Chapter 607: He Is Too Strong!!
"What's going on?"
"He's too strong!"
"Apparition is impossible inside the school—he took the stairs!"
Fudge shouted the moment they regained consciousness.
But after his outburst, there was only silence.
Because nearly everyone present had been knocked down.
Fudge had no memory of Darren attacking him at all—only the memory of Dumbledore subduing him in a single move.
That made him furious.
Still, he turned unwillingly toward Professor McGonagall and barked,
"Your friend Dumbledore is finished!"
"I look forward to that day,"
Professor McGonagall replied coldly.
Fudge was livid. For a moment, he even seemed tempted to lash out at her—but then he noticed Darren.
He hesitated, then finally said,
"Take your three students and leave. Don't stay here!"
As Harry was pulled away by Professor McGonagall, he turned back and heard Phineas Nigellus shout loudly,
"Minister, you know I've always disliked Dumbledore—but there's no denying the man has character!"
---
The next day.
Notices announcing that Umbridge had become Headmistress were plastered all over the school. Every student learned that Dumbledore had escaped.
Yet many of them said with confidence that Dumbledore would be fine.
After all, in second year, Dumbledore had also been forced out—and he had come back again.
There were even rumors that the current Minister, Fudge, was lying half-dead in the hospital ward.
What amused the students most, however, was that Umbridge had tried to enter the Headmaster's office—only for the two ugly stone gargoyles guarding the entrance to refuse her outright.
So even though she was now Headmistress, she couldn't get into the office at all.
"Someone like her doesn't deserve to be Headmistress. She just wants to sit on every student's head and boss them around…"
"Hermione Granger, are you sure you want to finish that sentence?"
Malfoy walked over with a smug look on his face.
Then he added,
"Looks like I'll have to deduct ten points from Gryffindor."
Darren frowned.
"Only professors can deduct points."
"Yes, but we're members of the Inquisitorial Squad now,"
Malfoy said proudly.
He circled around Harry, looked him up and down, then sneered,
"Improper uniform. Five points from Gryffindor. Hmm, buttons not fastened correctly…"
Darren grabbed him by the collar.
He said angrily,
"I'm arresting you right now! Why don't you try deducting points from me?"
Malfoy rolled his eyes.
"Since you're in Slytherin, I won't bother with you. But touch me again, and I'll deduct Gryffindor points."
Darren's face paled slightly. He silently let go.
Malfoy patted him on the shoulder smugly.
"So obedient. If only you behaved like this all the time."
Harry was furious and wanted to rush forward, but Darren pulled him back.
"Brother, he insulted me twice. I'm fine… don't let him deduct Gryffindor's points."
Harry could only glare at Malfoy. Malfoy laughed.
Before leaving, he glanced at Ron and mocked,
"Well, if it isn't King Weasley. So ugly it hurts my eyes—five points from Gryffindor!"
Ron clenched his fists but pretended not to hear. Malfoy looked extremely pleased.
He shot Harry one last glare and walked off with his group.
By noon, Gryffindor's points had been slashed brutally—and the same went for the other houses.
Except Slytherin, which sat comfortably at the top. The rest were nearly at the bottom.
---
That afternoon, while Harry was angrily ranting about Malfoy in the Gryffindor common room, Fred and George stormed back in as well.
After hearing what happened, they burst out laughing.
"He tried to deduct our points too," Fred said.
"So we stuffed Montague into a Vanishing Cabinet in the Room of Requirement," George added.
"What?!"
Hermione stared at them in horror.
"I'll go find him," Darren said anxiously. "I'll cast a Memory Charm—make him forget everything—"
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding…]
Darren panicked and hurried toward the door.
But Fred and George grabbed him together.
"Don't go, Darren. We tossed him into the cabinet—he'll be gone for a long time. No one will know where he is."
"What we really wanted to tell you is this: we're not staying at Hogwarts anymore. It's a waste of time."
"That's right. Dumbledore can leave—so why can't we? Umbridge pushed us to the point where we don't even want to study. Might as well take the chance and go."
"Do what we love. Don't worry—we'll take care of ourselves out there."
"Honestly, we're more worried about you. You're always getting hurt, always being deceived. You need to be more vigilant."
"We used to help you sneak out too—cough—anyway, this is just a small punishment for people who badmouth you."
"You can't keep letting yourself be bullied."
"Exactly. You were under our protection. But once we leave… little Darren will have no family left, no one to protect him…"
The twins spoke in unison,
"That's why we really don't want to leave!"
Darren's eyes reddened. He said softly,
"Then don't go. As long as I arrest them all, as long as I sacrifice just one or two people, everyone can—"
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding…]
"Oh Merlin, little Darren actually came up with such a terrifying idea."
"But we won't let him carry it out. He has far more important things to do."
"That's right. Little Darren is the best brother. We won't let him end up in Azkaban."
"Oh, and by the way—we forgot to tell you."
"Our whole family treats you as the youngest child."
Fred and George laughed as they pulled Darren into a hug.
"We're saying goodbye early. We're going to make a huge scene—wake more people up."
"Just remember one thing, Darren. You mustn't stop us."
"If you stop us, we'll stop. Then we'll definitely be detained—and tortured to death by Umbridge."
Darren's face went completely pale.
He shook his head frantically.
"I won't let you be caught. Even if it means death, I will—"
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding…]
"No, no, don't get involved," Fred said quickly.
"Or Mum will strangle us."
"Yeah," George added seriously.
"She'll scold us for not studying properly—and for dragging you into it too."