---
Chapter 376 – "Who Bullied You?"
Of course, Snape had not only given Darren gifts.
They had also spoken about something else.
The parchment.
Harry kept glancing at Darren, his curiosity barely contained.
"How did you also have one?" he finally blurted out.
Darren stared at him, surprised.
"My godfather sent it to me. Didn't I tell you that before?"
Harry frowned, thinking hard.
After a moment, he nodded slowly.
"…You did say that. But you never told me it was a map!"
Darren flushed slightly and scratched his cheek.
"I did that on purpose. When I realized what it was, I worried you'd run all over the castle again."
"You're always curious about those hidden places," Darren said honestly. "So I thought about it for a long time… and finally decided not to tell you."
"I put it away. Then more things kept happening… and I sort of forgot about it."
"Until Christmas."
His voice softened.
"One night, I couldn't sleep. I kept thinking about my godfather… what kind of person he was… whether he missed me too."
"So I took the parchment and fell asleep holding it."
"I've been keeping it in my pocket recently… and today, I happened to take it out."
[Ding, Father Value +50]
[Ding, Holy Father Value +60]
Harry lowered his head.
Guilt slowly welled up inside his chest.
Darren cared so deeply about his family.
During Christmas, when everyone else had each other, Darren had stayed in Slytherin alone.
While Harry had Ron—
Darren had that parchment.
A single piece of paper that reminded him of someone who wasn't there.
And now…
Harry clenched his fists.
"I'm sorry, Darren. Professor Lupin figured out it was a map… and he took it away."
Darren's eyes dimmed for a moment.
But he quickly smiled again.
"It's okay."
"As long as you're safe, my godfather will be relieved."
"Actually… I realized something too."
"Even if I agreed to let you go out of the castle, I shouldn't have let you go alone."
"I should've followed you through the passage."
"It was my fault for not insisting."
"If anything had happened… I wouldn't even have known."
[Ding, Father Value +100]
[Ding, Father Value +100]
His voice caught.
Harry suddenly felt overwhelmingly ashamed.
Had he really gone out just for the thrill?
"…This wasn't worth making you worry."
Before he could say more, hurried footsteps echoed down the corridor.
"Hermione? What's wrong?!"
Darren saw her at once.
Tears streamed down her face.
His hands clenched.
"Who bullied you?"
His voice was low.
Cold.
Angry.
"Oh, Darren…"
Hermione came straight toward him and collapsed into his arms, bursting into sobs.
Harry and Ron were stunned.
Even though they'd argued with Hermione recently, the moment they saw her crying—
Their hearts twisted.
Finally, she managed to speak.
"We lost…"
"Buckbeak's trial… it's over."
She raised the parchment in her trembling hand.
"He's been sentenced to death."
Darren went pale.
He took the verdict from her.
Tear stains blurred half the writing.
A second letter slipped out with it.
---
Dear Hermione and Darren,
We lost. They allowed me to bring Buckbeak back one last time.
The execution date hasn't been finalized yet, but he's been transferred to London prison grounds.
I won't forget what you two did for us. Ever.
—Hagrid
---
Hermione broke down again.
That night, she reconciled with Ron and Harry.
No more arguing.
No more pride.
They had one goal now.
Save Buckbeak.
They started researching past cases.
Old rulings.
Appeal procedures.
They stayed up late, trying to understand Ministry law.
They wanted to sneak out and visit Hagrid—give him hope.
But the castle's patrols had doubled.
They couldn't leave.
So instead, they spoke to him during Care of Magical Creatures lessons.
They tried to encourage him.
But Hagrid… had already given up.
"Lucius Malfoy brought dozens of lawyers."
"I can't argue with any of them."
"They picked apart every word I said."
"Even the cases you helped find… they said were outdated."
"It's hopeless."
Ron stared blankly.
This wasn't a trial.
This was a massacre.
Even Darren fell silent.
Then, quietly, he spoke:
"Don't worry, Hagrid."
"I'll make Malfoy withdraw the lawsuit."
[Ding, Father Value +100]
[Ding, Holy Father Value +100]
[Ding, Father Value +100]
The moment the words left his mouth—
Everyone froze.
Hagrid's face changed immediately.
"No. Absolutely not."
"Buckbeak would never allow that."
"And neither will I."
"He likes you, Darren."
"If he knew his life would be saved because you humbled yourself for Malfoy…"
"He would rather die."
Darren nearly sighed out loud.
Buckbeak doesn't understand politics—
He's a hippogriff!
But he didn't say it.
Instead, his expression softened.
"But I like Buckbeak too."
"And I don't want him to die."
"He didn't mean to hurt Malfoy."
"But I know Malfoy was injured badly."
"So if pleading with him can save Buckbeak's life…"
"I'll do it."
"If he wants money, I'll give money."
"If he wants favors, I'll give favors."
"As long as it saves Buckbeak!"
[Ding, Father Value +100]
[Ding, Father Value +100]
[Ding, Father Value +100]
The Holy Father values poured in endlessly.
But Hagrid still shook his head firmly.
"No."
"I'll never allow it."
"Buckbeak would rather be executed than live because of that."
And Harry… surprisingly agreed.
He was desperate to save Buckbeak—
But not at the cost of Darren's dignity.
Even if it meant death—
He would not allow Darren to beg Malfoy.
---