Audrey's expression made Edward chuckle.
This was just the beginning. The day she truly understood the Emperor's diary, she'd realize that compared to lines like "The taste of a demoness ain't bad,""Madam So-and-so is breathtaking," and "He actually wants to… you know," plagiarism was already one of the tamest aspects of his life.
Still, he comforted her gently, "Actually, you don't have to think of the Emperor in such a negative light."
Her eyes lit up instantly. "So…some of the works were original after all?"
"Oh, not really."
Her hopeful gaze turned resentful again.
Edward thought for a moment and said, "Ahem, what I meant is—compared to the earth-shattering changes the Emperor brought to Intis, to your entire world, this kind of thing really pales in comparison. Think about it. If you were suddenly thrown into a strange and dangerous world one day, and couldn't return like I can, how would you survive, adapt, and transform that world? Bit by bit, he forged a powerful nation—its culture, its technology, its politics—even now, he's still a major influence, a trendsetter for countless people, and has already secured his place in history."
Audrey's emerald eyes gradually regained their shine.
"Also, the reason the Emperor later resorted to such rampant plagiarism…well, he had his reasons. It had to do with the events of his final years…"
Edward gave her a simplified explanation of Roselle's twilight years. "He foresaw the inevitable coming of the apocalypse. He had no other choice. He wanted to protect everything he cared about. So, in the end, he made a desperate gamble."
"You mean…the Emperor was trying to ascend to godhood in his later years?"
She froze slightly. "And…did he fail?"
"No, you could say he succeeded. But that success came with a hidden danger, one that forced him to make yet another crucial decision…but I can't tell you about that part. Not yet. Knowing it would put you in danger."
Audrey nodded. Edward had explained the concept of "knowledge is poisonous" to her before. After a moment of hesitation, she instinctively lowered her voice and asked, "Then…is the Emperor still alive?"
"I believe so."
"Will you help him someday?"
"Mister Fool will."
Edward smiled. When he became a demigod, he could try heading to that polluted island to take a look—he had no fear of corruption, after all.
"Ahem, now that we've finished the serious stuff, let me tell you about some of the Emperor's younger, wilder days…"
———
The first class in the morning was Potions. The moment Snape laid eyes on Edward, he visibly froze for a second before giving a soft, cold snort.
"Well, well. If it isn't our potions prodigy, Mister Edward. You finally decided to grace us with your presence?"
"Good morning, Professor." Edward wore an innocent expression, pretending not to catch the sarcasm. "I'm really not as talented as you say. It's mostly thanks to your excellent teaching."
"…"
Snape choked slightly. "Then why didn't you follow the 'new formula' I gave you for the Wolfsbane Potion?"
"Actually, I did."
Edward took out a bottle of the enhanced Wolfsbane Potion and handed it over. "I think I may have accidentally given Professor Lupin the wrong batch afterward."
"The wrong batch? I've got a potion for your eyes right here. You might need it."
Snape paused, then gave a cold huff. "Sit down already."
Edward quickly made his way over and sat next to Cedric. The latter whispered, "Impressive. If we dared talk to Professor Snape like that, he'd already be—'Oh? I admire your courage. Hufflepuff, minus two points.'"
Before he finished, Snape's cold voice rang out: "Cedric. Talking during class. Hufflepuff, minus two points."
"…"
Cedric clamped a hand over his mouth—but that didn't save him from an entire class of snide questions and biting sarcasm. By the time they left the classroom at noon, he looked utterly soulless, like a walking corpse.
———
That afternoon, Edward had his very first Defense Against the Dark Arts class with Umbridge.
The moment he walked into the classroom, he felt a tension even thicker than during Potions. Dressed like a giant pink toad, Umbridge leaned against the lectern, eyes locked on Edward as he entered. Then, she suddenly started clapping.
"Welcome, welcome! To our outstanding student Edward, back from his three-week exchange trip to America!"
The rest of the students looked at each other in confusion. Under Umbridge's sharp gaze, they had no choice but to join in with polite applause.
"Thank you, thank you all."
As long as I'm not embarrassed, then it's others who are.
Edward walked calmly into the classroom, declining Cedric's pleading look to sit together. Instead, he picked an empty seat far from everyone else—just in case she started targeting people by association.
Umbridge picked up a roll of parchment. "According to this, Mister Edward is sixteen years old this year?"
"Yes, Professor."
"Then why are you still in the third year? Was your performance so poor you couldn't advance?"
Edward shrugged. "I wouldn't know. I started first year at age fourteen."
"Oh~"
She nodded and began scribbling something with her quill. "Dumbledore broke Hogwarts' admission rules, enrolling a Muggle beyond the proper age, based solely on personal preference."
"Now then, would you care to tell us—what exactly did you learn during your exchange trip to America?"
"Just some academic exchanges. We're just students, after all. Mostly we just listened to the professors give lectures."
"So, in other words, you didn't gain anything from it? I suppose all the expenses for this little American excursion were paid for by Hogwarts, yes? That would be…embezzlement."
Edward gave a small cough. "Pardon me, Professor, but I paid for it out of my pocket."
Umbridge faltered slightly. "Aren't you an orphan? Where did you get the money to pay for it yourself? Hmm…a large sum of money with an unclear origin…Oh, I do like that term Muggles invented."
"Sorry, but I earned it by working part-time for Professor Snape."
