Dumbledore, who had appeared out of nowhere, was standing not far from the trio.
They had no idea when he had arrived or how much he had overheard.
Eda and the twins, who had been in the midst of discussing the "Minister of Magic," awkwardly greeted Dumbledore. It was as if they had been caught boasting by a kindly elder.
How embarrassing—it was like being caught by the head of the orphanage.
"My apologies, I've been standing here for a while. I didn't mean to eavesdrop on your conversation," Dumbledore said with a slight bow, his blue robes swaying gently as he expressed his apology to the three.
Eda and the twins quickly waved off his concern, indicating that it wasn't a big deal. After realizing Dumbledore was there, the twins stood up and offered him their seats.
Dumbledore looked at them warmly and said, "It's wonderful to see such strong friendships. The bonds you form in your youth can carry you through your entire lives."
With a smile, Dumbledore watched the three young people, a scene that brought him joy and a bit of envy. However, his gaze lingered mostly on Eda.
Suddenly, Eda blurted out, "Fred, George, I want some meat…"
Her out-of-the-blue request left the twins a bit puzzled. Weren't they just talking about friendship? Why the sudden craving for meat? Wasn't there meat in the sandwiches?
But instead of asking why, the twins decided to fulfill Eda's small wish. The brothers decided to head to the kitchen to see what they could find.
After the twins left the hospital wing, Dumbledore sat down in the chair next to Eda's bed. He said, "I was just wondering how I might get the mischievous Weasley brothers to leave, and you accomplished it with just one sentence."
The reason Eda had sent the twins away wasn't because she genuinely wanted some meat. She had noticed that Dumbledore wanted to have a private conversation with her, so she came up with that flimsy excuse to get Fred and George to leave.
As for what Dumbledore wanted to discuss, Eda had no idea. No one could ever truly predict Dumbledore's thoughts.
"I'm sure you had plenty of ways to get them to leave, Professor. You just chose not to use them," Eda replied, not believing for a second that Dumbledore was truly at a loss.
"Indeed, living as long as I have, I do have a few tricks up my sleeve. However, your method was certainly more effective—Mr. Weasleys leaving of his own accord is proof of that." Dumbledore pointed to the snacks on the table and asked, "May I try one?"
The snacks had been brought by Eda's friends—some from Angelina and Alicia, others from Lee Jordan, and even Charlie had brought gifts when he visited.
Dumbledore selected a packet of Chocolate Frogs from the pile. After opening the package, the enchanted Chocolate Frog gave a strong leap, but the headmaster, prepared for this, didn't let it escape.
After eating the Chocolate Frog in a few bites, Dumbledore finally looked at the accompanying wizard card.
However, his expression soured slightly, resembling that of a child disappointed with their toy.
"Another one of me!" Dumbledore complained.
He handed the card to Eda and continued, "It might sound a bit self-indulgent, but I have quite a few of my own cards by now."
These collectible cards typically provide brief introductions to famous wizards, and Dumbledore's card was no different. It read:
**Albus Dumbledore, current Headmaster of Hogwarts.**
Widely regarded as the greatest wizard of the age,
Dumbledore's notable achievements include:
Defeating the Dark Wizard Grindelwald in 1945,
Discovering the twelve uses of dragon's blood,
And his work in alchemy with his partner, Nicolas Flamel.
Professor Dumbledore enjoys chamber music and ten-pin bowling.
"If I count this one, I now have four of them," Eda remarked, playing with the card.
Every student Eda knew who collected Chocolate Frog cards had multiple Dumbledore cards, and she often wondered if Dumbledore was somehow endorsing the Chocolate Frog company.
"I hope you're not tired of seeing this old face," Dumbledore said with a smile. "May I call you Eda, like Minerva does?"
"Of course, Professor. My name is a bit long," Eda replied.
"Not at all. Compared to my full name, it's really not that long," Dumbledore said with a chuckle. "When I write out my full name, I sometimes worry I'll make a spelling mistake."
After making a joke about his own name, Dumbledore finally addressed the matter at hand. He said, "I owe you an apology, Eda. Please forgive an old man's overconfidence, which ultimately put you in danger."
Eda didn't accept Dumbledore's apology because she believed her situation was a result of her own reckless curiosity. She didn't blame anyone else for what had happened.
"It was my own curiosity that got me into this mess," Eda replied. "If I hadn't been sneaking around the castle at night, I wouldn't have stumbled upon Professor Snape and Fawley. If I hadn't been curious about Fawley's actions, he wouldn't have noticed me, and I wouldn't have become his target."
"While I can't claim to know everything that happens within the castle," Dumbledore said, "I am aware of your activities here. I instructed Severus to protect you and allowed your behavior to continue."
Eda had always known that Snape was protecting her but never understood why—until now. She realized that it had all been part of Dumbledore's plan.
Understanding this, Eda didn't make any dramatic declarations. After all, she was the one being protected, the one who had benefited from this arrangement. She knew better than to be ungrateful.
"Every time I wandered around the castle, I'd get a summons from Professor Snape afterward. But ever since Fawley left, those summonses stopped," Eda said.
