Harry Potter: The Dark Lord from the Start Leaves Dumbledore Stunned

The strongest graduate in Durmstrang's history applied of his own accord to become a teaching assistant for Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts. On the day of his interview, Dumbledore challenged him to his face: seven years ago, he had refused Hogwarts, so why was he now going to such lengths to return? Surely he had an ulterior motive. The pressure of the greatest white wizard descended all at once.

Without losing his composure, he took out an old book bearing Rowena Ravenclaw's name and handed it over. Dumbledore's smile froze on the spot. No one knew that a curse left by a Voldemort Horcrux wound around his body. Two thin lines on his wrist were slowly drawing closer, and once they joined, he would die. He needed the Philosopher's Stone, said to grant its possessor a long life.

Polite, mild-mannered, and dependable, he concealed his soaring ambition and desire for conquest behind a trustworthy appearance and words that sounded almost sincere. Passing the interview was only the beginning. Quirrell's strange behavior, the whereabouts of the Philosopher's Stone, Dumbledore's suspicions, and the maneuvering between the classroom and the hidden game were only just unfolding. The Dark Lord from the start, making moves from behind the scenes: this time, Dumbledore might truly be caught off guard.

This novel and its characters are entirely fictional. Any resemblance to actual people or events is coincidental. Do not imitate.