Weasley

Chapter 17

"Oh, he does," said Quirrell casually, "heavens, yes. He was at Hogwarts with your father, didn't you know? They loathed each other. But he never wanted you dead."

"But we heard you a few days ago, sobbing -- We thought Snape was threatening you..." Allium added

For the first time, a spasm of fear flitted across Quirrell's face.

"Sometimes," he said, "I find it hard to follow my master's instructions -- he is a great wizard and I am weak--"

"You mean he was there in the classroom with you?" Harry gasped.

"He is with me wherever I go," said Quirrell quietly. "I met him when I traveled around the world. A foolish young man I was then, full of ridiculous ideas about good and evil. Lord Voldemort showed me how wrong I was. There is no good and evil, there is only power, and those too weak to seek it... Since then, I have served him faithfully, although I have let him down many times. He has had to be very hard on me." Quirrell shivered suddenly. "He does not forgive mistakes easily. When I failed to steal the stone from Gringotts, he was most displeased. He punished me... decided he would have to keep a closer watch on me..."

Quirrell cursed under his breath.

"I don't understand... is the Stone inside the mirror? Should I break it?"

Allium saw that Harry was thinking hard though she truly had no clue what to do. She hated feeling useless.

She felt Harry try and to edge to the left, to get in front of the glass without Quirrell noticing, but the ropes around their ankles were too tight: he tripped and fell over bringing Allium with him. Quirrell ignored them. He was still talking to himself.

"What does this mirror do? How does it work? Help me, Master!"

And to Allium and Harry's horror, a voice answered, seeming to come from Quirrell himself.

"Use the boy... Use the boy..."

Quirrell rounded on Harry.

"Yes -- Potter -- come here."

He clapped his hands once, and the ropes binding Harry fell off yet stayed on Allium which earned Quirrel a few curse words. Harry got slowly to his feet and looked nervously at Allium.

"Come here," Quirrell repeated. "Look in the mirror and tell me what you see."

Harry walked toward him.

Allium could only watch, she had read about the muggle god and though she thought they were some joke she couldn't help but plead that her friend would be safe.

Quirrell moved close behind him. Harry closed his eyes, stepped in front of the mirror, and opened them again.

"Well?" said Quirrell impatiently. "What do you see?"

Harry took a deep breath.

"I see myself shaking hands with Dumbledore," he said. "I -- I've won the house cup for Gryffindor."

Quirrell cursed again.

"Get out of the way," he said. As Harry moved aside, he felt the Sorcerer's Stone against his leg. Dare he make a break for it? Though that would mean leaving Allium.

But he hadn't walked five paces before a high voice spoke, though Quirrell wasn't moving his lips.

"He lies... He lies..."

"Potter, come back here!" Quirrell shouted. "Tell me the truth! What did you just see?"

The high voice spoke again.