---
Although Darren did not think Mada Maxi would be interested in Hagrid—after all, in the original story, she never showed any special reaction toward him.
Later, they would even rely on Hagrid to learn about the first task.
Still, being kind-hearted, Darren spoke up and said,
"Hagrid is our best Care of Magical Creatures professor—very powerful. We all admire him!"
[Ding, Father value 50]
[Ding, Holy Father value 60]
[Ding, Holy Father value 60]
[Ding… ]
His words caused a small wave of laughter.
Clearly, many people thought his praise for Hagrid was… exaggerated.
But since no one objected, even Malfoy kept quiet for once.
Only after Mada Maxi had left did Malfoy sneer at Darren.
"You're flattering that oaf? Do you even know what he tripped over today?"
"He tripped over his Blast-Ended Skrewts. And I heard they escaped from wherever he keeps them!"
"Can you imagine? Blast-Ended Skrewts crawling all over the school?"
"What?!"
Even Darren was shocked.
As soon as he pictured the castle full of those creatures—stepping on one like stepping on a bomb, hearing strange crackling sounds, and then being stuck with slimy flesh—
He shuddered.
Not only Darren.
He also noticed Dumbledore twitch slightly.
The headmaster even looked down at the ground.
Probably to make sure no creature was crawling near his feet.
---
At that mont, the Black Lake began to churn.
A huge ship burst from the surface of the water.
A gangplank dropped onto the shore.
Students began filing out.
Then appeared a thin, middle-aged man.
"Good evening, Dumbledore!"
"Ah, Karkaroff. Welco."
Igor Karkaroff was tall and narrow, like Dumbledore, but without the sa warmth.
His white hair and beard were neatly trimd.
The smile on his face did not reach his eyes, which were cold and calculating.
He turned back and called,
"Viktor… Dumbledore, Viktor is feeling unwell. Would you mind letting him warm up inside?"
Although frad as a question, Karkaroff had already pulled Viktor forward.
The boy had a sharp hooked nose and thick eyebrows.
Viktor Krum.
The sa one who would later dance with Hermione in the original tiline.
Darren glanced at Hermione.
To his surprise, she was staring at him.
When she noticed his eyes on her, her face imdiately turned red.
"Let's go!" Cassandra said quickly, pushing Darren forward.
The crowd was already moving toward the Great Hall.
All around, people were whispering about Krum.
Malfoy was practically vibrating with excitent.
Darren overheard Malfoy and Crabbe discussing whether Krum might be persuaded to live in Slytherin.
Darren instinctively moved away.
He had no interest in sleeping in the sa dormitory as an international Quidditch star.
Let others fight over that.
---
Darren finally reached his seat.
He was hungry.
Right as he was silently begging Dumbledore to start dinner—
Soone sat beside him.
"I heard you're the strongest student at Hogwarts," the boy said in a thick accent.
"I'm Viktor Krum."
So he had co here looking for competition.
In the original story, Krum went to talk to Cedric.
Now he had chosen Darren instead.
Darren had no interest in Quidditch champions or rivalries.
But as a little Holy Father, he remained polite.
"You're looking for our champion, right?"
"I'm still under seventeen, and Headmaster Dumbledore said only students of age can compete."
"You should talk to Cedric Diggory."
"Cedric?" Krum repeated.
He turned and walked toward the Hufflepuff table.
Darren finally thought he would get so peace.
He was wrong.
---
A Beauxbatons girl suddenly sat beside him.
"Oh, Darren, it's you!"
"Why didn't you co to see during the sumr? I waited for you all vacation!"
The entire table froze.
So did the surrounding students.
Even Darren—who had seen all kinds of ridiculous scenes—felt his scalp tingle.
The way she spoke made it sound like he had abandoned her.
"It's not appropriate to say things like that in front of everyone," Cassandra said coldly.
"And who are you, exactly? He doesn't even look like he knows you."
The girl snorted and pulled down the veil on her face.
Silvery-white hair tumbled down her back like a waterfall.
Blue eyes.
Perfectly aligned white teeth.
"Darren," she asked with a smile, "do you rember now?"
Darren blinked.
"…Oh. It's you. I forgot."
"Forgot?!" she exclaid.
"You forgot sothing that important?!"
Then she burst out,
"You took on a debt of two hundred thousand Galleons for !"
"And now you say you forgot?!"
"Two… hundred… thousand?"
The table erupted.
"You paid that much for her?!"
"Are you insane?!"
"You can't even afford proper food!"
"Two hundred thousand Galleons?!"
The Slytherins went mad with shock.
If it were soone else, they might assu he did it for her beauty.
After all, Fleur clearly had Veela blood.
But Darren?
Everyone here knew—
He didn't do things out of desire.
He did them out of uncontrollable kindness.
Two hundred thousand Galleons.
For soone like Darren, that was an astronomical sum.
"Why aren't you answering?" Fleur demanded, her eyes shimring.
"You don't even have money for food!"
Darren froze.
Finally, he awkwardly muttered,
"It's not that serious… Headmaster Dumbledore takes care of the als, so… I won't starve…"
---
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