Chapter 34: Quirrell and Voldemort Make Their Dramatic Entrance

It wasn't that Leonard disliked Harry Potter; he simply wanted nothing to do with the protagonist.

If Voldemort were truly gone, Harry Potter would be a prize in everyone's eyes, his aura alone ensuring him a future without limits.

But the truth was, Voldemort wasn't dead, and the boy who had nearly destroyed him had naturally become his target.

And it wasn't just Voldemort, the great villain—Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts and leader of the light, was also watching him closely.

Leonard had no intention of stepping into the sights of either of those giants.

With his talent and his System, he was determined to rise on his own terms, free from outside interference until he was strong enough to stand tall.

...

The streets of Diagon Alley bustled with life as Harry Potter, led by Hagrid on his first steps into the wizarding world, looked around in wide-eyed wonder. He had no idea that, from the shadows, two cold, predatory gazes were fixed on him.

A hooded man lingered in the dark, a viper with a triangular head coiled on his shoulder, radiating a sickly stench.

"Harry... Potter..." hissed the serpent, its crimson tongue flickering as it spoke human words.

"M-Master, please, don't speak—you'll be overheard," the man whispered anxiously, glancing around. Only when he confirmed no one was watching did he allow himself to breathe.

"Pathetic coward. If not for you, we would already have the Philosopher's Stone," the serpent growled, its eyes gleaming with malice.

"Yes... Master, forgive me," the man stammered, shuddering violently. "That's Harry Potter. Do you want me to kill him?"

"You've got the nerve to strike at a child, but what would killing him achieve? It would only bring Dumbledore's gaze down upon me." The serpent bared its fangs. "Your only task is to find the Philosopher's Stone. With it, I will return to life and rule the wizarding world once more."

"...Yes..." the man murmured, lowering his head. His eyes flickered with fear—and a flash of resentment.

He knew that failing this Dark Lord's task would mean tortures he could scarcely imagine.

For the being that controlled him was none other than Voldemort—the Dark Lord who had plunged the wizarding world into chaos for years.

And he, Quirinus Quirrell, was nothing more than a pitiful wizard whose life was clutched in the Dark Lord's hands...

"But before that, I shall teach you some powerful spells. They will help you break into Gringotts," Voldemort's voice whispered in his ear.

Powerful spells?

Quirrell's eyes lit up.

"Thank you, Master... for your generosity."

Quirinus Quirrell—a zealot obsessed with dark magic, who had scoured every trace and rumor to track down Voldemort, dreaming of wringing forbidden knowledge from him.

But Voldemort was no helpless shade. Quirrell had been outplayed, overpowered, and enslaved instead, his life no longer his own.

Every shred of his bravery had been burned away in agony. What remained was a twisted coward: weak to the strong, cruel to the weak, and still consumed by his hunger for dark magic.

...

Harry Potter, dazzled by the wonders of the wizarding world, didn't notice the eyes watching him from the shadows. He felt as if two eyes weren't nearly enough to take in everything around him.

He was so caught up in the magic of it all that he almost forgot why he'd come.

Thankfully, Hagrid kept him on track, leading him first to the Potter family vault at Gringotts to withdraw some Galleons. From a deeper vault, Hagrid also retrieved a tightly sealed package.

Harry was burning with curiosity about what Hagrid had taken, but wisely chose not to ask.

After that, Hagrid took him to purchase all the necessary school supplies, making sure they stayed on schedule.

At last, they arrived at the door of Ollivander's Wand Shop.

"Harry, now it's time to choose your wand," Hagrid said, bending down to meet his eyes. "I won't come in with you. I'll pick you up afterward."

With that, Hagrid straightened and walked away. Watching him go, Harry instinctively turned to look at the shopfront.

"Ollivander's Wand Shop? Mr. Ollivander?" Harry muttered as he pushed the door open.

"Welcome to Ollivander's Wand Shop. Do you need wand care or wand repair? If it's repairs, please come back in the afternoon—my assistant only works then," came a voice from inside. Ollivander spoke without looking up, still busy arranging the shelves.

"Excuse me, sir. I'm here to buy a wand," Harry said softly.

A wand? Now?

Ollivander's hand froze. He turned and saw the small boy standing there, looking a little startled himself.

"Harry Potter?" Ollivander said with a warm smile. "I thought you wouldn't be starting until another year."

The same unusual enthusiasm. Harry was beginning to feel numb to it all. Compared to that, Leonard William's demeanor seemed refreshingly normal.

"I heard from Leonard William that you were expecting me," Harry said. "Do you know him?"

"Of course. I remember every witch and wizard who's bought a wand from me. And Leonard? He left an especially strong impression."

Ollivander chuckled. "He's my assistant. And he was right—I have been looking forward to your arrival."

"Assistant?" Harry found his curiosity about Leonard outweighing his interest in why Ollivander was so expectant of him.

After all, Ollivander's interest was surely tied to his title as the Boy Who Lived. But Leonard was different—Harry knew nothing about him.

This Muggle-born wizard seemed to be someone special.

"Yes, my assistant for wand repairs. But let's leave him aside for now. We need to find the wand that's right for you..."

Ollivander smiled faintly and began searching the shelves for Harry's wand.