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Chapter 287: Darren, This Old Six!!
"Professor… Professor… I can definitely save you…"
Darren's eyes reddened instantly.
With pale cheeks, he rushed to Lockhart's side.
He lifted Lockhart's head slightly, choosing the cleanest spot he could find, and placed his palm gently on top.
Lockhart, whose breathing had almost stopped, suddenly inhaled sharply.
He forced open one eye.
"Professor, don't move. I… I don't have much strength left…"
Darren's voice trembled.
Still, Lockhart twitched away from Darren's hand.
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[Ding, mission completed. Reward obtained: Basilisk Shrink Ability]
Basilisk Shrink Ability:
When near the host, the Basilisk can shrink to any size the host decides.
Darren froze.
Ah.
This reward was… questionable.
But he immediately schooled his expression.
There were too many people watching.
He let himself sway as if dizzy, then slumped forward again and pressed his palm to Lockhart's head.
"System, keep him like this permanently. Even Merlin won't fix him better than this. How much Father Value?"
[Ding, 2000 Father Value required. Deduct?]
Deduct.
Darren grinned secretly, lowering his head so no one could see.
Then he switched back into panicked, exhausted savior mode.
"Professor… I… I can't seem to use that ability again…"
He looked horrified, like someone who had reached his limits.
"Professor, you wait here. I'll… I'll go find someone… someone to help…"
He tried to push himself up, but his legs buckled and he fell—straight into Lockhart's already-swollen face.
"Professor… I… I can't stand up… I can't lift you… Please try… you try to stand up…"
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
His eyes turned redder.
He lay half-collapsed beside Lockhart, genuinely looking guilty and helpless.
Lockhart, able to move only one eye, glared at him with pure hatred.
Darren gave him a mischievous smirk up close.
But when he looked up, those green eyes were already teary again.
"Professor… it's my fault. If only I hadn't moved my hand just then… If only I'd kept healing… I—I'm sorry…"
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
He tried again and again with trembling determination.
Minutes passed.
Darren's weak attempts let Lockhart's face swell more and more, but did not heal anything.
Finally, after enough dramatic struggling, Darren managed to stand.
Barely.
He raised his wand to float Lockhart—
—when Harry and Ron finally entered.
They froze at the scene.
"Darren, you—" Harry began, pretending to sound shocked.
In reality, he and Ron had watched everything under the Invisibility Cloak.
They saw Lockhart threaten Darren.
They saw Lockhart nearly get killed by the Basilisk.
They saw his resentful glare after Darren "saved" him.
Harry wanted to help earlier, but Ron insisted they wait.
If they showed up too soon, they might have to help transport Lockhart to St. Mungo's, which would speed up treatment.
Ron refused to allow that.
He wanted Lockhart to remain like this for as long as possible.
So they waited—deliberately walking in circles to delay rescue.
When Darren finally stood up on his own, they revealed themselves.
"Darren, are you okay?" Harry asked, worried.
Darren's eyes went red instantly.
"Brother…"
Harry's breath hitched.
Darren had suffered constantly since coming to Hogwarts—fear, injuries, stress—yet he always protected everyone else first.
"It's okay. Lockhart will be fine… We'll take him—"
But a loud crash echoed from deeper inside the Chamber.
Darren's expression turned deathly pale.
"Brother, go! Go now! Take Professor Lockhart and run!"
He tossed Lockhart toward Harry and sprinted toward the noise.
"Brother, it's the Basilisk! Run—I'll stop it!"
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
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