---
Chapter 42 — Lines That Shouldn't Cross
Before Madam Pomfrey could scold him into compliance, Darren quickly took the potion and downed it himself.
As expected, it was the same brew Snape had brought last time — smooth, effective, and surprisingly decent-tasting.
Madam Pomfrey waved her wand to check his vitals again, and after a pause, her lips softened into a smile.
"Alright, young man, you're cleared. Unless, of course, you want to stay here for a few more hours?"
"No, no, that would be a waste of medical resources!" Darren said hastily, already climbing out of bed.
Staying here wouldn't earn him any Father Points, after all.
---
When he returned to the carriage, it was spotless. The blood had been scrubbed away, and there was no sign of the werewolf's remains. The whole place looked eerily normal.
He glanced toward the corner — the spot where that little blonde girl, Kassandra, had been lying before.
Empty.
"Don't bother looking," Betsy said flatly. She was sitting by the window, wand in hand. "In Slytherin, when something like this happens, everyone saves themselves first."
She flicked her wand toward a cup on the table. A shimmering green liquid filled it instantly.
"Drink this."
Darren blinked at her, confused.
"Poison," she said coldly. "Drink it and die quickly."
"Oh." Darren nodded, visibly relaxing. If she said that, it probably wasn't poison.
Still, to be safe, he checked with his system:
> [Ding! Detected: A secret healing potion from the Greengrass family. Restores blood and accelerates recovery.]
Well. She was arrogant — but generous.
He raised the cup and downed it in one go.
It wasn't even bitter. Sweet, with a sharp herbal tang.
Becky stared, speechless.
She'd expected hesitation. Fear. At least a few questions.
Instead, he drank it instantly — just because she told him to.
Did he trust her that much? Or was it something else?
She sighed quietly. Love really is dangerous.
---
The boy looked much better now — his pale cheeks warming with color, those bright green eyes sparkling again. A tuft of reddish-brown hair stuck up at the back of his head like a stubborn flame.
Cute. Too cute.
But that only made things harder.
"What I told you earlier in the infirmary," she said slowly, her tone serious, "I hope you understood it."
He blinked, puzzled.
She didn't want him to misunderstand. She didn't want him to keep throwing his life away for her.
No matter how much he felt — it wasn't possible between them.
"Give it up," Becky said firmly. Her expression hardened, though her eyes softened for a fleeting second.
She didn't deserve such blind, selfless affection.
Even if his courage touched her — she couldn't accept it. Not as a Slytherin. Not as a Greengrass.
Not when he was just a Muggle-born boy.
And definitely not when he was eleven.
The Greengrass family would never approve, and she knew it. So she had to cut it off before he got hurt.
"I'll only say this once," she said, voice low but sharp. "From now on, try not to follow me. Whether you agree or not, stay away."
She turned abruptly, unwilling to meet those wide green eyes again. They would only make her falter.
Merlin, what a mess.
---
Meanwhile, Darren sat frozen, utterly confused.
Wasn't everything fine just now? She gave him medicine — then suddenly told him not to follow her?
Did he miss something?
Was this… some kind of Slytherin mood swing?
Or was she still mad because he hadn't surrendered to her earlier?
He sighed. "Slytherin girls… what a headache."
Still, if keeping some distance meant fewer curses thrown his way, maybe that wasn't so bad.
Besides, they'd all be at Hogwarts soon. The system would surely give him more chances to earn points, whether or not Becky wanted him nearby.
Fine, he thought. Less following it is. She's temperamental enough to hex me just for saying good morning.
---
He stretched, preparing to climb up and find Harry, when the train horn blared.
> "Dear students, we will be arriving at Hogwarts in five minutes. Please put away your luggage and change into your school robes. Porters will transfer your belongings to the castle."
"What— already?" Darren blinked.
That was fast.
He could've sworn barely any time had passed. Hogwarts Express was supposed to be slow — but this felt like teleportation.
He scratched at his hair, resigned. He'd wanted to talk to Harry, to observe how the Chosen One handled things.
Now he'd have to wait until they reached the castle.
Funny thing was — Harry still didn't even know his name.
Neither did Becky. Or Malfoy.
He'd been so careful about keeping his identity quiet to make his "big reveal" more dramatic later… that he'd accidentally become a total mystery.
Darren chuckled to himself.
"Guess even my own allies don't know who I am. That's… some next-level stealth."
---
--
---
---
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Like it ? Add to library!
Have some idea about my story? Comment it and let me know.
Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!
Creation is hard, cheer me up! VOTE for me!--
---
---
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Like it ? Add to library!
Have some idea about my story? Comment it and let me know.
Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!
Creation is hard, cheer me up! VOTE for me!--
---
---
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Like it ? Add to library!
Have some idea about my story? Comment it and let me know.
Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!
Creation is hard, cheer me up! VOTE for me!.