Chapter 118: Notebook Collection
The Disillusionment Charm ensured he would not be discovered. His combat ability ensured he could turn the tide in time.
But if Voldemort personally entered the fray and went on a killing spree, Shawn would definitely stay far, far away.
Still, that possibility was extremely low.
The prerequisite for that scenario was: Dumbledore letting Voldemort slip out.
Well… that possibility was even lower than Shawn battling Voldemort himself.
After all, for that outcome to occur, Voldemort would have to accomplish several things in succession. First, he would have to prevent Dumbledore from knowing he had escaped.
That way, Dumbledore would not appear immediately.
Second, he would need to find someone who did not desire the Philosopher's Stone, since he himself could not touch it. And his goal was to obtain the Stone. Otherwise, he would never show himself at all.
The entirety of Harry Potter's first year was less a diary of Harry's growth and adventures than it was Dumbledore's plan to lure and trap Voldemort.
From the start, Dumbledore had known Albania was Voldemort's final hiding place, and Professor Quirrell had gone to Albania on an expedition.
Later, when Professor Quirrell returned, he wore a strange turban on his head. And ever since he came back from Albania, he had been acting abnormal.
Dumbledore could not have been unaware. Otherwise, he would not have had Professor Snape keep an eye on Quirrell.
With Headmaster Dumbledore controlling the overall situation, Shawn had far less to worry about.
The primary task was to avoid Professor Quirrell. No matter what this… professor had once been like, his danger now was beyond question.
No one knew what Tom, already mentally unstable, might do.
Second, Shawn's task was to keep an eye on the troll. Those were the only two dangers a first‑year might encounter.
Of course, there was also an important task: not to expose himself and keep the plot on track.
Another morning.
The corridors were full of laughter and chatter. Students chased and jostled. Notably, many held thick notebooks with blue covers.
Outside the windows, a giant could be seen hauling pumpkin after pumpkin across the lawn.
Hermione and Justin were followed by Neville, head bowed. Seeing him like that, Hermione said helplessly, "Neville, if you do not lift your head, I think the magic mirror will start shouting again soon…"
Hermione always took special care of Neville, especially after learning his parents were bedridden. It made her care for him even more.
This Gryffindor carried a "do not bully me, I am pitiful" label in her eyes.
It made her both exasperated and concerned.
"By the way, Hermione, what do you think of the collection?" Justin asked.
"Very… good," Hermione said, holding a sky‑blue notebook. She had been about to gush, but the cold wind cut her off.
The draughty corridors were bitterly cold. All three looked forward eagerly to the roaring fire in the Hope Room.
In a sparsely populated area, Justin suddenly tilted his head slightly, eyes bright as he stared at a corner and said quietly, "Shawn?"
A student's silhouette slowly appeared in the corridor.
Neville yelped. Hermione clamped her hand over her mouth.
"Yes, it is me," Shawn said, nodding.
It seemed Hermione had not noticed him. The most important point was achieved. That was enough.
However,
He glanced at Justin again and sighed. Discovered again.
"Oh, Shawn, your Disillusionment Charm has improved again. But bring it on. This is one thing I will never lose at!" Justin said, as if realizing something. He joined in excitedly.
It was like when Shawn practised Finite: at first he could not counter Justin's Entry Levitation Charm. Later he could casually interrupt Justin's Proficient Levitation.
His progress had left everyone in the classroom dumbstruck.
Shawn sighed again, then naturally knocked on the Transfiguration office door.
"Come in, my boy."
Professor McGonagall was visibly busier and busier. It was as if she wanted to finish marking all future homework and prepare all her lesson plans in advance.
Ever since Shawn had begun studying advanced Transfiguration, she had not stopped being busy.
But even this busy, when Shawn practised Transfiguration, she would stop and watch his movements closely, correcting his mistakes and pointing him in the right direction.
In that regard, Professor Snape had been doing the same thing, though his tone was extremely impatient.
When Shawn left the Transfiguration classroom, the sky had gradually darkened.
Passing through the corridor, Shawn noticed Harry and Ron standing by that suit of armour again. Many other students were with them.
"Shawn is here!" Ron shouted. All the young wizards looked at him with awe and gratitude.
Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Slytherin…
Wait.
Even Slytherin?
Seeing the little snake wearing a Slytherin scarf beside Michael, Shawn truly did not understand.
"Today is the first day the Green Collection appeared, Shawn. We came to thank you for generously sharing part of the collection!" Ron said excitedly.
From his trembling words, Shawn roughly understood what had happened.
It was Justin. He had quietly compiled many of Shawn's notes and, after speaking with Shawn, released them for the first time – and part of it was free.
Originally he had wanted to use the free portion to open up sales in other magical subjects. But a variable appeared.
That was right – Ron and Harry. With notes for other subjects, they had recently earned Gryffindor loads of points.
This caused Justin's plan to explode in popularity before it even warmed up.
In the end, there was a mad scramble. Justin did not even have any notebooks left for himself.
Fortunately, there were only ten, and they only covered material taught before Halloween.
But it was enough to let the students spend a weekend without worrying about homework.
An excited Ron had immediately brought the wizards who got free notebooks to thank Shawn. At that point, he did not care that a Slytherin had snuck into the group.
When Shawn left the corridor, he could not carry all the sweets they had given him.
He privately thought no wonder Justin had secretly stuffed so much candy into his bag today. He had almost not had enough to give back.
In the Transfiguration classroom,
"It seems our Mr Green is very popular, is he not?" the old wizard with a long white beard said, fingers steepled, eyes twinkling.
"Albus, lately… have you not been paying him a bit too much attention?" Professor McGonagall said, brow furrowing, tone somewhat grave.