With someone as tall as Maxime in the group photo, the process was neither smooth nor pleasant.
Afterward, Dumbledore warmly invited everyone to the Headmaster's Office for afternoon tea, but most chose to go their separate ways.
Shawn did not linger either. He headed downstairs, and Draco and Harry exchanged a glance before following him.
Shawn walked ahead while the two tagalongs trailed hesitantly behind him, looking conflicted and unsure how to broach the subject.
Just before they reached the entrance hall on the ground floor, Harry finally broke his silence.
"Chief, wait. I... Draco and I have something we want to ask you."
The corner of Shawn's mouth twitched. He had wanted nothing to do with these brats' petty problems. He did not even need to think to know what Harry wanted to ask.
But since Harry had spoken, he could hardly pretend not to hear. He turned around and asked casually,
"What is it?"
Harry struggled, but he had little choice.
"Chief, Sirius has been missing for several days. You know he's in poor health and has no magical energy now. I'm really worried."
"And?"
Shawn's utter indifference made Harry's heart sink.
"I... I... I just wanted to ask you to..."
"Harry, there's no need to go on. An adult who can think and act for himself won't be in any danger in England, with public safety as good as it is now, unless he's actively looking for death."
Shawn cut off Harry's unfinished request and turned to Draco.
"You have something to ask too? Is the handover of your intelligence-gathering duties going badly, or do you have questions about your studies?"
Draco's gaze faltered. He waved his hands in denial.
"No, I've passed my intelligence-gathering duties on to a few excellent older Slytherin students. I don't have