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Chapter 259 — The Space-Time Corridor?!
The system's ability shocked Darren.
But he quickly reminded himself—nothing about the system was logical to begin with.
[System, spend the full Father Value.
Make the room look like I haven't slept in days.
The kind of scene that makes anyone cry when they walk in.]
[Ding. Transformation complete.]
The sound faded, and Darren froze.
His entire dormitory looked like the lair of a researcher losing his mind.
The walls were scribbled with ingredient ratios.
A single half-empty biscuit packet lay on the floor—as if it had been the only thing he'd eaten for days.
A cup lay overturned beside the bed, as though he'd tried to pick it up and dropped it mid-reach from exhaustion.
Every tiny detail was painfully realistic.
[Ding. The layout is based on the work environments of several famous Muggle and wizarding scientists.]
That explained it.
But there were more pressing matters.
Darren put on his Invisibility Cloak.
He walked toward the door—but stopped. Instead, he chose to use his ability from the time he'd been petrified: Ghost Form.
It allowed him to become intangible and pass through solid walls.
There was one complication:
His body could phase through walls.
The Invisibility Cloak could not.
So he had to climb out the window, wearing the cloak, and float carefully along the castle wall until he slipped into the Gryffindor common room.
Once inside, Darren quietly located the hidden spot the system had hinted at.
A faintly transparent node shimmered before him.
He tapped it twice with his wand.
A dark-green door materialized.
[Ding. Congratulations, Host. You have accessed the Slytherin Vault.]
The door opened slightly.
Inside stretched a long corridor branching in both directions—lined with doors.
Every door he tried was locked.
[Ding. Congratulations. Host has activated the Space-Time Corridor.
For 10,000 Father Value, Host may select any door.
Entering a door assigns the Host a random identity within that time period.
Host may spend additional value to increase the probability of obtaining a desired identity.]
Darren stared, stunned.
This wasn't the Chamber of Secrets at all.
[System, this is supposed to be Slytherin's Chamber. Why is it a time-space corridor?]
[Ding. The Chamber of Secrets connects to the girls' lavatory.
This is merely the meeting point between Gryffindor and Slytherin passages.
If the Host does not prefer this room, the reward can be reverted.]
What?!
That explanation implied something… unexpected.
No—that couldn't be right.
"Meeting" didn't necessarily mean that kind of meeting.
[Ding. If Host dislikes this special chamber, system can remove it.]
"NO."
He wasn't greedy for the corridor—he simply didn't want to reject a gift.
Still, he didn't spend Father Value to choose an identity.
At least not until he knew what the options were.
[Ding. All identities are random. Host may inquire only after entering.]
Of course.
It never wanted to tell him anything.
Darren eyed his Father Value with deep pain.
System, you reward me… but I still have to PAY to use it?
[Ding. Host may enter for free.
However, without spending Father Value, neither the Host nor the System will know which time or world he will be thrown into.]
So…
Either ride the official ministry car…
Or jump into the back of a random black cab.
Obviously—
The black cab was free.
Darren instantly selected "enter without paying".
[Ding. Channel unlocked.
From now on Host can enter without system assistance.
Simply place hand on any doorknob.]
Fine.
Darren grabbed the nearest doorknob and pushed.
The door opened—
Into his dormitory.
He froze.
Wasn't this supposed to drop him into someone else's plotline?
Then he saw the mirror.
It was him—
But taller.
The mirror was higher.
His face sharper, older, absurdly handsome.
Handsome in the kind of way that made Darren whisper:
I look like the favourite of mature women, cool beauties, and little sisters.
Only one flaw—
His stubborn tuft of messy hair still existed.
Potter blood, it seemed, was indestructible.
Still confused, he stepped outside.
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A tall blonde girl with icy blue eyes stood waiting in the hallway.
"Potter. You're finally out. I thought you'd rot in there forever."
Darren nearly asked, Who are you?
Then it hit him.
This had to be Kassandra—
grown up.
And she was… stunning.
But would grown-up Kassandra be familiar with him?
Probably not.
Even in his own time, she liked him secretly and never expressed it.
She always glared, cold and reserved.
So their relationship here was probably only mildly close.
Darren shifted instantly into a reserved, gentle expression.
"I'm sorry. I just… needed time."
His voice was steady, his tone calm—
But his eyes were dead grey, hollow.
Anyone would see the despair.
Kassandra frowned sharply.
"What does Sirius's death have to do with you?
Even Harry said it wasn't your fault.
Why do you keep blaming yourself?"
Darren's heart stopped.
Sirius… dead?
Did he not dave him ?
Why ?
But he thought he would have saved Sirius.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
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