Chapter 550: Performance!!
Darren felt helpless. How could he be lying? He had only paused slightly when he spoke—who could talk without ever pausing?
Of course, he also had to admit that this really did look like he was being led on.
After all, if Snape truly believed that he had fabricated those things, then Snape might genuinely start questioning his own life.
Darren showed an awkward expression, the kind of guilt that comes after being seen through by Snape. So he could only pretend to understand, take out Snape's assignment, and begin writing.
Snape's homework was the most out of all the professors'.
Darren had originally planned to leave it to the quill in the middle of the night. Instead, he now had to write it himself.
Miserable.
But to his surprise, the moment he took out Snape's homework, Snape said flatly, "Alright. You don't need to do my homework anymore."
"Obviously, you've already mastered all the knowledge in Potions."
"I think your ability in Potions is no less than mine, so there's no need for you to write assignments meant for ordinary students."
"Of course," Snape added coldly, "in order to hone your acting skills, you must hand me a blank parchment tomorrow—written exactly the way you usually write your homework."
"Ah, but…"
Darren showed a troubled expression, as if worried about his acting skills, though inwardly he was extremely happy.
After all, not having to write Potions homework anymore—how could he not be delighted with that pile of parchment disappearing?
Of course.
Even if he was happy, he couldn't show it.
He put on a conflicted look and said hesitantly, "Professor, if this is discovered, people might say you're biased…"
[Ding, Father +100]
"I don't think anyone would believe that a gloomy, greasy Potions professor would favor a student," Snape sneered. "They'd just think I'm plotting something unpleasant."
Then he turned in place and said, "Now that your homework is done, let's try some Muggle acting methods."
When Darren left Snape's office, his face was filled with helplessness.
Snape was undeniably an excellent double agent—but the reason he could play that role was largely because he had a poker face.
As long as he stayed expressionless in front of Voldemort and shut down his own mind, things worked.
As for showing a little genuine anger and disgust toward Harry, that alone was enough to muddle through.
Letting Snape teach acting… Darren really thought Dumbledore had lost his mind.
The two of them spent half a day at it.
Staring at each other.
In the end, Snape simply made him rehearse a minor argument in the office.
Whether the acting skills improved or not didn't matter—what mattered was that the "falling out" between them had to be gradually built up.
The next morning.
The weather was the same as the day before—heavy rain.
Darren sat down at the Slytherin table for breakfast and noticed that Snape wasn't there yet.
Just as he was wondering what Snape was doing—whether he'd been annoyed with him for keeping him up late—he saw Snape walk into the Great Hall in surprisingly good spirits.
Snape came up to Darren, lowered his head slightly, and said, "In a moment, I'll ask you to apologize to Umbridge. You will refuse in front of everyone."
"No acting. Show it with your real feelings."
Darren didn't even have time to nod.
Snape swept away like a gust of wind and returned to the staff table.
He picked up his knife and fork as if nothing had happened.
Darren suspected that Dumbledore had taught Snape something to make the break look more convincing.
After all, this kind of idea definitely came from Dumbledore.
Of course, Snape himself probably had his own thoughts as well.
Darren lowered his head and continued eating his pudding.
He heard Umbridge talking to Snape about what had happened yesterday. Snape looked at her with faint disgust—but also with a hint of smugness.
Darren suspected that Umbridge was praising him.
Sure enough, Snape suddenly shouted, "Darren—Darren Potter! Apologize to Professor Umbridge for your recklessness yesterday!"
Darren stood up.
His eyes seemed a little red.
But he still shook his head firmly. "I won't apologize to her. And I won't attend her class again, Professor. If… if you insist, then you can expel me."
His words plunged the Great Hall into silence.
All the students stared at Darren in shock.
Darren said nothing more. He slung his bag over his shoulder, as if preparing to leave.
"Stop!"
Snape stepped down from the staff table.
He looked at Darren coldly and said viciously, "Given your attitude toward me last night, and now toward Professor Umbridge, you've become completely lawless."
"You're just as selfish as that brother of yours."
"Reckless—"
Snape stopped mid-sentence.
He couldn't continue.
Looking into Darren's reddening eyes, he found himself unable to say the cruel words he used so easily on Harry.
To avoid exposing the act, Snape snorted angrily and turned away.
He returned to his seat and leaned toward Umbridge, whispering something, as if they were exchanging complaints about troublesome students.
Darren pursed his lips.
He picked up his bag and left the Great Hall directly, his expression making him look genuinely miserable.
The first class was Transfiguration with Professor McGonagall.
She asked the students to practice the Vanishing Charm on snails.
Darren completed it with a casual flick of his wand.
"Slytherin, plus ten points!"
Professor McGonagall announced loudly.
She used Darren as an example to emphasize the importance of the Ordinary Wizarding Level exams.
Naturally, she also took the chance to ask whether Darren planned to remain at Hogwarts.
Darren, who had always said he was likely to stay, answered with a sour expression that he needed to think about it again.
This made Professor McGonagall visibly uneasy.
She knew it was the school atmosphere that Darren disliked—but she couldn't change that.
All she could do was advise him to endure a little longer.
To avoid clashing with Umbridge—and then with Professor Flitwick, and after that, Snape.
Professor Flitwick did much the same.
He emphasized the importance of the Ordinary Wizarding Level exams and asked everyone to review the Levitation Charm.
He believed it was one of the most likely topics to appear.
Of course, he also quietly pulled Darren aside and warned him to be careful, to protect himself from retaliation behind the scenes.
"Severus is your Head of House," Professor Flitwick said softly. "He'll definitely help with this. I saw him and Umbridge discussing it privately before."