so keep your head up, my love

Lily raised an eyebrow at Quinn, questioning the motives behind the quickness of his response before motioning for him to follow her. “–I guess he has been a bit off, but yeah, he does have a reason to be…” she replied, not about to divulge all of her worries with a near stranger, as genuine as he seemed. “Notice anything particularly unusual though?”

He fell into step, determined to keep up with Lily. “I mean, it’s weird —- it wasn’t really a gradual thing. He was cool with me one day, and then the next, it seems like everything I, or anyone else in our dorm does annoys the hell outta’ him. Except Nate.” Quinn shrugged, “I dunno. Rough times, right? Can’t blame anyone for being a little off.” He didn’t want to raise any alarms, not when Lily was likely already worried enough about her family. 

“–yeah, that’d be great if you don’t mind. Don’t you room with James?”

“I don’t!!” Quinn rubbed the back of his neck, having answered a little too quickly, “I mean, I don’t mind. Yeah, I do. He’s been acting kinda’ off lately, by the way? I dunno, less... friendly? Not that he doesn’t have a reason to or anything, but... yeah.” 

“Hey, you seen my brothers around lately? I have things for them, from our mum. Kind of important.”

“Lily, I —- I, uh, no. Sorry. But I could help you look, if you want?”

Of all nights, this was the one she needed it the most. Molly had spent at least ten minutes staring down at the firewhiskey bottle in her hand before she lifted it to her lips, eyes growing teary she dropped it back down to her lap. “Fuck. I can’t do it.”

Quinn frowned in concern. “You, uh, you alright, Molly?”

“Hey, can someone pass me that letter that says, ‘To my favourite loser.’? That’s mine.”

“Oh my–! This is so not allowed! Who’s party is this? Tell me right now.”

“I don’t... really know, sorry. I don’t know people who throw parties.” Though, apparently, nowadays they knew him.

It had been a night, one where finding her sister had not been easy when it usually wasn’t supposed to be this hard. Her extended family was as per usual causing quite the uproar and it left Lucy to pick up the pieces – not that she minded. Still, tonight her sister was her priority, why? Molly Weasley wasn’t drinking. What was wrong with her? In the middle of looking for her at the party ( which was quite the dirty event ) her body collided into Quinn McCarty’s, someone she was relieved to see though he didn’t seem to be relieved to see her. Or anyone. Looking around the scene, finally coming into it, clearly Lucy could see why with the cult like chanting for the boy in front of her. “Courageous Quinn!! Courageous Quinn!!” Bloody hell, she needed to find Molly. 

Quinn executed a shrug, as if to say, ‘well —- Lucy said, so,’ at the bunch of kids when they gawked between her and him questioningly. Though, by her second demand, they had scattered anyways. “Uhh, thanks. Really,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “That all was kind of... embarrassing, actually. Sorry, Luce.” He nodded once, “you did save my butt back there, so yes, I owe you one.” Retiring to bed could wait for awhile, he supposed. “Any idea where she could be?” 

“I wasn’t trying —- I didn’t mean to —- I, I’m not a,” Quinn blew out a inaudible sigh. It, too, was promptly drowned out by the crowd like the rest of his attempts at an explanation. I’m not a hero, that’s what he wanted to say. He’d tried telling people before, and they took it as some form of gallant humbleness. He wasn’t courageous. He was just Quinn. Amicable, easy going, flying under the radar Quinn. Never causing trouble, never sticking out in any shape or form. It occurred to him that more than half of these people hadn’t even known his name until the hostage situation. Still stunned by the ambushing, he didn’t notice the girl approaching him.