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Chapter 414: Female Fan!!
Darren had been overthinking.
Ginny and Hermione couldn't really cook.
Mr. Weasley couldn't either.
But Mrs. Weasley had already prepared for that.
She had brought cooked food, all enchanted with preservation and warming charms.
All they had to do was take it out and eat.
They were starving after the journey.
Everyone dug in.
Darren ate especially fast.
By the time he was full, drowsiness hit him immediately.
He leaned back against the soft sofa and closed his eyes.
It wasn't just him.
Several others had fallen into the same lazy state.
Darren drifted off.
---
When he woke again, it was to voices.
Several of them.
He opened his eyes slightly and found that everyone was already awake.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione were sitting nearby.
They were facing someone especially noticeable.
A man who seemed wildly out of place among the Weasleys.
"This is Ludo Bagman, Head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports."
Mr. Weasley was introducing him.
"We were able to get such great tickets because of him!"
"Haha, no trouble at all, Arthur!"
Ludo Bagman laughed loudly.
Darren studied him.
He was wearing long Quidditch robes.
Because he was rather plump, the fabric stretched tightly across his body.
He had round blue eyes, short blond hair, and bounced when he moved.
He looked like an oversized, cheerful child.
Then Percy stepped forward at once.
"Mr. Bagman, I'm Percy Weasley. I'm interning at the Ministry."
Although they worked in different departments, Percy clearly wanted to impress him.
Ludo nodded vaguely.
Then Mr. Weasley added,
"You already know my children, Ludo, so let me introduce their friends. This is Hermione Granger. This is Harry Potter—"
Ludo froze.
Then he lunged at Harry's hand enthusiastically.
"So it's really you!"
"Harry, your contribution to the wizarding world will never be forgotten!"
Then his eyes darted around.
"And Darren? Where's Darren?"
"My wife is a huge fan of his!"
"She told me if I met him, I had to get his autograph!"
"I was just looking for the Potters' tent!"
Darren went silent in his heart.
Why were all his fans women?
Diggory's wife was one.
Now Bagman's wife too.
Why did he keep attracting motherly fans?
"Oh, Darren's not here at the moment…"
Hermione replied automatically.
A little too smoothly.
Darren immediately realized.
While he'd been asleep, plenty of people must have come asking for him.
And everyone had probably used the same excuse.
No wonder they'd all sat around him.
They were shielding him.
Ludo looked disappointed.
But he quickly brightened again.
"Then I'll come back later!"
"Oh—Arthur, want to place a bet?"
"I've already got loads riding on Bulgaria scoring first and—"
He launched into betting details.
Mr. Weasley hesitated.
"Well… I'll bet one Galleon that Ireland wins."
It was clearly more courtesy than confidence.
Ludo looked a little disappointed.
Still, he forced enthusiasm.
"Anyone else betting? Last chance!"
Darren noticed the twins' eyes lighting up.
They clearly wanted in.
Mr. Weasley shot them a warning look, but in front of others, he couldn't stop them outright.
So Fred and George bet five Galleons.
They wagered that:
Ireland would win—
But Krum would catch the Golden Snitch.
Ludo stared at them.
"Incredible!"
"Bulgaria is stronger."
"Krum will carry the whole team!"
Even so, he wrote down their bet.
Then he added casually,
"Oh, and if you see Barty Crouch, let me know where he's gone."
"The Bulgarians keep pestering me, but I can't understand a word they're saying."
"Crouch speaks over one hundred and fifty languages!"
The conversation continued.
Mr. Weasley promised to help look for him.
Then Mr. Weasley asked about Bertha Jorkins.
"She's been missing a long time now… no news at all?"
Bertha Jorkins.
Darren recognized the name.
The first Ministry employee killed after Voldemort's return.
She was also the one who revealed the Triwizard Tournament.
Of course—
Darren said nothing.
He pretended to stay asleep.
Better not to "accidentally" reveal dangerous truths.
Eventually, Ludo stood to leave.
Just as he stepped outside—
Someone else entered.
Barty Crouch.
Darren quietly opened one eye.
The man looked stiff, precise, and severe.
Darren couldn't tell anymore—
Was this really Barty Crouch?
Or already Barty Crouch Jr.?
"Ludo!"
"I finally found you!"
"The Bulgarians want twenty more seats added to the Top Box!"
"Hurry and handle it!"
His tone was commanding.
Ludo immediately rushed out with him.
Then Crouch turned to Mr. Weasley.
"Arthur."
"Ali Bashir wants to discuss your flying carpet ban!"
"They insist they are historical artifacts, not Muggle contraband…"
Arthur immediately started defending himself.
Percy, beside him, practically vibrated with excitement.
As soon as Arthur finished speaking, Percy rushed forward.
"Hello, Mr. Crouch!"
"Ah… you are… Yes. Hello, Wensby?"
He got the name wrong.
Even the surname.
Percy's face flushed crimson.
And somewhere inside the tent—
Fred and George burst out laughing.
Silently.
But violently.
At that moment, Darren reached a conclusion.
This man…
Was definitely Crouch Jr.
Because under normal circumstances, Crouch valued Percy highly.
There was no way he wouldn't remember his name.
Then Crouch suddenly stood straighter.
"Arthur."
"I heard Harry Potter and his brother are here."
"May I see them?"
Darren lazily opened his eyes.
…Why look at him?
Looking for Harry made sense.
Looking for himself?
That was suspicious.