30 Chapter 30 - In Pursuit of the Philosopher's Stone
As Filch departed, Asmodeus inquired of Dumbledore, "Have you gathered all the Horcruxes?"
"Yes, except for the snake you mentioned. I hope Voldemort hasn't managed to create the seventh Horcrux, as we speculated."
"Even if there's one Horcrux left, it won't affect our plan. After his rebirth using the final Horcrux, he'll be rendered useless, taking into account his fear of death and damaged soul. He'll be nothing more than a specter, able to touch the material world and shoot green beams from his wand indiscriminately.
Moreover, I have a sense that by harming his own soul, he has closed off any further paths of growth. He'll be perpetually stuck in this state, unable to strengthen himself. Besides, you're at the peak of your form again, what are you worried about?"
"Perhaps you're right. I just don't want any more innocent victims..."
"Then you should have killed him on the spot when you saw him at the orphanage. There's no use regretting a past that can't be changed."
Sighing, Dumbledore nodded but asked again, "Are you absolutely sure you can separate the Horcrux from Harry's soul?"
"100%, I have complete confidence in my method."
Of course, I'm sure, damn sure! Asmodeus screamed within himself. I spent a whopping 500 points on a single spell. Damn, that's half of what I've accumulated in the last month.
"When do you plan to begin?"
"Honestly, I was thinking of waiting until Christmas break, but I believe we can expedite the process. Listen, make sure Harry hears xxxxx and xxxx...Hagrid.."
After a couple of months of preparation, Asmodeus was ready to start his plan:
In the evening, at the Great Hall
Harry and Ron, wearing somber expressions, consumed their dinner, contemplating how to prevent Snape from stealing the Philosopher's Stone. Although it was much more challenging for this duo to find clues about Nicolas Flamel without Hermione's assistance, Harry recently found a card of Dumbledore in a chocolate frog. They learned that Nicolas Flamel was a great alchemist who created a magical stone capable of turning base metals into gold and granting immortality.
Moreover, before dinner, Harry discovered that Hagrid might have inadvertently leaked information on how to deal with the three-headed dog. After dining, they headed to Professor McGonagall to report Snape's attempt to steal the Philosopher's Stone. Why not directly to Dumbledore? They hadn't seen Dumbledore at dinner for the past two days.
Poor kids, Asmodeus had long asked Dumbledore to leave the school and return only when he wrote...
In such a state of mind, Harry failed to notice that when he placed his wand on the table while eating, it seemed to have subtly changed, either externally or internally. However, Harry couldn't sense it without comparing two wands immediately.
While Harry and Ron sought Professor McGonagall, Asmodeus, with the help of alchemical devices provided by Nicolas, quietly began to monitor Quirrell.
Exactly at ten.
Quirrell's office.
Asmodeus wore a mask concealing his breath. An invisibility cloak, not like Harry's, but a regular one with clasps on the edges, making it look like a long jacket with a hood. On his feet were "mad boots," one of Nicolas's old inventions from his youth when he wanted to rob some nobleman... ahem, let's not delve into the dark history of the world's greatest alchemist.
Thanks to this gear, several layers of concealment magic, and an enhanced spell of Muggle repulsion, cast on him by Dumbledore but reversed to repel wizards, Asmodeus became more than just an invisible man. It felt as if he had dissolved into space, and even Voldemort wouldn't be able to find him without special preparation.
Quirrell nervously prepared to leave, stuffing various potions and items into his pockets. "The Master told me to start right away. Relax, Snape has stopped paying attention to me lately, and Dumbledore hasn't shown up at Hogwarts for a long time. Tonight is the perfect time," Quirrell thought, comforting himself.
So, Quirrell and the invisible Asmodeus quietly moved through the fourth-floor corridor. They encountered no one on the way. Forget about Filch. Not even a ghost was seen. It was all the result of Asmodeus's preparation, just to ensure Quirrell or Voldemort wouldn't harm any students or castle inhabitants.
