"To Harry's outstanding performance-cheers!"
After they all offered their congratulations, Lorne made a point of adding, "Even if you haven't done anything outstanding, you can still come to me whenever you want something to eat. Just make sure you tell me two days ahead of time. Hagrid's rock cakes won't soften up with just one day of steaming."
They all laughed together, while even Fang happily gnawed on a raw bone.
"Director Lorne, your cooking is absolutely amazing. I've never had barbecue this delicious in the Muggle World." Hermione had given up on the rock cakes. The grilled meat and vegetables alone were enough to fill her up.
Harry and Ron nodded vigorously beside her.
"That's only because this is your first time eating it."
Lorne wiped his mouth and turned to Hermione, who had finished eating. "Although this may not be the best time, I have to ask: are you having any problems with your studies or daily life, Miss Granger?"
"Just call me Hermione, Director," Hermione replied politely. "I don't think the classes are scheduled closely enough together, and the homework lags behind, too. Professor Quirrell's lessons... honestly, they aren't very interesting. I can only find things to study in the library, but I'm not allowed to borrow the upper-year books."
"Then there's Professor Snape. He's far too harsh on Gryffindor and always takes points away for no reason-everyone knows it. He also gives Slytherin points for trivial things. It's unfair. Professor McGonagall would never do that."
During the first half, Harry and Ron had looked as though none of this concerned them and she was talking nonsense, but the second half had them bristling with indignation.
"He's deliberately targeting us." Harry slapped the table.
"God, poor Neville's been tormented into a complete wreck by him." Ron slapped the table, too.
"I see. It looks like I need to conduct a first-year survey."
"A first-year survey?"
"Yes," Lorne said, stroking Fang's head. "I don't know why, but apart from you, no other young wizards have come to me with their problems. I'll have to take the initiative."
Hermione spoke up. "We can see how busy you are, Director. You're with us in every class, and even after class you're reading. Nobody wants to trouble you."
"It's my responsibility. Your concerns are what matter most." Lorne thought of a classic line teachers used and added, "You are the future of the Wizarding World."
After returning, Lorne began drafting the first-year questionnaire and asked Professor McGonagall to help him cast the Doubling Charm on it.
"You have nice handwriting," Professor McGonagall remarked. "Dumbledore also told me about your idea to reduce the professors' workload."
She smiled. "You have a golden mind and heart, Mr. Myles."
The next day, all the young wizards received a first-year questionnaire in their respective common rooms.
Harry couldn't help marveling at how efficiently Director Lorne worked.
The form bore no house designation, nor did it ask for a name. After all, Lorne knew very well that a survey's effectiveness lay in openness, anonymity, and timeliness.
"Views on the pace of teaching, and ratings for each professor?"
Harry immediately drew an enormous zero after Professor Snape's name.
"Do you have a clear schedule for your free time, and would you be open to extracurricular activities?"
Harry quite liked lively gatherings. He had spent far too long alone in the cupboard under the stairs and had a longing for gatherings and activities that even he hadn't noticed.
Once he ticked the box, another line of text suddenly appeared in the previously blank space below.
"If activities were organized, would you prefer social events, competitions, or introductory activities?"
Every first-year answered the questionnaire seriously. Neville poured out his troubles under "What happy or sad experiences have you had at school?", complaining about Professor Snape singling him out and the Slytherin students bullying him.
At the very end of the questionnaire, Lorne had also written a note in gold-stamped ink.
"If you encounter a problem you cannot resolve, you are welcome to visit Director Lorne at the General Affairs Office on the second floor of the main castle."
Inside the General Affairs Office.
Lorne could no longer sit still, because he suddenly discovered that the power of emotion in his progress bar had increased by one point in real time.
[Progress: 35/100]
This would not have been unusual before-but now, there wasn't a single person around him!
Could the questionnaires I handed out be collecting power of emotion for me?
The discovery left Lorne overjoyed. If items he produced could also collect power of emotion on his behalf, wouldn't writing a novel or starting a newspaper let him collect power of emotion without lifting a finger?
The specifics needed investigation, such as whether these derivative items collected power of emotion at a one-to-one ratio, the precise requirements for derivative items, and whether there were other methods besides this.
But as long as this method worked, the speed at which he collected power of emotion was bound to increase dramatically.
Progress rewards would be within easy reach, and the day he cleaned out the shop would soon come.
When that happened, never mind Voldemort-what if Death himself came?
Lorne rubbed his hands together and steeled himself. Before the Beginner Shop expired, he splurged on ten mobile phones and bought a magical storage component from the main shop as well.
He was going to research software development today.
[Progress: 10/100]
Although his power of emotion had fallen back to ten points, he wasn't pessimistic at all this time. If he used the storage component to develop a chat application, wouldn't he earn that power of emotion back in minutes?
Monday.
Lorne accompanied Ravenclaw that day.
The little eagles placed their questionnaires on his desk one after another, while the little Hufflepuff badgers, who shared the class with Ravenclaw, put theirs on the other side.
Lorne smiled throughout, then stacked the two piles of questionnaires together in front of everyone.
Since only two houses attended each class together, Lorne did not finish collecting the questionnaires from all four houses until Tuesday afternoon.
Not a single one was missing.
That evening, Hogwarts blazed with light.
Lorne sat alone at his office desk. He brewed himself a cup of tea, took out a quill and ink, and prepared to record the first-years' problems one form and one item at a time so he wouldn't miss anything.
"I can't accurately assess my own level of magic. I suggest the professors give more in-class tests."
"History of Magic and Defence Against Dark Magic Class are far too boring. I've fallen asleep in class several times, especially with Professor Quirrell. Rather than listen to him read, I'd be better off reading it myself. At least the words won't trip over themselves."
Lorne chuckled, took a sip of tea, and continued reading.
"I hope the library's Restricted Section can relax its access restrictions a little. We only want to look up some material about Ancient Runes."
"The Potions Class classroom doesn't seem to have very good ventilation. Every time class ends, our robes are covered in a strange burnt smell."
"Transfiguration is too difficult, and Professor McGonagall's standards are too high. Is there any after-class tutoring or a study group?"
"Could the dining hall offer a different flavor of pumpkin juice? Or add some hot drinks?"
"There's only Wizard's Chess to play in our free time, but I don't like Wizard's Chess. I'm really looking forward to the Director organizing an activity. Anything will do."
As Lorne read, he consolidated and categorized the responses on parchment.
It was nearly midnight before Lorne finished reading the last questionnaire. He looked over the parchment covered in his ticks and notes and finally gave a satisfied smile.
He had created three sections: professor evaluations, course-related matters, and daily-life matters.