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Chapter 25 – Sorting Fears and Silent Fame
Boy.
That was all Darren could think as he stared at his stats.
His Dark Magic Talent was 9 points.
He was done for. Completely done for.
He could already imagine the Sorting Hat's reaction at the Welcoming Feast. Dumbledore would be sitting there, smiling kindly from the Headmaster's chair, as the hat was placed on Darren's head…
Then it would pause, hum thoughtfully, and announce:
> "Hmm… yes, yes, a complicated case indeed… but as a great Sorting Hat, I must say… Azkaban Academy!"
Alright, maybe that was an exaggeration — but the thought still made his stomach drop.
Everyone knew dark wizards were born with powerful affinity for the Dark Arts. Those without that talent couldn't even grasp it, no matter how hard they tried.
For a moment, panic clawed at him — until Darren remembered the Sorting Hat couldn't see talents, only thoughts.
Perfect. He could still act like the perfect saintly "Holy Father."
He let out a long breath of relief.
---
"System, can these talents be increased?" he asked suddenly.
Now that he was looking closely, his other talents were embarrassingly low. His Potions talent was 6, and everything else was under 5.
> [Ding! Host talents can be increased using Father Points. One hundred Father Points equals one Talent Point. Maximum value: 100.]
"What?!"
Darren's mouth fell open.
He had assumed talents capped at ten points — not one hundred!
> [Ding! Wizarding talent can also increase naturally through serious study, reading, or hands-on practice.]
[Ding! All new students' talents are below ten points. Please rest assured, Host.]
"Rest assured?" he muttered. "You're joking — I've got a long way to go…"
He wondered how much talent Dumbledore had, and how fast his grew. Did the Headmaster have some hidden advantage?
Still, Darren decided to use what he had. He currently had 740 Father Points, the result of two long, exhausting days of good deeds.
"System, convert 700 Father Points into Talent Points."
> [Ding! Conversion successful.]
He'd hold on to the seven Talent Points for now — better to allocate them strategically once classes began.
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He turned his attention to his wand — the Ruyi Wand, his proud, ten-thousand-Galleon investment.
It could change into the wood of any other wand — hawthorn for potion work, chestnut for herbology, birch for wandcrafting, elder or holly for raw power.
He could even turn it into fir for luck.
The shape stayed the same, but the nature changed.
Darren couldn't help grinning. Totally worth every Galleon.
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After fiddling with the wand for a bit, he called for Paggie.
"Paggie," he said casually, "what did the professors think of the cakes?"
Paggie's eyes brightened. "They were wonderful, little master! Everyone praised them! Even Professor Snape — who never eats sweets — nodded ever so slightly.
"Only Professor Dumbledore was strange. He stared at the cake for a long time, said something about 'unlucky omens,' and threw away a small piece."
Paggie shook her head in disbelief. "I really don't understand Mr. Dumbledore sometimes. How could he waste something the little master brought back himself?"
Darren smiled faintly. "It's fine, Paggie. Little things like that don't matter. I just wanted to do something nice for everyone. Especially you — you've been amazing."
> [Ding! Father Value +100]
Paggie clasped her hands. "Ah, the great and kind little master Darren! Paggie has never met such a good wizard! I even told everyone at Hogwarts about you — they were all crying!"
"…You what?"
Darren froze, face going blank.
"You told everyone?"
Wait — that couldn't be good. If people started digging into his past, they'd find holes everywhere. Worse, it might make him look like someone who enjoyed attention — and that was the opposite of the "humble saint" image he was building.
He was about to ask what exactly she'd said when Paggie continued excitedly:
"Little Master Darren just told Paggie to rest — you're so kind! But on my way, I met some professors. They asked about your life before Hogwarts. So I went to the orphanage, asked around, and told them what I learned.
"They were weeping, little master! They said you'd suffered so much, and that I must take good care of you!"
Darren blinked, speechless.
The professors were gossiping? At Hogwarts?
Still, he couldn't deny — it helped his image.
"Alright," he said at last. "But from now on, Paggie, don't talk about it anymore. If anyone asks, say I was fine, and I don't want to trouble anyone with my past. Got it?"
> [Ding! Father Value +100]
Paggie sniffled. "Yes, little master. You're always thinking of others… but never of yourself.
"How could someone as kind as you ever have been lost at birth?"
Darren just sighed, half-exasperated, half-amused.
At this rate, his "Holy Father" reputation might spread faster than any spell at Hogwarts.
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