I’m assuming that, if he wanted to, Quirrell could think of something pretty smart to say to Harry, and even now I’d give him even odds on success. Before the blow to trust, I’d have given him much higher odds, again conditional on his really trying.
However, I wrote my comment before reading Chapter 66. If Harry succeeds in saying No to Quirrell once, then he’ll find it much easier to say it again. Quirrell should have started with something that he really could talk Harry into (although he might yet talk Harry into this).
I’m assuming that, if he wanted to, Quirrell could think of something pretty smart to say to Harry, and even now I’d give him even odds on success. Before the blow to trust, I’d have given him much higher odds, again conditional on his really trying.
However, I wrote my comment before reading Chapter 66. If Harry succeeds in saying No to Quirrell once, then he’ll find it much easier to say it again. Quirrell should have started with something that he really could talk Harry into (although he might yet talk Harry into this).