Chapter 86 This mirror...something is wrong
After drinking the potion from the small bottle, Harry and Aaron felt a chill run through their bodies.
But the effect was clearly good; they felt nothing as they passed through the black flames, as if the flames didn't exist.
The two walked through a long corridor and arrived at the last room.
There were no mechanisms here, only a Mirror of Erised, and a person stood before this mirror.
However, it wasn't Professor Snape, nor was it You-Know-Who, but the Defense Against the Dark Arts Class teacher, Professor Quirrell.
Through the mirror's reflection, Harry saw the face of the person with his back to them and gasped in astonishment.
"It's you?
No, this isn't possible, it's Snape, he's the one."
"How many times have I told you?" Aaron sighed, rubbing his forehead and shaking his head, "It's not Professor Snape, it's not Professor Snape, but you never believed it.
Well, now, actions speak louder than words, and you can't deny it."
Professor Quirrell turned around, his face showing a coldness utterly unlike his usual demeanor.
"I didn't expect it! To meet you here, Potter.
What I didn't expect even more was this pleasant surprise, Aaron Gaius."
"Uh... should I feel honored at this moment? After all, not everyone can enter Lord Voldemort's sight."
"Lord Voldemort?" Harry was stunned, looking at Professor Quirrell in surprise, "You mean he's Lord Voldemort?"
"Of course not, Professor Quirrell is just a pathetic host.
But he must have volunteered; although the Dark Lord is barely clinging to life, it's undeniable that he possesses vast resources that can grant people the things they desire most.
Money, longevity, knowledge, power, or... authority."
"I suddenly understand why my master values you so much." Quirrell burst into laughter, "But how did you know?
Normally, shouldn't everyone suspect Snape, like Harry Potter?
After all, he doesn't look like a good person and often makes things difficult for Gryffindor, while Professor Quirrell is just a stuttering coward who can't even speak properly."
"I have a magical creature that is particularly sensitive to certain cold, dark auras.
You hid very well, but you were too weak, which inevitably revealed a flaw.
It was during a Defense Against the Dark Arts Class, and my pet keenly sensed an aura that it found repulsive.
At first, I didn't pay it much mind, but then I coincidentally noticed a fleeting murderous intent in your eyes.
Compared to my peers, I'm quite experienced, but that look in your eyes still sent shivers down my spine.
Just imagine, how could a timid person who stutters and trembles when speaking possibly have such a look?
You've definitely killed people, and more than one.
That's when I started to suspect you."
Clap clap clap!
Professor Quirrell clapped and said, "That's quite impressive, but that's still just suspicion, isn't it?"
"It's suspicion, but that look alone was enough for me to conclude you weren't a good person.
Furthermore, after the Forbidden Forest incident, Professor Snape and Professor Dumbledore both sought me out, but those could be attributed to official business, with valid reasons.
Only you, the Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts Class, also wanted to keep me for a private talk, and your reason was to guide my studies, which clearly seemed made up on the spot."
"Isn't that reasonable?" Quirrell said with a grim expression, "Isn't it common for teachers to show a little more favoritism towards excellent students?"
"It is reasonable, but by then, you had already been labeled a 'bad guy' by me.
I had just injured the Black-robed Man in the Forbidden Forest, and a Professor from the school, who usually had no interaction with me, suddenly wanted to mentor me; it's hard not to let one's imagination run wild!
Besides that, Harry Potter's scar on his forehead, Unicornblood that sustains life, the Philosopher's Stone that grants immortality, and a terrifying Black-robed Man who dared not show his true face.
Connecting these points, one can barely reach a conclusion: you are Lord Voldemort's host."
Upon hearing this, Professor Quirrell lowered his head, his face grim, and remained silent.
Harry, on the other hand, pursed his lips; while bewildered, everything suddenly became clear.
"What about Snape... Professor? He cast a jinx on my broom during the Quidditch Pitch."
"This..."
Just as Aaron was about to explain, Quirrell suddenly interjected, "Actually, I was trying to harm you; Snape was casting a counter-curse.
If Miss Granger, your friend, hadn't come over and started a fire, blocking my view, I could have ended your life in less than half a minute."
