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Chapter 285 – May Be Gone!!
Myrtle shot Lockhart a look of pure disdain.
She didn't even try to hide it.
She had gone to the Dueling Club—she knew exactly how weak he was.
"Thank you!" Darren said softly.
Myrtle gave a little excited cry and immediately dove head-first into the toilet bowl, vanishing with a splash.
Darren smiled politely.
Then he turned toward Lockhart as if intending to speak, but Lockhart cut him off instantly.
"Damn Myrtle! How dare she look down on me!" Lockhart hissed. "Potter, find the Chamber now. Once I discover it, the entire school will know how great I am! My achievements will never be doubted again!"
Darren rolled his eyes inwardly.
Just look at him.
Even if both of them stood near the entrance, anyone could tell who really found it.
But Darren didn't snap.
Instead, he said earnestly, "Professor, shouldn't we call other professors first?"
He pointed toward the sink.
"I think I understand how it works. See this serpent symbol? The entrance should require Parseltongue to open. We should report this to the professors—your life is far more important than mine."
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding…]
Lockhart brightened immediately.
He was so pleased he couldn't even pretend humility.
"Of course my life is more important than yours. But you're standing in front of me, aren't you?"
The malice was obvious.
Darren sighed inwardly.
This man really had no shame.
But his face showed none of that.
He nodded seriously.
"If that's how you feel, Professor, then please listen. When I stand in front of you, close your eyes. Myrtle said even looking into its eyes means death. I'll be fine—I can take the risk for you."
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding…]
Lockhart didn't listen at all.
"Yes, yes, whatever. Just open the Chamber already."
He held up his photo ball proudly.
"I'll record everything. I'll show the professors how I, Gilderoy Lockhart, uncovered the Chamber!"
Darren gave him a worried look but obediently stepped to the sink.
He examined the faucet, then hissed, "Open."
The tap spun.
The sink sank away.
A massive vertical pipe appeared, wide enough for a person to slide through.
Lockhart raised the photo ball at once and began narrating loudly:
"Ah, dear friends, witness the Chamber of Secrets! After diligent investigation, I—Gilderoy Lockhart—worked with a student to communicate with Myrtle and discovered—"
Darren tuned him out.
His expression shifted subtly.
He quietly mouthed: useless.
He was thinking:
How could he make Lockhart fall…and make it look like Lockhart tried to push him?
[Ding. The system detects a Holy Father scenario and issues a temporary task:
Walk toward Lockhart with your back exposed and inspect the pipe.
After thirty seconds, act as if you discovered something. Move left and say: "Professor, look here, I found— What? Professor?"
Reward: Sirius Black Favorability +20.
Accept task?]
Sirius Black?
Why would Sirius have favorability with him at all?
Was Darren's future vision true?
False?
A mix?
He couldn't figure it out.
But he accepted the task.
Lockhart was still posing dramatically with the photo ball.
Darren's face showed helplessness as he walked to the pipe, crouching slightly as though studying the entrance.
His entire back exposed.
Lockhart froze mid-pose.
Then a sly grin spread across his face.
He immediately set the photo ball down, stepped forward, and shoved Darren hard.
"Be careful!"
Darren heard Harry's distant shout—but he didn't react.
He shifted left smoothly, as instructed, and pointed down the pipe.
"Professor, look here, I found—"
He stopped.
Lockhart was gone.
Only the photo ball lay on the ground, still recording.
"Where… did the professor go?"
[Ding. Mission complete. Reward: Sirius Favorability +20. Current Favorability: 20.]
Darren blinked.
Twenty?
Barely above neutral.
At least Sirius didn't hate him.
If it were James, he'd probably have a negative hundred.
Darren sighed deeply, looking genuinely disappointed at the professor's disappearance.
He opened his mouth, preparing to speak a few sorrowful lines to harvest Father Value—
But Lockhart's furious bellow echoed from deep within the pipe.
"Potter! How dare you push me? Are you mad? Aren't you afraid I'll tell everyone what you did? Even if I die today, I won't let you go!"
Darren stared at the pipe.
Ah.
Still threatening him?
Professor Lockhart…
You might really be gone today.
And even if you survive…
Living will be worse than dying.
How could he still be threatening such a poor, innocent boy?