Chapter 324 – Nonsense, Rumors!!
Nonsense.
Rumors!
"It's Harry who lost consciousness!" Darren scoffed.
However, as a young saint, he did not argue. Instead, he looked at Harry with concern.
"No, Madam Pomfrey, it's my brother… please check my brother first… Brother, hurry, let Madam Pomfrey see how you are… I was so worried…"
[Ding, Fatherhood Value +50]
[Ding, Fatherhood Value +60]
[Ding, Fatherhood Value +50]
[Ding, Fatherhood Value +50]
After contentedly accepting the "saint father" points, Darren wanted to say more and squeeze out a few extra points for himself.
Madam Pomfrey pulled him closer at once.
"Oh, silly child. Harry may have fainted, but I think your condition is more serious."
"Do you still think about that scene often?"
She gently tapped Darren with her wand, checking him.
Her expression turned ugly.
"I already said we can't allow Dementors near Hogwarts. Darren cannot come into contact with those creatures at all! He's still just a child!"
Madam Pomfrey became fiercer the more she spoke, and even glanced toward the window.
Following her gaze, Darren saw that there were indeed many Dementors floating outside.
Did they bring every Dementor from Azkaban with them?
"This was Dumbledore's decision, and many professors agreed," Professor McGonagall said.
"They believed that as long as the students stayed inside the castle, nothing would happen. We've also contacted the Ministry of Magic about this matter, and they've issued an apology."
"The Dementor came to inspect for Black, but your reaction made it think Black was nearby…"
"No, no, no—Darren, I'm not saying you were wrong. The Dementors in the other carriages did the same thing. They were just making excuses. They were afraid the Ministry would dismiss them."
"The one that attacked you has already been sent back to Azkaban and will receive the most severe punishment."
Darren wanted to ask what severe punishment meant.
But asking such a question would shatter his saintly image.
So he merely blinked and said with a worried face, "Professor McGonagall… after thinking it over, that Dementor was probably just doing its duty. Maybe… it shouldn't really be punished."
"Oh, Darren, as I've said, even if they're 'working,' they aren't in control," Madam Pomfrey replied gently.
"They stole your happiness and nearly crushed you and Harry. That isn't forgivable."
"The Ministry plans to subject it to repeated Patronus attacks until it's nearly destroyed… Oh! I shouldn't have told you that. In any case, it will deeply remember this mistake."
Tsk tsk.
A Dementor was almost destroyed just because it nearly killed him and Harry.
If they had been ordinary people, that Dementor would probably still be drifting about happily.
The Ministry might have even praised it.
Still… the punishment was satisfying.
Of course, he couldn't show it.
Darren immediately put on a guilty expression, as though he still wanted to speak in the Dementor's defense.
Madam Pomfrey cut him off.
"Enough, enough. I think you need some chocolate… Harry too. Or perhaps you should both rest in the infirmary tonight?"
She produced a bottle of potion as if she were about to force it on him.
No no.
Darren took a quick step back.
That made everyone laugh.
"Professor Lupin already gave us chocolate," Darren said obediently.
He noticed Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey pause for a moment and look at him and Harry with something like pity.
Then it vanished, as if it had never been there.
"All right, you may return now," Professor McGonagall said.
"And Hermione, remember what I told you—you and Darren must stay on the same schedule. Don't let him wander off alone."
Harry was puzzled.
He wanted to ask why their schedules mattered so much.
Most of their classes weren't even together.
Wasn't that boring?
But seeing how happy Hermione looked, he wisely kept quiet.
By the time they reached the Great Hall, the Sorting was long over.
Even the food had turned into desserts.
Darren reached for a piece of cake—only to find the table completely empty.
Clearly, curfew had arrived.
Fortunately, he had already eaten.
He glanced at Harry and Hermione at the Gryffindor table.
Both of them stared at the vanished food in disbelief, then clutched their stomachs at the same time.
They were starving.
"Before you go to bed, I have a few announcements," Dumbledore said pleasantly.
"Dementors will remain stationed at Hogwarts…"
"…Even an Invisibility Cloak cannot fool them."
"…Also, we will welcome two new professors."
"Professor Lupin will be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts this year."
"And the second… is Hagrid. Hagrid will be our professor for Care of Magical Creatures!"
"Well then, good night, my children."
Dumbledore smiled as he ended the announcements.
Darren yawned and obediently followed Cassandra back to the Slytherin common room.
The moment he entered, he was greeted by Snape's dark expression.
"I expect you to keep your heads down," Snape said coldly.
"Now, let the prefect selection begin."
"I want everyone to participate. Every Slytherin prefect must be the strongest!"
Darren noticed that, aside from first-years, everyone was staring at him.
Clearly, all of Slytherin knew that someone like him—strong, yet unwilling—was being forced into this.
And he also knew Snape was deliberately targeting him.
Darren sighed.
Being a prefect felt like herding a bunch of children into straight lines.
There was nothing to be proud of.
Snape ignored his hesitation entirely and flicked his wand.
All the tables and chairs in the common room were shoved into a corner.
The center of the room instantly transformed into several dueling arenas.
"Move it. I assume you'd rather not waste time here instead of sleeping?" Snape said flatly.
As he spoke, Darren yawned again.
So Snape added, "First-years, step back and watch the older students. Consider it a demonstration…"
"Third-years. Step forward."