Chapter 27. Quirrell and Lord Voldemort
Adrian Wesson didn't watch Quirrell for long; he and Hagrid merely spared him a glance.
But the anger in Adrian's eyes was already hard to hide.
For Adrian—an orphan in his previous life and in this one—family had always been what he cherished most.
Ever since he took the surname "Wesson," he had treated protecting his family as his responsibility.
Yet he had failed to fulfil that responsibility.
His younger sister was still in a coma even now.
When all was said and done, it was Lord Voldemort who had caused this.
Although the wizard who had personally cast the Cruciatus Curse on his sister had died quietly in Azkaban,
Adrian still couldn't let it go.
As for Lord Voldemort, Adrian couldn't understand him, nor could he accept what he had done.
He didn't know why someone would be so obsessed with starting wars, spreading fear, and oppressing others.
The world ought to be peaceful and beautiful.
That was Adrian's conviction.
Therefore, Lord Voldemort had to perish.
.....
"Professor Wesson?"
Hagrid patted the table in front of him, signalling for Adrian to come back to himself; he had the feeling Adrian's state had grown a bit odd.
"Ah, sorry, Hagrid," Adrian withdrew his gaze and managed a smile. "I drifted off. Where were we?"
Now was not the best time to make a move on Lord Voldemort.
Even if he could destroy the fragment of Voldemort parasitising Quirrell, it would be useless—so long as the Horcruxes existed, Voldemort would keep returning.
He had to uproot the threat completely.
"Quirinus Quirrell, the new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts," Hagrid frowned, thought for a moment, then spoke haltingly. "Professor McGonagall chatted with me about him a few days ago—said that when he studied at Hogwarts his marks were excellent and his theoretical knowledge very solid; a typical Ravenclaw."
"Sounds all right." Adrian took a sip of mead and answered offhandedly.
Clearly, his mind wasn't here now.
Hagrid slowly shook his head. "Poor Professor Quirrell. You know how it is—at Hogwarts, not a single Defence Against the Dark Arts professor has left unscathed."
Then he pulled a regretful face. "Maybe Headmaster Dumbledore could teach the class himself. He'd know how to counter the curse, but obviously—he's too busy."
Adrian didn't know why Quirrell had chosen to come to the Leaky Cauldron just now.
With Lord Voldemort still squatting on the back of his head, if too many eyes were about, wouldn't it be trouble if he were discovered?
It was also possible that Quirrell was too confident in his disguise, since the turban wrapped around the back of his head gave off a strong smell of garlic.
Adrian noticed that no one wanted to get close to Quirrell, presumably for that reason.
At that moment, Quirrell suddenly moved.
Adrian and Hagrid fell silent in unison and both fixed their eyes on him.
Quirrell had his back to Adrian and slowly stood. Adrian's heartbeat quickened, and a ripple of unease spread through him.
Very soon, a prickling sensation ran up his spine.
He was staring at him.
It was Lord Voldemort who was staring at him.
Adrian's palms instantly broke out in a cold sweat.
However, Quirrell didn't stop walking, nor did he turn to look at Adrian.
He simply walked slowly out of the Leaky Cauldron.
"..."
By the time Adrian came back to himself, the door had already swung shut behind other patrons coming in.
Hagrid seemed not to notice Adrian's odd state and began to talk about other Hogwarts matters.
Adrian was a little absent-minded.
He was almost certain that Lord Voldemort had just been observing him.
Why?
He and Hagrid had been watching Quirrell at the same time—so why single him out?
Could Voldemort have sensed the Tree of Wisdom observing him?
If that really was the case, then Voldemort was far more terrifying than he had imagined.
After all, no one had ever noticed the Tree of Wisdom's ability before.
Not even Dumbledore.
"I hope I'm mistaken," Adrian thought to himself.
Quirrell didn't return to the Leaky Cauldron after leaving.
Adrian and Hagrid kept talking about fire-dragons.
Although for the most part it was Hagrid holding forth, with Adrian listening by the side.
.....
By the time Adrian returned home from the Leaky Cauldron, dusk had already fallen.
As he reached his door, he spotted a dark shape circling above.
Upon seeing Adrian, the shape swooped down and alighted on the letterbox by the door.
It was an owl.
And a Snowy Owl at that.
Adrian judged it had to be some wizard's pet, since there were no wild Snowy Owls in Britain; the species lived in the Arctic.
What's more, the Snowy Owl had a long parcel clenched in its beak.
"For me?" Adrian took the parcel from the owl's beak. "Thanks—would you like an owl treat?"
After getting the treat, the owl flew off, satisfied.
Adrian opened the parcel to find a rectangular box with fine wrapping and a small slip of paper.
Perhaps the sender had been in a hurry—judging from the torn edge, the slip seemed to have been ripped from a notebook; on the back Adrian could still see some messy writing.
On seeing the scrawled handwriting, Adrian nodded.
Mm. From Harry.
He couldn't be more familiar with that jumble.
In that case, this was very likely Harry's gift for him.
Hagrid had said today that yesterday Harry had bought him a gift in Diagon Alley.
Adrian carefully tore off the wrapping paper, revealing a delicate pocket watch.
The pocket watch was silver, its face engraved with a chain of intricate patterns; it looked rather expensive.
When he flipped open the cover, a line of words slowly appeared on the inside—"To the one I respect most."
"A crafty gift."
Adrian shook his head with a smile, snapped the watch closed, and tucked it into his pocket.
The day's foul mood seemed to dissipate entirely.
.....
At midday the next day, Harry arrived as usual.
When Adrian saw him, he was cradling an old flowerpot.
"Professor, is there something wrong with it?" Harry set the pot holding the Chinese Chomping Cabbage on the table and looked at Adrian, puzzled. "I followed what you wrote and put the potion in when I watered the Chinese Chomping Cabbage. But look at its state now—isn't it a bit off?"
Adrian frowned slightly at the Chinese Chomping Cabbage Harry indicated.
The plant's leaves drooped, and its colour was far duller than normal; it didn't look healthy at all.
"It shouldn't be," Adrian murmured.
Up to now, almost every plant treated with his special draught had benefited greatly.
If not a sharp jump in growth progress, then the emergence of a special "Trait."
"Eldra."
Adrian had the Tree of Wisdom analyse the Chinese Chomping Cabbage before him.
[Species: Chinese Chomping Cabbage]
[Level: 1]
[Trait: Unknown]
[Status: Growing (99%), malnourished]
.....
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