"Knowledge doesn't diminish when you share it. With more minds contributing and ideas colliding, it only becomes more complete."
Manus and Ignis hadn't been speaking in private. When Ignis interrupted Manus earlier, someone had even groaned inwardly.
That was five thousand Galleons!
To these two wealthy young men, it might have been a sum too small to justify much extra effort. But for many people, it was a fortune greater than their family's entire savings!
Now they listened even more closely to Manus and Ignis, never expecting to hear a view like that.
Someone wanted to speak, but after a moment's thought, decided against butting in.
Fortunately, Ignis said what that person had been thinking:
"But once you share knowledge you worked hard to learn and discover, everyone has it. Even if the exchange produces a more complete version, everyone has that too. Worse, they might have it while I don't..."
Quite a few people around them nodded along.
Ravenclaw students were clever, but that didn't mean their knowledge came from nowhere. Who hadn't earned it through early mornings, late nights, and countless hours of study and thought?
Share it with other people?
Had those people shared their knowledge with me?
And would they share whatever new knowledge came out of the exchange?
Ravenclaws were reluctant to meddle when a stranger was in trouble. They were even less inclined to go out of their way to help like this.
A smile tugged at Manus's lips.
"That depends. Does someone seek knowledge for its own sake, or to know more than other people?"
Some eyes flickered. Others remained unimpressed.
If I didn't study for the satisfaction of knowing more than everyone else, why would I read so many books?
*The highest mark on an exam is O, and textbooks only teach