A confidant in life

Edmund realized that he had taken his casual, fabricated words seriously, and actually believed that Edmund was going to use Lily to frame Dumbledore.

Snape's reaction was very real; this time he was genuinely panicked.

Oh, that's so cute.

He truly cared about her and wanted to protect her.

Edmund was getting a headache from the friendship between the two. After he calmed down a bit, he couldn't help but think: It's really like someone just delivered a pillow when you're about to fall asleep.

They are practically each other's Achilles' heel. If things go well, wouldn't they be able to turn the tables on Lily immediately?

But the thought only crossed Edmund's mind briefly before he frowned in disgust.

Edmund could be said to have never taken Snape seriously.

Please don't misunderstand, it's not that he didn't realize that Snape, despite his unassuming appearance, was actually the most outstanding and talented among the first-year Slytherins.

However, however... the genie has seen far too many people like him.

These types of people often come from humble backgrounds and have troubled families. This makes them either eccentric or have an arrogant air about them.

Moreover, they are all very hardworking and have a great ability to climb. Regardless of their natural talents, they always find alternative paths and carve out a way out in harsh environments.

This is because they usually have clear goals and are willing to strive to achieve them.

These kinds of people always want to go to places that others say they don't deserve to be there, and always want to prove something to the world.

In short, they have desires.

...Having desires is a good thing.

If you can't reach the moon in the sky, you can always reach into the river and scatter its reflection in the water. Such people are usually easily tempted by downward temptations and may inadvertently give up everything for a beautiful dress.

They were the kind of firewood the genie had grown tired of. Both the genie and Edmund himself were thoroughly fed up with these kinds of people.

For the former, such people are the easiest targets for manipulation. Whether it's extending an olive branch called "wish" before the other person's desires are fulfilled, or invoking "retribution sevenfold" as a victim after the other person has abandoned all conscience and fallen into depravity...

These kinds of people are too easily devoured by the genie, who thinks he is not so hungry that he must keep eating the same kind of food.

As for the latter, Edmund himself, the reason he disliked this type of person was exceptionally simple:

His father, Oscar Soman, was an elite wizard of humble origins with strong desires.

Therefore, Edmund had very low expectations of Snape. The only thing he hadn't expected was that Snape still had kindness towards others, that he still had something he loved that hadn't been destroyed, and that he was willing to offend someone he should never have offended when he was climbing toward his ideals, all for the sake of his childhood sweetheart.

But that's even more disgusting.

This reminded Edmund of his mother, whose relationship with his parents was similar.

So he immediately showed a look of disgust. He didn't even bother to correct Snape's dubious judgment.

This man was indeed clever, guessing that Edmund wanted to cause trouble for Dumbledore. However, due to a lack of sufficient information, he misjudged Edmund's plan.

If Edmund wanted to challenge Dumbledore in order to obtain a near-invincible "battery" and stir up trouble as the greatest white wizard of the century;

His desire for Lily stemmed from a more primal emotion: hunger.

He had never been able to make a pact with such a pure soul, and he could never waste the latter for the sake of the former.

"...You're so dark, it's really scary."

Edmund said earnestly, racking his brains to figure out how to resolve the matter.

He didn't want Snape's soul, nor did he want to waste his "wishes" on him.

Since we're going to spare his life, it's best to leave him a way out so that Snape can play a role in the future.

"I do have some complaints about Dumbledore, but your thinking is far too extreme. Why should I sacrifice Lily?"

"Can't you see that Potter and Black are at odds with Avery? Why should I waste my friend's time? Is the Potter family's only son not precious enough, or the Black family's eldest son not important enough?"

Snape immediately wavered, which was understandable; he himself didn't want to believe the "facts" he had deduced and didn't want Lily to get hurt because of it.

Moreover, Snape, who considered himself quite adept at reading people, carefully examined Edmund's expression but couldn't detect a trace of falsehood in it.

Snape disliked those two Gryffindor fools in the slightest. Yet Soman always maintained interactions with them, as if they had a good relationship.

...If that's how he defines "friends," then Lily still can't be considered safe.

"Really?...Miss Blake will go crazy."

Snape said cautiously, trying to think about the frenzy that would ensue if a tragedy were to occur.

"But Mr. Soman, if you don't need Lily Evans, then why approach her?"

Edmund laughed for real this time, looking at Snape with a mocking gaze, as if laughing at his self-deception.

"Although you refuse to admit it or give a straight answer, Severus... you really are..."

Edmund, moved by compassion, swallowed the rest of his words.

"Your question leaves me speechless. What? Just because you can be friends with Lily doesn't mean I'm blind to how wonderful she is?"

"Why is it that only you can care about her, but I can't?"

Snape fell silent. His face darkened again, his thin lips pressed together, and when he spoke again, he spoke in a soft, polite voice.

"If you really want to be friends with her... Mr. Soman, that's none of my business."

But that's a really weak way of putting it.

"But she's not like you—she's not someone who can go head-to-head with Slytherin. The 'truths' you're talking about will only hurt her and put her in danger."

Edmund scoffed.

"If I were to grade you, your statement just now wouldn't even reach a 'B,' Severus. It's not up to your standard."

Edmund switched back to Malfoy's tone, knowing that this was the most acceptable to Snape and would make him feel safe.

"These words might be enough to fool Lily, but do you really think they can convince me? Or do you genuinely believe I'd believe Lily is going to challenge the entire Slytherin school?"

"Tch, fine, fine, I'll assume that premise is true for now. Even if she's lost her most basic judgment and wants to do that... Hmph, what, are you a dead person?"

"If you can't even stop a silly girl, what makes you think you're her friend? You can't even fool a Gryffindor. You might as well pack your bags and move to another house."

Upon hearing this, Snape finally lowered his head, his suspiciously slick and shiny hair hanging down, completely obscuring his expression.

Like a coiled snake, it may appear subdued, but it could suddenly leap up and bite you at any moment.

Edmund breathed a sigh of relief at no longer having to look directly at his sallow face.

He gave a cold twitch at the corner of his mouth, knowing that Snape's submissive and convinced demeanor was merely a facade to appease him and maintain a semblance of harmony between them.

After all, even if Snape's name was remembered by the prefects because of his potion-making talent, if a high-ranking member like Edmund went to Lucius to complain, Snape would still only be turned into a blood bag and punished.

……

However, Edmund was not prepared to do so.

To be honest, judging from tonight's performance, Snape has far surpassed the vast majority of Slytherins.

If Pollyanna hadn't also shown her fortitude, Edmund would have had to admit that Snape was actually the best-looking one among his classmates.

...That's really sad.

Even more tragically, despite Edmund's own reluctance, he still had to offer words of comfort.

"Don't be so down, Severus. I'm not blaming you! On the contrary, I understand how you feel."

"Thinking about it carefully, you and I might be the only two people in Slytherin who truly understand the value of Lily Evans!"

Edmund wasn't sure if he heard Snape grinding his teeth.

That would be best. If he's unhappy, he'll make others even more unhappy.