Chapter 443: Demonstration Killing?!!
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A dazzling green flash burst from Moody's wand.
The spider was blasted into the air and slammed onto the floor.
It lay perfectly still.
Dead.
"Ahhh!"
Lavender screamed.
Many students recoiled, shouting in horror.
To Darren, the lesson felt less like teaching and more like a butcher demonstrating slaughter on a rainy night.
His body reacted before his mind did.
For a moment, the world overlapped with the scene inside the Pensieve.
He cried out instinctively, "Don't kill him!"
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding…]
"Darren, are you alright?!"
"It's okay—it's over now!"
"This is Professor Moody's class, you're safe!"
The voices dragged him back to reality.
Darren finally blinked, breathing rapidly.
"I'm fine… it's okay… I'm here… I'm out…"
"I've forgotten… I've forgotten…"
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding…]
Harry watched quietly.
If Darren had truly forgotten, he wouldn't react like this.
But seeing Darren slowly regain control, Harry said nothing.
Moody's voice dropped.
"I'm sorry."
"It was wrong to put you through that again, Darren."
"And you… you and Harry's parents…"
Silence fell across the room.
"Throughout history," Moody continued, "only one person has ever survived the Killing Curse."
"And that was Harry."
Harry froze.
His parents…
So that was how they had died.
He always knew Voldemort killed them.
But not how.
Not like that.
His gaze drifted to Darren.
Darren looked shocked too.
Then, without hesitation, he grabbed Harry's hand.
"Don't be afraid."
Harry read it from his lips.
Tears burned in his eyes.
He wasn't afraid.
He was terrified Darren would disappear too—
Like his parents.
Like the spider lying lifeless on the floor.
The rest of the class passed in a blur.
When the bell finally rang, Harry seized Darren by the sleeve and dragged him outside.
"You have to live," Harry said harshly.
"You have to live."
"They want us dead."
"So we won't die."
"We'll live properly. We'll live better than them."
Darren stared.
What was wrong with him?
Of course he was going to live well.
He hadn't even felt truly in danger.
But when he met Harry's eyes—
He understood.
So Darren took a step forward—
Only for Neville to stop him.
Neville's voice trembled.
"Darren… does it hurt?"
"I know it's hard to talk about… but…"
"Does it hurt?"
Harry didn't understand at first.
But Darren did.
He pulled Neville into a hug.
"It hurts," Darren said gently.
"It hurts terribly."
"But when I think of my brother… it stops hurting."
"They were the same."
"They thought of you."
"They tried to live."
"They loved you, Neville."
"They loved you so much."
[Ding, Congratulations! You have obtained Neville Longbottom's complete friendship and the title: "Neville's Loyal Friend."]
Title Effect — Neville's Loyal Friend:
• Unlocks all talents and knowledge Neville acquires.
• Neville can draw the Sword of Gryffindor for you.
• Gryffindor prestige +50.
Worthy of the Swordbearer of Gryffindor.
An exceptional reward.
Darren was about to speak again when—
Tap. Tap.
A wooden leg struck the floor behind them.
They turned.
Moody stood there with his cane.
Ron and Hermione were behind him, pale and uneasy.
Neville shook, but this time Moody did not bark.
His tone was deliberately restrained.
"Darren," he said slowly, "would you like to come have a cup of tea?"
"Neville too, if he wishes."
Darren nodded.
Neville hesitated—then followed.
"Good."
"Some things," Moody muttered, "must be faced eventually."
Then, louder:
"You're dismissed!"
"I'm borrowing Darren and Neville."
The class dispersed reluctantly.
Darren promised Harry he'd go to the Gryffindor common room with Neville later.
Harry laughed bitterly.
He thought Darren was the one who needed guarding.
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A few minutes later, inside Moody's office—
Moody leaned on his cane, studying Darren.
"Darren," he said, "you should start thinking about your future."
"Professor McGonagall was right."
"You're fit to be an Auror."
"You're powerful."
"And even without your kindness, you'd still make a terrifying one."
"You need to start training now."
Darren blinked.
So this was why he'd been summoned?
If he didn't know the truth, he'd think this was the real Moody.
He hesitated, then answered honestly:
"Professor… I don't actually want to be an Auror."
"I want to be a professor."
"Not because I don't want to fight Death Eaters."
"But because I'm not strong enough alone."
"I want to make others stronger."
"I want to train people who are brave and righteous."
"And… I want to be a Defense Against the Dark Arts professor."
"One as good as you."
Moody froze.
Then he laughed, deeply.
"Excellent… excellent…"
"Black…"
—he corrected himself after a pause—
"Darren."
"The Dark Lord once wanted this position too."
"They say he cursed it."
Moody gave a crooked smile.
"But mark my words…"
"You'll be greater than me."
"You already are."
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