"Fawley's resignation was just a strategic retreat on his part, and his departure did indeed cause us to lower our guard," Dumbledore explained. "That gave him the opportunity to slip through the cracks and take you from the castle."
However, Dumbledore didn't reveal the full truth. It was actually Snape who had relaxed his watch over Eda, which explained why she hadn't been called in by Snape as frequently afterward.
"But fortunately, our mischievous Weasley brothers noticed the signs you left behind," Dumbledore continued. "Thanks to that, we avoided an outcome I would have deeply regretted."
Being taken to the Forbidden Forest by Fawley and almost losing her life still gave Eda a lingering sense of fear when she thought about it. If she hadn't sensed that something was wrong at the last moment and left a mark, or if the twins hadn't noticed that mark, she might not have survived.
"Thank goodness for them. Without them, life would be unbearably dull," Eda sighed. The twins always brought her joy, reminding her that there was more to life than just magic—there were friends worth trusting.
A thirteen-year-old witch contemplating the meaning of life might seem laughable. After all, what insights could someone so young have about life? But Dumbledore didn't laugh. On the contrary, he appreciated Eda's perspective—she had already come to understand the importance of friendship.
"There's one more thing I need to mention," Dumbledore said, pointing to the *Daily Prophet* on the bed. "Fudge originally wanted to include your name, but I refused."
"Thank you, Professor," Eda responded sincerely. She really didn't care about such things. Fame brought nothing but trouble, and dealing with those troubles would be a waste of her limited time.
Dumbledore looked at Eda with satisfaction, knowing he hadn't misjudged her. But the mischievous old man couldn't resist a bit of teasing. "But that could have been your ticket to running for Minister of Magic someday—are you really going to pass that up?"
"Ack! It was just a joke, Professor, nothing to take seriously. When I was younger, people said I might live on Downing Street when I grew up. Neither I nor the person who said it ever took it seriously."
Despite Eda's curiosity and somewhat reckless nature, today's conversation left Dumbledore with a very favorable impression of her.
Despite her young age, Eda already had her own unique thoughts, which was what Dumbledore valued.
His task now was to help guide this young sapling, trimming the branches so she wouldn't grow crooked or stray down the wrong path.
"Who knows? Maybe one day you'll become someone like Minerva, and perhaps even the Head of Gryffindor House!" Dumbledore suggested.
"Why stop at being Head of House? Maybe I'll be the Headmistress!" Eda replied with a grin.
"I'm looking forward to that day, Headmistress Twist," Dumbledore said with a smile.
At his age, Dumbledore wouldn't take Eda's playful talk of "usurping" seriously, especially when it was just a lighthearted joke between them. He continued, "Well, it's getting late, so this old Headmaster won't keep the new Headmistress from her rest. We'll see each other tomorrow!"
There were many things Dumbledore hadn't told Eda yet, but now wasn't the right time. Letting her know too soon would only add unnecessary worries.
The brief interaction with Dumbledore that evening left Eda feeling quite happy. She didn't even notice the metaphorical red warning sign flashing "DANGER" above her head.
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Eda ended up staying in the hospital wing for another three days.
In reality, her body had already fully recovered—she was energetic, could run and jump around, and had an appetite that could devour two steaks in one meal! However, Madam Pomfrey strictly forbade her from getting out of bed, even keeping a close eye on her whenever she needed to use the restroom, worried that Eda might try something mischievous.
During those three days, Eda passed the time with just a glass of water, a pack of snacks, and a newspaper—bored out of her mind. She even knew the exact number of small potion bottles in the hospital wing by now.
Fortunately, she had the company of the twins.
Fred and George visited her without fail whenever they weren't in class. Without their company, Eda felt she might have gone stir-crazy.
Professor McGonagall came to visit Eda, and upon seeing her so lively, she became furious and gave Eda a stern scolding, making Eda wish she could shrink her head into her chest.
Eda politely expressed her desire to be discharged, but Professor McGonagall mercilessly denied her request.
McGonagall thought it was good for Eda to be confined there—it would allow them to ensure there were no lingering health issues and help temper her character, a win-win situation.
Despite her stern demeanor, McGonagall was still concerned about Eda and, fearing she might be bored, brought her some Transfiguration journals and papers, which were perfect to keep Eda occupied.
Since that night in the Forbidden Forest, Snape had not visited, nor had he sent any message. Eda had anticipated this; if Snape had come to see her, she would have had to wonder if she had somehow offended the Potions Master again.
Dumbledore also hadn't returned, though he did have some sweets delivered to Eda—his favorite kinds. Eda considered it a great deal, exchanging just one Chocolate Frog for a whole pile of snacks.
Eda's discharge from the hospital wing didn't cause much of a stir; by then, people were no longer as excited about the student who helped capture Fawley.
Everyone was talking about how Minister Fudge had sent Fawley to Azkaban without a trial, and how Fawley's family was now lobbying throughout the wizarding world, hoping to help him avoid conviction.
