For Unto Us:
Chapter 11
A/N: True to my word, an update within a month. While I normally akin authors that ask for reviews with prostitution, I would like to see if anyone is actually reading this. I show that I'm getting a healthy amount of hits. So feedback is welcome. But I digress.
The audible sigh of relief given in unison by three of professors didn't go unnoticed by Quinn; neither did the sudden distinct green tinge Professor Flitwick turned. She quirked an eyebrow as she filed their reactions away, something wasn't adding up with the situation. Quinn could drive a truck with the holes in the story they were trying to feed her but for now she would go with it. Other than some disagreeable transportation issues, no one had done anything that could be interpreted as harmful toward her. Yeah she wasn't hot about going to an organized school other than college… Harsh words didn't count, being a prick didn't mean anyone was out to hurt you. Quinn looked over to Professor Snape, who was in turn studying her intently. Severus' mouth twitched in a quick smile when Quinn started when Dumbledore clapped his hands.
"Now that we have that bit of business out of the way," Dumbledore took the hat and returned it to its spot in one of the numerous cabinets.
When the hat said Ravenclaw Severus was so relieved that he could have kissed the damn thing. She wouldn't be his problem. Let Filius deal with the delinquent…
"…Of course Professor Snape would need to give you practicals for you to be proficient enough to enter third year," Dumbledore's voice broke through Severus' thoughts.
Fuck. Severus cursed in his head.
"But enough talk about lessons. Professor Flitwick will arrange everything you need to get you started on Monday." Dumbledore sat down between Quinn and Professor Flitwick. While sliding her chair over to make room for Professor Dumbledore one of Quinn's chair legs caught on an uneven stone causing her to tumble off of her chair and into Professor Snape. Throwing out her hand to catch her weight she ended up gripping high on the professor's thigh
"Excuse me," Quinn muttered as she straightened her chair and sat back down.
"I hope you are more coordinated during your potion lessons," Severus growled back while swatting her hand away. He glowered when he saw the corner of her mouth quirk up into a smile at his comment.
"Miss Riddle is here under," Dumbledore began to explain to the group. He paused before continuing, "unusual circumstances. Her mother had taken up residence outside of the country and later became incapacitated. Her current muggle guardians simply didn't know what to do. So Miss Riddle managed to fall through the cracks. Unfortunate but it does happen from time to time." He looked at Quinn. "Usually by the time we have a student your age, we have several years of establishing a rapport with your professors." Then he addressed the rest of the table. "My hope is that we can get better acquainted tonight and what better way to do that than by breaking bread." With those words he clapped his hands again and the table was suddenly covered with a dinner setting. "Now let's learn a little about our new student and let her likewise get used to the idea of attending school very far away from her home."
The other professors began to eat not looking up from their plates, avoiding eye contact with both Quinn and Professor Dumbledore lest they be pulled into conversation. All of the professors were informed of exactly whom Quinn was and was told that the story of falling off the map was to save Quinn from any humiliation from the students.
Quinn looked down at her plate and felt her stomach flip. Steam rose up off of a portion of baked chicken breast. Quinn started to feel ill again. Scanning her plate for something edible she saw that even the vegetables had butter melting on them. She took a sip of water trying to will her stomach to stop flipping.
Resigning herself to another hungry night Quinn looked around the table, and began to time the silence that drew out longer and became more awkward. Enough, she thought. Just because they weren't interested in starting a conversation it didn't mean she couldn't make the initiative. It will give her something to keep her mind off of the plate of noxious rotting flesh and animal secretions on her dinner plate.
"Mr. Flitwick," Quinn said and the small man looked up at her with what she would describe as deer in headlight eyes.
"Yes," he said slowly in a tone like he was expecting her to come across the table at him.
"I'm a little confused. You're my head of house but what does that mean?" Quinn asked.
"Oh," he said surprised. "Well, in order to help facilitate the guidance of our students we break them into houses…" Quickly warming to the topic, Hogwarts history was a hobby of Flitwick's. He began to speak at length about the founders. Rowena Ravenclaw in particular. Both Professors McGonagall and Sprout visibly relaxed the longer he spoke. Severus sat stiffly as ever. Quinn asked leading questions urging him to keep talking. Apparently Rowena was an accomplish herbalist and with Professor Flitwick's encouragement, Quinn was able to draw Professor Sprout into the conversation. She found that the more people talk the closer they often felt to the person showing a genuine interest. However, unlike times before she didn't have to feign interest. She warmed to the topic also.
The child is a sociopath like her father, Severus thought. Before she graduates I won't be surprised if she starts going by Lady Voldemort. Looking at Quinn he shot her a look that said 'I know who you are and you can pull the wool over their eyes but I see through you'.
Dumbledore amused by Quinn's ability to charm her professors, glanced over at Quinn's untouched plate. Quinn was for once too engrossed in the topic of the attributes of the Ravenclaw house to notice.