However, Quirrell was both excited and oppressed. Excited about the future life if successful and oppressed by thoughts of what lay ahead. Thus, he didn't notice the strange silence around him.
He created a miniature harp through Transfiguration and silently unlocked the door in front of him with the Unlocking Charm.
Quirrell pushed the wooden door open.
In the dark room.
A tall figure suddenly leaped up!
The stench hit Quirrell in the face!
Fluffy, the three-headed dog, was about to pounce!
Quirrell quickly grabbed the harp in his hand.
The once fierce beast soon fell asleep silently.
How could this big guy have such a fatal weakness... thought Asmodeus.
Quirrell opened the door, which the dog had been sitting on just moments ago. A large dark hole was revealed beyond.
Quirrell, without hesitation, jumped down, and Asmodeus quietly followed him. Luckily, he had brought an invisible flying broom made by Nicolas. Otherwise, he would have had to either jump down head first - like Quirrell or use his own method of flight. But if he flew using flames, as he could, he was afraid not only the devilish net below would burn but also Quirrell beneath him…
Quietly descending, Asmodeus heard a faint laughter.
"Hahaha, Dumbledore is foolish... He really relaxed at this time, so I finally have the opportunity to steal the Philosopher's Stone!
When they find out about the stone's disappearance, I'll already have returned my master to life. Soon, very soon... the master will be resurrected! I... I will also get what I want..."
Then Quirrell suddenly shuddered, horror reflected on his face.
Asmodeus guessed that Voldemort had just berated Quirrell. Asmodeus felt he deserved the reprimand.
Who asked you to set red flags right in the middle of the task???
Quirrell didn't dare to speak anymore.
He went straight to the stone corridor in front of him.
This corridor gradually leads people underground. Even streaks on the walls... At the end of the corridor is a brightly lit room with a swarm of enchanted keys flying near the ceiling.
On the other side of the room is a door with a large lock.
Quirrell pointed his wand upward and cast the spell "Arresto Momentum," freezing the keys in mid-air. But he didn't stop there; he pointed his wand upward again and said, "Accio key to the door."
Professor McGonagall's room with living chess pieces guarding the passage to the next room was swiftly bypassed with a Confundus Charm.
In his own room, Quirrell simply cast a Petrificus Totalus on the troll. Since the old giant troll had been replaced by a young one who hadn't yet grown... interesting, why did they have to replace the troll?
After the troll, there was Professor Snape's room, containing a table with seven vials and a parchment with the conditions of a logic puzzle. Only the potion from one vial allowed passage through the cold flames that covered the final passage. Asmodeus wondered how much time Quirrell would spend on this.
After five minutes of contemplation, the poor thief couldn't decipher this second-grade level riddle. Apparently, Voldemort had to provide hints, as Asmodeus clearly saw Quirrell flinch.
Drinking one of the potion bottles, Quirrell passed through the fire. Asmodeus didn't need to drink any potion – are you kidding? He's a fire mage; the flames simply parted softly before him, and Asmodeus controlled them so that the fire didn't look suspicious to Voldemort sitting on Quirrell's head.
A burst of fire occurred, revealing a new room in front of Asmodeus. This room was circular, with a massive mirror in the center.
Meanwhile, Quirrell was anxiously pacing around the mirror. It was nothing like what he had imagined! In his mind, shouldn't the Philosopher's Stone be on some pedestal or in a chest? Why was there only one mirror in the room? What about the Philosopher's Stone?
Quirrell was now panicking. He sneaked in here tonight; it was, in fact, his only chance. If he couldn't find the Philosopher's Stone, even if Dumbledore didn't learn of his betrayal, his own master would torture him to death!
Quirrell looked at the mirror in front of him, his face expressing bewilderment. This mirror was truly strange. He saw in the mirror that he presented the Philosopher's Stone to his master, and his master was resurrected. He rewarded him! The Death Eaters around him looked at him with envy in their eyes! It was so beautiful...
...just a scene in the mirror. But what about the Philosopher's Stone?
