Chapter 657 Apologize!!
OK.
Here was Hermione.
She comforted Hagrid very understandingly.
It didn't really work, but it did make Hagrid a little happier.
And the atmosphere became harmonious.
They finally returned to their previous state and started talking again.
"I always thought you hated me… And you were also taught by Professor Grubbly-Plank, I thought…"
To make Hagrid happy,
Harry and Ron criticized Professor Grubbly-Plank from beginning to end.
They almost made Hermione fall out with them over it.
Anyway, because of Harry's shameless efforts, Hagrid looked much happier when he sent them out again.
But what made Harry a little unhappy—
he saw Professor Slughorn on his way back to the castle.
The old slug-like professor had invited him for the third time, but he and Darren always ended up missing it.
After all, they always had something else to do.
"Tonight, tonight you must come—and this beautiful young lady, you must come too!"
Slughorn looked at Hermione.
Hermione could only nod.
Then he looked at Darren.
"I've invited this beautiful girl, so I think, Darren, you'll come as well."
Darren nodded helplessly.
That left only Harry.
In the past, Harry definitely wouldn't have wanted to go, but tonight he actually did.
Because what followed was Snape's detention.
He really didn't want to go to that.
He sincerely hoped Slughorn could postpone the detention for another week like Dumbledore had done.
But unfortunately, Slughorn didn't do that.
Snape's detention slip was delivered right on time.
This made Harry feel desperate to the extreme.
Harry came back late at night.
He said he had been squeezed dry by Slughorn the entire evening.
Darren didn't have the heart to correct his description…
---
The next few weeks—
Dumbledore was gone.
Every time they ate in the Great Hall, they couldn't see him.
This made Harry and the others very puzzled.
But he could only tell himself that Dumbledore must have gone to look for clues.
Darren also didn't know where Dumbledore had gone, but it was probably related to Horcruxes, so he basically didn't worry about it.
Only when Harry pointed it out did he show a worried expression, and then a melancholy look as if he were anxious about Dumbledore.
This made Harry not even dare to mention again that Dumbledore was absent.
Besides that, Harry now liked reading the Half-Blood Prince's textbook more and more.
Because there were not only all kinds of potion-brewing tips, but also some spells invented by the Half-Blood Prince himself.
Harry often declared that the Half-Blood Prince had taught him far more than Snape ever had.
Darren was speechless.
The kid still hadn't been slapped in the face by reality—
when he learned that the Half-Blood Prince was Snape, he would be utterly shocked.
And what left Darren even more speechless was that Harry seemed obsessed with the little spells Snape had created.
Darren had invented so many impressive, powerful spells—yet Harry hadn't learned a single one.
Fine.
It was also possible he simply couldn't learn them.
Obviously, Darren's spells looked cooler, his posture more elegant and grand.
When others saw him casting magic, they didn't think he was randomly waving a stick—
it looked like a handsome conductor holding a baton, directing a magnificent symphony.
That was the difference!
How could it work without being handsome?
Unfortunately, Harry just couldn't learn them no matter how hard he tried.
Instead, he mastered the Half-Blood Prince's small tricks, like Levicorpus,
or Muffliato.
Clearly, Darren's ear-sealing charm was far superior, yet Harry just couldn't grasp it.
It was truly a sad story.
"The Half-Blood Prince definitely isn't a good person. That upside-down spell—would a good person invent something like that?"
Hermione said angrily.
Harry remembered the scene of his father hanging Snape upside down and felt a little weak inside.
However, Ron was arguing with Hermione again.
He sneered and said, "If you're so capable, invent one yourself!"
"I think the Half-Blood Prince is very powerful, but Hermione has invented many little spells too. I remember in fourth year she taught some to my brother!"
"Hmph, Darren, no need to explain for him. He's gone crazy lately, always thinking I'm trying to harm them!"
Hermione moved a little farther away from Ron.
She was almost leaning into Darren's arms.
This made Harry suspect she was using the quarrel with Ron as an excuse to get closer to Darren.
But he had no proof.
---
Anyway.
Hogwarts was becoming more and more tense.
The situation outside the school was also serious.
Because Stan Shunpike, the driver of the Knight Bus, had been arrested.
The Aurors suspected him of being a Death Eater.
This was definitely ridiculous.
At most, he might have been under the Imperius Curse.
Some students in the school were also taken away by their parents.
With the situation growing increasingly grim and Dumbledore often absent, many parents decided to take their children home.
Under these circumstances, Hogsmeade visits opened again.
The day was chilly.
The moment they walked out of school, they regretted it.
But there was no way—they were already outside.
They really didn't want to go back to the castle either.
So they went to the Three Broomsticks.
Ron stared intently at Madam Rosmerta, which made Hermione roll her eyes in disgust.
But she didn't say anything and ordered four glasses of juice.
"Let's just stay here and wait until it's time to go back…"
Hermione's words stopped abruptly.
Because Professor Slughorn walked in from outside.
He grabbed them cheerfully and said, "I've finally found you! Monday night's party—you must come, no excuses!"
Harry glanced at Darren.
He forced a smile.
"Unfortunately, Darren and I already have an appointment with Headmaster Dumbledore that night."
This news had arrived just that morning.
Harry and the others were very happy about it.
Only Hermione looked a little disappointed—she had wanted to go with Darren.
But she didn't say anything.
After all, Ginny was still with her.
The only one truly angry was Ron.
Because he was left out again.
When Slughorn came in, he treated Ron like a slug and clearly wanted to avoid him.
He even ignored Ron's greeting completely.
So when Hermione looked downcast, Ron mocked her again.
"Why bother pretending to be upset? You must be thrilled to be invited to a slug's party.
Don't you love the limelight?"
"Apologize, Ron."
Darren's voice suddenly turned serious.
"If you don't apologize, then today I'll leave with Hermione, and we don't need to talk again after that.
I think when you calm down, you'll understand—Professor Slughorn only invited us, not you.
That isn't our fault, and it isn't Hermione's fault.
In just one month, you've attacked Hermione many times with all kinds of baseless accusations—for what reason?
Or is it simply jealousy?
Have you ever thought how uncomfortable we feel when you punish us for other people's mistakes?"