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Chapter 444: Poor Brother!!
Moody praised Darren highly in his office.
Then he gave Neville a book.
It was a book about aquatic plants used in herbal medicine.
Moody said he had heard that Neville liked Herbology very much, so he bought it especially for him.
Neville was overjoyed.
After that, they left.
Darren counted the time. They had spent two hours in Moody's office—an hour and fifty-eight minutes praising him, and two minutes letting Neville speak…
Good grief, I really treated Neville like a tool.
Fortunately, Neville didn't mind.
He seemed to like the book very much.
When they finally returned to the Gryffindor common room, several plates of food were already laid out on the table.
Hermione smiled and said, "I saw that you hadn't come back for so long, so I brought some food. Come on, hurry up and eat!"
Darren sighed.
He had planned to eat quietly and even order takeaway in the dormitory.
Hermione didn't give him that chance.
When he and Neville were full, the plates vanished.
Harry and Ron hurried over.
They wanted to copy Darren's Divination homework. Darren pulled it from his bag.
All of them had predicted how they would die…
Hermione looked uncomfortable and said hesitantly, "Darren, do you really have to take that madman's class?"
"She actually makes you predict your own death. I can't imagine a professor teaching something like that!"
"But I think it's funny!"
Darren's words earned Hermione a shocked look.
He shook his head helplessly and said, "It's really funny. Every time I predict my death and then realize I'm still alive the next day, I feel how wonderful life is."
"I get to spend another day with you."
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
His words earned him Father value.
However, they also earned Harry's disapproving stare.
They had always thought Darren treated Divination homework the same way they did. They never imagined he was actually predicting his own death.
"I think you're being—"
Harry was about to criticize Darren when Hedwig interrupted.
She flew in from outside, dropped a letter onto Harry, then rubbed her head affectionately against Darren's face.
"Oh, Hedwig must have forgotten. I'm her owner!"
Harry said helplessly, but he was pleasantly surprised.
The letter was from Black.
Harry opened the envelope at once—and then let out a loud groan.
> Dear Harry and Darren,
I hope you're both together right now so you won't have to read this letter twice.
Just kidding—Darren probably prefers to read my letters quietly instead of out loud like you do.
All right, down to business.
I'm ready to fly back.
I've heard a lot of things recently. Your scar hurting is the latest news.
It seems Dumbledore activated Mad-Eye Moody after receiving my hint. Good to know he understood it.
I hope you two aren't fighting.
I still remember that time in third year when you and Darren had a fallout. I can still picture how you secretly looked at his back and cried—I could laugh about it for a year.
Say hello to Hermione and Ron for me.
With love,
Black
"Sirius is coming back?" Harry whispered.
---
The next two weeks were very pleasant for Darren.
For Harry and the others, however, life became miserable.
Their homework kept increasing.
Every professor assigned more and more work.
Professor McGonagall even announced in class, "Your Ordinary Wizarding Level examinations are just around the corner—and you're already in fourth year!"
"And yet," she continued, "only Darren and Miss Granger can turn a hedgehog into a pincushion properly. As for transforming it into a cushion? Only Darren can do that at the moment. When will the rest of you catch up to him?"
"Everyone else's workload is doubled. Darren's is not."
"You don't have to submit homework this term," she said calmly. "At your level, you could already sit for the OWLs. But the Ministry insists on five full years of study."
Besides Professor McGonagall, there was also Professor Snape.
He now had them brewing an antidote for a highly toxic poison.
Darren performed extremely well in class.
Not only did his potion neutralize poison—it also relieved fatigue and restored magical power.
When Snape examined Darren's potion, his hands trembled slightly with excitement.
"Very good concept," Snape said. "If you present this to the Ministry of Magic, you'll be honored once again."
He smiled faintly.
Then he announced, "Slytherin, plus ten points."
And in front of everyone, he added, "You are exempt from all homework this term. You've already completed the course requirements."
Darren nodded and returned to his seat.
Snape paced the classroom a few times, then finally stopped behind Harry.
"Some people," he said coldly, "can barely manage a simple antidote. I don't think such a person is suited to Potions at all."
"In the next class, I may choose someone to drink a poison and see how effective his antidote really is."
Harry stiffened in anger.
He could tell Snape was targeting him.
"He's going to make someone drink poison—I know he means me!"
Darren couldn't deny it.
He silently pulled his antidote from his pocket and handed it to Harry.
"If your life is in danger, drink this."
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
"Darren… this is your term's work. How can you just give it to me?"
Harry said helplessly.
"But it's not as important as my brother!"
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
Once again, he gained a flood of Father value.
It made Harry feel much better.
In the end, he decided to return the potion to Darren after term ended.
Snape already hated him enough. Harry didn't want Darren to suffer even more by offending Snape further.
After all, Darren still had to study under him.
If Snape grew even harsher toward Darren, Harry couldn't imagine what would happen.
He would be heartbroken.
Alas.
Poor brother.