Part Ten:

Upon reaching the second floor she paused, and without thinking made her way to the maple wood door to Quirrell's office and stood absently blinking, befuddled that his door was ajar. Her mind filled with questions: should she enter? If she did would she be overwhelmed by the emptiness and finally give in to the emotional breakdown she felt was nearly happening? Then again, what if being in his office would be a comfort to her? But before her contemplation went any further the door creaked open and her head jolted up -

"I thought I might find you here, Angelica," said a calmly upset voice from the doorway.

"Headmaster," She said as a noticeable lump formed in her throat, feeling an immense let down that it was Headmaster Dumbledore who had opened the door from inside Quirrell's office, while at the same time beating herself up for holding such a foolish hope that there was a possibility that Quirrell himself could have walked out that door instead.

"You're in shock, quite understandable. I'm afraid there's nothing we can do for young Quirinus now." Dumbledore looked directly into Angelica's eyes for a moment.

"Then…Then he – what happened in my -" She cut herself off.

"Yes, Angelica, Quirinus was possessed by Voldemort, and he died early this morning after trying to steal the Philosopher's Stone in a battle with Harry Potter." Dumbledore paused. "When a person is possessed by someone – evil, or good – against their will, the possessor's forceful inhabitance will cause the degeneration of the host's body, to the extent that when the possessor leaves the body, the host will die."

Angelica stared intensely at Dumbledore, though she did not know what to do or say. Where was Quirrell now? Where was his body? Why hadn't she realized that he was possessed earlier in the year when she could have maybe done something to help him? She felt completely helpless, which to her was the worst feeling in the world.

"I informed the Ministry of what went on this morning. Their representatives have already been here to collect Quirinus' body." Dumbledore stepped out of the doorway and closed the door behind him. "I have also spoken with his family. I believe you were also close with him, and therefore, you must follow me to the Hospital Wing, I have made arrangements with Madam Pomfrey for you to stay there tonight. I thought it would be best to keep you away from the Gryffindor common room for the time being, I understand there are to be some fascinating celebrations tonight."

Angelica followed Dumbledore to the Infirmary as he'd asked, walking in a state of limbo.

When they arrived at the infirmary Madam Pomfrey was standing eagerly at the door. "Miss Morrissey, go have a seat on one of the beds in the room to your right."

Angelica turned her head to ask Dumbledore a question, but he was no longer there. She made her way through the double doors on her right which led to a long dark room with hospital beds lining either side. Angelica collapsed on the bed nearest where she stood.

In a bed to her left lay a bandaged and sleeping Ron Weasley, and there was another occupied bed, though privacy screens had been pulled around it, Angelica guessed that behind those curtains was where Harry Potter was recuperating. Thinking of him and how his touch had somehow burned and blistered Quirrell's skin filled her with anger. It was because of Harry after all that You-Know-Who needed a new body, in a way, it was Harry who had caused Quirrell to be possessed, and in turn caused Quirrell's death.

Just then one of the double doors open quietly and Madam Pomfrey walked over to Angelica and handed her a small vile. "This will let you sleep without dreaming. Follow the directions on the label," she explained.

Though Angelica didn't really need an explanation as she realized it was a larger amount of the same potion Quirrell had convinced Professor Snape to give her to help ward off the nightmares she had in year three. Recalling this made the feeling of oncoming sobs increase and so she promptly took a dose of the quick acting potion and fell into peaceful, dreamless sleep.

During the next few days Angelica kept mostly to her bed, though she didn't sleep much. The potion Madam Pomfrey had given her kept her from having nightmares, but it didn't help with the transition to being awake and that she would never see Quirrell again. That is what she found the hardest.