Chapter 13: Early to Rise, Full of Vigor; Late to Rise, Full of Panic**

"But, sir, it was Edward who hit me!" Malfoy protested, his face full of disbelief, trying to squeeze in one last defense. "No buts!" Snape roared, cutting him off. "I never imagined that on the first day of term, I, the Head of Slytherin, would have to deduct points from my own House because of a student's behavior!" "If this happens again, certain people will regret it!" He shot Malfoy a withering glare. "As for you, Mr. Bedivere," Snape turned to Edward, "as a Slytherin student—though I have no idea what madness possessed the Sorting Hat—I expect you to bring me *good* news, not trouble like this!" "Now, both of you, get out of my office. Immediately!" Moments later, with a loud *bang*, Malfoy and Edward found themselves shut out of Snape's office. Malfoy's shoulders slumped, his spirit broken. He shuffled forward like a ghost, muttering to himself. "How is this possible? How is this *possible*?" He couldn't wrap his head around it. How could someone as close as a godfather to him take away 25 points from Slytherin on the first day, without a shred of mercy? *Am I even a Slytherin? Am I really in Slytherin?* Edward, on the other hand, wore a cheerful smile, clearly in high spirits. "Better brush up on those etiquette lessons, Malfoy. Manners matter, don't they?" Edward said, giving Malfoy a light pat on the shoulder as he passed. Malfoy, startled like a spooked Dodo, bolted back to the common room, not wanting to spend a second longer near Edward. And so, Edward's first day at Hogwarts ended in this absurd little drama. Life at Hogwarts passed quickly, especially when everything felt so new and exciting. There were the 142 staircases that twisted, turned, or even vanished without warning. Then there were the peculiar doors that wouldn't open unless you politely asked, gave the right password, or found their hidden mechanisms. The portraits' inhabitants wandered freely, flitting between frames. The castle's stairwells and walls were lined with countless paintings and portraits, stretching from the ground floor to what seemed like an endless ceiling. The figures in them were far livelier than those on wizard cards. Beyond that, the castle was full of places to explore, but Edward didn't spend all his time chasing novelties. First-year students had a light course load: only seven subjects—Herbology, Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, History of Magic, Transfiguration, Flying, and Astronomy—with no electives. For Slytherin first-years, even the busiest day—Tuesday—had just five classes, with an hour of free time in both the morning and afternoon. Best of all, there were no morning classes! Everything started at 9 a.m. For Edward, who'd grown up in a certain mysterious Eastern country with 7 a.m. morning readings since primary school, this felt like no academic pressure at all. But that didn't mean he'd waste his time. Learning never stops, especially when Edward had an entire *Knight's Handbook* to master. *Early to rise, full of vigor; late to rise, full of panic.* Edward knew the value of diligence. And so, Slytherin gained a new early riser—a diligent student up at 6 a.m. But what puzzled everyone was that he didn't head straight to the library or review textbooks in the common room. Instead, he started with physical training. For Edward, a strong body was the foundation of learning. One hundred push-ups, one hundred squats, running up and down the castle stairs, three laps around the grounds—and more. Oh, and let's not forget the sword he wielded with fluid precision. Seeing Edward training every morning became a well-known spectacle at Hogwarts. At first, everyone thought Slytherin had produced a total oddball. This was Hogwarts, a wizarding school, not some Muggle sports academy! Even Quidditch players, who needed physical fitness the most, didn't train daily—especially since the Quidditch season hadn't even started. If a day passed without Edward jogging around the castle or doing push-ups in the Slytherin common room, people would wonder if something major had happened. No one dared ask Edward why he did it. If you did, he'd flash a dazzling smile, explain the importance of physical fitness, and warmly invite you to join him. A few students tried at first but quickly dropped out with various excuses. Their stamina—even among older students—couldn't keep up with Edward's regimen. Just climbing the castle stairs was enough to exhaust most of them, let alone the push-ups, squats, and other grueling exercises. They worried they'd burn out—or worse, end up like Professor Binns, practicing until their soul gave out! Edward never forced anyoneto join him. When others backed out with excuses, he'd just give them an encouraging look, pat their shoulder, and carry on with his routine. Soon, everyone—students, staff, even the ghosts—got used to seeing a Slytherin jogging around the castle every morning, head held high. Madam Hooch was so thrilled by his dedication that she once awarded Slytherin five points. She loved seeing students stay fit, since a strong body was key for Quidditch. The one most annoyed by Edward's morning routine was undoubtedly Peeves. He was among the first to notice, and for a while, Peeves thought he'd found the funniest joke in all of Hogwarts. "A student skipping his beauty sleep! Running around the castle like a fool! Hahaha!" Peeves cackled, zooming through every wall and room, spreading the news. But when he tried to prank this "silly" student, he found himself completely outmatched. Toppling suits of armor in the corridors, hurling ink-filled chamber pots or stink bombs, greasing the staircases—Peeves tried every trick in his arsenal. Yet Edward always dodged with uncanny skill, as if Peeves' pranks didn't exist. To Edward, Peeves was just another castle ghost, utterly irrelevant. Nothing frustrated a prank-loving poltergeist more than being ignored. It made his antics feel pointless. After several failed attempts, Edward kept up his training, while Peeves admitted defeat. From then on, alongside Dumbledore and the Bloody Baron, Edward Bedivere became the third person at Hogwarts that Peeves steered clear of. But if anyone thought Edward was just a muscle-headed jock obsessed with exercise, they were dead wrong. *Refine the mind, strengthen the body—neither can be neglected.* This was a lesson Edward had learned from a great figure. Sadly, Malfoy was one of those who never learned his lesson. read more inpatreon ilham20