The magnificent hall gleamed despite the lightning flashing and thunder rumbling across the enchanted sky overhead. Thousands of floating candles kept it brilliantly lit, and the excited students seated at the long tables brimmed with life.
No matter how many times one saw this lively start-of-term feast, it never grew old.
Shawn sat down at the Slytherin table and placed the cage holding Peeves on the tabletop. He then transfigured a piece of cutlery into a bird perch and settled Purple Shadow on it before finally having time to look around.
He immediately spotted a group of pearly-white ghosts drifting out of the hall. Scaring the new students was a Hogwarts tradition.
Shawn could not worry about anything else and hurried after them under everyone's startled gazes.
But before long, he returned looking disappointed.
He had indeed seen the Grey Lady at the entrance, but she had merely made a token appearance to frighten the new students before drifting away.
Shawn had wanted to follow, only for the Baron to block him at once. He was so furious that he nearly shouted that a lovesick lapdog would never get the girl.
He returned to the long table and sat down. As he calmed himself, he heard the professors laughing and chatting happily behind him.
He turned to look.
At the High Table, Lockhart was behaving impeccably, chatting amiably with Flitwick, Sprout, and the other professors.
He even made sure to include Trelawney, the eccentric Divination professor whom nobody usually wanted to talk to.
He had also thoughtfully given each of them a small, inexpensive gift suited to their tastes, effortlessly fitting into the group.
Of course, Snape remained unmoved. After giving Lockhart several scrutinizing looks, he turned away to watch Gryffindor.
And today, Lockhart had once again avoided flashy clothes