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Chapter 226 — Can He Be a Puppy?!
Darren stared at Lockhart, stunned.
His green eyes were full of guilt—clearly distressed that he had actually hurt the professor.
"Darren Potter!"
Lockhart snapped awake from his faint, glaring at Darren as though he wanted to strangle him.
"I—I… you moved too fast, I thought—!"
"Thought what? You were attacking a professor! This is grounds for detention—yes, detention! No—expulsion—!"
"Lockhart, I don't believe it's your place to discipline my student."
Snape strode forward, his lip curling into a mocking smile—one with an unusual hint of pride.
Exactly as he'd expected, Darren had handled Lockhart without trouble.
Snape had never doubted that Darren could manage a fool like Lockhart. And if he hadn't—Snape would have stepped in long before letting Darren be hurt.
"Snape—this student—he—just now he—" Lockhart sputtered.
He wanted to claim Darren had attacked him unfairly, but he had been the one to strike first.
And if he said Darren had beaten him unconscious… he'd only humiliate himself further.
"Yes, a student just injured you," Snape said smoothly. "Are you planning to announce that to the world? That Gilderoy Lockhart can't defeat a Second-year without a sneak attack? What will your adoring fans think?"
Snape's tone dripped disdain.
Darren suddenly realized just how terrifyingly sharp Snape's tongue could be.
Lockhart's lips trembled with rage.
"Professor," Darren said quickly, "why don't I escort Professor Lockhart to the hospital wing?"
[Ding, Father +60]
[Ding, Father +50]
[Ding, Father +40]
[Ding…]
Even someone like Lockhart could draw Darren's concern.
Even after Lockhart had tried to get him expelled, Darren still felt responsible.
That kindness—Snape saw Lily Potter in it.
And it hurt.
Why couldn't this child think of himself first?
But how could Snape blame him? The boy had grown up without love. His mother—killed because of Snape's own choices.
And as a father, he couldn't even acknowledge him…
Snape forced the thoughts aside, scowling.
"Professor Lockhart is hardly that fragile. He's a man of hundreds of heroic adventures and countless bestselling books."
Snape's tone turned venomous.
"He calls himself 'the most gifted wizard of the century.' If you escort him to the hospital wing, wouldn't that be… insulting?"
"Is that… really the case?" Darren asked doubtfully.
"Of course," Snape said smoothly. "Ask him yourself. Lockhart, would you like to go to the hospital wing?"
Lockhart wanted to scream YES.
He had just been blasted unconscious. Everything hurt. He desperately wanted to go.
But then he imagined his public image.
His readers.
His reputation.
He forced his teeth together.
"I—don't—need—the hospital wing. I'm perfectly—fine…"
But he shot Darren a vicious glare.
Darren lowered his head, guilt tightening his expression, eyes growing red.
Snape's frown deepened. He turned sharply toward Lockhart.
"If you're so well, get up. Let's continue. Testing yourself against students must be tiresome. Why not duel someone your own age?"
"Severus—" Lockhart squeaked. "This is a Dueling Club, not an… adult tournament. Perhaps we should let the students participate. Darren, you… no, no—forget it. You're reckless. Always injuring others. Anyone paired with you is practically being fed to a dragon!"
He shot Darren a spiteful look—thrilled to see Darren droop under the accusation.
Lockhart nearly laughed in triumph.
What he didn't notice was that every student present looked ready to explode.
"Professor," Kassandra said sweetly, "why don't you guide me? You're so powerful. Surely helping a student is no trouble?"
Lockhart blinked at her.
He didn't even remember who she was.
Kassandra was the quiet type—always in the corner, rarely speaking.
Other professors noticed her because she excelled academically.
Lockhart noticed only when someone was beautiful.
He brightened instantly.
"Students, look! Learn from this young lady! Enthusiastically asking professors for guidance—yes, yes, very good—!"
He screamed.
Because thick green moss suddenly covered him from head to toe.
He now resembled a moldy marsh toad.
"You—! Who are you? What's your name? Insolent! Absolutely lawless! You Slytherins are all the same—conniving, treacherous, shameless, vile—EXCEPT for Darren Potter! He is the only decent one among you—!"
Lockhart knew insulting Darren directly would get him lynched by half the school.
So he insulted everyone except Darren.
[Ding, sensing a "Holy Father" scene forming around the host, issuing temporary task:
Walk up to Lockhart and say, with a trembling voice:
"Professor, how can you say that? Whether Slytherin or any other house—every student at Hogwarts deserves respect. You can't insult them based on prejudice. Professor… please apologize."
Reward: Bloodline Lottery x1
Will the host accept?]
Bloodline lottery?
Could he become a puppy again?
Darren smacked his lips.
Once again, Lily's reputation was going to tank because of him.
Once again, he'd take emotional damage.
But…
How could Lockhart's insults not be met with a full Holy Father performance?
[Accept!]
Bloodline or no bloodline—he really just wanted an excuse to scold Lockhart ten times over.
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