Ron did not want to watch Shawn throw his weight around, so he dragged Seamus into staying in the Dormitory with him.
The two self-proclaimed prodigies were secretly practicing spells, ready to show everyone who looked down on them that they were geniuses too!
Bang!
Well, Seamus had blown his hair into an afro again.
Ron looked at his soot-blackened clothes and swallowed.
Seamus spat out a puff of black smoke, then muttered.
"Maybe we should say it the way Miss Know-It-All taught us? Wingardi~um~~Leviosa?"
Ron had been mourning his shabby robes becoming even shabbier, but Seamus's words instantly made his eyes redden.
"No! That bucktoothed girl is on Shawn's side! We have to prove we can do it without them!"
Seamus pursed his lips. Ron was far too stubborn. He had even annoyed Dean into refusing to hang out with them.
If Seamus's explosions had not so often caught innocent bystanders in the blast, leaving him friendless too,
he would never have stayed here struggling alongside Ron.
Bang!
An even more violent tremor and explosion came through the Dormitory door. Both boys jumped, exchanged a glance, then went to the door and opened it a crack.
Through the gap, they heard Shawn's cold voice.
"Gryffindor Prefects, report attendance for each year!"
"Seventh year, twenty-seven students, twenty-seven present."
"Sixth year, thirty students, thirty present."
"..."
"First year, thirty-one students, twenty-nine present."
At that, Ron and Seamus suddenly had a bad feeling.
"I originally thought Gryffindors were simply too brave, to the point of being mindless brutes."
"But there is no shame in these defeated students lying on the floor. At least they chose to die standing. What I never expected was that Gryffindor also had cowards who fled from battle."
"Very good. On the battlefield, deserters are hung from the mast as sacrifices to the war banner!"
Ron hurriedly shut the door, choosing to keep hiding like a turtle in its shell.
But the next moment, a stream of water slipped under the door and coiled around him and Seamus like vines.
Both boys immediately started convulsing as though they had epilepsy.
"Agh, agh, it hur-mmph."
"Numb, I'm numb!"
The stream extended a tendril to open the door, then dragged the two boys outside backward.
Ron slid along on his back, his head knocking against the doorframe and swelling into a large lump. For now, though, he could not feel the pain.
Once they reached the Common Room hall, they were promptly hung from wall lamps.
As the numbing effect of the electric shocks gradually faded, Ron felt his forehead throbbing. He twisted his stiff neck and looked around. About seven or eight people had been hung up.
Then he looked down. More than twenty people lay on the floor, while the little snakes roughly force-fed the injured potions straight from their bottles.
That was not even the worst of it.
His two older brothers were currently undergoing Electrotherapy inside a Water Prison, their limbs contorting as they foamed at the mouth.
Ron began to understand how Shawn had brought Slytherin to heel. His scalp prickled, and his heart sank.
Even if he survived this, he would suffer terribly.
Watching the injured students on the floor recover so quickly, Shawn could not help marveling at Snape's outstanding skill with potions.
He glanced at the eight people hanging from the wall lamps, then ignored them and began slowly pacing before the crowd with his hands behind his back, every inch a leader.
"Professor McGonagall has entrusted me with reforming Gryffindor's study habits. There are just three points!"
"From now on, morning and evening study sessions will follow Slytherin's example! Percy will supervise and record all violations."
"From now on, Slytherin will send people to Gryffindor to teach proper etiquette for walking, standing, sitting, and lying down! Anyone who refuses to cooperate will be severely punished."
"From now on, minor offenses will earn you detention with a hundred inches of practice questions. Those who resisted today will begin their detention shortly."
"For serious offenses, well, look over there at those two brave lads whose eyes have already rolled back. Professor McGonagall specifically asked me to give them special attention. For the next three days, they'll receive an hour of loving care each day."
The little lions seethed but dared not speak.
After all, their best fighters had only just recovered, and their biggest troublemakers were still being tortured.
Still, they began considering whether to write to their parents or form a Resistance Army against this tyranny.
Watching their reactions, Shawn knew relentless suppression alone would not work.
"Oh, one last thing. From now on, I'll organize monthly duels between Gryffindor and Slytherin. The top three students from each year will face off, and the total score will determine the winner."
This time, the little lions who had been nursing their resentment immediately perked up.
