---
When Dumbledore finished speaking, Darren caught Snape glaring into the corner.
But Snape didn't say a word; he simply turned and hurried after Dumbledore.
"Whew—he definitely noticed us!"
Harry dropped the Invisibility Cloak, sounding helpless.
They had sneaked in right behind Dumbledore and Snape to check on Darren. They thought they'd gone unnoticed, only to be caught by both of them.
"Well, forget it. Headmaster Dumbledore let us in anyway," Ron said proudly.
"He can't really punish us. Even if he wants to keep an eye on us, he can't dock points for this!"
Darren felt Ron had forgotten one very important word: after-the-fact revenge.
Still, as the resident little saint, he spoke with mild disapproval.
"Don't say that about Professor Snape. He's actually very soft-hearted. He's only worried you'd run into Death Eaters if you went wandering around."
You might get hurt the sa way I did.
"And he didn't call you out just now. He was being considerate."
[Ding, Father 10]
[Ding, Father 20]
[Ding, Father 10]
[Ding…]
…All right.
Not a single person was moved.
Is everyone's impression of Snape really that terrible?
Darren sighed and offered a mont of silence for Snape's popularity.
"How are you feeling now, Darren?" Hermione asked carefully.
Her face was full of guilt.
After all, she believed this happened because she failed to disguise Darren properly last ti. She'd cried in Slytherin territory and drawn suspicion. Now everyone there knew that Darren's room could only be entered with his personal approval.
"I'm sorry, Darren… it's all my fault…" Hermione said sadly.
Darren imdiately reached out and pulled her into a gentle hug.
"Oh, Hermione. You always call kind, but you're the kindest one."
"I know you did all that because you wanted to figure out who opened the Chamber of Secrets. You wanted to find the Heir and clear my na!"
[Ding, Father 100]
[Ding, Father 100]
[Ding, Father 100]
[Ding…]
Darren accepted the Father Points quietly and continued in a soft voice.
He pushed himself upright despite the pain and gently brushed Hermione's hair.
"Actually… this problem affects more than anyone. If I were more useful, maybe I could've helped gather information myself."
"I'm a Slytherin too, yet you ended up doing all the hard work for . Sotis I wonder if I'm a bit… useless…"
[Ding, Father 100]
[Ding, Father 100]
[Ding, Father 100]
[Ding…]
"No, Darren—how could you ever be useless?"
"Exactly! You've done loads! Aside from the potion that turns a Squib into a wizard, you also created an improved antidote!"
"Yeah! Anyone who says you're useless—I'll sort them out myself!" Ron added.
All three of them stared at Darren with fierce sincerity.
To them, he wasn't useless at all.
He was simply too gentle for his own good.
"What a lovely school atmosphere…" a cold voice cut in, "but we'll need Mr. Potter's ti for a mont. Could the rest of you please step aside?"
The three of them turned sharply.
"Alia Susan Bones," she introduced coolly.
"Director of the Departnt of Magical Law Enforcent."
"Soone has reported that Mr. Potter staged a prank—specifically, making himself 'disappear'—and that he abused Ministry resources in the process. I need to ask a few questions."
Her voice was icy.
Harry and Hermione bristled imdiately.
"What? Darren would never fake a disappearance as a 'prank'!" Hermione said sharply, looking at Alia as though the entire Ministry had collectively taken leave of its senses.
"The Minister believes Mr. Potter is capable of such a thing," Alia replied calmly.
"So I'm here to ask questions. Don't worry—I personally find it unlikely. After all, no one would injure themselves this badly just to put on a prank."
Harry and Hermione both opened their mouths, but nothing ca out.
Because… technically, she wasn't accusing Darren.
She wasn't smiling either, but there was no malice in her tone.
And she clearly stated she didn't believe he was guilty.
She was simply doing her job.
And she was the Director of Magical Law Enforcent.
Darren wasn't surprised.
The mont she ntioned "the Minister," he knew Cornelius Fudge must have been reinstated.
Kassandra had warned him earlier.
He didn't care much.
If the Minister wanted to fra him again… well, Darren could always drag him back to a trial again.
"All right. You can ask. I'll answer whatever I know," Darren said obediently.
He sat up straight, painfully but politely.
Alia noticed the small grimace he made from the pain, yet he still listened attentively. He wasn't angry about being questioned at all.
What a polite child, she thought.
And that impression only strengthened with her first question.
"First question: do you rember how you disappeared from your room?"
Darren made a thoughtful expression.
Then he shook his head.
"I'm sorry, ma'am… I don't rember. Not even a little bit. I'm really sorry."
[Ding, Father 100]
[Ding, Father 100]
[Ding, Father 80]
[Ding…]
His expression was full of genuine apology.
Even though the Ministry was clearly making things difficult, he didn't complain.
He even apologized for being unable to recall anything.
Alia felt a flicker of embarrassnt.
But she still had her orders.
"Second question," she said, returning to her cold professional tone.
"Were the injuries on your body… inflicted by yourself?"
The mont she asked, she wondered if Fudge had lost his mind.
Insane. Completely insane.
Who would deliberately injure themselves like this?
This child had clearly been forced to forget everything, and Fudge still wanted to humiliate him with such a question?
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