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Chapter 348: Beating Malfoy Fat!!
Darren stared at Harry in shock.
Of course he had been avoiding Harry these days—
Because of his long-term mission.
And that mission still had…
Two minutes left.
Two minutes.
No matter what—
He had to finish it.
Professional integrity.
If he suddenly reconciled now, everything would collapse.
So Darren forced himself to stay cold.
He had to act like he had truly cut ties with Harry.
At least—
For these final moments.
"Darren, I need to tell you something—"
Harry opened his mouth and deliberately glanced at Draco Malfoy.
The smugness in his eyes was impossible to hide.
The instant Darren saw that expression—
He knew.
Harry had already found out.
Malfoy's lie had been exposed.
Harry was about to pull him out of the sea of suffering.
But Darren couldn't respond.
Not yet.
So he suppressed every emotion and said calmly:
"I don't want to hear it."
His voice was distant.
Cold.
But under the desk—
Darren's fingers dug viciously into his own wrist.
One mark.
Then another.
Red lines bloomed.
[Ding, Holy Father value +40]
[Ding, Holy Father value +60]
[Ding, Holy Father value +50]
[Ding...]
Darren kept his head down.
He glanced at the time.
One minute left.
Because others were watching, he quietly pulled his arm under the table.
Harry sighed inwardly.
His brother was terrible at acting.
So obvious.
So painful to watch.
It made him want to laugh—
And cry.
Of course Darren was still pretending to avoid him because of Hagrid.
And Harry finally realized—
Malfoy's threat had been a lie from the beginning.
So he spoke.
Loudly.
Clearly.
"There is no way Malfoy can sue Hagrid for intentional homicide."
Draco froze.
Cold rushed through his spine.
He knew it.
Harry had found out.
But—
He still tried to bluff.
"I-I can! Of course I can!"
"That stupid Hagrid and his filthy hippogriff nearly killed me!"
He secretly glanced at Darren.
Darren still had his head lowered.
Then—
He silently mouthed:
Three.
Two.
One.
Malfoy hadn't even had time to process it—
Before Darren looked up.
"You really didn't lie to me?"
"You can truly sue Hagrid?"
Malfoy panicked.
"I… I also—"
Harry cut him off with a delighted voice:
"I checked.
"McGonagall said at worst—
The hippogriff might be punished.
"Hagrid won't be touched."
"And in the wizarding world—
If you don't die on the spot,
It's not murder."
"Intentional homicide?
Don't make me laugh."
Silence.
Darren slowly turned his head toward Malfoy.
Rage burned in his eyes.
"Malfoy.
"You lied to me."
His fists tightened.
Draco's breath hitched.
Darren's strength was terrifying.
He had shattered protective charms in first year.
This time—
Malfoy screamed.
"WAIT—I APOLOGIZE—YES! I APOLOGIZE!"
Too late.
Darren's fist smashed into Malfoy's face.
"Let you lie to me.
"Let you insult Professor Lupin.
"Let you bully my brother!
"Let you manipulate me like an idiot—"
[Ding, Holy Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding...]
Punch after punch.
Draco screamed.
"AHH—DARREN!!"
"I WAS WRONG!"
"STOP—YOU'RE KILLING ME!"
"YOU'RE TREASON—YOU'RE A TRAITOR—"
"WHY DON'T YOU HIT SCARHEAD INSTEAD!"
"HELP—SOMEBODY HELP ME—"
No one moved.
Not a single Slytherin helped him.
Because—
He had deceived them too.
They had believed Hagrid could be prosecuted.
They had trusted Malfoy.
And he had lied—
To everyone.
Someone shut the door.
Another stood guard.
Draco was beaten without mercy.
When Darren finally stepped back—
Malfoy looked like he had gone through a war.
Darren took a breath.
Then spoke coldly:
"Get up.
"I'll take you to the infirmary.
"You can tell your father I tried to murder you."
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding...]
Then Darren turned.
His eyes were red.
He looked at Harry.
"I'm sorry, brother…
"I yelled at you because of him…
"I hurt you because of him…"
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding...]
Harry nearly broke.
He wanted to cry.
But also wanted to grab Darren and shake him.
Darren didn't need to apologize.
Never had.
He was the one who hadn't protected him.
He was the one who let Darren endure everything alone.
He was the one who failed as a brother.
And now Darren stood here—
Apologizing to him?
Harry clenched his fists.
Then pulled Darren into a rough hug.
"Next time—
You tell your brother.
"Don't suffer alone again."
"I am your brother.
"And I will always be your brother.
"Even if the world betrays you—
I never will."
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