Chapter 234: The Date: First Half

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On the morning of the Sunday, a big herd of Hogwarts dressed particularly carefully. They arrived at the great hall that smelled of delicious house-elf-cooked food like it did every morning, but today, there was something different in the air.

"Looove's in the air," said Marcus sitting opposite to his two best friends, a grin splitting his face.

Quinn looked up from his newspaper. "Is that teasing that I detect? That's rare for you."

"Look at you both, dressed so sharply," Marcus glanced at Quinn. "Even you're dressed sharply for your standards."

Eddie was dressed in his white-and-yellow jumped and black pants. While Quinn put on a green sweater over a white shirt and tie above grey checkered pants.

"That's obvious. I have a date to hit out of the park. I need to dress the part," said Eddie, his chin high and arms crossed.

"It's a gentleman's duty to be dressed appropriately when he's escorting a lady," Quinn repeated the wise words from a certain butler back home. "What are you going to do today? Any plans for your lonesome today?"

Marcus took out an envelope from his robes. "I'm going to a party."

"A party? Today? I don't recall there being a party today," said Eddie.

"That's because you're not invited," Marcus lightly waved the invitation in his hand.

"What's the party about?" asked Quinn. Even he didn't know about this party, and he usually got an invite to everything.

"It's a tea party, but instead of tea, they're going to serve hot chocolate."

Eddie and Quinn looked at each other and communicated with a couple of discreet wiggles and eye movements.

"The host.. . it's Luna, isn't it?" said Eddie.

Marcus nodded.

"Who else is coming?"

"Me, Luna, Astoria," said Marcus, and Quinn nodded, foreseeing the answer, "and Madam Pomfrey."

Eddie did a spit take, and a forkful of broccoli slipped down on Quinn's plate as he stared incredulously.

"I thought it'd be safe if we had a faculty member nearby in case Umbridge decided to vulture around," said Marcus, "so after some discussion, we decided to hold it in the back part of the hospital wing with Madam Pomfrey," he looked Quinn, "I exploited your relation with her to be allowed to set up the hot chocolate party in THE hospital wing, so thank you for that."

"You didn't ask me for permission."

Marcus waved Quinn's query off. "Don't sweat the small stuff."

Ever since DA had begun its operation, Marcus had taken it upon himself to maintain the group's secrecy. In every DA representative meet, Marcus stressed that the members needed to be very strict regarding the mention of DA outside the Room of Requirements. It was no secret that he didn't like Umbridge and what she represented, so he did everything he could to make sure DA remained a secret only known to the members and no one else. His efforts had been paying dividends as DA had remained a secret; there wasn't even a whisper of a rumor about a secret group operating in Hogwarts.

"Eddie."

The voice brought a smile to Eddie's face. He got up and hopped onto his feet under the gaze of his two grinning friends.

"Ready to have fun," he asked.

Tracey Davis nodded. "I am. I hope you have a fun day planned."

"I have the first part of the day planned out," said Eddie, "I hope you have your own half planned out. I have great expectations."

For their date today, Tracey and Eddie had divided the day into two halves. The first half was taken by Eddie, while Tracey took the latter half.

"Mine is going to be better than yours," said Tracey.

Eddie chuckled, "If you believe that, then you don't know me. I'm really competitive," he jutted his chin towards Quinn and Marcus, "ask them, they will tell you."

Quinn and Marcus nodded.

"Then I must tell you that I am called the Slytherin's queen of fun," said Tracey.

Eddie opened his mouth but was hit by a grape. He looked at Quinn, "What?" he asked.

"Quit while things are going good," said Quinn, "no need to put an ax to your foot."

"Quinn, you should also get going. Daphne's waiting for you," said Tracey.

"Oh my, she's already there," Quinn put down his utensils. A bluish-green glow scoured his hands clean, "well then, can't make her wait, can we."

- (Scene Break) -

Daphne Greengrass stood a little to the side of the oak front doors, looking pretty with her long flowing hair, attracting a lot of eyes from the people gathered in the entrance hall, waiting to be allowed to exit the castle to go Hogsmeade. Daphne was one of the most beautiful girls in the school; even with the reputation that had gained her the moniker of Ice Queen, she was one of the most sought after girls in Hogwarts — having to face many confessions and offers to go out on dates — the rejections, cold as ice as the rejectees had known to describe, were a part of why she had gained the moniker. It fit. Daphne, the plant, her namesake, were entirely poisonous, especially the colorful berries they produced.

Many Hogwarts students preferred to stay in their school uniforms throughout the day despite the rules allowing casual clothing after classes. So today, Daphne Greengrass dressed in casual clothing further enhanced the blonde's attractiveness.

Daphne was minding her business, internally all agog about today, when a large gang of Slytherin girls passed them, including Pansy Parkinson.

