Chapter 1329

Darren smiled and glanced at his cauldron.

Then he turned off the heat under his cauldron and added a bit of juice from the Sopophorous beans.

The color of his potion immediately turned the same pink as Harry's, though it looked slightly more like a deep red.

"Brother, I'm glad you're finally willing to use your brain in Potions class. But those are old methods; I was already using that technique back in my second year.

But I felt it was too slow, so I switched to this method. If you like it, write it down so you can use it next time!"

Harry was dumbfounded.

He looked back at his Potions textbook, which he regarded as the ultimate guide, and suddenly felt like a total bumpkin.

Sure enough, even for a genius's methods, they could still be improved upon.

He sighed, resigned.

His thoughts turned to Malfoy.

Harry believed that Malfoy must be up to some conspiracy.

And it was Voldemort who had made Malfoy do it.

However, both Ron and Hermione thought it unlikely.

Because Dumbledore was here, and Darren was here, how could Malfoy possibly accomplish anything?

Even when Harry secretly told them that Malfoy had the Dark Mark on his arm,

they still didn't believe Voldemort would entrust Malfoy with anything important.

"This is just a punishment Darren mentioned; You-Know-Who is probably just punishing them," Hermione said.

Ron said the same, but Harry felt it was simply impossible.

Unfortunately, only Darren shared his opinion.

Though, what Darren shared with him was only the belief that Malfoy would cause trouble; Darren believed Malfoy might have been assigned an important task by Voldemort.

Either to kill Dumbledore, blow up Hogwarts, or perhaps even plan to wipe them all out.

Harry wondered if Darren was overthinking it.

How could Voldemort entrust such a doomed-to-fail task to Malfoy?

It was impossible!

Regardless, Harry didn't want to believe it.

Although past experiences told him that much of what Darren said was correct, what if Darren was wrong this time?

Of course.

No matter what Malfoy was actually planning, Harry believed he was definitely up to no good, and he had to keep an eye on Malfoy!

He heard Malfoy cozying up to Slughorn.

"Professor, have you heard of my grandfather?"

"Oh, I have. I remember he died of syphilis; I was very saddened..."

Harry almost laughed out loud.

His laughter was heard by Malfoy.

Malfoy turned back and glared at him coldly.

He mouthed, "Potter, you're dead!"

Harry, not to be outdone, mouthed back, "Your Azkaban father!"

Malfoy almost stood up to hit him.

Fortunately, at that moment, Slughorn finally ended the potion competition.

"Children, that's enough. Let me see your results and see who among you will receive my prize!"

Everyone stopped what they were doing.

Slughorn started with the first student.

He stirred a student's potion from time to time, revealing a smile or a wry grimace.

Then he walked past Ron's mud-like cauldron and arrived at Hermione's side.

He said happily, "Excellent, child! Ten points to Gryffindor!"

Then he walked to Darren's cauldron.

He revealed a look of shock.

He almost gasped as he said, "My heavens, Darren, has your Professor Snape ever told you that you've made an improved potion?

You are more than a genius. I believe you are destined to become a great man, though you are already a great man now!"

Slughorn shouted loudly.

Then he glanced at Harry's potion.

He said with a beaming smile, "Look, Harry's potion, while not as strong as Darren's improved version, is still better than everyone else's here!

However, I only have one prize, and I must give it to the well-deserving Darren!"

Darren smiled and put away the potion.

He waited a minute or two, while everyone pretended not to pay attention but were actually still watching him, and slipped the potion into Harry's hand.

"Brother, don't refuse. I intended to give it to you all along. You are always in danger; I hope this helps you.

Don't worry about me, I can brew it again. You know, I know how to brew these."

【Ding, Saintly Father Value +100】

【Ding, Saintly Father Value +100】

【Ding, Saintly Father Value +100】

【Ding...】

When Darren collected the Saintly Father Value, he noticed Hermione's expression was even more jealous.

Clearly, she was extremely upset.

That evening.

As they watched the merpeople swimming on the lawn, Hermione asked anxiously, "Harry, how did you do it?"

"Well, I was..."

Harry told her about his Potions textbook.

Ron wore an envious expression.

"Just a little bit, just a little bit more and I could have gotten that book!"

"But that's cheating! You didn't do it on your own merit..."

"But he didn't get Slughorn's prize either!"

Ron defended Harry.

This angered Hermione even more.

"How did he not get it? Didn't Darren give him that bottle of Felix Felicis?"

"So that's why you're angry..."

Harry was speechless.

Hermione yelled furiously: "I am not! I'm just worried you're being tricked by a book, just like the diary in our second year! I'm not jealous!"

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