A year in the life of Harry Potter
Chapter 46: September, 10
Harry wasn't in the mood for lessons, but he'd never dare to even think about bunking. That morning something bad had happened. While he'd been sitting at the Gryffindor table eating his breakfast Quentin had approached him. She'd sat down next to him, not saying a word.
"What's the matter?" Harry had asked her.
"Mum," Quentin had whispered, trying not to burst out in tears. "Mummy left Hogwarts."
They had gone to Lucy's qaurter, just in time to see Severus arrive back from the manor through the floo.
"She isn't at home," he had told them, staring at the floor.
After a while of silence he had told them to go to their lessons and to continue as if nothing had happened.
As soon as his last lesson was over Harry went to the dungeons to Severus' quarters. He didn't want to go to the Gryffindor common room just now. At lunch he hadn't eaten much, just like Quentin.
Harry knocked on the door leading to the potion master's room and a moment later it opened. Severus let him in without saying a word. Quentin was on the sofa in the living room, silent tears falling down her cheeks. As she saw Harry she sprung up and walked to the bathroom.
"I know what was in that envelope," Harry muttered. Severus gave him an irritated look. "That envelope she received, remember? You told me to find out."
"And?" Severus asked, slumping down on the sofa. He sighed.
"Hemp."
"What?!" Severus stood on his feet, looking alarmed at Harry.
"She got it from Tony," he continued.
"I knew that boy was up to no good," Severus said, gritting his teeth.
Just then the bathroom door opened and Quentin came out again.
"Harry told me," her father said to her, giving her a hard look.
"Told you what?"
"About Tony."
Quentin gasped. "How did you- ?"
"The better question is how could you?" Severus shouted. "You know very well that I don't approve of it!"
"Why does it even matter to you?" his daughter yelled, tears filling her eyes. "You hardly ever spend time with me, so why should I listen to you?"
Severus raised his hand, and Harry knew that he was going to slap her. Quentin turned away, her arms over her head.
"She was just curious," he said loudly, and the other two looked at him. "She told me herself. Quentin told me that she's curious and likes to find out things by herself."
Severus looked from Harry to Quentin. Without saying another word he disappeared into his office.
Quentin collapsed on the floor, sobbing heavily.
"I can't believe he just- he just tried to slap me," she said, her voice still shaking with fear.
Harry hugged her tightly, wishing he hadn't said anything to Severus.
They sat like that for a few moments until Quentin started to calm down again.
"Mum," she whispered after a while, "Mummy - she went to act in her movie although she said she wouldn't."
"Hey, you wanna play chess?" Ronald asked as he saw Harry entering the Gryffindor common room. Harry just stared at him and then walked away.
"Whatever's the matter with him?" the red-haired boy muttered.
"It's not him, it's you," Ginny replied as she walked past him. "No one would want to even spend time with you."