It was breakfast time in the Great Hall at Hogwarts.
Apart from those who timed their lie-ins to the second and refused to open their eyes until the very last moment, almost everyone was eating breakfast in the hall.
The atmosphere in the hall was particularly strange that morning.
More precisely, the students at the other three tables kept stealing glances at the Slytherins.
"Have those little snakes lost their minds? They actually lined up to come and eat. Are they under the Imperius Curse?"
"That's nothing. What's even crazier is that one of them actually greeted me politely just now."
"Tsk, look at their table manners. They look even more awkward than usual."
"..."
The Slytherins themselves felt rather awkward too, but one glance at Shawn, eating meticulously at the head of the table, was enough to make them obediently continue their meal.
They silently repeated the words Shawn had taught them: As long as I'm not embarrassed, everyone else will be.
Shawn hadn't imposed particularly harsh rules. The brief meeting earlier had merely clarified the Prefects' supervisory duties.
Overall, the aim was still to improve these students who had grown used to slacking off. As for their outlook, that would have to change gradually.
He couldn't actually turn Hogwarts into a military academy. If he dared try, Dumbledore would probably be the first to object.
At the Ravenclaw Table, Harry had come over to chat with Hermione and couldn't help whispering.
"Is this the change Shawn was talking about? That was fast."
Hermione was also eating breakfast while imitating Shawn's elegant movements in the distance. At Harry's words, she couldn't help feeling impressed.
"Yes, Shawn really is amazing. He brought all those people into line in just one night."
Harry instinctively tried to copy those elegant movements too, but felt a little awkward.
Something suddenly occurred to Hermione, and she turned to ask in surprise.
"What about that Ron who was with you? Where is he?"
Harry looked a little embarrassed, then sighed.
"He's still asleep. He kept Seamus up playing wizard's chess until really late last night. I tried waking them when I got up early, but it didn't do much good."
Hermione pursed her lips.
"Harry, you should have gone to Slytherin. At the very least, you could have joined me in Ravenclaw. You can tell at a glance that Ron and the others have no ambition. They'll be a bad influence on you."
Harry offered no opinion, but a trace of regret flickered across his face.
Hermione handed Harry a book on General Charms.
"This is a book from Shawn's family collection that he lent me. I've already memorized the whole thing. It really is much more detailed than the Standard Book of Spells. Take it and read it. If there's anything you don't understand, you can ask me. And if I don't understand it either, heehee, we can go ask Shawn together."
"Okay."
Harry didn't refuse. He accepted the book solemnly, then glanced over at the Slytherin table.
Seeing Draco beside Shawn, looking so full of confidence, left a particularly bitter taste in his mouth. They had clearly met Shawn at the same time.
Draco and Alice sat on either side of Shawn.
Alice took a small sip of milk and spoke softly.
"Shawn, my grandfather told me he's persuaded eight of the school governors not to cause trouble for you for now. But some pure-bloods have already complained to the Ministry of Magic. Should we rein things in a little?"
Shawn swallowed a soup dumpling and looked at Alice with blazing confidence.
"Minister Fudge is still the headmaster's yes-man, so we don't need to worry about the Ministry of Magic for now. Next year, I'll make sure those pure-blood families have no time to bother with me. In two years at most, I won't have anything to fear."
Alice blushed a little under Shawn's gaze. She knew this wasn't romantic affection, but pure admiration.
"Yes, I believe in you. But I'll still ask my grandfather to keep a closer eye on things."
Draco hurriedly nodded beside them.
"I-I'll try to persuade my dad too."
Shawn glanced at Draco and thought, You might end up disappointed.
Just then, a flock of owls flew into the hall. They circled overhead, then swooped down once they found their targets.
For a moment, the hall erupted into chaos, feathers flying everywhere. Those with experience, however, had already finished eating.
The same happened at the Slytherin table, but no one had the attention to spare for their own place settings.
There were simply too many owls in front of Shawn, and what they had brought weren't gifts, but Howlers!
Dozens of Howlers floated up from the owls' feet and opened simultaneously, turning into enormous, blood-red mouths.
The letters clustered densely together, looking quite frightening.
Draco and the others watched in horror and hurriedly covered their ears, but Shawn merely smiled disdainfully and gave a gentle wave of his hand.
A swirling mass of water appeared out of thin air and engulfed the letters. Before their howls could erupt, the thick wall of water had sealed them in.
Then a ball of flame appeared inside the hollow center of the water, swiftly burning every Howler to ash.
Everyone in the hall watched Shawn's fluid movements, momentarily at a loss for words.
It took Draco a while to raise a thumb.
"Cool!"
Several older students with bruised faces had been waiting to enjoy the show, only to see Shawn dispose of the Howlers so cleanly and efficiently.
For fuck's sake, they thought, though they weren't sure they dared say it.
With no spectacle left to watch, everyone settled down to unwrap their own gifts.
Just then, Marcus ran up to Shawn, panting, and declared with an arrogant air.
"Shawn, the Head of House wants to see you. Haha, you're done for."
