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Chapter 467: Don't Worry Like This!!
Darren still made a few worried remarks about Hagrid's interview.
Even if it didn't match his true personality, he had to keep pretending.
And of course, it earned plenty of Holy Father value.
As he expected, Harry was frustrated with Hagrid's stubbornness.
They had repeatedly told Hagrid that Rita Skeeter was not a good person, yet Hagrid still insisted on giving her an interview.
To them, it felt as if Hagrid didn't trust them—or Darren.
He only wanted the publicity.
His stubbornness made them angry and uncomfortable.
More importantly, Harry and Ron didn't think very far ahead.
Hagrid had caused plenty of trouble before, yet Dumbledore never fired him.
So, at worst, they assumed Hagrid would be forced to give up the Blast-Ended Skrewts.
They hated those creatures.
Sometimes, they even felt the skrewts would grow to the size of the basilisk from second year.
And Hagrid raised them in the open.
Plus, he once raised huge spiders in the Forbidden Forest—spiders Darren later burned.
Hagrid had apologized afterward…
…but he still secretly continued raising an Acromantula.
Harry and Ron were helpless.
Therefore, when they heard Hagrid truly wanted Rita Skeeter to interview him, they were thrilled.
They thought it meant they were finally going to be rid of those terrifying creatures.
However, when they saw Darren looking genuinely worried, they quickly tried to comfort him.
They even changed the subject so Darren wouldn't go after Rita Skeeter and destroy her notes.
Darren allowed himself to be distracted—because he also intended to let Hagrid learn a small lesson.
Time passed, and soon it was afternoon.
Afternoon classes were just as unreliable as ever.
Because the afternoon class was Divination.
Professor Trelawney was once again predicting Darren's and Harry's deaths.
She announced dramatically that the shadow of death hovered above them.
No one paid attention except Lavender and a few girls.
Trelawney had predicted Harry's death so often that it was practically a joke.
During the first Triwizard task, she declared confidently that Darren and Harry would surely die.
They didn't.
Her reputation had fallen to rock bottom.
Attempting to salvage it, she declared mysteriously:
"Children, guess what I saw in the crystal ball yesterday?
Death!
Yes—the vulture of death, circling closer and closer above you!"
Her expression was dramatic enough to frighten some students.
Darren simply yawned.
Trelawney could read Harry somewhat accurately at times, but her predictions about him were total nonsense.
If anything, she was only reacting to his false "saintly" demeanor.
So Darren completely ignored her.
But students like Lavender stared at him anxiously, as if he might drop dead any second.
When Ron reminded them that she also predicted Harry's death at least a hundred times, they immediately dismissed it.
"She's said it so often that if even one prediction came true, I'd eat her giant teapot," Ron grumbled.
Harry exhaled helplessly as they left the classroom.
He tried to cheer Darren up.
"Don't look so worried. If I'd died every time she said I would, I'd be the biggest medical miracle in history."
This made Darren smile.
Ron nodded eagerly.
"Exactly. Don't take anything she says seriously. Honestly, instead of listening to her, we should just go to the library and do our homework!"
Both Darren and Harry stared at him.
Ron—voluntarily going to the library?
The mystery was solved as soon as they entered.
Krum was there, reading a Quidditch book.
Ron immediately froze behind him, whispering nervously:
"Should we ask for an autograph?"
Two Triwizard champions beside him, and he wanted the ugliest one to sign.
Darren complained silently.
Out loud, he smiled politely.
"There are a lot of people waiting for autographs right now. Let's finish our homework first. When the crowd thins, you can go. And if Hermione sees you haven't started your homework, she'll tear you apart."
Harry and Ron wilted instantly.
"She's always checking our homework! She never checks yours! That's discrimination!"
Wasn't that obvious?
Ron and Harry never behaved well—not academically, at least.
Without Hermione nagging them, professors would probably force them to redo their assignments from scratch.
As for why Hermione didn't check Darren's homework?
Because his handwriting always looked pitiful, as if written with great effort.
Professors assumed it reflected deep thought and sincerity.
As long as his work was neat, they barely read it.
So Hermione had nothing to correct.
Darren sighed inwardly.
He refused to respond to Ron's foolish complaint.
Ron didn't notice.
He sneaked toward Krum again, hoping to ask for an autograph when Krum set the book down.
But he was too slow.
A plump Hufflepuff girl rushed forward first, asking sweetly for an autograph.
Ron stood behind them, feeling ridiculous.
His behavior was no different from hers.
Just as he turned to leave, Hermione arrived.
She lit up instantly when she spotted Darren.
"Oh, Darren! Finally found you! Come on, come on—I found a perfect place!"
She grabbed Darren and pulled him away quickly.
Harry and Ron scrambled to follow.
"Wait for us! Hermione—why don't you ever wait for me and Harry? What do you need Darren alone for every single time?"