Chapter 334: Malfoy's Menace!!
Darren walked into the castle.
A bitter smile tugged at his lips.
Before he could go any farther, Professor McGonagall—who had just returned—stopped him.
"Darren? What's wrong with you? Where's Harry?"
Her voice carried real concern.
Darren froze for a moment, then pressed his lips together.
"Harry… they haven't come back yet. I just… I'm feeling a little unwell. I wanted to come back and rest…"
He hesitated, stumbling over his words.
The pain on his face was impossible to hide.
Professor McGonagall immediately sensed something was wrong.
She frowned.
"Did they bully you?"
Darren was never willful.
Even when he was reckless, it was out of enthusiasm—especially toward Harry. He nearly treated Harry as if he were his whole world.
And yet now, he had returned alone.
Something had clearly happened.
And it had to do with Harry.
"Professor… my brother didn't bully me…"
Darren spoke softly.
"It's just… some things he said made me feel like I needed to think them over first…"
"…Maybe I've done something wrong without realizing it…"
He lowered his voice.
"I'm sorry, Professor… I'm just… a little sad…"
His voice gradually broke.
His eyes turned red, and in the end, he lowered his head, unable to go on.
Professor McGonagall's eyes filled with concern.
She was just about to say something—
When Darren took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.
Only then did he straighten up and speak politely again.
"Professor, I'll go first…"
"Maybe it really is my fault. I'm just a little tired…"
"I'll go back and rest."
Then he turned and left.
His figure looked unbearably lonely.
Professor McGonagall remained standing there.
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became.
By the time she saw Harry, Ron, and Hermione finally returning to the castle, her anger had already boiled over.
"I warn you, Mr. Potter!"
"If you hurt Darren again, then don't even think about going near him ever again!"
---
Malfoy only returned from St. Mungo's on Thursday.
His arm was wrapped in bandages, and he looked like a victorious fighter returning from war.
He went around boasting about how he had "narrowly escaped death" from the Hippogriff, describing it as if he had wrestled a dragon with his bare hands.
And of course, he made sure Darren heard every word.
With deliberate smugness, he told him that his father was preparing to sue Hagrid.
That Hagrid would definitely lose his job.
Most likely, he would even be charged with murder.
Darren froze.
…Wasn't Hagrid supposed to be safe in the original story?
Why was he being charged with murder this time?
Did Dumbledore not intervene?
Wait—
Was Malfoy lying to him?
Very possible.
After all, Darren was an orphan.
And he looked easy to fool.
Malfoy probably thought he could say anything and Darren would believe it.
[Ding, sensing that there is a scene played by the Holy Father system around the host, now release a temporary task:
Walked over to Malfoy's side and begged Malfoy in a flustered tone not to sue Hagrid.
And agreed to Malfoy's request to be his follower for a month]
[Ding, after the task is completed, get the time turner×1, will the host pick up the task?]
…Oh?
The system really thought he liked using the Ministry's Time-Turner that much?
Or did it think attending classes with it was a waste of Holy Father value?
Still—
Having his own Time-Turner was far better than one under Ministry supervision.
[Pick up!]
Darren chose to accept immediately.
He glanced at Malfoy—who was still standing there proudly—then made up his mind and walked over.
Draco Malfoy raised an eyebrow.
Of course.
This was exactly what he had been waiting for.
He knew Darren didn't want that stupid half-giant to get fired.
And for Hagrid's sake, Darren would definitely come begging.
And this…
Was the perfect chance to make Darren his "little follower" for a while.
Why was it that Darren always followed Potter?
That scar-headed idiot never did anything but cause trouble.
Never once did anything useful for Darren.
And yet Darren still treated him like a hero!
Harry Potter was just his brother by blood!
Now they had fought.
Perfect.
This was his chance to take that place.
Malfoy smirked with satisfaction.
Then—
He saw Darren rush over.
Darren naturally knew exactly what Malfoy was thinking.
The moment he approached, he put on a panicked, anxious expression and asked:
"C-can you… can you tell Mr. Malfoy not to sue Hagrid?"
Malfoy looked at Darren's face.
For a brief second, he felt strangely uncomfortable.
It almost felt like he was bullying someone who genuinely didn't deserve it.
And that…
Wasn't very satisfying.
But as a Malfoy—
And as someone who desperately wanted to feel what it was like to be an "older brother"—
He kept up his act.
He lifted his chin and said coldly,
"Why should I listen to you?"
"If it weren't for my artifact, I would have died!"
Darren's lips trembled slightly.
He knew that.
Malfoy really had almost died.
And yet…
He thought of how happy Hagrid had been when he became a professor.
He thought of Hagrid crying in his hut.
Finally—
Darren clenched his fists and said,
"Please…"
"Please don't let Mr. Malfoy sue Hagrid."
"If you need anything… I'll do it."
"I can… I can compensate you. Galleons, or anything else…"
"No, no, no."
Draco waved his hand.
"We Malfoys don't need Galleons."
"The Malfoy family stands at the top of the wizarding world."
His lips curled disdainfully.
Compared to the Malfoy family, what was the Potter vault?
Just a pile of small change.
The look of contempt in Draco's eyes made Darren's eyes redden.
He lowered his head.
Bitterly.
Malfoy was right.
He had almost died.
Why would he give up suing Hagrid just because of a few words?
And Malfoy didn't lack money.
He turned to leave.
He needed to think of another way.
But just as he turned around—
Malfoy suddenly called out.
"If you really want my father to drop the lawsuit…"
"Then be my follower for a month."
"And I'll let it go."
Draco said it confidently.
But in truth—
He wasn't confident at all.
Getting Darren to be his follower?
Impossible.
This guy only followed Potter around.
Only ever stood behind Potter.
Only ever promised to protect Potter.
Draco had said it on impulse.
He expected Darren to refuse.
And yet—
Darren answered without the slightest hesitation.
"Okay."
[Ding, congratulations to the host for getting the time turner.]
Time Converter:
A Time-Turner created by the system. Its casing is stronger and more adaptable than normal.
Maybe it can be changed into an accessory…
Maybe it'll be easier to carry around….