The first meeting with Voldemort

Nothing good ever came of staying up until three in the morning!!

Otherwise, how would I have suddenly run into this guy!

Argus's blood pressure soared, and his body instantly tensed.

He knew who it was without even turning around!

Quirrell!

Hogwarts' Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor!

More importantly, the final boss of this novel-Voldemort-was living as a parasite on the back of his head!

I made quite a stir when I entered Hogwarts!

Especially with my surname-Grindelwald! There was no way it wouldn't attract Voldemort's attention!

Calm down, Argus!

With Dumbledore here, as long as you don't show anything unusual, he won't possibly act rashly.

After silently reassuring himself, Argus put that familiar smile back on his face.

"Good evening, Professor Quirrell."

"G-good evening, Mr. Grindelwald! W-why are you here instead of sleeping in your common room?"

There was a trace of suspicion in Quirrell's voice, and a hint of nervousness too.

"Sorry, Professor. I just went to the kitchens for a late-night snack."

"A late-night snack?"

"That's right. I got a little absorbed in reading this evening, and it was already the middle of the night when I woke up."

"I-is that so? Young wizards as studious as you are quite rare."

Quirrell stammered, his gaze sweeping back and forth over Argus.

Suddenly, his expression changed. His previously rosy face turned deathly pale in an instant.

The look he gave Argus became hesitant, almost pitying.

Something's wrong!

That look in his eyes isn't right!

Argus keenly noticed the change in Quirrell and quietly stepped back.

"Professor, if there's nothing else, I'll head back to the common room. I'll be in for it if Mr. Filch catches me."

"Sweet dreams!"

"W-wait!"

Cold sweat poured down Quirrell's forehead, as though he were enduring tremendous pain.

He forced out a faint smile.

"Mr. Grindelwald, if you're willing, why not bring your book to my office? I could help you look it over."

"It's too late. I won't trouble you, Professor."

"I'll come and visit another day!" Argus kept moving.

He backed away as he spoke.

"Mr. Grindelwald, refusing a teacher's invitation hardly seems like the conduct of a good student."

Just as Argus was about to turn tail and run, Quirrell's expression suddenly changed.

An indescribably peculiar air came over him.

His eyes brimmed with confidence!

Argus was dazed for an instant. The next second, his Occlumency went into overdrive!

Legilimency? Damn it!

I've actually brought Voldemort out!

I should never have agreed to come out for a late-night snack with the Weasley Twins tonight!

I've had it easy for too long. I didn't even take this basic precaution!

It looks like I really need to train properly!

These thoughts ran through Argus's mind.

But now wasn't the time to consider such things.

Whether he could even get away was in question!

Afraid that a sudden move would alert Voldemort, he kept his expression unchanged and continued answering with a faint smile.

"Professor, it's not that I want to refuse. It's simply too late, and I have classes tomorrow."

"Professor McGonagall won't be happy if I doze off in class."

Seeing that Argus had merely been a little dazed, a flash of surprise passed through Quirrell's eyes.

He studied Argus with interest.

"Even Mr. Grindelwald is afraid of professors?"

"I'm a student. Wouldn't it be strange if I weren't?"

Click, click!

Just then, faint footsteps came from the distance!

Argus raised an eyebrow, afraid that whoever was coming might fail to notice him.

He raised his voice a little further.

"I'm terribly sorry, Professor Quirrell. I really am rather tired tonight. Thank you for the invitation. I'll be sure to visit another day to offer my apologies!"

Sure enough, the footsteps paused!

Then they quickly approached him!

"Mr. Grindelwald, if I'm not mistaken, you should be lying in bed right now, not wandering around the castle like one of those foolish Gryffindor lions!"

For the first time, Argus thought Snape's voice sounded wonderful!

Quirrell looked up in the direction Snape was approaching from, then turned back to Argus with even greater interest in his eyes.

"Mr. Grindelwald, we will meet again."

"I hope you won't refuse my invitation next time."

"Of course, Professor!"

Snape's arrival instantly bolstered Argus's confidence.

He turned, only to find himself facing Snape's gloomy expression.

"Mr. Grindelwald, would you care to explain to your hardworking old Head of House why you were breaking school rules on your second day of term?"

