The Boy Who Watches

P.s

I consider Voldemort a very strong opponent and he would have killed Potter without his mother's protection, Itachi is not OP, if you read carefully you will see that I tried to weaken him as much as possible before meeting Voldemort and I didn't make him up as I went along, TB was in the early chapters and the instability in the Forbidden Forest chapters, I also showed that Itachi is not fully formed and his basic magic is unstable, Itachi is only 11 years old and could only practice magic when he got his wand, not the ninja where clan techniques are given out at 4, Quirrell on the other hand is an experienced mage and surpasses Itachi in physical strength as an adult.

So I HAVE to remove Quirrell's hands and give Voldemort his moment of glory, his poke.

Because the movies show him as an idiot, and I don't believe an idiot can keep Britain in fear for 11 years.

Itachi slowly began to come back to reality, as if surfacing from the depths of a dark well. 

His eyelids fluttered open, resisting the dim light coming through the slits. When he was finally able to open his eyes, he was immediately pierced by a stabbing pain, like sharp needles piercing his entire body. From the top of his head to the tips of his fingers, every muscle and joint protested the slightest movement, as if they had been torn apart and then sewn together with careless stitches.

My throat was particularly sore. It felt as if invisible hands were squeezing it, preventing him from taking a breath or swallowing saliva. The muscles in his neck were tense and his throat was sore, reminding him of that terrible moment when Voldemort had pressed his whole body against him and tried to take his life by squeezing his throat with his thin but strong fingers. The wounds from his battle with Voldemort throbbed and burned, reminding him of the brutal fight that had left him on the brink of life and death. 

His head was splitting apart as if a hurricane was raging inside it, and it took him a moment to finally come to his senses and remember everything that had happened. 

With each slow and careful breath he took, his consciousness cleared as if the hazy fog was dissipating under the sun's rays. Itachi tried to move, but his body responded with an intense aching pain, as if he were made of nothing but bruises, bumps, and cuts. He tried not to make any sudden movements so as not to aggravate his pain; slowly and carefully, he began to rise, leaning on his hands, feeling every cell in his body protesting the action. 

When his vision finally finally cleared, Itachi was able to look around, paying attention to every little detail, trying to figure out where he was. 

The room he found himself in was familiar to him - it was the Ransom Room, which took on the appearance of a cozy, spacious bedroom. It had all the things necessary for a comfortable rest: a comfortable bed covered with a soft blanket, a bookcase filled with various volumes, and several armchairs arranged by the fireplace, which created a warm and peaceful atmosphere in the room. The light from the fireplace, shimmering with warm tongues of flame, illuminated the room, calming his mind and making him feel safe. Itachi realized that he was finally relatively safe, and that his wounds would soon begin to heal.

With sleepy and not yet fully awake eyes, Itachi ran his gaze around the room again, his gaze sliding from one object to another until he latched onto one of the chairs in the corner of the room.

 There, curled up, Theodore was sleeping peacefully, his head tilted to the side and clutching a book tightly in his hands. Itachi took a closer look at the book with a slight frown. It was a plain white book without any decorations, just a small title printed in a neat font: 

"First Aid." The book was obviously used, as its corners were slightly bent and small bookmarks were visible between the pages, indicating that Theodore had read it until the very last moment. Itachi realized that Theodore was obviously here for a reason, and that he was clearly involved in his current condition.

Itachi, replayed in his mind the last moments before his consciousness finally left him. He remembered the feeling of soft arms that had picked him up, preventing him from falling to the cold floor. A warm feeling of gratitude arose in his chest. He couldn't help but smile at the gesture, even if only slightly. It was a smile of appreciation that he wasn't left lying on the floor, alone and in pain. 

Deciding to test his strength, Itachi cautiously tried to take a step. He didn't want to look weak, and tried to stay upright, but underestimating the extent of his exhaustion, he immediately lost his balance and collapsed to the floor with a slight groan. His legs went to the ground. 

An unexpected sound, like a slight groan, but more like something between an exhalation and a blow, snapped Theodore out of his slumber. His eyelids fluttered open, and he blinked like an awakened groundhog, trying to realize what was happening. 