"Do you understand now?" Aaron glanced at a dazed Harryand said, "Our Dean of Slytherin was trying to save you, but you've wrongly accused him for half a semester; you owe him an apology."
Harry nodded blankly, "But I always feel like he hates me."
"Of course he hates you, but the reason he hates you is because of your father, though he never wished for you to die.
I knew you were a threat from the start, especially after Halloween.
I released the Troll, distracting everyone, and thought I could succeed, but Dumbledore's magic stopped me.
Afterward, Snape came to me; he was more perceptive than anyone else, he suspected me, scared me, and even threatened me... but he didn't understand that his threats were useless, because I wasn't alone." Professor Quirrell said, turning to look at the Mirror of Erised, his eyes filled with greed, "What is this mirror for?
I see my desire; I offered the Philosopher's Stone to my master, but how do I get it?"
"What you see may not necessarily be real." Aaron spread his hands, "This challenge was designed by Dumbledore; he's an old fox, his wisdom is certainly not simple."
"Hmph! I'll just smash this mirror.
I have plenty of time; by the time Dumbledore returns from London, I'll have long since fled with the Philosopher's Stone."
"You can try it; perhaps you'll get nothing even if you smash this mirror."
"Use these two children."
A hoarse voice echoed in the room, and Professor Quirrellsuddenly turned to look at the two, sharply commanding, "You two, come here."
Aaron and Harry exchanged glances and slowly stepped forward.
"Look into this mirror and tell me what you see?"
The two stared at the mirror, not particularly nervous, as it wasn't their first time with the Mirror of Erised, so they had some experience.
Suddenly, Dumbledore's figure appeared in the originally plain mirror surface.
He held a blood-red stone in his hand, scanning back and forth over Aaron and Harry in the mirror, finally stopping on Aaron.
The Aaron in the mirror had a grim expression, waving his hands repeatedly, indicating that he should give the Philosopher's Stone to Harry.
But in the end, he couldn't refuse the elderly man, who placed the item in his pocket.
Harry was stunned and subconsciously glanced at Aaron's pocket, noticing that it was bulging significantly, immediately realizing where the Philosopher's Stone was.
"How is it?" Professor Quirrell asked, "What did you see? Speak quickly."
Harry was startled, and after realizing, he knew he absolutely couldn't show any flaws, so he immediately said, "I saw myself shaking hands with Dumbledore, and I also won the House Cup."
Quirrell rolled his eyes, pushed him aside, and stared intently at Aaron, "And you? What did you see?"
"How is this possible?
I saw myself offering the Philosopher's Stone to the Dark Lord, and then inheriting his legacy decades later, becoming the third-generation Dark Lord." Aaron spoke nonsense with a straight face, coupled with an expression of astonishment, his acting on point, but in his heart, he was cursing Dumbledore to hell.
Damn! Old schemer!
It was intentional; that old immortal absolutely did it on purpose.
To protect Harry, he actually pushed him, a Slytherin, out as a shield.
But it's not that easy to trick me into this.
"Master, this..." Professor Quirrell stammered, "What should we do?"
"One of them is definitely lying, or both are." A sharp voice came from behind Quirrell's head, "Let me talk to them."
"But Master, you don't have enough strength yet."
"It's enough."
Quirrell untied the purple turban wrapped around his head, then turned himself to face the two.
Where his occipital lobe should have been, there was now a human face.
Through the Mirror of Erised, Harry saw it very clearly; he had never seen such a hideous and terrifying face, even in the Restricted Section, it was like a demon crawled out of hell.
"I originally thought you might still retain some semblance of humanity, but now it seems I was mistaken." Aaron said with a hint of emotion.
"Long time no see, Aaron Gaius." Lord Voldemort said meaningfully, "This is our first true meeting, though it may not be a pleasant one."
"It's not pleasant."
"I need the Philosopher's Stone to reshape a body, and you can help me with this." Lord Voldemort said meaningfully.
Harry's heart skipped a beat; Lord Voldemort wouldn't have found out where the Philosopher's Stone was, would he?
He shook his head at Aaron with a complex expression, constantly praying that he wouldn't go astray.
Aaron, however, smiled indifferently, and to the other's astonished gaze, he took a red stone from his pocket, "You want this thing, don't you?"