"Mr. Potter, are you ok?" Quirinus probed and Harry took a moment to respond before he nodded.
"Yes sir, thank-you professor. Are you ok?" Harry inquired back. Quirinus was once again shocked beyond words. To defend him was one thing, Filch had been rather nasty after all, but to actually care was another.
"I'll be just fine, Mr. Potter. That was very kind of you to take up for me against another grown-up, but you didn't have to you know." Quirinus assured trying to be nice while not giving the young child a reason to like him.
"I know, but it's not your fault you stutter. People shouldn't be picked on for things they can't help." Harry insisted and Quirinus felt a smile make it's way onto his face. What was wrong with him? There was no way he could get close to Potter; not with who he worked for.
"That's very true; perhaps we should head on to my class though. Gryffindor has it next correct?" Quirinus inquired berating himself all the while for continuing to have something to do with the child.
"Yes sir; are we going to need to use wands today?" Harry questioned nervously. Quirinus looked down at Potter and realized that it was most likely his wand arm in the sling.
"Yes, but don't worry if you can't do the wand work it won't be counted against you." Quirinus informed and was shocked when Harry frowned.
"Oh, ok, thanks Professor." Harry mumbled and Quirinus, despite all the while trying to stop the words from coming out, felt compelled to speak.
"What's the matter, Mr. Potter?" Quirinus prompted and Harry sighed forlornly before replying.
"I just don't want to get behind everyone else. I read about Defense and I'm really looking forward to it, but I can't do magic for at least a day or so." Harry explained and Quirinus felt his heart break just a little bit more. As if having the one child he was supposed to be against take up for him wasn't bad enough, now that child was excited about the class he taught.
"Don't worry, Mr. Potter; once your arm is better I can show you how to do the spells again." Quirinus offered and then mentally punched himself in the face. Now how was he supposed to get out of that? Looking down at the overly excited child though...his heart gave an sharp tug. Was this what being a parent felt like? No, no, no, of course not; he could not even minutely become close to this child.
"Thanks, Professor Quirrell." Harry smiled and despite his best efforts to frown Quirinus smiled back. Oh this was definitely going to cause problems.