"Professor Snape, I only came out for a late-night snack."

"A late-night snack?" Snape sneered. "Perhaps Madam Pomfrey's Calming Draught would suit you better."

"Congratulations, Mr. Grindelwald. Your 'brave' conduct has successfully earned you a week's detention."

"Five points from Slytherin!"

"Remember to report to Mr. Filch tomorrow evening."

"And go back to bed immediately!"

"Yes, sir!" Argus merely nodded and smiled, betraying no emotion.

He turned and headed towards the Slytherin Common Room.

Behind him, he heard Snape's questioning voice.

"Professor Quirrell, I believe you know perfectly well..."

Inside the Headmaster's Office.

Dumbledore lay in a reclining chair, his fingers tapping lightly against the armrest.

Ever since he had learned what Ron had done that day, his deeply lined brow had not relaxed.

He was already old. Dealing with a resurrected Voldemort would be an almost impossible task.

Harry was his hope for the future!

From Harry's birth, to his acceptance into Hogwarts, to his arrival at school.

He had meticulously planned every step.

Ron Weasley was the companion he had prepared for Harry!

Dumbledore had thought that the Weasley family's talent, strength, and influence in the wizarding world would make Ron an excellent source of support for Harry in the future.

He hadn't expected that, despite all his calculations, he would still overlook one thing!

Namely... what if Ron couldn't shoulder the task of being the Chosen One's companion?

After all, his requirements for Harry's companion went beyond simply eating, drinking, and playing together.

He needed Ron to support Harry at crucial moments and help him quickly grow into a pillar of the fight against Voldemort.

But what had Ron done now?

What happened in Potions class could still be explained as a mistake, but what about Flying class?

It was no longer a question of whether he could help Harry. He was going to lead Harry astray!

If Harry was influenced by him and became someone consumed by jealousy and a desire to show off, how could he possibly fight Voldemort?

He had spent the entire evening thinking about this matter.

Just as he was racking his brains, the stone statue outside the door suddenly opened.

Snape walked in with a long face.

"Severus, you're here."

There was a trace of weariness in Dumbledore's aged voice.

Snape swept into the Headmaster's Office, his black robes swishing, looking like an enormous bat.

"Quirrell met Mr. Grindelwald tonight."

Dumbledore's eyes snapped open, and his relaxed back gradually straightened.

"What happened?"

"It was probably a coincidence!"

"Why do you say that?"

Snape thought for a moment before replying, "I could tell that Argus wasn't particularly willing to talk to Quirrell."

"Or rather, disgust would be more accurate!"

Dumbledore narrowed his eyes slightly. "It seems he noticed something."

"He could sense... that person?"

"Mr. Grindelwald is quite accomplished at Occlumency. Even I cannot uncover his true thoughts." Dumbledore rubbed his brow.

"Given Voldemort's current condition, it wouldn't be surprising if he noticed a reckless attempt at Legilimency."

"Severus!"

Dumbledore's expression suddenly grew serious.

"I would like to ask you a favour!"

"Does our esteemed Headmaster intend to keep even an eleven-year-old child under surveillance?"

For Snape to become a double agent, both his intellect and his abilities had to be exceptional.

He saw through Dumbledore's thoughts at a glance.

His tone was deeply mocking.

"Not surveillance. I only need you to pay a little more attention to that child."

"He is far too much like my old friend, and he is very close to Harry."

"I'm worried..."

Snape sneered. "Worried about what? Mr. Grindelwald wouldn't commit so many foolish acts like Potter and Mr. Weasley, whose heads are full of knotgrass!"

Dumbledore looked straight into Snape's eyes. "You know what I mean. We cannot afford to fail."

"Nothing must go wrong with Harry's development."

Without so much as glancing at him, Snape turned to leave.

Dumbledore spoke again. "He is Lily's only child, and he has the same emerald-green eyes as Lily!"

Snape stopped.

His body trembled slightly.

"We must do everything within our power to create a perfect environment for Harry to grow up in."

"We cannot let him affect our plan!"

"Severus!"

After a long silence, Snape walked straight out of the Headmaster's Office.

"Understood!"