Quirrell shuddered suddenly. "He is not as forgiving when it comes to committing mistakes. When I failed to steal the stone from Gringotts, he was very angry with me. He punished me… decided he would have to keep a closer watch on me…" He said, his voice trailing away.
There was an eerie silence that hung in the air for a couple of minutes before an exasperated Quirrell huffed in displeasure.
"I don't get it, the stone is supposed to be in the mirror, so then why doesn't it appear? Maybe breaking it will work?" he questions out loud to himself.
As Quirrell was in deep thought immersed in the mirror's reflection, I saw Harry, inching ever so slightly to the side where his reflection appeared in the mirror. just as he was about to stop, he tripped and fell. I facepalmed.
Quirrell was still talking to himself like a lost child with nowhere to go. "What does this mirror do? How does it work? Help me, master!" A voice that I had heard under the hood in the forest appeared once again, the same raspy aged voice sounded, but this time from Quirrell's body.
"Use the boy… the boy!"
Quirrell seemed to be enlightened, like he saw the light at the end of the tunnel and instantly cheered up while sharply turning towards the still fallen Harry.
"That's right! Potter, come here!" he said snapping his fingers, the ropes binding Harry tightened even more before beginning to levitate. Harry who was still bound flew slowly towards Quirrell before landing in front of the mirror.
"Look into the mirror and tell me what you see!" he commanded sternly.
Harry, not being able to move could only look towards the mirror with a worried expression. I couldn't see what he was seeing but basing it off of my memory and the fact that something appeared in his pocket I assume he got the stone. To think it was that easy to get. Jeez, if only Quirrell knew how the mirror worked, he could have used imperio on a student in order to get the stone.
Since the mirror will only give the stone to someone who is looking for it but doesn't want to use it, it completely complies with the rules set by Dumbledore. It was shocking to see how little research Quirrell put into this plan of his.
"Well?" he said impatiently. "What do you see? Spit it out!"
"I-I see myself shaking hands with Dumbledore, I – seem to have won the house cup!" I facepalmed, that was the best he could come up with, really? House cup? God save us all.
Quirrell seemed to believe it though which made me even more dissatisfied, I wonder if some higher being was really just toying with the lives of the masses? Who knew, there weren't answers to my questions, and even more so, no one to ask for said answers.
Quirrell cursed, "get out of the way Potter," he said shoving the still bound Harry to the floor. As Quirrell was about to shatter the mirror the same old voice echoed throughout the hall.
"He lies! He lies!"
"Potter!" Quirrell shouted like a kid who had been tricked out of his lollypop. "Tell me the truth! What did you just see?"
The raspy, aged voice spoke, "let me speak to him… face-to-face"
"But master, we don't have much strength left!" Quirrell reminded.
"I have enough for… this"
Harry who was lying on the floor had a look of shock and horror as he saw Quirrell take off the purple turban that had always been stuck to his head. Quirrell's head was actually the size of a rock Mellon at best. It was tiny, 'maybe that was why he was so stupid, his brain was underdeveloped' I thought seriously.
Quirrell, under the shocked speechless gaze of Harry, turned around to reveal a pale white, dried-up face, red beady eyes and slits for nostrils. Not going to lie, he was definitely not a good looking fellow. Riddle was always portrayed as a good-looking chap, to end up looking like this, immortality was defiantly not worth it.
"Harry Potter" he whispered as if struggling to raise his voice. 'Did he have a microphone under that rag of a turban? Why is he suddenly so quiet?' I thought.
"Look what I have become because of you!" The face contorted, "mere shadow and vapour… I am forced to live inside of another living creature, like a mere parasite! But there were always those who have been willing to let me into their hearts and minds. Unicorn blood has allowed me to remain inside of Quirrell here for much longer than usual, all for this moment. You saw Quirrell drinking it in the forest… and once I have the elixir of life, I will be able to make another body of my own… Now… why don't you give me the stone in your pocket?"
I waved my wand silently which loosened the ropes around Harry, allowing him to break free and stumble backwards.
"Don't kid yourself," said the face with a mocking smile. "Better save your own life and join me… or you'll meet the same fate as your parents… They died, begging for my mercy…" he said with a cackle.
'Well… technically the only one who begged was Snape, he begged to spare lily. I didn't think Voldemort would have it in him to comply with such a request, that was probably why he gave lily so many chances to step away. And the actual reason for his death. the sacrificial spell only works when the target has a choice. funny how things work.
"LIAR!" yelled Harry defiantly.
The face contorted into an evil smile, "how touching, I always valued bravery. Yes, Potter, your parents were brave. I killed your father first, and he put up little resistance, I don't know what part of him was 'talented' but either way he soon fell. But your mother! Ho! Your mother was brave, she didn't have to die, I even gave her many chances to walk away, but she protected you to the very end. Commendable, but futile. Now give me the stone, unless you want her sacrifice to be for naught!" he said sternly.