Alice paused, then quickly understood what Shawn meant. After weighing her words, she spoke.
"Percy is quite good. He's stiff, but thorough in his work. Among the girls, there's one named Angelina who's very capable. There are a few other promising ones, like that fifth-year..."
"As for our own house, Chief, since you gave Montague a chance today, that means you still see potential in him. I'll keep watching his attitude and where his loyalties lie. ...These half-bloods are all worth considering."
Shawn offered no opinion, merely listening quietly to Alice's analysis.
"As for the other two houses, I still need to observe them. That's all, Chief. Please give me your instructions."
Shawn nodded slightly, generous with his praise.
"You're very attentive. I can trust you with this. But you can look at the younger students too, rather than focusing only on the older years. Our ambitions reach much further, after all. We need talented people to carry on after us."
"Yes, Chief."
Eight o'clock soon arrived. Shawn watched the rows of young lions, whose walking now showed some semblance of poise. Though awkward, it was passable.
He stood and announced,
"All right, that's the end of tonight's study session. I hope everyone keeps up the effort. Dismissed."
"Yay!"
"Ah, we're finally free!"
Everyone burst into cheers at once.
The young lions ran wildly around the Common Room, waving their arms and dancing like prisoners freed after years of confinement.
Quite a few excitedly began stripping off clothes and tossing them into the air. Some even lost their heads completely, grabbed whoever was beside them, and planted a kiss on them.
Ahem, regardless of gender.
The Twins had also been released from the Water Prison. George's mouth was twisted sideways, while Fred's eyes were askew.
The two clung to each other and rolled on the floor, muttering.
Crooked-mouthed George: "So scary, so scary. But so exciting too."
Crooked-eyed Fred: "What do you think would happen if we put that electric-shock effect into Dungbombs?"
Shawn watched this display of human nature with great interest.
Suddenly.
A shower of sparks exploded overhead.
Bang!
"Quiet!"
A roar followed, instantly silencing the Common Room.
This time, Shawn wasn't responsible.
Instead, McGonagall walked slowly through the Common Room entrance, her face stern and severe.
All the young lions stared blankly at their Head of House.
McGonagall approached the front of the unruly crowd, glancing at the few students hanging from the wall lamps with their eyes closed, playing dead, and at the Twins, who were hugging each other and grinning foolishly after their release from the Water Prison.
"I've been watching from the shadows, both pleased and concerned. Pleased by the improvement in your deportment, and concerned that Shawn's methods were too harsh."
As McGonagall spoke, she looked exasperated by their failure to live up to her expectations.
"Yet the moment you're dismissed, you revert to your old ways! Are lions truly incapable of elegance?"
All the young lions lowered their heads, unable to face their Head of House's disappointed gaze.
McGonagall unleashed her full authority, pacing before the crowd like an enraged lioness.
"I know what you're thinking. I am a Gryffindor myself, after all. Are you still planning to resist violently and refuse to cooperate? Still hoping to write home and complain?"
McGonagall swept her gaze over the guilty young lions, speaking like Snape for the first time.
"Forget it. I will personally write to your parents. I believe they would also like to see you improve. Furthermore, from today onward, in my capacity as Deputy Headmistress, I grant Shawn the authority of Gryffindor's Deputy Head of House, with full responsibility for overseeing your progress!"
Every young lion's expression changed drastically. Their hopes turned to ashes, and they felt chilled to the bone, as though snow had fallen in July.
Some even dropped to their knees in despair and screamed at the ceiling, "No, no, no!"
The Twins, still lying on the floor, exchanged glances with tears streaming down their faces.
Crooked-eyed Fred: "I'm so upset. Am I suddenly going to turn into a blubbering idiot?"
Crooked-mouthed George: "Hang in there a little longer. I'm already thinking of something. We'll endure this humiliation for the greater cause."
Crooked-eyed Fred: "Right, right. Before someone falls, let him get full of himself first!"
Leaving the deeply troubled Professor McGonagall to her own devices, Shawn left Gryffindor looking thoroughly puzzled. The other ten young snakes also stared at their Chief in astonishment.
They marveled inwardly that their Chief really was their Chief, always capable of surprising them. Even Professor McGonagall supported him unconditionally.
As they passed the fourth floor, they ran into Quirrell.
He shoved a notebook into Shawn's hands and hurried away without a word.
Eager to demonstrate his loyalty, Victor came up with a wild idea. "Alice, if the Chief can become Gryffindor's Deputy Head of House, do you think he could become the Dark Magic professor too?"
Alice gave it serious thought, then shook her head.
"We really don't learn anything in Quirrell's Defense Against Dark Magic classes, but the position is cursed. Better not."
Victor said, "The Chief is so powerful. Would he really be afraid of a curse?"
Shawn turned to look at Victor. Was this guy trying to get me killed?
Unfortunately, he couldn't find any proof. The boy sounded far too sincere.
He could only change the subject, speaking pointedly.
"Don't underestimate Quirrell. You can't judge a person by appearances. Surprises are always hiding close by."
The young snakes looked thoughtful. If their Chief said that, there had to be some profound meaning behind it.
They returned to the Slytherin Common Room and went their separate ways.
The moment Shawn entered his room, he saw Draco sitting on his bed, looking conflicted. Goyle and Crabbe were nowhere to be seen.
He walked over and patted Draco on the shoulder.
"Draco, what's wrong?"
Draco jumped. Seeing that it was Shawn, his gaze flickered away.
"N-nothing."
Children really couldn't hide their feelings. Shawn fixed Draco with an intense stare.
Draco grew uncomfortable under his gaze. Finally, he gritted his teeth and spoke.
"Just now... Theodore asked me to teach him spells. I... I refused."
Shawn understood. Theodore was a fanatical admirer of his.
"Why? You're even willing to teach Goyle and Crabbe."
Draco clenched his fists.
"I've known him since we were little. I know his ideas are dangerous. And... and..."
Draco kept stumbling over "and" without managing to explain himself.
Shawn had no patience for guessing games with a child. Besides, Theodore was already a fanatical admirer of his and deserved special treatment, so he waved a hand.
"Go bring Theodore here. I'll ask him myself."
Draco's face instantly turned pale. He opened his mouth but couldn't get a word out for a long while. In the end, he could only stand helplessly and stumble off to fetch him.
Shawn shook his head at the sight. Too lazy to guess at the kid's strange thoughts, he took out the notebook Quirrell had just given him and began reading.
Let's see what else this guy is planning.
But within a few minutes, his brow furrowed, and he involuntarily sucked in a breath.
"Old Voldy really is willing to invest heavily."
It wasn't that the Black family lacked books on Fiendfyre, but this dark magic had demanding prerequisites. He would also have to learn the equally demanding Finite Incantatem first.
Otherwise, recklessly learning Fiendfyre would only lead to his own destruction.
Like a certain idiot who had burned down the Room of Requirement.
Hmm. With my talent for white magic, Finite Incantatem is too advanced.
Yet the contents of Voldemort's notebook bypassed the need for Finite Incantatem entirely, offering a way to control Fiendfyre at its source.
Before Shawn could read further, Draco returned with Theodore Nott, looking as though he were constipated.