---
Chapter 445: Greets Beauxbatons!!
In addition to the growing amount of homework, the classroom content had also intensified.
The most dramatic change, of course, came from Professor Moody.
He actually let them experience the Imperius Curse in class.
Darren was released from the curse almost instantly.
He had wanted to pretend it was extremely painful, but the moment he heard the system warning about deducting Holy Father value, he snapped out of it at once.
A thousand Holy Father points…
He was definitely not going to waste that on the Imperius Curse.
After all, fourth year meant even more books to read.
Most of his Father value was already being spent on study.
He had no intention of wasting it on something like this.
"Excellent. Everyone, look at Darren—he broke free in a second," Moody said loudly.
"I've told you before: a strong will can overcome it."
"Now, all of you will try it one by one."
"Headmaster Dumbledore has forbidden me from using this spell on you permanently, but you are allowed to experience it!"
The class went completely silent.
Since it was Dumbledore's order, no one dared protest.
So the students stepped forward one by one.
Darren didn't care much about the others.
What he noticed was Harry.
Moody cast the Imperius Curse on him again and again.
Honestly.
Barty Crouch Jr. really was a first-rate Death Eater.
This was practically a golden opportunity to torture Harry inside Hogwarts—and do it while pretending to "train" him.
And he even praised Harry while doing it.
As a result, Harry didn't develop the slightest bad impression of Moody.
On the contrary, he thought the man was simply overcautious.
As if a Death Eater might leap out at any second and cast a curse on them.
But everyone agreed on one thing: Moody was a devoted Auror.
---
Two weeks passed quickly.
One day, when Darren returned to the Slytherin common room, he saw a piece of parchment pinned to the notice board.
A crowd of students was gathered in front of it, craning their necks to read.
The moment he stepped inside, Cassandra's voice rang out:
"Triwizard Tournament Notice.
Representatives from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will arrive at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, October 30.
Afternoon classes will end half an hour early…"
Darren stopped listening after that.
All he caught was the instruction telling them to gather in the entrance hall to welcome the guests.
"I heard the last class that day is Snape's," Malfoy said loudly behind him.
"What a pity. He won't have time to poison those who can't make a proper potion."
"Potter, wasn't he planning to test something on Scarhead? You tell him—he escaped this time, but he won't be so lucky next time!"
Darren felt a flicker of regret as well.
But as a little Holy Father, he immediately put on a calm, righteous expression.
"My brother isn't afraid," he said mildly.
"He's a Gryffindor—he's the bravest."
[Ding, Holy Father value +10]
[Ding, Holy Father value +20]
[Ding, Holy Father value +10]
Malfoy choked on his words and stormed off.
"I heard Cedric is participating this time," a Slytherin girl said softly.
"He's quite handsome…"
Another girl sneered, "Potter is good-looking?"
"Hmph! If Potter promises never to be reckless again, I might admit he's handsome!"
"That's right. He's always charging into danger. We Slytherins don't like boys like that."
"And he has to promise he'll stop being nosy!"
"Exactly!"
"And—"
Darren opened his mouth, speechless.
What was this?
A public matchmaking discussion?
And they wanted him to be obedient?
Ridiculous.
Still, as a little Holy Father, Darren smiled gently and said:
"I know everyone is worried about my safety… I really do."
"But I can't just stand by and watch someone die."
"I'm Harry Potter's brother. I can't disgrace that name."
[Ding, Holy Father value +10]
[Ding, Holy Father value +10]
[Ding, Holy Father value +10]
"Who cares about you?"
"I wish both Potter brothers would disappear!"
"So annoying!"
"Exactly!"
But then Cassandra spoke.
"As long as you don't rush into the Triwizard Tournament like an idiot, I'll be thankful."
The room fell silent.
Even Cassandra looked uncertain as she stared at Darren.
"You're not really thinking about it… are you?"
Everyone turned to him in shock.
Darren shook his head vigorously.
"That's someone else's competition. Why would I interfere?"
"I'm not stupid."
[Ding, Holy Father value +60]
[Ding, Father value +70]
[Ding, Holy Father value +80]
Darren wiped his forehead.
The Holy Father value this time was absurdly high.
Apparently, in their eyes, him not causing trouble was already a miracle.
Immature.
---
Over the next few days, Hogwarts began to change.
The castle was scrubbed from top to bottom.
Darren even noticed that the Whomping Willow had been thoroughly cleaned and looked exceptionally neat.
Everywhere he went, students were talking about the Triwizard Tournament.
Malfoy stuck close to him, enthusiastically telling Crabbe and Goyle everything he knew.
Every story ended the same way—with Lucius Malfoy warning his son not to participate, much to Malfoy's frustration.
It wasn't just the students who were tense.
The professors were the same.
Professor McGonagall said anxiously in Transfiguration class:
"Longbottom, if the students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang find out you can't even manage a simple switching spell, they'll think I can't teach!"
---
Finally, October 30 arrived.
During the last Potions class in the afternoon, Snape vented all his displeasure on Harry.
He was furious that he hadn't been able to test poison on him.
Standing behind Harry, he said coldly:
"I suggest that certain students should refrain from showing themselves to visitors from other schools."
"Otherwise, outsiders may assume Hogwarts students are fools."
"Harry Potter. Don't you agree?"
"Then you should suggest it to Headmaster Dumbledore!" Harry snapped.
"Oh, talking back to a professor?" Snape said calmly.
"Twenty points from Gryffindor."
Harry was livid.
As they left for the welcoming ceremony, he muttered nonstop.
"Snape is completely insane."
"I can't even learn Potions properly—it's because of him!"
"Why doesn't he deduct points from himself?"
"He's sick in the head…"
Then he looked at Darren anxiously.
"How are you doing in Slytherin? I'm really worried about you.".