At this moment, Quirrell already felt Voldemort's consciousness growing impatient! He quickly pulled out his wand and began casting various detection charms. He was sure it was Dumbledore's trick! He had to be able to crack it!
Asmodeus stood aside, watching Quirrell dart around the mirror. It was the Mirror of Erised, inside which Dumbledore had hidden the Philosopher's Stone. In the mirror, people could see what they desire most in their hearts. Harry saw his parents, Ron saw himself as head boy, leading the Gryffindor Quidditch team to victory.
Asmodeus was curious about what he would see in the mirror but decided to leave it for later. In any case, he didn't believe that Dumbledore hadn't placed any protective charms on the mirror. Therefore, he wasn't worried that the mirror would break during the battle.
"Allow me to do this, useless idiot," said Voldemort, preparing to take control of Quirrell's body.
Just then, a "whoosh" sound echoed behind them. Flames flickered. A figure emerged from the fire. Harry found himself in a large room with the Mirror of Erised in the middle. In the center stood an adult. But when he turned around, it wasn't Snape but Quirrell.
"You? No, it can't be, that was Snape! He, he was..."
"Haha, yes, he doesn't look like a good person. But next to him, who would suspect the stuttering Professor Quirrell?" Quirrell said with a smirk.
"But during the Quidditch match, Snape tried to kill me..."
"Ha-ha-ha, oh, foolish boy. I! I was the one who wanted to kill you! And if it weren't for Snape and his counter curse, I would have succeeded!"
"Snape tried to protect me...?"
"Strangely enough, yes. It was Snape who hindered me all this time. And that dreadful child Asmodeus, you know, Snape immediately came here when he heard about the troll and didn't fall for my trick. But because that bastard Asmodeus killed my troll so quickly, I couldn't do anything."
"After that, he never took his eyes off me, and I barely escaped today... But here I am, standing in front of the mirror. I see myself in the mirror holding the Philosopher's Stone."
"BUT HOW DO I GET IT!"
After Quirrell's scream, a voice emanated from somewhere, saying, "Use the boy..."
"COME HERE, POTTER!! RIGHT NOW!!"
Harry descended the stairs to the mirror.
"Now tell me what you see!"
"I, I am shaking hands with Dumbledore and winning the Academy Cup..."
"He... is lying..."
"SPEAK, POTTER, WHAT DO YOU SEE!!!"
"I, I'm telling the truth."
"Let me talk to him!"
"But, master, you are not strong enough right now..."
"Do as you're told!"
Quirrell removed the turban. And Harry saw Voldemort's reflection in the mirror, looking at him.
It was clear that Voldemort wanted to speak with the boy who turned him into what he is now, over ten years ago.
At that moment, Harry was terrified by Voldemort on the back of Quirrell. He had never seen a face so dreadful. The visage was pale as chalk, and his red eyes glowed intensely. Below, two slender serpent-like nostrils were positioned.
"Harry Potter," Voldemort's whisper made Harry want to step back, but his feet seemed to defy control.
"Look at what I've become!" Voldemort roared, "All that remains is this soul! The ability to converse only emerges when I share a body with someone else.
"But... once I acquire the Philosopher's Stone and the Elixir of Life, I'll be able to recreate my own body!"
"Well... this little trick of Dumbledore's, you must know how to solve it, don't you? Go, take out the Philosopher's Stone and give it to me!"
Harry recoiled. How could he honestly listen to Voldemort?
"Don't be a fool! Better help me!"
"Do as you're told. Otherwise, you'll end up like your parents! Before their deaths, they begged me to spare their lives!"
Initially, Harry was still frightened. But upon hearing this statement, an explosion of anger suddenly ignited in his heart.
"Nonsense! You're lying!" Harry exclaimed loudly.
"Hehe... how touching. I always admired bravery. Yes, I admit your parents were very brave then."
"Your father died in a duel with me. And your mother... She didn't need to die. I promised a faithful servant to save her life.
"But... she defended you till the end! Well, hurry up and do as I say, don't let your mother die in vain!"
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