Chapter 147: Voldemort's Temptation
"Leonardo Grafton."
Seeing the face in the mirror, Voldemort murmured the name.
To be honest, he had not expected to see that face tonight at all.
His thoughts churned, and he chose his words carefully.
"Leonardo. This is our formal introduction."
"I am the one they call the Dark Lord. I am certain you have heard my name."
A trace of smugness and arrogance twisted across Voldemort's hideous face, as if he expected Leonardo to react with shock and submission.
But Leonardo's expression remained calm. He set the crystal phial of potion down casually on the worktable. Voldemort's gaze flickered.
After all, he had just watched Leonardo brew that potion with the Philosopher's Stone. The Stone he sought for the Elixir of Life. For a new body.
Voldemort was sure that tonight, after a year's pursuit, his goal would be achieved.
On second thought, Leonardo should be easy to sway.
A child of extraordinary talent. A child who did not reject the Dark Arts. A child hungry for knowledge. He needed a learned and powerful mentor. Someone like him.
"Leonardo, you are the finest student Hogwarts has seen since me."
"Your gifts are remarkable. But how much can you truly learn at Hogwarts? Have you been to the Restricted Section? That is where the real treasure lies."
At that, Leonardo's eyes gleamed faintly.
It was true. The Restricted Section held so many good books. A year was not enough to read them all.
He wondered if he could borrow them over the summer. He would have to ask Dumbledore before the holidays.
Voldemort caught the shift in Leonardo's expression and believed he had struck a chord.
Mention knowledge, and Leonardo would bite. After a year of observation, Voldemort was certain: Leonardo was a true Ravenclaw, an eagle who chased wisdom and learning above all else.
"What a pity. That stubborn old fool Dumbledore will not allow students to touch such knowledge, to explore the truly powerful Dark Arts."
"You think he is protecting you? No. He fears that geniuses like you will one day surpass him. Just as he once feared me."
Voldemort's voice rose, laced with persuasive fervour. He was trying to break through Leonardo's defences while venting the "injustice" he had suffered in his youth.
Listening to the impassioned speech, Leonardo almost wanted to applaud.
No wonder Voldemort had gathered so many followers even as a student, and later built a cult of devotees to do his bidding.
With that silver tongue, he could have thrived even without magic. He would have made a fine salesman. Or politician.
Next would come the empty promises.
"But I am willing to share all I have learned with you."
"Give me the Stone. Let me return. Once I have unlocked the secret of immortality, I will grant you eternal life as well."
"We will share knowledge and glory together!"
Hearing this, Quirrell wanted to sigh. He had been seduced by Voldemort's words in the Albanian forest.
Knowledge. Glory.
What Ravenclaw, what gifted wizard, could refuse?
But Leonardo's mouth twitched.
What was this, trickle‑down immortality?
Leonardo could not help it. He laughed.
"Ha. A man defeated by a one‑year‑old has very little credibility."
The words rang out from the mirror. Voldemort's face darkened.
Defeated by an infant?
The great Lord Voldemort, lose to Harry Potter?
The violence and madness of his fractured soul flared. Voldemort seized control of Quirrell's body and slashed his wand through the air.
Whoosh!
A black arrow wreathed in mist hurtled straight at Harry on the floor, aimed at his heart.
But the expected scream never came.
"Master!" Quirrell cried out.
A creature had appeared in front of Harry.
Pale gold scales, white jade horns, and eyes as clear as crystal.
This was the creature that had protected the unicorn in the Forbidden Forest and burned off Quirrell's arm.
Quirrell twisted around. Voldemort's face turned to the front, staring at the strange being shielding Harry.
"Hahahaha…"
"Excellent. Excellent!"
"So that is it. Leonardo, you truly are full of surprises."
Voldemort had not expected the creature from the forest to be here. That impossible vitality had haunted him. Tonight's harvest would be richer than he imagined.
"Leonardo, with your talent, there is no need to waste time at Hogwarts. Come with me…"
He craned his neck around as he spoke, brimming with confidence, but when he looked back at the mirror, the words died.
The image had gone blank. Leonardo was gone. The table was gone. The potion was gone.
The next moment, the mirror itself vanished.
What filled Voldemort's vision was a flash of red light.
But Voldemort was not Quirrell. Their combat experience and reflexes were worlds apart.
A blue‑violet bolt of lightning shot from his wand and collided head‑on with the red spell.
Crackle, crackle.
A sharp, shrieking sound exploded from the point of impact.
"Nonverbal magic!"
Voldemort's scarlet eyes found Leonardo across from him, locked in the clash.
"Heh. First year, and you can cast without speaking. Very impressive."
"Your talent really is extraordinary."
In an instant, he took full control of Quirrell's body. Dark, powerful magic surged forth.
He broke the deadlock and flung arcs of lightning, frost, poisonous fog…
Leonardo countered them all.
Voldemort was not annoyed. He nodded lightly, smiling with approval.
"Good. Your Defence Against the Dark Arts lessons were not wasted."
"Stay calm in battle. Respond with composure."
Most of his attention, though, was on the strange creature. The clash in the Forbidden Forest still lingered in his mind, especially its ability to block Apparition at the end.
Not that it mattered here. Apparition did not work inside Hogwarts anyway.
Voldemort simply guarded against a surprise attack from the creature while continuing to work on Leonardo with words.
"Leonardo, how much of what you have learned came from Quirrell? And how much came from me?"
"Your progress, your growth—you owe me thanks for that."
After firing dozens, perhaps a hundred spells in quick succession, Leonardo let out a soft breath. His warm‑up was done.
He pressed the brass pocket watch in his left hand. A shimmer of Transfiguration, and a sleek revolver appeared in his grip. Bullets loaded themselves into the chamber.
He raised the barrel and aimed it at Voldemort.
"Evil Dark wizard. How dare you impersonate my beloved professor?"