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Chapter 372 Will never go
Darren and the others chatted with Hagrid for a while longer before Hagrid finally sent them back.
When they reached the castle entrance, Hagrid suddenly bent down and pulled Darren into a tight hug.
His eyes were red as he said, "Darren… I heard what you said to Neville. Your life is not meant to end early. I hope you live well, and I hope I can see you safe every day."
Darren paused.
Back then, he had only been following the system's prompts. He had never really intended to accept such a fate.
And to be honest, apart from what he had made up at Hogwarts, he had never been in any real danger at all.
After all, Voldemort was his father.
There was nothing dangerous about his life right now.
He was not some tragic little saint destined to suffer either.
Of course, he could not say any of that.
So Darren only smiled awkwardly.
"Hagrid… I'm sorry you had to hear those things. You must have been worried. But I won't accept my fate like that. I still want to live… and protect my brother."
"I was only trying to comfort Neville. You know how sad he was after what happened last time."
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
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Darren was escorted back to Slytherin by a professor who had "coincidentally" met him on the way.
The moment he entered the common room, he spotted a notice on the Slytherin bulletin board:
Hogsmeade Visit Schedule
Going to Hogsmeade was something many students looked forward to.
Darren liked it too.
At the very least, he could check on how Rozier's shop was doing… and see if any gold Galleons had mysteriously gone missing.
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The next morning, however, he saw a very unhappy Harry.
Harry desperately wanted to go to Hogsmeade.
But he was afraid that Black might have already discovered the passage behind the one-eyed witch.
Ron tried to reassure him.
"If that passage had been discovered, Honeydukes wouldn't still exist. There are Dementors everywhere — Black probably can't even get in."
His words comforted Harry a little.
Darren, however, still looked worried.
But when Ron asked if he could protect Harry, Darren immediately patted his chest.
"I will definitely keep my brother safe. If Black shows up, I'll kill him — and if it comes to it, I'll just take Harry away."
"No way!" Ron said cheerfully, patting Darren on the shoulder. "We already agreed. We're going together that day!"
Their excitement was immediately crushed.
Hermione walked over and glared at them.
"If you go to Hogsmeade again, Harry, I'll tell the professors about that path and have it blocked!"
She showed no mercy.
"Even if you force Darren to help you, I'll still report it. Don't think that just because Darren agrees, it's suddenly right. I absolutely disagree!"
Her words enraged both Harry and Ron.
They even threatened to break off relations with her.
But in truth, they were helpless.
If Hermione really told, the passage would be sealed.
Harry would be punished.
But if he didn't go to Hogsmeade…
For him, that was worse than death.
In the end, he still decided to go.
They would just go without telling Hermione.
---
On Saturday, Harry bade Darren farewell.
He planned to wander inside the castle first, create the illusion that he had not gone out, then put on his invisibility cloak and leave.
Just as he turned, trouble found him.
It was Neville.
Neville's face lit up when he saw Harry.
"That's great! Harry, you're also staying inside! Maybe we can play wizard chess together!"
Harry nearly died inside.
He did not want to play chess.
He wanted to sneak out and meet Darren and Ron.
So he hurriedly said he had homework to do.
Neville immediately looked relieved.
"I haven't done mine either! Let's do it together!"
Harry wanted to scream.
He tricked Neville into going into the common room, and while Neville went to fetch his books, Harry slipped away.
He even left a note saying he had forgotten something outside.
At that moment, Harry still did not think his day would go wrong.
He was full of hope.
---
He hurried to the one-eyed witch's statue and pulled out the Marauder's Map.
Out of habit, he checked who was nearby.
Then he saw it.
A black dot.
Severus Snape.
It was moving straight toward him.
Harry immediately folded the map and put it away.
He pretended to casually walk past.
Snape was the teacher who disliked both him and Darren the most.
Harry despised him too.
Especially now.
He absolutely could not let Snape stop him.
Unfortunately, Snape did not move.
He stared at Harry for a long time.
Harry lowered his head, avoiding Snape's gaze.
For some reason, he always felt like Snape could see through him.
Even though he told himself that was ridiculous.
"What are you doing here?" Snape asked suspiciously.
Harry bristled.
"I've just come from the library. I'm going to get a book."
"Hmph. I hope so."
Snape sneered.
Harry hurried away.
But after walking a distance, he looked back.
Snape was standing directly in front of the one-eyed witch.
Wand in hand.
Tapping the statue.
Harry's heart nearly exploded.
He was terrified Snape would discover the passage.
At last…
After circling around for a long time, Harry checked the map again.
Snape was already back in his office.
Only then did Harry finally breathe.
He pulled on the invisibility cloak and ran.
---
He met Ron at Zonko's Joke Shop
Darren and Hermione were both there too, chatting and laughing while browsing.
Harry did not dare approach Hermione.
He simply tapped Ron.
Ron frowned. "Why are you so late?"
Harry angrily told him everything.
Soon, they forgot their troubles and began playing around in the shop.
By the time they left, Harry's pockets were stuffed with joke items.
After that, they went to the Shrieking Shack.
Much later…
Harry would think back and realize—
If he could do it again, he would never come here.
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