---
Chapter 433 — He's a Bad Seed
Other than the depressing thought that Chinese food might soon disappear from his table, Darren was also disappointed for another reason.
Nothing had been happening lately.
To most people, a peaceful life was happiness itself.
But to Darren?
If nothing happened for too long, he felt uncomfortable.
Especially because he hadn't gained much Holy Father Value recently.
Everyone had become unusually well-behaved in front of him.
Even when Harry and Malfoy fought, Darren rarely got involved.
The two of them felt that fighting each other helped them release anger.
And Darren couldn't exactly stop them every time.
After all, he was a Little Holy Father, not Dudley.
So he could only stand nearby, pretending to worry, secretly hoping their fights would escalate a little.
Finally—
An opportunity came.
Malfoy walked up to Ron holding a newspaper.
"Weasley, your father's in the paper," he sneered. "The Daily Prophet mentioned him."
Then, in front of many students, he began reading loudly.
"The Ministry of Magic has created yet another mess. After kidnapping an innocent fourteen-year-old boy during the Quidditch World Cup and returning empty-handed, the Ministry has once again embarrassed itself. Arthur Weasley of the Office for the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts, while handling matters related to former Auror Alastor 'Mad-Eye' Moody, triggered a mechanism that resulted in dozens of Muggle emergency calls…"
Malfoy snapped the paper shut and smirked.
"They even got your dad's name wrong. He's really insignificant, isn't he?"
"And look—your mother's in the photo too. Is she really that fat? And your house… is that actually a place for humans to live? I thought it was a pigsty."
This was it.
Darren immediately raised his wand.
"Apologize, Malfoy," he said coldly.
"Apologize to Ron. If you say one more word, I'll deal with you today."
[Ding, Holy Father Value +60]
[Ding, Father Value +70]
[Ding, Holy Father Value +60]
[Ding…]
Finally—
Holy Father Value again.
Malfoy exploded.
"You nosy bastard! What do you think they really think of you? They don't care about you at all! Only I—"
Harry interrupted with a laugh.
"What, Malfoy, you going to say you're the one who cares about Darren?"
Malfoy's face twisted.
"You scar-headed freak, you think I've been letting you go all this time—?"
He lifted his wand.
Darren prepared to intervene, ready to harvest more Father Value—
But suddenly—
A white flash blasted across the corridor.
Darren reacted instantly.
He cast a counter-spell.
And a moment later—
Moody flew backward and slammed into the ground.
For a split second, Darren nearly called him:
Barty Crouch Jr.
But quickly corrected himself.
"Professor!"
He rushed forward anxiously, pretending to break Moody's fall—but he was already too late.
Moody lay on the floor, battered and coughing.
"Professor! Are you alright?!"
Darren helped him up in panic.
Moody's eye was swollen shut, but he still laughed hoarsely.
"Good boy! Powerful magic!"
Darren bowed in guilt.
"I'm sorry, Professor… I really thought it was a Death Eater's attack. I didn't mean to hurt you! Lock me up if you must!"
[Ding, Father Value +100]
[Ding, Father Value +100]
[Ding, Father Value +100]
[Ding…]
Moody waved it off violently.
"Not a Death Eater… just someone attacking a student."
Then he grabbed Darren's shoulder.
"I know you, boy. Kind. Powerful. You'll be the best Auror in history—better than me!"
"And that Malfoy…"
Moody's scarred face twisted with fury.
"He's a bad seed. A pure Death Eater's cub! I'll teach him a lesson today!"
If Darren didn't know Moody's true identity…
He'd almost be impressed.
The acting was flawless.
Moody raised his wand.
"Stand aside, Darren."
"No."
Darren stepped forward instantly.
"I refuse."
Moody froze.
Darren spoke calmly.
"First, Malfoy may be disgusting—but punishment should be confinement or loss of points. School rules exist."
"Second, you cannot judge Draco by his father."
"Lucius Malfoy was acquitted by the Ministry of Magic. He was officially ruled to be under the Imperius Curse."
"I have been under the Imperius Curse myself."
"I know very well how impossible it is to resist."
[Ding, Father Value +100]
[Ding, Father Value +100]
[Ding, Father Value +100]
[Ding…]
A gentle smile appeared on Darren's face.
Around them, students fell silent.
Second year.
Imperius Curse.
Broken through it alone.
How strong did a child's will have to be?
Moody finally nodded.
"You really are a good boy," he said hoarsely.
"The Aurors need people like you."
Then—
He turned to Draco.
His magical eye stared into Malfoy's soul.
"You're lucky today."
Darren relaxed slightly.
He thought Moody would stop.
Instead—
Moody suddenly raised his wand.
Darren could've stopped it.
But he didn't.
He pretended he was slow.
Flash.
Malfoy vanished.
A moment later—
A white ferret appeared, squeaking in terror and hiding behind someone's shoe.
Darren bit his tongue to stop laughing.
On the surface, he went pale.
"Professor!"
Moody turned calmly.
"Wrong is wrong, Darren."
"Even you need to remember that."
"And never forget—"
"The enemy is never as kind as you are."
---