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Chapter 301: The Story of Quirinus Quirrell
Chapter 301: The Story of Quirinus Quirrell
The harsh winter was retreating from Devon in March, and with the rising temperatures, the snow began to melt, giving way to muddy grounds sprouting with new growth, signaling the land's resurgence to life.
Without warning, a young man clad in a windbreaker appeared, carelessly trampling the tender sprouts back into the soil. He strode towards a nearby house, his footsteps crunching in the mud.
The creak of the house's door breaking the silence as it was pushed open.
"Seems like I'll need to find time for some repairs," the young man muttered to himself. He made his way directly to the kitchen, hung his damp windbreaker on a rack by the fireplace, and withdrew his wand from his pocket, using it to rekindle the fire.
A small black snake slithered out of the young man's windbreaker pocket and coiled itself near the fireplace to soak in the warmth.
It wasn't yet time for snakes to awaken from their winter slumber, but the young man had little choice, as he preferred possessing snakes over rats.
This young man was named Quirinus Quirrell, or Professor Quirrell as he was known to his students. He had recently returned to Britain after a globetrotting journey and was now preparing to apply for the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
This time, however, Quirrell was not alone. He had returned with a companion.
Or rather, a snake with a dark secret.
The being that possessed the snake had gone by many names: He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, the Dark Lord, or...Voldemort.
Yes, the infamous Voldemort.
Out of respect and feigned allegiance, Quirrell referred to him as Master, a term used by the Death Eaters when addressing the Dark Lord.
Although Quirrell wasn't particularly fond of this subservient title, he needed to appear respectful, at least on the surface.
At this moment, Quirrell was diligently learning more magical techniques from Voldemort, determined to never again become a laughing stock.
Seated in an armchair, gazing into the flickering flames of the fireplace, he sipped his tea. The fire danced in his eyes, reflecting his turbulent emotions.
Everything had changed.
Once a meek and bullied student at Hogwarts, Quirrell had grown tired of his weakness and the constant ridicule he endured. He had vowed to transform himself and make everyone take notice.
Soon after graduating, Quirrell had aspired to become the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, aware that many feared the position due to the rumored curse, but he considered it nonsense. He believed he could overcome the supposed curse and prove his worth.
However, Dumbledore had not immediately accepted Quirrell's request, instead suggesting he gain more life experience by traveling the world, and then return to discuss the position further.
During his global adventures, Quirrell developed an interest in Dark Magic, purely from a theoretical perspective at first. But he soon realized how absurd his theoretical understanding was, just like his former fantasy of becoming a feared dark wizard.
Eventually, Quirrell began to fantasize about tracking down Voldemort and learning more magical techniques from him.
He altered his travel plans and ventured into the forests of Albania, where Voldemort was rumored to be hiding, although no one could confirm if this was true.
To Quirrell's surprise, he did encounter the legendary Voldemort, who was currently forced to inhabit small rodents, greatly weakened and far from his former glory.
Quirrell found the situation utterly ridiculous, but he also realized that his fantasy of meeting Voldemort might lead to an opportunity to learn more magic. When Voldemort attempted to recruit him to the dark side, Quirrell proposed a deal: he would help Voldemort restore his body in exchange for magical tutelage.
As expected, Voldemort agreed to this transaction.
Quirrell's ego swelled at the thought of manipulating the infamous Dark Lord, believing that he could control and manipulate Voldemort.
With the Dark Lord's superior magical skills, Quirrell was certain he could become a powerful wizard who would make everyone take notice. He was tired of being insignificant, tired of being looked down upon and mocked. He yearned to become an admired figure, like Dumbledore and Voldemort themselves.
As for Voldemort, this downtrodden Dark Lord would merely be a pawn to be discarded at will, or even handed over to Dumbledore when the time was right.
During their travels, Voldemort indeed taught Quirrell numerous magical techniques, but to Quirrell's dismay, he could only master a fraction of them. Nonetheless, these skills were sufficient to make him a formidable wizard.
Voldemort remained with Quirrell as he continued his journey around the world.
Occasionally, they would engage in conversations, and while Quirrell dismissed most of Voldemort's words as nonsense, he had to admit that some of his points held a grain of truth.
There was no inherent good or evil in the world, and the label of 'Dark Lord' was merely a consequence of employing violent means in the pursuit of power.
Voldemort saw nothing wrong with his actions, believing that the weak and powerless were simply incompetent, and that incompetence was a sin.
This sentiment resonated with Quirrell.
Voldemort promised that once he gained control of the Ministry of Magic, he would reward Quirrell with a position of power for helping him regain his body.
That promise had tempted Quirrell, for with Voldemort as his patron, everything would change.
From that point on, Quirrell accepted Voldemort's guidance and carried out his commands. He couldn't deny that he had learned a great deal from the dark wizard's unique perspective and methods.
Voldemort also shared secret information with Quirrell, including the fact that the legendary alchemist Nicolas Flamel was still alive and that the Philosopher's Stone, capable of granting eternal life, existed.
He told Quirrell that he needed that stone to ensure his immortality, and in return, Quirrell would be rewarded with a substantial amount of gold.
With Voldemort's assistance, Quirrell spent a considerable amount of time searching for Flamel, finally locating him in Paris, France. However, Flamel seemed to sense their scrutiny and remained hidden in a safe house, evading their grasp.
Soon, Dumbledore arrived on the scene, and Quirrell dared not reveal himself, instead opting to control Muggles to keep watch on Flamel's residence while he remained in the shadows.
But Quirrell's frustration only grew as, once again, Flamel disappeared without a trace with Dumbledore's help.
It took a great deal of effort for Quirrell and Voldemort to find another lead. They discovered that Flamel had settled in Devon, his home protected by the Fidelius Charm, making it impossible for them to locate him. The Secret-Keeper, they learned, was none other than Dumbledore.
Quirrell had been monitoring Flamel's house for quite some time, occasionally spotting Dumbledore visiting his old friend.
Flamel had also become aware of Quirrell's presence, though he couldn't pinpoint who it was.
As Quirrell and Voldemort contemplated their next move regarding the Philosopher's Stone, the situation took another turn. They learned through the interrogation of a goblin that the stone might be stored in Gringotts Wizarding Bank.
Stealing the stone from Gringotts would be no easy feat, and Quirrell had to ascertain the veracity of this information, as Dumbledore was already aware of the stone's pursuers and likely had countermeasures in place.
Moreover, the security at Gringotts was notoriously tight, and very few wizards had ever succeeded in stealing from the bank and escaping unscathed.
Quirrell sadly realized that he lacked the capability to pull off such a heist, and Voldemort seemed to concur, focusing on training him to become a competent accomplice. (End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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