A magical journey that begins at Hogwarts

Hermione sighed softly, glared at Aaron with her red eyes, then picked up the bulging bottle and took a big gulp.

Chapter 86 This mirror...something's not right.

After drinking the potion from the small bottle, Harry and Aaron felt a chill run through their bodies.

But the effect was clearly good; they felt nothing as they passed through the layer of black flames, as if the flames didn't exist.

The two walked through a long corridor and arrived at the last room.

There are no mechanisms here, only the Mirror of Erised, and a person is standing in front of the mirror.

However, it wasn't Professor Snape, nor was it the mysterious man, but rather Professor Quirrell, the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.

Harry saw the face of the person with their back to them through the reflection in the mirror and stared in astonishment, his mouth agape.

"It's you?

No, that can't be, it's Snape, it's him.

"How many times have I told you?" Aaron shook his head, rubbing his forehead in exasperation. "It wasn't Professor Snape, it wasn't Professor Snape, but you never believed me."

Now, the facts speak louder than words, and you have no choice but to believe them.

Professor Quirrell turned around, his face displaying a coldness that was completely unlike his usual demeanor.

"I never expected to run into you here, Potter."

What I didn't expect was the unexpected bonus: Aaron Gaius.

"Um... Should I feel honored at this moment? After all, not just anyone can come into Voldemort's sights."

"Voldemort?" Harry paused, staring at Professor Quirrell in astonishment. "You're saying he's Voldemort?"

"Of course not, Professor Quirrell is just a poor wretch who has been possessed."

However, it must have been his own choice. Although the Dark Lord was barely clinging to life, it was undeniable that he possessed vast resources and could bestow upon ordinary people the things they most desired.

Money, lifespan, knowledge, strength, or...power.

“I suddenly understand why Master values ​​you so much.” Quirrell burst into laughter. “But how did you know?”

Shouldn't we normally be suspicious of Snape like Harry Potter?

After all, he didn't seem like a good person, and he often made things difficult for Gryffindor, while Professor Quirrell was just a stuttering, cowardly fellow who could barely speak properly.

"I have a magical animal that is particularly sensitive to certain cold and dark atmospheres."

You hid it well, but you were too weak, which inevitably revealed a flaw.

It was a Defense Against the Dark Arts class, and my pet keenly sensed something that disgusted it.

I hadn't paid it any mind at first, but by sheer coincidence, I caught a glimpse of murderous intent in your eyes.

Compared to my peers, I'm quite worldly-wise, but the look in your eyes still sends chills down my spine.

Imagine, how could someone who is timid and stutters and trembles when they speak possibly have that kind of look in their eyes?

You have definitely killed people, and more than one.

I've suspected you ever since.

clap clap clap!

Professor Quirrell clapped his hands and said, "That's beautiful, but isn't this just a suspicion?"

"It was suspicion, but that look in your eyes alone was enough for me to conclude that you were not a good person."

In addition, after the Forbidden Forest incident, Professor Snape and Professor Dumbledore both approached me, but those were both for official business and had certain reasons.

Only you, the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, actually wanted to keep me behind for a private talk, with the excuse of guiding my studies—it's obviously made up on the spot.

“That makes sense, doesn’t it?” Quirrell said, his face grim. “Isn’t it common for teachers to show more favoritism to outstanding students?”

“It’s reasonable, but at that time I had already labeled you as a ‘bad guy’.”

I just injured that man in black robes in the Forbidden Forest, and now a professor from the academy, with whom I usually have almost no interaction, wants to mentor me. It's hard not to have all sorts of wild thoughts!

In addition to these, there's the scar on Harry Potter's forehead, the life-sustaining unicorn blood, the Philosopher's Stone that grants immortality, and a terrifying but elusive black-robed figure.

Connecting these points, we can barely draw the conclusion that you are Voldemort's possessed being.

Upon hearing this, Professor Quirrell lowered his head with a somber expression and remained silent.

Harry pursed his lips, feeling both bewildered and suddenly enlightened.

“What about Professor Snape? He cursed my broom on the Quidditch pitch.”

"this..."

Just as Aaron was about to explain, Quirrell suddenly spoke up: "Actually, I wanted to harm you. Snape was reciting a spell to break the curse."

"If your friend Miss Granger hadn't come over and lit the fire, blocking my view, I would have killed you in half a minute at most."

"Do you understand now?" Aaron glanced at the dazed Harry and said, "Our Slytherin Headmaster wanted to save you, but you've been wrongly accused for most of the semester. You owe him an apology."

Harry nodded blankly. "But I always feel like he hates me."

