Quirinus Quirrell

Professor Quirinus Quirrell was a wizard and the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry during the 1991-1992 school year. Prior to this, he served as the professor of Muggle Studies. While appearing timid and harmless, Quirrell was secretly in servitude to Lord Voldemort, whose disembodied spirit had possessed him and lived on the back of his head, concealed by a large turban. As Voldemort's host, Quirrell's primary mission was to steal the Philosopher's Stone to restore his master to a physical body, making him the primary antagonist of Harry Potter's first year.

Before his corruption by Lord Voldemort, Professor Quirrell taught Muggle Studies at Hogwarts. He took a year-long sabbatical to gain practical experience before taking up the famously cursed Defence Against the Dark Arts teaching post. During his travels, he journeyed to the forests of Albania, where he encountered the weakened, spectral form of Lord Voldemort. Possessing a theoretical interest in the Dark Arts and a desire for recognition, Quirrell was no match for Voldemort, who overpowered and possessed him. Upon returning to Hogwarts, Quirrell became a vessel for Voldemort's will. On 31 July 1991, he attempted to steal the Philosopher's Stone from Vault 713 at Gringotts Wizarding Bank but discovered that Rubeus Hagrid had emptied it earlier that day. Throughout the school year, he made several attempts to get past the protections guarding the Stone at Hogwarts. On Hallowe'en, he let a mountain troll into the dungeons as a diversion, hoping to get past Fluffy, the three-headed dog guarding the trapdoor. During Harry Potter's first Quidditch match, Quirrell attempted to murder Harry by jinxing his broomstick, but was thwarted by a counter-curse from Severus Snape and a fire set by Hermione Granger. Quirrell's final attempt occurred at the end of the school year. He managed to overcome the various enchantments protecting the Stone, but was unable to retrieve it from the Mirror of Erised. He was confronted by Harry Potter in the final chamber. Voldemort, speaking from the back of Quirrell's head, ordered him to kill Harry. However, Quirrell was unable to touch Harry's skin without suffering excruciating pain, as Harry was protected by the lingering magic of his mother, Lily Potter's, sacrificial love. When Quirrell made direct contact, his body began to burn and blister. Voldemort's spirit fled the dying body, leaving Quirrell to perish.

Quirrell was described as a pale young man who perpetually twitched and stuttered. This nervous disposition was largely an affectation to prevent others from suspecting him. His most defining feature was a large, purple turban that he claimed was a gift from an African prince as a reward for dealing with a troublesome zombie. He also told students it was packed with garlic to ward off a vampire he had met in Romania. In reality, the turban served to conceal the horrifying face of Lord Voldemort on the back of his head. Publicly, Quirrell presented himself as a timid, stuttering, and easily flustered academic who was afraid of his own subject and even his students. His true personality was far more cunning and ruthless. He possessed a deep-seated ambition and a dangerous curiosity for the Dark Arts, which ultimately led to his downfall. While he served Voldemort, he was ultimately a weak-willed individual, easily dominated and controlled by his master.

• Dark Arts: Quirrell demonstrated proficiency in the Dark Arts. He was capable of performing a powerful, non-verbal curse on Harry's broomstick from across a Quidditch pitch, a feat requiring considerable magical strength and concentration.
• Non-Verbal Magic: He could conjure ropes to bind Harry without speaking an incantation, showcasing his skill in advanced magic.
• Knowledge of Magical Creatures: Despite his feigned fear, Quirrell was stated to have a “special gift with trolls,” which he used to create the Hallowe'en diversion.
• Deception: Quirrell's greatest skill was arguably his ability to deceive. He successfully fooled nearly the entire Hogwarts staff, including Albus Dumbledore for a time, into believing he was a harmless and incompetent teacher.

• Turban: A large purple turban worn constantly to hide Lord Voldemort's face on the back of his head and to muffle Voldemort's voice.
• Wand: Quirrell possessed a wand, though its wood, core, and length are unknown.

• Lord Voldemort: Quirrell was a servant and a host to Voldemort. The relationship was entirely one of domination, with Voldemort constantly berating Quirrell for his weakness and using his body as a disposable tool. Voldemort showed no remorse in abandoning Quirrell to die once his body was ruined.
• Harry Potter: Harry was Quirrell's primary obstacle and eventual vanquisher. Quirrell viewed Harry with a mixture of hatred (on Voldemort's orders) and fear, ultimately being destroyed by the magical protection Harry carried.
• Severus Snape: Snape was deeply suspicious of Quirrell throughout the year. Believing Quirrell was trying to steal the Philosopher's Stone for himself, Snape actively worked against him, refereeing a Quidditch match to protect Harry and attempting to intimidate Quirrell in the Forbidden Forest.
• Albus Dumbledore: As his employer, Dumbledore was aware that Quirrell was a potential threat and admitted to Harry that he had been watching him closely. Dumbledore ultimately outsmarted Quirrell by enchanting the Mirror of Erised to protect the Stone.

• Quirinus: This first name, confirmed in supplementary materials, is likely derived from Quirinus, an early Roman god of war who was later identified with the deified Romulus. This name hints at Quirrell's hidden, warlike purpose and his dual nature.
• Quirrell: The surname sounds like “quarrel,” indicating internal and external conflict. It may also evoke “squirrel,” alluding to his twitchy and nervous public persona.

• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Quirrell is portrayed by actor Ian Hart. His death is depicted more dramatically; upon touching Harry, he crumbles into a pile of dust and ash, whereas in the book he develops painful blisters and is left to die after Voldemort's spirit flees. (film)
• J.K. Rowling revealed on Pottermore that Quirrell's first name is Quirinus. She also provided a backstory stating that he was a Ravenclaw student at Hogwarts and that his nervous tic was genuine before his travels. His desire to prove himself led him to deliberately seek out what was left of Voldemort, believing he could control the situation or at least learn from him. (Pottermore)
• In various Harry Potter video games, Quirrell's stutter is often exaggerated for comedic effect. In Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4, he is a playable character. (video game)