His eyes were still sleepy, red and moist, and his gaze roamed the room, unable to focus on anything in particular. His hair was disheveled, as if he'd been fighting it all night, and on his chin, like a thin thread, stretched a barely visible trickle of saliva that had escaped from the corner of his mouth during sleep. He looked rather amused, like a small, lost child. Theodore shook his head a few times, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep, and only then was he finally able to focus his gaze on Itachi lying on the floor.

Theodore, seeing Itachi lying on the floor, felt as if he had woken up from an obsession. All vestiges of sleep instantly vanished, and his eyes widened in amazement. Without a second thought, and before he could even realize it, Theodore ran up to Itachi with lightning speed and hugged him tightly.

His embrace was so strong that Itachi, still weak, gasped slightly. Theodore, cradling him against him, began to cry, his voice shaking from the emotions overwhelming him. 

"Itachi! You're alive! You're alive!" - he repeated through his tears, as if he couldn't believe his happiness. 

"I was so scared! I was so worried! You have no idea how scared you made me, how you made me worry!" - he continued, sobbing, not letting Itachi out of his embrace.

His crying was genuine and emotional, he was like a child who had found his lost toy. In his voice, he could hear both joy that Itachi was alive and fear at what might have happened to him. Theodore couldn't seem to get enough of talking, expressing all of his feelings that had built up in him over time.

Itachi felt slightly awkward. 

 He was slightly embarrassed, feeling like a child caught in the arms of a loving mother. Gathering his thoughts, Itachi, trying to speak calmly and evenly, replied to Theodore:

 "Theodore, it's okay. I'm really fine. You have nothing to worry about." He tried to pull away from him, but Theodore only squeezed him tighter in his arms as he continued to sob.

However, Itachi's words didn't have the desired effect. On the contrary, Theodore's face became darker than a cloud, his eyebrows furrowed and his lips pressed into a thin line. He pulled away from Itachi, looking at him with an angry yet hurt look. His eyes, which had been full of tears just a second ago, were now filled with anger.

"How can I not care!" - Theodore hissed, his voice shaking with indignation. 

"How can you tell me everything is fine when I found you all sweaty, with a face paler than Snape's! You had minor wounds on you and huge bruises near your neck! And then when you lay unconscious for two whole days, you tell me I have nothing to worry about!"!"

Theodore's voice gradually became louder and louder, and rage resounded in it .

 "I didn't know what to do! - He continued, his voice close to a scream . 

 I was in a panic! I reread the whole damn first aid book and I just prayed you'd wake up!" He fell silent, breathing heavily, and his gaze, full of desperation, was fixed on Itachi. He was truly scared for his life and couldn't understand how Itachi could react so calmly to what had happened.

After he found Itachi, exhausted and scarred, in the hallway and dragged him to the Ransom Room. 

Immediately after he laid Itachi on the bed, Theodore sprang into action. He carefully examined his body, taking care not to cause pain, and found wounds, abrasions and bruises, as well as horrible marks around his neck.

Wasting no time, Theodore went in search of everything he needed for first aid. 

 In Itachi's room, he found a small chest with a supply of various healing potions, bandages, and ointments. Theodore acted quickly and carefully, trying not to make a fuss or aggravate Itachi's condition.

He gently cleaned Itachi's wounds, treated them with healing ointments, and carefully bandaged them with clean bandages. Theodore paid special attention to the bruises on Itachi's neck, trying to ease his pain and prevent possible complications. He fed him various healing potions he had found in his chest, which he believed would help Itachi recover sooner.

All the while, Theodore never left Itachi's side, constantly monitoring his condition. He reread the first aid book he had brought with him, trying to learn as much as he could about how to give him the help he needed. He changed bandages, gave Itachi potions, and wiped his forehead with a damp cloth, hoping he would come to his senses sooner. 

Itachi, listening to Theodore's angry yet frightened tirade, realized that he had indeed made a mistake. His attempt to calm Theodore down by telling him he was fine was not only unconvincing, but frankly a display of callousness. The realization of his own stupidity filled him with shame.

He felt the blood rush to his cheeks, and he felt embarrassed. He looked away from Theodore, unable to look him straight in the eye. His usually calm and confident gaze faded, and he looked like a delinquent boy caught in the act. He knew his behavior was wrong, and he felt guilty for making Theodore feel so bad.

