the beast comfortingly throughout the way.
With his other hand, he reached into the pouch tucked away into the pocket of his robes, retrieving the bacon strips he had saved within.
The thestral's nose began to flare immediately as it moved to the origin of the scent singlemindedly.
Edmund chuckled, feeding the creature its deserved due. "It's all for you. Slow down! I haven't got any more, so you better savour it."
Despite his light scolding, the thestral wolfed down the snack in just a few seconds, sniffing around Edmund to see if he could find anything else. With a soft snort, its bony face pressed up against his palm affectionately. The thestral's rough tongue instantly came out of its mouth, licking up the last residue of the meat on Edmund's hands and slobbering all over them uncaringly.
Holding up his spit-soaked digits, Edmund grimaced with revulsion.
"Disgusting," he muttered.
The thestral whinnied in response, rubbing its side with Edmund's in complaint.
Edmund patted it on the head consolingly as he chuckled. "Ah, don't worry, buddy. I still love you."
*-*-*-*
- (Scene Break) -
*-*-*-*
Edmund quietly opened the door to the kitchens, peering through the crack to see if anyone else was within. Inside, he found himself the observer of a strange scene.
The house-elves all sat in a circle in varying forms of disarray, hanging onto the words of a wizened member of their race standing in the very center.
The elf—a female, Edmund recognized with a closer look—bore innumerable wrinkles upon her tiny forehead, and a small cane in her grasp seemed to be the only thing keeping her upright. Despite her fragile stature, her demeanour was entirely business as she gazed upon her fellow brethren.
"What about the dorms?" she asked the room with a frown.
"We goes all over the castle, and we already cleans them, miss head elf miss," a younger house-elf squeaked out sadly.
"The classroo—" the now identified head elf continued before being cut off.
"We cleans them too, miss! We cleans the classrooms once, wipes down the Great Hall, and even the common rooms as well! Deputy headmistress kitty forbids us to dust the castle more than twice a day, and bans us from cleaning abandoned classrooms as well," another house-elf wailed, earning herself a slap on the back of the head for interrupting.
No one contradicted her, though, the other elves only muttering their agreement.
"Too much work bad for house-elves?" one of them imitated McGonagall sullenly. *Pah!*
"Good elves don't complain about overwork," another elder house-elf agreed. "Back in my day..."
The head elf banged her cane on the floor once, causing the room to fall silent once more.
...Exposing the sound of Edmund rummaging through the bread basket as quietly as he could. Perhaps he should have cast a silencing charm in the area, but the magic tended to negatively interfere with the Stasis charms placed on the food. Alas, he had no time for regret.
Edmund found himself face to face with hundreds of elves, looking at him with aghast expressions. Silence reigned for several seconds before the head-elf spoke up, deceptively quiet.
"What is you doing, young master?" she asked, glancing at the large stash of food Edmund had piled up with her eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"I, uh, I just needed to grab a quick bite to eat?" Edmund answered. "I didn't want to disturb you all. Carry on, carry on, don't mind me."
His words had practically no effect.
"You plans to eat all this by yourself?" the head elf questioned skeptically. "Not many mouths to feed right now, and breakfast was only an hour ago."
Edmund scratched his head, clenching his teeth. "I'm a growing boy?" he tried.
It was a pathetic excuse, even to his own ears.
In truth, one of the rituals that Edmund was about to undertake would disrupt the cycle of his internal hormones, temporarily making him highly ravenous. It was an odd side effect, but easily managed, all things considered.
If only he had managed to get the food without a hassle...
The house-elves only looked at him more distrustfully, an expression that appeared rather cute on their lopsided faces.
Edmund waved his hands in the air to dispel their doubts futilely. "Look, you don't even need to bother! I'll just put on this apron here, cook myself a quick meal, and be on my way!"
Their wariness dissipated in a snap, replaced with a look of intense desire. The group glanced at one another for a moment before pandemonium broke out.
Tens of house-elves charged at him suddenly, and only Edmund's instincts allowed him to jump over the first batch of them despite his shock.
"Flopsy cooks the eggs! She beats them evenly and makes sure no eggshells fall in!" one of the female house-elves declared with a cry.
"Tipsy—" another elf announced.
"—and Topsy—" an elf next to the other continued.
"—bakes the cake!" Tipsy finished.
Edmund watched, bewildered, as the elves competed for who would complete which task, as he headed back to the counters to return the apron he had taken.
He should have expressed his intentions before he made a move.
A house elf swung up on his shoulders, encircling Edmund's eyes with his hands. Two other elves grabbed onto his feet while another pair held each arm, trying to keep in place.
"Alright, alright!" Edmund shouted quickly. "I get it. I shouldn't interfere! I was just taking off my apron, I promise!"
His eyes were uncovered slowly, greeting him with the view of a house elf hanging upside down, staring at him sternly.
*Hmmph* it sighed, signalling the others to release him.
Edmund gulped, slowly approaching the tabletop with caution.
Seeing the icing for a chocolate cake being prepared, he scooped up a little bit with a slyly transfigured spoon. As he brought the sweet delicacy to his lips, a roller pin almost hit him on the hand. Edmund was only being able to avoid being struck because of his danger sense warning him at the last second. Even then, the spoon flew out of his hands, clattering to the floor. The mess was picked up in less than a split second, and the area was mopped, dried, and dusted by three separate elves shortly thereafter.
Whirling around, Edmund stared into the unrepentant face of the head elf who was looking at him admonishingly.
"Milly is not thinking that be meant for young master to eat," she harrumphed, grabbing him by the hand and leading him to a chair in the far corner. "Sit, and wait patiently. It will not take long."
True to their word, Edmund's meal was cooked, packaged, and handed to him in less than five minutes, after which he was chased out of the room.
They may have been happy enough to serve him, but house-elves did not tolerate mischief-makers.
Bending his head down into the basket given to him, Edmund let out a smile of contentment. 'Worth it.'
That was the last of his preparations, done. All he had to do now was check in with Marvolo one final time before he removed the communicative device from his body.
He was almost ready.
If you have any thoughts, or things you would like to see happen in the story, please share!
—
As you may have noticed, my diction is decent, while my syntax is awful. Please do not hesitate to point out any mistakes I make with a paragraph comment or a general chapter comment!
—
Thank you for reading!
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