The Fool in Hogwarts

"Professor, you don’t need to say anything more. I understand," Vade said seriously.

He was certain that if he dared refuse, Quirrell would immediately cast a Memory Charm on him.

Quirrell would not allow a single word of their conversation in this office to spread. Otherwise, it would place him in a very difficult position.

But how could Quirrell guarantee that Vade would keep quiet?

Even if Quirrell’s mind was unstable enough to trust his character, Voldemort would never make such a basic mistake.

"Professor, to be safe, perhaps we should make a magical contract." Obvious unease appeared on Vade’s face. "What if you accidentally drink too much again and let slip that you asked me to divine something on the fourth floor? You’re a professor, so you might not be punished too severely, but I’m only a first year. What if the school expels me?"

Quirrell visibly froze, but Vade keenly noticed that some of the wariness in his eyes had disappeared.

You’re worried I’ll reveal your secret, while I’m worried you’ll throw me to the wolves.

Only if both sides had something to fear could they trust each other.

If Quirrell agreed to establish a contract, that would be even better. It would mean Quirrell had completely lowered his guard rather than continuing to treat him as a risk.

"T-there’s no need for that. I will keep the secret."

"All right, Professor. I’m willing to trust you." Vade’s heart sank. Quirrell’s refusal to make a contract meant that he had another way to ensure Vade’s silence.

Most likely a Memory Charm, with a smaller chance of the Imperius Curse.

However, it was already too late to save himself. Until Quirrell had eliminated every possible risk, he would never let Vade leave this office.

"Then let us begin the divination." Quirrell eagerly placed a crystal ball on the desk. "I specifically borrowed this from Professor Trelawney this morning."

Vade looked at the flawless crystal ball, and his cheek twitched.

Quirrell had prepared thoroughly. He had not even left Vade an excuse to delay.

"Professor, I need to remind you of something.

"I charge for divinations. The price starts at ten Galleons, and particularly difficult divinations cost extra.

"Also, if I fail to obtain a result, the fee is non-refundable."

Quirrell blinked blankly. Once he understood, he nodded awkwardly. "Ten Galleons, then."

"Professor, my rule has always been payment before divination."

Anger rose in Quirrell’s heart, but remembering his master’s task, he reluctantly handed Vade ten Galleons.

Vade happily accepted the money, then stood before the crystal ball and placed both hands above it without making direct contact.

He repeatedly murmured the subject of the divination while using magic to form a sphere of light within his mind. His eyes gradually turned pitch-black as he rapidly entered a meditative state.

Half-conscious and half-dazed, he maintained that condition and allowed the divinatory dream to appear inside the crystal ball.

Thick mist churned within the crystal ball before gradually settling.

In a distorted, illusory world shrouded in darkness, Vade saw a door.

The door opened by itself.

Inside the room, an enormous three-headed dog opened all six of its eyes and roared wildly at him.

Woof! Woof! Woof!

Vade hurriedly withdrew from the divination and swallowed involuntarily.

"Well? Did you see anything?"

"Professor Quirrell." Vade patted his chest, still shaken. "I think you should explain everything honestly to Headmaster Dumbledore.

"I saw a dark room containing a three-headed dog taller than the ceiling. It lunged at me and tried to tear me apart. It was unbelievably vicious."

Quirrell was not disappointed.

On the contrary, he was thrilled.

He had only wanted to test divination and had not expected much, yet this first-year Slytherin had genuinely surprised him.

He knew perfectly well that a three-headed dog guarded the fourth floor. That proved the accuracy of Vade Moria’s divination.

"What else did you see besides the three-headed dog?"

Vade hurriedly shook his head and answered with a mixture of truth and pretence. "Professor, you think far too highly of me. I’m only a first year. Merely seeing the three-headed dog consumed half my magic. If I had gone any deeper, my magic might have been drained instantly, causing me to lose consciousness."

"How very..." Quirrell had originally intended to call him useless, but remembering the persona he was maintaining, he hurriedly changed his words. "How very exhausting for you."

Vade looked weary, and the fear in his eyes had not completely faded. "I was paid to do a job. It was nothing."

"Professor, if there’s nothing else, I’ll leave now. I still have another lesson this afternoon."

"Wait." Quirrell stopped him with a forced laugh. "M-Mr Moria, you still haven’t told me whether that object is on the fourth floor."

"Based on the divination just now, it should still be there, but retrieving it would not be easy. It may even be extremely dangerous."

"Should be?" Quirrell asked. "Mr Moria, I want a definite answer."

"Professor, this... this will cost extra."

Quirrell hesitated, gritted his teeth, and placed another ten Galleons in front of Vade.

Vade opened his mouth, then reluctantly accepted nine of them.

He left one Galleon in his hand and flicked it into the air.

Ding!

The coin spun and landed neatly in his palm, face upwards.

"It is still on the fourth floor."

"T-that’s all?" Quirrell felt cheated. He had never seen such a crude method of divination. The only word for it was perfunctory.

"This is coin divination, a simplified form of dream divination. It can only determine yes or no.

"It cannot provide a detailed interpretation, but it is still reasonably accurate."

"What do you mean?"

"It means that the object is currently still on the fourth floor, but I cannot guarantee that it will remain there tomorrow."

Quirrell fell silent.

Was it too late to ask for his money back?

Vade slipped the Galleon into his pocket. "Professor, may I leave now?"

"You look exhausted. Drink a potion to restore your magic before you go." Quirrell forced a smile and took a vial from the drawer.

Before he could hand it to Vade, however, a hoarse voice sounded inside his mind.

"Have him divine what the object is."

"Master, wouldn’t that...?"

"Do as I say. This Slytherin is interesting. We need to test the limits of his divination."

Quirrell swallowed nervously. This young wizard was remarkably fortunate to have attracted the Dark Lord’s attention.

"Ahem. Mr Moria, could I ask you to divine what the object on the fourth floor actually is?"

Vade immediately became wary.

Other people might not know what the object was, but how could Quirrell, who had been trying to steal it, possibly not know?

This was certainly not Quirrell’s idea.

So... was Voldemort testing him?

"Professor." Vade looked at him awkwardly. "Couldn’t you simply write to the prince and ask?"

"No, that would never do.

"I can’t let him know that I lost the gift he gave me."

(To be continued.)