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Chapter 349: Goodbye, Rozier!!
Since reconciling with Darren, Harry's mood had improved significantly.
Even Wood's brutal Quidditch training no longer seemed unbearable.
Every day felt lighter.
That afternoon, when Harry returned to the Gryffindor common room, he immediately saw Darren sitting with Hermione, both staring at a parchment.
Harry hesitated.
He still couldn't go to the Slytherin common room in the open.
Snape had banned it outright.
He even forbade Harry from eating at the Slytherin table, claiming that watching Harry eat ruined his appetite.
But Darren never forced him to go back.
Instead, Darren came here.
And that made Harry feel even more guilty.
He had snapped at Darren before.
But Darren had never blamed him.
Harry knew exactly how hard it must be for Darren.
Darren greeted Slytherins every day.
And Harry had once disliked him for that.
Thinking about it now—
Harry felt even worse.
Darren never demanded anything from them.
He only agreed quietly.
He still visited Gryffindor's common room as if nothing had happened.
And that made it impossible for Harry not to feel ashamed.
"Brother…"
Darren lifted his head and looked at Harry hesitantly.
Harry immediately became alert.
Whenever Darren spoke like this—
Something was coming.
Hermione handed over the parchment.
Harry glanced at it.
Hogsmeade permission list – End of October.
Halloween.
The yearly trip.
Darren looked at Harry carefully.
"Brother… don't feel bad. I'm not going."
[Ding, Holy Father value +30]
[Ding, Holy Father value +20]
[Ding, Holy Father value +30]
[Ding...]
Harry's smile froze.
Then faded.
He wanted to go with Darren.
He wanted to roam Hogsmeade with him like before.
But seeing Darren's nervous expression—
Harry forced a laugh.
"It's fine. Really."
"I don't even want to go much. I've got tons of homework. Might as well stay back and finish it."
It wasn't true.
Not even close.
Everyone else would go.
His brother included.
And he alone would be left behind like a stray.
Still—
He didn't want Darren to feel guilty.
Later, Harry tried one last thing.
After Transfiguration, he asked McGonagall whether she could let Darren take the permission form to Nicolas to get it signed for him.
The answer was an absolute no.
McGonagall even threatened him with detention for forgery.
Harry returned to the common room in silence.
Hermione and Ron were arguing again.
Scabbers.
Crookshanks.
Same problem.
Different day.
Hermione barely spoke to Harry anymore.
And Darren—
Was the only one she willingly spoke to now.
No copying homework.
No borrowing notes.
Harry suddenly realized:
He had lost more than he thought that day.
---
Halloween
Darren was dragged to Hogsmeade by Hermione and the others.
Before leaving, he acted worried for a while—
To collect some Holy Father value.
Then happily followed them out.
And the moment they arrived—
Darren felt something strange.
It was lively.
No—
It was crowded.
It felt like one of those bustling streets before the plague.
Shouting everywhere.
Food everywhere.
Wizards offering samples.
Hot drinks steamed in the cold air.
Darren even tasted a new drink—
Butter-milk wine.
Not bad.
Then Hermione suddenly pointed down the street.
"Darren—look!"
"That potion shop is selling your Wolfsbane formula!"
Darren's face darkened instantly.
Selling his potion?!
Without permission?!
Where was his license fee?
Patent fee?!
He had just lost the Potter family and was down to 20,000 Galleons!
And here they were robbing him?!
Who dared?!
Then Darren froze.
That woman behind the counter—
Ugly.
Plain.
Unremarkable.
But…
The aura.
That familiar unease.
He spent 200 Holy Father points without hesitation.
[Ding, identity analysis complete.]
Target identified: Rozier.
Ah.
It was her.
The clerks must be loyalists.
But—
Didn't he tell them to open the shop in Diagon Alley?
Why Hogsmeade?
Bad business there?
Before Darren could move—
He was already surrounded.
Hermione stared at him worriedly.
"Darren, aren't you angry?"
Darren laughed softly and shook his head.
"Hermione…
"I don't care about Galleons."
"I brewed potions because I wanted fewer people to die."
"I made Squib-conversion potions because I don't want anyone to be looked down upon ever again."
"This world is unfair."
"And I am only trying to make it kinder."
"So even if the whole street sold my patents—
I wouldn't be angry."
"I still have money."
"Even after leaving the Potter family, I still have twenty thousand Galleons."
"But I don't want to become an example people are forced to follow."
"If everyone is required to surrender patents for free—
Then who will ever innovate again?"
Silence.
Then whispers.
Then—
Gasps.
"It's Darren Potter!"
"My god—that's Darren Potter!"
"Mom, look!"
"DARREN POTTER—"
Darren finally realized—
He wasn't "just" famous anymore.
Maybe not like Harry.
But—
He was catching up to Lockhart.
He sighed internally.
For a moment he wondered—
Should he just defeat Lockhart and take his place officially?
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