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Chapter 318 – Hermione Isn't a Woman?!
"If you hadn't started yelling like that, we might've already come up with a solution!"
Ron snapped.
He grabbed the newspaper, his face twisted with disbelief.
Harry looked even worse.
"I never imagined they could be this shameless," he muttered. "But I swear, that Slytherin they're using as a witness is definitely Malfoy! No one else would do something like that!"
Malfoy was the person Harry and Ron hated most at Hogwarts.
There was no competition.
"He's even worse than Dudley," Harry had once said.
Darren, however, shook his head.
"Brother, it can't be Malfoy. He's actually a good person."
Although Malfoy always caused trouble, Darren didn't think he was truly bad. If he were, he would've followed those lunatics and dragged Darren out during the last incident.
[Ding, Fatherly Value +10]
[Ding, Fatherly Value +20]
[Ding, Fatherly Value +10]
They barely gave him any points—clearly, they didn't believe a word.
"Darren, you're too kind," Harry sighed. "You have no idea how awful Malfoy is."
"Yeah! He tried to get his father to fire you! Have you forgotten?" Ron added angrily. "He mocked you every time he saw you! Did that slip your mind too?"
They began listing Malfoy's crimes.
Darren almost laughed.
To everyone else, Malfoy definitely looked like a future villain.
But to Darren?
The Malfoy family practically showered him with gifts.
Every holiday, three different owls delivered presents—from Lucius, Narcissa, and Draco individually.
Of course… Darren didn't mention that part.
Instead, he sighed and said gently:
"I know people think Malfoy can be unpleasant, but he's not that bad. He's just spoiled. Once he grows up, he'll understand what he did wrong. And he'd never do anything that harms me. That would damage Slytherin's reputation. He admires Slytherin far too much to risk that."
[Ding, Fatherly Value +100]
[Ding, Fatherly Value +100]
[Ding, Fatherly Value +100]
Harry, Hermione, and Ron exchanged glances.
"Alright… we'll trust you on this one, Darren," Hermione said.
"But if Malfoy really does something like that—I won't let him get away with it!"
"Same here!" Ron added. "I'll watch him like a hawk!"
Darren looked touched.
Meanwhile, Lupin—still pretending to sleep—nearly sighed out loud.
Court hearings? Public reputation? These kids are far too young for this drama.
Why were we only thinking of pranks at their age…?
He chose to remain "asleep." No need to get dragged into this conversation.
Ron suddenly brightened.
"Anyway, what exactly is in Hogsmeade? Hermione asked me earlier. It's just a village, right? So what's so special about it?"
Hermione looked at Ron expectantly.
Ron puffed up proudly.
"Honeydukes! It's the best sweets shop ever. They have everything!"
Hermione gave him a look of pure disdain.
Then she turned to Darren, smiling softly.
"Although Ron makes it sound ridiculous, I think Hogsmeade will be fun. We should go together."
Darren nodded.
Nicholas Flamel had already signed his permission form.
He then glanced at Harry… whose expression had completely collapsed.
"I can't go," Harry muttered. "The Dursleys won't sign. And Fudge wouldn't either."
Because Harry had inflated Aunt Marge's "wealth" during her incident, the Dursleys were furious. They wrote to him over the summer, promising to keep Marge away—but also declaring they would not sign anything for him ever again.
This was their punishment, since the school hadn't punished him.
Darren immediately said:
"Brother, take my form. I don't like going anyway…"
[Ding, Fatherly Value +50]
[Ding, Fatherly Value +60]
[Ding, Fatherly Value +80]
He shoved the signed permission slip into Harry's hands.
"I can stay at school forever, but my brother would be disappointed. You should go! Just bring me candy afterward!"
[Ding, Fatherly Value +100]
[Ding, Fatherly Value +100]
[Ding, Fatherly Value +100]
Harry almost cried.
He pushed the form back.
"Darren… everyone can only use their own form. Look—it has your name on it!"
Darren blinked in disappointment.
Ron sighed dramatically.
"Yeah, if you two looked exactly alike, you could switch. But you don't. Too bad."
Then Darren looked suddenly sad.
Ron panicked.
"No—no! I didn't mean you look bad or anything! I meant—uh—your face is actually super famous. Girls at Hogwarts talk about you all the time!"
Ron continued babbling.
"I heard them say they want to chase after you when you grow up. Which is stupid—why not now? You don't have any girls around you!"
Hermione smacked Ron hard.
"Ow! What did I say? You said Darren doesn't have girls around him—oh, wait, do you mean you—?"
Hermione whacked him again.
"Ron! You idiot!"
Ron rubbed his head.
"What? You're not a girl. You're one of the guys! Merlin's beard, Hermione, you're practically violent!"
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