"So, Snape was involved too? Wonderful. Thank you for the testimony, Mister Edward." She flashed a smile that she probably thought was sweet.
In that moment, Edward suddenly had the urge to drop the act entirely and turn this pink old toad into a real toad—and toss her straight out of Hogwarts Castle.
"Wait."
She suddenly marched forward and reached directly into Edward's robes.
Edward quickly backed away. "Professor, what are you doing?"
"If I'm not mistaken, you brought your pet cat to class, didn't you?" Umbridge looked surprised. "I clearly stated earlier: no such creatures are allowed in my classroom. Fifty points from Hufflepuff."
"Meow…"
Edward hastily held Lilith back as she squirmed, clearly about to claw Umbridge across the face.
"Apologies, Professor. I just returned yesterday and wasn't aware of that particular rule."
"Then you're aware now?"
"Yes, Professor. Sorry, it won't happen again."
A smug smile curled the corners of Umbridge's lips. She turned and walked back to the podium, speaking as she went, "I don't care how close you are with Dumbledore or Professor McGonagall. From the moment I stepped into Hogwarts, things are done my way. Because I represent the highest authority in the wizarding world—the Ministry of Magic."
Edward let his right hand hang loose by his side and gave a subtle flick of his wand. Then he said loudly, "Understood, Professor!"
"Good."
She returned to the front. "Today's lesson will be to recite page 25 of Defensive Magical Theory…"
Just as she spoke, she suddenly felt something slick and cold slither up her back and quickly wrap around her neck.
She instinctively reached back to touch it—and the moment her fingers made contact, a multicolored venomous snake with a flicking tongue appeared right in front of her eyes.
"!!"
Umbridge's hand froze on the snake's scales. Terror flooded her face.
This was a highly venomous magical serpent, and its poison-dripping fangs were just inches from her neck.
"AAAAAAAHHH!!!"
A shrill scream ripped from her throat. She leapt and flailed wildly, trying to shake off the snake. The entire class was thrown into panic.
Except for Edward, who shouted with righteous urgency, "Don't just stand there, everyone! Use the spells we've learned—save Professor Umbridge! Don't be afraid, Professor—we're here to protect you!"
As he spoke, he quietly cast a Conjunctivitis Curse at her.
Still, everyone just stood there, frozen in confusion.
The next to act was Cedric. He turned and said nervously, "If none of us help, and Umbridge finds out afterward, she'll definitely make us all scrub toilets during detention!"
Whoosh!
That got everyone moving.
"Petrificus Totalus!"
"Immobulus!"
"Stupefy!"
"Locomotor Mortis!"
"Avis!"
"Relashio!"
"Alohomora!"
"Incendio!"
"Serpensortia!"
"Expelliarmus!"
…
The first few spells were genuinely aimed at helping. But as it went on, the spellwork grew increasingly chaotic. Students got more and more excited, completely forgetting what they were doing—they threw every spell they knew (or didn't know) at Umbridge.
In that moment, they truly discovered how fun magic could be.
———
Headmaster's Office.
Dumbledore rubbed his temples. "So let me get this straight…You saw Professor Umbridge being attacked by a venomous snake and, in your panic, you all used every spell you could to help her?"
Edward nodded firmly. "Exactly!"
"Then I have to ask…what happened to the snake?"
"It either fled in the chaos, or we accidentally took it out together."
"Wonderful."
Dumbledore laced his fingers together and rested them on the desk. "Thanks to your 'help,' Professor Umbridge was struck by 32 dark curses, 86 standard spells, and over a hundred miscellaneous jinxes. She is currently lying unconscious in the hospital wing."
Edward's face was solemn. "Please make sure she remembers to thank us when she wakes up."
"???"
"If the snake had bitten her, she might not have made it to the hospital at all," he added seriously. "I'll lead the whole class to visit her later."
"…."
Dumbledore sighed, a trace of curiosity flashing in his eyes. "Edward, you've changed quite a bit recently."
Edward paused for a moment before replying calmly, "Perhaps it's because until now, everyone I've met—yourself, Professor McGonagall, the heads of house, even Professor Snape, and all my classmates—treated me with kindness. Naturally, I always returned kindness with kindness. But now…things are different."
He paused, then said evenly, "A philosopher I admire once said: 'If you repay evil with kindness, how will you repay kindness? Repay evil with justice; repay kindness with kindness.' That's what I'm doing."
"…I see. You're right."
Dumbledore nodded in agreement, but then added, "Miss Hall didn't get the chance to explore much of the castle last time, did she? Why don't you take her around over the next few days?"
"But Professor Umbridge said—"
"Forget her."
"All right, Professor."
Dumbledore shook his head with a sigh. "Cornelius is going to be even more suspicious of me now."
Edward said seriously, "Professor, if the wizarding world were at peace, it wouldn't matter what Minister Fudge thought or did. But with Voldemort lurking in the shadows, refusing to show himself…I think it's time you showed a bit more of your White Dark Lord persona."
Dumbledore let out a silent laugh. "White Dark Lord? That's a new one."
"Well, if you're the one who can defeat the Dark Lord, what else would you be? And honestly, doesn't 'White Dark Lord' go perfectly with 'Dark Dark Lord'?"
———
[Note]: Don't forget to VOTE. It keeps me motivated.