Hogwarts: My Grandmother is the Queen

Chapter 113 The Unicorn's Rebellion (Fourth Update)

"Clever." Quirrell's smile became even more sinister. "Your Highness, you are indeed clever—provided you don't act that clever afterward."

"Your Highness, you know, I noticed you the moment you first appeared at Hogwarts. The heir to the throne, personally admitted by Dumbledore, the boy who saved the Potters in the Quidditch match, and so friendly with everyone from the various houses—you're just too conspicuous."

He shook his head at this point.

"People who stand out too much will always be targeted."

Henry remained silent, waiting for him to continue.

Quirrell continued, "I need an assistant, someone who can move freely within the castle, get close to Dumbledore, and obtain the Philosopher's Stone. Such a person is hard to find, but you—you are perfect."

He reached out and stroked the unicorn's neck.

"So, I set a trap. I injured it in the Forbidden Forest, so that Hagrid, that big oaf, would find it and make it get close to you. You know, creatures under the influence of the Imperius Curse will become close to the person designated by the caster. It got close to you not because you are pure, but because I made it do it."

Do you think you're special?

"Do you think it was your kindness that attracted it?"

"Your Highness, there aren't that many fairy tales in this world. Unicorns won't befriend you just because you're a good person. They're friendly because someone tells them to."

"You've been in my game from beginning to end."

The wind rustled through the forbidden forest.

The woods were so quiet that you could hear your own heartbeat.

Henry stood there, looking at the unicorn, his face still expressionless.

"Professor," he suddenly spoke, his voice calm, "what are you trying to prove with all this?"

Quirrell paused for a moment.

"prove?"

"Yes," Henry said. "Are you telling me all this to scare me, or to make me grateful?"

""

"You say it's a setup, and I believe you; you say your closeness to me is fake, and I believe that too; you say I've been part of your setup from beginning to end, and I'll still believe you one last time, and then what?"

Quirrell squinted.

"Then?"

"Yes, and then," Henry said, "you proved you were smart, you proved you were good at planning, you proved you could control everything, and then what?"

He shook his head at this point.

"All you've said is to tell me you have leverage. This unicorn, and my safety, are your bargaining chips. You want to use them to force me to get the Philosopher's Stone for you, right?"

“Your Highness,” Quirrell laughed heartily, “you have truly impressed me. If it were that big idiot Potter from Gryffindor, he would probably be yelling at me by now.”

Henry did not respond.

Quirrell continued, "Yes, you're right, this is my bargaining chip, and this unicorn is mine now."

I can make it befriend you, or I can make it attack you. I can make it live, or I can make it die.

"Furthermore, Your Highness, don't forget—you're here all alone. No one knows you've come to the Forbidden Forest, no one knows you've encountered me. If something unexpected happens here, who will know?"

"Are you threatening me?" Henry asked.

Quirrell smiled.

"No, Your Highness, I am merely stating the facts."

"Help me get the Philosopher's Stone, and I'll break the Imperius Curse and set this unicorn free. Moreover, after its master is resurrected, it will give you everything you desire—power, status, authority, wealth—whatever you want, you'll have it."

He then changed the subject: "If you don't offer to help me, I'll have to make you the one to take the initiative —"

His meaning was very clear.

The woods fell silent again, and sunlight filtered through the branches and leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

The unicorn stood beside Quirrell, motionless, like a statue.

Henry looked at it, and after a long while, he slowly spoke.

"Professor," he said, "you know, my grandmother taught me a lesson when I was a child."

Quirrell squinted.

"What's the reasoning behind that?"

She said, "In this world, some things can be bought with money, some things can be exchanged for power, and some things can be obtained through deception. But there is one thing that cannot be bought, exchanged, or deceived."

He paused for a moment and glanced at Quirrell's large headscarf.

That is sincerity.

He looked at the unicorn and said, "You controlled it with the Imperius Curse. You made it close to me, you made me think it trusted me, but have you ever considered this?"

"The Imperius Curse controls the body, not the mind. You can make it close to me, make it follow me, make it do whatever you want it to do, but can you control its mind?"

"You know what? Just now, when you said that you controlled it from beginning to end, that it was lying about being close to me, and that it was all a setup, it—"

He pointed to the unicorn.

"It moved."

Quirrell paused for a moment, then turned his head sharply.

The unicorn stood there, still motionless.

But upon closer inspection, you can see that its body is trembling slightly.

It's so light, almost invisible.

But it was indeed trembling.

Quirrell's expression changed instantly.

"No—Impossible—Soul-Stealing Curse—"

'

He raised his wand and aimed it at the unicorn.

"Imperio (Astral projection)!"

A beam of light flashed and entered the unicorn's body.

The unicorn trembled even more violently, but a light shone in its eyes, like a lamp lit in the darkness.

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!" Quirrell roared. "It's just a beast, how could it possibly break free of the Imperius Curse!"

The unicorn let out a low hiss; it was struggling and resisting.

Suddenly, it stood up on its two front hooves and let out a long neigh.

"Hissing sound—"

—

The sound resounded throughout the Forbidden Forest.

Then it moved; it suddenly raised its head and looked at Quirrell.

There was only anger in those eyes.

Noble anger.

Quirrell took a step back, seemingly forgetting to throw out any more spells.

"No—you can't—I am your master—"

The unicorn lowered its head, pointed its sharp horn at him, and charged forward.

It was as fast as a white lightning bolt.

Quirrell screamed and fell to the side. As the unicorn rushed past him, its horn tip grazed his shoulder, tearing a large piece of his robe.

It stopped, turned around, and rushed over again.

Quirrell raised his wand and hastily launched a counterattack.

"Crucio!"

A flash of red light struck the unicorn.

The unicorn let out a painful cry, but it did not stop.

It continued charging forward, its horns aimed at Quirrell's chest.

Quirrell's face was filled with fear.

Just then, his body suddenly froze.

His eyes, those eyes that were originally filled with fear, suddenly became empty.

Then, a red light surged from his body.

"Useless!" A hissing voice, like that of a snake, rang out.