CHAPTER-12 Elf Pachi

Darren accepted the potion that Madame Pomfrey handed him, curiously poking his head to sniff it and tasting it tentatively. It didn't carry the pronounced bitterness as described in the original book but had a mellow flavor.

Downing it in one gulp, he contemplated Pomfrey's mention of moonlight herb, pondering its potential value as a medicinal ingredient.

"Alright, this lad has taken his medicine and needs rest. It's time for you to leave!" Madame Pomfrey declared, waving her hands and ushering Dumbledore and Snape out of the infirmary.

As Darren entertained a mischievous thought, drowsiness overcame him, and he yawned before succumbing to a deep sleep.

Upon waking, the sunshine streamed through the window, and on the table awaited a dozen bags of candy, two sets of black wizarding clothes, and two sets of Muggle casual clothes.

Snape, he assumed, had purchased the attire. Accompanying them were a dozen greeting cards, all sent by Hogwarts professors.

Perusing the cards, Darren spotted one from Quirinus Quirrell. Reflecting on the fate of this professor, Darren chuckled sadly. Quirrell was sure to meet his end this year. Three days had passed since Darren fell asleep, and he felt a pang of regret for missing nine temporary missions.

"How did I sleep for three days? Shouldn't potion have been effective in just one gulp? Is this considered a work injury? Will the system compensate for the missed tasks?"

Darren's thoughts raced as disappointment sank in. The system seemed impervious to his playful taunts.

Madame Pomfrey, smiling warmly, approached Darren to conduct a thorough examination. "Yes, the wound is completely healed, and Severus's potions have been effective. You've slept all three days.

If Severus and I hadn't checked on you multiple times and ensured it was just fatigue, you might have been sent to St. Mungo's due to his persistence," she explained.

Shocked by the revelation, Darren regretted missing out on the tasks. "Okay, boy, you can be discharged from the hospital. I hope you don't end up as skinny as those Gryffindor classmates who frequent the school doctor's office."

"Gryffindor?" Darren questioned, feigning ignorance at this point.

"Oh, right, you're from a Muggle background. Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin are the four houses at Hogwarts.

The Sorting Hat will decide your house when you start school, but here's a little secret: if you meet the requirements, you can propose the house you want to join. Slytherin values pure blood, Gryffindor values courage, Ravenclaw values studiousness, and Hufflepuff values integrity.

If you possess the qualities, the Sorting Hat will consider your preference. I, for instance, pursued a Slytherin senior and deliberately entered Slytherin!"

Before Darren could inquire further, Madame Pomfrey, with a burst of enthusiasm, elaborated on the Sorting process.

"Oh yes, ma'am, which professor will the school send to our branch?" Darren asked, pretending ignorance once again.

This time, Madame Pomfrey opted to keep the information to herself, smiling mysteriously. She teased, "Child, life needs a bit of mystery to be interesting. When I was in school, I heard my brother say he had to fight trolls!"

With a jovial tune, she left, leaving Darren amused and bewildered.

The wizarding world indeed provided a unique experience for Muggle-born children. If he genuinely knew nothing, a child from a Muggle background might be overwhelmed at this point. The prospect of fighting trolls seemed reserved for protagonists; what relevance did it have to his holy father?

Darren, draped in his wizard's robe, pulled from the table, adorned himself, and exited the school doctor's office. Still in a daze, he pondered where to go next.

"Mr. Darren!"

A voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Sylble!"

Before him stood Paige, a house-elf of Hogwarts. "Mr. Darren, I am Paige, the house-elf of Hogwarts. Mr. Dumbledore asked me to take care of you."

Surveying Paige, Darren couldn't help but compare her to the most described house-elf in the original book, Dobby – a free house-elf with peculiar habits. Paige, however, seemed well-mannered and greeted Darren with a welcoming smile.

"Hi, Paige. My name is Darren Porter. Just call me Darren. I'd like to know where I'll be staying before school starts. I need to put my things away," Darren stated, maintaining a well-behaved demeanor.

Paige's smile deepened as she took Darren's hand. "Okay, Darren. Your temporary residence is in the Gryffindor dormitory. Professor McGonagall has agreed that you can stay there until school starts."

Darren's mind wandered as he thought about the forthcoming sorting ceremony.

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PS: Seeing the concerns in the comments about Darren entering Slytherin, rest assured. The protagonist's choices are influenced by his desire to be with Harry in Gryffindor, his affinity for food in Hufflepuff, his thirst for knowledge in Ravenclaw, and his initial contact with Professor Snape, leading him to opt for Slytherin.

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