Chapter 93: Please Knock, Thank You
After leaving the Forbidden Forest, Snape returned to the castle, traversing the corridor of Brunna and heading straight for the Headmaster's office.
Although he had long suspected that Quirrell had ulterior motives, he had not anticipated that Quirrell's body had been taken over by Lord Voldemort!
He surmised that Quirrell's consciousness had likely been entirely erased; otherwise, Voldemort would not have chosen to meet him as "Voldemort."
In truth, Snape had never believed that the Dark Lord truly trusted him.
Revealing his true identity to him this time was probably an act of desperation.
He needed to report this to Dumbledore immediately.
Meanwhile, Harry was riding his Nimbus 2000 back to the broom shed.
The night wind howled past; he had never felt his heart race so fast.
Just moments ago, he had overheard a conversation between Snape and Quirrell.
He had caught only part of it, but it was enough.
First, Snape had actually addressed Quirrell as "Master"!
Snape, who was usually so haughty, calling someone that—Harry found it rather unbelievable. There was definitely some relationship between Snape and Quirrell that he knew nothing about.
Also, from the snippets of conversation he had overheard, it could be gathered that Voldemort and Quirrell had already colluded and intended to steal the Philosopher's Stone.
Harry hurried back to the Gryffindor common room and, after fending off the classmates who were celebrating the Quidditch victory for him, dragged Hermione and Ron to a deserted corner.
"What is it?" Ron was still caught up in the excitement of Gryffindor's win. "Have you thought of how you're going to humiliate Malfoy tomorrow?"
Harry shook his head; he had no mind for that now.
"Quirrell and Snape are planning to steal the Philosopher's Stone," he said. "I heard them talking in the Forbidden Forest—Quirrell told Snape to help him find a way past Fluffy."
"The Forbidden Forest?" Hermione, holding a thick book, pricked up her ears at Harry's words. "What were you doing in the Forbidden Forest?"
"That's not important," said Harry. "What matters is: why do Snape and Quirrell want the Philosopher's Stone? And why would Snape work with Quirrell?"
"Who wouldn't want the Philosopher's Stone?" Ron said carelessly around a biscuit. "Gold, and the Elixir of Life—if I could, I'd want it too."
"But they're professors."
Ron curled his lip. "Maybe because Dumbledore won't give them the Stone, they're going to steal it. Snape looks just the type."
Harry suddenly felt that his earlier notion—that the fourth floor was a set of obstacles laid by the professors—was wrong.
Perhaps it really was a place set up purely to protect the Philosopher's Stone?
"Do you want to stop Snape and Quirrell from stealing the Stone?" Hermione put down her book and asked. "Or are you going to get the Stone before they do?"
"Neither." Harry shook his head. "I want—
—"
For a moment, Harry blanked.
Right—come to think of it, even if Snape and Quirrell got the Philosopher's Stone, it had nothing to do with him.
At most it would just mean he wouldn't have a chance to get the Stone.
"The Philosopher's Stone is a marvelous stone," Hermione said, lifting her chin. "I've found lots of information about it in the library. The books say its effects aren't limited to producing gold and brewing the Elixir of Life—
it may have other uses as well."
"Then Snape is definitely planning to use it for something evil," Harry said decisively.
The three of them then spent the rest of the time discussing just what Snape might want the Philosopher's Stone for.
Early the next morning, at breakfast.
Harry still looked absent-minded.
Just yesterday, he had worked a few things out.
Ron, sitting beside him, noticed and patted his arm. "Still thinking about the Philosopher's Stone?"
"Not entirely," Harry shook his head, then suddenly asked Hermione across the table, "Hermione, do you remember what kinds of books Professor Wesson had on his shelves?"
"Let me think." Hermione furrowed her brows and counted on her fingers. "A cookbook, a book about Nicolas Flamel, then Alchemy…"
"Wait!" Hermione suddenly realized something. "Is Professor Wesson interested in the Philosopher's Stone as well?"
Harry nodded. "I'm afraid so."
As Ron spread jam on his bread, he said offhandedly, "That thing's really popular—Malfoy,
Quirrell, and Professor Wesson. Harry, looks like we won't be getting the Philosopher's Stone."
Hermione ignored Ron and asked Harry, "So what are you going to do?"
Harry thought for a moment, then lowered his voice to the two of them. "We'll tell Professor Wesson about Snape and Quirrell's plot first. Compared to Snape, I'd much rather the Stone be in Professor Wesson's hands."
Hermione nodded in approval; Ron said he didn't mind either way.
"Let's go now." Harry made up his mind, swung round off his chair, and jumped to the floor. "If Professor Wesson isn't here in the Great Hall at this time, he's most likely in his office."
While the three of them were in the thick of discussion, Snape sat at the High Table with a dark look, staring coldly at Harry.
But his thoughts were not on the boy just now.
Last night, he had told Dumbledore that Voldemort had returned and was parasitizing Quirrell's body.
However, Dumbledore only told him to continue watching Quirrell and not to act rashly for the time being.
What on earth was that old man thinking!
Although Voldemort was very weak at the moment, eking out an existence by occupying Quirrell's body,
it was Voldemort, after all!
And Dumbledore was actually allowing Voldemort to move about Hogwarts!
The one good piece of news was that, on the surface, Voldemort still trusted him for now—that meant that, if he handled things properly, he could protect the students and Harry.
Of course, he felt that in his current state Voldemort had neither reason nor ability to run riot at Hogwarts.
After all, Voldemort couldn't even handle a little three-headed dog right now.
Voldemort's goal should be to obtain the Philosopher's Stone and then restore his body.
And what he could do now was keep constant watch on "Quirrell,"
and then wait for further instructions from Dumbledore.
"Damn it, what on earth is Dumbledore thinking…"
Back to Harry and the others.
The three of them had once again come to Wesson's office door.
Just as Harry was about to push it open, words suddenly appeared on the door panel: Please knock, thank you.
So Harry obediently knocked twice.
However, the three of them stood staring at the door for half a minute, and there was still no response.
Harry was about to leave straightaway when Ron patted his shoulder, pointed at the door, and motioned for Harry to look.
The words on the door had changed: If you are Harry Potter, please come in.
"Professor Wesson really does favor you," Hermione whispered to Harry.
Harry shrugged and, with the other two, pushed the door open and went into the office.
Like this story Leave a review ; it would really help me out a lot.
Want to Read Ahead in Advance?
Join my Patreon!
+75 Chapters
Support me in
Patreon.com/BestElysium