Chapter 484: Take It!!
It was the night before Harry's task.
Moody came to find Darren.
He stuffed a handful of gillyweed into Darren's hands.
Darren froze, clearly shocked.
Moody coughed awkwardly and said, "Ahem… when Snape gave Krum the gillyweed that day, I guessed you and Harry might end up needing it too.
"So I used a few little tricks and got some from him. I wanted to give it to you or Harry earlier, but knowing you two—upright, stubborn students who hate asking professors for help—I felt awkward bringing it up.
"But… take it.
"I don't want Hogwarts students to fail. This isn't a professor helping a student—it's a senior helping juniors. A very old senior."
Moody smiled.
His face was still frightening, but the smile carried a strange sincerity.
If Darren didn't already know that he was actually Barty Crouch Jr., he really would have believed Moody was this kind of person.
No wonder Dumbledore never suspected him.
He played the role far too well.
Of course, Darren couldn't know any of that right now.
So he showed genuine gratitude.
"Thank you, Professor… I don't even know how to repay you. By the way—do you want me to try treating your leg?
"I know it's highly toxic damage and can't regenerate normally, but I'd still like to try. If it works, you might even be able to return to the Aurors from the beginning."
"No!"
Moody blurted out instinctively.
Then, realizing his reaction was too strong, he quickly smiled.
"You don't need to do that. I just did what any Hogwarts alumnus should do.
"I'm not like Snape—I only want you kids to be safe. As for this leg… I don't want it healed. It's a mark of honor, like the scars on my face."
He spoke firmly, as if it were truly about glory.
In reality, he didn't want anything interfering with his plans.
If certain potions were used, Polyjuice Potion would become impossible to take.
And this leg didn't even belong to him—it was Moody's leg, not his.
Why should he care?
Darren, of course, understood all of this.
But he simply nodded, playing along and maintaining his "holy father" persona.
Seeing Darren look as if he genuinely wanted to help him made Crouch feel a brief flicker of regret.
Maybe he should have just sent the gillyweed directly instead of coming in person.
But he dismissed the thought.
He knew Darren well enough.
Someone like Darren would never cause him trouble.
And he was right.
Darren had no intention of doing anything—he only wanted to scare Moody a little and express gratitude.
The moment he got the gillyweed, he couldn't wait to share it with Harry.
---
Harry was still practicing the Bubble-Head Charm in the Gryffindor common room.
It was the only thing he could do now.
He could only pray that his Bubble-Head Charm would last long enough underwater.
Hermione and Ron were beside him, trying to guide him.
Earlier, because it was so late, they had forced Darren to go back and rest.
Even though Darren was in excellent health, they always felt he was fragile and needed protection.
So when they saw Darren return, all three of them were stunned.
Harry, in particular, felt a heavy surge of guilt and shame.
Darren took out the gillyweed at once.
"This is what Professor Moody gave me… He probably thought the two of us would need it, so he came over as soon as he got it.
"I'm really grateful. I even wanted to help him heal his leg just now, but he refused.
"Still, I can't forget such kindness. I'll have to think carefully about what Professor Moody might need in the future…"
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
Darren's words deeply moved Harry, Hermione, and Ron.
Hermione's eyes turned red.
Choking up, she said, "Darren, you must have paid a huge price for this gillyweed, right?
"I know Professor Moody—he never does things like this. But for you, he made an exception.
"He took the gillyweed from Krum and saved it for you. He must have thought you've been exhausted lately, running around asking for help every day…"
Hermione's tears made Harry feel even more ashamed.
In his mind, he imagined Darren begging everywhere, pleading again and again without telling him.
He imagined how much effort Darren had put in behind the scenes.
And all this time, he had only been dragging Darren down.
If only Darren had been the sole champion in the Triwizard Tournament…
Then Darren wouldn't be this tired.
He might have crushed the other schools' champions with ease.
"Well, that's all in the past now. From this point on, brother will definitely be fine."
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
Darren laughed softly.
He patted Hermione on the shoulder, gently coaxing her.
"I'm not thin. It's just this outfit—it makes me look slimmer, that's all."
He could swear that was true.
He hadn't restricted his eating at all—if anything, he ate more than before.
Thanks to system rewards, no matter how much he ate, he never gained weight, and no one ever noticed.
So everyone always thought he ate very little.
If his clothes looked a bit loose, they immediately assumed he was starving himself.
Darren sighed inwardly.
Just as he was about to say something else, the door to the Gryffindor common room opened.
Fred and George walked in.
They looked at Hermione and Ron and said, "Professor McGonagall wants to see you two."
"Huh? Did something happen?"
Darren and Harry exchanged a glance, both confused.
"Is it because Hermione and Ron helped us?"
Darren blurted it out.
The moment the words left his mouth, his face went pale.
He stood up abruptly.
"I'll go with you."
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding…]