Chapter 183 Voldemort: Has he always been at Hogwarts?

Chapter 183: Was Voldemort always at Hogwarts?

"Most Charming Smile Award? There's such an award?" Ron asked, blinking.

"Of course!" Hermione said matter-of-factly. "Mr. Lockhart won the award for five consecutive years. What does that mean? It means he's not only talented, but also very charismatic!"

Ron and Harry exchanged a glance, their expressions both a little stiff.

"Okay," Ron said, "you can continue."

Hermione snorted and continued reading.

Harry opened the book, read a few pages, and his expression turned a little strange.

His brows furrowed slightly, as if he were thinking about something.

"What's wrong?" Henry asked.

Harry handed him the book: "Look at this part."

Henry took the book and began to read it.

That section tells the story of Lockhart's duel with a female ghost, a thrilling and suspenseful tale filled with twists and turns. The ghost's hair could turn into snakes, her eyes could breathe fire, and her screams could knock people unconscious. Lockhart used various methods and finally defeated the ghost, sealing her in a silver bottle.

It was indeed very well written, but Henry knew that the story was fake.

Lockhart never actually fought the ghost. The story was stolen from a wizard, the poor wizard who actually did encounter the ghost. Lockhart simply changed the name to his own and made some minor alterations.

Henry returned the book to Harry.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

Harry thought for a moment, carefully choosing his words.

"I can't really explain it, it just feels...unreal."

"What's not real?" Hermione looked up.

Harry hesitated for a moment: "It's just—the plot points are too coincidental. Every time he just happens to come up with a solution, every time he just happens to escape unscathed. It feels like it was made up."

"How can you say that? Mr. Lockhart is a third-class Sergeant in the Order of Merlin! His book must be genuine!" Hermione frowned.

Ron whispered from the side, "The third-class medal isn't anything special. My dad has one too. He got it for chasing down a fugitive, and my mom was the one who caught him in the end."

"Your dad's was a work bonus, it's different!" Hermione glared at him.

"What's the difference? They're both medals."

"It's just different!"

Ron shrugged and said nothing more. He knew arguing with Hermione was pointless, especially about someone she idolized.

Henry did not join the discussion; some things require time and experience to become clear.

The cubicle was quiet for a while, with only the rhythmic sound of wheels hitting the rails and the rustling of Hermione turning the pages of her book.

Ron leaned back in his seat, staring blankly at the ceiling.

His mouse ran away at some point; it probably went out to play with its friends.

Harry stared at the blurry scenery rushing past the window, lost in thought.

After a while, Ron suddenly sat up straight.

"Henry," he began, "I have a question for you."

"Ask away," Henry said, looking at him.

Ron hesitated for a moment, seemingly considering how to phrase it.

"What do you know about Professor Quirrell's situation last year?"

The atmosphere in the cubicle shifted slightly, and Harry turned to look at Henry. Hermione put down her book, and all three of them looked at Henry, awaiting his answer.

"Why are you suddenly asking this?" Henry asked with a smile.

Ron scratched his head.

"Well—I've been thinking a lot lately about what happened to Quirrell. The school said he died in an accident in the Forbidden Forest, but that's so strange. What would a professor be doing in the Forbidden Forest late at night? And the way he usually acts, he doesn't seem like someone who would have an accident."

"I've thought about it too. He was there last Halloween when the trolls broke into the castle. Now that I think about it, something just doesn't feel right," Harry nodded in agreement.

"Didn't you all think Professor Snape was the bad guy back then?" Henry asked with a smile.

"Ahem." Harry coughed awkwardly twice, realizing he had wronged Snape, who was also one of the masterminds.

Hermione didn't speak, but her eyes showed that she was thinking about the same thing.

Henry leaned back in his seat, his gaze fixed on the scenery rushing past the window.

"You want to know the truth?" he asked.

All three nodded at the same time.

Henry was silent for a moment, then slowly began to speak.

Quirrell's death was not an accident.

The air in the cubicle seemed to freeze.

Ron opened his mouth as if to say something, but nothing came out. Harry gripped the armrest of his seat tightly, and Hermione's glasses slipped down a little; she hurriedly pushed them back in.

"What do you mean?" Harry's voice was a little hoarse.

Henry turned his head and looked at them.

"Someone once told me a saying: There is no love without a reason, nor is there hatred without a reason."

This statement would also be very fitting for Quirrell.

He paused for a moment at this point.

"Quirk is not a person; there is another person inside him."

Ron's expression changed instantly.

"Another person? What do you mean?"

Henry didn't answer directly, but looked at Harry.

"Harry, do you know what Voldemort has become?"

Harry shook his head honestly.

“Professor Dumbledore told me,” Henry said slowly, “that when Voldemort tried to kill you, the spell rebounded, and Voldemort lost his body and became a ghost. This ghost needs to possess a living person to survive, and Quirrell was the one he possessed.”

Hermione was pale, and Ron's mouth was agape.

Harry sat there, motionless, clearly shocked by the news.

"You mean—" his voice was hoarse, "Voldemort was at Hogwarts all last year?"

"right."

"It's on Quirrell?"

"right."

Harry gripped his hand tighter.

"What does he want to do?"

"He wants to be resurrected," Henry said. "There's something hidden in Hogwarts—the Philosopher's Stone. That thing can reshape his body and truly bring him back to life."

Ron couldn't help but interject, "The Philosopher's Stone? The one that Nicolas Flamel had on the fourth floor?"

"right."

The three of them fell silent for a long while before Harry spoke again.

How do you know all this?

"Because I met them," Henry said with a smile.

"You encountered—Voldemort?" Harry was somewhat shocked.

"Yes." Henry nodded.

"When? Where?" Ron gasped.

Henry briefly recounted what happened that day, including the unicorn being injured, his trip to the Forbidden Forest, his encounter with Quirrell, being controlled by Voldemort, the ring glowing, and the spell reflecting off.

He didn't go into too many details, but it was enough for them to understand what had happened.

Silence fell again in the cubicle.

Hermione was the first to speak, her voice trembling slightly.

"So—Quirok was controlled by Voldemort, he injured the unicorn, Voldemort wanted to kill you, but your ring protected you, and then Voldemort—disappeared?"

"Pretty much," Henry said with a smile.

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