"Headmaster Dumbledore... you... you wanted to see me?" Sweat beaded on Quirrell's forehead as he walked nervously into the Headmaster's Office.
"Quirinus, you don't need to be so nervous," Dumbledore greeted him, handing over the hot tea he had prepared. "Have you been under too much pressure lately?"
"N-no... no... everything's fine." Quirrell slumped into the seat like a puppet, his limbs very stiff, looking extremely constrained.
"Mm." Dumbledore took a sip of tea, frowned, and added several Sugar Cubes to it. "The school hasn't been very peaceful lately. I think you should know about that, shouldn't you?"
"What?" Quirrell's body grew even stiffer, like a statue. "Headmaster Dumbledore, I d-don't... don't know."
Dumbledore came straight to the point. "A friend of mine asked me to look after an item for him temporarily. That item is quite valuable, so I made special arrangements for it to be kept in the Forbidden Corridor on the Fourth Floor."
"S-so... so that's how it is?" Quirrell forced out a smile. "This is... is the first I've heard of it."
"Someone has designs on that item." Dumbledore's gaze was bright and intent. "Quirinus, I hope to have your help."
"M-me?" Quirrell seemed frightened, his body still motionless. "Do I have that... that honor?"
"Of course!" Dumbledore smiled faintly. "It was precisely because I trusted you that I agreed to your request to transfer posts. Before November, I hope you can provide one protective measure. Can you do that?"
Quirrell gave two hysterical laughs. "Of course, n-no problem! I'll t-try my best!"
"That couldn't be better! If it were the old you, I'm afraid you would have refused me." As Dumbledore said this, a trace of disappointment appeared in his eyes. "At noon, did Vizet come to see you?"
"Yes! He has talent, so I