Chapter 330: Care of Magical Creatures Lesson!!
After lunch in the afternoon,
they headed outside the castle.
At Hagrid's class site, Darren saw Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape standing at the edge of the Forbidden Forest like two imposing guardians.
The moment Hagrid noticed them, he stammered.
It was as if he had suddenly returned to being a student again.
Darren also noticed that, despite the nerves, Hagrid still looked happy.
Hagrid had probably thought it was a great idea to take the students into the Forbidden Forest for their first lesson.
But even so, he was clearly anxious.
Just like teachers in Darren's previous life when the principal appeared in class without warning.
"Everyone line up here… uh, first thing we need to do is… open your textbooks…"
"How do we open it?"
"That book's completely mad, it nearly bit me…"
Malfoy looked stunned.
Because the book in Darren's hands was lying quietly and innocently.
Everyone else's books were tightly tied shut.
"Look! Darren already opened his book—Slytherin, ten points!
So Darren, tell us, how did you open it?"
Hagrid looked at him eagerly.
Darren smiled shyly.
Then he closed the book—
and immediately, just like the others, it began thrashing about wildly again.
Holding it firmly, Darren raised the book and said:
"There are three ways to open this book."
Three?
Hagrid was stunned.
The other students were also shocked.
There were actually that many ways?
Darren looked at the confused young wizards, feeling somewhat helpless.
If this were his previous life, there would've been the internet.
Someone would've taken the book apart in minutes.
Netizens were incredible.
What a pity.
"First, you can simply stroke the spine of the book.
It's obedient, and this is the easiest way."
The other students hurriedly tried it.
Sure enough, with a light touch, their books went quiet and opened obediently.
"This method is almost too simple. I don't think Hagrid would let us off this easily.
He's a very hardworking professor!"
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding...]
Although Darren was praising Hagrid, judging by the Father points, most people thought he was just being considerate.
Hagrid's face turned bright red.
Seeing the admiring looks some of the students were giving him, he practically floated.
He silently decided that he absolutely had to remember the other two methods Darren mentioned.
He would definitely show off like this to the first-year students someday.
"The second way is using a wand.
We're wizards, after all. If we want to deal with a book, we should use magical thinking.
You place your wand against it and you'll feel where it's weakest.
Once you find the spot—hit it."
Darren tapped his book with his wand.
The book immediately opened again.
After everyone successfully copied him, Darren continued.
"The third way is a bit… accidental.
When I first picked it up, it attacked me.
So I thought it must be a kind of living creature…
and I let it bite me.
After it tasted blood, it became obedient.
Just listen—you don't need to try that one. It hurts."
[Ding, Father value +40]
[Ding, Father value +60]
[Ding, Father value +50]
[Ding...]
Darren gained some Father points from saying this.
But it didn't stop several students from immediately trying to let the book bite them anyway.
"Only Darren would come up with that…"
Professor McGonagall said softly.
Snape snorted, his mouth twisting in disdain.
"Always so reckless."
"Oh, Severus, you can't say that about Darren."
Darren is different from Harry. Harry is praised everywhere in the wizarding world.
But Darren… he suffered so much in the orphanage. So much violence.
And after being Sorted into Slytherin, so many people disliked him instantly.
That child… he just wants recognition.
Haven't you noticed? He's terribly insecure.
He is afraid we'll abandon him again.
Poor boy… if he were in my house, I'd have taken good care of him from the start."
Professor McGonagall wiped the corner of her eyes.
"That poor child… neither the Muggle world nor the wizarding world ever treated him kindly."
"Severus, don't be too harsh on him. He really likes you.
Sometimes, I even feel as though he treats you as his guardian…
Perhaps it's because you were the first person he ever saw in the wizarding world.
Honestly, I wish I had been the one to take him in."
Professor McGonagall sighed and shook her head.
Snape said nothing.
He only snorted quietly.
Not true.
He was meant to be that child's guardian.
This was something written in the blood.
Professor McGonagall looked at Snape in confusion.
For some reason…
she felt as though he was actually in a rather good mood.
Was it because of what she had just said?
If so, she could talk about it more often.
Sigh.
What a good child.
How did he end up in Slytherin, of all places…
...
While they were talking quietly,
the Slytherin and Gryffindor students had also tried the "blood feeding" method.
Sure enough, their books became just as obedient.
"Hey—this is kind of fun!"
Malfoy teased his book cheerfully.
Then he noticed Harry staring at him.
His expression stiffened.
He had actually wanted to mock the method—
but…
this was Darren's idea.
If he insulted it, Darren would probably be hurt.
Forget it.
He wouldn't use this against Potter either.
So instead, Malfoy suddenly rolled his eyes dramatically—
and collapsed into Crabbe's arms.
"Ah! I feel dizzy!"
Harry's face turned bright red with anger.
Darren immediately turned to look at Malfoy.
He was just about to tell him to apologize—
when Malfoy suddenly stood back up.
"Oh? Did I faint just now…?
Hey, Darren—why are you here?"
Then he bolted.
Darren didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"Forget it, don't bother with him. That's just how he is."
Harry said, trying to comfort Darren.
Out of the corner of his eye, Darren noticed Malfoy had already slid over beside Hagrid—
with the shameless devotion of a court flatterer.
Malfoy leaned toward Crabbe and whispered with obvious disdain:
"I guarantee you this big idiot definitely didn't come up with all these methods himself.
At best, he thought of the first one.
Imagine him teaching me.
If my father finds out, I hope he fires him."