Chapter 268: The Next In Line
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Quinn stepped out of the fireplace with green flames parting to let him through. He patted his clothes once, and all dust spots from the floo vanished.
"Quinny has come."
He glanced down at the familiar voice, and there stood a house-elf with big glistening brown eyes and floppy ears with a small bronze earring on the helix of each ear.
"I hope I didn't keep everyone waiting," said Quinn.
"Quinny always on time," said Gretsy, the house-elf of the Greengrass household. "Mistress Daphy waiting for you in the lounge. Let me take you."
"Thank you, Gretsy," said Quinn to the cleanly dressed house-elf dressed in a cottage-white toga. A practice that the Greengrass family had adopted from seeing Polly dressed in her uniform-togas. They had even called Polly to hammer down the view into Gretsy, who refused to wear anything other than her makeshift clothing made from pillow covers which had become ragged after years of repeated cleaning.
As they walked through the halls of the Greengrass mansion, Quinn asked, "Is Astoria home?"
"Mistress Tori is home. Doing homework."
"Could you please tell her to come and meet me when she's done?"
"I will tell."
Gretsy dropped Quinn off at the lounge. Quinn entered the room, and as promised, Daphne sat on a sofa with her feet folded to her side. She held a book in her hands that Quinn recognized — it was a healing manual focused on lungs. Advanced material that wasn't in the Hogwarts curriculum and only taught during healing apprenticeships.
She must have heard him walk in as she closed her book and set it down onto the small side table before looking up at him. "You're finally here," she said, "I got tired waiting."
"I'm on time, milady," said Quinn as he sat down beside her. "So, how're you doing today?"
Daphne scooted near him and leaned against Quinn as she replied, "There's nothing much to do at home, so I just end up reading books these days," she sighed, "even Tracey is out traveling with her parents. . . I'm bored."
"What about the garden you were tending to? Did you already do that?"
"No, I haven't started that. . . it's too hot outside."
"Then, do you want me to help you?" Quinn took out a lightly tinted circular vial. "I even brought a potion[alchemic] that will help the growth of the plants that you told me about."
Daphne took the vial off Quinn's palm and eyed the sloshing liquid, which she squinted her eyes to make out its green color behind the tint. "I guess we can do that, but let's wait for a while," she said and rested her head on Quinn's shoulder.
"Whenever you want, I'm free all day today," said Quinn, glancing down at Daphne, looking at her blue eyes and golden hair. "Are your parents home today, or is it just you and Astoria?"
"Just me and Astoria," said Daphne. She looked up at him and noticed that he was looking at her. She gazed back at him and saw that his gaze was shifting to a particular part of her face.
She lifted her head to give him permission and closed her eyes as Quinn dipped his inclined face towards her. She thought his lips were warm and soft as she parted her lips in response to his ticklish licks letting his tongue slip inside.
When they parted, Daphne was left feeling warm and fuzzy and in a fleeting daze.
"Milk and Honey; you had tea recently," he said, commenting.
"Mhm," she voiced softly. She felt Quinn's finger on her chin as it lifted her face up for another round, and her heart was more than happy to oblige.
"Oops!" The two parted with haste at the unexpected sound and looked at the door where Astoria stood with a hand on her mouth and mischief in her eyes. "It looks like I have disturbed you two. I'm sorry for intruding upon your. . . dalliance."
Daphne reddened at her sister's snicker and amusement-filled eyes and glared at her with irritation. "What do you want?" she asked.
"I want nothing, sister mine," said Astoria, still giggling. "It's your boyfriend that wanted me to meet him and called for me."
Daphne looked up at Quinn, a question in her icy blue eyes. She and Quinn only met twice a week in the summer break, and she didn't appreciate it when that time was interrupted.
Quinn nodded, "I did ask Gretsy to tell Astoria that I wanted to meet her."
"And why's that?"
"I have something of importance to ask of her. . . Astoria, if you would," inviting the younger Greengrass to sit with them.
"So, what do you want to talk about?" asked Astoria.
"Well, as you know, the next coming year will be my last at Hogwarts," Quinn said, "and there are some matters that need to be taken care of before I leave."
Quinn reached into his pocket and placed a black and gold card on the table between him and Astoria.
Astoria reached over and picked up the card, and familiarity flashed in her eyes. "Why're you giving me the AID card?" she asked.
"I have an offer for you. It's up to you if you choose to accept it — though I would like it if you would," said Quinn and then pointed at the card in Astoria's hand. "Astoria. . . would you look to become the proprietor of AID after me?"
Astoria gasped as she froze in her spot, her widened eyes dipping down to the card in her hand. Even Daphne sat up straight beside Quinn and stared at him with a questioning look of surprise in her eyes.
