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"Well… that's it then," Harry whispered.
Ron and Hermione stared at him in horror. They understood exactly what Harry intended to do.
"But—Harry, you'll be expelled," Hermione said, her voice shaking.
Professor McGonagall had warned them about causing trouble. Sneaking after the Philosopher's Stone? They'd lose more than points.
"If I don't," Harry shot back, "Voldemort will get the Stone. He'll return. Hogwarts will fall. There won't be a school left to expel us from."
Hermione bit her lip, torn between fear and logic. At that mont, Harry missed Darren painfully.
Darren was simple, but once Harry made a choice, Darren always backed him—full faith, no hesitation. But Harry couldn't drag him into this. Darren's childhood had already been miserable. And he'd been Sorted into Slytherin; Harry didn't want teachers turning their anger on him, too.
So he sent Darren to the Slytherin common room, certain it would keep him safe.
Harry truly believed that if Darren wasn't involved, he couldn't be hurt.
"It'll be dark soon. Snape will move after dark," Harry said grimly. "I'll use my Invisibility Cloak and get to the Stone first."
After dinner, they slipped away from the other students, waited until the common room emptied, then pulled the cloak over themselves and ran.
Neville tried to block the portrait hole, terrified they'd lose more points. But they stunned him, tied him up gently, and stepped over him—no ti, no choice.
Breathless and jittery, they reached the forbidden corridor.
"Good thing Darren didn't co," Hermione sighed. "He'd be terrified."
A second later, she froze.
Because Darren's head appeared out of thin air.
Then the rest of him.
"Darren!" Harry and Ron nearly jumped out of their skin.
"You shouldn't—"
"You too," Darren interrupted softly. His face was pale, but his eyes were steady. "Brother, I can't watch you risk your life while I do nothing."
[Ding, Holy Father Value 100]
[Ding, Holy Father Value 100]
[Ding, Holy Father Value 100]
As Darren opened his mouth to continue—
[Ding, Holy Father Value 50]
Ah. Headmaster Dumbledore must have tuned in early tonight. Dedicated as always.
Still, Darren smiled brightly.
"Don't worry, brother. I brought my own Invisibility Cloak too. You go first, I'll follow from behind. If sothing happens, no one will even see ."
His tone was sincere—but they all knew that if danger appeared, Darren would rush ahead of everyone.
There was no ti to argue. Harry opened the door to Fluffy.
"ROAR!"
Fluffy perked up instantly. It slled the little wizard cub—the one who had scratched its heads last ti. It wanted that again. It wanted to keep the cub this ti.
But before Fluffy could reach Darren, soft music drifted through the air.
Ah… bliss…
Fluffy's massive heads dropped one by one, purring like a mountain-sized cat.
Harry gave Darren a stunned look. "You're a genius!"
Darren had transford a stick into a self-playing flute. First-year students simply couldn't do that.
"Brother, you could do it too," Darren replied seriously. "If you studied instead of copying howork."
Harry shut his mouth fast. No way he was discussing academics right now.
"Hold on—what's that?" Ron pointed.
A golden harp sat propped in the corner.
"Snape must've left it," Harry muttered. "We need to hurry."
They reached the trapdoor.
"Who's going first?" Ron asked, voice trembling as he stared into the endless blackness below.
A soft ping echoed in Darren's mind.
[Sensing an opportunity for the host to act the role of the 'Holy Father,' a temporary mission has been issued—
Tell everyone, 'I'll go down first. If it's safe, I'll call you.']
[Reward: Plant Affinity 10
Accept mission?]
[Accept!]
Darren imdiately tapped the option.
Harry crouched to jump—so Darren grabbed his arm.
His face was white, but he still smiled gently.
"Brother, I'll go first. If it's safe, I'll call up to you one at a ti."
[Ding, Mission Complete — Plant Affinity 10]
He accepted the reward, inhaled once—
And jumped.
[Ding, Holy Father Value 100]
[Ding, Holy Father Value 100]
[Ding, Holy Father Value 100]
[Ding, Holy Father Value 50]
Professor Dumbledore was clearly in fine form tonight.
"DAREN!"
"Oh my God!"
"He just—he jumped!"
Harry, Ron, and Hermione scread.
Darren hadn't even waited a second—he'd leapt before they could stop him, afraid they'd try to take his place.
Why was he always like this?
"Darren! Say sothing! Are you hurt? I—I'll get Professor McGonagall—"
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