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Chapter 454 — Slytherin's Worry!!
Darren's words had finally moved Harry.
In the end, Harry still decided to talk to Ron.
Unfortunately, Ron refused to speak to him for several days after that.
It only made Harry angrier.
He told Darren and Hermione that he was done with Ron and had no intention of begging him again.
Hermione ignored his declaration and instead urged him seriously, "You should write to Sirius Black."
"No," Harry rejected immediately. "Last time I only wrote that my scar hurt, and he nearly rushed back to Hogwarts. If I tell him Darren and I were chosen for the Triwizard Tournament, he'll definitely break into the school!"
Harry looked anxious as he spoke.
Darren also frowned.
"But even if you don't say it, he'll still find out. Within a few days this will be all over the papers. Do you really want Sirius to learn about it from the Daily Prophet?"
"And knowing the Prophet, they'll definitely write some ridiculous exaggerated feature about you," Hermione added urgently. "Harry, write the letter. Even Darren understands this—don't tell me you don't."
Harry paced back and forth, clearly conflicted.
In the end, he sighed heavily and picked up a quill.
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Dear Sirius,
I know you want me to tell you everything that happens inside the castle, so this time… I really can't hide it.
No, actually, it's two things.
Darren and I were both selected as champions for the Triwizard Tournament.
Neither of us put our names in.
Darren's name was put in by a student called Cedric Diggory. He said he was repaying Darren for helping his dad during the summer… but I honestly think he did it because Darren got his father expelled from the Ministry.
Darren got angry when I tried to write that.
He still thinks Cedric is a good person. He always does. He just assumes everyone in the world is good.
You know how he is. He never believes people can really be bad.
Back to the important part.
We still have no idea who put my name into the Goblet of Fire.
But it definitely wasn't me or Darren.
Love,
Harry
(and Darren)
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Harry put down the quill and stared at the parchment for a long time.
At first, he had wanted to complain to Sirius about his fight with Ron.
But when he thought about it, it felt pointless.
Sirius was too far away.
Besides… he talked too much.
Last time Harry got hurt, Sirius had told half the wizarding world.
Even Darren had received a letter from him.
Harry really didn't want to go through that again.
In the end, he folded the letter, called over a school owl instead of using Hedwig, and sent it off—just in case Hedwig accidentally exposed Sirius's hiding place again.
After Darren became a champion, life in the school unexpectedly became much easier.
Almost everyone looked at him with admiration.
Even though everyone knew Cedric had helped him enter, Darren was still considered the strongest champion from Hogwarts.
He just wasn't seventeen—otherwise, no one would have questioned his place at all.
Hufflepuff treated Darren particularly well.
Probably out of guilt for Cedric's actions, they kept trying to compensate Darren.
Even Professor Sprout started giving him various tonics and supplements, convinced he was far too thin and might not survive the Tournament.
Gryffindor students were the most enthusiastic.
Whenever they saw Darren, they cheered as if he had already won.
Ravenclaw's attitude toward him never changed.
They had always admired intelligence and strength—and Darren had both.
The only house that wasn't celebrating…
…was Slytherin.
Instead of pride, their expressions grew increasingly heavy.
With their experience, they knew better than anyone that champions died in this Tournament.
No matter how many times Darren reassured them, they still worried.
Eventually, they stopped asking for promises entirely.
Instead, they began to watch everyone from the other houses closely—especially anyone who approached Darren.
They even started watching each other.
As if someone from Slytherin might suddenly snap and assassinate Darren themselves.
It left Darren feeling helpless.
So he spent most of his time in Gryffindor instead.
Even if Gryffindor students were a little… overwhelming.
They constantly wanted photos with him.
But being exhausted from group photos was still better than being stared at like a doomed man.
Harry, on the other hand, lived in the complete opposite world.
Aside from Ron no longer speaking to him…
Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw also began giving him cold looks.
They believed Harry had cheated his way into the Tournament.
If that spot hadn't gone to Cedric, it should've gone to another properly aged wizard.
Plenty of seventeen-year-olds were more capable than Harry—so why him?
Darren had already argued with students from other houses several times.
When they couldn't argue with him, they simply avoided Darren and redirected all their resentment toward Harry.
And especially in Slytherin.
Although they feared Darren might die…
They were openly jealous of Harry.
Every time they saw him, mockery followed.
That afternoon, in Care of Magical Creatures, Gryffindor and Slytherin collided yet again.
The moment Malfoy spotted Harry, he called out loudly:
"Some people just love playing dirty! I suggest you all hurry and get his autograph now. In past Triwizard Tournaments, half the champions died—I bet Potter won't even last three minutes into the first task!"
"You're not allowed to say that!"
Darren stepped forward sharply, his face dark with fury.
"My brother will not die. Even if I die, I will not let him die!"
[Ding, Father Value +100]
[Ding, Father Value +100]
[Ding, Father Value +100]
[Ding…]
The sudden intensity startled Malfoy.
But Malfoy exploded in anger in return.
"Die for him?! Where did you get that courage? I thought you accepted anything—but you're still human, aren't you?! If it was you on the line, could you really walk forward like that?! Do you think dying is easy?!"
Darren raised his eyebrow slowly.
…Good.
Malfoy remembered something after all.
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