"Observe this creature," Quirrell said, holding a bug with unusually long limbs, a look of sheer delight on his face. John felt a shiver run down his spine. As Quirrell touched the bug, an evil smile spread across his face. "John, my good boy, now, please name the three Unforgivable Curses for me."
John glanced at the wand in Quirrell's hand, took a moment to think, and then responded, "The Killing Curse, the Imperius Curse, and the Cruciatus Curse."
"Excellent," Quirrell praised. Without hesitation, he pointed his wand at the bug in his hand and announced, "Now, I shall demonstrate the supreme power of these spells." He then cast, "Imperio."
A flash of light later, the bug became utterly compliant in his grasp. Quirrell's eyes gleamed strangely as he explained, "The Imperius Curse allows a wizard to control another's actions, even to the point of death." Under his command, the bug leaped into a nearby basin, showing no resistance even as it nearly drowned. Then, it jumped towards a candle, enduring the flames without any attempt to escape.
John watched, a chill settling in his heart. The Imperius Curse's ability to control a person so completely, so instantly, was terrifying. "Come back," Quirrell commanded, and the bug obediently returned to his palm. He then cast another spell, "Crucio."
The bug's agonized screams filled the room. Even without seeing its face, John could tell the creature was in excruciating pain. The sound seemed to please Quirrell immensely. "Listen to that wonderful sound," he said, reveling in the control he wielded. It was clear that the allure of dark magic had corrupted Quirrell's heart, driving him into Voldemort's service for the promise of power.
In the dim moonlight, Quirrell couldn't see John's expression clearly but assumed the young wizard was equally captivated by the display of power. Quirrell then ceased his spells, his eyes alight with malevolence, and placed the bug on the table before casting the final Unforgivable Curse, "Avada Kedavra." A jet of green light struck the bug, ending its life instantly.
"Manipulating the mind, torturing the body, and controlling life and death, these curses wield immense power," Quirrell said, gripping John's hand with an excited expression. "This power is magnificent. He has high expectations for you, and you must not disappoint him."
"I will not let you down," John replied, bowing his head in a gesture that pleased Quirrell immensely. Quirrell's trust in John had reached a point where he believed there was no chance of betrayal. Having been taught the Unforgivable Curses, John had unwittingly taken a step closer to the dark side.
Later, John found himself submerged in a bath, trying to wash away the chill that clung to him. He wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but he felt as though the dark magic was gnawing at his soul, driving him to the brink of madness. In an attempt to calm himself, he splashed water over his head.
"It won't be long before Quirrell meets his end. I need to rid myself of him as soon as possible," John thought. With the school year nearing its close, he knew that Quirrell's time was limited, especially with the end of the term approaching before the House Cup.
As he settled his thoughts, John realized he didn't need to fear the dark arts. "Black magic isn't inherently evil; it's just another tool for defense," he reasoned, finding a semblance of peace in the thought. Casting curses in the wizarding world was considered a serious crime, punishable by imprisonment in Azkaban. However, John doubted that the professors at Hogwarts were fully aware of the Unforgivable Curses. He didn't see them as mentally deranged in any way. Reassuring himself with the thought that as long as he maintained self-control, he wouldn't end up like Voldemort, John managed to calm his nerves.
After emerging from the bathroom, he changed his attire and left the common room. Before heading out, he cast an Illusion Charm on himself, seeking a peaceful walk to clear his mind. His destination was the Room of Requirement, where he planned to engage in alchemical experiments. The recent encounter with Professor Quirrell, who had demonstrated the three Unforgivable Curses, made John realize the need to enhance his amulet. After a night of diligent work, he succeeded in adding new functionalities to it, including a defense against the Soul-Seizing Curse. This was the limit of his current abilities. While he believed he could endure the pain of the Cruciatus Curse, the Imperius Curse posed a greater challenge. To counter this, he integrated an early warning system into the amulet. Although it couldn't prevent the curse, it would alert John immediately if he were subjected to it, giving him a chance to resist.
