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The elevator bell rang as the door opened.
Quinn stepped out into the inner corner of the Ministry central Atrium, ground floor. He stretched his legs on the very tip of his toes. The Ministry, like usual, was full of people coming in and out, going about their busy day among a crowd of similarly busy people.
He glanced back to see the elevator door close. He had just finished giving the last of his three-day NEWT period, conducted right in the heart of the Ministry— in the Department of Magical Education's office space redesigned to be an exam center.
He took out a piece of parchment from his pocket. It was the admit card to be shown to the security guard for visiting the Ministry for the three-day examination period. Quinn stared at the printed parchment. With this, he was finally over with his Hogwarts education. The seven-year leg of his life was over— the castle, AID, the Cursed Vaults, the Room of Requirements, AID, the classrooms, the grounds. . . everything had come to a full stop, period. The only thing that had remained was to receive his NEWT certificate and his graduate degree.
"Ah. . . Quinn, is that you?"
As he was putting the rolled-up parchment back into his pocket, Quinn heard the voice calling to him. He turned towards the source and saw James Potter, in the typical Auror clothing— a suit sans the accompanying overcoat/topcoat because it was the prime of summer.
". . . Auror Potter," said Quinn in greeting.
"You know," James pursed his lips and eyes, "I can count on one hand the people who call me Auror Potter or Auror James outside of the formal setting. I appreciate you using the proper title and all, but you can call me Mr. Potter or Mr. James if you'd like."
"It has become a habit," said Quinn with a polite smile, "I will keep it in mind moving forward."
James smiled. "So, what brings you to the Ministry today?"
"I just got finished with my NEWTs, actually. The last one."
"Oh, right! I remember hearing that they were conducting the OWLs and NEWTs in the Ministry. I saw the Education Department guys running around— those guys are only used to taking care of WOMBAT in the Ministry."
Quinn nodded. The theory examiners/proctors were really prickly and nervous around the Hogwarts students; they were clearly not used to handling school students.
"Harry was bouncing on his feet when he got the official letter that his exams had been canceled. Even Ivy was relieved about having to give exams— I think Hermione psyched her out about the exams," laughed James.
He smiled and looked Quinn up and down, "So, done with Hogwarts, that's a big deal. I heard from Lily that you got made Head Boy, which means Dumbledore is going to sign that recommendation for you, and believe me, that really opened the doors— it did to the Auror Office for me.
What are your plans for the future, son?"
Quinn held back a groan. He wasn't sure James would want to even think about the word — 'son' — while anywhere near him if he knew that he was dating his daughter. Especially if he heard the exact of the relationship.
"I have an apprenticeship lined up, starting next year." As Quinn said that, a dong banged up in his head. 'Ah, shit! I need to write to Mr. Alan. . . well, he can wait a couple days; he's on a beach anyway.'
"Oh, in what? Charms, Transfiguration, Defense, or maybe Potions."
"Mind magic."
James was visibly surprised by Quinn's choice of further study. "You want to become a mind-healer?"
"No, nothing like that," said Quinn. "I live at the top of a massive conglomerate and thus a very valuable asset for anyone who would want to get their hand on my family wealth. It is imperative that my mind is well-protected for the sake of not only my family but also a sizeable population of the world."
James finally showed an expression of understanding, but then Quinn knew what the initial surprise was all about.
Mind magic, or at least, Occlumency, was an extremely valuable skill for anyone wanting to protect that mind, and it was perfectly justifiable to learn that skill, even excel in it, and admirable to become progressively better at it. But the other side of mind magic, which didn't delve into the protecting part, came with an attached stigma. People were naturally averse to the individual they knew could read their minds.
"But even without that, I would love to learn more about mind magic," said Quinn with an apologetic smile. "Getting to know my way around the inside and out of the mind is the first step to better know myself, don't you think."
Despite the attached stigma, Quinn didn't have any qualms about letting people know about his intentions to learn mind magic. Even if it was the father of his girlfriend. . . especially if it was the father of this girlfriend.
There was a silence between the two, so Quinn decided to change the topic. "I heard about the attack on the prison transport. Last I heard, the investigation was still ongoing. Has there been any new leads on that front?"
James shook his head with pursed lips. "I can not divulge any information; the investigation is still ongoing."
Quinn didn't need any facts. The Senior Auror's expression gave the not so unfavorable truth of the situation. It seemed the night raid had been a little too successful.
"Did the Dark Lord at least make an appearance?"
This time he did get an answer in the form of a compact shake of the head. Quinn had many more questions to ask, but it seemed that if he asked anything else, it would only serve to dull the Auror's mood.
"You know. . . I think you'd be a great fit in the Aurors Office," said James suddenly, his eyes shining as he stared at Quinn. "You said you're going to your apprenticeship next year, right? How about you gave being an Auror until then," he stepped closer, "I am sure you'll find it right up your alley, I will even make myself your mentor— don't underestimate being under a Senior Auror like myself; it comes with its ample perks— how about it!"
