Chapter 29: Change in Events, and The New Quest (2/2)
A vault so cold that even death might die,
You will find it on the level five stories high.
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Quinn nodded and immediately memorized the hint, and just to be safe, he noted the words on a sheet of paper.
”I have given this riddle to many students and even some teachers throughout the years, but only a handful of them were able to find the first vault. And, none of those were ever able to enter the first vault and were stopped at the vault entrance,” said Friar as he gazed down on Quinn.
Quinn read the riddle over and over again before looking up at the floating Friar and grinned, ”Then get ready; I will be the first one to enter the vault and move onto the second one and the next. Someday, I will enter all five.”
Friar gently smiled and floated away without saying a word while Quinn stared at the clue and then at the stars, wondering about this new adventure that had fallen into his lap.
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Time slowly passed, and Halloween rolled around. When Quinn exited the common room for his morning run, the smell of baking pumpkin greeted him, wafting through the corridors.
”The elves are hard at work, as always,” Quinn spoke to himself as he jogged down the corridors to the grounds for his run. Quinn was in a good mood, as today he would get to meet a troll. He was not going to miss this opportunity.
”Oh troll~, I am coming for you. Going to do some ass-kicking, and no one is going to know, nobody, nobody. Dancing with the trolls, Halloween has come. Oh, magic, you are AMAZING!” sang Quinn as he ran his usual route. Quinn was excited that he colored the grass on his entire route orange and purple in the spirit of Halloween.
When Quinn dressed up for the day, he put on his wizard's hat that no one wore for the day and pinned a conjured small lapel pin in the shape of a carved pumpkin to his robes for fun.
When he got down to the Great Hall for breakfast, his eyes caught Flitwick reading the Daily Prophet, so he decided to wish him a happy Halloween, but in a special way.
Quinn stood just beside the entrance of the great hall and took out his fake wand for show. He then used the same magic Flitwick had used to call him to give his keys on the first day of school.
”Professor Flitwick, good morning, and I wish you a spooky Halloween.” Quinn's words went straight to Flitwick without leaking mid-way.
Flitwick smiled and raised his head from the table to greet the student who spoke and found no one in front of his spot on the High Table.
”Huh, who was that?” Flitwick looked around the confusion.
”Over here, professor.,” spoke Quinn while still standing near the Great Hall entrance.
Flitwick frantically stood on his chair and looked around to see who was calling for him but still couldn't find anyone.
Quinn smiled and decided to end this and said, ”Near the entrance, professor.” And raised his hand to wave so that Flitwick could see him.
Flitwick, from his table, looked towards the entrance and saw Quinn waving his hand with his wand tip on his throat.
”This is how you did it, professor. I must say it is a fun piece of magic,” said Quinn.
A wide smile bloomed on Flitwick's face as he jumped on his chair while clapping. He also took out his wand and placed it on his throat, and spoke, ”Excellent execution, Mr. West. Five points for an impressive showcase and five more because it is Halloween.” His words charmed to reach Quinn's ears only.
”Thank you, professor,” Quinn replied and then skipped to the Ravenclaw table for a hearty breakfast.
When Quinn was eating, he felt a pat on his shoulder. He looked back to see Tracey Davis and Daphne Greengrass.
”Happy Halloween, Quinn,” Tracey spoke, being her usual bubbly self.
Quinn smiled wide and said, ”Ah, my favorite Slytherin.” He turned to Daphne and spoke to her, ”Just to be clear, I am talking about Davis and not you, Greengrass.” Quinn had promoted Tracey and Daphne from Ms. Davis and Ms. Greengrass to just their surname.
Daphne narrowed her eyes but didn't say anything, while Tracey giggled in response.
”Davis, if more Slytherin were like you, the world would be a better place,” Quinn spoke to Tracey but looked at Daphne with a smile.
Tracey laughed again while Daphne continued to ignore him.
”So, what is happening with you guys, anything new with you?” asked Quinn.
Tracey's eyes sparkled as she talked, ”We finally learned how to make things fly.” The first-year students were finally learning the Levitation Charm.
Quinn clapped once before picking two apples from a platter and placing them on the table. He gestured to the two girls and said, ”Do try.”
Tracey looked at Daphne and telling her to take her wand and cast some magic. Daphne sighed and took out her wand, knowing that her best friend won't stop if she refused. Tracey grinned and took out her wand as well.
”Wingardium Leviosa,” chanted both the Slytherin girls. The two apples rose from the table, albeit a little slowly. Quinn smiled as he looked from the apples to the girls with a smile and spoke, ”Good work, a little slow, but a good start. Remember, practice makes perfect.”
Both of them stopped casting at the same time, and the apples stopped floating. Luckily Quinn was ready, he immediately caught them and placed them back on the table
Daphne pocketed her wand and humphed, ”Why don't you show if you are so good.” The smile on Quinn's face turned into one of amusement, and he said, ”Alright.”
He turned back to the Ravenclaw and called out, ”Hilliard, a Scouring charm on my hands, please.”
Hilliards, a fifth-year prefect, looked up from his book and took out his wand with a sigh before casting a Scrouring charm (Scrougefy) charm on Quinn's hand, cleaning them instantly.
”Thanks,” said Quinn before turning to Tracey and Daphne. ”Had to get my hands clean, now, where were we? Ah, yes, the Levitation charm.” Quinn took out his fake wand and performed the wand movement just for show and whispered the incantation, ”Wingardium Leviosa.”
The apples that Quinn had set on the table began floating and started rapidly moving.
”Levitating multiple objects, neat, right? With some practice, you could do it too. Remember, the wand movement and incantation are not the main part of a spell. You have to understand the underlying concept behind the spell. Understand that, and you will master spells at a quick pace,” Quinn pointed at the High table and continued, ”Not my words, this piece of wisdom comes directly from Professor Flitwick.”
Quinn waved his fake wand straight down, and the apples set themselves down gently on the table.
”As I said, practice makes perfect.” Quinn pocketed his fake wand and folded his hands in his lap.
Daphne looked at the two apples and then at Quinn before seriously nodding.
Quinn smiled; from his interaction with Daphne, he had come to understand her personality. She didn't trust people quickly and preferred a few close and genuine friends rather than many friendly acquaintances. She was a private person. Plus, she had seen the difference between how Quinn interacted with Tracey and other students; Quinn was much friendlier to Tracey than others, so she had doubts about him.
Quinn waved the Slytherin girls goodbye and proceeded on with his day, waiting for the evening to arrive.
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A/N [1]: The concept of these Vaults comes from the game, Harry Potter: Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery. I haven't played the games, so a lot of the things might be different, plus I am working off the Wiki page.
]
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Quinn West - MC - A lot is going in his life; Consultation, Vaults, and Trolls.
Fat Friar - Hufflepuff's ghost - A clergy when he was alive.
Tracey Davis - Slytherin - Hides Slytherin qualities behind her bubbly personality.
Daphne Greengrass - Slytherin - Doesn't trust people easily.
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The link is in the synopsis!