The Birth of Quinn

It burned, it hurt but it was so worth it. Quirinus wrapped his arms around her tightly and joined her in crying. "I'm so so sorry mum! *sniff* I was just so ashamed, I wanted to make you proud of me and then it all went so terribly and-" he was interrupted by a kiss on his forehead. She lowered her head and with a steeled look responded. "I've always been proud of my little boy. You went into a world where I couldn't help you and became a teacher for future generations! You've impacted so many more lives than you probably think, why wouldn't I be proud of you son?"

Tears started leaking from his eyes again "Oh mum!" He wrapped his arms tighter around her again and they remained like that for a long while. Neither of them had noticed when the headmaster had left them, or even when Poppy left a new potion on the bedside table. Soon his voice broke the silence. "I've missed you mum. I've been too afraid to show my face for years due to shame but it has been eating me up inside that I haven't seen you, talked to you or hugged you in years. How did it come to this?"

His mother put a hand on his cheek and looked into his eyes. "It doesn't matter. You're back! We can be a family again! Albus even told me that you're going back to school, maybe this is just what you needed Quinnie? A chance to go back. A chance to redo what you regret. It's not perfect of course. I'm an old hag by now and your brother is going to be much older than you but-" 'Quinnie' placed his hand on top of hers. "You're no old hag. You're the prettiest woman I've ever seen mum, you always have been and always will be." He got a kiss on his cheek for the kind words and she laid her head on his chest.

"But you're right. I have a chance to redo many parts of my life. To live without regrets. I'll become the student I always should have been but most importantly, I'll become the son you deserve."

They moved a bed closer to his hospital bed and Queenie stayed the night close to her son as he recuperated. His sensitivity quickly went down from hugging his mother for hours and over the night, his skin lost its pink tone and looked a lot calmer, though still youthfully smooth. He woke up pleased. His mother had forgiven him, even said that she's always been proud of him! His senses are closer to normal and it seemed like his cuffs had been removed at some point during the night.

He looked around the room and saw that Albus and Poppy were nearby. Their talking was probably what awoke him to start with. He cleared his throat and got their attention. "So what's the plan here? I become my own brother. Any kind of backstory to cover why I haven't been at Hogwarts for the last few years and also why I haven't been heard of or seen in Britain at all?"

Albus was a bit surprised at the straightforwardness and determination clear in Quirinus' voice. That was something new, but pleasing all the same. With a smile he spoke "Yes, actually. A dear old friend of mine is at death's door over in the states. He was a bit of a loner the last few years so if you claim to be his apprentice nobody will be surprised you haven't been seen. You just need some knowledge of the southwestern region of America and you should be able to fool most that you were taught in his old shack."

He took a step closer. "He himself has agreed to cover for you but he wishes to meet you soon. Before then your mother must perform a naming ritual where she proclaims you as her third son under a different name, I'm guessing you'll be fine with that, madam?" He looked over to Queenie for those last words and she answered with a smile and nod.

With that, they got to it right away. Poppy gave him one last potion to temporarily dull his senses and they made their way down to the dungeons. Down there they met up with Snape who sneered at Quirinus but said nothing as they all walked into a ritual room. Albus cleared his throat. "Now. Severus will lead, oversee and perform the ritual. All I need from you two is that you sit down on your knees in the middle of the room and join hands."

They did as he asked and Snape got to it. He drew a couple of runes which Quirrell vaguely remembered that they represented birth, fertility and rebirth. Or something along those lines. When he was finished, he stood above them and began. "Repeat after me, Mrs. Quirrell." She nodded.

"I, then your full name, daughter of and here will be your father's name"

"I, Queenie Lucretia Quirrell, daughter of Quincy Rudolph Quirrell"

"Hereby declare the man in front of me my third son, in blood and magic."

"Hereby declare the man in front of me my third son, in blood and magic." Their hands started glowing and Quirinus felt his magic flow into his mother to substitute for her lack of it.

"He shall from this day forth be known as, and this is where you give him his name."

Queenie smiled at her son and without hesitation spoke with determination. "He shall from this day forth be known as Quinn Henry Quirrell."

Quirinus, now Quinn, opened his eyes in surprise at the middle name. Snape just continued. "So mote it be."

"So mote it be." And with that, his magic poured right back into him and the glowing stopped. His mother leaned in and hugged him. "Henry huh?" She nodded. "Yes, I heard of your saviour and figured you'd want to honour him." She neglected to mention the fact that her nickname for him, Quinnie would still work with the new name.

Albus clapped in excitement. "Well done. And a good way of honouring the little boy if I do say so myself. Even if you can't tell him until he's much older of course." Quinn let go of his mother and nodded to the headmaster. He figured as much. The boy probably shouldn't know that the same person who tried to kill him this year will be going to school with him next year. Even if the past version was possessed, the boy doesn't need the kind of worry that could cause him.

He stood up and helped his mother to her feet. "Now what Albus? I believe I have to travel to America, and fast if that man truly is at death's door. What was his name?"

Dumbledore led everyone out of the room and spoke as they climbed the stairs. "His name is Shikoba Wolfe and he's a rather famous wand maker over there. Oh, speaking of which.." Quinn saw him bring out something from his cloak and was devastated as he saw what it was. It was his wand, but it was charred and broken in three pieces. He accepted the pieces as they got up to the main hall, without Snape who didn't leave his dungeons.

Albus nodded and patted him on his shoulder. "The use of dark magic had already severely wounded your unicorn core, your 'death' was the final stroke. I found it like that next to your body when I came down there."

Quinn sighed but then he remembered what was just said. "But Albus! The man who will be my alleged tutor was a wand maker! If I get a wand from him as well, it'll help sell the story." Albus grumbled and stroked his beard. "Indeed it will. We must make haste in case he wishes to create a new one for you specifically. Who will come with you?" He looked over to Queenie who protectively grabbed onto Quinn's arm making it clear she would come along. He chuckled.

"Alright then. The three of us will leave in two hours. Poppy, could you hand him a couple of spare potions in case anything comes up?" She just nodded and hurried out of the room.

A moment later, professor Flitwick came into the room absolutely elated. "Fascinating! FASCINATING!" He almost jumped around Quinn as he stared with interest. "I'll gladly have you back in our house next year..what is your name now?" Quinn smiled at his old head of house's excitement over unexplained magic. "I'm Quinn. I will join the fifth year but-" Flitwick interrupted him "But will not take every class since you will get your OWLs and NEWTs approved at the ministry during the summer. Yes I know. It'll be hard not to call you Quirinus but maybe I better stick to last names around you" the small professor laughed and it was infectious enough for the Quirrells to join in.

"Maybe that's for the best. We must pretend to have never met before after all. It's a shame I can't go back to being prefect though, I wish I could do a better job this time around." He started chuckling but Flickwick looked at Albus in confusion. "Haven't you told him?" Dumbledore shook his head. "Haven't had the time. Take him down to Hogsmeade and explain his new duties on the way. I do think he'll need some new clothes for his trip to America. Make sure to introduce him to the people around there as Quinn though."

Flitwick grabbed his hand and started dragging him along before stopping. "And you Mrs. Quirrell. Would you like to come along?" With a bit of bounce in her steps, despite wearing heels, she caught up to them.