Ansatz: $f(x)=ax^2+bx+c$
$
\begin{array}{cc@{\,}c@{\,}c@{\,}c@{\,}r}
\textrm{(I)} & a&+b &+c&=&-1\\
\textrm{(II)} & a&-b &+c&=&7\\
\textrm{(III)}&4a&+2b&+c&=&1
\end{array}
\stackrel{\textrm{II'=II$-$I}}{\Longrightarrow}
\begin{array}{cc@{\,}c@{\,}c@{\,}c@{\,}r}
\textrm{(I)} & a&+b &+c&=&-1\\
\textrm{(II')}& &-2b& &=& 8\\
\textrm{(III)}& 4a&+2b&+c&=&1
\end{array}$
$\stackrel{\textrm{III'=III$-4$I}}{\Longrightarrow}
\begin{array}{cc@{\,}c@{\,}c@{\,}c@{\,}r}
\textrm{(I)} & a&+b &+c&=&-1\\
\textrm{(II')} & &-2b& &=& 8\\
\textrm{(III')}& &-2b&-3c&=&5
\end{array}
$
$\stackrel{\textrm{III''=II'$-$III'}}{\Longrightarrow}
\begin{array}{cr@{\,}r@{\,}r@{\,}c@{\,}r}
\textrm{(I)} & a&+b &+c&=&-1\\
\textrm{(II')} & &-2b& &=& 8\\
\textrm{(III'')}& & &3c&=& 3
\end{array}
$
$
\Rightarrow
\begin{array}{cr@{\,}r@{\,}r@{\,}c@{\,}r}
\textrm{(I)} & a&+b &+c&=&-1\\
\textrm{(II'')} & & b& &=&-4\\
\textrm{(III''')}& & & c&=& 1
\end{array}$
$\begin{array}{cr@{\,}r@{\,}r@{\,}c@{\,}r}
\textrm{(I')} & a&+b & &=&-2\\
\textrm{(II'')} & & b& &=&-4\\
\textrm{(III''')}& & &\ c&=& 1
\end{array}
$
$\stackrel{\textrm{I''=I'$-$II'}}{\Longrightarrow}
\begin{array}{cr@{\,}c@{\,}r}
\textrm{(I')} & a&=& 2\\
\textrm{(II'')} & b&=& 4\\
\textrm{(III''')}& c&=& 1
\end{array}
$