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Chapter 88 — Snape's Gift?!
It took Darren several minutes to convince Harry he was not Snape in disguise.
"But—Snape? Being nice? Giving someone an Invisibility Cloak?" Harry looked horrified. "That can't be real."
He squinted suspiciously at Darren, clearly imagining Snape tied up in some broom closet… or already disposed of. The excitement on Harry's face was so obvious that Darren almost laughed.
Of course, Harry's expression also earned him a disapproving look.
"Brother, you can't be so prejudiced," Darren said gently. "Professor Snape works hard. He deals with students' trouble every day, and even when he gets annoyed, he's already being kind."
[Ding, Holy Father +80]
[Ding, Holy Father +60]
[Ding, Holy Father +30]
Three notifications.
But only two people were visible.
Which meant two other people were following them under invisibility.
Darren silently groaned.
Seriously? Two observers just to guide Harry to the Mirror of Erised? That's excessive.
But the more he thought about it, the more it made sense.
Originally, Snape had night duty. Harry got caught wandering in the restricted section and fled. He didn't get caught only because Snape either didn't want to catch him… or because the plot demanded it.
Given the Holy Father notifications, Darren was certain:
Snape wasn't trying to catch Harry.
Snape was just trying to scare him.
Probably imagining James Potter's son panicking under the cloak.
A petty, satisfying hobby for the man.
But that was Dumbledore's problem, not his.
Darren looked at Harry, who was still muttering suspiciously about Snape.
"Brother, it's so late… where are you planning to go? Maybe we should head back? The teachers will have more work if we start wandering."
[Ding, Holy Father +80]
[Ding, Holy Father +70]
Harry didn't even react; he just sighed.
"Oh, Darren, relax! You're too jumpy. Since we're already out, let's enjoy it! We can go to the Restricted Section and look up Nicolas Flamel. Maybe when Hermione gets back, she'll find something too!"
Before Darren could answer, Harry dragged him toward the library.
Their footsteps echoed loudly, and Darren winced.
Gryffindors really are fearless to a fault.
They were only halfway down the corridor when Filch's voice echoed sharply:
"I heard something! It's around here!"
Harry froze. Completely stiff with fear.
He also suddenly noticed something horrifying: in their frantic run, he had lost sight of Darren entirely.
What if Darren got caught? What if Filch is dragging him away right now?
Harry's stomach twisted. Darren would be devastated.
Harry's courage spiked.
He opened his mouth to call out and distract Filch—
But before he could, Mrs. Norris shrieked right at his feet.
Filch's head snapped toward Harry's cloak.
He stepped closer, grin cruel and satisfied, face inches away.
Harry shook violently under the cloak.
Meanwhile, Darren was watching the scene and internally groaning.
This wasn't how it happened in the original timeline. They weren't supposed to get cornered here.
But Mrs. Norris had spotted Harry early.
And apparently spotted Darren too.
Except she ignored him—his high animal affinity was paying off.
Still, letting Harry get caught didn't match his personality. He had to fix this.
---
[Ding! Temporary Holy Father Mission:]
• Remove your Invisibility Cloak.
• Rush up behind Filch like you're about to scream in his ear.
• But stop, shake your head, gently tap him on the shoulder instead, then turn and run.
Reward: +2 Animal Affinity talent.
Accept?
[Accept]
---
Darren sighed.
He slipped his cloak off and crept up behind Filch.
For a moment he considered doing a Weasley-style ear-splitting scream—Fred would have done it—but he quickly shook his head.
No. That's too mean. And too loud.
He reached out and gently tapped Filch's shoulder.
"Who?!" Filch jumped a foot in the air.
Darren also flinched, face pale, instinctively looking like he was about to obey whatever Filch said.
But then he remembered:
This is a night tour. I'm supposed to be saving Harry.
So he spun around and bolted down the corridor.
"Students! Students running in the hallway!" Filch roared, furious.
"I told them we should bring back the old punishments!"
"They need to learn a proper lesson!"
Behind Filch's cloak, Harry exhaled shakily.
Darren's plan had worked.
And Filch thundered off after the "fleeing culprit," leaving Harry trembling—but safe.
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