Chapter 15: Last Lesson, Gringotts, and Diggorys (2/2)
Thief, you have been warned, beware
Of finding more than treasure there.
]
A pair of goblins bowed them through the silver doors, and they were in a vast marble hall. About a hundred more goblins were sitting on high stools behind a long counter, scribbling in large ledgers, weighing coins in brass scales, examining precious stones through eyeglasses. Doors numbering an amount laborious to count exited the main hall, and goblins guided people in-and-out of these pathways.
George and Quinn made for the counter.
”Morning,” said George to a free goblin teller. ”We have come here to retrieve the keys and other items for Quinn West's student vault.”
The goblin looked down at the pair from his high desk, and Quinn could almost hear a snarl in the goblin's voice as he spoke, ”West.”
”Yes, West.” Once again, Quinn could almost hear the smugness in his grandfather's voice. And, Quinn had to say, he was loving this adventurous side of his grandfather.
Quinn silently watched as the goblin glared down at his grandfather, and his grandfather smiled up at the goblin.
”George West,” the goblin identified George with a scowl on his face.
”Goblin,” replied George with the smile on his face deepening.
After continuing the staring contest for another while, before the goblin harrumphed, ”Papers.”
George retrieved some documents from his robes and handed them to the goblin. The goblin studied them with the intent for a while before snarling something over his shoulder in Gobbledegook. The goblin turned to the human pair and said, ”Wait, you will have your items shortly.” Then he ignored them completely.
George and Quinn stood to the side to wait for their items, and while they were waiting, Quinn asked. ”Grandfather, are you sure that they won't make trouble for me when I use their services?”
George shook his head and explained, ”Gringotts make sure that their services are always on point. Goblins work hard to make sure that there are minimal mistakes. They know if they make mistakes, the ministry will breathe down their necks because the ministry doesn't like the treaty and are actively trying to find issues to put the Goblin Nation and Gringotts on the back foot.”
While they were waiting for the goblins, Quinn heard someone call out, ”Mr. West.” Both George and Quinn turned to see who had called them out, to find a man and a teen walk towards them.
George looked at the man walking towards him and said, ”Diggory, Amos Diggory.”
The two men shook hands, but Quinn wasn't listening to them as he was too busy staring at the teen in front of him.
'Holy! He is Cedric Diggory, isn't he? So, the characters will look like their movie actors, huh,' thought Quinn as he observed a young Cedric Diggory.
Cedric Diggory sensed someone staring at him, and when he turned to find out, it was the kid who was standing with the man his father was talking to. He decided to talk to the kid and introduce himself,
”Hello. My name is Cedric Diggory.”
Quinn snapped out his thoughts and introduced himself, ”Morning, My name is Quinn West.” He put out his hand for a handshake which Cedric shook.
”So, Quinn, how old are you?” asked Cedric.
”I am eleven years old,” replied Quinn, and from the question, he could guess where this conversation was going.
Cedric perked up as he found something to start the conversation, ”So you must be attending Hogwarts this year.”
Quinn nodded with a smile, ”Yes, I will be a first-year this year. What about you?”
”I will be a second-year this year. Have you decided which house you want to be in? I am in Hufflepuff,” asked Cedric as they chatted.
Quinn shrugged and replied, ”I haven't thought about what house I want to be in. I actually don't know how houses are assigned. My grandfather wouldn't tell me anything about it.”
A full-blown smile appeared on Cedric's face as he said, ”Then it is best if you get to know about it on the day itself. I assure you it will be a fun experience.”
Quinn nodded as he already knew the sorting ceremony and was just asking so that the conversation would go on.
”So, did you buy your wand?” asked Cedric, knowing that getting a wand was the one thing all new students got excited about.
Quinn shook his head, but Cedric could see the excitement in his eyes, so he gave Quinn a piece of advice, ”When you to Ollivanders, the owner, Ollivander would try to surprise you, so look out for him, okay.”
Quinn tilted his head in confusion for show and nodded.
By then, Amos Diggory and George had caught up with each other and turned their attention to their children.
”And, who might you be, little man?” asked Amos Diggory.
Quinn turned to face Amos and introduced himself. ”Morning, My name is Quinn West. It is a pleasure to meet you.” Quinn once again put out his for a handshake, and Amos shook his hand with a smile.
Amos looked at George and asked, ”Dear Merlin, Mr. West, I didn't know you had another grandchild.”
George chuckled and said, ”This one doesn't like to get out of the house.”
The goblin teller called for Quinn and George to take their items, and after that, they parted from the Diggorys.
As they exited the bank, George told Quinn about Amos Diggory, ”Amos Diggory, pureblood, works at Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures at the Ministry of Magic. Amos is actually part of the Goblin Liason Office. Though it is quite fortunate that he isn't the head of the Liason office, with his overly emotional personality, the goblins would have eaten him alive.” George paused for a moment before stating, ”He is barely competent at his job.”
Quinn thought about the discrimination in the ministry and the purebloods occupying most of the high-ranking positions. The half-bloods occupied the rest of the high-ranking positions and no muggleborn representation.
Quinn was a pureblood because neither of his parents and grandparents were non-magicals (muggles) or first-generation magicals (muggleborns). But unlike most of the British pureblood families, West Family wasn't on their way to inbreeding. Quinn's grandmother was from France, and his mother from Italy and that had provided the family with sufficient gene diversity.
George looked at his grandson and smiled, ”Come on, let's get to you all the stuff needed. Especially your wand.”
Quinn grinned broadly in response.
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[
A/N [1] - Now, let's make some things clear. Quinn West is ONE YEAR OLDER than Harry Potter. He was born in 1979 (Harry - 1980) and is starting Hogwarts in 1990 (Harry - 1991).
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A/N [2] - Now, despite the speculations about Quinn following Harry, he won't be doing that. He will be a bit too busy learning magic. But, there will be some interactions that are inevitable. Now, I HAVEN'T actually revealed Quinn's current magic capabilities, I will reveal them when he officially enters Hogwarts.
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A/N [3] - I am trying to keep this SEMI-realistic. He won't be as powerful as Dumbledore and Voldemort right off the bat. It would take time. Plus, Quinn WON'T solely focus on COMBAT MAGIC.
My design for Quinn is of an innovator/researcher. Combat Magic is NOT the only magic available. I know there is a war coming and combat magic would be important, but I still want to focus on ”PRODUCTION MAGIC”.
]
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Quinn West - MC - 11 years Old - About to join Hogwarts.
George West - Grandfather - Dunked on Gringotts.
Alan D. Baddeley - Teacher - Has offered an apprenticeship.
Amos Diggory - Ministry Employ - Generally happy, but is quite emotional
Cedric Diggory - Hogwarts Student - 2nd-year student -Looks like his movie actor.
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