Shawn was in no hurry. He took his napkin and slowly wiped the corners of his mouth before standing, then motioned for the students who were about to rise with him to sit down.
Only then did he study the tattletale with a faint smile. Marcus really was an excellent chicken to slaughter as a warning to the others.
Marcus grew uncomfortable under his gaze and blustered.
"What are you looking at? The Head of House will revoke your appointment as Chief in a moment. You won't be so smug for long."
Shawn turned and headed toward Snape's office in the dungeons, leaving just one sentence behind.
"Bucktoothed chicken, enjoy this lovely morning while you can. The rest of your life will be nothing but nightmares."
Draco hurriedly gathered up Shawn's textbooks and his own. He glared at Marcus for tattling, then chased after Shawn with his two followers.
Marcus and the others scratched their heads.
"What does Shawn mean? How is he still so calm?"
Prefect Montague, who had been sitting near Shawn, sighed and explained.
"Do you really have a troll's brain? The Head of House didn't do anything to Shawn last night, and he won't today either. I don't know what Shawn showed him, but that doesn't matter. Just get ready to spend the night hanging from a wall lamp. No one's going to rescue you tonight."
Walking through the gloomy dungeons, Shawn wondered why Slytherins all liked this sort of dark environment.
Perhaps they enjoyed solitude.
When he reached Snape's office, the door opened on its own before he could knock.
Shawn smiled and stepped inside.
The room smelled very strange and was bitterly cold. Shelves along the walls were packed with bottles and jars, some containing animal limbs suspended in liquid.
Combined with the dim surroundings, it could have been used to film a horror movie without any set dressing at all.
But Shawn knew that the ingredients and potions on those shelves were worth a fortune. They could easily fetch tens of thousands of Galleons.
One of Hogwarts' two hidden, fabulously wealthy men was right here.
Hmm, this is a good place to milk for freebies.
The room's owner was standing at a workbench brewing a potion. Even with his back turned, his practiced movements were apparent. If not for his greasy hair, he would have cut quite an impressive figure.
"Do you know why I summoned you?"
Shawn continued inspecting the treasures on the shelves as he answered calmly.
"Naturally, you summoned me to praise me, sir."
Shawn's shameless words nearly shattered Snape's composure. He turned and glared fiercely at Shawn, speaking coldly.
"Heh. That is the funniest joke I've heard all year. Tell me, why should I praise you? I hope that foul mouth of yours is as remarkably nimble as your skin is thick."
Shawn stepped closer and looked at the golden potion Snape was brewing.
I know this one. Felix Felicis. Snape really is a Potions Master.
An idea flashed through his mind, and he spoke.
"Slytherin has a terrible reputation. Some people see it as a breeding ground for dark wizards. Didn't you suffer because of that in your younger years too, sir? So it's time for a change."
Snape's gaze snapped toward Shawn, icy and murderous.
"What do you know? Did your father tell you? Or was it that idiot Sirius?"
Shawn met Snape's gaze without fear and answered with something entirely unrelated.
"Let's make a deal, sir. Would you like some unflattering photos of Harry? How about sparing me a few drops once the Felix Felicis is ready?"
Snape felt he had truly lived to see everything. The Black family really did produce nothing but oddballs.
He swept his sleeve aside and continued his interrogation.
"You also seem to have subjected students to corporal punishment. I don't believe a Chief has that authority. How do you explain that? Aren't you afraid their parents' Howlers will bury your kennel?"
"Oh, I just burned dozens of Howlers. Besides, none of the students were injured, so how could that count as corporal punishment? At most, you could call it loving care."
Snape was left thoroughly speechless. He turned back to his potion and spoke in a low, ominous voice.
"What an arrogant brat. The pure-blood families have more power than you imagine. You'll be expelled."
"I'm not being arrogant. Besides, I trust the headmaster. He'll sort it out for me."
"Heh. More of your underhanded methods?"
"We each have something the other needs."
Snape had thought himself quite skilled at cutting remarks, but today had truly opened his eyes. He spoke impatiently.
"Get out! Stop making trouble for me!"
"Sure thing. I'll have those unflattering photos of Harry delivered next week. Make sure you support me, sir."
Shawn casually took a bottle of invigorating potion from a shelf, then walked out with his hands behind his back.
The gesture made Snape laugh in sheer exasperation.
Once out in the corridor, Shawn saw Draco and the other two crouching at the corner.
They sighed in relief when they saw Shawn emerge looking as calm as ever.
"Shawn, the Head of House didn't give you a hard time, did he?"
Shawn led the way toward the third floor and held up the bottle in his hand.
"Of course not. He's actually quite a nice man. He even gave me a bottle of invigorating potion and told me to keep up the good work."
Draco could hardly believe it. He knew Professor Snape's temperament better than anyone; the man often visited his home.
But Shawn didn't seem to be lying, and Draco was so impressed that he almost wanted to bow down in worship.
They headed toward the Charms classroom. That morning's lesson was Transfiguration, which they shared with Gryffindor.