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Chapter 452 — Really!!
Snape's mocking voice came through the doorway.
Darren looked embarrassed. He forced a smile and said, "Thank you, Professor, for your concern."
This only made Snape choke back a scoff. His expression turned even stranger—Harry could almost see him planning how to torment Darren later.
Dumbledore interrupted his thoughts.
"Yes, Darren. Severus is right. You will likely become the main target," he said seriously. "Everyone who wants to reach Harry will move against you first."
"Really?" Darren exclaimed in shock, making Dumbledore sigh helplessly. The boy was always too earnest.
"Either way, you must protect yourself," Dumbledore continued. "Mr. Crouch, you should brief them now."
Mr. Barty Crouch seemed to come back to his senses at that moment.
"The first task of the Triwizard Tournament will be—"
He stopped himself and only explained the general rules instead.
They were not told what the task would be. He only informed them that no help could be taken from professors or fellow students and that they must rely on their wands and abilities to complete the challenge.
There were many more instructions—so many that Darren grew sleepy.
By the end, his eyes could barely stay open.
When Harry tugged at his sleeve to leave, he was almost asleep.
"Darren, wake up. We're leaving," Harry whispered.
Darren staggered along beside him.
As he crossed the threshold, Fleur caught his arm to steady him.
He wanted to thank her, but when he looked up, he forgot the words entirely and only stared at her in a daze.
Fleur laughed softly.
"Alright, Darren. Go and sleep… see you tomorrow."
She kissed him lightly on the cheek and walked away.
In a blur, Darren wondered if this was the first time he had been kissed by a girl since coming here. Then he forgot the feeling altogether.
Back in his dormitory, he threw himself onto the bed without even removing his shoes and slept until morning.
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When Darren left the dormitory after washing up, he was surprised to find several Slytherin students waiting for him in the common room.
For a moment, he wondered whether his uniform was messy—but it was perfectly neat.
So… this must be about last night.
Cassandra spoke first, her voice low.
"Potter, what do you think about Cedric Diggory throwing your name into the Goblet of Fire?"
What did he think?
Darren rolled his eyes inwardly, then replied in his usual solemn tone,
"Senior Cedric is a very good senior. He has a kind heart."
[Ding, Holy Father Value +10]
[Ding, Holy Father Value +10]
[Ding, Holy Father Value +10]
Darren sighed inwardly. Saying the same thing in the Great Hall would have earned far more points. Here, it felt wasted.
"Kind?" Cassandra asked coldly. "Would you use kindness in that way?"
Darren shook his head quickly.
"Then why do you insist he's good?"
Darren thought for a moment and said,
"Because… I think Senior Cedric only did it to repay me. If he had asked me directly, I wouldn't have agreed. So he acted on his own."
[Ding, Holy Father Value +20]
[Ding, Holy Father Value +30]
[Ding, Holy Father Value +10]
Cassandra rubbed her temples.
"Enough. There's no point arguing. Just don't disgrace Slytherin in the Tournament. Understood?"
"Of course," Darren replied seriously. "I will never embarrass the house."
[Ding, Holy Father Value +10]
[Ding, Holy Father Value +10]
[Ding, Holy Father Value +10]
He couldn't help pouting afterward. These Slytherins were exhausting to deal with.
---
Harry's situation was even worse.
After learning that he had been chosen as a Triwizard Champion, he returned to the Gryffindor common room exhausted and angry.
Instead of sympathy, he found celebration.
Fred and George bombarded him with questions about how he had managed it all. Only after much effort did he escape to the dormitory.
There, Ron was waiting.
"So," Ron said slyly, "you figured out how to put your name in, but didn't think of doing it for me too?"
Harry stared at him. "I didn't put my name in!"
Ron scoffed.
"Darren, I believe—because it was Cedric Diggory who did it. Whether for gratitude or revenge, he had a reason."
He looked straight at Harry.
"But you? Why would anyone help you? An Invisibility Cloak? Some secret trick?"
Ron went on bitterly,
"I heard you don't have to take final exams, and you might win a thousand Galleons. Why didn't you tell me?"
Harry exploded.
"I didn't do it! I swear! You can ask Darren if you don't believe me!"
But Ron only grew angrier.
"I can't believe you'd say that! Darren would lie for you if you asked him to—he always listens to you!"
Harry clenched his fists.
"I'm not stupid," Ron continued harshly. "You even joked this morning about entering without anyone noticing! Now you make me look like an idiot!"
Harry shouted back,
"I was joking! I never thought this would actually happen!"
"I thought so too," Ron replied coldly. "But now… I don't know what to think anymore."
The room fell into a bitter silence.
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