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Chapter 675 Felix Felicis!!
After Darren said goodbye to Harry, he pulled out a bottle of Felix Felicis from his suitcase.
This was given to him by Snape.
A lot of it.
Enough for him to use more than a dozen times.
If calculated by the usual amount wizards used, this much could last an entire lifetime.
He poured himself a spoonful and put it in his mouth.
A very mysterious feeling spread through him.
He suddenly felt that anything he wanted to do would become incredibly easy.
Isn't it just getting Slughorn's memory?
Right now, he even felt confident enough to go and challenge Professor McGonagall herself.
Of course, he would never actually think of doing something that reckless.
Darren walked out of the castle with absolute confidence, following the subtle guidance of Felix Felicis, heading toward the edge of the Forbidden Forest.
Sure enough, he saw Slughorn there.
Slughorn was secretly watching something near the forest boundary.
Darren immediately followed the feeling and walked up to him.
"Professor, are you here to attend the funeral of Aragog?"
Slughorn jumped in surprise.
But when he saw it was Darren, he relaxed.
"Aragog?"
"It's Hagrid's Acromantula. He passed away… Hagrid is devastated and invited us to the funeral, but Harry has a Quidditch match and Ron is injured…
So I came alone.
Would you like to come with me?
Someone as kind and respected as you attending would make Hagrid very happy."
Slughorn's eyes brightened.
He muttered under his breath:
"Acromantula… the venom alone can sell for a hundred Galleons a pint… and my salary really isn't that high…"
He seemed to convince himself.
Finally, he looked at Darren with a warm smile.
"It would be an honor."
The two of them went together to Hagrid's cabin.
When Hagrid saw Slughorn arrive as well, he looked deeply moved.
"If Aragog knew that someone of your status came to his funeral, he'd be very proud!"
Darren thought privately:
If Aragog really knew, he might not be proud at all.
Because Slughorn stood beside Aragog's body, looking at the enormous head with something like solemn respect.
Then Darren noticed Slughorn secretly changing several small bottles in his pocket.
—A very good harvest indeed.
Slughorn even kindly helped Hagrid dig a large pit and bury Aragog, wearing a satisfied expression the entire time.
After that, they returned to Hagrid's hut.
Darren smiled and suggested,
"Since today is Aragog's funeral, Professor and Hagrid should have a drink to honor him."
Both Slughorn and Hagrid loved alcohol.
They immediately agreed.
Especially when Darren brought out the Scottish wine Hagrid had hidden under his bed, the two of them raised their glasses with great enthusiasm.
Slughorn also urged Darren to drink.
"It's fine, get drunk if you want. You can sleep here tonight!"
Hagrid nodded vigorously.
Darren only intended to taste a little, so he also picked up a glass.
He listened as the two adults reminisced about old stories.
From time to time he refilled their cups.
At that moment, the guidance of Felix Felicis told him it was time to act drunk and ask Slughorn the question.
Darren immediately pretended to be tipsy.
As if the alcohol loosened his tongue, he suddenly murmured,
"Professor… what exactly is a Horcrux?"
"Dumbledore showed you my memory?"
Slughorn instantly became alert.
But seeing Darren's drunken, unfocused face, he relaxed again.
"Yeah… Professor… Headmaster Dumbledore showed me that memory…
My mother died at his hands, yet when you discovered that man's weakness, you only cared about protecting yourself…"
Darren lay on the table, eyes red, voice trembling.
Slughorn froze.
Then he began drinking heavily, cup after cup.
The guidance told Darren to simply pretend to fall asleep.
Sure enough, after a few more drinks, Slughorn suddenly broke down.
With a sob, he drew a strand of memory from his temple and threw it onto the floor.
"I didn't dare… I was a coward!"
Slughorn was completely drunk.
Darren quickly collected the memory.
Memories that touched the ground could easily dissipate; they had to be sealed in crystal immediately.
Following the guidance, Darren prepared to leave.
If he left now, Slughorn would likely forget this entire scene.
And perhaps, on the way, something fortunate might still happen.
The guidance suggested he continue pretending to be drunk.
So Darren staggered toward the castle.
Suddenly, a familiar presence appeared.
Luna.
She seemed to have just stepped outside.
Darren's feet "slipped," and he fell right into her arms.
Luna didn't understand what was happening at first, but once she recognized Darren, she studied him seriously.
Seeing he was drunk and dazed, she suddenly wrapped her arms around his neck.
Then she kissed him.
"Hmm… tastes nice."
She whispered.
Just as Darren was about to deepen the kiss, he felt the effect of Felix Felicis fading.
He pretended to sober slightly.
"Oh… Luna, sorry… I need to go find Dumbledore…"
He swayed as he spoke.
Luna tilted her head and smiled.
"But you're already drunk."
"I—I'm not."
He leaned against the wall and continued forward.
At that moment, several students rushed out of the castle.
Darren realized his "last bit of good luck" had ended.
He didn't straighten up.
Still pretending to be intoxicated, he staggered all the way to Dumbledore's office.
Many students saw him on the way.
They were shocked, thinking something terrible had happened to Darren.
Someone even ran to call a professor.
Thankfully, he managed to reach the office first.
Dumbledore was startled when he saw him.
"Darren!"
He too thought something was wrong.
But after realizing Darren was only drunk, he showed a helpless smile.
"Oh, Darren, you're not even of age yet!"
Dumbledore said disapprovingly.
Darren held his head and muttered,
"Headmaster… I—I got it."
Then he heard hurried footsteps outside.
Following the role of a drunk man, he let himself collapse.
Before his eyes closed, he heard Snape's furious voice.
"Darren! Darren!"
Snape sounded almost desperate.
There even seemed to be tears in his tone.
"Dumbledore!"
He nearly rushed at him.
Fortunately, Dumbledore stopped him.
"Severus, Darren is fine. He's only drunk.
Don't blow up my office—he's just drunk."
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