The Headmaster seems to have recovered and slipped his genial grandfather mask back on, possibly because he just remembered that he has an audience. "Quite right, my girl. People can always surprise you, no matter their origins." Was that a dig at me imitating his first meeting with Tom? "Far from me to stand in the way of such a strong bond of friendship, especially when it encourages such courage in its participants, to stand up to authority like this." Wow, that was actually impressive. He simultaneously painted my extortion threat as childish rebellion, thus downgrading its severity, while also placating McGonagall by reigniting her hope that we might be in Gryffindor. I don’t bother to keep the impressed look off my face, and he tilts his head ever so slightly in acknowledgement. Now why can’t he be that competent when dealing with Death Eaters?