Impossible.Voldemort's mind raced as he reflected on the battle. The conclusion came swiftly, as inevitable as the outcome of a sealed fate. Roger's ability to observe fate wasn't limited to glimpsing the near future; it extended far beyond, to a range so vast it could influence events across time itself.
Roger had crafted his contract with a hidden trap, the 'arm' that served as the additional stake in the game surrounding the Philosopher's Stone. After Roger's internal body modifications through Transfiguration, even Quirrell's spells, which were not intended to kill, triggered Roger's danger sense at full capacity.
Against a true seer who could observe fate so thoroughly, any attempt at surprise attacks or ambushes was futile. No schemes, no tricks, no conspiracies could catch Roger off guard. The deeper one delved into deception, the more likely they were to stumble into their own traps. When a seer's power reached such a level, it became nearly impossible to overcome. It was as though they could reverse time itself, moving in ways that defied traditional logic.
For Roger, even a 3% chance of success, with countless correct choices made along the way, could approach near certainty. With a 30% chance, he might as well have been unbeatable. Any mistake on Quirrell's part would lead to immediate defeat.
The only path to victory, Voldemort realized, would require Quirrell to grow to such a level that he could defeat Roger with overwhelming force. Only through pure, nuclear-level strength could Quirrell hope to obliterate all possibilities of Roger's success.
This realization was why, after enrolling, Roger had focused solely on enhancing his lifespan and augmenting his talents, steering clear of researching combat magic. Having now encountered the true depth of magical power and the mysteries of the mind, Roger's prophetic abilities had grown exponentially.
With his proficiency in spells like Transfiguration, Roger was now nearly invincible in a life-or-death struggle—unless he faced wizards of Dumbledore or Voldemort's caliber, or forces of equal strength. An enemy with a genuine chance of defeating him was destined to fail. But an enemy with no chance, even with superior combat magic, would be rendered powerless by the overwhelming disparity in their strength. A single Avada Kedavra or mental strike from the opponent would end any struggle, rendering it meaningless.
Only Harry's fated special advantage could shift the balance. Otherwise, Roger would need to continue steadily strengthening his foundation, building toward a time when he could confront any threat head-on.
Voldemort chuckled darkly from behind his turban, his voice sending a cold shiver down Quirrell's spine. "Interesting. Very interesting."
Voldemort could indeed make Quirrell stronger with guidance in magical knowledge, but the question remained—what level was Quirrell at? How could he ever hope to compete with Roger, whose growth speed was accelerating at an almost unfathomable rate?
It was ridiculous to think Quirrell could catch up. The brute force approach, Voldemort realized, was a dead end. The solution to the puzzle lay within Roger's cryptic challenge: Can you really break fate?
Voldemort hadn't expected this. Years after graduating from Hogwarts, here he was again, standing in front of the grand, ancient bookshelves of the Hogwarts Library.
As one of the most powerful wizards alive, Voldemort had his own sophisticated system of magical knowledge, deeply rooted in the Dark Arts and the study of the soul. But when it came to dealing with an enemy who wielded the power of fate, he was faced with a challenge that surpassed his expertise. Magic, for all its complexity, could not account for the intricacies of fate itself.
Desperately seeking a way to break the stalemate, Voldemort began rifling through the ancient tomes of the library, searching for a clue, any hint, that might offer a solution.
Behind him, Roger observed, calm and unperturbed. He didn't rush or overthink; if Voldemort stumbled upon a way to break the situation, Roger's danger sense would immediately alert him, allowing him to react accordingly. While Voldemort sought his answers, Roger's own magical path had been progressing steadily.
In the two months since his enrollment, Roger was finally on the cusp of entering a new realm of magic. He had Professor McGonagall to thank for guiding him onto the path of alchemy, and Hermione for helping him expand his perspective and move beyond his earlier limitations.
Roger's earlier attempts to create a powerful alchemical organ by modifying his own body had failed. He had hoped to replicate the principles behind alchemical items and integrate them into his own form through Transfiguration, but the theory simply didn't hold up. However, alchemy had pointed him toward another, clearer path—one that would strengthen his innate talents.
After months of research, Roger's alchemical second brain had already begun to take shape. While the technology to assist with computation and accelerate thought was still out of reach, Roger had made significant progress in creating an organ that could store memories. By studying alchemical items like the Pensieve, he had gained the ability to perfectly remember everything he saw and heard. Now, he no longer needed to take notes, and his learning efficiency had skyrocketed.
As his skills in human alchemy grew, a new idea blossomed in Roger's mind: what if he could create an alchemical organ similar to Mad-Eye Moody's magical eye?
Of course, Roger had no desire to peer into the lives of others; what he truly sought was an alchemical organ that could enhance his observational abilities to a cellular level.
If this concept succeeded, it would mark a groundbreaking advancement in his Transfiguration modifications—ushering in what he thought of as the 2.0 era. No longer would his focus be limited to altering flesh and blood cells; he would have the capacity to reorganize matter itself at a fundamental level. This was the next step toward unlocking 'eternal life,' and it might come sooner than he had expected.
If that truly became a reality, the path to 'agelessness' would have to be set into motion as well...
Roger's approach mirrored the scientific methods of the Muggle world: equipping each generation with the tools for the next, designing, experimenting, and constantly iterating. Starting with flesh and blood, progressing to matter and energy, he would unlock the very secrets of magic itself. His goal? To transcend magic, to reach the other shore of understanding. The only caveat was survival—he had to avoid dying along the way.
Before long, Roger, like Voldemort, was fully absorbed in the world of knowledge. The vast silence of the library was punctuated only by the sound of pages turning.
It wasn't until a soft voice broke the stillness that Roger even realized how much time had passed.
"Roger... Roger..."
Turning his head, Roger saw Hermione standing nearby, holding a book in her hand.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"The Quidditch match is about to start," she said with a puzzled tone. "Aren't you going to watch?"
Roger glanced at her, then back at the vast stacks of books around them. This explained why, despite the library usually being crowded, it was almost eerily empty, save for him and Voldemort, buried in their respective tomes. Quidditch, after all, was a major event at Hogwarts—one everyone gathered for, whether out of team loyalty or the simple joy of the game. Even those who weren't big fans of the sport typically joined in for the experience.
"Sorry," Roger replied, dismissing the idea with a casual wave. "I'm not particularly interested in watching a short match we're guaranteed to win."
His tone was nonchalant, but he was fairly certain this was going to be more than just a victory—it would be a crushing one.
Hermione raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "But... you're one of Harry's closest friends at Hogwarts. Aren't you going to be there for his big moment? I think Harry would be a little disappointed if he didn't see you in the stands."
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