Embarrassed, he lowered his head and spoke softly, almost in a whisper: 

"Theodore...I...I...I didn't mean to make you feel so bad. I'm sorry." His voice sounded guilty and sincere. He realized that his words wouldn't change what had already happened. He was truly sorry for making his friend worry and worry about him. 

Theodore gradually began to calm down. The tears that were still recently streaming down his cheeks had dried up and his breathing became more even. He looked at Itachi, who was sitting with his head down, and realized that his friend, as strong and unshakable as he seemed, needed his support right now.

Theodore walked over to Itachi and gingerly helped him back onto the bed, adjusting the pillow behind his back. He made sure he made him comfortable, and only then let him go. Theodore sat down in the chair across from him without a word, resting his elbows on his knees and locking his hands together.

There was silence in the room, broken only by the crackling of the wood in the fireplace. They sat like that, silent, unmoving, and the tension in the air was almost palpable. It must have been about five minutes when Theodore finally broke the silence. His voice, though calmer, still sounded firm and adamant.

"Itachi," he said, looking directly at his friend. His gaze was serious and demanding, and there was not an ounce of humor or gentleness in it.

 "Now you're going to explain to me what happened. And I don't accept excuses." His tone was so harsh and uncompromising that Itachi realized - this was not a request, it was an order, and he had no choice. Theodore expected him to give a full account of what had happened, and he wasn't going to settle for excuses or half-truths.

Itachi, after listening to Theodore's demand to start from the beginning, sighed, gathering his thoughts. He realized that he would have to tell everything as it happened, even the details he wanted to leave out. He looked at Theodore, his face was tense, and Itachi realized that this story was not going to be easy.

"Alright," Itachi said, his voice was quiet but firm. 

" After the exams, I went to the forbidden forest. Was heading there when I noticed Hagrid and three Gryffindors walking somewhere with him. I decided to listen to what they were talking about, and that's where I found out that the stone was going to be stolen today."

He grinned, shaking his head ironically.

They were overconfident, and I didn't pay much attention to it at first. But I have to admit that they surprised me later. I noticed that they had somehow obtained an invisibility cloak." He hummed quietly, remembering that moment.

"I started following them," Itachi continued, his voice becoming more serious.

"I went through Cerberus like they did, I put him to sleep with a single spell. After that I encountered the Devil's Snares, and there I used another spell that helped me get through them quickly. After them, I was forced to catch flying keys."

Itachi fell silent, remembering the next challenge. 

"Then there was chess, and here I have to admit, Ron really surprised me. He played just brilliantly, and I watched him with bated breath. He sacrificed himself so that Harry and Hermione could get through. He was brilliant, he really was. Ron fell flat, and Harry and Hermione went on."

Itachi continued his story, his voice growing quieter.

 "The next door was a dead troll. Quirrell had left him there just in case, but I found him dead there already. I waited for the Gryffindors to pass the potions test. And finally, I reached the room with the mirror..."

At that moment, Itachi felt his throat stiffen in pain. It was hard for him to speak, and he coughed, trying to clear his throat. Theodore, noticing his distress, immediately jumped up, poured him a glass of water and held it out to Itachi. Itachi gratefully accepted the water, took a few sips, and felt the pain recede a bit. He nodded gratefully to Theodore and continued his story.

Itachi, choosing his words, continued his story. 

"I noticed that the back of Quirrell's head was hiding Voldemort, exhausted but still dangerous. I watched Quirrell and Harry from behind a hidden corner. When Quirrell started to act up, I realized this was my chance. I immediately attacked him, targeting whatever would be weakest."

Itachi fell silent, looking down at his hands. He didn't elaborate on his wounds, but expressively pointed a finger at himself. It was as if he was saying

"Look at me. These are the consequences of this decision of mine. This is what my attempt to stop Voldemort turned into." 

Theodore, immersed in his thoughts, listened silently to Itachi's story, absorbing every word. His face remained serious and tense, but his eyes read surprise, admiration, and concern. He never once interrupted Itachi, allowing him to speak his mind and share everything that was on his mind. 