". . . What do you mean?" asked Astoria.
Quinn rested his hands in his lap. "AID is something I built in my second year, and it has been five years since that fateful day. It has grown from something that used to handle little problems into something that organized the biggest Hogwarts Quidditch tournament ever held." There was a proud glimmer in Quinn's eyes as he spoke about AID. "And now that I am soon to leave Hogwarts, I don't wish for AID to leave with me. So I've come to a decision to pass on AID to another. . . and that another is you, Astoria."
"M-Me?" asked Astoria, her breath hitching.
"Yes, you," said Quinn. "After thinking about who could succeed me to continue AID — you were the candidate that I deem the best."
"What about Luna? Isn't she part of AID? Shouldn't she be the one to succeed you?"
"True, Luna is part of AID, and she always will be as much part of AID as I am. But she's not fit to succeed AID as the main proprietor. She's more like a stray cat that would come when her heart desires," said Quinn with a shake of his head and a chuckle. "Do you know, when I invited her to join AID, she asked me to pay her in cookies — ah, that was an interesting day indeed.
"I'm sure if I go ask Luna to succeed AID, she would agree, but if I tell her that she doesn't have to and I have another option in mind, she'd decline and tell me to choose them — she will only accept when there's no other option."
When it came to skill, Quinn knew Luna, who he had taught for years to be better suited for the task than Astoria, which was an important factor considering that a lot of AID's requests were magic requests from students who weren't able to cast the required spells themselves, or simply didn't want to take on the hassle of doing so.
"Okay, that sort of does make sense," said Astoria as she had become friends with the eccentric Ravenclaw through Quinn. However, the question still remained. "But why me?" she asked.
"Well, as you must realize, that the proprietor of AID is a unique position in Hogwarts. I personally started it, which makes it a student venture, and as such, it isn't controlled by the faculty — save for the fact that the permission to use the classroom that is being used as the office lays in the hands of Professor Flitwick, but I'm sure as long as AID keeps true to its purpose, which is to help the students, he won't take away the permission.
"But I digress. Coming back to the position of the proprietor. . . Astoria, people don't realize it, but the proprietor of AID holds more power than any other student position in Hogwarts, more than the Prefects or even the Headboy and Headgirl — and I'm both a Prefect and Headboy, so take my word for it."
"How do you mean?" asked Astoria, confused. She looked at her sister, but even Daphne was clueless as her.
A satisfied smile surfaced on Quinn's face as he pulled back his shoulders and raised his chin high. "Do you know why I started AID?" he asked.
"To help the students," said Astoria, repeating the official AID motto.
"Actually, that's incorrect. Sure, helping people is an integral part of AID and the main reason for its success. But the reason for AID's inception was to solely benefit me," said Quinn, pointing both thumbs towards him.
Astoria quirked her brow. "How does AID help you?" she asked, but then the thought flashed behind her eyes. "Ah, you mean the money, don't you? You charge the students for their services, which goes into your pocket! You mean that, right?"
"No-no-no, that's not it," Quinn laughed as he waved his hand. "AID barely breaks even every year. For five years, I haven't pocketed a single knut out of AID — but I have funneled revenue into the workshop, so maybe I have attained monetary gains from it. . . but no, money wasn't the reason I started AID."
"Then what's the reason?" That was her only guess.
"The reason AID was started was to gain favors, or as I like to lovingly call them debts," said Quinn.
"Favors? Debts. . .?" said Astoria, tilting her head.
"A question to you and even you, Daphne. . . why do you think for five years, I have been offering massive discounts on the AID subject notes? It would've been logical to give them on the very first year, maybe even the second, but not every year.
"Would either of you care to venture a guess?" he asked.
Both sisters dipped their chins in thought before looking at each other to see that the other didn't have an idea.
"We have no idea," said Daphne, who had never actually availed the offered discount and had paid. She frowned, wondering why she refused it in the first place.
"Hmm. . . maybe, you two of you aren't the right audience for this question," said Quinn, recalling his relationship with the two sisters. "Astoria hasn't ever come to buy my notes, which I presume is because you use Daphne's. . ."
Astoria nodded. She used the notes that Daphne had kept and not thrown away.
". . . and I stopped offering Daphne the discount after the first time because she was a friend," said Quinn.
". . . You stopped offering me the discount because I was your friend?" voiced Daphne, feeling confused about her words.
Quinn nodded, "I'm not sure if you remember, but the only time I offered you the discount, I spoke the conditions I offer to everyone — I will provide you with a discount and help you out, and you can, in turn, help me out when I need it later. In simple terms, I scratch your back and you scratch mine. But if we look at it from a different angle, everyone who availed the discount owes me a favor.