Quinn took a step back. The sudden burst of excitement was a little too sudden. He was even sure that he heard a mutter about this being enough for a promotion.
"Err. . . "
Before Quinn could say a single word in reply, a growling voice spoke from behind him.
"What is this Potter! The Auror Office hasn't fallen enough that it needs to act like a girl peacock spreading its plume for mating."
Quinn turned back and was found himself staring at an electric blue artificial magic eye on a scar-riddled face staring at him. He stared at the man well-named as Alaster "Mad-Eye" Moody. The man had one good eye, grizzly scars, and a chunk of his nose missing. The veteran Auror even had his other trademark, the wooden leg that looked like a vicious animal's claw.
"It's actually the male who has the plume, not the peahen. . . or the girl-peacock."
Quinn turned his eye to the young woman beside Alastor Moody. She had a pale heart-shaped face and dark twinkling eyes with short, spiky pink bubblegum hair, which, as Moody spoke, turned into waist-length violet locks with red accents.
"Bah! Peacock-Peahen! Whatever," said Moody grumpily. "The Auror Office should be the aim, the top of the mountain peak— not some roadside wench that you could pick up for a night and forget about the next."
"You're making it sound like I'm a prostitute," said James.
"You might as well be."
Quinn listened to the two talking with one ear, but his attention was focused on Moody's companion.
"What?" she asked.
"I'm Quinn West," he said. "You're Nymphadora Tonks."
Tonks narrowed her eyes, her red accent growing darker. "I go by Tonks, only Tonks. You know my name, so you must know. . ."
"Well, you aren't particularly hiding it."
When Quinn was in his first year, Tonks was in her seventh. At that time, they were in two different worlds, so he never had any interaction with Tonks— the most were walking by her in passing.
"So what? You want me to someone?"
Quinn shrugged, "Not really. I was just wondering if you do it some other way than I do it." His hair which was jet black to its roots, suddenly became more voluminous and took on a royal shade of blue.
Tonk's eyes widened, and the two bickering Aurors went silent. All three pairs of eyes turned to Quinn as he spoke to Tonks.
"Natural talents like yourself are fascinating to me," Quinn matched Tonk's hair color and even her slightly brightening skin tone as he spoke. "Is the process the same? Or are the abilities granted by nature itself somehow better than the ones created by us. . . . if I could somehow find about how that instinctual magic of yours work, I would be able to elevate my abilities."
"A-Are you a Metamorphmagus?"
"Not at all. It's just that copying what you do is not as hard as you think. Though I have to say, unlike you, I can't do it instinctually without thinking."
Moody's wooden leg clicked against the Ministry floor as he limped towards Quinn. His magical eye swirled at Quinn, taking him from top to bottom.
"Lad, are you lying about not being like the lass," asked Moody.
"Why would there be a need for me to lie," said Quinn, the color draining from his hair as they returned to their original jet black. "It serves me no good to hide something like this."
Moody hummed. He peered at Quinn as if trying to see through his secrets. He then backed away, but his eyes were still focused on Quinn.
"Well," Quinn clapped, "as much as I would like to talk to you, very interesting people, believe me, I would like to have some long conversations with all of you, but I have to leave for today— maybe some other time."
He nodded to James and then to Moody and Tonks before walking away.
"I take it back, Potter," said Moody.
"What?"
"If you can get that lad into the force, you can be a girl-peacock—"
"—just peacock."
"— I will whore myself out to the boy if I can get him to join the force."
Tonks and James looked surprised; they looked towards Quinn's shrinking back.
"That's surprising coming from you, Moody," said James.
"That lad never once took out his wand," said Moody, "and yet, he was able to do whatever Tonks could do— or at least a part of it. If he could do that without a wand, then just think what he could do with one. . . if what I am thinking is true, then we could be looking at a future Dumbledore—"
James sucked in a breath, and Tonks gasped.
"— or maybe another Dark Lord."
"Moody," James frowned, "isn't that too much?"
"He's a pureblood, correct?"
"So are both us, what does—"
"He's young and impressionable," Moody cut him off, "and unlike you, he wasn't part of a faction. He's a West, above from factions— but not detached from them— he could be pulled down into one. . . it's the question of which. . . . or maybe into something else."
Both of Moody's eyes stared at James, but there were no more words spoken. He turned to Tonks and grunted, "Come on, lass. We are going to the pits."
"Not the pits!"
James said a hasty goodbye to Moody and Tonks and ran to the Ministry entrance, and was lucky to catch up just at the entrance.
"Quinn!"
Quinn turned and saw James running towards him. "Yes?" he asked.
"Would you like to visit for dinner?"
". . . What?"
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Quinn West - MC - Top commodity
James Potter - Senior Auror - An invitation could be a start.
Alaster "Mad-Eye" Moody - Captain Auror - Semi-retired from active duty. Mentor to a special asset.
Nymphadora Tonks - Junior Auror - Metamorphmagus.
