NOVEL NEXT Chapter 33: A Deadly Trap
Professor Quirrell was walking towards his office, stuttering as usual when he greeted a couple of the prefects who were patrolling the corridors after curfew. When he entered, he noticed a slip of parchment waiting on his desk with an alert charm on it. His master ordered him to investigate immediately, so Quirrell scanned and dispelled the charm. It was a simple message written in indistinguishable capital letters.
LV -
MUSIC SOOTHES THE SAVAGE BEAST. I HOPE YOU COME BACK TO US SOON.
- A FRIEND
Just as he finished reading it, the parchment burst into flames, startling the man. His master ordered him to head to the third floor at once so that they could test the theory and verify if it was a trap or not. No one else was supposed to know of Voldemort's involvement and the Dark Lord was curious as to who could have sent that message. He knew that it wasn't Dumbledore because it wasn't his style, so he decided to investigate who was behind this; after, of course, confirming the theory behind the Cerberus' reaction to music. As it was quite late, no one was around when Quirrell made his way to the third-floor corridor.
Dispelling the alert charms cast by Dumbledore, Quirrell opened the door and entered. At once, the Cerberus started growling, but he conjured a harp which began playing soft music. The large dog's eyelids started drooping. Once it was asleep, Quirrell carefully moved one of the massive paws away from the trap door.
The Defence professor never saw that silent stunner coming from behind him.
As he crumpled to the floor, Harry silenced the harp with a flick of his wand and sent an overpowered stinging hex at the sleeping Cerberus. The massive dog growled angrily and pounced on the only target it could see - the unconscious form of Professor Quirrell.
Harry swallowed as he turned away from the sight of the mangled body of the Defence professor, putting the hood of the invisibility cloak back over his head. He couldn't believe he had actually done it. Reinforcing his mental shields, he tried to push the memory as far into his mind palace as possible. He opened the door and walked out, trying to get to Ravenclaw Tower as soon as possible, doing his best to think about anything other than the murder he had just committed. He would probably have to take a Calming Draught for the night; maybe a few other nights too.
He never saw the shade rise from Quirrell's dead body, the red eyes staring the place Harry's head occupied before he had left the room. With an angry snarl, Lord Voldemort flew away from Hogwarts and back towards Albania.
He had been thwarted again by Harry Potter, but it would be the last time. He, Lord Voldemort would make sure of it!
...
April 2002
"Harry, what are we doing here? It's nearly midnight!" Daphne whispered in his ear.
The two of them were under Harry's Invisibility Cloak, prowling the castle after curfew. It was early April now, and Daphne couldn't figure out what her fiancé was up to.
"Don't worry, it's nothing dangerous," Harry smirked at her. "I have a surprise for you."
"A surprise?!"
"Yes, now hush. We're almost there."
Harry led her to the seventh-floor corridor and they stopped in front of a very familiar tapestry. After he checked the map to ensure no one was nearby, he removed the cloak and paced three times until the iron door appeared.
He then looked at Daphne and whispered, "Close your eyes."