No one likes to see themselves being kicked when they're down; people prefer kindness in times of trouble. Fred and George were no exception. Eda, with her sharp tongue, was a master at fanning the flames.
The twins were convinced that if she added fuel to the fire, Mrs. Weasley would give them a punishment they'd never forget—perhaps even upgrading from a one-on-one duel to a full-on mixed-gender match.
From the moment they left the Twilight Shack, the twins began trying to persuade Eda, using every trick in the book—threats, bribes, and flattery. But Eda, who had just been abandoned the moment they no longer needed her, wasn't buying it at all. Their attempts made absolutely no progress.
On the way back to the castle, in a desperate bid to lessen their suffering, Fred and George finally caved to the "traitorous official" Eda. They solemnly promised that next school year, they would pay attention in class and stop causing trouble for the organization.
Only then did Eda let them off the hook, temporarily shelving her plans to embellish the situation further, allowing the twins to enjoy a peaceful summer.
As for what happened afterward, that would depend on their own sense of responsibility. Honestly, Eda thought she was being way too merciful.
A conversation without laughter wasn't a proper conversation. The three of them joked and bickered all the way back, only quieting down slightly when they entered the castle.
The twins took Garlon and headed back to the common room, while Eda made her way to Snape's office. The Potions professor had asked her to stop by today, though she had no idea what for.
Navigating the twisting halls of the castle, Eda finally arrived at Snape's office, only to find that he wasn't there. Instead, he was in his private storeroom nearby, taking inventory of his personal collection.
The storeroom door was open, and Snape stood on a ladder, carefully checking through his supplies. Eda knocked lightly on the door and said, "Professor Snape, you asked me to come by today—what is it you need?"
Snape climbed down from the ladder, looked at Eda, and said, "You could have come even later—perhaps after the End-of-Year Feast, or maybe even after you've boarded the train back to London."
"..."
At this moment, silence was the best strategy.
If she said even one unnecessary word, Snape might just deduct points at the last second. Eda had no doubt that he was the type to do such a thing, so she wasn't going to give him the opportunity.
Snape reached into his robes and pulled out a small leather pouch, tossing it directly to the ever-silent Eda.
As it flew through the air, the sound of coins clinking together could be heard. Instinctively, Eda caught it, finding the pouch oddly familiar. Aside from the fact that it didn't have her name embroidered on it, it was identical to the one she had received at the end of last year.
"For me?" Eda asked uncertainly. "And… last year's one, was that also…?"
Back then, when she had received the pouch of money, she had a few suspects in mind—Snape had been on the list, but she had thought he was the least likely. The twins had outright dismissed him.
Today, Snape had given Eda another lesson: anything was possible.
"If the brain remains unused for too long, it will rust," Snape said as he walked back to continue his inventory. "If you don't want it, donate it to someone in need."
"These are your rightful earnings. I received some potion orders, and the potions you brewed were part of them."
Snape wasn't just a professor at Hogwarts—he was also a renowned Potions Master. The number of people seeking him out for potion commissions could probably form a line stretching from one end of the Leaky Cauldron to the other end of Diagon Alley.
Many people sought Snape out to commission potions, but he couldn't accept them all. He only took on the ones that were difficult to refuse or particularly challenging.
At the beginning of the school year, Snape had selected a few suitable orders for Eda, turning them into part of her "detention" curriculum.
Once Eda finished brewing the potions, Snape would deliver them to the addresses listed on the orders. However, he had made it clear to the clients beforehand that he was not the one personally brewing the potions—he was merely overseeing the process.
Even so, people were still willing to order potions from Snape. His reputation alone was a guarantee of quality. A potion endorsed by a Potions Master was something people could trust.
That was the power of branding. Even though these potions were made by a second-year girl, their prices had doubled just because of Snape's name. Without his influence, they would have been nothing more than worthless concoctions, completely ignored by the market.
Eda remained silent and motionless, but Snape, who had his back turned to her, spoke again.
"Still not leaving? Have your legs stopped working, or have you lost your way? Do you need me to escort you out?"
"No need, I can find my way back to the Great Hall myself," Eda replied. "...Thank you, Professor."
After expressing her gratitude, she bolted out of the room. She had just felt the slightest bit of warmth, and she wasn't about to let Snape's sharp tongue ruin the moment—it would be too much of a buzzkill.
As the sound of Eda's footsteps faded away, Snape also stopped what he was doing.
He locked his private storeroom and slowly made his way toward the Great Hall. The End-of-Year Feast was about to begin, and the House Cup would be awarded tonight.
Snape's attitude toward Eda had always been complicated, which was often reflected in his sharp tongue. Many times, he genuinely had Eda's best interests at heart and was concerned for her well-being, but the moment he opened his mouth, it never came across that way.
His words often sounded more like biting sarcasm. If someone didn't take the time to break them down and analyze them carefully, it would be impossible to recognize any hint of concern. Time and time again, his harsh words managed to ruin what should have been good intentions.
Back in Eda's first year, Snape truly didn't like her.
In his eyes, she was nothing more than a reckless, self-righteous, and foolish Gryffindor.
That alone wouldn't have been a big deal—at worst, she would receive the same treatment as every other Gryffindor. But Eda also had a pair of green eyes, and that only made Snape resent her even more.
When Eda wandered the castle at night, she accidentally uncovered Fawley's conspiracy, putting herself in constant danger. Dumbledore didn't want her to fall victim to Fawley's schemes, so he assigned Snape the task of protecting her.
With his workload suddenly skyrocketing, Snape, now forced into additional duties, treated Eda even more coldly, which led to all the detentions and various forms of harsh treatment that followed.
When the crippled-yet-determined Fawley finally resigned, Snape thought his task was complete—he was finally free from the burden of watching over Eda. And so, her detentions ended.
But as we all know, Fawley took advantage of this gap, and Eda ended up in danger once more.
That annoying, Muggle-born girl had nearly died—and to Snape's surprise, he felt a twinge of guilt and remorse.
Snape was surprised by the emotions he felt. It had been a long time since he had experienced guilt or remorse, and their sudden return unsettled him. Because of this, he even went to Dumbledore for a conversation.
After that discussion, Snape decided that he should make up for his mistakes. That was why he continued giving Eda detentions—not as punishment, but as a way to provide her with guidance.
It was also why he started accepting potion orders he once would have considered beneath him.
As they spent more time together, Snape gradually began to notice Eda's strengths, and his perception of her started to shift.
In helping Eda, Snape was also helping himself. It was his way of seeking redemption—for his past, for his regrets, and for the lily that had long since withered from his life.
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