Chapter 801: Side Story — Snape 10

Snape paid no attention to this farce at all.

Lucius was a nobleman, and Snape wouldn't find it strange if he did just about anything.

As long as that friend wasn't him.

As for Lily... How could that possibly be true?

Snape shook his head and returned to his residence.

But before the matter could be put behind him, he received news that Darren had invented a new antidote.

It could neutralize more than three hundred kinds of poison.

Apart from werewolf bite, it worked well against just about everything else.

Talented!

The boy was truly a genius!

If Lily had married him, their child might have turned out just like Darren.

That was practically everything Snape could have hoped for.

A child who looked like Lily, possessed the same noble character as her, and inherited her talent.

Dumbledore had even recommended Darren for the Order of Merlin, First Class.

Why couldn't this boy be his?

Snape covered his face in anguish.

Before he knew it, the new school year had arrived.

He noticed that neither Harry Potter nor Darren had shown up.

For a while, he sat there in a daze, feeling rather bored.

What had Harry Potter dragged Darren off to do this time? He hoped the boy wouldn't cause trouble.

Just as he was thinking about it, he saw Darren quietly slipping in from outside. The moment the little cub noticed Snape watching him, he guiltily lowered his head.

*Hmph.*

So what if he was late? Was Snape going to get angry over something so trivial?

Snape turned his gaze elsewhere, looking around anxiously.

However, before long, the little cub's sorrowful voice rang out.

"Please, tell me. Where is my brother?"

*Could someone as big as Harry Potter really get lost?* Snape complained inwardly.

Then he heard Draco mention that Harry Potter had been flying through the sky in a car.

Snape froze.

He hurriedly picked up the *Daily Prophet* that Lockhart had left aside.

There it was, right on the front page.

**Harry Potter Drives a Flying Car — Hogwarts Privileges?**

*What a show-off!*

Snape stared at the headline in exasperation.

Compared with that reckless brat, look at Darren. The little cub was so afraid of being told where his brother was that he could barely bring himself to ask.

The contrast was practically a joke!

Just as Snape was silently complaining, he suddenly heard screams erupting from the Slytherin table.

"Dean, Darren is bleeding!"

"Professor, Darren..."

"Professor, save Darren!"

The cries overlapped, one after another.

Snape rushed over and reached Darren's side.

The little cub was covered in blood. His eyes were vacant as he stared straight ahead, muttering something about his brother.

Meanwhile, a terrifying force was spreading from his body.

"Potter!"

Snape shouted almost instinctively.

*Is he dead?*

"You're mad! Just calm down... Potter! Darren... Calm down!"

Snape couldn't suppress the force for Darren. The boy could only rely on himself.

But looking at Darren's dazed, delirious expression, Snape couldn't even tell whether he was going to survive.

Until—

"Darren Potter... If you blow up the Great Hall, a great many students could die. Would you want that?"

Snape leaned down and spoke directly into the little cub's ear.

He felt this might be the only way to save him.

And it worked.

Darren gradually regained his senses.

But his mind was still filled with worries about everyone who might get hurt. He worried about the professors, his classmates, and Harry Potter...

His face was as pale as paper.

Finally, he sank to the ground, his eyes red.

He wasn't even crying, yet the sight made everyone's hearts tremble.

Snape noticed several Slytherin girls wiping away their tears.

Even that all-purpose Gryffindor girl had tried to rush over and help the little cub, only to be stopped by a professor standing nearby.

They were afraid Darren might lose control again.

And now, the little cub was sinking back into his own emotions. He sat motionless, staring blankly into space, leaving everyone shaken by the sight.

"Potter, drink this!"

Snape cautiously approached him and took out a potion.

He still had his wand in his hand. If Darren showed signs of losing control again, Snape had decided to knock him unconscious himself.

Perhaps the best solution would be to drag Harry Potter over and make him explain everything to Darren.

Fortunately, after Snape barked at him, Darren seemed to snap out of his thoughts. Even in his barely conscious state, he recognized the potion.

Snape snorted, his expression improving slightly.

Before the cub could react, Snape seized the opportunity, grabbed the potion, and poured it into his mouth.

"Cough! Cough!"

Darren began coughing violently.

Snape immediately felt the condemning stares of everyone around him.

Several girls even dared to glare at him.

Oh, right. He remembered.

Once classes began, he would deduct points from all of them!

As he carried Darren to the Hospital Wing, Snape could still hear Professor McGonagall's distressed voice behind him.

"Severus... You can't go against a student's wishes! Oh, poor little Darren..."

*Hmph!*

If he hadn't forced that boy to drink the potion, he would have become *poor little Darren* for real!

It was only after arriving at the Hospital Wing that Snape finally learned why Darren had ended up in such a state.

It turned out that the boy had sustained serious injuries while saving Nicolas Flamel before coming to school. The Ministry of Magic had given him only basic treatment before allowing him to return to Hogwarts.

He should have been able to hold on until the welcoming feast was over before going to the Hospital Wing.

But then, because he was worried about Harry Potter, he had suddenly suffered a magical outburst.

Snape sat outside the Hospital Wing with his head in his hands.

His heart was filled with bitterness.

*Oh, Lily!*

*What would you think if you knew your child had grown into such a kindhearted fool, always putting himself in harm's way to protect others?*

The boy had inherited every one of your finest qualities.

It made it impossible for Snape to be harsh with him. Instead, all he felt was heartache.

Darren made Snape afraid to say even a single stern word to him.

Even after the magical outburst, the boy had still been worrying about everyone else.

Sometimes, Snape wished Darren would be a little more selfish.

Perhaps he could be a little more like Potter. A little more reckless, a little less kind.

Then Snape wouldn't have to spend every day worrying himself sick over him.

When he heard Dumbledore's voice, Snape wanted to laugh.

Even if it was only a mocking laugh.

But he couldn't manage even that.

Just thinking about the little cub inside gave him a headache. And then Dumbledore had the nerve to say Darren was fine.

Fine?

The boy had nearly died, and he was calling him fine?

Come to think of it, Snape ought to thank the so-called savior for being photographed in that flying car. Otherwise, that foolish boy might have worked himself into a frenzy worrying about Harry and died right there.

Snape thought irritably.

Then he heard Dumbledore telling him to treat Harry Potter more kindly, using Lily's eyes as an example.

Had Dumbledore never looked into Darren's eyes?

Had things really come to the point where Snape had to rely on a miniature version of James Potter to remind himself of Lily?

*Damn it!*

Fine. If Dumbledore wanted him to get closer to Harry Potter, then he would.

"I'll go and wait for Harry Potter now. Just as you suggested, Dumbledore. Perhaps I really should make an effort to get closer to that child!"