Chapter 482: Lies Unsuccessful!!
Harry wrote everything he had heard about Moody and Snape to Black.
Because Black was worried about both Harry's and Darren's safety at school, he wanted them to tell him everything. Harry complied.
But after doing that, he had to face another problem—the second task of the Triwizard Tournament.
After class, he and Darren went to the shore of the Black Lake to practice.
Every spell Darren used was astonishing.
When Darren walked along the bottom of the lake, the hem of his robes didn't move at all, not even slightly. Harry, however, was completely different.
Even with a simple Bubble-Head Charm, he could only maintain it for a few minutes. After that, the bubble would vanish, and he would end up gulping water.
"Of course, there's also gillyweed," Darren said. "I've been asking different apothecaries to see if they have any."
"Professor Snape might have some in his cupboard, but I asked him that day. He told me to have you ask him personally… and he said professors shouldn't give students any help."
Darren sighed.
Hearing this made Harry feel even worse.
Whenever something happened, it was always Darren who thought of a solution. Harry felt that he hadn't done anything properly himself. Even the clue about the task had been figured out by Darren.
Thinking about it this way, Harry felt that he truly didn't deserve to be a Triwizard champion. It was as if he had been forced into the role.
As for following Darren's suggestion and asking Snape for gillyweed, Harry instinctively rejected the idea.
He didn't want anything from Snape.
Stealing it was even more unthinkable.
He was convinced that Snape had the ability to see through people's thoughts, and if he stole the gillyweed, Snape would definitely take revenge. Harry felt he wouldn't be able to endure that kind of retaliation.
So, until there was any reply from the apothecaries, he decided to wait.
Hermione openly expressed her contempt for his attitude.
She believed Harry should at least try asking Snape instead of just waiting around. At the very least, he should continue practicing spells.
Harry pretended not to hear her.
Instead, he suggested that they go and see Hagrid.
It had been a while since they'd last seen him, and Hermione didn't object. In fact, she and Darren had gone to Hagrid's place several times recently, but Hagrid never came out to see them.
This made Darren particularly worried.
By the time they left the castle, it was already late, and a cold wind was blowing. They wrapped themselves tightly in their cloaks and hurried toward Hagrid's hut.
Darren knocked on the door again.
He knocked several times, but there was still no response.
Hermione finally lost her patience.
She pulled Darren aside and slammed her fist against the door.
"Hagrid, open the door!" she shouted loudly. "No one cares about your giant bloodline! If you don't open the door right now, I'll have Darren blast it open—three…"
Just as she was about to finish counting and signal Darren, the door opened.
It was Dumbledore.
He looked utterly helpless.
"Oh, Hermione, you really are quite fiery," he said, shaking his head with a sigh.
Hermione froze and took an embarrassed step back.
"I—I just…"
"Headmaster Dumbledore," Darren said quickly, "Hermione was just too worried. Actually, I really was planning to smash the door."
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding…]
"Oh, Darren, that lie was completely unsuccessful," Dumbledore said with a laugh. "But I'm not blaming you. In fact, that's exactly how I got in."
"I was chatting with Hagrid just now, but he kept thinking that you all already hated him because of his giant blood."
Dumbledore stepped aside, revealing Hagrid behind him.
Hagrid's eyes were swollen. He was clutching a rag of some indistinguishable color, wiping his face again and again. He looked anxious and weak, and he didn't even dare look directly at them.
"All right, Hagrid," Dumbledore said gently. "You should have a proper talk with your children."
With that, he smiled and slowly walked out of the hut.
"Hagrid!" Darren said loudly. "We won't hate you because you're half-giant.
"Honestly, I suspected your bloodline the moment I entered Hogwarts. But didn't we still become friends? Why would you think we hate you?"
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding…]
Hagrid looked up in shock.
"You… you already knew?"
"Yes," Darren replied. "You're such a big man—every time you slapped me on the shoulder, I nearly got pressed into the ground. How could I not understand what was going on?
"At first, I even thought you'd accidentally drunk some potion, and I wanted to help you find a way to undo it."
Darren sighed, then put an arm around Hagrid's shoulder.
"What I said to Headmaster Dumbledore just now wasn't a lie. If you hadn't opened the door today, I really would have broken it down.
"I never thought someone would feel inferior because of their bloodline. Hagrid, look at me—my brother's mother and I are what people call Muggle-borns. Hermione too.
"But they're all outstanding scholars. I've always been proud of them, proud to inherit their looks, and I love them."
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding…]
Darren's words made Hagrid break down completely.
"Darren… you're right. I should have realized this a long time ago," Hagrid sobbed. "Dumbledore tried to persuade me too, but I was just afraid others would dislike me.
"My mother died very early, and my father raised me… He was a good man. He died when I was in my second year, and honestly, I'm glad he didn't live to see me expelled in my third year.
"He was so happy that I was a wizard before he died… After all, my mother was a giant, and he was always worried about me…"
Hagrid cried as he spoke.
Darren's eyes reddened as he leaned forward and hugged the huge man tightly.
"So, for the sake of the people you love, cheer up, all right?" Darren said softly. "We'll always be by your side—just like on the first day of school, when I held onto your arm, okay?"
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding…]