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Chapter 274 — Snape's Taunt!!
Harry looked at Darren helplessly.
But Darren still didn't smile.
If anything, he looked even more melancholy.
Even when Harry pulled him over to eat in the Gryffindor common room, Darren only picked at the food absent-mindedly.
Barely half of what he usually ate.
"If you don't eat, what's Hermione going to think when she wakes up?"
Harry coaxed, pushing a beef patty toward him.
Darren's expression twisted—not because he hated the food.
But because he had already been force-fed in Slytherin… then again in his dorm… then again in the Slytherin common room… and then, arriving in Gryffindor, they forced him to eat again.
People worried so much they practically surrounded him at every meal.
And when he said he'd already eaten in Slytherin, no one believed him.
Everyone thought he couldn't eat because he was sad.
But he had eaten!
He ate in his dorm, then after leaving his dorm, another group fed him, and when he got to Slytherin they fed him again.
Then once he got to Gryffindor…
No matter how delicious the food was, no matter how good it smelled—now it only made him exhausted.
Thankfully, he remembered the system gave him that "won't get fat" skill…
Otherwise, he felt he would be visibly round in a few days, considering how much everyone kept feeding him.
Thank the system!
Darren was very satisfied with that reward.
But on the surface, looking at the food Harry pushed in front of him, he still had to look miserable and soaked in gloom.
"No, I can't eat. I'm going back…"
He stood up shakily.
"I want to see Hermione… and Justin… and Nick… It's all my fault…"
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding…]
His eyes reddened again.
He quickly wiped them, not wanting Harry's mood to worsen.
But Harry and Ron were watching him closely.
Seeing him look so miserable made their appetites disappear instantly.
Of course—they remembered Hermione, lying petrified in the hospital wing. How could they keep eating?
Harry's stomach twisted painfully.
But when Darren headed toward the door, he and Ron immediately followed.
They also wanted to see Hermione.
When they arrived at the hospital wing, Madam Pomfrey had already locked it up tightly.
Noticing Darren, she opened only a tiny crack and whispered:
"You three, back to your rooms immediately. With Dumbledore gone, who knows what might happen next. Stay safe!"
They had no choice but to walk away in silence.
"Oh—why are there so many spiders?"
As they passed a window, Ron exclaimed in disgust.
Harry and Darren looked.
A whole stream of small spiders was crawling out through the window frame.
"Spiders… Brother, are you thinking what I'm thinking? Hagrid said to follow the spiders…"
Darren crouched down, watching the little creatures scuttle away.
Harry and Ron nodded hesitantly.
Honestly, they preferred Darren not to come. He was already too sad.
But Darren shook his head gently.
Of course he wanted to go—how else was he supposed to trigger tasks?
How else to collect Father Points?
So he whispered:
"Brother… let me go with you.
Every night when I close my eyes, I can only think of how useless I am…
Sometimes… sometimes I feel like I deserve to just lie there like Hermione."
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding…]
Harry and Ron originally wanted to refuse.
But after hearing that, they instantly agreed.
Still, they panicked.
"Darren, maybe you should see Madam Pomfrey—you look worse than Hermione!" Ron said.
"Yeah, you're paler than her," Harry added. "Don't put so much pressure on yourself."
Darren forced a tiny smile.
"I'm sorry to worry you and Ron… but I'm fine.
Looking pale is normal… and I lied earlier.
I know it's not Hermione's fault or Justin's or Nick's.
I forgot that…"
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding…]
His last sentence was almost inaudible, but the weight in his voice was unmistakable.
Harry opened his mouth to comment—then froze.
Darren's eyes were even redder.
"It's okay… it's okay," Harry said quickly. "You'll come with us. And don't worry… everyone's going to be fine."
But even as he spoke, he knew his comfort wasn't helping.
Darren's smile was stiff.
He tried so hard to pretend he was okay.
He'd grown up a lot.
In first year he couldn't lie at all.
Now he lied smoothly—even when he was hurting.
Harry hated watching him pretend.
If only he would be like he was in first year—open and honest. Even crying openly would be better than this painful, forced smile.
"Look! Scarhead bullying his little brother again!"
Malfoy's taunting voice cut through the air.
Darren frowned and stood up immediately.
"Malfoy, my brother wasn't bullying me!"
"Sure, sure—no bullying at all," Malfoy smirked. "Not that I care.
Anyway—did you hear? Dumbledore's gone.
My father said he was the worst Headmaster in Hogwarts' history."
Darren opened his mouth—ready to shine with pure Father Aura—
But Snape appeared, walking toward them.
He paused in front of Darren, scrutinizing him sharply.
Then his eyes slid briefly across Harry's face.
And with a cold, drawling voice, he said:
"The famous Harry Potter still hasn't found the creature behind the attacks.
It seems fame has nothing to do with usefulness."
"Professor!"
Darren stepped forward, cutting in.
He pressed his lips together—clearly uncomfortable contradicting a professor—but still spoke firmly:
"My brother is not obligated to find the Basilisk.
He's saved people already—but he's only a second-year student!"
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding…]
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