"Of course he hates you, but the reason he hates you is because of your father. He never wanted you to die."

I knew you were a threat from the start, especially after Halloween.

I released the troll to lure everyone away, thinking I could succeed, but Dumbledore's magic stopped me.

Then Snape came knocking. He was more perceptive than anyone else; he suspected me, intimidated me, and even threatened me...

But he didn't understand that his threats were completely useless, because I am not alone. Professor Quirrell turned to look at the Mirror of Erised, his eyes filled with greed. "What is this mirror for?"

I saw my desire, and I offered the Philosopher's Stone to my master, but how did I obtain it?

“What you see may not be the truth.” Aaron shrugged. “This challenge was designed by Dumbledore. He’s an old man who’s very shrewd; his wisdom is definitely not simple.”

"Hmph! At worst, I'll just smash this mirror."

I have plenty of time. By the time Dumbledore returns from London, I'll have already taken the Philosopher's Stone and flown far away.

"You can try it. Maybe you won't get anything by breaking this mirror."

"Make use of these two children."

A hoarse voice echoed in the room. Professor Quirrell suddenly turned to look at the two of them and shouted sternly, "You two, come here."

Aaron and Harry exchanged a glance and slowly stepped forward.

“Look in this mirror and tell me what you see?”

The two stared at the mirror, not particularly nervous, as it wasn't their first time looking into the Mirror of Erised and they had some experience.

Suddenly, Dumbledore's image appeared in the otherwise ordinary mirror.

He held a blood-red stone in his hand, scanning back and forth between Aaron and Harry in the mirror, finally stopping on Aaron.

Aaron's face looked grim in the mirror. He waved his hands repeatedly, signaling him to hand the Philosopher's Stone to Harry.

But in the end, he couldn't resist the elderly man's insistence and let him put the things in his pocket.

Harry paused for a moment, then glanced instinctively at Aaron's pocket and noticed it was bulging considerably. He immediately realized where the Philosopher's Stone was.

"Well?" Professor Quirrell asked. "What did you see? Tell me quickly."

Harry was startled, but after realizing he couldn't give himself away, he immediately said, "I saw myself shaking hands with Dumbledore, and I also won the House Cup."

Quirrell rolled his eyes, shoved him aside, and stared intently at Aaron. "And you? What did you see?"

“How is this possible?

"I saw myself offer the Philosopher's Stone to the Dark Lord, and then decades later I inherited his legacy and became the third Dark Lord." Aaron spouted nonsense with a straight face, his acting superb, coupled with a look of astonishment on his face, but in his heart he was cursing Dumbledore to the core.

Damn it! You cunning old fox!

It was intentional, that old bastard definitely did it on purpose.

In order to protect Harry, they actually pushed him, a Slytherin, out as a shield.

However, it won't be that easy to get me hooked.

"Master, this..." Professor Quirrell asked hesitantly, "What should we do?"

“One of them is definitely lying, or both of them are lying.” A sharp voice came from behind Quirrell. “Let me talk to them.”

"But Master, your strength is not enough."

"enough."

Quirrell removed the purple headscarf from his head and then turned to face the two of them.

Where there should have been the back of a head, there was an extra human face.

Through the Mirror of Erised, Harry could see it very clearly. He had never seen such a hideous and terrifying face in the forbidden section. It was like a demon crawling out of hell.

"I thought you were at least somewhat human, but it seems I was wrong," Aaron said with some emotion.

“Long time no see, Aaron Gaius,” Voldemort said meaningfully. “This is our first real meeting, though it may not be very good.”

"It's not very good."

“I need the Philosopher’s Stone to reshape a body, and you can do me that,” Voldemort said meaningfully.

Harry's heart skipped a beat. Could Voldemort have found out where the Philosopher's Stone was?

He shook his head at Aaron with a complicated expression, silently praying that Aaron wouldn't go astray.

Aaron smiled nonchalantly, and under the other's astonished gaze, took a red stone from his pocket. "You want this thing, don't you?"

Chapter 87 I Don't Want This Hot Potato

“Of course.” Voldemort looked at the red gem in Aaron’s hand through the mirror, his voice full of temptation. “Give it to me, and I can give you anything you want.”

"Heh!" Aaron chuckled dismissively. "I'm very sorry, but it seems I don't have anything I want."

Or rather, you can't give me what I want.

"Hahaha!" Voldemort laughed loudly. "As expected of Slytherin, just like I used to be, ambitious."

"Stop giving me that nonsense. Everyone has ambition, it's just a matter of degree." Aaron fiddled with the magic stone. "To be honest, I don't want to give this to you."