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Chapter 77 — The Forbidden Forest Blind Box!!
Before Halloween, Hogwarts was glowing with pumpkin lanterns.
In Charms class, Professor Flitwick bounced excitedly as he announced they would finally learn the Levitation Charm.
"That's right—the same charm young Mr. Potter used during flying lessons!" Flitwick squeaked proudly. "Darren, if you'd first cast it in my classroom, I'd have awarded Slytherin twenty points on the spot!"
The class laughed good-naturedly.
Darren flushed, embarrassed.
Ever since the broom incident, everyone knew Slytherin was full of students who secretly liked him.
They simply refused to show it openly, leaving Darren looking lonelier than he actually was.
He sighed.
He'd been avoiding contact lately because he didn't want to ruin his "pitiful Slytherin" persona… but people's kindness kept ruining it for him.
Professor Flitwick clapped to signal grouping time.
Since Darren had already mastered the spell, he was excused to write his homework.
He'd barely begun when the familiar chime echoed in his mind.
[Ding! A scenario suitable for Holy Father Roleplay detected. Temporary Quest Released:
After Ron insults Hermione, confront him with anger and ask: "Is someone who has faced danger with you not a friend just because she corrected your spellcasting? Then what am I to you?"]
[Ding! Reward: Forbidden Forest Blind Box. Accept?]
Darren blinked.
A… Forbidden Forest Blind Box?
What kind of madness was that?
Why couldn't the system just give him the reward directly?
Why throw him into the forest?
Annoying.
But still—interesting. And better than the tiny talent buffs he'd been getting lately.
Every spare Holy Father Point had gone into studying Hogwarts textbooks.
His Occlumency-like mental disciplines required too many points, and he'd burned through most of his reserves.
He needed more.
[Accept.]
He stood up just as the bell rang.
Harry and Ron were waiting at the door.
"Finally!" Ron grumbled. "I'm so sick of Hermione Granger—"
"Ron," Darren cut him off sharply. "A gentleman doesn't insult a lady behind her back."
"We're eleven!" Ron scoffed. "And she's impossible. Honestly, she's like a—"
He suddenly collided with a small figure.
Hermione.
She froze—eyes already brimming—before bolting down the corridor.
Darren reached out, but she was gone.
"She heard you," Darren said quietly.
Ron shifted uncomfortably but stuck out his chin. "So what? Everyone knows she doesn't have any friends!"
"No friends?"
Darren's voice rose—anger, disbelief, disappointment.
Ron faltered under the heat of it.
Darren stepped closer, eyes bright with emotion.
"Hermione risked herself with us. She snuck out at night with us. She corrected your spell so you wouldn't make a fool of yourself. And you mock her for it?"
Ron swallowed.
"And just because she pointed out your mistake, you act like she deserves to be alone."
Darren's voice cracked. "Then what am I to you?"
Silence.
Darren's tone turned small and sad.
"I thought Gryffindors and Slytherins were supposed to be the same. In Slytherin, no one talks about me behind my back. Even if they dislike that I like Gryffindor, they try not to hurt me. They even try to protect me from getting in trouble."
He looked at Harry, heartbreak in his eyes.
"I thought the Gryffindor you always spoke about would be better. That's why I defended it. But this? This is worse. You spoke badly of a girl—your friend—behind her back. I can't believe it."
He turned away, shoulders shaking, and walked off.
The corridor didn't breathe until he disappeared.
[Ding! Quest completed perfectly. Reward obtained: Forbidden Forest Blind Box.
Dark Magic Talent +2.]
He reached the corner, exhaled, and wiped his expression calm again.
Students still stared at him wide-eyed, whispering.
He kept walking.
—
"Harry… Darren's being dramatic," Ron muttered.
Harry stared at him. "Ron, he's right."
Ron froze.
"You insulted a girl behind her back," Harry said quietly. "And I didn't stop you. Darren cried because of us."
Harry's chest tightened.
He remembered little Harry in Primary School—bullied by Dudley, ignored by teachers, avoided by classmates.
Back then, he prayed someone like Darren would appear.
Someone kind.
Someone who would defend him.
But after coming to Hogwarts, with all the attention, he'd forgotten how that felt.
Until now.
"Darren's the best person I know," Harry said firmly. "And we hurt him."
Ron looked down, ashamed.
Harry didn't feel anger—only pride and guilt.
Darren was too kind.
Too good.
And they needed to be better.
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