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Chapter 91 — Found Nicolas Flamel!!
After classes resumed, Darren and the others began combing the library for information on Nicolas Flamel.
They weren't hopeful… but they still held on to that tiny spark of excitement.
Maybe, just maybe, the next page they turned would reveal the truth.
Maybe they'd finally connect the dots about the forbidden room on the fourth floor.
But things were not going well.
No progress at all.
And while they were drowning in dusty books, Wood brought Harry even worse news:
The referee for the next Quidditch match would be Snape.
Harry almost burst into tears on the spot.
"He wants my life, Darren—he definitely wants my life!
Last time he tried to kill me—well… yes, fine, you keep saying it wasn't really him, but this time it's different! If Snape referees the match and we lose, I may as well be dead!"
Harry's dramatic wailing was so loud that Madam Pince threw all three of them out of the library for "noise pollution."
At least they were kicked out together. Harry looked slightly less pathetic that way.
"It'll be alright," Darren comforted him. "Professor Snape looks fierce, but he's actually very responsible. As long as you don't provoke him, there's no problem… really, I'm not lying…"
But Darren stopped mid-sentence.
Malfoy was standing in the doorway, wand pointed at Neville.
[Ding — Holy Father scenario detected. Temporary task released:
Stand before Neville, point your wand at Malfoy, and say angrily:
'Malfoy, if you bully Neville again, I'll tell Professor Snape!']
[Reward: Neville's Herbology Talent. Accept?]
[Accept!]
Darren strode forward at once.
He stepped in front of Neville and glared at Malfoy.
"Malfoy, why do you always bully Neville? If you do it again, I'll tell Professor Snape and have him lock you up!"
His face was full of seriousness—as if he were threatening Malfoy with a deadly curse.
Except… the "curse" was detention.
It made him look painfully earnest.
[Ding — Mission complete. Herbology Talent acquired.]
Darren blinked.
Neville's Herbology talent… was already 15?
He'd assumed Neville had maybe 10 points at most.
Well… that explained why Neville would one day be a Herbology prodigy.
Adding Neville's talent to his own, Darren hit 25 points total.
That was genius level—even for second year students.
Malfoy's expression twisted.
He glared at Darren as if Darren were the villain here.
Then—furious and humiliated—he dragged Crabbe and Goyle away, shouting threats at Neville as he left.
"It's over… Malfoy definitely hates me now," Neville whimpered, near tears.
Hermione marched over angrily.
"Neville, you have to be brave!"
"Yeah! Hit him back!" Ron added, very unhelpfully.
Neville shook his head miserably.
"I'm not brave at all… I don't even know why the Sorting Hat put me in Gryffindor. I think Hufflepuff suits me more."
[Ding — Holy Father scenario detected. Temporary task: Comfort Neville and make him happy.]
[Reward: Animal Affinity +2. Accept?]
Animal affinity again?
Fine—he accepted instantly.
Darren pulled a Chocolate Frog from his pocket and pressed it into Neville's hand.
"Neville, don't say you're not brave. The other day, when Malfoy bullied a Hufflepuff first-year, you were the one who stood in front of them."
Neville froze.
"Even if you were scared," Darren continued gently, "you still protected that student. That's why Malfoy keeps targeting you."
He smiled warmly.
"So tell me—how is that not courage? Neville, you're a hero. A hero just like my brother."
Neville's face turned scarlet.
His grandmother had never praised him like that—not once.
He'd only ever heard that he was slow, clumsy, cowardly.
And now Darren was calling him a hero.
"I—I just didn't want to see him bully someone…" Neville mumbled.
Darren squeezed his shoulder.
"That's courage. Eat the Chocolate Frog. You'll feel braver."
Neville nodded and shoved it into his mouth.
[Ding — Mission complete. Animal Affinity +21 obtained.]
The frog card inside popped into Neville's hand.
"Oh! Dumbledore again… Darren, do you collect these? I've already got several."
Neville happily handed the card over.
"I've got loads of Dumbledore cards," Ron said, rolling his eyes. "Too many. Darren, you should toss yours."
"My favorite cards are—wait. Hold on."
Harry suddenly froze, staring at a passage in the book he was holding.
"Ron, Darren—look! I think… I think I finally found Nicolas Flamel!"
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