Chapter 449
Sure enough, the moment Fred and George drank the Ageing Potion, they strode straight toward the Age Line.
In the next second, it was as if they had been hurled backward by a professional Beater.
Darren lunged forward and caught them—one on each side.
Then he watched, helplessly amused, as long white beards sprouted instantly from their faces.
"I warned you," he said. "You'd better go to Madam Pomfrey. She's already taking care of several students like you."
Dumbledore's beard trembled as he laughed.
Then he looked at Darren and said, "Oh, Darren, don't worry. It's just a bit of harmless magic. They needed a small lesson, that's all."
Only then did Darren finally let go of the twins.
Fred and George weren't angry in the least.
Instead, they studied each other's beards, grinning—and even started discussing manufacturing a prank item based on this effect.
After breakfast, Harry and the others dragged Darren off to Hagrid's hut.
Darren didn't mind.
He was also curious about what had happened to the Blast-Ended Skrewts.
So he braved the cold wind and went along with them.
Hagrid's outfit that day was… unforgettable.
He was wearing a brown furry suit with a bright yellow-and-orange tie.
Darren chose not to comment.
But Hagrid's sense of fashion was truly…
He had clearly tried to slick his hair back with something.
Unfortunately, his hair was far too wild, so it stuck out in every direction no matter what he did.
It also looked like he had tried to braid part of it.
The result was a disaster—uneven, tangled, and going every which way.
The sight left the trio speechless.
But after a glance, all three of them silently agreed on one thing.
Hagrid just wasn't the type who could be "saved" by styling.
So, in the end, they pretended they hadn't noticed.
Hermione hesitated for a long time.
Then she finally asked, "What about the Blast-Ended Skrewts?"
She had meant to phrase it gently, but Hagrid's appearance completely derailed her composure.
"They're out near the pumpkin patch," Hagrid said gloomily. "They've grown huge… but now they've started killin' each other."
Darren immediately pictured it—Skrewts tearing into each other, devouring one another alive.
The image reminded him of the mad serpents in the Forbidden Forest.
Every time Hagrid raised something, it went wrong in a brand-new way.
Darren genuinely wanted to take out his wand and put the Skrewts out of their misery.
Unfortunately, his conscience—traitorous thing that it was—held him back.
Hermione didn't help.
She suddenly produced a bundle of hand-knitted badges from her pocket.
Darren almost dropped his tea.
He had honestly believed Hermione wouldn't go this far.
After all, Dumbledore had promised to improve conditions for the house-elves.
Yet here she was anyway.
"I don't think it's enough to rely on Dumbledore alone," Hermione said seriously. "Everyone should realize that house-elves deserve better treatment."
"Great idea," Darren said quickly.
In truth, he very much wanted to tell her that some house-elves didn't want things to change at all.
And that forced 'liberation' could be just as cruel.
But as a qualified moral hero—
He took one of Hermione's badges and paid her "membership fee," encouraging her to recruit more supporters.
Hagrid clearly disagreed.
He suggested that Hermione talk directly to the house-elves and listen to their opinions.
But Hermione insisted that house-elves had been enslaved for so long that they no longer understood what they truly needed.
Aside from that, Hagrid's hut was warm.
They spent the entire afternoon inside.
Darren even fell asleep on Hagrid's patchwork bed.
He hadn't slept well the night before.
Being too full had woken him up several times.
They didn't leave until around five-thirty in the evening, heading back for dinner—
And for the announcement of the champions.
Harry and the others were buzzing with excitement.
Darren, on the other hand, felt uneasy.
The System still hadn't given him any task related to the Triwizard Tournament.
Logically speaking, if it wanted him involved, it should have said something by now.
But there was nothing.
Which led him to one thought.
Had someone put his name in?
But if they had—
Then the organizers would suddenly need five dragons, not four.
Did they even have that many?
And Hogwarts having three champions on its own?
That would be hilarious.
The other schools would riot.
Madame Maxime would explode.
She might look elegant and gentle, but as both a Headmistress and a half-giant, she was neither naïve nor forgiving.
Still.
None of that was his problem.
Darren only needed to prepare himself mentally.
He just had to stay calm when it happened.
What he really wanted to know was—
Who did it?
And why.
The feast was as lavish as ever.
Darren loved moments like this.
His ultimate life goal was simple—
Eat everything in the world.
Finally, when he finished eating, he looked up.
Only then did he realize something.
The entire Great Hall was tense.
Even Malfoy looked anxious.
Darren caught his muttering:
"It has to be a Slytherin. Don't let that pretty boy Diggory take our spot."
Dumbledore clearly sensed the tension.
He smiled faintly, his beard trembling again.
Like he was enjoying the spectacle.
Darren looked at him with sympathy.
You won't be smiling in a moment.
[Ding, a Holy Father System plot event detected around the host. Temporary task released:
After Dumbledore announces that the host has become a Hogwarts champion in the Triwizard Tournament, the host must display a shocked expression and blurt out:
"I didn't put my name in! I'm only fourteen!"]
[Ding, upon completion, the host will obtain the list of who placed the host's name into the Goblet of Fire and why Voldemort wishes to see the host. Does the host accept?]
…Of course.
Darren knew it.
It had to be him.
But one question lingered.
Why did Voldemort suddenly want to see him?
Miss him, maybe?
Whatever.
He'd deal with it later.
At that moment, Dumbledore turned toward the Goblet of Fire.
A slip of parchment burst from the blue flames.
Darren pressed "Accept" instantly.
"Viktor Krum!"
Dumbledore announced.
No one disputed it.
After all, Krum was exactly who everyone had expected.