Chapter 143: Prevention, Candidates, Unknown Event (2/2)
The decorations in the Great Hall had changed this morning. As it was Halloween, a cloud of live bats fluttered around the enchanted ceiling while hundreds of carved pumpkins leered from every corner. Quinn, of course, for the occasion, had put on his pointe hat with a few Halloween-themed lapel pins just like he did every year. Luna had copied him and worn her hat a few self-made Halloween accessories. Marcus celebrated by eating pumpkin pie for breakfast, and Eddie enjoyed the occasion by scaring some first and second years with homebrewed horror stories.
”There's a rumor going around that Warrington got up early and put his name in,” said Marcus. ”That big bloke from Slytherin who looks like a sloth.”
Eddie, who had played Quidditch with the Ravenclaw team and heard about Warrington, looked away from the little ones and shook his head in disgust.
”We can't have him as a champion!”
”And all the Hufflepuffs are talking about Diggory,”” continued Eddie mockingly. ”But I wouldn't have thought he'd have wanted to risk his good looks.”
”Oh, he will enter his name. There is no doubt about that, he told me himself, and I think he already did it,” said Quinn informing.
People suddenly cheered in the Great hall. They all swiveled around in their seats and saw Angelina Johnson coming into the hall, grinning in an embarrassed sort of way. She walked over to Goblet and entered her name.
'Hmm, she turned seventeen last week, didn't she?' thought Quinn, a finger on his temple as he pulled out information from his mindscape.
The students from Beauxbatons camethrough the front doors from the entrance hall, among them, the Veela, Fleur Delacour. Those gathered around the Goblet of Fire stood back to let them pass, watching eagerly.
Madame Maxime entered the hall behind her students and organized them into a line. One by one, the Beauxbatons students stepped across the Age Line and dropped their slips of parchment into the blue-white flames. As each name entered the fire, it turned briefly red and emitted sparks.
”What do you reckon will happen to the ones who aren't chosen?” Marcus muttered to Quinn as the Fleur dropped her parchment into the Goblet of Fire. ”Reckon they'll go back to school or hang around to watch the tournament?”
”They will stay and study with sixth and seventh-year students,” answered Quinn. ”Can't have them wasting time here and not have them study.”
When all the Beauxbatons students had submitted their names, Madame
Maxime led them back out of the hall and out onto the grounds again.
Quinn closed his eyes for a second and thought as the Beauxbatons students exited. 'That completes the entry of all four champions. The preparations are clear, the stage is set. Time to open the game.'
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”I finally have some free time, Mr. West,” said McGonagall, turning to Quinn, who was sitting in front of her inside her office. ”We have something to talk about, and you have a lot to answer about.”
”Answers to all of your questions, Professor,” replied Quinn with a smile.
”Let's talk about what you did in the Great hall yesterday,” started McGonagall. ”I'm sure that wasn't included in your duties.”
”Indeed it wasn't, ma'am,” said Quinn as he continued to smile. ”But, if Beauxbatons and Durmstrang can show off their magic, Hogwarts should be able to get a chance to represent itself.”
”... and you took that responsibility on yourself.”
”That I did. Four mascots, four founders, four houses all coming together to create one school binding everyone under one banner. With the time I was given, I came up with a performance that represented Hogwarts as a whole. I think it was nice, don't you?” spoke Quinn, confident and pleased with his work.
”You could've talked with us before you put on that. We were trying to be welcoming, but then you spurred on something much larger than what Beauxbatons and Durmstrang had prepared,” sighed McGonagall. ”Olympe Maxime and Igor Karkaroff weren't happy with the sudden situation. You have to understand that the Triwizard tournament has been set up to improve international relations.”
”Hmm, I can see that happening,” nodded Quinn, understanding her point. ”... but those two don't matter. What matters are the students. If we have a positive outlook towards each other, then two people won't matter in the long run. Durmstrang and Slytherin bonded together because of their similar ideology, and Ravenclaw students were able to interact with Beauxbatons students with my performance as the topic. It was the fact that our students didn't know about my performance that they felt a true surprise and were able to relate with the foreign students.”
He shrugged and summarized his actions in simple words, ”All I did was provide an ice-breaker of sorts. One simple step to set off a domino of positivity.”
McGonagall seemed to be at a loss for words. She could see sense in Quinn's words. The students were the future, and if they were happy and positively reacting to each other, then the older generation indeed didn't matter in the long run.
”But I see what you're worried about, Professor,” said Quinn, gaining her attention. ”Professors can have a big impact on the students... Hmm, I guess we can do something to improve their impression of us.”
McGonagall felt relieved about Quinn's willingness to work with her. But then she saw a wide smile bloom on Quinn's face, which plunged her heart into sudden caution and suspicion.
”Mr. West... I will be honest with you. I don't like that smile of yours.”
Quinn laughed happily at her reaction. ”No need to worry about it, Professor. Actually, you will be the happiest about the reason behind my smile.”
He took out a folded sheet of paper from his clothes. After unfolding it and eliminating creases with magic, he slid the paper across the tables towards McGonagall. He sat back as the premier Quidditch nut picked the sheet and started to read it.
As McGonagall read it, her eyes widened in surprise. ”Mr. - Mr. West… this! Are you sure... are you sure we can do this? Please tell me you have given it thought! It won't be easy... not in our school.”
McGonagall was surprised, hopeful, and suspicious because of doubt about Quinn's plans. It didn't look like it would succeed, but if it did... then it would be huge.
”I have thought it through, Professor. I can make it happen,” smirked Quinn. ”All I require is complete control over the operation. The power and authority to do it my own way and don't have to answer to anyone. I will approach them on my own with no supervision.”
”That!” McGonagall hesitated for a good while before nodding. ”If you can get results, then I will grant you the permission... but if it fails then...”
”It won't fail, Professor.” smiled Quinn, and a deal was set.
He was going to put up a show.
'With this, step one is complete,' thought Quinn grinning inside.
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Quinn West - MC - Planning and plotting.
Minerva McGonagall - Deputy headmistress - If this succeeds... This!
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