What a Waste of Sincerity

Headmaster's Office.

"I'm sorry, Quirrell."

Dumbledore said gently, "I did everything I could to dissuade the school board, but they insisted that this was the shared wish of all Hogwarts students. We cannot go against everyone's will."

"Besides, there are indeed some problems with your health. Taking more time to recover would be a good thing for you."

"Of course, if you need it, I can help introduce you to a job."

Dumbledore was like a kind old man, guiding an ignorant young man lost about his future.

"Ah! N-no need."

Quirrell looked somewhat flustered as he said timidly, "I really do want to rest and recuperate for a while. Thank you... Professor Dumbledore."

Dumbledore's gaze behind his spectacles met Quirrell's eyes directly. Those eyes seemed to be filled with power. "If you have any difficulties, I can help you. I mean—any difficulties."

"I... I..." Quirrell opened his mouth.

He had failed the task the Dark Lord had assigned him, and he had no idea how the Dark Lord would punish him.

But Voldemort was currently dwelling within him. The moment he betrayed him, Voldemort could take his life.

"Thank you, Headmaster Dumbledore."

Quirrell said in a low voice, "I... I have no difficulties."

"Very well!"

Dumbledore sighed and said, "Then I wish you luck, Quirrell."

"Thank you!" Quirrell trembled as he walked out of the Headmaster's Office.

Dumbledore sat quietly in his chair, his expression calm, though turmoil had already risen in his heart.

He had almost made a move just now.

Dumbledore was highly skilled in Legilimency. He rarely used this magic in ordinary circumstances, but matters involving Voldemort were an exception.

Since Quirrell had dared to infiltrate Hogwarts, he had naturally mastered Occlumency and could resist Dumbledore's Legilimency to some extent.

But just now, with his mind on the verge of collapse, Quirrell had ultimately revealed a flaw.

Voldemort was actually possessing Quirrell.

Dumbledore had considered that possibility, but he had not thought Voldemort would be so bold as to come to Hogwarts to steal the Philosopher's Stone while stripped of his power.

And Quirrell had been far too obvious.

At the beginning of term, the first time Dumbledore saw Quirrell, he had noticed something wrong with him.

Yet he had not expected Voldemort to use such an obvious deception against him.

Dumbledore had nearly been unable to restrain himself from acting just now, but he had ultimately held back.

Before uncovering the secret behind Voldemort's immortality, Dumbledore could not kill Voldemort—even if he was only a fragment of a soul.

"Harry..."

That prophecy had already come true. Harry Potter was Voldemort's destined nemesis.

But Dumbledore was somewhat hesitant now.

Because the prophecy did not say Harry would defeat Voldemort. Rather—one had to die at the hand of the other, for neither could live while the other survived.

And no matter how one looked at it, Harry did not seem capable of defeating Voldemort.

Aside from the protective magic Lily had left behind, the gap between the two was simply heaven and earth.

Yet that protective magic happened to be a power Voldemort did not understand.

Dumbledore knew all too well that defeating Voldemort would not be easy.

First, he had to uncover the secret behind Voldemort's immortality.

There were certain Dark Arts in the Wizarding World that could achieve this. Dumbledore had some suspicions, but he had never been able to confirm them.

Second, there had to be a dueling ground that could prevent Voldemort from escaping.

Dumbledore was a wizard of that level, so he understood very well that if Apparition could not be restricted, no one could kill Voldemort.

What was more, even if Apparition was restricted, without sufficient strength, they would likely still be helpless against Voldemort.

Finally, Voldemort had powerful Death Eaters at his side.

And at Harry's side... there was only Ron.

"Collins... and Granger..."

Dumbledore pondered quietly. There were quite a few outstanding Little Wizards in Harry's year.

But ever since his conversation with Andy that night, Dumbledore had known that Andy and Harry were almost certainly incapable of becoming friends.

Andy was far too mature for an eleven-year-old Little Wizard. Even though he occasionally acted a little absurdly, that was merely entertainment alongside his pursuit of magic.

And Harry... was just a troublesome child.

Ever since witnessing with his own eyes how Tom Riddle had become Voldemort, Dumbledore had become much more cautious around gifted Little Wizards.

Young people still forming their values could easily develop extreme emotions because of certain mistakes made by adults.

Perhaps Voldemort had been like that in those days—Dumbledore had once used magic to frighten the young Voldemort, making him return the toys he had stolen and apologize to those children.

"Hmm..."

Dumbledore thought, Perhaps... I only need to let things take their natural course.

Gifted Little Wizards would never be content with peace and quiet, especially Little Wizards like Andy Collins, who was obsessed with magic.

What they needed was not merely magical knowledge. Sometimes, they needed opponents as well.

Andy had no idea that Dumbledore had already made arrangements for him. If he knew, Andy would probably shed tears of relief!

You were already one hundred and ten years old, yet you not only insisted on going to work every day, but also worried alone about the future of the Wizarding World.

And in the end, you did not even have anyone to care for you in your old age.

How moving.

Quirrell had left. If Hogwarts had undergone any new changes, it was probably Professor Snape's Defense Against the Dark Arts Class. Andy rather enjoyed Snape's lessons.

Snape's Defense Against the Dark Arts Class was not only easy to understand despite its depth, but the Little Wizards also had practical sessions where they could use magic against certain dark creatures.

The Little Wizards from all three houses were very satisfied, and thus a world where only Gryffindor suffered had appeared.

They had to attend Snape's Potions Class, and they also had to attend Snape's Defense Against the Dark Arts Class.

That was double the pain.

Especially since, to rearrange the timetable, many Gryffindor classes had been scheduled for the evening.

Hmm... triple the pain!

If there was anything else Andy found unsatisfactory, it was probably that Snape now basically ignored him and Hermione.

When Snape asked a question, if Hermione was the only one raising her hand, he would pretend that no one had raised a hand.

The same went for Andy.

When Snape asked, "Does anyone still not understand something?" he would also pretend Andy was not in the classroom.

This left the Little Witch extremely dissatisfied.

After all, she had privately comforted Snape after class that Monday. What a waste of her sincerity!

Andy did not dare say much.

That day, the Little Witch had told Snape that as long as he showed more concern for Gryffindor students and cared more about Harry, they would definitely come to like Professor Snape.

She had told Snape not to be sad, not to give up...

In short, Snape had nearly killed both of them that day.