"My dear is there something wrong with your food?" Dumbledore said during a break in Flitwick's lecture. Quinn's face started to turn red and she looked down at her plate.
"No Sir," Quinn paused not sure how to answer a question so bluntly asked to her. Normally people didn't notice her eating habits or very much else about her. "I just.. See…"
"Yes," Dumbledore kindly urged.
"I'm a vegan," Quinn said then continued when she saw confusion flash across the old wizard's features. "I don't eat meat or anything that comes from animals."
"You don't eat meat." Dumbledore said.
"I have a problem eating something that felt pain when it died." Quinn said. She noticed that all sound stopped during this exchange.
"You, Quinn Riddle, don't eat meat because you think it's cruel?" Dumbledore said again. Then he smiled brightly. "Brilliant." He waved his wand toward he plate and it disappeared. Then snapping his fingers a creature appeared on the side farthest from Quinn. She couldn't get a good look but it looked like… Well she wasn't sure what it looked like. "Ellie, Miss Riddle doesn't eat meat or anything that comes from animals. Would you kindly bring her a plate of what the house elves are eating tonight." The creature craned its neck and looked over at Quinn.
"Are you sure," The creature squeaked. "She is a witch and we are elves." That answer seemed to make Dumbledore smile more.
"That would be wonderful." He said and the creature disappeared.
A moment later a plate of rice and curried vegetables appeared in front of Quinn. After glancing over her plate quickly, she picked up her fork and began to eat. Much better than the rice and beans Quinn usually ate, cooking was never her forte. Apparently her veganism pleased more than just Dumbledore because the other professors began to talk to her and ask questions.
"How are you finding Scotland?" Professor Sprout asked.
"Much different than what I'm used to," Quinn said between bites. Not realizing how hungry she was. Then she remembered the only thing she had all day was a cup of coffee and fruity pebbles sometime around five in the morning. "It makes the Plantation house next to mine look new." Everyone but Snape chuckled at that. Now that almost everyone was more open to talking to her, Quinn felt that it was safe to ask about her things and calling home. "Professor McGonagall how do I unshrink my stuff."
"Oh the house elves will take care of that," she answered.
"Yes, part of the fun about moving to Hogwarts is figuring out where they place your belongings when they unpack you," Professor Sprout said laughing.
"Is there a phone or an address I can give out to keep in touch with home," Quinn said. Someone had to get rid of the half-baked acid and her plants before Becky came up there messing around.
"That would not be wise," Snape said interrupting as Flitwick started to answer. He had to put an end to this nonsense just because no one could see how the girl was manipulating all of them that didn't mean that he had to go along with it. She needed to learn her place. "As I told you before we left, you would not be returning."
"Severus…" Dumbledore began.
"After we are done here follow me back to my office and we address any concerns you have after we set up your study schedule." Professor Flitwick said as he gave Professor Snape a hard stare. Filius rarely pulled rank on Severus but then Severus never interfered with his management of the student's in Ravenclaw. Indeed this girl was rough around the edges and her parentage was unfortunate but she was bright and inquisitive. She made efforts to be polite. After a couple of bumps Miss Riddle would be quite the asset to Ravenclaw.
"No matter," Snape began, "I doubt your mother will have noticed your absence at the moment let alone any letter you send her."
"Excuse me." Quinn looked at him incredulous at his harsh words.
"Did I stutter Miss Riddle?"
"I'm not in your class yet and you do not get to talk to me that way," Quinn began but Severus started to talk over her.
"You'll find that I can talk to you any way I wish." Severus words came out in a sardonic tone but Quinn continued.
"My mother may not be able to understand me but she did teach me some manners. Did your mother manage to do that or was she spending too much time trying to figure out who your father was."
Severus' mouth slammed shut upon hearing that never had anyone let alone a student speak to him in such a manner. Just as he was starting to put this upstart Yank child in her place he was cut off by a voice from across the table.
"Severus you'll find that you can't talk to her in such a manner." Professor Flitwick broke into the fight. "Miss Riddle, I know that the American culture is more brash than what we have here at Hogwarts but I think even there you were just as out of line as Professor Snape."
Severus crossed his arms and glared at his colleague.
"I have every right to correct any student as I see fit Filius."
"Yes, but you don't get to verbally abuse my Ravenclaws, Severus." Professor Flitwick said. "I don't involve myself with the inner workings of your house," Flitwick said returning the glare he gave wayward students. He hated to do that to Severus but it did get the man to behave more civilly when he stepped over the line. "I trust with that with Miss Riddle's situation she is essentially a ward of the school. As she is in my house I will be functioning in loco parentis."
"Then I can't be responsible for her safety if you are going to treat her so cavalierly." Severus rose from the table before he nodded toward Dumbledore. "Headmaster." Severus swept out of the room.
Quinn noticed the eye roll Professor Sprout gave Professor Flitwick.
"Come along Dear," Professor Flitwick said as he slid off his chair. "We'll get you set up with your studies." With those words he left the office and Quinn took it to mean that she was to follow him.