Chapter 571 Darren Army!!
Because the location had already been decided, Hermione and the others spent the entire afternoon contacting everyone on the list.
After making sure that everyone had been informed, at half past seven in the evening, they once again came to the eighth floor.
Just as they opened the door and walked in, Ginny arrived with a few girls. They rushed over and happily hugged Darren.
Before Harry could finish explaining how he had found this place, another dozen girls walked in.
They hugged Darren again.
Then they turned to Harry and asked the same question.
Harry could only start explaining from the beginning.
But halfway through his explanation, one or two more groups arrived—again, mostly girls.
They enthusiastically hugged Darren, then turned their expectant gazes toward Harry.
Harry suddenly felt like a janitor on duty, endlessly repeating the same instructions. Still, he didn't mind too much.
He figured it would be better to wait until everyone arrived and then explain everything clearly at once.
At eight twenty-five, everyone had finally arrived.
Harry explained everything from start to finish.
Everyone loved the place.
None of them had ever imagined that such a space existed inside Hogwarts.
After things quieted down, Hermione stood up, looking a little nervous, and said,
"Anyway, welcome, everyone. I think the first thing we should do is choose a leader."
"I choose Darren!"
Cho Chang said without the slightest hesitation.
Darren hurriedly waved his hands.
"No, no, don't choose me. I'll just introduce the magic I know and teach everyone. I'm not—"
Harry laughed.
"But that is Darren's magic. A lot of it was figured out by Darren himself. I think only Darren can be the leader!"
Harry said firmly.
"Yes. I think Darren is the strongest among us," Ginny added without hesitation.
"I don't think anyone here believes they're stronger than Darren, right?"
Hermione laughed, then continued,
"Alright, if you agree that Darren should be our leader, raise your hand."
All eighty-nine students in the Room of Requirement raised their hands at the same time.
Darren felt completely speechless.
But as a little Holy Father, he put on a shocked and embarrassed expression.
"I really can't do this. I don't understand leadership at all, I always—"
"Oh, Darren, don't be afraid. I'll help you!"
Hermione said seriously.
"Yes, me too!"
Harry nodded vigorously.
Darren looked around again.
He realized that no one here actually cared whether he wanted to be the leader.
In their eyes, if Darren didn't lead them, then no one else was qualified to do so.
Darren was at a loss for words.
He couldn't help thinking—if Umbridge found out that this Defense Against the Dark Arts group was led by him, what kind of reaction would she have?
Or maybe he could lie to Umbridge and pretend to be a double agent for the Ministry of Magic.
Lie to her for a whole year.
Anyway, by the end of the school year, Cornelius Fudge would probably fall.
Darren thought about it carefully, then finally nodded.
The entire room erupted into cheers.
The Weasley twins excitedly set off a firework cannon, instantly filling the whole room with sparks and explosions.
Darren waved his wand helplessly, and all the fireworks vanished in an instant.
He looked at Fred and George with a disapproving expression and said,
"This is still a classroom. Please don't make things difficult for me."
"Oh Merlin, you cleaned all of that up?"
"That's at least seventh-year level!"
"No, even seventh-years can't do that!"
In the end, the twins spoke in unison,
"Little Darren has grown up. He's stronger!"
Darren showed an embarrassed smile.
He really wanted to say a few words full of Holy Father radiance, but Hermione was already speaking again.
"Alright, the leader is settled. Next, we need to decide on a name."
"How about The Anti-Umbridge Alliance?"
"That sounds stupid."
"Then Anti–Ministry of Magic?"
"That's even worse!"
"A secret society?"
Everyone began talking excitedly at once.
Darren hesitated and said,
"How about Defense Against the Dark Arts Study Group?"
His words immediately silenced the room.
Hermione even felt the urge to rub his head and tell him not to be this well-behaved.
It was honestly a little too cute.
Darren pouted.
He genuinely thought Defense Against the Dark Arts Study Group sounded good.
Or maybe Defense Against the Dark Arts Training School?
As for Dumbledore's Army—it sounded far too dramatic.
But no one listened to him.
Worse, their discussion was drifting closer and closer to something resembling Dumbledore's Army anyway.
Finally, Cho Chang spoke hesitantly,
"I think Darren's idea isn't bad. We could call it the Defense Techniques Group, or DA for short."
"DA? You mean—couldn't that also stand for Darren's Army?"
Ginny suddenly said.
Darren froze.
Just like in the original timeline.
DA.
Darren + Army.
It actually worked.
Cho Chang nodded seriously and said,
"That's what I meant. Darren's Army—just hearing it, you know we're Darren's people."
Darren noticed several girls' eyes lighting up.
He suddenly felt that they looked less like an army and more like overly enthusiastic fans.
Thankfully, Hermione remained calm.
She sighed and said,
"It can't be called Darren's Army. If that name spreads, the Ministry of Magic will have an excuse to expel Darren."
"They've wanted to do that for a long time. It's only because Darren has never made a mistake that they haven't dared."
"But if they get an excuse like this, they'll throw him out without hesitation."
"The Ministry already suspects us of forming an anti-Ministry organization."
"Darren has the strength, the ability, and he openly argues with Umbridge. He doesn't even attend her classes properly."
"They will definitely find a way to deal with him."
Hermione's words stunned the entire room into silence.
Only Zacharias Smith spoke up unhappily,
"The Ministry isn't brain-dead. I don't think they'd target a student like this."
"A student?" Fred scoffed.
"A student who could knock you out in one move?"
"Oh, Darren, don't worry. I'm not saying you will knock someone out. I'm just saying you can."
George glared at Zacharias and said angrily,
"Smith, if you don't believe in Darren's strength, then get out and don't take part at all."