There was a full minute of silence before Theodore spoke, his voice quiet but thoughtful.

 "So it turns out you won after all?" - He asked, looking directly into Itachi's eyes. 

"Because if you hadn't, you'd be dead by now. And if you had just managed to escape, Voldemort would have made himself known in those two days, and we would have known about it long ago." There was hope in his voice, as if he wanted to convince both himself and Itachi that everything had ended well.

Itachi, listening to Theodore's speculation, shook his head, denying his words.

 "No, Theodore, I didn't win," he uttered, his voice full of disappointment. 

"I killed Quirrell, it is true, but Voldemort escaped. I only prevented his immediate return, but I did not destroy him. He is still at large, and he will try to return again." He paused, and added

"At that moment my wounds were too serious, and I could not pursue him. I was exhausted and weakened, and chasing him, in that condition, would have been suicide." There was bitterness in his voice at not being able to finish what he had started.

Theodore, after hearing Itachi say that Voldemort was still at large, jumped up abruptly from his chair as if he had been electrocuted. He grabbed his hair with his hands, his eyes wide with horror . 

"What!!! escaped!!! Does that mean he could come back at any moment?" - he exclaimed, his voice trembling with fear . 

"What about the philosopher's stone? Is it safe? Did it also leave with him!"

Panic sounded in his voice.

Itachi, looking at Theodore's reaction, calmly replied, trying to reassure him. 

"The Philosopher's Stone is fine, Theodore," he said, his voice steady and confident. "He's safe. He didn't leave with Voldemort."

"He's in Potter's pocket. I left him there." 

Itachi, seeing that Theodore still seemed to be trying to digest the information he had received, decided to change the subject and ask his own question. 

"What about Potter and his friends?" - He asked, his voice sounding calm and steady. 

"Is there any news about them? Are they all right?"

He waited for Theodore's answer, hoping that nothing had happened to the boys. 

Theodore, calming down a bit but still looking worried, nodded.

 "Yes, there is news. Dumbledore recently announced what happened," he replied, trying to speak more calmly. 

"He revealed that Harry, Ron and Hermione were able to stop Quirrell in the dungeons by preventing him from stealing the stone." 

"He said that Harry was the hero who defeated Quirrell

Theodore answered Itachi after a bit of silence, and there was some doubt in his voice.

 "To be honest, at first I thought it was all lies. There wasn't a word about you in Dumbledore's story. And I admittedly didn't believe that some freshmen, and even with mediocre skills, could defeat... him, as you put it. I expected you to tell it like it really was. That's why I waited for you to explain it yourself." A note of tenderness slipped into his voice, and Theodore looked at Itachi again.

Theodore fell silent, thinking for a moment.

 "Everyone says Harry is the hero who saved us all from the quirl. Everyone is very proud of him. Ron and Hermione, of course, are great too, they were involved too. And now they're all resting together, I understand, and getting treatment for their wounds."

Itachi, frowning, asked the question that had been tormenting him

"Theodore, how did you find me in the first place?" He expected details, but didn't rush Theodore.

Theodore, squirming slightly in his chair, began his story.

 "When you disappeared after the exams, I... I was a little worried. . And then, wandering around the castle, I heard the voices of Gryffindors discussing the Philosopher's Stone with Professor McGonagall. They were saying it was going to be stolen today..."

He paused, gathering his thoughts. 

"I waited and waited for you to come back to tell me what was going on. But you never showed up. That's when I realized something was wrong. I wrote you a note telling you where to look and, deciding that something had to be done, I followed the Gryffindors, leaving a note for you in your room. And then, when I was almost there I saw you. You were limping, covered in dust, and - you were falling, barely able to stay on your feet. I was able to pick you up before you fell. I remember how you started to fall, and how I managed to catch you in the last moments, and that's how I found you." Theodore finished his story, surprise and a bit of horror at what had happened in his voice. 

After they talked some more, discussing the finer details of what had happened, Itachi felt his magic begin to recover. He felt a familiar warmth spreading through his body, and realized that it was time to get to work on his own healing. He wanted to use a few healing spells to speed up the healing process and get rid of the pain and weakness as soon as possible.

Itachi was about to raise his hand and cast a spell when a cold sweat broke out. 

