Chapter 33

Only after managing to soothe Pocky did Darren remember Hermione and Mundungus.

"The little master is truly too kind, still remembering that Muggle man and his daughter."

Pocky couldn't help but exclaim, pressing the recorder at its waist as it continued:

"Pocky sent the man named Mundungus to Mr. Dumbledore's office. Mr. Dumbledore said he was very grateful to the little master and that he would handle the matter properly.

That goes without saying; if not for the little master, a terrifying case of a Muggle being attacked would have occurred here. It is thanks to the little master's righteous intervention that this disaster was averted."

Pocky looked at Darren with adoration, its large eyes almost sparkling.

Darren, feeling slightly guilty, shifted his gaze away.

Ah, this...

If he hadn't been involved, this incident might not have happened at all.

"Ahem, it's not as exaggerated as you say; I only made a negligible contribution.

Besides, it looks like a misunderstanding; it might have been better if I hadn't appeared..."

However, Pocky clearly didn't think so.

It proudly raised its hands and cried out dramatically:

"No, this must have been a murder attempt!

My little master is the kindest child in the world; he stopped a riot, and he is so humble—he could even apply for the World Peace Prize!"

"Stop, stop saying that..."

Darren watched the gazes of the people around them being drawn by Pocky, feeling utterly embarrassed, wishing he could curl his toes and dig a Hogwarts out of the ground.

He felt that house-elves, as a species, were his absolute nemesis.

Pocky clearly didn't get Darren's thoughts.

It was still immersed in the emotion of praising its little master.

"Little Master Darren, you are the greatest young wizard in the world. When you grow up, you will be the second Dumbledore!"

"..."

Darren silently covered his face and moved a bit further away from this embarrassing house-elf.

If I have sinned, please let Merlin punish me!

"Alright Pocky, I need to buy a wand; you go ahead and send all these cakes back first..."

Darren lamented.

Forget it, forget it; he didn't want to know the aftermath.

He was afraid of dying of social embarrassment in Diagon Alley today.

Pocky followed along happily, took the cakes from Darren's hands, and disappeared on the spot with a crack of Apparition.

Although it reappeared the next second, it still made Darren breathe a huge sigh of relief.

At the very least, Pocky's mood had calmed down now.

"Little master, before buying the wand, we might need to withdraw some money; what Pocky brought out has all been spent."

Pocky said guiltily.

There weren't many Galleons left at the old Potter family estate, only some property deeds and a shampoo recipe.

If they wanted Galleons, they would need to run a factory themselves.

Or rent out those plots of land.

But Pocky hadn't thought of this before; what a useless Pocky.

Pocky raised its hand, wanting to punish itself, but was stopped by Darren's quick reflexes.

"Alright Pocky, you've already done very well. I don't understand anything, and I'll need your help in the future. Don't learn from other house-elves and punish yourself!"

That would make his "saintly father" persona seem a bit too fake.

Saving others outside, while letting his own house-elf punish itself at home.

The persona would collapse!