Chapter 84: Interactive Learning, and Illusion Of Help (2/2)
”We're ready,” said Quinn as he set down the potion vial and calligraphy brush on the table.
He turned to face Neville and started,
”Alright, before we start, I would like to explain what is this about in case you don't want to go through this.” Quinn needed consent before he did anything; he didn't want complaints after he was done.
”So this potion is a type of ink that is used on the skin. It is generally used by healers to mark parts on a patient's bodies if ever needed,” explained Quinn, picking up the vial off the table. ”But this is a little different recipe. I changed the recipe so that the ink sinks into the patient's body. That way, if the healer has drawn too many lines, they could hide some lines to avoid clutter. You know, small improvements to increase ease-of-use.”
Quinn lifted the sleeve of his left hand and placed a finger on his forearm. ”I'm going to stain a patch of your forearm in this ink and then change it so that it will read the Gryffindor common room password. When you need the password, you can make it appear, and when you're done, you can hide it.”
Quinn looked up at Neville and asked, ”Any questions?”
”W-Will it hurt?” asked Neville with a wince in his voice.
”Not at all,” assured Quinn as he picked up the calligraphy brush from the table and showed it to Neville. ”I'm going to use this brush to paint some ink on your arm. It might tickle, but after that, you won't feel anything. It won't hurt even when you make the ink appear or when you hide it.”
Neville looked relieved to hear that it wouldn't hurt. Neville thought that Quinn was a cool person, and he didn't want to cry in front of him. Plus, there was that other girl inside, and if he cried she might come out and see him cry.
”We need a code word to make the ink appear,” said Quinn. He wanted a code word that would reveal the password. ”Tell me, Neville, what is your favorite tree, herb, plant, or any flora?”
Neville tilted his head confused, wondering why Quinn was asking like this but answered nevertheless.
”Chamomile.”
”Excellent, then that will be your code word,” clapped Quinn, smiling at Neville.
He knew Neville was a herbology lover, so assigning the code word as Neville's favorite plant would make sure that Neville would never forget it.
'Or I could've just used his name as the code word, but that is so boring,' thought Quinn before speaking. ”Now, let's get started and ink your forearm. Lift your sleeve and hold it in place.”
Quinn uncorked the vial and dipped the calligraphy brush into the vial. He waited as Neville clumsily pulled up his sleeve and awkwardly held it in place.
”Alright, let's begin.”
Quinn removed the brush from the vial and gently painted a stroke back and forth, drawing nothing in particular and just trying to put more and more ink on Neville's hand. After half a minute, Quinn felt that the ink was enough for any phrase that would be chosen as the Gryffindor common room password.
”I think this is enough,” said Quinn as he placed the brush on the table and pulled out his fake wand. Placing the wand tip on the inked area, Quinn fake-chanted.
”Immutatio.”
The ink moved on Neville's skin and took the form of the words,
「Facta, nonverba.」
As Quinn removed the wand tip to observe the result, Neville asked with his jaw open in shock, ”H-How did you know the password.”
”That isn't something you should waste your time thinking about, Mr. Longbottom; some things aren't meant to be known, and this is one of them. Sometimes not knowing is better; knowledge can turn into a curse if you're not careful.”
Quinn's voice was smooth and had a slower than usual flow to it, which made his words sound silky.
It stopped Neville from trying to continue the questioning. The Gryffindor gulped while nodding, deciding to forget he had asked that question.
”Please take out your wand and place it on the inked words,” instructed Quinn.
Neville used the hand holding his sleeve to take out his father's wand, giving Quinn the chance to magically fold Neville's sleeve properly, unlike the awkward crumpled way Neville had done.
”Say 'chamomile' to set it as the code word,” said Quinn as he once again placed his fake-wand tip on the inked words.
Neville nervously placed his wand beside Quinn's and spoke, ”Chamomile.”
The ink flashed, affirming that the code word was set, and immediately the ink disappeared as they sunk into Neville's skin leaving behind no signs.
”Try saying the code word to see if it is working,” instructed Quinn.
Neville spoke ”Chamomile” with his wand tip pressed against his skin, and the words 'Facta, nonverba' appeared on his skin.
Neville's eyes flashed with happiness as he repeatedly spoke ”Chamomile,” making the words appear and vanish on his skin.
”T-Thank you,” said Neville, a smile on his face. He was relieved that now he wouldn't have to keep a parchment with the password written on it. He could just whip out his wand and would have the password on his hand.
”No worries. But you will have to come back every time the password changes so I can modify the words. Plus, this ink will slowly dissipate from your body, so you need to come back here to refill the ink.”
Neville nodded without any discomfort or reluctance. He was ready to come here as long as he was able to keep the password in his hand.
”What do I have to pay?” asked Neville. He was so happy that he was ready to empty his pocket money into Quinn's hands.
”Oh about that, no need to pay me anything,” smiled Quinn as he stood up with Neville following him. Quinn extended his hand for a handshake with Neville and spoke. ”I scratch your back; you'll scratch mine. This was just me helping you out, so when in the future I need your help, help me out... You'll help me out, right, Neville.”
Neville repeatedly nodded as he spoke, ”Of course, I will help you. I will help you with anything. This is great, thank you. Thank you so much.”
”No worries. Come back anytime you want,” said Quinn with a kind and helpful smile.
After Neville left, Quinn cleaned up things and sat behind his table, thinking about Neville Longbottom's request.
While it seemed that Quinn had helped Neville with his request, the truth was that Neville was no better than before he entered the A.I.D offices. Quinn hadn't helped out Neville one bit. What he had provided was just an illusion of help.
Neville was now looking at his arm instead of paper. He could still very well get caught if he was careless and someone saw him revealing the password on his arm.
Plus, now, Neville was under the assumption that he would have to return to A.I.D offices to reset the password and refill the ink in his arm.
Neville had gone from simply writing the password on parchment, which he did on his own, to writing the password on his arm, which required Quinn's assistance.
Quinn, of course, knew all this, and despite that, had chosen to use such a 'solution.' No... to better phrase it, Quinn had given Neville the 'solution' knowing that it wouldn't help out Neville. Quinn wanted Neville to retain the problem and repeatedly return to his office to avail his services, as that would enable Quinn to increase the amount of 'help' he handed out to Neville.
A day would come in the future when Neville would feel that he had gotten so much help from Quinn that he wouldn't be able to refuse anything that Quinn asked from him.
Quinn sat on his barstool, looking at where Neville had sat as he tapped his fingers on the table.
Eventually, a soft closed-mouth smile made its way to Quinn's face.
Like a spider watching a butterfly flying towards its web.
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Quinn West - MC- Provided 'help', and is ready to 'help' more.
Neville Longbottom - Gryffindor - Entered the cycle of problem and help.
Luna Lovegood - Weird - Put on an accelerated learning path without her knowing.
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