"Greengrass," screeched Pansy to a chorus of snide giggles. "Alone today, I see. Where is Davis? Usually, she buzzes around you like a fly. Oh, I remember; isn't she going out today with that blockhead Carmichael. I thought she would develop a sense of refined taste in your company, but it seems I was wrong," she snickered at the end.

"You wouldn't know refined if it was staring you in your face, Parkinson," said Daphne in a calm, leveled voice. "Why don't you and your cackle stand a distance away from me. I don't want to catch anything."

Pansy turned up her nose in scorn. She was always like this, treating others as if they were people were beneath her. She snorted and turned away, searching if Draco had arrived.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

"I haven't been waiting for long."

"You look absolutely stunning today."

"Thank you. I like your sweater; green suits you."

"Ah, before I forget. I got a gift for you. Just a little something I thought you'd like."

"You didn't have to.. ."

The conversation behind tugged on Pansy's ears. For one, she was curious who it was, curious about the pair, who were clearly about to go out on a date on Valentine's day. But the second, more pressing reason that pushed her brows to her hairline was that her ears identified the second voice as that of Daphne.

Pansy turned, and the sight made her fly open wide as her breath caught. The voice she recognized was indeed Daphne, but it was the other person that lit the burning sensation in the chest or stomach.

Why was it always her? Why did everyone choose her, even though she was always so obnoxious and arrogant. Was it because of her looks? Did the vixen's charm ensnare even the one who almost every girl in Hogwarts sought after?

"I was recently working with crystalline solids when I came across a mix that reminded me of your eyes," said Quinn West, with a smile capable of making hearts flutter. In his hands was a blue lotus made entirely from an electric blue crystal radiating a glimmering shimmer.

"It's gorgeous," said Daphne, her eyes entranced by the things of beauty in her hands.

"I'm glad you liked it. How about you try giving it a tap from your wand."

Daphne glanced up, her electric blues searching for an explanation while her hand went to her wand.

"Take the flower in your left hand and give it a tap."

Daphne did so, and the moment her wand tip touched the crystal flower, it broke into dozens of tiny cherry-blossom-shaped petals, all tricking down Daphne's fingers, through her palm and the back of her hand, arriving at her wrist, where the united back to form a crystal wrist ring band, gracing her wrist with a mesmerizing electrifying blue.

"Do you like it?"

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Daphne wordlessly nodded. In that moment, Daphne thought this was the most exquisite piece of jewellery she had seen — even more enchanting than the pieces in her mother's collection that Daphne had wanted for herself.

"That's great!" said Quinn, sighing a relieved breath. "I was worried it might be too flashy for your tastes."

"Tch, show-off little shit making others life difficult." Quinn turned to see that it was Eddie who had muttered the words under his breath.

Quinn beamed, "Thank you for your generous compliments."

Eddie's face contorted as if he had sucked on a lime. "Oh, you smug bugger jac—"

"I am back," the sudden arrival of Tracy halted Eddie's mouth as he greeted her with a smile.

"It's nothing. I was just asking Quinn if he could make me one of those," said Eddie pointing at Daphne's wrist, "I thought it would look good on you."

Tracey's eyes turned to eggs as she beelined to Daphne and joined her in admiring the ring band.

"Daphne, it looks fabulous on you," she said. "Quinn gave it to you?"

"Yes."

"I am envious."

"So am I," muttered Eddie, shooting glare beams at Quinn, who wiggled his brows — I'm pure awesome, they seem to say.

"Okay, ladies, it's time for us to leave," said Quinn, "I just saw Filch limp, so we should probably line up, stay ahead of the crowd."

It was not only Pansy Parkinson who had witnessed the scene. Many eyes had chanced upon the fascinating crystal lotus, its receiver, and the one who had gifted it.

All it took was one domino tile to be tipped over for the complex domino sequence known as the Hogwarts rumor mill to grapevine a piece of gossip. It started from the queue of people being signed out by Filch talking about it, spreading to friends who had come to embarrass the new couples going on their dates, expanding to everyone in the great hall one door away, and it was only time when everyone would know about the blue lotus made from crystal —

That was if it was called the Hogwarts fact mill; alas, the Hogwarts rumor mill was a different creature. Just in a few exchanges along the great grapevine, the blue crystal lotus had turned into a blue sapphire lotus, and another few links after, the news was that Quinn West had gifted Daphne a rare blue diamond lotus.

Unbeknownst to them, Hogwarts had crafted a love saga with Daphne and Quinn as the central characters. They were busy getting started with their date.

Quinn smiled as he stepped out of the castle, and the fresh air reached him, finding it somehow easier to walk even with all the students crowding the path. It was a fresh, breezy sort of day, perfect to go down to the village and have fun.

"So, Daphne," he said, "what do you want to do first? I was thinking that we should start with some Hogsmeade shopping. Buy things we need. What do you think?"

"That would be fine with me."

"Excellent, then where should we go first?"

"We can shrink most things, so the order won't matter. Do you have one of those pockets of yours? Yes, good, then we won't need to have anything delivered. I think we should start with Ceridwen's Cauldrons.. ."

