After that little "farce," the thoroughly cowed crowd filed out of the Room of Requirement.
Shawn slowly descended from the raised platform with his hands behind his back. Alice and the others fell in behind him, heading for the door together.
Outside, however, they found an earnest-looking girl with twin ponytails waiting there. It was Susan Bones.
The moment Susan saw Shawn, she "furtively" hurried over, grabbed him, and pulled him aside.
Shawn smiled, letting the endearingly guileless little witch lead him away.
Susan glanced around before whispering conspiratorially.
"Chief, I'll tell you a secret. My aunt is investigating you, and she wanted me to spy on you. Hmph! I'm a loyal Hufflepuff. I'd never be a mole."
Shawn rubbed his nose, at a loss for how to express his what the hell reaction. Only after a long pause, under Susan's expectant gaze, did he manage to squeeze out a compliment.
"Susan, um, you're wonderful. An upright Hufflepuff through and through."
Susan immediately broke into a delighted smile, then asked eagerly.
"Chief, will we really get to eat thousand-year-old giant snake meat next term?"
Shawn froze for a moment, then chuckled and patted her head.
"Don't worry. You will."
Susan let out a "Yay!" and skipped away, muttering about sharing the good news with her best friends.
Shawn could only press a hand to his forehead.
Shaking his head, he turned back toward Alice and the others, only to notice the normally wooden Neville staring fixedly in the direction Susan had gone.
Only then did he remember that Neville would end up with Susan-or was it Hannah? He teased him.
"Neville, do you like Susan?"
Neville's plump little face instantly flushed red, and he hastily shook his head.
"No, no! Her-her eyes just look like my mum's."
The others watched