Chapter 609: Scandal?!
"Go back to dinner. You are not allowed to talk about what happened here."
Umbridge said coldly.
Then she turned and hurried out with Phelps.
Only Darren, Malfoy, and Harry were left in the office.
For a moment, the atmosphere was unbearably awkward.
Darren had not expected Umbridge to suddenly grab and tear at his clothes under the pretext of "verification." He had failed to react in time—and Malfoy had seen everything.
If it were anyone else, a scandal might have been tolerable.
But with Umbridge?
The thought alone made Darren feel sick.
Still, when he saw that Umbridge was on the verge of a complete mental collapse, he had chosen to help her regain clarity. Otherwise, more people would have rushed in, and the situation would have become impossible to explain.
If rumors spread that he had something with Umbridge, it would be utterly irredeemable.
Fortunately, the only witnesses were his brother and Malfoy.
Harry would never speak of it.
As for Malfoy… that was uncertain.
Just as Darren pretended to stir, as if waking from a trance—
Malfoy suddenly moved.
He pointed his wand straight at Darren and shouted sharply,
"Obliviate!"
Darren closed his eyes and collapsed.
Harry caught him at once and looked at Malfoy hesitantly.
Malfoy put away his wand with an indifferent expression and said in a low voice,
"He helped me before. This is repayment. I hope you won't say anything."
"Hmph. I won't,"
Harry replied coldly.
His opinion of Malfoy had not improved in the slightest.
He supported Darren and left the office immediately. Just being there made him feel nauseous.
Once outside, Darren slowly regained consciousness. He shook his head, then processed the memories Malfoy had altered.
In those memories, as soon as Darren entered Umbridge's office, Phelps had called Umbridge away. Then Harry arrived, Darren suddenly fainted, and that was all.
Harry looked at him nervously.
Darren quickly smiled apologetically.
"Sorry, brother. I think I zoned out just now. It's fine—I'll rest properly tonight, okay?"
Only then did he notice his torn clothes. He looked down at them in confusion.
Harry felt a stab of guilt.
He had forgotten to help Darren straighten his clothes earlier.
Thinking quickly, he lied,
"It was when I helped you just now—I accidentally tore them. By the way, Fred and George seem to have started already. Listen… it's really loud."
He changed the subject decisively.
Darren nodded obediently, fixed his clothes, and followed Harry toward the source of the noise.
Downstairs was utter chaos.
Fred and George had clearly unleashed a massive box of enchanted fireworks.
Red and green dragons darted wildly through the air, exploding with deafening bangs. Enormous wheel-shaped fireworks—nearly five feet across—spun through the foyer, spraying dazzling sparks.
Rocket launchers detonated repeatedly, only to instantly repair themselves and explode again upon hitting obstacles.
Flying saucers zipped through the air, actively seeking targets. Firework sticks screamed curses at the top of their lungs:
"Umbridge is a big idiot!"
"Dolores eats dungbombs!"
Instead of fading, the fireworks grew stronger with time.
They were completely out of control.
Umbridge and Phelps stood frozen in shock.
Phelps instinctively hid behind Umbridge—but then, as if pushed by an invisible force, he stumbled forward into the center of the foyer.
Fireworks swarmed him instantly.
Boom!
"One!"
Umbridge shrieked.
"Who did this?! Who pushed him?!"
She turned, trying to find a Gryffindor—or anyone else—to blame.
But behind her stood a group of Slytherins, watching Phelps's misery with open fascination.
When Umbridge looked at them, they all put on innocent, puzzled expressions, as if nothing had happened.
"Headmistress…"
Phelps let out a final, pitiful cry before collapsing in a cloud of black smoke.
He was completely unconscious.
A strong smell of scorched flesh filled the air—almost like overcooked meat.
Umbridge's face twisted in horror. She desperately wanted to retreat, to escape—
But then she remembered.
She was the Headmistress now.
She had to deal with this.
Gritting her teeth, she raised her wand and tried to destroy a flying saucer.
The saucer struck her spell, burst into flames, then shot straight back into the swarm of fireworks.
The fireworks went berserk.
They burst out through windows, flooded corridors, invaded classrooms—
It truly looked as if the entire castle was about to be blown apart.
Darren and Harry finally found Fred and George.
The twins were hiding in a corner, laughing so hard they could barely stand, watching Umbridge's suffering with delight.
When they saw Darren, concern immediately replaced their laughter.
"Harry said you were dragged away by that mad toad. We started early, just in case. Hope she didn't torture you too badly."
"No," Darren said sincerely.
"Thank you. I'd only just arrived when she was called away. She was very strange today—I think she had bad intentions. Fortunately, you showed up in time."
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
Fred and George were both touched—and shocked.
"Oh Merlin, little Darren knows the word vigilance!"
"If Mum found out, she'd be so proud!"
Only Harry's heart was filled with cold fury.
If Fred and George hadn't caused this chaos… Darren might really have been harmed by Umbridge.
The thought made him feel sick.
So that was why Umbridge kept calling Darren to her office.
That disgusting, vicious, repulsive toad.
((T : I wonder what Snape's reaction will be when he see this while training harry in olcomency))
"Darren," Harry said firmly,
"if she ever calls you for detention again, you are absolutely not allowed to go. I won't allow you to be locked in a room with her ever again."
Darren looked at him.
Seeing the anger and protectiveness in Harry's eyes, he pretended to be puzzled and nodded obediently.
"If my brother says so, then I won't go," he said softly.
"I was just worried she'd retaliate against you. But now… it seems my brother has really grown up."
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Holy Father +100]
Darren smiled.