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Chapter 280: Ginny's Prayer!!
The next day, the entire castle was buzzing about the Fiendfyre that had erupted in the Forbidden Forest last night.
Darren sat quietly in the Gryffindor common room.
He had an embarrassed, almost shy smile on his face.
"That's how it happened… I honestly thought I'd gone bad."
He said it softly, obediently.
Harry and Ron—both sitting right beside him—finally let out identical sighs of relief.
They had just finished telling Darren about what the professors concluded yesterday.
"Darren, you don't even know," Ron said, shaking his head, "Professor McGonagall's face actually turned green when she heard what Professor Flitwick said.
But to avoid looking embarrassed, she dumped the responsibility on us."
…
McGonagall had that side to her?
Darren blinked, curious for a moment.
But, true to his Little Saint nature, he lowered his gaze and murmured with guilty sincerity:
"They must have been too frightened by what I did… otherwise they would've remembered sooner. I delayed their thinking."
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding…]
Ron threw up his hands.
"Darren, you're always too kind. Honestly—yeah, they really did forget… but fine, your explanation works too."
But for once, Harry didn't get a chance to add anything.
Because Professor McGonagall entered the common room.
She was carrying bad news.
Final examinations.
"The creature attacking the students has still not been found," she said, lips pressed tight. "We need all students to leave so the staff can conduct a full-scale search of the school."
She gave a very pointed look toward Harry and Ron.
Both boys stiffened.
She was clearly remembering the Forbidden Forest incident.
But the moment her eyes fell on Darren, her expression softened, almost instantly.
"Oh, Darren—so there you are. I'm relieved to see you smiling."
Her voice lowered. "Unfortunately… the monster still hasn't been located."
McGonagall explained that the school would hold final exams in a week, and immediately afterward, Hogwarts would temporarily close.
Nobody knew when classes would resume—not until the monster was found.
"Professor," Darren said earnestly, "if the school closes, I can still help. You know I can use the modified Fiendfyre… I can at least— a little!"
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding…]
With each ping, Darren's expression became even more heartfelt.
McGonagall only shook her head.
"Even so, you still need to prepare for your exams. Although," she added, a faint smile on her face, "Darren… I'm confident you'll place first in your year."
She sighed warmly.
"You are the student I am most proud of in all my years of teaching."
Darren flushed bright red.
He immediately lowered his head like a scolded child, embarrassed and obedient.
McGonagall turned to the rest of Gryffindor, her smile widening.
"And there is good news," she announced. "The mandrakes are almost mature. In two days, we will revive the petrified students."
A ripple of excitement went through the room.
"If even one of them can give us a clue," she continued, "then even if we cannot capture the monster immediately, we can at least identify the one who opened the Chamber of Secrets."
Gryffindor erupted in cheers.
Darren widened his eyes with perfect, innocent surprise.
Of course he already knew.
But he let the joy show naturally on his face.
Then, as if by accident, his gaze shifted toward Ginny.
Ginny was very pale.
Even though Darren knew Hermione would definitely not know it was Ginny, Ginny herself clearly feared the worst.
She forced a shaky smile.
Percy, frowning beside her, pressed the back of his hand to her forehead, muttering something about her feeling cold.
Ginny didn't react.
Instead, as if gathering courage, she slipped quietly over to Darren.
"Darren… Darren, can you come out with me for a moment?"
Her voice trembled.
Darren stood up at once.
"Ginny, you look awful. I can take you to Madam Pomfrey first."
"N-no—no, I'm fine. I just…"
Her lips shook.
"I'll go to the hospital wing first. Then I'll come to find you. You—I really need you to come!"
Darren nodded gently.
He watched her walk away with soft, sympathetic eyes.
Child, if you don't speak now, Tom will take you soon.
But of course Ginny believed the common room wasn't safe for confessions.
She was terrified she'd be expelled.
So she wanted to tell only Darren.
Naturally.
And Darren simply kept up his slight confusion and concern.
He waited outside the common room after McGonagall left, determined to honor his promise to Ginny.
While he waited, Percy came hurrying over—looking stiff, uneasy.
He hesitated before asking:
"Darren… did Ginny want to tell you something?"
"Yes," Darren replied softly. "But I've been waiting a long time and she hasn't come. Did you see her?"
Percy exhaled in relief.
"Yes. I stopped her. I heard what she wanted to say earlier. I really, really don't want her saying it…"
Darren stared at him.
He had genuinely thought Tom had already taken Ginny and was preparing to run straight to a professor.
Only for Percy to be the one who stopped her.
What a good big brother… in his own way.
"But Percy… she looked like she had something serious to say. Are you sure it was about you, and not something else?"
"Don't worry, Darren—it's about me."
Percy's ears reddened.
"Well… me and Penelope."
He scratched his head, miserable.
"Ginny didn't like how Penelope behaved. She wanted to tell you. I stopped her."
He sighed.
"Penelope's been crying nonstop, terrified you were wronged… terrified she'll be punished by the professors."
Percy drew in a shaky breath.
"When you and Hermione were petrified… Penelope was actually at the other end of the corridor. She was so frightened she turned and ran."
His voice dropped.
"She wants to testify that you didn't petrify Hermione. But running away like that… it wasn't right. And she's afraid Professor Flitwick will scold her. She's a Ravenclaw prefect, after all…"
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