Unearthing Potential, Cultivating a Vessel

"The original Snot Curse was... was very complex. It was a Compound Curse that could cause excruciating diarrhea, a persistent high fever, and skin ulceration..."

Professor Quirrell stuttered terribly, but after Three Minutes, the students who had finally managed to perk up could no longer hold on. They nodded and began to doze off.

Vizet's seriousness touched Quirrell and opened the floodgates, prompting him to provide an in-depth explanation of the Snot Curse. He seemed determined to pass on everything he knew.

Only Vizet listened with relish, filling an entire page with notes.

When the bell rang, Quirrell came before Vizet. His expression was uneasy as he asked hoarsely, "H... How was it? Could you... understand it?"

"It was fascinating!" Vizet said with a satisfied smile. "This is my first time encountering Compound Magic. Did the magic you taught before have similar properties?"

Quirrell smiled happily. "That was a brilliant li... line of reasoning! No wonder Professor Flitwick and the others always praise you."

"Would you like to learn mo... more magic like this? Come to my office at noon, and I'll reco... recommend some books!"

Vizet nodded. "Of course. Then I'll be intruding on your lunch break."

"N... No problem!" Quirrell waved his hand, smiling even more happily than before. "It's rare to meet such an ea... eager student."

He returned to his office with heavy steps and leaned his back against the door, pain showing in his eyes.

"I have to do this... It's the Lord's order..." he said hysterically. "But he's just an eager Ravenclaw, just like I once was... I'm sorry..."

"Hiss!" Quirrell sucked in a sharp breath and instinctively clutched his head. The pain made it difficult for him to breathe. This was the signal that Voldemort was summoning him.

He walked to the middle of the office and removed the Purple Turban from his head in front of the mirror.

The mirror reflected the back of his head, where a terrifying face had grown.

The face resembled that of a snake. Where a nose should have been, there were only two slits. Its sinister eyes glimmered with eerie red light.

Voldemort, who had originally been attached to the body of a Snake, had transferred himself onto Quirrell, forming an unbreakable master-servant bond.

Voldemort spoke in a cold voice like a viper flicking its tongue. "Quirinus... I hope you've brought me some Good News this time!"

"Master..." Quirrell's body trembled. His voice was filled with utmost respect. "Of the two boys you told me to watch, I've already invited one of them."

"Harry Potter?" The red light in Voldemort's eyes flared brightly before quickly dimming a little. "No! That boy is too weak... You invited Vizet Lovegood?"

"That's right! I explained the Snot Curse today and successfully drew his attention." Quirrell hurriedly continued, "I invited him to come over at noon and recommended several books to him."

"He's a Ravenclaw like you. The temptation brought by knowledge is fatal to people like you!" Voldemort let out a sinister laugh.

"Excellent! Quirinus, you've done well! After all this time, you've finally accomplished something for me!"

"Keep investigating how to enter that room on the Fourth Floor. Once it's done, I'll give you everything you want!"

"Thank you, my Lord!" Quirrell closed his eyes, his cheeks twitching slightly. "What should I do next?"

"What was today's lesson? Why did it draw his attention?"

"The Snot Curse. I explained the history of this magic. Vizet felt that since it was a curse, it shouldn't be so simple."

"His intuition is remarkably sharp!" Voldemort sneered. "Those fools used the stupid, ordinary name 'Snot Curse' to mislead people and conceal the curse's true name."

"The Affliction Curse! Master, you only told me about this magic yesterday." Quirrell asked in confusion, "But I don't understand. What do you intend to do with Vizet? Wasn't Harry Potter the only one you needed...?"

"Quirinus, do not speculate about my intentions!" Voldemort shouted sharply.

Quirrell suddenly felt as if his head were about to explode. He could barely keep his balance, and cold sweat broke out all over him as he fell to his knees.

"Master... I know I was wrong!" he begged hurriedly. "Master... what should we do?"

"Open yourself completely, Quirinus..." Voldemort's voice was filled with temptation. "I will pour the secrets of the Affliction Curse into you. Then you will teach this magic to him!"

Quirrell had no time to respond. He shook his head desperately, but his consciousness grew increasingly hazy. All he could do was nod with difficulty.

Dragging his heavy body along, he struggled toward the chair nearby.

Countless fragments of knowledge suddenly surged into him. The agony in his head made him lose consciousness instantly, and he collapsed unconscious in the chair...

"His soul's resistance to me has grown weaker." Voldemort laughed sinisterly. "Setting aside his incompetence, he's indeed a qualified servant!"

He shifted his gaze to the mirror. "Obscurus... Finding an Obscurial isn't easy these days."

"I hope Quirrell can hold out a little longer, so I can fully unearth this Obscurial's potential and turn him into a suitable vessel!"

At noon, Vizet knocked on the office door.

"Come in!"

The office was on the castle's third floor. It had decent lighting, yet it gave off a chilly feeling.

There were not many things in the office. In one corner stood an iron cage half-covered by Linen Cloth. Besides the Garlic Smell, another strange, fishy odor permeated the air.

"Mr. Lovegood!" Quirrell called. "Sit down! The lesson is about to begin."

Compared with the morning lesson, his face was as pale as paper, and his lips were completely bloodless. He looked as if he had just suffered a serious illness.

"Professor Quirrell, are you all right?" Vizet asked softly. "Why don't you rest first? I can come visit another day."

"No need!" Quirrell hurriedly replied. He waved over a chair, which landed behind Vizet.

"I believe I told you before that during the Summer Vacation, I encountered several Vampires and witches and was cursed by them together. This happens from time to time."

"It's the same when I teach. Being around too many people reminds me of what happened back then, and I start stuttering without realizing it. I'm much better when there are fewer people."

Vizet offered a polite remark. "Curses really are frightening. Professor Quirrell, you should take better care of yourself."

Quirrell's body trembled, and he suddenly began to stutter again. "You're the fi... first student to show concern for me."

Vizet smiled without committing himself, then took out his Notebook and quill, preparing to take notes at any moment.

Quirrell did not waste time either. His speech became fluent again. "I remember that this morning, you said you were interested in Compound Magic."

"Yes!" Vizet said with a smile. "Actually, I'm interested in anything related to magic."

"That's good. That's how a Ravenclaw should be!" Quirrell forced out a kind smile. It was somewhat stiff, as if he had not smiled like that in a long time.

"I'll use the Affliction Curse as an example to help you understand what Compound Magic is, as well as what characteristics this kind of magic possesses."

Vizet asked, "The Affliction Curse? Is that the true name of the Snot Curse?"

Quirrell nodded. "That's right. After its power was weakened, it was given a new name."