Quirinus Quirrell was no Death Eater, so why did this timid and rather innocent-looking professor join Voldemort and attempt to kill a young Harry Potter?
During the latter half of the 20th century, the Defence Against the Dark Arts (DADA) teaching position at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was somewhat cursed. And, indeed, as Harry made his way through school, he had a new professor for this particular subject each and every year.
Harry met his first-ever DADA Professor, Quirinus Quirrell, in The Philosopher’s Stone during his initial journey to Diagon Alley. During this little expedition, Hagrid and Harry stopped in at the popular wizarding pub known as The Leaky Cauldron. It was here that a timid man introduced himself to Harry as Professor Quirrell.
Described as a wizard full of nerves, with an incredibly pronounced stammer, Quirrell did not appear to be someone who was out to harm children. Nor did he look like a wizard who had been recruited by the Dark Lord.
So, how exactly did Quirrell come to do Voldemort’s bidding? Read on to find out!
How Quirrell Came to Join Lord Voldemort
From what we know, Quirrell was quite a shy person throughout his entire life, including his time as a student at Hogwarts. It’s even believed that he was targeted and mistreated by his peers for his nervousness.
And so, as a young man, Quirrell set out to prove to those around him that he mattered. In this manner, he began a “Grand Tour” of the world.
A Grand Tour Focused on the Dark Arts
It’s rumoured that Quirrell’s tour of the world had a particular interest. A theoretical curiosity in how the Dark Arts worked. Evidently, he believed a pursuit of knowledge in this area would allow him to become an accomplished and more confident wizard.
During Quirrell’s travels, as he searched for answers about the Dark Arts, many people think that he was specifically looking to uncover what had become of Lord Voldemort. Apparently, he believed that this would really show those who doubted him that he could do extraordinary things.
In fact, according to wizardingworld.com:
“Quirrell set out deliberately to find whatever remained of the Dark wizard, partly out of curiosity, partly out of that unacknowledged desire for importance. At the very least, Quirrell fantasised that he could be the man who tracked Voldemort down, but at best, might learn skills from Voldemort that would ensure he was never laughed at again.”
A Complete Underestimation of Voldemort’s Remaining Power
Sadly for Quirrell, he greatly underestimated how powerful Voldemort would be, even in his shadow state. So, when Quirrell at last came upon what remained of the Dark Lord in the forests of Albania, the young professor was overtaken—and rather easily at that.
The rumour goes that Voldemort, in realizing that Quirrell would be returning to Hogwarts as a teacher, possessed Quirrell’s body.
Puppeted and Possessed by the Dark Lord
From there, Quirrell’s actions were largely determined by Voldemort, whose evil soul was much stronger than the feeble—albeit talented—mind of the Professor.
So, as it happens, Quirrell never actually “joined” Voldemort. Rather, the professor was subjugated by Voldemort against his will. And, in the end, Quirrell’s search for greatness resulted in his untimely death.