"Not only that, I offer the same conditions while taking any request that comes through my doors."
Quinn crossed his legs, rested his interlinked hands on his knee, raised his chin, and smirked, "95% of the people who have ever stepped through the doors owe me a favor — be it first years or seventh, quidditch jocks or top scoring nerds, the delinquents or the Prefects, purebloods, half-bloods, or the muggleborns — the likes of Potters, Bones, Longbottom, Nott — all - owe - me - debts."
It was slow, but the realization started to set in Astoria and Daphne's minds. They knew the power of favors — their father had demonstrated it a countless number of times. It was why the children of many lower-grade members of the Grey faction and even the Dark and Light faction would treat them, the daughters of the leader of the Grey faction, with respect and politeness — all of them wanted favors from their father.
"But it doesn't end there," said Quinn chuckling, "do you know the best part about it? Most of them don't even see it as debts they unwilling owe me. . . because I'm helping them, they are grateful, and will very willingly and happily return the 'help' — of course, there are sometimes they don't like it when I ask them of difficult tasks, but they oblige nevertheless."
Daphne stared at her boyfriend, watching him tell Astoria about his various exploits. This was a new side of him that she hadn't seen before. Sure he had always been playful and mischievous, but this side was different — him talking about how he had control over the Hogwarts students. . . she wanted to hear more about it.
"In short, AID was created because I wanted to build myself a network of connections and debts that I could call upon any time — no matter which house, social circle, or social ladder — I have contacts that I can use. And as it stands, that initiative has seen extraordinary success," Quinn said, finishing.
". . . Again. . . why me?" Astoria was impressed, but she still wanted to know the answer to her question.
"Ah, look at me, getting so distracted, my apologies," said Quinn. "My vision of the proprietor of AID is someone who has excellent communication skills and understands the power that comes with the position." He raised his hand and bluntly pointed at Astoria, "You are the person who checks both the boxes.
"Your pureblood background makes other purebloods comfortable. However, you are outgoing, well-liked with a positive reputation, good looking, smart, have ample emotional quotient — all these things allow you to be approached by the half-bloods and muggleborns. And you, a Greengrass, realize exactly how to exploit the asset named AID."
Quinn didn't pretend that things like appearance didn't matter. A person with good looks would have a better impression on people, which was essential for AID. It was all about people and how they perceived things, especially teens.
"You really think I will be able to take over AID?" asked Astoria. AID was a big deal in Hogwarts; everyone knew about it, and the reason it was such was because of Quinn West — he had a reputation for having a solution to every problem imaginable. Quinn West was nigh untouchable in Hogwarts — the top of the pyramid. . . and Astoria wasn't sure if she could stand up to that standard.
"Astoria, one thing you should know about me is that I am very sentimental about the things I get attached to," said Quinn, staring straight at Astoria. "If I thought you, or anyone else, wasn't suitable for the job, I would have shut down AID rather than passing it onto an unworthy person.
"I'm offering this job to you because I think you're suitable."
That felt good to hear, Astoria thought; however, she still had doubts, which Quinn answered without her needing to voice them.
"And it's not like I'll be throwing you into the middle of everything without help. If you chose to accept, I'd teach you the ins and outs of AID before passing it on to you. You'd work beside me for a while before I completely retire," said Quinn, offering training. "And you'll have Luna with you, who you can rely on until you get the hang of things.
"You can take time to decide and tell me—"
"I'll do it!" Astoria said immediately.
Quinn paused and stared at Astoria before asking, "Are you sure? I suggest that you take some time to decide. It's not a small commitment."
"No need," said Astoria, looking at the AID card with bright eyes, "I want to do this."
Quinn glanced at Daphne, who shrugged helplessly; her sister was always the impulsive type.
"Alright then, welcome to AID, Astoria Greengrass," said Quinn with a smile.
Astoria beamed a bright grin before getting up suddenly. She cleared her throat, "Thank you, Quinn, for this opportunity, and I promise I'll not let you down. Now I'll take my leave, and" she smiled teasingly, "leave you both to whatever you were doing."
"Astoria!" Daphne shouted in irritation as her sister giggled and ran out of the room.
Daphne spat a sigh before looking at Quinn, who was staring at her with a different kind of smile. She felt red climb her cheeks as Quinn pulled her close.
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Quinn West - MC - My Hogwarts Legacy will continue.
Daphne Greengrass - Girlfriend - Found a new side of Quinn and is interested.
Astoria Greengrass - Teasing Sister - AID's Successor.
Gretsy - Greengrass House-elf - Has three sets of togas.
FictionOnlyReader - It's 8:30 am here, and I haven't slept, crazy! - The reason why I even bothered to write about Astoria in the first place.
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