Quick reminder that the target is 50 POWER STONES for the next BONUS CHAPTER (ie 2 updates in one day)!
The next week was probably Blake's most enjoyable one so far at Hogwarts. He was beginning to make real progress in his lessons with McGonagall, and without the worry of Quirrell trying to hurt him, Blake could finally properly focus on improving Scriptum Exordia - he was getting closer and closer, he could feel it.
Aside from that, Blake had also taken the time to learn more about Legilimency and Occlumency, curious about how exactly they worked. He had only done shallow reading beforehand, but now, having been put in a situation where he had been actually worried for his own mental protection, he wanted to read up on it as much as he could. Blake was also intrigued by that white projection spell he knew Dumbledore used - he'd been scouring the library for books about it, but hadn't yet come across it. Soon, I will though - as soon as I get Scriptum Exordia under control, I'll go full force with Legilimency, Occlumency, and with that spell.
"Oi!" Tracey's loud voice, as usual, distracted Blake from his thoughts.
"Focus on the game, you knob!"
Slytherin versus Gryffindor was apparently the most competitive rivalry in Hogwarts, as evidenced by the sheer amount of people that had come outside to watch. Blake was certain that literally every single person from every house was here to watch the game - not least of all because Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, was the first first year in over a century to be a Seeker, much to Malfoy's chagrin. In fact, Harry's presence on the field seemed to irritate Malfoy more than Blake's existence did, which the latter found very amusing. But to be fair to Malfoy, he's not the only one that's annoyed. Tracey had also voiced her annoyance about Harry being given an exception to the 'no broomsticks for first years' rule.
"He's just getting special treatment, because he's the Boy Who Lived! There's no way they'd let any of us do that!"
To be fair, I doubt she's wrong. Even though Harry's probably the best in the year, if anyone else were to be in his position, would they be allowed to play?
Nevertheless, the match went on. Blake hadn't really cared to investigate Quidditch beforehand, but he couldn't deny that the sport was entertaining. Not as entertaining as the commentary though. Lee Jordan seemed to be enjoying himself, and even if he was obviously biased against Slytherin, Blake couldn't help but laugh at his jokes and snide remarks, and also at McGonagall snapping at him.
However, suddenly, Blake noticed something. He nudged Zabini.
"Are brooms meant to do that?" he asked, pointing at Harry's broom, which was turning and tossing and shaking, as if it had gone mad. Harry was barely holding on, and Blake was beginning to get seriously worried for the other boy's safety. Zabini's eyes narrowed as he shook his head.
"What in Merlin's name is Potter doing?" Tracey wondered. "I thought he was good!"
As the rest of Slytherin jeered at Harry, and Gryffindor jeered back at them, Blake looked around the crowd. There's no way Harry's doing that to himself - and that broomsticks a good one, isn't it? Malfoy was complaining about it earlier. So if it's not Harry, or the broomstick, then that means…
Blake's eyes widened in realisation, and he turned around, scanning the crowd for one man - and sure enough, he was right.
Professor Quirrell's eyes were locked onto Harry's flying figure, wand held in hand, and he was saying something under his breath. Blood thundered in Blake's eyes. It had to be Quirrell - he's trying to jinx Harry!
For a second, Blake didn't know what to do. I promised Dumbledore I wouldn't put myself in danger - but does that mean I should leave Harry in it?
There was an obvious, resounding answer - no.
Dumbledore wasn't at the match - as far as Blake was concerned, there was no one to protect Harry in that moment, no one who had realised what was going on, apart from himself.
Thinking quickly, Blake got up and rushed towards where Quirrell was standing, on one of the stands behind him. "Oi! Where're you going?" Charlotte's annoyed voice shouted from behind him. Oops, must've pushed her by accident.
Blake forged on, pushing past the crowd of students, until Quirrell was finally within his reach. Without wasting a second, Blake pushed firmly into Quirrell, knocking him downwards, before continuing seamlessly onwards.
"Excuse me, Professor Snape?"
For a moment, Snape looked surprised, before collecting himself. He quickly turned back to look at the match, before turning to look at where Quirrell had been sitting, and then at Blake, who by now was incredibly self satisfied with how things had turned out. From the groans of Slytherin and the cheers of Gryffindor, Blake knew it - Harry's safe now.
"What is it, Renshaw?" Snape said in his normally, snivelly tone - but this time, Blake could've sworn he saw the corners of Snape's lips lift slightly.
