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Chapter 13 — The Kind Little Wizard
Darren nodded slightly.
He had already guessed that Dumbledore wanted him sorted into Gryffindor.
It made sense — generations of Potters had been in that House, and the Boy Who Lived would be there too.
If he ended up sharing a dorm with Harry, he'd need to be familiar with the place in advance.
Not that he cared where the Sorting Hat put him.
He could play the role of the saintly "Holy Father" anywhere — even in Slytherin if it came to that.
So, he simply followed Paggy without protest.
---
They climbed stair after stair until they reached the very top of Gryffindor Tower.
A large portrait of the Fat Lady swung slightly on its hinges as they approached.
"Password?" she demanded with mild impatience.
"Worthless," Paggy said promptly.
The Fat Lady sniffed. "So are you! Professor McGonagall told me you're a new student. Don't you dare disturb my sleep wandering around at night!"
Her tone made Darren suppress a laugh.
Apparently, Gryffindor students were a handful — especially a pair of twins who seemed to make nightly chaos a tradition.
Darren smiled sweetly. "Don't worry, ma'am. I won't go running around."
Of course, that was a lie.
Who comes to Hogwarts and doesn't sneak out for a night tour? he thought.
It was practically a rite of passage.
Still, he didn't have an Invisibility Cloak, and he couldn't use Disillusionment Charms yet — best not to ruin his image on the first night.
"Oh, what a polite boy," the Fat Lady said fondly. "If only more of my Gryffindors were like you."
She swung forward, revealing the entrance to the common room.
---
The Gryffindor common room was exactly as Darren had imagined — warm, bright, and draped in red and gold.
A cheerful fire danced in the hearth, and cozy armchairs were scattered around the room.
The wind rattled softly against the high windows, making the place feel even more inviting.
Two staircases rose from opposite sides of the room — one for the boys' dormitories, the other for the girls'.
Paggy led Darren up the boys' stairs and pushed open the door to the first dormitory.
The room was large, with four-poster beds draped in thick scarlet curtains and golden tassels.
The bedding looked soft and freshly changed — clearly prepared for him.
Darren chose a bed near the window and set his belongings on it. Paggy immediately began tidying up, folding his robes and stacking the candies neatly on the nightstand.
---
"Thank you, Paggy," Darren said politely. "Did Professor Dumbledore happen to tell you what I should do next?"
It had already been three days since he'd woken up — and he'd missed nine temporary missions.
He couldn't afford to waste another one.
"Yes," Paggy said cheerfully. "Professor Dumbledore mentioned that you might want to visit Diagon Alley to buy your school supplies. You'll need a wand, of course, and books. There are only three days left before term starts — plenty to prepare!"
Her large eyes twinkled kindly. "Other than your wand, I can fetch anything else you need."
Darren blinked. His instincts told him this elf wasn't an ordinary servant — she was sharp, maybe even magically powerful.
Still, he smiled shyly, lowering his head just so.
"Thank you, Professor Dumbledore, and thank you, Paggy," he said, sounding modest. "I really wouldn't know what to do without your help. This is my first time in the wizarding world, and everyone's been so kind to me… it makes me really happy."
Paggy's expression softened even further.
Darren could almost hear the invisible "+1 +1 +1" of goodwill points stacking in his mind.
"Professor Dumbledore and the other teachers are very fond of you already," Paggy said warmly.
Then she hesitated. "Mr. Darren… have you ever tried Apparition? It would be faster if I took you to Diagon Alley that way."
"Of course," Darren replied gently. "Thank you, Paggy."
Her smile deepened. "You really are the most polite child I've ever met."
She took his hand. The world blurred — and with a soft crack, they appeared in a bustling street filled with color and motion.
---
"Cauldrons! Finest pewter cauldrons, standard size two!"
"Brand-new Nimbus Lightwheel broomsticks! The best for first-years!"
"Fresh pets for Hogwarts students — owls, cats, and toads!"
"Mom, I want that quill—"
The air buzzed with life. Darren looked around in wonder.
So this is Diagon Alley…
Shops crowded both sides of the narrow street — potion ingredients, wands, robes, spellbooks — everything gleamed with an otherworldly charm.
The wizarding world really does look magical, he thought, half in awe.
---
Just as he was taking it all in, two voices rose nearby — sharp and angry.
"How did a Muggle get in here?" snapped a wizard in tattered robes, clutching a broken umbrella like a cane. "This place is for wizards!"
"If you talk like that in the Muggle world, they'll lock you up in an asylum!" retorted an ordinary-looking man in a neat jacket.
The two were clearly on the verge of fighting.
The wizard's hat was frayed, his robe filthy — he looked like a fallen noble, bitter and proud despite his state.
Darren sighed inwardly.
People like that were trouble — all bluster and jealousy.
He turned to leave.
---
But then the system chimed.
> [Ding! The system has detected an opportunity for a "Holy Father" action.]
Temporary Quest: Step between the wizard and the Muggle, and say in a firm, righteous tone:
"Sir, I can't allow you to bully ordinary people. If you have grievances, take them out on me. Even Muggles deserve respect — they are people too!"
Reward: Title — "Wand Keeper" (Your wand will never be lost once bound).
Do you accept this quest?
"Accept," Darren thought immediately.
Sure, the reward wasn't as exciting as a Phoenix Egg, but still — a title was a title. And all he had to do was talk.
He straightened his back, took a deep breath, and stepped forward.
The lazy, curious look in his eyes vanished, replaced by anger and conviction.
He planted himself between the wizard and the Muggle, voice trembling slightly but filled with courage:
"Sir, how can you bully an ordinary person? So what if he's a Muggle? Muggles are people too — and I don't believe your family hasn't had a Muggle ancestor somewhere!"
He glared up at the taller wizard. "If you're angry, vent it on me. But don't take it out on someone powerless!"
> [Ding! Quest complete. Title Wand Keeper acquired.]
The familiar mechanical chime echoed in his mind.
The crowd murmured, some surprised, others impressed.
And from the edge of the crowd, a little girl with messy hair — a Muggle child — stared at Darren with wide, shining eyes.
Her expression softened into awe.
Oh my god, she thought, there really are kind wizards in the world…
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