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Chapter 229 — Reward: Ghosting!!
By the next evening, news was circulating all over Hogwarts:
Lockhart had "fallen" down a staircase, broken his leg, and was now recovering in the hospital wing.
"Justin says you did it," Hermione huffed, arms crossed in irritation.
"He says everyone who ever argues with you ends up in the hospital wing, and that you're some sort of evil Slytherin mastermind seeking revenge. And if you didn't do it out of revenge, then you must be a—his words—'walking curse.'"
She rolled her eyes.
"Oh, Darren, don't let it upset you. We all know what kind of person you are. Justin's just… delusional. If you really had the brainpower he claims, Harry and I would be thrilled."
She paused, then added reluctantly:
"I wouldn't even have repeated his nonsense, but I thought you ought to know what he's been telling the first-years."
"I hope he gets petrified next!" Harry burst out angrily.
Harry especially hated Justin now—after all, Justin had once accused Darren of petrifying Filch's cat.
"Brother, don't say that." Darren offered a weak smile. "He's not wrong about one thing…I do seem like a broomstar. I keep bringing misfortune to the people around me. I wish I could stop it."
---
[Ding! Father Value +100]
[Ding! Father Value +100]
[Ding! Father Value +100]
---
"Oh, Darren." Harry looked pained. "You always take the blame for everything. It's not you—these things would've happened anyway. They're just coincidences. Please don't torture yourself over it."
To Harry, Justin was simply sick in the head.
Darren barely even had time to sleep, let alone run around hexing people.
Still, Darren shrugged helplessly.
Because of the fiasco with Lockhart the previous night, Harry's Parseltongue incident hadn't spread.
No one talked about Harry anymore.
Everyone talked about Darren.
Poor, fragile, tragic little Darren.
Except for "clear-sighted geniuses" like Justin—of which, thankfully, there were only two: Justin himself and Ernie.
Meanwhile, some girls were excitedly discussing forming a "Darren Protection Society."
Hagrid found that hilarious.
Darren found it embarrassing.
—
"Well, Darren, I'll walk you back. It's late," Harry offered, checking the clock. It was already ten.
"No need, brother. Slytherin's not far. And if you walked me, I'd worry about you walking back alone, and then I'd have to walk you back. I'm too strong for that!"
Darren grinned.
Harry had no comeback.
"Yes, yes… goodnight then…" Harry sighed as Darren left.
"Every time he walks away, I swear I'm going to get stronger—to protect him.
And every time I realise I'm still pathetically weak."
Ron snorted.
"Mate, maybe start by doing your Potions homework? You've written two words all day. How're you gonna protect anyone?"
"RON!"
—
As Darren stepped out of Gryffindor Tower, something felt wrong.
Because he heard it again.
The Basilisk.
"Rip… tear…"
"Kill…"
"KILL…"
Its voice was harsher than usual—angrier.
And the direction…
Toward the Slytherin common room.
Meaning Darren was about to witness another attack.
---
[Ding! Holy Father System has detected a scene. Temporary Mission Released:]
Follow the Basilisk's voice toward the Slytherin common room.
Find Justin.
When he appears, look directly into the Basilisk's eyes through Nearly Headless Nick.
Pretend to collapse from the encounter.
Allow Justin to see the Basilisk's eyes through Nick.
Reward: Ghosting.
Accept?
---
Ghosting?
Darren blinked.
What the hell was that?
Still, he tapped Accept.
He ran as fast as he could, shouting:
"Someone! Anyone! I heard the voice again—it's going to attack!"
But it was curfew. The corridors were empty, save for a few annoyed portraits and Nearly Headless Nick, who floated toward him in concern.
"Potter, you—"
Darren sprinted past the ghost—straight toward Justin Finch-Fletchley.
Justin flinched when he saw him, terrified Darren had come for revenge.
But Darren lunged forward, eyes wide.
"Close your eyes! QUICKLY!"
"Potter, are you trying to hex me again?!"
Justin didn't understand at all.
He thought Darren was tricking him into closing his eyes so he could sucker-punch him.
So he kept them wide open.
And Darren stepped in front of him—shielding him.
Justin poked Darren's shoulder nervously.
"Potter, stop pretending—"
Then he looked up.
Through Nearly Headless Nick's translucent body—
A pair of enormous, glowing, yellow eyes stared directly into his own.
He froze instantly.
The air left his lungs.
His body went stiff.
With a heavy thud, he hit the floor like a toppled statue.
Darren staggered dramatically, face contorted in pain, and collapsed beside him, limp and drained.
---
[Ding! Congratulations, Host has obtained: Ghosting.]
Ghosting:
The host may shift into a ghost-like state at will, gaining the ability to pass through walls.
---
Darren slowly cracked one eye open.
Huh. Okay…
This might actually be fun.
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