Chapter 565: Dumbledore's Army Sprout!!
The boy who stood up to ask the question was named Zacharias Smith. His words immediately sparked a wave of discussion.
"I want you to understand that practicing all this isn't for exams—it's because Voldemort has returned!" Hermione said solemnly, exactly as she had expected.
Several people's cups clattered onto the table. They looked at Hermione with fear and unease.
They didn't understand why Hermione dared to say Voldemort's name.
"I think saying his name means that we are standing against him, and that we are starting to learn magic to deal with him!" Hermione said loudly.
"Then you should show evidence that he's back," Smith replied, "instead of showing us projections that might be fake, along with a few pictures.
"And those projections are strange anyway. If the mysterious man really returned, why couldn't he even kill Harry Potter?"
Everyone turned to look at Darren and Harry.
Darren was silent for a moment before speaking with a bitter smile.
"You're asking us to provide more evidence that he's back—that's really difficult.
"If you don't believe something as obvious as projections, then even if I used a photographic orb, you still wouldn't believe it.
"I can only tell you why Voldemort couldn't kill my brother. Before our mother died, she released a protective magic with her life.
"That magic protects my brother and my aunt, and as long as my brother treats them as family, the effect of the spell grows stronger.
"It was because of that magic that my brother survived the Killing Curse.
"It was also because of that magic that Voldemort couldn't kill him back then.
"This time, Voldemort has returned. He still didn't kill my brother—but he could have killed many others.
"Your parents. Your siblings. Many more.
"Besides, even if this were only about learning, shouldn't you learn more anyway?
"If I had a choice, I really wouldn't want to tell you anything about Voldemort.
"I don't want to talk about what my brother and I went through, or why Diggory's father died.
"So don't ask anymore. Don't listen to Hermione talking about resisting Voldemort—it's impossible. You can't resist him.
"What you can do is learn how to save your own life before the catastrophe comes, and avoid causing trouble or chaos for the Aurors!"
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[...]
Darren's words quieted everyone. They looked somewhat dejected.
But they understood that Darren was right.
They couldn't even defeat an adult wizard right now.
Hermione let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Seizing the moment, she said quickly, "So now, if anyone still wants to leave, you can go."
Not a single person stood up.
"Then let's move on to the next topic—how often we meet, and where we meet."
"It can't conflict with Gryffindor's Quidditch practice!"
"It can't conflict with Ravenclaw's Quidditch practice!"
"And it can't conflict with Hufflepuff's practice time either!"
Hermione hurriedly wrote everything down.
Of course, besides that, everyone mentioned many other times when they couldn't gather.
Finally, when Hermione finished noting everything, the atmosphere became more relaxed. Some people started asking Darren personal questions, while others questioned Harry—for example, how Harry and Darren killed the basilisk in their second year, and how they felt when facing Voldemort.
Harry answered them one by one.
After learning about so many of Harry and Darren's unknown adventures, they all looked as if they had just uncovered a huge secret.
"So, the last question," Hermione said. "Where will our meeting place be?"
Everyone suggested various locations, but Hermione wasn't very satisfied with any of them.
Darren already knew the answer, but he wasn't planning to say it yet. Hermione and the others hadn't reached a decision either.
But it was getting late.
Hermione took out a piece of parchment from her bag and said nervously, "If everyone agrees, I'd like you all to write down your names. Otherwise, I really won't be able to remember everyone."
No one objected. Hermione passed the parchment around.
Darren pretended not to notice the spell Hermione had cast on it, which made her secretly breathe a sigh of relief.
After everyone had signed, she quickly tucked the parchment back into her bag, afraid Darren might notice and get angry if he realized what she had done.
"Alright, it's time to disperse. We'll have a chance to meet again."
No one argued.
In fact, everyone was a little surprised by how nervous they felt around Darren now.
Even the girls—though they still liked him—behaved very differently on this occasion.
What Darren said, they instinctively obeyed, almost as if it were Dumbledore speaking.
Of course, Darren had no intention of telling them that this was the effect of the title Son of the Demon King. And no one dared to ask.
They all dispersed obediently.
Some of the girls didn't even stay behind to say goodbye to Darren.
It seemed that at moments like this, Darren's authority was unconsciously reinforced. Even Hermione felt that something was slightly off.
But because she spent so much time with Darren, she was already used to this feeling.
Smiling, she said, "It seems today went pretty well. At least no one caused trouble."
Ron snorted angrily. "How is that well? Zacharias and Michael Corner were infuriating!"
Hermione shook her head.
She glared at Ron and said, "That's not what I meant. As long as they didn't start shouting that Harry and Darren are liars, I think they were being sensible."
Anyway.
The rest of the day passed much more easily.
Except for Darren, who quietly went into a shop to buy two quills, they all stayed outside the Shrieking Shack, sitting in the wild wind while eating.
Darren closed his eyes.
He heard Harry whisper to Ron that this was the least angry day he had had in a long time.
Darren suspected that Harry was buoyed by the fact that many students now believed Voldemort had returned.
But he estimated that tomorrow, Harry wouldn't be so happy.
Because Umbridge would announce that groups of more than three students were forbidden from meeting regularly.
They might even be banned from Quidditch.