Channing counted my votes anyway, to make sure that the total number of chits was 23 and no extra fabrication of votes was done. I indeed had 11 votes, and it looked like I had lost this after coming so far. It was not a problem for me, as I would have to take the hard way as I would have had to take before if the attack on Channing had not happened.
In a sense, my luck had turned in my favour with the case of John Walter taking place right when I entered here in Winterwells. But I should have known better about how many odds were in my favour.
There were few merry faces among the members, for Diana and a few disappointed ones who genuinely did not want to see me lose. I turned to Diana to congratulate her by extending my hand, "Congratulations, and good luck for your term as the serving Beta."