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Chapter 283 — What Are You Pretending?!!
Darren listened to Lockhart's demand and almost cursed aloud.
This man was truly shameless.
Good plan, though.
Still, even though he was secretly pleased to finally have the chance to enter the Chamber, he kept his expression pale and frightened, as if intimidated into obedience.
He nodded weakly.
When he passed Snape on the way to the train, his eyes were already red.
"You—"
Snape opened his mouth, then closed it.
In the end, he said nothing.
What was he supposed to say?
Comfort him?
Tell him everything would be alright?
This child always put all guilt on himself.
Comforting him was useless. Far more effective would be finding the Chamber before it was too late.
And Dumbledore—Snape's face darkened—what was that old man doing?
Snape was certain Dumbledore must be somewhere in the castle.
The girl had been dragged into the Chamber. Did Dumbledore really not know?
Or… was he letting it happen?
Trying to "train" his little savior again?
Snape and McGonagall had blocked the lounges last night precisely to ruin whatever plan Dumbledore might have had.
And it worked—no student managed to sneak out.
Snape felt pleased with himself as he escorted Darren onto the train.
Only after the train had fully started moving did Snape finally step away from the platform.
…
Darren sat inside the carriage with a tense expression.
He kept glancing around nervously, worried Harry might come searching for him.
But after discreetly peeking down the corridor, he realized Harry and Ron were gone.
They must have slipped away quietly.
They clearly had the same idea he did: go to the Chamber.
But they didn't want to worry him, so they left without bothering him.
Darren sighed softly.
If only he could actually leave with them instead of going back because Lockhart threatened him…
He could only hope Harry wouldn't panic when he realized Darren wasn't on the train.
"Darren? Are you in there?"
A knock.
Becky's voice.
She was checking whether Darren tried to escape again.
"Sister… I… I want to go back to school…" he answered in a trembling voice.
Silence.
Then click — the door lock was reinforced from the outside.
…
Darren's lips twitched.
Did she really think a lock could stop him?
As soon as Becky's footsteps faded, Darren slipped into ghost form, threw on the Invisibility Cloak, and drifted straight through the window.
By the time he reached Lockhart's meeting point, Lockhart was already waiting anxiously.
"Very good! You came on time. You kept your word. Now, let's begin."
Lockhart raised his wand smugly.
"You can start searching for the Chamber of Secrets."
Darren sighed and led him toward the girls' bathroom on the second floor.
"I've always wondered…" Darren murmured softly. "A girl died at Hogwarts fifty years ago. If her soul remained here… maybe we should start where she died."
Lockhart's eyes lit up instantly.
"Myrtle? Darren, brilliant! If I tell the professors this, they'll—"
He suddenly shut up.
He remembered something.
Darren wasn't always as simple as he looked.
He had previously exposed Lockhart for threatening Harry.
"Professor Lockhart," Darren whispered, voice fragile, "if you truly were forced into academic fraud… you could still be a writer. Your books are very good…"
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
Good grief—how were there so many Father Points from just one line?
"Shut up! What do you know?" Lockhart snapped. His face twisted. "I'm a Ravenclaw. I was supposed to be the smartest. But my magic kept getting weaker—so many spells I couldn't do anymore!"
He clenched his fists in frustration.
"But Forgetfulness Charms—those suited me perfectly. Only by erasing others' memories and taking their stories could I feel powerful!"
Darren stared at him in shock.
"You… erase everything? All your experiences are stolen?"
"And guess what?" Lockhart grinned unpleasantly.
Darren's face drained of color.
He hated being around people like this.
Lockhart jabbed his wand at him.
"Hurry up! If you don't want me exposing you, then start looking. Once we rescue the girl, I'll write a new book—My Adventures at Hogwarts!"
Darren inwardly rolled his eyes.
If Lockhart knew how many people were watching him right now—from Myrtle to the professors using monitoring charms—he wouldn't dare say half of these things.
But Darren kept his face pale and desperate.
He whispered, "Please… once we find the Chamber and rescue Ginny, you have to make an Unbreakable Vow. I can't let anyone know I used Fiendfyre… or Harry will suffer."
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
"Of course!" Lockhart puffed out his chest. "As long as you find it, I'll swear whatever you like."
Knowing full well he planned to Memory-Charm Darren afterward and claim the credit.
"Hurry up!"
Darren forced himself to obey and stepped into the girls' bathroom.
Only Myrtle was there.
The moment she saw Darren she shrieked, "Darren! You haven't left yet?"
"I'm sorry, Myrtle… I just need to ask. Where were you when you died?"
She pointed dramatically at a sink.
"Here!"
"Sink?" Lockhart snapped. "What are you talking about? Explain yourself! I order you to speak—in the name of a professor!"
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