Chapter 424 — He Is Not Dead (Again)!!
"Oh, kid, you're finally awake. If you don't wake up soon, I'm afraid your fans will be here to see you off."
See me off?
He wasn't dead. What were they sending him off for?
"They keep thinking you're going to die. After all, you were sent to St. Mungo's that day covered in scars. Many of them were terrified and cried a lot. Your friends stayed here for a long time, believing you would pull through. Unfortunately, the healer sent them back to rest just now. They really have bad luck."
The speaker was a doctor in a white coat.
As Darren looked up, she checked his condition. On the badge over her chest, her name was written clearly: Eleanor Filips, Intermediate Healer.
Eleanor gently lifted Darren's eyelids and examined his eyes, then drew out her wand and tapped his temple a few times. After that, she cast several more diagnostic spells. When the soft glow finally settled to normal, she smiled and said, "Very good. Your wounds have healed completely, no aftereffects. Thanks to the potions you took before you were admitted—otherwise you would definitely have been left with a few scars. Even if you're a boy, scars aren't pretty."
Darren nodded to himself.
Exactly. Scars were a nuisance.
Fortunately, there were none.
Otherwise, he would have had to find a way to treat them himself.
But if he specialized in healing his own scars, people would absolutely think he was showing off.
All things considered, St. Mungo's medical skills really weren't that impressive! They weren't as good as Snape's potions.
Next time, he would just let Snape and Madam Pomfrey work together to save him. Of course, he couldn't actually say that.
As a "little saint," the first thing he should do upon waking wasn't to worry about his own injuries, but to care about others and blame himself.
[Ding, sensing that there is a scene played by the Holy Father system around the host, now release a temporary task:
Ask Mr. Diggory about his injuries in a worried tone and express his guilt for causing trouble with the Ministry of Magic.]
[Ding, after the task is completed, get the title of Dragon Whisperer, will the host take the task?]
Huh? Dragon Whisperer?
Was the system really preparing him to compete in this year's Triwizard Tournament? There was no way someone would throw his name into the Goblet of Fire, right?
Dumbledore would definitely be on high alert.
So who could even do that?
Darren was at a loss for words.
Still, he accepted the task.
A worried expression immediately crossed his face. As if only just realizing the situation, he asked anxiously, "Um… do you know how Mr. Diggory is? His injuries were pretty serious, and I reacted too slowly. I should have—"
"Calm down, kid," Eleanor interrupted.
With a troubled look, she said, "Silly boy, don't work yourself up like that. Diggory is already fine. He was discharged from St. Mungo's on the third day after you were brought in."
The third day?
Darren froze.
So he had been asleep for at least three days.
Possibly even longer.
"Mr. Diggory has actually visited you many times over the past half month. He seemed to want to apologize in person," Eleanor went on. "But your friends wouldn't let him in. After all, he almost killed you."
Half a month?!
Darren was even more stunned.
Did that mean his summer vacation was basically over? As soon as he was discharged, he'd have to go straight back to Hogwarts?
…Snape.
What kind of grudge did they have with each other that he had been made to sleep for that long?
He was certain that even with all the curses and injuries he'd taken, it shouldn't have kept him unconscious for half a month at St. Mungo's.
He should have woken up far earlier.
The only person who could possibly have made him sleep that long was Snape.
How on earth had he "improved" the potion, and why was the effect so terrifying?
Even so, as a proper "little saint," Darren held back his urge to complain.
Instead, he said a bit awkwardly, "Actually… Mr. Diggory didn't really do anything wrong. I was too anxious and ordered him around. I should've said 'please' instead."
"Maybe then none of this would have happened. It's my fault he got hurt."
When Darren finished speaking, Eleanor's expression softened with regret.
Clearly, she was deeply moved by his character.
Unfortunately, this was during a mission, so there was no Holy Father value reward.
"Child, don't think like that," Eleanor said angrily. "The Ministry of Magic has already made a decision. They're going to suspend Mr. Diggory for negligence…"
Like many others, she believed the entire situation was Mr. Diggory's fault.
The Death Eaters had already been subdued by Darren. All Mr. Diggory needed to do was bind them and deliver them to the Ministry, or wait for reinforcements.
But instead, he rushed over to argue with Darren.
That alone disgusted a lot of people.
By contrast, Kingsley Shacklebolt, who had helped Darren at the scene, was widely praised.
He had tried to subdue the Death Eaters himself. In the end, because of the gap in strength, they had still managed to escape—but his dedication earned him respect.
As for Mr. Diggory, the criticism was relentless.
Especially after so many people saw Darren covered in blood when Dumbledore rushed him to St. Mungo's.
That image convinced even more people that Mr. Diggory was unfit to work at the Ministry.
"I even suspect that his visits were just for show," Eleanor whispered.
Darren couldn't help but agree.
He'd been unconscious the entire time—what was the point of visiting him?
If it wasn't for appearances, it would be strange.
But as a model "little saint," Darren hurriedly shook his head and said with guilt, "How could that be? Mr. Diggory must truly regret what happened. When I last saw him, he already seemed very remorseful."
"I think he made mistakes—but not to the point of being suspended. And he still has Cedric to take care of. If he loses his job, what will he do then?"
Darren looked troubled.
In the end, he clenched his teeth and said, "I'll go to see Minister Fudge myself. I'll take responsibility for this whole thing. I can accept any criticism or punishment."
"Mr. Diggory shouldn't carry all of it alone. I was the one at fault. I should've handled those people myself."
[Ding, congratulations to the host for the reward, Dragon Whisperer.]
Dragon Whisperer: Allows communication with 'dragons' so long as they are categorized as dragon-type creatures. You may issue simple commands. As long as the dragons do not reject you, you can direct them…