A year in the life of Harry Potter
Chapter 49: September, 13
"Quentin, that's not fair!" Draco howled. "I did what you told me to do, so you should give me my payment!"
"I never told you to break his arm," Quentin snapped angrily, ready to walk away from the entrance hall. Draco however had other plans and grabbed her shirt sleeve.
"Ole McGonnagall wants Harry to be in the Quidditch team, that's what you asked me for, right? It's not my fault that Longbottom broke his arm when he fell, is it?"
"You could have done something!" Quentin shouted.
"Shut up or someone will hear you," Draco pleaded.
"Fine," the girl gave in. "You did what you were supposed to do, but because of what happened to that Gryffindor boy I only give you half." Draco opened his mouth to argue but she continued, "Either half or nothing." Grudgingly Malfoy accepted the small bag of galleons she gave him. He let go of her sleeve; a second later she disappeared into the darkness.
Quentin had never been afraid of the darkness. It was quite the opposite in fact: she loved the mysterious night while all the other girls in her year group loathed the frightening blackness which gave the feeling of unknowing what was going to await you around the next corner. She took a shortcut to the Ravenclaw common room to avoid any teacher who would be wandering the halls at that time of night. It had been dangerous to meet Draco at that time and place, but he had insisted on it saying that during the day it would be even harder.
Just as she reached the door leading to the common room she heard a voice behind her.
"Hello, darling."
Scared she turned around. A tall figure stepped out of the shadows cast upon the floor by the walls, and as the moon light shining in from a nearby window met its face, she knew who it was.
"Tony, it's you," Quentin said, sighing in relief. "I already thought -"
"Thought what?" the boy inquired.
She shook her head. "Nothing. Anyway, what are you doing out here?"
"I could ask you the same question," he purred, "but I won't. Rather I'm here for the payment."
"Payment?" Quentin asked bewildered. "What payment?"
"You know," he said, stepping towards her. "The hemp. I risked a lot getting it, so I should think you owe me big."
The position she was in made Quentin feel uneasy. Tony was a lot stronger than her, and above all there wasn't anyone there to help her.
"You said it was free," she said, trying not to make him hear her fear. She had never been particularly afraid of boys, but this was something different.
"Did I?" Tony said, grabbing her arm and forcing her back against the nearest wall.
"Get off!" Quentin screamed, but the noise was muffled by Tony who forced a kiss on her lips, pressing his body against her.
Tony grabbed Quentin's thigh with one hand and dug his thump in hard. She was more than determined not to give him any satisfaction by showing how much it hurt. She would give anything for the sound of approaching foot steps for that would mean that Tony would have to retreat. However, there'd be a next time and a next time, until he got what he wanted. She knew that.
As Quentin stopped struggling Tony clutched her bum and started kissing her again. A moment later however, as he was leaning back, she brought her open palm up and smashed it against his forehead, missing his vein by centimeters.
"Bitch!" he exclaimed, stumbling backwards. Knowing that she only had a few seconds she held her wand up to her throat and started screaming.
Severus never really liked having to wander around the castle at two a.m. looking for students who had sneaked out of their dorms, but he knew someone had to and today he appreciated the fact that he could wander around the empty corridors lost deep in his thoughts. Harry had come to him before dinner yesterday evening apologizing for having skipped numerous lessons, and then telling him that Professor McGonnagall wanted him to be the seeker of the Gryffindor Quidditch team.
Was it wise to let him? Already one child of his was lost to Quidditch, and in the year Quentin had first played she had broken more bones then ever before in her life. The position of the seeker was even more dangerous, he knew. With what injuries would Harry get away? Broken bones, of course. So much was clear. Bu what would happen if he didn't give in? The whole house of Gryffindor including Professor McGonnagall would be out to kill him for sure.
Just as he was on his way past the library he heard a scream, its sound more than familiar to him. After the huge tantrum Quentin had thrown when he wouldn't let her be part of the Ravenclaw Quidditch team he would recognize her scream from anywhere.
If his ears weren't tricking him the scream had come from the Ravenclaw common room. What was happening? Minutes later he found out.
"Quentin!" he gasped, seeing his daughter lying on the floor in front of the common room door, sobbing. Curious Ravenclaws watched what was happening through the open door. "Get back to bed," Severus snapped, and, frightened, they disappeared. He crouched down next to the girl.
"Daddy!" Quentin cried, flinging her arms around Severus' neck. "Oh, Daddy!"
Severus stood up again and scooped her up. The Ravenclaws had appeared again, but he didn't care. Other students and Professors came to see what had happened. The scream had echoed through the whole castle, waking up every single of its inhabitants.
"Daddy!" Quentin continued to cry as her father carried her through the crowds, past the students who came towards them, until finally they were in his quarters. By then her cries had decreased to an occasional mutter, her sobs had subdued to heavy breathing and her blood-shot eyes were closed tightly.
As he put her on the sofa he noticed that she had fallen asleep. The explanation of whatever had happened would have to wait until later.