Chapter 35
To be honest, as a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Quirrell's spell repertoire was quite impressive. Devero's eyes lit up when he saw Finite Incantatem, the universal counter-spell. If Quirrell could teach this spell in class, enduring the garlic-laden classroom wouldn't be so bad.
Of course, they were still first-years. Most of them could barely manage a simple Levitation Charm, so Finite Incantatemdefinitely wouldn't be on the syllabus. But for the upper years? That was another story. Devero's lips curled into a slight smirk. There was no way he'd take Defense Against the Dark Arts with these little kids. He'd apply to join the older students' classes!
According to the original story, Quirrell wasn't the best teacher, but surely he'd demonstrate some spells in class, right? Otherwise, students preparing for their O.W.L.s or N.E.W.T.s would never let him hear the end of it. When it came to their future, young witches and wizards didn't mess around.
As he pondered this, a second panel suddenly appeared before him.
...
Name: Voldemort (Tom Riddle)
Age: 65
Spell Arsenal: Avada Kedavra (Unmatched), Imperius Curse (Unmatched), Cruciatus Curse (Unmatched)...
Traits: Dark Lord (Red/Incomplete), Heir of Slytherin (Red), Immortal Body (Gold), Mind Manipulator (Purple), Broken Body (Purple), Born Heartless (Purple)
...
Dark Lord (Red/Incomplete): You are destined to become a Dark Lord who makes the world tremble. Your charisma is unmatched, your talent in dark magic unparalleled, and you will amass countless followers. However, due to an extremely powerful spell, your fate has been shattered. An indescribable shadow looms over you, and your future is doomed to ruin.
Heir of Slytherin (Red): You are one of the greatest wizards in history, a descendant of Slytherin, inheriting many of his abilities and, most importantly, his absolute thirst for glory! The more glory you achieve, the stronger you become. Conversely, the more you are despised, the weaker you grow!
Immortal Body (Gold): As the creator of one of the darkest magical artifacts—Horcruxes—you possess an immortal body. Even if your physical form is utterly destroyed, you persist! But beware the price you've paid!
Born Heartless (Purple): A tragic past and poor upbringing have left you incapable of normal emotions or empathy.
Mind Manipulator (Purple): Growing up in a world of deceit, you have the ability to see into others' desires, allowing you to rally armies. However, endless dark magic experiments have eroded your mind, weakening this ability.
Broken Body (Purple): Despite your immortal body, you were struck by one of the most powerful dark spells in existence. Your physical form is no more, and your spirit is heavily damaged. Without latching onto another living being, you cannot survive.
...
Good heavens! This must be the panel for Voldemort, currently possessing Quirrell. To be frank, Voldemort was in a pretty pathetic state right now! Devero couldn't help but let a mischievous, gloating grin spread across his face. But he quickly composed himself.
He noticed that this Voldemort's description differed in many ways from the Horcrux in the Room of Requirement. For starters, this Voldemort's Dark Lord trait was red! Though it was also incomplete, the description seemed to reflect the different fates of these two soul fragments.
The one in the Room of Requirement, left to rot, had begun to decay but hadn't faced further trials. It had also merged with Ravenclaw's diadem, gaining considerable knowledge, so its future was described as uncertain. But this Voldemort, forced to cling to Quirrell to survive, was described as being shrouded by an indescribable shadow.
Devero's pupils contracted sharply at the phrase indescribable. He'd only seen that term used in the system's description of himself in the microscopic world! What was going on? Had Voldemort also ventured into the microscopic world and been attacked? And it must have happened after he turned Ravenclaw's diadem into a Horcrux! Devero quietly filed this information away. It seemed there was a new lead for investigating this indescribable entity: dark magic.
Continuing to read, Devero was incredibly envious of the Heir of Slytherin trait. This was likely the biggest difference between the Horcrux's soul fragment and Voldemort's main body. The effect was just too perfect! It aligned perfectly with Devero's future plans. He had always intended to make a name for himself in the wizarding world through inventions and innovations, then teach at various magical schools across Europe, exploring them thoroughly to earn trait upgrade cards and the wisdom of the ancients. If he could combine this with the Heir of Slytherin trait, his plans would be unstoppable! Plus, with this trait, he'd likely gain the ability to speak Parseltongue—a perfect, side-effect-free version of the Horcrux's trait!
Before arriving at Hogwarts, Devero had considered learning Parseltongue. After all, the Chamber of Secrets was part of Hogwarts and would count toward his exploration progress. Now, the solution was perfect! It was decided! The next red trait he'd copy would be this one. Devero gleefully added it to his metaphorical shopping cart.
As for the other traits, all Devero could say was: Poor Voldemort! Not only did dark magic ruin his appearance, but it also seemed to have destroyed his intelligence. Devero was truly enlightened.
For now, Devero had no intention of reporting Quirrell. He'd wait until the cooldown for copying the red trait was over, load all of Quirrell's traits, learn his spells, and squeeze every bit of value out of him before deciding what to do next.
With his plan settled, Devero's mood soared, and he began listening to the lesson with enthusiasm. Even the garlic stench in the air seemed to turn fragrant. In class, Devero eagerly answered questions, earning 10 points for his house alongside Hermione.
After class, Devero approached Quirrell to express his desire to join the older students' Defense Against the Dark Arts classes, offering to take a test if needed. Quirrell, with his high-pitched voice, smiled and agreed, scheduling a meeting with Devero for Thursday afternoon to discuss it further. Devero happily accepted.
Next up was Herbology. As usual, Devero earned 10 points from Professor Sprout. Then came lunch, followed by History of Magic—the most torturous class Devero had experienced at Hogwarts. Having barely slept the previous night, Professor Binns' lecturing style made Devero wonder if he'd cast a sleep-inducing spell on his voice. It was impossibly hypnotic! As a result, Devero fell asleep in class for the first time and was caught by Professor McGonagall, who was patrolling. He earned his first punishment: standing in class and a 10-point deduction.
Luckily, during the break, Hermione brought him a special coffee. It helped him survive the second half of the class, though he nearly fell asleep standing up. The coffee, however, was bitterly unbearable—not a single grain of sugar! His tongue went numb with the first sip.
"Is there gentian root in this?" Devero immediately tasted the herbal infusion.
"Yes! I read in the Daily Prophet that many wizards use it to stay alert!" Hermione, thrilled that Devero recognized her concoction, eagerly shared her reasoning.
"Uh, but their recipe probably included sugar, right?" Devero couldn't believe British wizards would drink something so absurdly bitter.
Hermione's expression turned serious. "Devero, sugar is bad for your teeth, especially at our age."
Well, she was the daughter of dentists. Under Hermione's enthusiastic insistence, Devero tearfully downed the excruciatingly bitter coffee.
Over the next two days, Devero attended morning classes, earned points for his house, and spent his evenings wandering and exploring Hogwarts. Time flew by, and soon it was Thursday. That afternoon was Flying class—a lesson Devero was eagerly looking forward to!
***
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