Chapter 52: Shocked Quirrell
"Intelligent and powerful, how could such a creature have remained unseen for so long? The parchment mentions trolls as common magical creatures, with a large population divided into numerous groups. If the parchment is accurate, there's only one possible explanation: trolls went extinct thousands of years ago."
"Otherwise, it's incomprehensible why this creature has not been sighted or documented for millennia."
"But if they're extinct, where did this troll come from? It seems we'll need to have a conversation with Professor Quirrell."
Snape's hand lightly brushed against William's skin, his brows furrowing.
"It bears the marks of numerous battles—scars from sharp weapons, punctures from arrows, wounds from blunt instruments, bite marks from beasts, and claw scratches from sharp claws..."
"It has seen much combat, yet we've never heard of it."
Snape stood up, surveying the professors with a range of expressions and then shifting his gaze to Dumbledore.
"Go and have a word with Quirrell, and hear what he has to say. After all, it was Professor Quirrell who brought this Mr. Troll to Hogwarts."
Dumbledore nodded, his eyes landing on the lifeless troll on the ground. He spoke with a rare hint of melancholy.
"While another possibility is not to be dismissed. Perhaps Professor Quirrell did indeed bring a troll, but someone replaced it with this creature. If that is the case..."
Dumbledore fell silent, a momentary shadow crossing his features.
He had believed everything was within his control, but now, it appeared that events were unfolding in unpredictable ways.
"Let's tidy up this area. We'll place the body on Hagrid's side for now. I'll arrange to send it to Newt for research to determine whether this creature was created by some form of dark magic..."
Professor McGonagall and her colleagues nodded, and they began the process of repairing the castle. The magical power they possessed made the restoration process swift.
Once Dumbledore and Snape reached the infirmary to confront Quirrell, they found him trembling beneath the covers. Quirrell's eyes widened as the two educators explained their intent.
"No... no, I'm... I'm a professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts, Headmaster. How can I admit to bringing a troll?"
Quirrell nervously explained, but his inner monologue revealed a different story. He had captured the troll and then released it himself. How could he be in the wrong?
Would Dumbledore, the old fox, truly doubt him? Had he rushed over just to deceive them?
"Are you absolutely certain that the creature in the basement was a troll?" Snape locked his gaze onto Quirrell's eyes, who dared not meet his gaze, instead glancing to the side, and he muttered softly, "I'm... I'm sure it was... a mountain troll. I brought it here myself, after all, for the protection of the Philosopher's Stone, Headmaster. It was only... I didn't anticipate it escaping."
"It broke out uncontrollably. I was terrified..."
Quirrell mumbled with a fearful and apologetic expression on his face. Dumbledore didn't say anything more, and after a brief exchange of glances with Snape, he got up and left. Snape motioned for Quirrell to follow, and he, too, exited the room.
Quirrell couldn't comprehend the intentions behind Dumbledore's actions, but he felt a sense of unease deep in his heart. Consequently, he left his bed and followed in the footsteps of Dumbledore and Snape.
Outside the castle, several professors had already removed William's massive troll body from the castle premises and placed it not far from Hagrid's hut.
Quirrell was utterly shocked when he saw the colossal troll. He stuttered as he tried to speak, "This... this..."
Dumbledore's soft gaze focused on Quirrell, and he gently said, "Alright, Professor Quirrell, come out and have a look with us."
Snape, with an air of dissatisfaction, informed Quirrell, "It's a monster."
Quirrell cast a skeptical glance at Snape, thinking he was trying to scare him, but he believed he was more of a coward than a fool. Could this thing be a troll?
"Snape... Professor, no, don't joke," Quirrell implored. He was trembling as he addressed Dumbledore, saying, "This monster... how could it be a troll?"
Dumbledore's gaze remained gentle, but there was an enigmatic inquiry in it as he spoke softly, "But you mentioned that it was a troll before."
Quirrell's realization dawned upon him, and he gazed at William's lifeless body with uncertainty. "Is this the creature you encountered in the basement?"
"It wasn't in the basement classroom. When we arrived, it was already near the girls' bathroom on the second floor. Professor Quirrell, are you saying that the monster you referred to isn't this one?"
"Of course not!" Quirrell exclaimed, pointing at the massive troll corpse and shouting, "How could I mistake a troll! Moreover, I brought this troll myself to guard the Philosopher's Stone. If it was this monster, how could I not recognize it?!"
Quirrell's face turned pale, and he added, "By the way, what kind of monster is this? Where's the troll? Where did it go?"
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