Shawn spent half a month in the Hospital Wing, enduring countless doses of unnaturally bitter potions before Madam Pomfrey finally cleared him for discharge.
"Off you go. If you dare get yourself hurt this badly again, I'll operate without giving you any anesthetic!"
"Of course, Madam. Thank you for looking after me."
Shawn politely said goodbye to the sharp-tongued but softhearted Madam Pomfrey, then all but fled the Hospital Wing.
He felt that if he stayed any longer, he would develop a psychological aversion to bitterness.
He strolled through the school grounds, encountering hardly anyone along the way.
But remembering the piles of gifts and love letters Kreacher had dealt with for him every day, he cast a Disillusionment Charm on himself to avoid causing a commotion.
Before long, however, Shawn came across a scene of bullying near the Slytherin Common Room.
Several boys and girls from different years had cornered Pansy, with her lion's-head hairstyle.
"Pansy, tell us what you're up to! Why are you asking about what the Chief can do and what he likes?"
"You lowborn half-bloods! I'm warning you, get out of my way!"
"Ha! That's rich. A washed-up little pure-blood like you still thinks she can look down on us?"
"You... you!"
"Ha! Even the Dark Lord lost to our Chief. A lapdog of the Dark Lord like you snooping around for information on him must be a spy. If you don't tell us why, I'll strip you naked!"
"You're... how dare you! I... I..."
"Heh. If it weren't for Draco, you'd already be soaking in piss and shit."
"You'll all be expelled!"
Pansy cried as she blustered through her threats, but they did no good. One of the girls actually moved forward to strip her.
Shawn's expression darkened.
Ever since he had introduced a