---
Chapter 176: Eavesdropping Holy Father Points!!
Darren was dragged out of the girls' bathroom by Harry and Ron.
Clearly, none of them shared Myrtle's crush.
---
[Ding! The system detects a Holy-Father-scenario forming. Temporary task issued:
When Percy appears, immediately step in front of him, look ahead, and upon seeing the Basilisk's eyes, act stunned and collapse to the floor.]
[Ding! Mission reward: Percy Weasley's personal apology.
Does the host accept the task?]
[Accept.]
---
Basilisk.
A major figure in the original story.
In many fanfics, people like to speculate that the Basilisk was something Salazar created to "purify" his bloodline and leave power for future generations.
After all, Salazar was a Parselmouth—likely due to a fusion of some serpent blood.
Thinking of bloodlines made Darren feel a moment of shame.
Other people in stories got "legendary ancestral bloodlines."
He, on the other hand, got… bizarre ones. All kinds of weird, random bloodlines.
And the system had even made Lily take the blame for them. He got rewarded, and she got a ruined reputation thanks to gossip.
Look at other people's systems, then look at his.
[System, aren't you ashamed of yourself?]
Naturally, the system was not ashamed at all. If anything, it seemed offended he even asked.
Darren sighed.
Just then, Percy rounded the corner.
Darren's eyes widened in feigned shock. He lunged forward, blocking Percy, staring straight ahead—and then he saw them:
Brass-colored eyes.
The Basilisk's eyes.
Strangely… without their lethal effect, they were almost fascinating.
There was no killing intent—only simple curiosity, like a snake watching something interesting.
And right before disappearing into the pipes, Darren heard a faint whisper:
"Tear… tear him apart… so hungry…"
Oh?
This snake actually knew how to cover for him?
Darren had worried the Basilisk might expose him and that Harry would overhear something he couldn't explain away.
But no—the creature was unexpectedly cooperative.
"That voice! Darren—it's the voice I heard!" Harry shouted, rushing blindly toward him. But Darren flicked his wand, and Harry couldn't see a thing.
From Harry's perspective, nothing was there.
"Hermione! Undo the spell on your brother. No, wait—I'll do it in a second…"
Darren swayed and collapsed weakly to the floor, face pale.
---
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining: Percy's Apology.]
Percy's Apology:
The Weasley family's overall favorability toward the host has increased by 20%.
(Percy Weasley, being a model prefect, once suspected you were the Heir. Now he completely discards that suspicion. Even in chaos, he trusts the host is a good person.)
---
The Weasleys' favorability?
Darren didn't think that needed increasing.
The Weasleys treated him like their own son. No—better than some parents treated their own kids.
But since the system had handed the reward over, there was no returning it.
Therefore, he still had to act.
Darren struggled to rise. His face was so drained of color it looked like he might collapse again. Hermione hurried to support him.
"Darren?" Harry called anxiously, unable to see anything.
"I… I'm alright, brother…" Darren whispered.
He raised his wand to lift the blindness charm—but nothing happened.
He pretended as if he had no magic left at all.
"Darren? What's happening to you?" Harry's voice was panicked. He circled helplessly, hands in his hair, unable to do anything because he still couldn't see.
"It's alright… just give me a moment…"
Darren took a shaky breath, then flicked his wand again—and this time the spell worked. Harry's vision returned instantly.
But Darren's strength completely gave out, and he slumped against Hermione.
"Darren! You're scaring me!" Harry grabbed him, terrified.
Hermione and Harry half-carried him to a nearby chair—Filch's chair, evidently.
Darren sat reluctantly, but forced himself to stay in character.
After a long silence, he finally opened his eyes. Harry leaned forward anxiously.
"Brother… the Heir of Slytherin—I don't know who it is," Darren whispered. "But I know that Mrs. Norris was petrified by the creature we just saw."
His voice trembled.
He turned his gaze to Ron, Hermione, and Percy, speaking solemnly:
"Harry can hear that voice. That means the creature is close enough for him to sense it. You all must be careful. If you can stay in the common room, stay. Don't wander around.
I don't know exactly what that creature is… but I saw its eyes.
Brass-colored eyes stared straight at me.
And for a second, I felt like my soul was about to be ripped out."
Ron swallowed hard.
Darren continued softly:
"You know my body carries a lot of strange power. All of it… everything I had… went into resisting that pull on my soul.
If you were the ones standing there instead of me… you might have died."
He paused, then added thoughtfully:
"But maybe I'm overreacting. Mrs. Norris only ended up petrified, not dead. Maybe she didn't look straight into its eyes?"
He rubbed his head like someone struggling to understand.
Then he said firmly:
"I'll walk you back to Gryffindor first. After that, I'll go to Headmaster Dumbledore or Professor Snape.
I have to explain everything. I can't let anyone else get hurt."
---
[Ding! Father +100]
[Ding! Father +100]
[Ding! Father +100]
[Ding! Father +80]
[Ding! Father +60]
Five Holy Father points?
Darren glanced at Percy—and then remembered.
This guy was secretly dating Penelope Clearwater.
In the original, Harry accidentally walked in on them once, and Percy nearly exploded.
Apparently Percy had been eavesdropping right now too.
Even that had given Darren Holy Father points.
Darren shook his head helplessly, stood up, and—keeping his act perfect—let his legs go weak for a moment.
"Come on," he said softly. "Let me walk you back first. After this… we listen to whatever the professors decide."
---
---
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
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!