Tom was hardly surprised at being turned down. Getting under Shawn's skin was enough to make him happy, and even his gloomy eyes brightened a little.
That was the strongest "resistance" he could offer for now.
Tom then glanced over the young wizards, who were already staring in stunned disbelief. With a soft chuckle, he returned to the duke's seat he still found rather unsatisfactory.
The seat was still a little too low.
In the center of the room, Theodore slowly rose to his feet, not daring to look up at the High Table.
"Theodore, don't be discouraged. You're only a first-year. You still have enormous potential."
Hearing Shawn's gentle reassurance, Theodore tightened his grip on his wand.
In the end, he nodded and said he understood, then returned to his seat with his head hanging low.
Yet a trace of madness and resolve surfaced in his dull, dejected eyes, burning ever more fiercely.
Alice glanced at Theodore, sharing his feelings, then looked at Tom and felt an immense weight bearing down on her.
The others were under considerable pressure too, each silently pondering how to grow stronger.
Hermione and Penelope exchanged a glance and nodded slightly, apparently reaching some unspoken agreement.
Neville and Penelope, attending their first meeting, had truly had their eyes opened. All they could think was how weak they were.
Shawn smiled knowingly. Previously, he had been the Throne's only combatant worth mentioning.
But as their leader, however powerful he was, it all fell within what they could imagine.
Even if he bragged that he could beat Dumbledore to a pulp, his subordinates would probably picture it and simply cheer him on.
They would never compare themselves to their all-powerful leader. But now that Tom was here to stir things up, the incentive he provided was