Blake exaggeratedly looked back at where Quirrell had been standing. The Defence Against the Dark Arts professor had finally managed to get up, and was now looking directly at Blake and Snape, his expression a mix of fear, anger and confusion.
"Sorry to bother you, Professor - I was just wondering if I could get an extension on that Potions essay due next Thursday?" Blake asked, loud enough for Quirrell to hear him.
Snape remained relatively unfazed.
"Of course not, Renshaw. You've been given plenty of time to complete the assignment, and you have plenty more."
"But, Professor-"
"You're lucky I don't take House Points from you or place you in detention for wasting my time with foolish questions, Renshaw. You're dismissed!"
With a quick apology and a smile to Snape Quirrell couldn't see, Blake made his way back to his friends, apologising to Quirrell on the way back for pushing past him.
As Tracey, Charlotte and Zabini questioned his sudden move to Snape, Greengrass locked her eyes onto his, suspicious, before eventually turning away.
Gryffindor ended up winning the match (somehow by Harry eating the Snitch?), and while Tracey and Charlotte moaned at the loss, Blake's mind raced.
So, Quirrell's made a move - but not against me. And by the looks of it, Snape was casting a counterjinx. For all he seems like he hates Harry, he was actually protecting him - no doubt under Dumbledore's orders. And it also looks like Granger and Weasley have realised something was up too - Granger was making her way towards the Slytherin stands before I intervened. Hopefully, she doesn't think I did it intentionally - the last thing I need is them investigating me.
But Blake's mind wandered onto more sinister thoughts.
Quirrell was trying to hurt Harry - no, he wasn't just trying to hurt him. From that height, Harry wouldn't have survived. Quirrell was trying to kill him!
Quirrell's behaving weirdly with 2 people, as far as I'm aware. Me and Harry. Harry's the Boy Who Lived, and I'm a muggleborn in Slytherin. There's only one group of people I could think of that would want to hurt us both.
Blake's blood ran cold at the realisation.
Dumbledore promised we'd be safe. Snape knows that Harry was targeted, and he'll report it to Dumbledore - surely Quirrell will be arrested, or at least fired, soon - right?
/
"I see. Well, that does complicate things," Dumbledore sighed, rubbing his temples.
"If Blake's now aware that Harry's being targeted by Professor Quirrell, he'll want him to be fired immediately. After all, that was the promise I made him."
"Then why don't you?" Severus Snape immediately pressed. "Quirrell's made a move on Potter's life. There's no telling how far he'll go now. And if you don't get rid of him, you know that Renshaw will investigate it - the boy won't rest until he knows he's safe!"
"True as that may be, Blake is a clever boy. I don't believe he'd put himself in serious harm's way, to the extent that he would be actually hurt."
Snape snarled.
"I don't believe you! You're trusting an 11 year old boy to know what's safe or dangerous enough for him to handle?"
Dumbledore sighed.
"This is not an easy situation, Severus. But we must know what Lord Voldemort-"
Snape flinched at the name.
"-is planning. Don't you see now? Professor Quirrell returning from a random trip to Albania. Blake Renshaw being treated differently, almost with fear and rage. Attempted murder on Harry Potter. And Professor Quirrell is trying to steal the Stone. Does it not all add up?"
"Even if does, what's the point of keeping him here, where he can continue to do so? If he truly is working for him, then wouldn't it be best to capture him, or interrogate him, or do something?"
"If we did that then we wouldn't truly be able to understand what Voldemort actually is right now, Severus."
Snape looked at Dumbledore angrily for a moment, before eventually turning away.
"Renshaw's not the only one onto the mishaps going on here. I believe that Potter and his goons are too."
Dumbledore chuckled.
"I'm quite aware, Severus. I believe they think that you are the one trying to steal the Stone?"
Snape's face reddened to a nasty colour.
"Alas, I can hardly blame them, for all that you antagonise them."
"I do not-"
"Regardless, the plan goes ahead, although I'm planning a couple of tweaks. There's something I'm interested in seeing too."
Snape raised an eyebrow.
"I assume that this has something to do with the Mirror?"
Dumbledore smiled.
"You assume correctly. I'm fairly certain I know what Harry will see in the mirror," Dumbledore said, noticing Snape's face fall for a moment, before continuing.
"However, I must confess - I'm not sure what Blake will see."
"His father, most likely," Snape guessed. "Alongside his family."
"I hope so," Dumbledore replied with a small smile. "But I have a feeling that's more to his dreams that meet the eye."
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