Chapter 618 Run, Professor, Run!!
The next day was the Charms exam.
Darren still completed everything perfectly.
In the practical portion, his performance earned unanimous praise from the examiners.
On the third day came Herbology.
Every plant Darren handled flawlessly. The only one who could match him was Neville.
The fourth day was, naturally, Defense Against the Dark Arts.
Umbridge personally supervised the exam.
Darren completed every spell and counter-spell without a single mistake. The same was true for Harry.
The success of the two of them made Umbridge's eyes widen with barely concealed fury.
Friday was Ancient Runes.
Darren hadn't chosen that subject, so he rested for the day along with Harry and the others.
But in the afternoon, no one knew who had released a Niffler into Umbridge's office.
The Niffler bit Umbridge's leg.
Under normal circumstances, this would have been hilarious.
But Harry and the others couldn't laugh at all.
Because Umbridge would only hate Hagrid even more now. In her mind, this could only be Hagrid's doing, and she would definitely retaliate against him.
The weekend passed with heavy hearts.
Monday arrived again, and it was time for Potions.
The written Potions exam was still easy for Darren.
As for the practical exam, Snape didn't appear at all. Instead, the potion they were required to brew was exactly the same one Darren had prepared earlier during his career consultation with Snape.
He had already brewed it once with ease.
The second time, he could practically do it with his eyes closed.
The supervising professor gave him a satisfied smile.
Tuesday was Care of Magical Creatures.
This was almost effortless for Darren.
Wednesday morning was the Astronomy written exam.
Again, Darren had no trouble at all.
Astronomy's practical exam took place at night.
The afternoon was reserved for Divination.
That exam nearly made Darren laugh.
Professor Marchbanks asked Harry to read her future from the tea leaves.
Harry stared at them for a long time and finally concluded that Professor Marchbanks would receive a visit from a rather chubby man tonight.
As for palm reading, Harry hesitantly said—based on his "knowledge"—that Professor Marchbanks might have died last month.
Probably because Harry's divination was far too ominous, Professor Marchbanks was afraid Darren would say something similar.
So she asked Darren to predict what would happen tonight.
Darren used tea leaves, a crystal ball, and palm reading, and calmly told her that tonight's sky would be clear and cloudless.
While Professor Marchbanks was left dizzy and confused, Darren quietly slipped away.
Even if one knew the future, restraint was a basic principle of divination.
In any case, he felt he could safely give up this subject.
At eleven o'clock that night, Darren stood at the top of the Astronomy Tower, observing the stars.
Professor Tofty asked them to mark the positions of the stars and planets.
Darren finished quickly. Barely half an hour had passed.
He pretended to continue observing, but had already adjusted his telescope toward Hagrid's hut.
Sure enough.
About an hour later, the castle gates opened, spilling out bright yellow light.
Five or six tall, shadowy figures emerged.
Darren recognized one of them immediately—Dawlish, the Auror who had accompanied Fudge before.
Umbridge was afraid Hagrid might escape. She had even brought Aurors with her.
The figures entered Hagrid's hut. Then everything went quiet.
Suddenly—
A violent tremor.
Hagrid burst out of the hut.
The Aurors rushed after him. Red beams of light shot continuously toward Hagrid as several spells struck him.
But thanks to his giant bloodline, the spells barely affected him. Instead, he fought back with his fists.
"Ah—!"
Hermione let out a scream.
Professor Tofty, who was supervising the exam, shouted nervously,
"Examination! Examination! Sixteen minutes remaining!"
But no one paid him any attention.
Everyone had their telescopes trained on the scene.
More red spells hit Hagrid.
He still stood firm.
Someone shouted, "Hagrid, calm down!"
"Calm down?" Hagrid roared. "I won't let you take me!"
Darren saw Fang rush to Hagrid's side, trying to protect him—only to be struck by a red spell.
Fang collapsed.
Hagrid flew into a rage. He grabbed one of the attackers and slammed him into the ground.
The man stopped moving.
Screams rang out.
Professor Tofty was still shouting about the remaining ten minutes, but no one listened.
At that moment, the castle doors opened again.
Professor McGonagall rushed out, shouting furiously.
"How dare you! He's done nothing wrong—on what grounds are you arresting him?!"
Her answer was four simultaneous spells.
Professor McGonagall's eyes widened—
A flash of light appeared in front of her.
It was Darren.
Darren collapsed to the ground.
His face was deathly pale as he looked toward Professor McGonagall and shouted:
"Run, Professor—run!"
Professor McGonagall finally snapped back to her senses.
Hagrid blocked her path.
"Cowards! Sneaking rubbish!"
He swung his fists heavily.
Three of them collapsed on the spot. The last one staggered backward.
As for Umbridge, she screamed hysterically, trying to order Hagrid's arrest.
But by then, Hagrid had already nodded once at Professor McGonagall, hoisted Fang onto his back, and fled into the night.
Another red spell struck Hagrid, but it bounced harmlessly away.
Professor Tofty rushed over to Darren and checked him with his wand, his face turning anxious.
"Magical exhaustion. You need to go to the hospital wing—Merlin, how did you even manage to cast a Shield Charm from that distance?"
Darren was being supported by Hermione.
He shook his head. He had no intention of going to the hospital wing.
Instead, he said he had a potion in his dormitory and would drink it once he got back.
Harry and the others understood immediately.
He was afraid that in the hospital wing, someone like Snape might get another chance to tamper with his potions.
"That vicious woman," Hermione snarled, holding Darren tightly.
"She deliberately chose the middle of the night to deal with Hagrid!"
Darren nodded weakly.
Leaning against Hermione, he said softly,
"Obviously. But they underestimated Hagrid. His giant bloodline makes him extremely resistant to the Stunning Spell."
"Now that Hagrid is gone… I hope he can make it safely back to Dumbledore."
"And I hope Professor McGonagall is alright. She's older now and was caught off guard. When so many Stunning Spells hit her at once, I was really scared something would happen."
"When Hagrid was attacked, I was already at my limit. Thankfully… no one on our side was seriously hurt."
[Ding, Holy Father value +100]
[Ding, Holy Father value +100]
[Ding, Holy Father value +100]
[Ding…]