Chapter 373 – What Evidence Do You Have?!
The Shrieking Shack was known as a haunted house.
Yet the breeze here felt strangely refreshing.
As soon as Darren arrived, he casually found a place to sit.
Even Harry felt tempted to remove the invisibility cloak.
But before he could do that, Malfoy's voice reached their ears.
"…Haha, you know what? The lawyers my dad hired will have that monster sentenced to death any day now.
Thanks to Darren Potter, I found out what he was thinking, and I told my dad straight away. He promised he'd get the best lawyers in the wizarding world.
He will make sure that monster gets the Dementor's Kiss…"
Malfoy's arrogant laughter echoed in the shack.
Then Goyle's voice followed, hesitant and uneasy.
"But… Darren almost cried that day. He stayed silent in the common room for ages."
"After hearing the lawyers had already been arranged, he barely even ate lunch…"
Malfoy grew impatient.
"Alright, enough! So what if he cried? Who told him not to be my follower? If he had listened to me properly, I wouldn't even have told my father.
Hmph! Forget it. Don't bring it up again. It's annoying!"
There was the sound of someone being kicked.
Malfoy was clearly venting his anger on Crabbe or Goyle.
Then he spotted Ron.
It was like he had finally found a perfect outlet.
He sneered, "Some people just love coming to filthy old places like this. Why? Because their own house probably isn't much better!
I heard the Weasley family all live crammed into one house. Maybe they even share one bed!"
Ron exploded with rage.
Darren stood up at the same time.
Malfoy froze when he saw Darren.
He hadn't expected Darren to be here with Ron.
Instinctively, he wanted to retreat.
But it was too late.
Because Harry had grabbed a clod of wet mud and flung it straight into Malfoy's face.
Ron burst out laughing.
Malfoy stumbled backward in panic.
He had no idea what had hit him.
For a moment, he even thought it was a ghost.
In his confusion, he rushed toward Darren—
And tripped.
As Malfoy fell, he yanked hard at something.
Harry's invisibility cloak was ripped away.
His face was suddenly exposed in mid-air.
For a second, Malfoy looked horrified.
Then realization dawned.
A wicked grin spread across his face.
Without another word, he ran off with Crabbe and Goyle.
---
Harry, Ron, and even Darren stared in horror.
Hermione opened her mouth to say something.
But Ron snapped angrily, "I know what you're going to say! That we deserve it! Enough! I don't want to hear it!"
Then he turned to Harry.
"Hurry! Get back before Malfoy! As long as you're inside the castle first, they won't have any proof!"
With that, he bolted.
He had to get back before Malfoy did.
Only Darren and Hermione remained behind.
---
[Ding! Detected a key storyline scene near the host.]
[Ding! Temporary mission activated!]
Rush to Snape's office at the fastest speed possible.
Witness Snape being mocked by the map and say:
"Professor, that was something I made myself from the parchment my godfather gave me."
Then hand over the map Remus Lupin gave you.
Reward after completion: Paige's loyalty.
Do you accept?
---
Hand over Lupin's map?
Was the system trying to get Lupin killed?
Originally, Snape already suspected that the original parchment had been given to Harry by Lupin.
Now he wanted Darren to appear with another one from Lupin?
Snape might murder someone on the spot.
But—
[Accept.]
---
Hermione looked furious.
She opened her mouth—
And Darren cut in anxiously.
"Ron is too slow. I'll go find a professor and use Phantom Apparition to get there faster. Hermione, go back slowly and carefully. Don't worry!"
"You're helping him again?" Hermione said softly, worried.
Darren sighed.
Then he hugged her.
"If it were you, I'd do the same."
Hermione's face turned red.
After all…
In their first year, Darren had already saved her from the troll.
He had killed it with his own hands.
---
Darren rushed to find Lupin.
Lupin was drinking at the Three Broomsticks.
When he heard Darren wanted to return to Hogwarts immediately, he sensed something was wrong.
But before he could ask anything, Darren had already vanished.
Lupin could only return to the castle in confusion.
---
When Darren burst into Snape's office—
Snape was already gripping the parchment tightly.
"In the name of Professor Severus Snape of Hogwarts!" he roared.
"I order you to reveal your secrets!"
At last.
The classic scene.
The moment Darren entered, he saw the parchment already covered in glowing handwriting:
> Mr. Moony would like to inform Professor Snape that his nose is abnormally large and intrusive.
Mr. Prongs agrees with Mr. Moony...
Mr. Padfoot expresses astonishment that someone so ugly dares to exist...
Mr. Wormtail kindly suggests Professor Snape check his intelligence…
Darren almost laughed.
No wonder Snape immediately called Lupin in the original story.
Anyone with half a brain could tell this was James Potter and his gang.
Only they would mock him like this.
You didn't even need evidence.
Darren forcibly suppressed his smile.
Instead, he put on an anxious expression.
Harry stood nearby, a trace of panic mixed with stubborn pride on his face.
He looked like he was ready for Snape to hex him at any moment.
Snape's voice was murderous.
"Where did this thing come from? If you don't tell me, I'll throw it into the fire!"
Harry said Ron had given it to him.
Snape didn't believe a word.
He wanted Harry to admit that Lupin had given it to him.
But Harry refused.
Even if he was punished, he wouldn't betray Lupin.
(In truth, he was more afraid Snape would target Fred and George—but no one needed to know that.)
Darren nearly laughed.
But he held it in.
Then he stepped forward, face pale, voice firm.
"Professor… that parchment belonged to me.
I gave it to my brother."
Snape's eyes narrowed instantly.
"Yours?"
He sneered.
"What evidence do you have?"
---