Chapter 239: Aid In Distress (2/2)
”I hope you understand what is happening here, Mr. West, but AID is disbanded. I demand —”
He ripped his hand out of her grasp. ”I refuse.”
Umbridge's hand slowly rose up to her chest as her eyes turned cold and hard. ”I order you to open that door right at this moment.”
”As I said before and now will repeat — I refuse,” said Quinn flatly.
A deafening silence enveloped the room, and mixing with the black surroundings, it descended into a room one would instinctually avoid.
Umbridge turned her chin up at Quinn, and her lips curled up into a plastic smile, ”Detention for you, Mr. West, and this time you aren't getting away.”
”Be that as it may be, you're not getting through that door,” said Quinn — got her!
Umbridge held her wide from her body, and with her chest thrust out, she walked to the workshop door. She took out her wand and was about to cast an unlocking charm when she saw that there wasn't a lock on the door, just a door handle. She grabbed it and tried to open the door but neither push nor pull conceded her entry.
She turned to Quinn and was about to ask when she saw Quinn's blank stare, and her words died in her mouth. She cleared her throat and stood taller, ”We'll just have to come here later and employ a forceful method to enter. I am looking forward to finding what you attempt to hide. I hope it's not something illegal.”
She was met with silence.
”Well then,” Umbridge turned her wrist to look at her watch, ”it's already time,” she looked up at Quinn, ”we'll be starting your month-long detention today and right now.”
Quinn shrugged half-heartedly. If she wanted to give him what he needed, he wasn't going to stop her.
.
- (Scene Break) -
.
The west corner of the fifth-floor of Hogwarts was traveled to by students when they wanted to visit the AID office and otherwise remained a part of the castle devoid of people because of no active classroom in the vicinity. This was the reason why Quinn was so elated when Flitwick had assigned him the classroom for the office because he knew if AID was successful, then a part of the castle would be landmarked and defined by AID.
So it surprised Umbridge and even Quinn that not even halfway through the west corner, to see an entire crowd of Hogwarts students clogging the entire hallway — there were uniforms accentuated with blue and bronze, those with red and gold, numerous with yellow and black, and even green and silver.
There were ghosts that flew in the air. Even the chaos-agent Peeves the poltergeist was in attendance — uncharacteristically silent under the dead gaze of the Bloody Baron.
Quinn's eyes caught the group of professors standing at the head of the crowd, and in that group, he saw his head of the house, Filius Flitwick, clutching a familiar parchment in his hands. He immediately understood the reason behind this crowd by seeing Luna (flanked by Eddie and Marcus) standing beside the professors.
It brought a broad smile to his face, which he made no effort to hide — they needed to know that everything was fine, especially those who he taught in secret at least once a week. He did his best to communicate that all was well.
”What is this?” said Umbridge, stepping forward. ”Why has this crowd gathered here?”
The big man himself, with his colorful robes and long white beard, stepped forward out from the crowd, ”We heard that you disbanded AID. Is it true?” said Dumbledore, asking for the group.
”Yes,” said Umbridge, still confused why the entire school was gathered here, ”I have decided that AID takes too much of Mr. West's time, thus a risk to his academics.”
”Is that so,” said Dumbledore glancing at Quinn, who stared back at him, the smile still present on his face. He looked back at Umbridge and spoke, ”For four years, this being the fifth, Mr. West has operated AID to great success without ever letting his academics slip. In fact as you as his professor must know that he's the brightest of his age. ” He pointed at the mob behind him, ”This crowd here has gathered here because Mr. West with his work at AID has touched everyone in some form or another — they have received help at his door, no matter how old they are, no matter what houses they belong to — they have never been turned away. For the students, can you also reconsider your decision and reinstate AID?”
Umbridge breathed a resigned sigh, ”I'm moved by this show of unity by the school, but at the same time, I feel pity because the support you have gathered is focused on the wrong person.”
The entire crowd muttered in confused discussion at her words. What did she mean by focusing on the wrong person?
