'Hermione Granger and Harry's group have had a falling out?'
In the evening, after Victor Wick finished grading assignments, he habitually took out his notebook to take a look.
Seeing this information, Victor felt a bit helpless.
He had already looked into Harry's circle of friends. Miss Granger was exceptionally bright and could easily serve as the brain of their little group.
And now they had fallen out...
Without a clever girl like Hermione around, Victor was a bit concerned that Harry and the others wouldn't be able to grasp the hints and guidance he was laying out for them.
This simply wouldn't do.
Victor decided he needed to intervene.
It wouldn't be difficult. He just needed to have the students face projections of Dark creatures in the next Defense Against the Dark Arts class and then pair them up together.
Relationships between children are always a bit bumpy, but as long as they go through something together, they usually mend.
Of course, that was assuming they didn't start off like Harry and Malfoy, who had taken an instant dislike to each other.
Harry tossed aside his Potions homework, the ink still wet. Ron and Neville immediately snatched it up to 'borrow' it shamelessly.
In truth, while Ron and Neville might find Potions assignments difficult, they weren't nearly as hard for Harry anymore.
Under Victor's influence, Harry took his studies quite seriously. He had even memorized that thick Herbology textbook before the term started...
In the past, Harry might not have been able to pull that off.
But now, Harry had hope in his heart.
To become a wizard as powerful as Professor Wick, to avoid disappointing his deceased parents, and to keep people like Malfoy from mocking him, he would work hard on his schoolwork no matter what.
However, Harry knew all too well that even if he wrote a masterpiece for Potions, that sallow-faced professor would still find something to criticize.
Since a scolding was inevitable regardless of his effort, Harry didn't dwell on it.
Instead, he was looking forward to the flying lesson this afternoon...
But the sky was unfamiliar territory for humans, so alongside his anticipation and excitement, Harry felt a twinge of nervousness.
At that moment, Hermione walked past carrying a massive book on Quidditch, muttering to herself as usual.
Harry caught a few words: relax, stay confident, grip the broomstick firmly, and so on...
It turned out that even this normally proud girl could get this nervous.
Since their last disagreement, she and Ron had argued several more times, leading her to stop speaking to them entirely.
To be fair, it wasn't entirely Ron's fault. Although Ron could be blunt and unkind, Hermione's haughty attitude and her habit of lecturing others were indeed hard for many to stomach.
Consequently, Hermione had almost no friends in Gryffindor. At some point, she had even earned the nickname 'Miss Know-it-all'...
Watching Hermione's rigid back as she walked away, Harry suddenly remembered what Professor Wick had told him...
'Everyone needs friends.'
At the time, the Professor's eyes had been full of nostalgia and longing...
"Hey! Hermione!" Harry suddenly stood up and called out to her.
Ron, who was scribbling furiously, looked at Harry in shock. He didn't understand why Harry would suddenly call out to 'Miss Know-it-all'!
"What is it?" Hermione turned to look at Harry, her gaze reminiscent of Professor McGonagall about to call on someone in class.
"Oh... uh... I just wanted to ask how you're feeling about the flying lesson this afternoon?"
"I'm perfectly prepared! Why?" Hermione said decisively. If not for the way her fingers were tightly gripping the book's cover, Harry might have believed her.
Looking at Hermione, who was acting like a little hedgehog with its quills out, Harry couldn't help but scratch his head. "Uh... actually, I'm not really prepared. Could you explain it to me?"
Ron's eyes widened as he stared at Harry like he'd seen a ghost.
Neville stood up as well. "Yeah... I'm not ready either, and I'm worried about this afternoon. Could you give us a rundown?"
Ron wanted to jump up and ask if they had both gone mad, asking 'Miss Know-it-all' for flying tips!
But before he could, Neville pushed him back down.
"Well... I... I suppose I could..." Hermione's chin remained high as she maintained her proud facade, but her tone had softened.
"Then tell us about it. We've been rushing through our Potions homework and haven't had time to look at the flying books. You read so much; why don't you share some of what you've learned?" Harry pulled Hermione over and sat her down in a soft sofa in the common room.
"Uh... all right then..." Hermione's gaze drifted toward Ron.
Ron really wanted to object, but looking at Harry and Neville, he realized what his friends were doing. No matter how dim he could be, he knew they were trying to mend fences with Hermione.
"Actually, I have some tips I could tell you too," Ron said reluctantly. "My brother Charlie was the Gryffindor Quidditch captain before he graduated, and Fred and George are on the team now. I've flown a few times myself growing up."
Ron's words were quite convincing. Since almost all his brothers had been on the Quidditch team, he had picked up a few tricks over the years.
Hermione slowly lowered her guard and placed her book on the table, falling silent.
Under the watchful eyes of the others, Ron began to explain some techniques for riding a broomstick.
And without realizing it, the group's relationship slowly began to heal...
At that moment, in a portrait on the wall, a wizard's eyes flickered almost imperceptibly toward them.
"It looks like... I won't need to step in after all. Who knew Harry had such a way with girls?"
With a smile on his face, Victor Wick disconnected the Magic Operating System from the Hogwarts server.
"Quirrell, it's time to stir things up."
In Quirrell's office, the professor was trembling as he brewed an unknown potion.
"But... what about Victor Wick...?"
"Don't worry about him. He has his plans... and I must have mine." Voldemort's voice sounded significantly weaker than before. "My condition is deteriorating; I'm struggling to maintain this form. Find an opportunity to draw everyone away and go see that mirror Logic mentioned... I must confirm for myself if the Philosopher's Stone is truly at Hogwarts."
"Master, do you doubt Victor Wick?"
"I once thought he could be used because of our deal... But based on your descriptions of his behavior lately, I've realized he has changed, Quirrell... The Logic of the past had infinite potential but lacked power, which is why he sought me out. But now... his methods are far more advanced than they were back then. Leading a group of weak students into a mirror to teach... that is not the feat of a minor wizard."
Quirrell began to understand Voldemort's point.
He likely knew about the secret deal between Voldemort and Victor Wick.
When Victor's power was meager, he did Voldemort's bidding because only a powerful Voldemort could help him resolve his issues.
But now his master seemed to be realizing that Victor had become much stronger than he was years ago.
At this rate, would Victor even need his master's help anymore?
It was hard to say...
As his master's leverage weakened, he naturally worried whether Victor would continue to serve him faithfully.
"Rest assured, Master. I will find the right moment to lure everyone away... and see that mirror for myself."
"Good... I want to see how Logic's attitude changes then... Is the potion ready?"
"Nearly, Master..."
"These potions are becoming less effective... Go to the Forbidden Forest and find me a unicorn. I need its blood to maintain my 'form'..."
Quirrell's lips trembled at the mention of a unicorn.
To drink the blood of a unicorn was to carry a terrible curse... but he dared not refuse his master's demand.
"Yes..."