As John had anticipated, it wasn't long before Quirrell invited him to venture into the Forbidden Forest. The invitation made John uneasy. "Professor, what exactly are we going to do in the Forbidden Forest? Despite my patrols, I've found nothing out of the ordinary," John said, attempting to feign ignorance. Quirrell, however, was insistent. "In the pursuit of knowledge, one must embrace practical experience to uncover the truth," he replied, his complexion notably paler than usual. It was clear that Voldemort, weakened and desperate, required the blood of a unicorn to sustain his life.
When John hesitated, Voldemort's impatient voice emerged from Quirrell, urging him to stop wasting time. At that moment, Quirrell cast the Imperius Curse on John. The amulet on John's wrist glowed brightly, signaling its activation, but its light quickly faded. John's mind felt scrambled before it slowly pieced itself back together. He looked at Quirrell with a vacant expression, convincing Quirrell of his success. "Master, let's proceed to find the unicorn," Quirrell said respectfully to Voldemort.
Since their last hunt, the unicorns had become scarce, hiding from the dark forces that sought their lives. However, some had eventually ventured out, leaving traces for Quirrell to follow. John, feigning the effects of the curse, followed Quirrell into the depths of the forest. Quirrell's intention was clear: he wanted to drag John into a dark, irreversible path. Yet, John knew it wasn't the right moment to reveal his true intentions, so he continued to play along.
To John's relief, Quirrell did not force him to participate in the actual killing of the unicorn. Although John had not yet learned the Killing Curse, he found himself unable to intervene as Quirrell mercilessly ended the creature's life. His emotions were a tumultuous mix of horror and helplessness, yet he dared not make a single move that might draw attention to himself.
After the deed was done, Quirrell handed John the unicorn's horn, falsely attributing the kill to him. John played the part of a confused and conflicted young wizard, his inner turmoil and the moral corruption from witnessing such an act convincingly portrayed. Voldemort was convinced that John was well on his way to becoming a loyal Death Eater, merely awaiting the right moment for his transformation to be complete.
The killing of a unicorn was a grave sin, one that John, now deeply entangled in a web of deceit and dark influences, dared not confess to any professor. Voldemort's shadow loomed large over him, marking the beginning of a dark chapter in his life. John breathed a sigh of relief as he was granted a reprieve from his studies with Professor Quirrell. On that same day, an unexpected incident occurred: Ron was bitten by a fire dragon. Harry and the rest of the group quickly realized the gravity of the situation. They understood that time was of the essence and that if they didn't act swiftly, it might be too late for Ron. Amidst the chaos, they also recognized an opportunity to address another pressing issue—they could finally send Norbert, the fire dragon, away on Saturday night.
The plan was set into motion with urgency and precision. Harry, always the strategist, outlined the steps they needed to take to ensure both Ron's safety and Norbert's successful departure. The group worked together seamlessly, each member playing a crucial role in the execution of their plan.
As they prepared for Saturday night, the atmosphere was tense but filled with a sense of purpose. They knew the risks involved in dealing with a creature as unpredictable and dangerous as a fire dragon, but their determination to help their friend and resolve the situation with Norbert overshadowed any fear or hesitation.
The night arrived, and under the cover of darkness, Harry, Hermione, and the others made their way to the designated spot for Norbert's send-off. The air was thick with anticipation as they waited for the moment to say goodbye to the dragon that had caused so much turmoil yet had also brought them closer together as a team.
In the end, their efforts were successful. Ron received the necessary care for his injury, and Norbert was sent off to a place where he could live without posing a threat to anyone. The group's quick thinking and unwavering courage had averted a potential disaster, further solidifying their bond and proving once again that together, they could overcome any challenge that came their way.
_________
If you are tired of reading I also have this converted to an audio novel on my youtube
https://www.youtube.com/@NovelAudioForge/featured
Direct Link to playlist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_Hg-qsW4rM&list=PLKskshYG-OcPTR4-Nw7IWFEBZm07D8pBV&ab_channel=NovelAudioForge