He remembered the moment when Quirrell had snatched his wand out of his hands and tossed it aside during the fight. Itachi had been so exhausted after the victory that he had simply forgotten about it as he left the scene of the battle. His eyes widened in horror, and he felt a chill go through him. He was without his wand.

Itachi, realizing the gravity of the situation, quickly turned to Theodore, his eyes expressing alarm.

 "Theodore, my wand! I left it there in the room with the mirror," he muttered, his voice sounding worried. 

 Quirrell snatched it from me during the fight, and I never picked it up when I left. I was too exhausted to remember it!"

Itachi tried to calm down, but his voice was still shaking. 

"If it's been two days, my wand could very well have been found. That means we could be questioned soon, and we need to be prepared." He took a deep breath, trying to control himself. "I need my wand."

He quickly cut to the chase, wasting no time.

 "Theodore, please come back to my room. There, in a secret compartment, lies my spare magic wand. You remember the one I bought when we first went to Slanted Alley with you?" Itachi pointed out trying to make sure Theodore understood. "Bring it over as soon as you can. I need to be ready, and not just for an interrogation, but for anything." His tone was demanding, but a note of concern slipped in. He realized that his omission could have had serious consequences, and he had to remedy the situation as soon as possible.

Theodore, upon hearing Itachi's words, was stunned at first, but then quickly pulled himself together. He realized how serious the situation was and nodded, trying to show that he was ready to act. 

"Okay," he replied quickly, his voice sounding collected and confident. 

 I'll be right back, I got it."

He was about to get out of his seat, but he stopped suddenly and looked at Itachi. 

"Wait," he said, and his gaze became serious. - I don't think I'm likely to be questioned by anyone. They don't have probable cause, and it's unlikely anyone would suspect me. But you... They have your wand, and you're obviously involved in something very serious."

Theodore was silent for a moment, contemplating the situation. 

"I think you should get lost for a couple days until you get yourself cleaned up and get a feel for the situation. That would be wise until you're sure you're in no danger. You need to lie down, and get your health in order." There was genuine concern for Itachi in his voice, and he wanted his friend to be safe. 

"I'll be back quickly."

And turning around, Theodore took off, quickly leaving the Ransom Room to fulfill Itachi's request as soon as possible. He realized that time was playing against them and they needed to act quickly and decisively.

Itachi was left alone in the Room of Requirement, and he was overcome with anxiety. His thoughts were preoccupied with Theodore, he feared that his friend might be detained or questioned, and that his involvement in these events might come to light. Itachi realized that his fears were probably unfounded, but the uneasy feeling did not recede. Time dragged agonizingly slow, and each minute seemed like an eternity.

At last, after what seemed like an eternity, but was really only half an hour, the door of the room opened, and Theodore appeared on the threshold. He looked a little out of breath, but a triumphant smile shone on his face. He walked leisurely over to Itachi, pulled a magic wand from the pocket of his robe, and held it out to him.

"Here," Theodore said, his voice sounding rather calm

 "Your wand. I was careful no one saw me." He added, with some irony 

"And I don't think anyone would suspect me of anything."

Itachi picked up his wand and was immediately relieved. The feel of it in his hand brought him confidence and calm.

Itachi, barely touching his wand, immediately pointed it at himself and cast a few basic healing spells. He felt his body respond to the magic, the pain began to recede and the weakness slowly left him. He was sure he would be fully recovered by nightfall. 

Itachi took a deep breath as he looked at Theodore. He realized that he was asking too much of him, but he saw no other option. 

"Theodore," he said, his voice sounding calm, but there was a plea in it.

 "I know it's a lot, but I need your help. I'll be here until I recover, but I need to know what's going on. I'm asking you, please walk around the castle all day and listen to rumors. Gather any information you can. I need to know what people are thinking, what the teachers are saying, and what's going on in general. Everything."

He looked intently at Theodore, waiting for a response.

 He knew his request was onerous, and if Theodore refused, he would understand. 

"All right," Theodore replied without hesitation, his voice sounding confident. 

"I'll do it. If anything important comes up, I'll come to you right away." He smiled at Itachi, showing that he wasn't worried. 

"You just rest and regain your strength. I'll take care of everything."