After Lucien left the office, Quirrell wore a troubled expression and asked cautiously,
"Master, Lucien asked about magic circuits, but my knowledge in that area isn't extensive…"
A gloomy, low, hoarse voice echoed within Quirrell's mind,
"Heh heh, you fool would never understand. Magic circuits are fundamental to a wizard."
"I was right after all. That boy's thirst for knowledge is unmistakably Ravenclaw."
The voice paused for a moment before continuing,
"I will impart some knowledge of magic circuits to you."
"You will teach him only a little. Once Lucien realizes who has given him the most abundant and valuable knowledge over the past year, he will understand whom he should truly follow.....…"
Quirrell kept reaffirming himself that he only wanted to complete his master's task as quickly as possible.
To help Lord Voldemort regain a physical body, and in return secure freedom for his own body and soul.
At first, everything seemed fine. But as time passed, Quirrell began to realize with horror that his body, his magic, and even his soul were slowly withering away.
And this process simply could not be stopped.
It was nothing like what Lord Voldemort had promised at the beginning, yet Quirrell had no idea what to do.
By the time he realized it, his life and death were already in the hands of the remnant soul within his mind.
So he could only speed up his efforts, allowing Lord Voldemort to achieve his goal as quickly as possible.
Quirrell believed that the Dark Lord, who had once spread immense terror, would surely have no interest in his weak and mediocre body after regaining a physical form. Then he could finally break free.
"How is the tracking of those two unicorns in the Forbidden Forest progressing?"
Lord Voldemort's abrupt question made Quirrell flinch. He quickly replied,
"Soon, soon, my Master. One of them should be female—a pregnant female. She…"
"Very good!"
"Very good, very good…"
Lord Voldemort's voice became suddenly cold and grating, sending a wave of pain through Quirrell's head.
"You've done very well, Quirinus. The unicorn fetus about to be born possesses the purest and cleanest life force."
"That will allow me to recover even more power—the Philosopher's Stone, hahahaha…"
"When I return to my peak, I will make you Minister of Magic. Isn't that what you've always desired? Hahahahahaha…"
Quirrell endured the pain, repeatedly agreeing with and flattering Lord Voldemort's grand vision.
But his heart was utterly cold.
He knew very well that drinking unicorn blood could replenish life force, allowing even those on the brink of death to cling to life.
But the price was a curse—a curse that would follow the drinker for the rest of their life.
That half-living state was no different from death!
And now, with only his soul remaining, Lord Voldemort naturally could not drink unicorn blood himself. So who was meant to drink it…
...
On his way to the library, Lucien heard a clear call,
"Huff.. Lucien, I finally caught you."
He turned his head and saw a blonde girl walking out from around the corner of the corridor.
Daphne Greengrass. What did she want with him?
They had chatted a few times at the beginning of last semester, but there hadn't been much interaction since.
Why was she approaching him again, right after Christmas?
To ask for a Christmas present?
No… she hadn't given him one either.
"Greengrass, is something the matter?"
Lucien had originally wanted to make an excuse and leave quickly, but a sense of intuition made him stay.
Ever since his experience of becoming an Animagus, he had placed increasing importance on the book Inspiration and Divination.
During this period, he had also been practicing meditation according to the methods described in it, with fairly good results.
Daphne strolled to a stop in front of him, her hands clasped behind her back.
"Lucien, you're quite popular. Not only in your own house, but you also have friends you can talk to in Gryffindor and Hufflepuff as well, but…"
"But?"
"Why do you only associate with Malfoy in Slytherin?"
Caught off guard by the question, Lucien looked at Daphne, momentarily unable to follow her line of thought.
Wasn't that obvious? He simply didn't want to get involved with the more troublesome people in Slytherin.
Malfoy had also sent him books and a so-called friendship fee, and his behavior in class was relatively stable.
As for being "well-liked," that was only because he had helped classmates with their studies in different lessons.
It was a very common thing.
At most, he explained things a bit more clearly, and they preferred listening to him. That was all.
So why hadn't he had any interaction with Slytherin because of it?
Lucien still remembered a Herbology class where he had been paired with a Slytherin student.
At the time, the other student was fumbling about, and Professor Sprout had subtly hinted that Lucien should help his partner.
Lucien hadn't thought much of it. Helping classmates was perfectly normal.
But after listening to Lucien's suggestion, the boy smoothed his collar with a mud-stained hand and said,
"It is your honor to serve Zabini."
For a moment, Lucien was stunned.
It was the first time he had ever heard something like that, and it took him an unusually long second to process it.
Then, in the very next second...
Zabini was planted face-first into the soil!
Of course, out of good manners, Lucien still pulled him back out under Professor Sprout's astonished gaze.
In the end, that lesson became one of the few rare classes where Lucien received no extra points.
However, he also wasn't penalized.
After class, Professor Sprout only gently reminded him that while plants could be planted in the ground, people generally could not.
That class had left Lucien with a particularly deep impression.
From then on, he became even more convinced that it was best to avoid dealing with those Slytherins.
Faced with Daphne's question, Lucien fell silent for a few seconds before speaking softly, "Do you… do you know how Slytherins treat others?"
Daphne nodded immediately and replied without hesitation,
"Of course. Arrogant, self-satisfied, condescending… They look down on any wizard weaker than them or poorer than they are....…"
"Pure-blood dignity and glory come above everything else. Muggle-borns and half-bloods are all…..."
"…"
As he listened to Daphne's string of remarks, Lucien grew even more confused by her line of thinking.
Didn't she understand it perfectly well?
But midway through, Daphne suddenly paused, then extended a hand and pointed at herself.
"I know that very well," she said. "Because I'm one of them."
Lucien's expression remained calm as he looked at the girl's frank manner. "So, what exactly are you trying to say?"
Daphne revealed a graceful, elegant smile.
"Lucien, I already know—from Draco. One should speak to you sincerely, without resorting to deception or lies, so…"
She brought out the hand she had been holding behind her back and offered the book to Lucien. The smile in her eyes deepened.
"My tuition fee, are you satisfied ...Professor Grafton?"
________
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