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"No need to apologize, Hermione. You really don't need to apologize. I'm the one who should be apologizing to you and Luna."
It was all because he hadn't explained things clearly, letting their conflict spiral. He had even raised his voice at her, tried to scare her—yet the truth was, he had been terrified.
"I…"
[Ding, Fatherhood Value 100]
[Ding, Fatherhood Value 100]
[Ding, Fatherly Value 100]
[bite...…]
"Oh, it's not your fault. I just got too worked up. I know you've always been careful about things like this."
She hesitated, then added softly, "I'm really… I'm not as good as you think. I'm just a brightly-dressed primary school student who got lucky. I'm not better than you. Honestly… I'm pretty insecure."
Hermione said it shyly, wiping tears off her cheeks with little, clumsy swipes.
Darren turned his back imdiately.
Still worried, he pulled out a tissue and held it behind him for her to take.
"I'm sorry, Hermione. It's my fault you felt so inferior. I'll make sure to behave worse from now on…"
[Ding, Fatherly Value 100]
[Ding, Fatherhood Value 100]
[Ding, Fatherly Value 100]
[bite...…]
"Pfft, there's no need for that."
Hermione burst out laughing.
Then she caught sight of Harry and Ron—both staring at her with wide, frozen eyes as she wiped her face.
Her smile vanished.
"What are you two looking at? Don't you know staring at a girl's face like that is extrely rude?"
Harry and Ron exchanged baffled glances.
The compartnt was tiny—Darren could at least turn his back, but they couldn't turn anywhere!
"Neither of you are as considerate as Darren. He's well-behaved, a gentleman—anyone can tell at a glance he's likable."
Hermione huffed. "You two should learn from him, or what will you do if no one wants to be your boyfriend in the future?"
Harry and Ron froze.
"Boyfriend? Harry and I need to find boyfriends? What do you think we are?"
"Oh—sorry! Slip of the tongue!"
Hermione blurted, cheeks pink.
Then she jumped out of the carriage.
"If you don't mind, I'll go apologize to Luna. I can't let Darren go alone when it was my mistake… Don't wait for ! I'll head to the castle with her!"
Hermione hurried off.
Darren finally turned around.
He watched her retreating figure and sighed helplessly.
"Ron told before that Hermione's mood has been off lately. Just like Luna said."
"She seems like soone who's been harassed by Nargles—her mood keeps swinging all over."
"I wanted her to vent. Preferably by hitting so she could release so frustration. But instead I made her cry… I should've handled it differently. Luckily, I changed thods in ti."
[Ding, Fatherhood Value 100]
[Ding, Fatherhood Value 100]
[Ding, Fatherhood Value 100]
[bite...…]
"Ah, no wonder you said all that earlier, Darren. Hermione just doesn't get it. She's acting like she's going through nopause."
Ron folded his arms. "And what's with that 'you two can't find boyfriends' nonsense? As if we're all out shopping for boyfriends like she is."
He shook his head. "Honestly, I wonder how her future husband's supposed to survive her?"
"Even if you asked to marry Becky Greengrass from Slytherin—that bully—I wouldn't marry her!"
Ron scowled.
Then sothing clicked. He leaned toward the window.
"By the way… why isn't Becky from your House here?"
"Becky graduated. She wrote to over the sumr—she joined the Departnt of Mysteries at the Ministry of Magic."
Darren looked genuinely impressed.
The Departnt of Mysteries… a place full of secrets.
The books barely described it. Only that it held countless prophecy orbs.
Which ant countless prophecies.
He even had a chance to make another one of his own.
Maybe he should make a prophecy now?
[System, I want to use the oracle ball.]
[Ding, you can use it now. What kind of prophecy would you like to make?]
[I only have one question: if I make a prophecy, will it definitely co true?]
[Ding, yes. As long as the prophecy is reasonable, it will definitely co true.]
Of course—prophecies couldn't be too explicit. The system would adjust the wording.
Heh.
Underestimate him? Impossible.
He totally knew how to make a prophecy.
…Except when he looked at the template, he realized he absolutely didn't.
The prophecy looked like it was written by a street fortune-teller.
Even the ending was vague.
But then he grinned.
[System, make a prophecy that I'll be pursued by many girls in the future—and that the prediction makes it clear I'll want all of them!]
[Ding! Prophecy generated. The host may view it at the Departnt of Mysteries.]
Forehead.
We're… doing this directly?
He couldn't even check it first?
This system was awful.
By the ti they reached Hogwarts, night had fallen.
They entered the Great Hall.
He wanted to glance around, maybe chat a bit.
But Professor McGonagall intercepted them imdiately.
"Harry, Hermione—co with . Darren, Professor Snape is waiting for you. Quickly!"
Harry and Hermione followed her nervously.
Darren showed an equally anxious expression.
Inside, he was thrilled.
His Ti-Turner should be arriving soon.
Once he had it, he could test it.
Would using it create two versions of himself? One version? Would the system split?
He was dying to know.
On his face, however, was pure obedient worry.
He stepped into Snape's office.
Snape didn't even glance up from the parchnt he was marking.
"Sit down and eat sothing first… Don't tell your Potions professor doesn't feed you."
"Ah—thank you, Professor!"
Darren blinked.
On the table were two of the most expensive cakes sold in Diagon Alley, plus a handful of chocolates.
Next to them sat a pot of lemon juice.
A weight-gain feast.
Good thing he no longer feared gaining weight.
"Professor, have you eaten? Why don't you take one and I take one? I know these cakes are really expensive—I can't finish both by myself!"
[Ding, Fatherhood Value 80]
"I'm not eating that! I don't eat things designed for little children!"
Snape curled his lip in disgust.
Alright then. He wouldn't push it.
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