Blood Curse

Professor McGonagall looked at Albus Dumbledore, still shaken, and murmured, "That's good, that's good."

Professor McGonagall, regaining her composure, pressed on. "What about the Philosopher's Stone? Longbottom's claim that Snape wanted to steal Philosopher's Stone is utterly absurd!"

Albus Dumbledore nodded. "That's right, the whole thing has nothing to do with Severus, it's Quirrell."

"Quirrell?" Professor McGonagall was both surprised and furious. "Didn't he already resign and leave?"

Neville, following behind him, was equally shocked. Who would have thought that the one coveting the Philosopher's Stone wasn't the seemingly villainous Snape, but the harmless Professor Quirrell, who was considered powerless?

"Clearly, this is a scheme of his. Minerva, please go and seal off the fourth-floor corridor first. I will discuss the details with you tomorrow."

Having received Albus Dumbledore's order, Professor McGonagall nodded, then said to Neville, "Longbottom, your voice is hoarse. Come with the Headmaster to the Hospital Wing. You've had a long day."

Neville nodded, opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

The reason it took so long to find Professor McGonagall was because Neville's voice was hoarse, and he couldn't get his words out no matter how much he gestured.

Professor McGonagall couldn't stand it any longer and had Neville write it down on parchment, which is how she learned what had happened.

With Neville added to the mix, Tom and Albus Dumbledore remained silent until they reached the Hospital Wing.

Madam Pomfrey gave Albus Dumbledore dressing-down, saying that strange and unusual things shouldn't be kept in the school, as it would harm the students.

Only two people in the entire school dared to treat Albus Dumbledore like that: Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey. When it came to the safety of the students, she dared to point her finger at Albus Dumbledore and yell at him.

Thus, Albus Dumbledore dared not refute, and could only force a smile.

After examining the two, Madam Pomfrey said irritably, "Potter is fine, just that his magic was depleted in a short time. Weasley's injuries are purely external; he'll be fine after some rest."

"And what about me?" Neville quickly pointed to himself, his eyes filled with eagerness.

"Don't talk for the next couple of days, just drink plenty of water and you'll feel better. Go back now," Madam Pomfrey waved her hand.

"Then I can entrust them to you with peace of mind, Poppy," Albus Dumbledore a smile, and then led Tom to the Headmaster's Office.

"What a busy day," Albus Dumbledore remarked as he sat down in his seat.

"First I was summoned to London, and then I rushed back. I feel like my old bones are about to fall apart."

Tom didn't respond, waiting for him to make his move.

"Mr. Riddle, you seem completely unsurprised by Voldemort's appearance in Quirrell, and show no fear whatsoever of Voldemort."

"You know, I was shocked for a long time after I confirmed this information."

"I'm Muggle-born," Tom emphasized.

Albus Dumbledore more puzzled. What did this have to do with one's background?

"For people like us who have never known anything about the Wizarding World before, Voldemort is just an abstract concept, and we don't really feel anything about him."

"He's not even as evil as some of the villains in storybooks. As for him in Quirrell? He even has magic, so what's impossible for him?"

"So this isn't surprising to me. It just makes me think Professor Quirrell's taste is really bad. He didn't even know to choose a more capable master, but instead chose a half-dead cripple."

After listening to Tom's theory, Albus Dumbledore nodded in agreement. "Indeed, it's just a name; sometimes people add too many definitions to it."

"However, I still want to thank you, Mr. Riddle. Thank you for protecting the Philosopher's Stone and thwarting Voldemort's plot."

"Professor, you've misunderstood something. I'm not protecting school property."

Tom took the Philosopher's Stone out of his pocket.

"Since you arrived at the scene at almost the same time as me, you should have heard my conversation with Voldemort. I want this stone."

For a fleeting moment, Albus Dumbledore's gaze sharpened like a razor's edge, as if piercing through Tom's body and reaching his very soul.

But this sharp edge was quickly concealed, and the old man's voice remained calm.

"Can you tell me why, Mr. Riddle?"

"Immortality? At your age, worrying about death is far too premature. Wealth? That's even less necessary; it's just worldly possessions."

"Even without the Philosopher's Stone, you can easily obtain one with your abilities."

The portraits of past generations that had been feigning death also quietly opened their eyes, all wanting to see where this little wizard got the audacity to dare to snatch things from Albus Dumbledore.

"Professor," Tom looked up, meeting Albus Dumbledore's gaze without hesitation, and asked earnestly, "Are you aware of the Greengrass family curse?"

Suddenly, Albus Dumbledore's gaze softened and became kind.

Albus Dumbledore's smile returned, and his tone became more relaxed.

Tom had guessed many reasons why he wanted the Philosopher's Stone, but this was one he had overlooked, and it was also the one that surprised and pleased him the most.

"Using the life force of the Philosopher's Stone to solve the Greengrass family's curse? That's certainly a very creative plan, but whether it can be realized, I don't know."

Tom urged him to answer the question about the Greengrass Curse, not wanting to beat around the bush with the old bee.

"Ah, this is a very troublesome problem," Albus Dumbledore sighed. "Really, I can only say it is an extremely vicious Blood Curse. Yes, very vicious, vicious to the core."

Tom frowned, recalling the records of Blood Curse. "Isn't Blood Curse a curse that turns a person into some kind of beast? The most famous Maledictus is Nagini, who was involved with two generations of Dark Lord."

Albus Dumbledore looked at the boy in surprise. "I didn't expect you to know so much about Blood Curse, but this is only one type of Blood Curse."

"There are many types of Blood Curse; some damage the soul, some torment the body, and turning someone into an orc is just one manifestation of it."

"Generally speaking, any curse that is inherited through bloodline can be called Blood Curse."

"You should be aware of the Greengrass family's Blood Curse, which is why you thought of using the Elixir of Life from the Philosopher's Stone to cure it."

Tom nodded. "I've created a medicine that can work on Astoria, but its main function isn't to replenish life force, and its effects will gradually wear off."

Albus Dumbledore exclaimed, "That's quite remarkable. Back then, Daphne Greengrass's grandmother asked me to break her sister's Blood Curse."

"But I ultimately failed, Mr. Riddle, you are far superior to me."