Harry Potter and the Way of Reason

It was almost midnight.

Staying up late was easy for Harry.He can do without a Time-Turner.Harry routinely adjusted his sleep cycle to keep himself awake when Christmas Eve turned into Christmas; because while he was never young enough to believe in Santa Claus, he was once young enough to doubt it.

It would be nice if a mysterious figure actually sneaked into your house at night to bring gifts...

Then a chill ran down Harry's spine.

He had a premonition that something terrible was approaching.

A creepy horror.

A sense of impending doom.

Harry sat up straight in bed.

He looks out the window.

"Professor Quirrell?" Harry screamed very quietly.

Professor Quirrell made a slight upward gesture, and Harry's window seemed to retract into its frame.The cold winter wind immediately blew into the room through the gap, bringing with it a few scattered snowflakes from the sky, gray night clouds dotted the sky, surrounded by darkness and stars.

"Don't be afraid, Mr. Potter," said the Defense Professor in his normal voice. "I put a Sleeping Charm on your parents; they won't wake up until I'm gone."

"No one's supposed to know where I am!" said Harry, still screaming under his breath. "Even the owls should have sent my mail to Hogwarts, not here!" Harry agreed; To win the whole war anytime, would be foolish.

Professor Quirrell stood outside the window in the backyard grinning. "Oh, I shouldn't have worried, Mr. Potter. You're really well protected by the Anti-Positioning Charm, and no pure-blood would think to check the phone book." He smiled wider. "And it does take a lot of work to step over the barrier the Headmaster has put up around the house - though anyone who knows your address could simply wait outside and attack you the next time you leave the house .”

Harry stared at Professor Quirrell for a long while, and finally he said, "What are you doing here?"

Professor Quirrell put away his smile. "I've come to apologize, Mr. Potter," said the Defense Professor softly. "I shouldn't have said it so harshly—"

"No," Harry said.He looked down at the quilt, clutching his pajamas tightly, "Don't do this."

"Have I offended you that much?" said Professor Quirrell softly.

"No," said Harry, "but if you apologize."

"I see," said Professor Quirrell, his voice immediately stern. "Well, if I'm going to treat you as an equal, Mr. Potter, I'd say you've seriously violated the etiquette among friendly Slytherins." .If you are not currently targeting someone, you must never meddle in their plans like this unless you ask them beforehand. Because you don't know their real intentions nor the leverage they might lose. You To do so would be to mark yourself as their enemy, Mr Potter."

"I'm sorry," Harry said, his tone just as soft as Professor Quirrell's had been before.

"Apology accepted," said Professor Quirrell.

"But," said Harry, still very quietly, "you and I really need to find time to talk more about politics."

Professor Quirrell sighed. "I know you don't like condescension, Mr. Potter—"

That's an understatement.

"But if I don't make it clear," said Professor Quirrell, "it's all the more condescending. You lack a bit of life experience, Mr. Potter."

"Would everyone with a lot of life experience agree with you, then?" said Harry calmly.

"What use is life experience to a Quidditch player?" said Professor Quirrell, and shrugged. "I think after a while your mind changes. After everything you believed in has failed you, you become cynical."

This was said by the defense professor as if it was the most normal statement in the world. Behind him was the night, the stars and the sky dotted with clouds. In the biting winter air, one or two small snowflakes passed by his side. blown through.

"That reminds me," said Harry, "Merry Christmas."

"I suppose so," said Professor Quirrell. "After all, if it wasn't for an apology, it would be a Christmas present. In fact, it's the first time I've ever given someone a Christmas present."

Harry hadn't started learning Latin yet, so he couldn't read Roger Bacon's experimental diaries; and he hardly dared to ask.

"Put on your winter coat," said Professor Quirrell, "or a warming potion, if you have one; meet me outside under the stars. I'll see if I last longer this time. "

Harry took a moment to understand the words, then rushed to the wardrobe.

Professor Quirrell's starlight spell lasted for more than an hour, although the defense professor's face looked more and more labored, and after a while, he had to sit down.Harry protested only once before being signaled to keep quiet.

They crossed from Christmas Eve to Christmas Eve in a truly eternal Christmas Eve in the void where the earth's rotation has no meaning and no concept of time.

As promised, Harry's parents slept soundly until Harry was safely back in the room and Professor Quirrell left.