The subject of how to start the day carried them all the way down the drive and out through the gates. Quinn was again reminded how easy it was to talk to Daphne, no more difficult, in fact, than talking to Eddie and Marcus. He didn't need to check his words or lead her in conversations; it was delightful.

They wandered toward Dervish and Banges. A large poster had been stuck up in the window, and a few Hogsmeaders were looking at it. They moved aside when Quinn and Daphne approached, and Harry found himself staring once more at the ten colored pictures of the escaped Death Eaters. The poster ("By Order of the Ministry of Magic") offered a thousand-Galleon reward to any witch or wizard with information relating to the recapture of any of the convicts pictured.

"It's funny, isn't it," said Daphne in a low voice, also gazing up at the pictures of the Death Eaters. "Remember when that Peter Pettigrew escaped, and there were dementors all over Hogsmeade looking for him? And now ten Death Eaters are on the loose, and there aren't dementors anywhere. . ."

"Yes, it's indeed strange," said Quinn. "It seems they are indeed out of the Ministry's control," he said in a whisper.

Only a very select few in the Ministry and the DMLE were aware that the dementors were no longer under the control of the Ministry. Others outside the Ministry knew the truth of the situation, but none wanted this news to get out — no one in the right mind wanted to leak the news and incite mass panic. The official party line for everybody was that the Aurors Office had deployed to their full capability to catch the escapees.

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The ten escaped Death Eaters and the other escapee were staring out of every shop window Quinn and Daphne passed. It started to rain, but fortunately, they had arrived at Scrivenshaft Quill Shop.

"Let's go inside," said Quinn, pulling Daphne inside the shop.

Daphne briefly glanced up the shop sign, recalling the Ministry Christmas Ball when she was the first year — Quinn had introduced his family as the owner of Scrivenshaft Quill Shop, which had confused her for a long time, and only later did she find out the truth later from her mother and then some from her father.

Quinn walked into the lively stationary supply shop slash printing solution shop. The shop had changed much through the year, the most change coming after last year with Quinn's Lunar developer putting color into literally everything. Before Lunar developer, Scrivenshaft wasn't as colorful as it is now. Right now, every corner of the shop was flushed with color.

"There's no one at the front desk," said Daphne.

Quinn turned his eyes away from the shop and pointed at the bell. "Ring it, Ben will come out."

Daphne pressed the button, and the ring chimed clear and loud around the shop. Quinn and Daphne glanced up at the ceiling, hearing hurried steps rush on the second floor, travel down the stairs, and the back busted open, and a baby-faced young man slid into the room.

"W-Welcome to Scrivenshaft. How.. . What can I do for you today?" said the man before in one breath, and only after did he lookup. "Mr. W-West, you are here! D-Did you say that you would be visiting," the man seemed to have a nervous breakdown.

Quinn smiled. "Good morning, Ben. Please, calm down, take a deep breath, and relax."

Ben Sapworthy, the current manager of Scrivenshaft, the successor to Gary, who had moved up to the position of Head of Silver Moon Printing MagiTech. (Chapter 152)

"Y.. . Yes."

After Ben calmed down, he welcomed them again and asked how he could help them.

"We are here to get some school supplies," said Quinn, then turning to his companion. "This is my friend Daphne Greengrass and Daphne, this is Ben Sapworthy; he's the one who prints the AID notes and cards. He also designed a good amount last year for the Quidditch Tournament."

Daphne Greengrass gracefully curtsied that Ben returned clumsily.

"Daphne, if you have any stationery and printing needs, you can write to Ben, and he will help you out,' Quinn turned to Ben. "If she writes to you, please make a priority and apply the 'me' discount."

"Yes, of course. Daphne Greengrass. Understood."

After the short rain ended, they exited the shop, leaving behind Ben to relax.

"He was.. . fidgety," said Daphne.

Quinn nodded, "He will need to work on that aspect."

"It might not be my place to ask, but may I ask why?"

"Why is he in charge? Ben Sapworthy might be a nervous wreck, but the reason he's in charge is because of his art and design skills. He can draw and design like it's no one else's business. His skill as an artist speaks for itself. The reason he's there is so that he can do his work in peace away from the rush and bustle of the Alley-named market."

They walked across Hogsmeade, and while walking, shopping, and talking, they somehow made their way to a side road in front of a small tea shop. It was a cramped, steamy little place where everything seemed to have been decorated with frills or bows.

"Do you want to go in?" he asked.

The sign above the shop said —

「Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop」

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Quinn West - MC - Added crystal jewellery making into his resume.

Daphne Greengrass - Ice Queen - Has broken many weights.

Ben Sapworthy - Scrivenshaft - Magical Artist.

FictionOnlyReader - Author - The trailer to The Secrets of Dumbledore is going to come out on Monday. Hyped! Going to miss Depp. But excited for Mikkelsen

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