---
Chapter 270 – Darren, Your Legs!!
"Darren, how are you?"
Professor McGonagall completely ignored Ernie's shouting. She bent down in front of Darren, her face drawn tight with worry.
The child was so kind—how could he possibly handle watching Hermione get petrified right in front of him?
[Ding, sensing that there is a scene suitable for the Holy Father System, a temporary task is now issued: Petrify part of your own legs using Father Value, and ask Professor McGonagall, 'Why can't I use the Killing Curse?']
[Ding, upon completion, reward: Skill – Petrification. Accept task?]
[Accept]
Petrification was a very useful ability. Darren took the task immediately.
He used a hundred Father points and let petrification spread through half of his legs.
Thankfully, he was sitting, so nobody would notice yet.
He needed to reveal it slowly for proper dramatic effect.
Darren blinked, dazed.
Then anguish filled his expression.
He lifted his head toward Professor McGonagall.
"Professor… why can't I use lethal magic? I clearly know the Avada Kedavra… so why can't I cast it?"
His voice cracked.
"Why is it that even when I want to kill it, I can't?"
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
…
Darren stared blankly, pain twisting across his face.
He had seen the monster.
He had Hermione right in front of him.
Yet he couldn't even injure the creature.
Why?
Why learn spells if he couldn't protect the people he cared about?
"Professor… I watched Hermione get petrified. I couldn't do anything.
I'm so useless… I thought I could fight Death Eaters, but why can't I even kill a snake?"
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
…
Aside from Ernie, no one believed Darren had hurt Hermione.
How could he?
They had all seen what kind of boy he was.
They were only confused about why he had shouted such dark spells earlier.
But when they heard his shaken, devastated words, their doubts vanished.
"Silly child," Professor McGonagall said softly, "you're too kind. Of course you can't cast the Killing Curse… not now. You don't have the intent. Your heart hesitates."
Her voice trembled.
"Even chanting the incantation… you can't use it."
She lifted Darren's wand and cast Prior Incantato.
As expected—no trace of the Killing Curse.
"Professor… I'm too weak. I couldn't help Hermione. I couldn't even stand in front of her…"
His voice faltered completely.
"Darren… let's bring Hermione to the hospital wing first. Madame Pomfrey will take care of her—she'll be all right."
McGonagall spoke quickly and compassionately.
This was the staff's responsibility, not Darren's. He shouldn't carry this weight.
"Yes… I know, Professor. I can calm down. I'm not a little kid anymore, I…"
He forced himself upright—then collapsed back to the floor immediately.
"It's fine—just… my legs feel weak…"
But Professor McGonagall gasped.
"Darren—your legs!"
She crouched instantly, not caring about appearances.
His lower legs were stiff, grey, unmoving.
"Don't you feel it? Your legs are petrified!"
"Petrified?"
Darren blinked as if realizing it only now. He lifted his robes and saw the stone-like stiffness spreading.
[Ding, congratulations, Host has gained Skill: Petrification]
Petrification Skill Description:
Degree of petrification can be chosen based on mana
Can be applied to oneself or an opponent
Strength depends on Father Value consumed
A very useful skill.
Accepted immediately.
Then he turned back to Professor McGonagall, face filled with guilt.
"Professor… I'm sorry. I didn't notice…"
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
…
"Silly boy, don't apologize. Let Madame Pomfrey examine you. How could this happen?"
Panic filled her voice.
Darren had confronted the creature multiple times before without this happening. Why now?
McGonagall rushed him to the hospital wing.
Madame Pomfrey, Snape, Dumbledore, and McGonagall surrounded the bed, grim-faced.
"Darren," Dumbledore said gravely, "when you faced that snake before… I believe your reasoning is correct—likely a serpent, perhaps the same creature each time."
He tapped Darren's petrified legs with his wand, frowning at the lack of reaction.
"So tell us—in what way did facing it today differ from before?"
Darren's eyes were still swollen with grief, but he obediently recalled:
"The first time… I felt exhausted, but I could still hold on.
The second time… I couldn't face its eyes at all. When I did, even for a moment, I collapsed. That's when I thought—it might be growing stronger.
And today… today I—"
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
…
The more Father Value he received, the more choked his voice became.
Dumbledore didn't rush him. He conjured a glass filled with lemon juice and gently offered it.
"Drink some lemon juice. It helps."
Darren nodded, forcing a weak smile through red eyes.
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
…
Just making an expression earned points now.
"Thank you, Professors… Headmaster… for waiting for me. I'm just…"
He swallowed and continued in a trembling voice:
"This time… when I faced it… I was scared to look into its eyes. Something told me not to.
So I cast the water curtain.
I tried to block Hermione.
I closed my eyes. But then…"
He inhaled shakily.
"The snake lunged. At me. I opened my eyes and—
After that, I wanted to kill it. I really did. But I couldn't…
I never even managed to stand in front of Hermione."
He covered his face briefly.
"If only I had done that… maybe she wouldn't have been petrified. It's my fault. Why… why wasn't I faster?"
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
…
---