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Chapter 268 — The Basilisk Appears Again!!
(Corrected Terminology Version)
"Wood, don't be complacent. Even if we changed players, we will still win!"
Marvre gritted his teeth, refusing to admit defeat.
Losers can't lose.
Even knowing victory was impossible, he still had to vent his anger and insist they would win.
But he was too furious.
He turned his eyes toward Darren.
He originally wanted to scold him twice, but seeing Darren's embarrassed appearance, he curled his lip. Forget it. No need to bother with this Gryffindor lion.
This guy was a foolish lion blended into Slytherin—what was he supposed to say to him?
If he really wanted to worry about someone, he should think about Flint's fate.
"Hmph, we'll see!"
Marvre snapped before leaving with his team.
Wood looked at Darren triumphantly and whispered, "See? If you were sorted into Gryffindor, we wouldn't let anyone bully you. They're all tied up with Slytherin nonsense anyway."
Darren immediately put on a grateful, embarrassed expression.
"No, no… the Slytherin classmates don't bully me. Everyone is very friendly!"
Friendly?
Wood stared at the Slytherins glaring menacingly in Darren's direction and realized just how unreliable Darren's "evaluation of people" was.
"Sigh…"
Wood let out a long sigh. He couldn't understand how Darren could be this foolish at such a young age.
Fortunately, the Quidditch match was about to start, and this could be revisited later.
Harry grabbed Darren and dragged him toward the Quidditch pitch.
On the way, Darren heard a familiar voice—a terrifying one.
"Kill… Tear him apart… I will kill… I must kill someone… tear him apart…"
So the creature really came out again.
Hopefully Harry didn't get dragged into a literal murder this time.
Darren sighed, showing fear on his face, and hesitated as if realizing something.
"Brother… I heard it again…"
Harry also wore the same alarmed expression.
"That voice again. I think—"
Darren was about to say what Hermione sensed in the original story when Hermione suddenly turned and sprinted away without looking back.
…
This girl was way too anxious.
Running off like a fresh meal for the Basilisk. Thankfully, petrification was treatable…
"Hermione…"
Darren showed a confused expression and tried to call after her.
But she was already gone.
Her voice floated back from the distance:
"I'm going to the library to check something—go first!"
"Library? At a time like this?"
Ron shouted in disbelief.
"Yeah, why would she go now?"
Harry agreed, still trying to figure out the voice.
Darren hesitated, then spoke carefully.
"Brother, Ron… I think Hermione wants us to figure this out.
If you think about it—we're both Parselmouths. We can hear something no one else can.
Could the voice be… from a snake?"
He said it in a low voice.
Ron and Harry's eyes grew wide.
Their bodies stiffened in realization.
"Hagrid!!"
They shouted the name together, as if everything suddenly made sense.
"Hagrid? Why Hagrid? You don't think he always likes pets so he raised this snake, do you?
It can't be Hagrid's. Hagrid is very responsible—he should never have raised something like this."
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
Darren's words earned another wave of "Father" value.
But to Harry and Ron, Darren's claim was outrageous.
Hagrid? Measured?
Absolutely not.
A man who could secretly raise a dragon? Calling him "slightly reckless" was generous.
But they didn't argue, because Darren continued:
"Brother, Ron, don't think I'm wrong.
I have strong instincts. Last year I kept feeling Snape was a good person—and he really was!"
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
Harry and Ron gave bitter smiles.
It was true.
Unfortunately, Darren didn't sense Flint's malice and nearly got killed.
"No, brother, I sensed their malice… but I wanted to know what they wanted to do to you. That's why…"
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
He said, embarrassed.
Seeing Harry's disapproving look, he quickly changed the topic obediently.
"Well, brother… about this snake. It has two brass-colored eyes…
Whenever I look at its eyes, I feel like I'm going to die.
If Hagrid had raised it, he would've died already!"
He said seriously, describing the terrible feeling of those eyes.
"So Hagrid was wronged?"
Harry asked in shock.
Then he looked embarrassed and admitted the truth about Riddle's diary—the one they hid from Darren.
"I'm sorry, Darren… we hid it from you again…"
Harry said guiltily.
Even though it was for Darren's sake, they still hadn't told him.
"Oh, brother, no need to apologize. I know you were worried.
Before I learned about it, I might have rushed to question Hagrid like you feared.
And if Hagrid knew I doubted him, he would be heartbroken…"
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
Darren spoke sadly.
Harry was speechless.
They were worried Darren would be sad about their secrecy…
But Darren was worried about making Hagrid sad if he questioned him.
He was always too kind.
"Hagrid would be very happy to know you think that…
But now the problem is—should we go to Hermione?"
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