Chapter 106
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"I think it's about time we had a little chat," Milo said, closing the office door behind him. "About what really happened in the Forbidden Forest in September."
Quirrell slid his office chair backwards slightly, covering the motion of his hand as he covertly drew his wand.
"W-what about it?" he asked, his voice kept carefully neutral.
"There were always a few facts about that night that never quite added up to me," Milo said, ignoring the Professor. "For example — how did I get poisoned? The Acromantula never had a chance. How did the Acromantula die? The log I dropped on it wasn't nearly enough to do the deed."
"It l-looked quite heavy t-to m-m-me," Quirrell stammered.
"It should have shrugged the log off and eaten me on the spot," Milo told him. "And it's body had no signs of prior injury, so it isn't like the log was enough to push it over the edge into negative hit points. No, something else killed that Acromantula. Something that kills its target without leaving a trace."
Quirrell tightened the grip on his wand beneath the desk.
"I-I don't —"
"Oh, I think you do," Milo said. "There's only one spell that could do that, and, Hells, you used it against Fluffy. You're a hero for it, after all. The Killing Curse."
"W-what —"
"But the Curse is hardly stealthy, it has a signature bright green flash. The spider was right in front of me and it was pitch dark — there's no possible way I could have missed it."
"Y-you m-must have," Quirrell said. "Or r-rather, the Acromantula d-died s-some other —"
"No," Milo cut him off. "Don't you see? I saw the spider killed. A wizard did it right before my very eyes. He just walked right up, killed the Acromantula, and left. He cut off one of the spider's fangs — Acromantula venom is potent even after death, after all — and stabbed me in the stomach with it. I saw everything."
"Then w-why d-d-didn't you s-say so earlier?"
Milo reached into his robes, and Quirrell, surprised, nearly killed him on the spot. It was only the knowledge that Milo had no need of a wand to use magic that stayed his hands.
Of all things, it was a Remembrall that Milo withdrew from his pocket.
A Remembrall which shone like the sun.
"I was Memory Charmed."
"Th-that's hardly proof," Quirrell pointed out. "P-perhaps you s-simply f-f-forgot to b-brush your t-t-teeth l-last night?"
"I, like any self-respecting Arcanist, use Prestidigitation, which is quite beside the point. I can prove to you that it was no inconsequential memory that I've forgotten," Milo said calmly. "Describe the Remembrall for me, Professor."
"I d-d-don't understand," Quirrell said.
"It's quite simple. Just... a quick description of this ball will suffice."
Quirrell shrugged. What's this boy's game?
"It's a t-tennis b-ball s-s-sized c-clear g-g-glass ball f-full of smoke," Quirell said. "I-it t-turns red when the h-h-holder f-forgets something and c-clear when it is r-r-remembered."
"That's an awful lot of adjectives, Professor," Milo said with a slight grin. "At least four."
"S-so what?"
"And it first turned up months ago in a seemingly inconsequential manner — something unimportant about Harry joining the Quidditch team — and again on Hallowe'en, when it broke. Fortunately, one of Neville's supporting characters sent him a replacement. That makes this the third time it's turned up, Professor."
"This m-matters how?"
"Rule of Three. This here, judging by the amount of attention it's gathered, is a very significant plot device. Why, it'd simply be a waste of time if it didn't turn out to be important."
"That's your proof?"
"I've seen men hanged for less in Myra — City of Light, City of Magic!"
"Even a-assuming this is t-t-true," Quirrell said, watching the boy closely, "w-who would d-do such a thing?"
"I think we both know the answer to that question, Professor."
Quirrell tensed, ready to strike.
"It was, of course," Milo said, leaning forwards slightly, "none other than Professor Snape."
"S-Snape?" Quirrell asked. "H-how d-do you know?"
"Honestly, who else would it be?" Milo asked. "You can't shake a staff in this castle without finding an evil plot Snape's behind. I'm starting to think he's only still a teacher because of how dull things would be without him."
"W-why wouldn't he j-just l-let the A-Acromantula k-kill you?" Quirrell asked.
"That's the bit I can't figure out," Milo admitted. "But I'm sure he'll be good enough to explain it in his villain monologue at the end."
"W-why are you t-telling me this?"
"Oh, simple. Snape can pull memories from my head, so I figure I should disseminate important information to trustworthy NPCs — as a sort of backup. Also, and I hate to say this, I'm starting to think I'll need all the help I can get. This situation is becoming... complicated, for a number of reasons. Gods, what I wouldn't give for a straightforward sidequest or monster hunt. In any event, I don't suppose you know of any way to cure Memory Charms?"
"S-sorry," Quirrell apologised. "I-I'm afraid they're g-generally q-quite permanent."
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