The Bard of Hogwarts

Chapter 63 Professor Quirrell's Instructions

Feeling the solid touch in his palm, Ino relaxed.

At the same time, his gaze swept around and he felt much more at ease after seeing the portrait hanging on the wall.

Good evening, Professor Quirrell.

Turning around and looking at the end of the corridor, a figure wearing a headscarf stood out in the candlelight on the wall.

"Don't be nervous! As a professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts, it's natural to want to praise excellent and studious students. This is just normal conversation."

It's hard to imagine that someone who stutters in everyday speech could be communicating so elegantly and clearly at this moment.

Quirrell's tone was somewhat cryptic at that moment, as if he were explaining something to someone, or as if he were proving his harmlessness.

"Professor! I would love to talk to you, but curfew is about to start, and I don't want to break the school rules if possible."

Upon hearing the deliberately affected tone, Ino was certain that the person who had come was Voldemort, not Quirrell, who was like a puppet on a string.

Although he held the second die left by his teacher Hans, he really didn't want to get too involved with Voldemort without any core conflict of interest, or rather, he didn't want to waste this precious die.

"Of course! Good students never break school rules, and they are also well-liked by professors."

Possessed Quirrell, Voldemort spoke in an unusual tone.

"Good students should study hard and read more books! But remember not to go to the forbidden book section, and even more so, not to get involved with black magic, because although black magic is powerful, it will corrupt those who are not mentally firm."

Perhaps sensing something, or perhaps genuinely considering the curfew, Voldemort, controlling Quirrell, uttered those words before turning and leaving.

Quirrell's figure receded into the distance until it disappeared at the end of the corridor.

Meanwhile, Ino did not let her guard down because of Quirrell's departure.

Although he knew that the other party was unlikely to make a move inside the castle, he was unwilling to gamble when his own safety was at stake.

He held the dice tightly in his hand the whole time, not even relaxing when he entered the Slytherin common room.

Only after entering the dormitory and closing the door did he slowly loosen his grip.

"Phew... a dark wizard who doesn't study dark magic, but instead studies psychology!"

Ino lay exhausted on the bed, sighing inwardly.

It seems that Tom's transformation into the all-powerful Voldemort was not solely due to his exceptional strength.

Or rather, formidable strength is merely the most basic prerequisite.

Just like those few short sentences, they seemed simple, but he knew very well that if it were another young wizard of the same age, they might have already been secretly influenced.

It wasn't some profound magic; even Voldemort in the castle might not dare to act recklessly. So, the exchange just now was merely a psychological rhetoric technique.

When instructions begin with "Don't do this or that," people often only focus on the part that is instructed to be done.

Just as God instructed Adam not to go near the apple tree, or as He instructed the young wizards not to go near the fourth-floor corridor.

Voldemort not only instructed on dark magic, but also mentioned powerful and mentally unstable individuals.

It seemed like a normal statement, like a professor admonishing a good student.

But with these three hints, it's easy for a proud and exceptionally talented young wizard to embark on a path of no return.

……

"Ugh! I wish summer vacation would start soon."

At this moment, Ino was incredibly looking forward to summer vacation, because it meant she would never see Tom at his best again.

Starting next year, perhaps only the paranoid Voldemort will remain.

This wasn't just wishful thinking. Today's encounter had given him some ideas about Horcruxes, suggesting that the damage to the Horcruxes didn't just reduce Voldemort's chances of resurrection.

Judging from Voldemort's abilities just now, it seems highly unlikely that he would make those clumsy moves later on.

……

Tonight's experience also made him nostalgic for those trips that lasted more than half a year in the fantasy world.

I used to find it tedious and boring, but now I wish I could come back more often, and even feel an urge to delve into some epic stories.

After all, the growth of magic power is always linked to time.

Not too many, just two or three times a year, might be enough to reach the standard of an adult wizard, and then we wouldn't be in such a passive situation as we are today.

Having been at Hogwarts for so long, Ino felt a sense of powerlessness for the first time.

Even in his possessed state, Voldemort still exudes an aura of unparalleled power. Like an animal facing its natural enemy, simply confronting him feels like being pricked by thorns.

That's why he only took the dice and didn't take out his wand.

After all, a show of bravado without substance is only laughable and serves no practical purpose whatsoever.

……

at the same time.

On the other side of the castle.

The Gryffindor common room was buzzing with excitement as everyone celebrated today's hard-won victory.

As the hero of today, Harry has received unprecedented acclaim.

This was different from before, when people adored him because of his name. This time, Harry earned it through his own efforts, which he thoroughly enjoyed.

Enjoy the feeling of being surrounded by people, and savor the pleasure that fame brings.

However, while the Gryffindors were laughing and having fun, no one noticed that in a pastoral landscape painting hanging in the corner of the common room, an elderly farmer was conspicuously missing.

Meanwhile, Hermione was also sitting on a sofa outside the lounge, but she didn't participate in the celebrations; instead, she seemed somewhat worried.

Everything that happened on the Quidditch pitch confirmed to her that Snape was the mastermind behind it all, and that he was the one who plotted to steal the Philosopher's Stone.

The mention of the Philosopher's Stone immediately brought Enoch to mind. Through a series of note exchanges, she successfully extracted information about Nicolas Flamel from Madam Pince, thus deducing that the Philosopher's Stone was hidden on the fourth floor of the castle.

"I need to tell Ino sooner rather than later, to keep him away from Snape... I should have saved some money and bought an owl."

Hermione tossed her messy hair away from her forehead, looking somewhat troubled.

The mention of the owl reminded her of the note she had left in the library, wondering if it had been seen in time or if Mrs. Pince had lost it.

With countless worries in my heart, I glanced at the lively scene in the common lounge.

Hermione stood up angrily and walked towards her dorm room without looking back.

……

It seems that many people are destined to have a sleepless night at Hogwarts tonight.

The principal's office is on the eighth floor of the castle.

Dumbledore, dressed in a light purple floral pajamas, was sitting in a chair, holding a walnut box, and earnestly searching for something.

Meanwhile, various letters were scattered on the large desk.

a long time.

A lilac-colored envelope with gold foil was selected.

Upon opening the envelope, one is greeted by a beautiful, distinctive cursive script.

Just by looking at the handwriting, it's easy to imagine how arrogant the person who wrote this letter must be.

However, Dumbledore didn't even glance at the ornate letter; instead, he turned and gazed at the Forbidden Forest under the night sky.

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(End of this chapter)