Flitwick stamped forward, and his lips curled into thin lines, showing teeth, ”What are you trying to say by that Dolores?” his voice screech.
”I'm simply trying to state that when I asked Mr. West to show me what is behind a closed door in his 'office,' he refused to comply with orders of both a professor and High Inquisitor, even after I gave him repeated chances to revert his stance, but alas, it was to no change.” She glanced behind and stared Quinn down, ”He must be hiding something that he's afraid of showing me because he realizes that it's wrong and unethical — and that's why I had to make the difficult decision of giving him detention, which pained me a lot because Mr. West indeed is the brightest of the ones I have taught. That is why I hope that the disbandment of AID would set him on the right path. It's for his own good, or so I think as his professor, concerned for his future.”
Quinn continued to smile without a change in expression, and everyone saw. It made many wonder if Quinn was indeed hiding something behind that glass wall of his. No one knew (sans a select few) what resided behind it, and his apparent refusal to reveal was indeed a sign of guilt.
”Mr. West,” said Flitwick, ”let's go right now and see what's behind the wall. It's okay. I won't let anyone take advantage of you so please be fearless and let's make it clear that you have nothing to hide.”
Quinn matched eyes with his head of the house. ”Thank you, Professor, but I apologize; I'm not willing to share what's in my workshop.”
”Mr. West.. .”
But Quinn shook his head. He had already decided. No matter what happened here, he wasn't going to change his position and keep on course.
Dumbledore said, ”Mr. West, are you sure about this?”
”Yes, headmaster, I am sure,” said Quinn.
Dumbledore sighed, ”I see.. . then there's nothing we can do.” There was nothing he could do here without Quinn's cooperation — but there was something he couldn't do. He turned to Umbridge. ”Professor Umbridge, I wish you luck in your disciplinary actions and hope whatever you find is harmless.. . personal items that Mr. West isn't comfortable sharing. We would be waiting with bated breaths to see whatever you come up with.”
Umbridge stiffened, body and all, only momentarily. She regained composure but couldn't stop her smile from twitching. She hadn't missed the message; Dumbledore's intentions were was as clear as his half-moon spectacles — by asking her to inform him, Dumbledore had declared that she wasn't going to get any assistance from anyone else (other than Filch) — it wasn't a problem for her, a good blasting curse would get the work done, but it was highly humiliating.
”I shall keep you informed, headmaster,” she said, her nostrils flaring. ”Now, I ask that everyone give us space. It's time Mr. West serves his detention.”
The crowd parted like Moses dividing the sea, giving a passage for Umbridge and Quinn to pass.
As Quinn passed, he communicated to some people — he smiled calmly at people he knew; winked to Eddie, Marcus, and Luna; nodded to the Golden Squad, and as he passed by the tail of the crowd, he matched eyes with a distraught Daphne, to her, he mouthed, 'I will be fine,' to assure her that all was well.
Umbridge and Quinn were almost out of earshot of the crowd when a loud shout came from somewhere in the ocean of black-robed students.
”Fucking bitch!”
Umbridge's steps faltered in shock, but she acted she didn't hear and continued to walk, and it would have saved her face if not for the fact she couldn't hear snickering coming from just behind her. She consoled her that in a few minutes, she was going to get her revenge.
”We have arrived,” Umbridge said, fighting to keep the itch out of her voice. She opened the door to her office and stared at Quinn.
He once again half-heartedly shrugged and walked into the pink and cat exhibit.
Umbridge entered behind him, her eyes shining with a twisted light as she closed the door behind her.
.
-*-*-*-*-*-
.
Quinn West - MC - Smile & Nod.
Dolores Umbridge - Umbitch - Got him finally.
FictionOnlyReader - Author - I hope I wrote this properly
.
-*-*-*-*-*-
.
If you have any ideas regarding the magic you want to see in this fiction or want to offer some ideas regarding the progression. Move onto the DISCORD Server and blast those ideas.
The link is in the synopsis!