Kenneth staggered forward, glaring fiercely at Victor, who had just roughly forced a potion down his throat.
"There should be rewards and punishments for winning and losing, right?"
Shawn rubbed his chin. Behind him, the ten little snakes were also itching for action, so he chuckled.
"Then the losing house will wash the winning house's stinking socks and underpants for a month! Dedicated one-on-one service."
Everyone erupted!
"Oh, Merlin's fingernails! Good heavens, we-we have to win!"
"A reward-and-punishment system reeking of sour socks. How thrilling!"
"But winning really would feel satisfying."
"I've decided to wear these socks for a month! I love study sessions! I'm going to get stronger!"
Shawn was very pleased with the reward-and-punishment system he had improvised.
Then he waved a hand and continued giving orders.
"Everyone, stand to the sides. For our first evening study session tonight, we'll start with etiquette. Alice, take the others and teach them properly. Those who resisted earlier, begin your practice-question detention."
The little snakes behind him immediately began laughing maliciously.
"Heh-heh!"
Before Shawn could say anything, however, Alice cast Petrificus Totalus on the girl laughing most brazenly, cutting her laughter short.
Then she reprimanded her coldly.
"Trelawney, where are your manners? You think you're fit to teach etiquette like this?"
The other little snakes immediately stopped laughing and stared at Alice in disbelief.
Shawn left Alice to establish her authority. He handed Percy a stack of practice papers he had received from Professor McGonagall and instructed him.
"They may dislike you at first, but don't be afraid. Professor McGonagall and I are behind you. Besides, they'll definitely thank you someday."
After witnessing Shawn's thunderous methods, Percy sincerely admired the boy.
He had once been fascinated by power, believing authority would give him everything and let him improve his family's straitened circumstances, so his younger siblings would no longer have to wear old robes.
Now, however, Percy began to think violence might be an even better solution to everything.
Percy bowed slightly and spoke solemnly.
"Shawn, rest assured. I'll supervise them strictly and keep records."
Shawn freely reached out to pat his shoulder and continued sweet-talking him.
"Remember, you're creating a new Gryffindor. Go on."
Zeal shone in Percy's eyes. Straightening his back and clutching the papers, he strode off full of energy to carry out the most thankless task of all.
Seeing that Shawn had finally finished, Harry approached and asked quietly.
"Shawn, what are you going to do with Ron and the others?"
Shawn turned to look at Harry and the lightning-shaped scar he had inadvertently exposed.
It seemed Shawn had overlooked something right under his nose. He reached out as though to ruffle Harry's hair, testing whether he could directly absorb Voldemort's soul fragment.
Meanwhile, he spoke warmly, offering a rather roundabout explanation.
"Harry, when people make mistakes, they have to accept punishment. Ron and the others don't even have the courage to face defeat, so I must at least teach them a sense of shame. Hmm, let them hang there in disgrace for a night first."
Feeling Shawn's warm palm covering his forehead, Harry suddenly felt as though an older brother were caring for him.
So he agreed without thought or reservation.
"Ron and the others really do need a lesson and a warning."
Ding! One evil soul detected.
"Mini theater"
Clad in moonlight-colored nightwear, Shawn sat meditating in the Dormitory, looking ethereal as an immortal.
Draco suddenly rushed in in a panic and flung himself onto the foot of Shawn's bed.
Draco raised his head to look at Shawn and said anxiously.
"This is bad, Shawn! Slytherin's lost a huge number of points for some reason. We had nine hundred yesterday, but today we suddenly lost a hundred and seventy!"
Shawn narrowed his eyes slightly, but remained calm. He reached out to smooth Draco's tousled platinum hair and spoke gently.
"Don't worry. Perhaps Professor McGonagall or Filch caught some little snake wandering around at night."
Draco slowly calmed down, but still said resentfully.
"But our house points show everything you've achieved since you started reforming the school's standards. I can't stand losing them just like that."
As he spoke, Draco immediately stood up and declared excitedly.
"I'm going to gather Slytherin's Throne Members right now. We have to work even harder from now on."
Not long after Draco left, Shawn heard an uproar rise from the Common Room.
"All who serve the Throne, follow me and fight for Five-Star Glory! Let's push our house points past nine hundred again!"
(Ahem, readers who understood the mini theater, give me a little cough.)