The Great Hall slowly returned to its usual noise after Lucien finished explaining Snape's value, but the attention never really left him.
Lucien turned back to Harry.
"Brother," he said calmly, "I want you to read one book a week."
Harry froze.
"…One?" he repeated.
Lucien sighed.
"I'm not asking you to be first place," he continued, rubbing his temple.
"And I'm not asking you to live in the library."
Harry relaxed slightly.
"But," Lucien added, eyes sharpening,
"at least one book a week."
Harry nodded quickly.
"And," Lucien went on, voice lowering,
"make sure Ron gets some knowledge into his brain."
Harry blinked.
"…Why?"
Lucien stared at him.
"Brother," he said flatly,
"he once read a book upside down."
The Hall went quiet.
Ron's ears went bright red.
"That alone," Lucien continued, "is an embarrassment."
A few students coughed to hide laughter.
Harry scratched his head.
"But… why does that matter so much?"
Lucien leaned back.
"Do you know about the Sacred Families?"
Harry nodded.
"There are twenty-eight, right?"
"Yes," Lucien replied.
"But half of them are already in decline."
He gestured lightly.
"The Weasley family is called blood traitors by many Sacred Families and looked down upon."
Ron stiffened.
"But tell me," Lucien asked calmly,
"what does that have to do with worth?"
The Hall listened.
"My adopted father told me one thing," Lucien continued.
"Judge a person not by power or money—"
"But by knowledge."
"Knowledge creates power."
"Knowledge creates wealth."
"If you have no knowledge," Lucien said evenly,
"no matter how rich you are, you can lose everything."
Many nodded.
Even the Weasley twins had stopped joking.
Lucien turned slightly and pointed.
"Take Percy."
Percy straightened in surprise.
"Many Gryffindors don't like him," Lucien said bluntly,
"but his thirst for knowledge made him a prefect."
"That is power," Lucien added.
"And that's good."
Percy swallowed and nodded.
Lucien then glanced at the twins.
"And you two."
Fred and George grinned.
"You prank," Lucien said,
"but you're knowledgeable."
"You have talent in potions and alchemy."
"You can make money with that talent even if you leave Hogwarts."
Lucien paused.
"No offense."
"None taken," the twins said together.
Lucien nodded once.
"Ron," he said, turning back,
"is different."
"Instead of bragging and eating," Lucien continued calmly,
"let him read at least one book."
"And preferably," he added,
"the right way up."
Ron wished the floor would swallow him.
Harry nodded seriously.
"I'll make sure of it."
Lucien leaned back, clearly exhausted.
He glanced toward the staff table.
"Professor Sprout," he asked politely,
"may I take today off?"
Professor Sprout smiled warmly.
"Of course, dear."
Harry blinked.
"Where are you going?"
Lucien stood up.
"To sleep," he replied flatly.
"I have a headache from explaining things to you."
Around the Hall, many students nodded inwardly.
Lucien walked out, Akeno following with a soft smile—
leaving behind a Great Hall that was suddenly thinking a lot harder than before.