Compared to these two major events, the situation of one student was insignificant. Dumbledore had remained silent on the matter, so there was no need for further speculation.
On the day of Eda's discharge, a few of her friends came to see her off. In truth, they didn't need to come—Eda didn't have much to carry. The incident had happened so suddenly, and she had been brought back directly, so she hadn't had the chance to prepare anything for her stay in the hospital wing.
For the past few days, Eda had been wearing the familiar hospital gown. Her school robes had long since been taken by the house-elves to be mended and washed, and they were returned to her two nights ago, now carrying a pleasant, fresh scent.
The large bag of snacks Eda had received was nearly finished, mostly eaten by her and the twins, so what was left could easily fit into the pockets of her robes. The heaviest items she had were just a few books, which could be comfortably carried in a backpack, making all the fuss unnecessary.
Angelina, Alicia, and Lee Jordan had all come along, with the twins carrying Eda's backpack. The five of them escorted her back to the common room.
Finally free from the hospital bed, Eda threw herself onto the soft bed in her dormitory. It was much more comfortable here. Once you get used to luxury, it's hard to go back; after getting used to a soft bed, Eda found the hospital bed unbearable.
The twins took Eda on a tour around the school. It hadn't only been Eda who was feeling cooped up during that week—the twins, who had kept her company in the hospital wing, were also eager to stretch their legs.
The three of them spent the entire day running wild around the campus, and even the Whomping Willow didn't escape their mischief.
Standing at a safe distance, just outside the reach of the Whomping Willow's branches, the three of them acted like mischievous children, throwing stones at the tree. The winner was whoever hit the trunk; if no one hit it, the winner was the one whose stone landed closest.
The Whomping Willow swore that as one of Hogwarts' treasured plants, with its formidable combat skills, it had never suffered such indignity in its life!
To prevent Eda from cheating, the twins confiscated her wand. With her arm strength nowhere near as good as the twins', Eda naturally lost miserably. Fred and George showed no mercy either—they were finally able to beat Eda again.
After losing ten Chocolate Frogs, five bags of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, and four Licorice Wands, the assault on the Whomping Willow finally came to an end.
After an entire day of indulgence, Eda managed to rein herself in, and life gradually returned to normal.
With the pressure from Fawley gone, Eda became much more cheerful. She figured that as long as she was alive, there was no need to burden herself too much. If she could laugh, she would—better to enjoy it now than regret not laughing later when she couldn't.
It was already May, and the school year at Hogwarts was drawing to a close. In addition to covering any remaining material, the professors began to review what they had taught.
In Transfiguration, Professor McGonagall had them practice with matches again, while Professor Flitwick led a review of the Levitation Charm. Professor Sprout took them back into the greenhouse to dig in the dirt, and by the time Eda emerged, she looked like a little mud monkey—further proof that her practical skills weren't the best.
Eda excelled in all her subjects, except for Herbology, where she fell just a little short. It made it seem like Eda had some issue with Professor Sprout.
In reality, Eda had thoroughly memorized all the theoretical knowledge for Herbology, but she was just a bit lacking in the practical aspect. That little deficiency kept her from achieving top marks.
Every time Professor Sprout walked past Eda, she would shake her head and sigh. Even with her thick skin, Eda found it hard to endure Sprout's disappointed gaze, making her feel like she was some sort of heartbreaker.
All the subjects were in review mode, except for Potions.
Snape continued his teaching schedule with meticulous precision. As for reviewing material? Don't even think about it. If you fail the exams, that's your problem—your brain must be faulty.
Snape fully adhered to the teaching philosophy of "the master leads the way, but the practice is up to the individual." He had already taught everything that needed to be taught without holding anything back.
How much a student could grasp was their own problem—what did it have to do with Snape?
During Potions class, Snape didn't bother Eda at all. In fact, he even provided guidance on her potion. Though his face remained stern and his tone was as harsh as ever, his advice was solid and unfiltered.
This behavior from Snape left jaws dropped across the dungeon. Both Gryffindors and Slytherins wondered if the sun had risen in the west that day, leaving them stunned for the rest of the year.
The final exam for Defense Against the Dark Arts was canceled by Dumbledore. However, the fifth and seventh-year students weren't so lucky—they still had to take their O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s as scheduled.
The entire school was deeply immersed in a studious atmosphere. Even Filch's workload lightened considerably. Eda had forcefully dragged Fred and George to the library for a last-minute review session.
Fred and George were smart, with decent grades, but their minds were elsewhere, filled with thoughts of pranks and all sorts of inventive ideas.
The twins had tried to resist Eda's tyrannical actions, but they didn't want to hurt her, so all their protests remained verbal, with no real action behind them.
Eda, on the other hand, was the opposite. She was resolute in carrying out her revision plan. Since Mrs. Weasley had always treated her kindly, Eda wanted to make the twins' grades look better to please her.
One side's resistance was incomplete, and the other side was ruthless enough to suppress it, so the twins' uprising was quickly suppressed by Eda with force. They had no choice but to review according to Eda's plan and live a "miserable" life.
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