Hogwarts: I Obtained the Paternal System — Part 15

Darren discreetly glanced around but failed to spot Hermione.

There were too many people around, after all. He could hardly ignore his image and twist his head around like an idiot in a situation like this.

Besides, he still needed to complete today's final temporary task.

So he hurried over to Mundungus, then said somewhat embarrassedly:

"Sorry, I think I heard him say that he knew Professor Dumbledore. Could I take him to Professor Dumbledore?

"Maybe he really was just joking with me. We can't casually bully a good person, but we can't let a bad person go either. Let's hand him over to Mr. Dumbledore, okay?"

Darren raised his head "obediently," revealing his fair, adorable little face.

His large, watery eyes could melt anyone's heart.

Not only was this child kind, but he was also extremely sensible.

Looking at Darren, then at Mundungus, some people felt their fists clench again.

Not only did this guy bully children, his character was terrible too. He stole things all day long.

Some of the people present knew Mundungus, yet not one of them was willing to explain things for him. That showed what kind of person Mundungus usually was.

"If Master Darren is willing, then Peeves can take this fellow before Dumbledore."

Peeves stood smiling before Darren.

His tone was exceedingly gentle, and the way he looked at Darren made Darren feel as though an elder were looking at a junior.

So what exactly was going on with this House-elf?

Could it be that he saw Darren as his son?

Ahem, probably not. Lily wouldn't go so far as to cheat with a House-elf.

Besides, Harry looked so much like James, which proved Lily's fidelity.

Or perhaps this was a House-elf from the Potter family that had not died out?

But the original story had never mentioned this House-elf at all, leaving him utterly confused.

Still, there probably was no problem. It would be incredibly easy for a House-elf to harm an ordinary student.

Especially since he was currently a student who had not even enrolled yet—so innocent he was foolish, so kind he was practically saintly.

Judging by appearances, he had no combat ability whatsoever.

These thoughts flashed through Darren's mind, but the way he looked at Peeves did not change in the slightest. He still looked just as trusting and innocent.

The sight made Peeves feel immensely pleased.

As expected of the little master.

Peeves was the final House-elf of the Potter ancestral home.

He was already very old, so when James and Lily had lived elsewhere, they had not brought him along. They had only left him behind to maintain the ancestral home.

If nothing unexpected happened, Peeves would have died of old age in the Potter ancestral home.

Because James and Lily had not left behind portraits before their deaths, no one else could possibly know the exact location of the Potter ancestral home.

Even Harry, if nothing unexpected happened, would never find the Potter ancestral home in this lifetime.

However, a few days earlier—

The portrait of the first Mrs. Potter of the Potter family had sensed a trace of Phoenix aura, and it had appeared on a descendant of the Potter family. So she had sent him out to investigate.

Only after asking around did he learn that so many things had happened over the years.

Master James and Mistress Lily had already passed away, leaving only two little masters outside.

He had first found Dumbledore, and Dumbledore had shared his suspicions.

He believed the Phoenix aura might have come from Darren.

At that time, Darren had still been asleep in the infirmary, so he went to find Harry instead.

Young Master Harry had been frightened by him, and he had even alarmed Petunia's family. They had nearly started arguing.

However, Peeves still learned the situation before returning to the Potter ancestral home to report it to the family's ancestral portraits.

After discussing it, everyone believed that compared with Young Master Harry, who bore the identity of The Chosen One and had the protection of Lily's blood curse—

Young Master Darren might need his protection more.

Thus, Young Master Darren became his little master.

At first, he had not understood. Harry had lived such a miserable life, so why had the family head not sent him to protect Young Master Harry?

Only after seeing Master Darren did he understand that, compared to Young Master Harry, Master Darren needed him more.

Little Master Darren was too kind.

He was just like every previous head of the Potter family.

Kind, brave, and unafraid of the powerful.

Their gazes were steadfast. No one resembled the Potter family's ancestors more than Little Master Darren.

Peeves could not help praising him inwardly.

Then he secretly pressed the recording device at his waist again.

This recording device was linked by thought to the Potter ancestral home. As long as he activated it, the Potter ancestors in the ancestral home could see what he saw.

The only troublesome part was that he had to press the device every so often, or its signal would be cut off.

Fortunately, Peeves was a House-elf. He would not grow tired.

He simply felt sorry for his little master.

His little master must have suffered greatly since childhood because of such outstanding qualities.

He absolutely had to take good care of Little Master Darren!

P.S.: The votes are currently Slytherin 11, Ravenclaw 10. The others remain unchanged.

Chapter 17: Don't, Don't Cry

"Little Master Darren, I'll take him to Mr. Dumbledore now. You can wait in this dessert shop. Children all love the cakes here."

Peeves smiled as he pulled Darren into the dessert shop and sat him down. He ordered him a slice of cake, then finally left while dragging Mundungus away and looking back every few steps.

Before long, however, Darren saw Peeves Apparate back, then take away a girl who looked rather cute.

Peeves also said something to the people still gathered around to watch the excitement, after which Mr. Granger was taken away with them as well.

Darren stroked his chin, wondering how Dumbledore would handle this matter.

It looked as though things had become quite serious.

Sigh, he had not expected what might originally have been a fight with barely a few exchanged words to turn into such a huge commotion.

Darren sighed sadly.

"Child, if you don't eat the cake soon, it won't taste as good."

A voice interrupted Darren's train of thought.

Darren had no choice but to lower his head and stare conflictedly at the slice of cake before him, which looked incredibly delicious.

By mental age, he was already an adult. Would people laugh at him for eating something women and children ate?

But smelling the sweet fragrance rising from the cake, he could not help taking a huge bite.

Well, it was definitely not because he liked this sort of thing. He was merely worried that Peeves would waste money.

He seemed to have seen Peeves give the clerk a Galleon just now.

Although he had only read the original Harry Potter novels and watched the films, he knew that a Galleon could buy plenty of sweets.

Yet a single cake was this expensive.

Sure enough, women and children were the easiest to make money from!

Another huge bite!

So delicious!

Cakes in the Wizarding World did not have fixed flavors.

It was said that they had been enchanted with Will and Illusion Magic.

No matter who ate them, they would feel as if they were eating the most delicious cake in the world.

Darren explained it to himself, proving that he was not a glutton.

He simply had not been able to resist.

An hour later, Peeves stood at the entrance of the cake shop with an amused expression, looking at his little master clutching armfuls of boxed cakes. Helplessly, he pulled out a bag of Galleons.

Fortunately, the Galleons he had brought from home this time were enough.

Otherwise, Little Master Darren would have had to put down those packaged cakes.

Thinking of Young Master Darren's emerald-green eyes becoming misty with tears, Peeves quietly decided that some of the Potter family's businesses could be brought back into operation.