A Taste of Magic

Chapter 60: 60th Course - Out in the Open

Dumbledore sat in his office, looking at the others within. On one side, Snape stood behind a sitting Draco that looked defiantly unbothered to be in his office, looking back with bored disdain. On the other side stood Igor Karkaroff and Olympe Maxime, Headmaster of Durmstrang and Headmistress of Beauxbatons respectively. Their emotions were much closer to the surface and open, a shared anger. McGonagall stood beside Dumbledore, looking upset and worried as well, something Snape reflected.

Finally a knock was heard and the door opened at a gesture from Dumbledore. Lucius was at the fore, looking plainly smug and satisfied, a curious expression. Who he was followed by surprised Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Snape.

"Quirinus?" Dumbledore asked, looking astonished. "You look…well." It was true. Quirrell looked oddly hale and hearty, slightly larger in stature compared to the last time Dumbledore saw him. He wore a slim dark green turban and though his skin was a touch pale, it was not pale from poor health. His eyes were a mix of red and brown, turning into a slightly unsettling auburn.

"Dumbledore," Quirrell replied, his stutter absent in his voice. "Good to see you as well. Severus, Minerva," he greeted his former fellow teachers. He nodded genially to Maxime but his eyes flashed when he looked at Karkaroff, something the other man noticed and was instantly put on guard.

"May I ask what you are doing here?" Dumbledore asked politely.

"Of course, but I would think it is obvious. I am here to aid my student in the Tournament," Quirrell said smoothly.

"So you are the Headmaster of this Sanguis Verus Academy?" Dumbledore hummed when Quirrell nodded. "A brand-new school then?"

"Yes, recently founded and established," Quirrell said.

"It does not matter that it was," Maxime said haughtily. "Your school was not invited into the Triwizard Tournament, how dare you insert one of yours into it?"

"I dare because I do," Quirrell said, somehow looking down on Maxime despite her towering over him. "Besides, there is precedent. Other schools have participated in the Tournament in the past."

Dumbledore had gone back and checked, shortly after discovering Draco's involvement. Quirrell was correct. In the past, smaller schools had taken part in the Tournament. "They are typically invited beforehand however," Dumbledore said diplomatically.

"Of course and we will make amends," Quirrell said negligently. "But the Goblet chooses the worthy and since our star student here was chosen, he has to compete."

"Perhaps you would like to explain how he is a star student of your newly found Academy?" McGonagall asked.

"Dual enrollment is hardly a rare thing," Quirrell said. "A multitude of students are enrolled in multiple magic schools."

"Yes, but enrolled does not mean attend and there is no proof that he has attended this Academy," McGonagall retorted.

"But there is." Quirrell handed a sheaf of parchment over. "You will find the correct school records here showing summer courses and other things to prove it. And they are all correct, legally and officially."

Dumbledore's eyebrows rose as he looked through the parchment. More than a few of the students listed were current Hogwarts students. "I must say that this is highly unusual and not fitting in the rules as posted by the governors."