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Chapter 275 – He Also Wants to Be Headmaster?!
Darren's words made Harry lift the corners of his mouth in a small, triumphant smile.
What Snape said earlier had definitely infuriated him, but hearing Darren stand up for him—his own younger brother—filled him with warmth.
Snape, however, looked anything but pleased.
He seemed to recall something, and with clear irritation said, "Ah, someone finally remembers he's only a second-year. I was starting to think he believed himself ready to graduate… or perhaps he thinks he's already a professor here."
He gave Darren a pointed look.
"After all, only someone with such delusions would assume the entire series of attacks somehow revolve around him."
For a moment, Harry almost agreed with the first half of Snape's words.
But then Snape added sharply:
"Or do you imagine yourself worthy of bearing responsibility for those attacks?"
His tone dripped with sarcasm.
Harry shot up, furious.
"How is Darren not worthy? He's the best student in school—!"
Snape finally seemed to acknowledge Harry's existence.
His eyes narrowed; his lips curled, muttering something under his breath—very likely a curse he didn't dare say aloud.
Then, in that condescending drawl, he added:
"Oh? The famous Harry Potter cannot catch the attacker, yet he still finds time to talk back to his overworked Potions Professor. Gryffindor, minus twenty points for your arrogance."
Darren watched Snape's triumphant expression and nearly laughed.
Snape was happiest when humiliating Harry. That much was painfully clear.
"Professor," Darren said gently, "I heard Professor McGonagall is only serving as temporary Headmistress. Why didn't you apply for the Headmaster position? If you did, I would vote for you."
Malfoy, unwilling to be ignored, jumped in excitedly.
"Yeah! Professor, you should be Headmaster!"
Snape's expression brightened so fast it was almost comical.
For one brief moment, he looked as though he really believed he could sit in Dumbledore's chair.
If Dumbledore were truly gone for good…
If Snape really became Headmaster…
He would be able to keep Darren safe under his own protection—and make Harry Potter's life absolutely miserable.
But that fantasy fell apart quickly.
Dumbledore's presence had held the entire school together.
With him gone, chaos seeped into every corridor.
Every day, Snape shadowed Darren, openly or discreetly, terrified something might happen to him without warning.
But he could only follow Darren when Darren was outside.
Once Darren returned to the Slytherin dormitory or the Gryffindor common room, Snape had to withdraw.
Especially after Darren's dorm had been breached—after a student had been hit with the Imperius Curse right after placing Darren's key on the door.
Snape rebuilt the entire defense system himself.
Now only Darren could open that door.
If anyone else needed to enter, Snape told them to knock and wait.
If he needed to enter, he would simply blast the door open.
Simple.
So whenever Darren stepped into the Slytherin common room, Snape relaxed slightly.
But the Gryffindor common room?
Snape would rather swallow poison.
It was one of the many consequences of Dumbledore's absence.
Snape even found himself missing the old man—for Dumbledore had been the only person who could keep the castle calm.
Still, watching Harry stand there with that James-Potter face twisted in anger, Snape couldn't help allowing a smug smile to grow across his lips.
"Well," he said, "thank you for your support. If I ever become Headmaster, I'll make you prefect."
And with that, Snape swept around the corner and disappeared.
Harry stood frozen for a moment… then exploded.
"What the—?! He actually wants to replace Dumbledore?!"
He stared at the empty hallway in disbelief.
He honestly wanted to hand Snape a mirror and force him to take a good, long look at himself.
Darren chuckled.
"Professor Snape was joking. He just wanted to get a rise out of you."
Harry didn't believe that for a second.
Snape? Joking?
Snape was a petty, spiteful bat.
But he swallowed his argument, because Darren was actually smiling—genuinely smiling.
It was so rare these days that Harry didn't want to ruin it.
With so many people roaming around during the day, they decided the only safe time to follow the spiders was at night.
Darren stayed in the Gryffindor common room until it was late enough, and then the three of them slipped out of the castle together.
They headed toward Hagrid's hut.
Fang heard them approaching and began thumping his tail wildly before the boys even reached the door.
When they stepped inside, Fang jumped all over them.
"D'you think bringing Fang would make things safer?" Harry asked, watching Darren's expression carefully.
Darren wanted to answer honestly.
He remembered the original story.
Fang had been completely useless against the Acromantulas.
Absolutely no help.
But a little saintlike brother couldn't just say that.
He put on a worried expression.
"Fang doesn't have any real fighting power… he'd be in danger if he came along. He's just a helpless dog. It's safer if we go alone."
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding…]
Darren blinked.
There really weren't that many people in the hut.
Harry and Ron… maybe Fang… but that still didn't explain the four or five Father-point notifications.
This small room didn't even feel crowded.
He silently complained inside.
But on the outside, he kept up his innocent expression.
He stared out toward the dark forest, eyes full of worry.
"I just hope we can discover the truth soon. I don't want anyone else getting hurt."
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +50]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding…]
"I think the same," Harry muttered. "I don't want Hogwarts to shut down. And now Dumbledore's gone…"
Ron added angrily, "The Ministry's lost its mind. Who besides Dumbledore can run a place like this?"
Darren thought privately that it wasn't that the others weren't capable—Dumbledore was simply too overwhelmingly competent.
With him around, no one else ever needed to think about danger.
They could simply teach.
But Dumbledore's departure had another purpose too.
It was part of training Harry.
And judging from all the unseen sources awarding him Father points, Darren was sure Dumbledore was still watching… somewhere.
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