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Chapter 264: The Ministry of Magic's Difficulties!!
When Dumbledore finished speaking, Darren caught Snape glaring into the corner.
But Snape didn't say a word; he simply turned and hurried after Dumbledore.
"Whew—he definitely noticed us!"
Harry dropped the Invisibility Cloak, sounding helpless.
They had sneaked in right behind Dumbledore and Snape to check on Darren. They thought they'd gone unnoticed, only to be caught by both of them.
"Well, forget it. Headmaster Dumbledore let us in anyway," Ron said proudly.
"He can't really punish us. Even if he wants to keep an eye on us, he can't dock points for this!"
Darren felt Ron had forgotten one very important word: after-the-fact revenge.
Still, as the resident little saint, he spoke with mild disapproval.
"Don't say that about Professor Snape. He's actually very soft-hearted. He's only worried you'd run into Death Eaters if you went wandering around."
You might get hurt the same way I did.
"And he didn't call you out just now. He was being considerate."
[Ding, Father +10]
[Ding, Father +20]
[Ding, Father +10]
[Ding…]
…All right.
Not a single person was moved.
Is everyone's impression of Snape really that terrible?
Darren sighed and offered a moment of silence for Snape's popularity.
"How are you feeling now, Darren?" Hermione asked carefully.
Her face was full of guilt.
After all, she believed this happened because she failed to disguise Darren properly last time. She'd cried in Slytherin territory and drawn suspicion. Now everyone there knew that Darren's room could only be entered with his personal approval.
"I'm sorry, Darren… it's all my fault…" Hermione said sadly.
Darren immediately reached out and pulled her into a gentle hug.
"Oh, Hermione. You always call me kind, but you're the kindest one."
"I know you did all that because you wanted to figure out who opened the Chamber of Secrets. You wanted to find the Heir and clear my name!"
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding…]
Darren accepted the Father Points quietly and continued in a soft voice.
He pushed himself upright despite the pain and gently brushed Hermione's hair.
"Actually… this problem affects me more than anyone. If I were more useful, maybe I could've helped gather information myself."
"I'm a Slytherin too, yet you ended up doing all the hard work for me. Sometimes I wonder if I'm a bit… useless…"
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding…]
"No, Darren—how could you ever be useless?"
"Exactly! You've done loads! Aside from the potion that turns a Squib into a wizard, you also created an improved antidote!"
"Yeah! Anyone who says you're useless—I'll sort them out myself!" Ron added.
All three of them stared at Darren with fierce sincerity.
To them, he wasn't useless at all.
He was simply too gentle for his own good.
"What a lovely school atmosphere…" a cold voice cut in, "but we'll need Mr. Potter's time for a moment. Could the rest of you please step aside?"
The three of them turned sharply.
"Amelia Susan Bones," she introduced coolly.
"Director of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement."
"Someone has reported that Mr. Potter staged a prank—specifically, making himself 'disappear'—and that he abused Ministry resources in the process. I need to ask a few questions."
Her voice was icy.
Harry and Hermione bristled immediately.
"What? Darren would never fake a disappearance as a 'prank'!" Hermione said sharply, looking at Amelia as though the entire Ministry had collectively taken leave of its senses.
"The Minister believes Mr. Potter is capable of such a thing," Amelia replied calmly.
"So I'm here to ask questions. Don't worry—I personally find it unlikely. After all, no one would injure themselves this badly just to put on a prank."
Harry and Hermione both opened their mouths, but nothing came out.
Because… technically, she wasn't accusing Darren.
She wasn't smiling either, but there was no malice in her tone.
And she clearly stated she didn't believe he was guilty.
She was simply doing her job.
And she was the Director of Magical Law Enforcement.
Darren wasn't surprised.
The moment she mentioned "the Minister," he knew Cornelius Fudge must have been reinstated.
Kassandra had warned him earlier.
He didn't care much.
If the Minister wanted to frame him again… well, Darren could always drag him back to a trial again.
"All right. You can ask. I'll answer whatever I know," Darren said obediently.
He sat up straight, painfully but politely.
Amelia noticed the small grimace he made from the pain, yet he still listened attentively. He wasn't angry about being questioned at all.
What a polite child, she thought.
And that impression only strengthened with her first question.
"First question: do you remember how you disappeared from your room?"
Darren made a thoughtful expression.
Then he shook his head.
"I'm sorry, ma'am… I don't remember. Not even a little bit. I'm really sorry."
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +80]
[Ding…]
His expression was full of genuine apology.
Even though the Ministry was clearly making things difficult, he didn't complain.
He even apologized for being unable to recall anything.
Amelia felt a flicker of embarrassment.
But she still had her orders.
"Second question," she said, returning to her cold professional tone.
"Were the injuries on your body… inflicted by yourself?"
The moment she asked, she wondered if Fudge had lost his mind.
Insane. Completely insane.
Who would deliberately injure themselves like this?
This child had clearly been forced to forget everything, and Fudge still wanted to humiliate him with such a question?
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