It was already dark when I returned to The Leaky Cauldron from Hogwarts, declining Professor McGonagall's invitation to dinner at Hogwarts. I just found Tom for something to eat to fill my stomach and then returned to my room.
No sooner had I sat down in the room than Quirinus suddenly heard a hoarse voice, "Quirinus, how are things going? Has the application for Hogwarts been approved?"
The voice was cold yet tyrannical, sending shivers down Quirinus's spine. He felt a mix of tension and fear. This was his first time hearing Lord Voldemort's voice, and from the sound alone, he knew it belonged to a major villain. He recalled Professor Quirrell's memories of being tormented endlessly.
"Master, my application has been approved. I can go to Hogwarts when the school term begins." After a moment of hesitation, the flustered Quirinus still submissively addressed him as 'Master'.
"Very good. Is there any news of the Philosopher's Stone?" Lord Voldemortcontinued to ask.
"Master, I've been in the pub for so long, and I haven't heard anyone discussing the Philosopher's Stone. I think..."
"Useless! Continue to investigate. If the Philosopher's Stone enters Hogwarts, it won't be so simple to find."
"Yes, Master."
After a long silence, hearing no further sound, Quirinus let out a sigh of relief.
Just for that brief moment Lord Voldemort surfaced, Quirinus felt his vitality and magic draining faster than usual. It seemed that every time Lord Voldemort awoke, it intensified the pressure on him.
This made Quirinus very anxious. If his vitality continued to drain like this, even if he found a way to expel Lord Voldemort later, he wouldn't have many years left to live. He had to think of a solution.
However, there was still good news. For example, even though Lord Voldemort was directly on his head, he couldn't know his every thought at all times.
Lord Voldemort's current state was not good, and Legilimency touched the mind and soul. Even Lord Voldemortcouldn't maintain the use of Legilimency in such a state.
Moreover, Professor Quirrell himself knew Occlumency; he just might not have been proficient.
Next, I need to strengthen my practice of Occlumency. Fortunately, it's not learning from scratch, otherwise, it would be even more troublesome.
...
For the next few days, Quirinus sat in The Leaky Cauldron every day, holding a butterbeer and observing the bustling crowd. In the evenings, he would stay in his room practicing magic.
As the school term approached, many people entered and exited Diagon Alley daily, mostly Hogwarts students and their parents, to purchase new school supplies and textbooks.
Quirinus had been to Diagon Alley. It was even more magnificent and mysterious than what was shown in the movies. And Diagon Alley, after all, was Great Britain's largest Wizarding trade center, with many shops, not just a long, narrow alleyway.
...
This day, Quirinus was sitting in the corner of The Leaky Cauldron as usual, holding a copy of The Daily Prophet.
Suddenly, he heard a loud, hearty voice from the bar counter say, "I'm not drinking today. I still have to take Harry Potter to buy new school textbooks, and also complete the important task Dumbledore assigned me." After he finished speaking, there was a series of "thump, thump, thump" sounds of patting.
Hearing the voice, Quirinus looked up, following the sound, and saw a Giantstanding at the bar counter. He was so tall he almost touched the ceiling, at least three meters high, as tall as two ordinary adult Wizards. He stood there like a small mountain.
Moreover, his build was very sturdy and thick, with a full beard, looking very fierce, but he was actually a man with a very gentle and sensitive heart.
Half-Giant - Rubeus Hagrid.
The other people in the pub also heard Hagrid's voice and all stood up, squeezing towards Hagrid's body, "Oh my goodness, the Savior,"
"It's the Boy-Who-Lived,"
"It's Harry Potter, he's grown so much, that's wonderful."
"Does he really have a lightning scar on his head?!"
Instantly, various chaotic sounds filled the small pub.
In Quirinus's opinion, this pub, as the junction point between the magicworld and the ordinary world, was completely unqualified; it was too small, dark, and messy.
Those people crowded around Hagrid, each wanting to shake Harry Potter's hand and feel the Savior's power.
Harry Potter was clearly startled. He hadn't expected the people of the magic world to be so enthusiastic about him. This was a world apart from his previous situation; at his aunt's house, he was practically despised by everyone.
Hagrid blocked the surging crowd, escorting Harry Potter towards the backyard. The strength of the half-Giant was no joke; he pushed the crowd away with just one hand.
"Harry... Po... tter." Quirinus had been sitting quietly in the corner, watching the noisy crowd, taking a sip of coffee, and softly murmured the name.
Suddenly, there was movement from above, and a hoarse voice entered his ears, somewhat gritting its teeth, "Harry Potter? That ridiculous, foolish Boy-Who-Lived? Hmph!"
Quirinus's heart trembled, feeling somewhat helpless. Was he that reactive? Just a soft murmur of a name woke this old man up. How much hatred was there?
"Yes, Master, they all say it's Harry Potter, but I didn't see him." Quirinussaid in a low voice, feeling helpless. The surging crowd completely blocked the short Harry Potter. Currently, he had no clue how to get rid of Lord Voldemort, so he could only continue to play along.
Lord Voldemort's voice seemed to pour directly into his mind; others couldn't hear it.
"Follow them!" Lord Voldemort's voice sounded very angry, yet restrained.
"Master, there are so many people there, I..." Quirinus was somewhat resistant.
"I said, follow them!" Lord Voldemort's voice was a little deep.
"I..." Quirinus wanted to say something else, when suddenly a violent stinging pain shot through his mind. His mind went blank instantly, and his whole body convulsed. His hands gripped the edges of the table tightly, his knuckles turning slightly white.
"I said, follow them." In a daze, Quirinus heard Lord Voldemort's voice, still clear, cold with a hidden cruelty and tyranny, yet restrained.
"Yes, my esteemed Master." Quirinus's voice was squeezed out from between his clenched teeth.
The pain receded like a tide. Quirinusgasped for breath, sweating profusely, and shakily stood up. Fortunately, at this moment, people's attention was focused on Hagrid and Harry, and they didn't notice his abnormality.
Although Quirinus desperately wished someone would notice his abnormality, besides Dumbledore, anyone else would just be another head to sacrifice, and he would still be subjected to another round of torment.
Quirinus's steps were a little unsteady. This torment, though short in duration, had left a bone-deep pain that made his heart pound just thinking about it.
Quirinus was furious, but he could do nothing but swallow his anger, unable to show it on his face.
"Hmph, just wait. One day, I'll make you taste what it's like to be tormented by others," Quirinus muttered through gritted teeth.
By the time Quirinus pushed through the crowd, Hagrid had already escorted Harry Potter through the pub and into Diagon Alley.
Quirinus didn't linger and stumbled directly towards the backyard.
Upon entering the backyard, the courtyard wall was open and hadn't closed yet. Beyond it was Diagon Alley. Standing in the yard, he could still see Hagrid's tall back and the tiny figure following beside him.