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"See? My aunt and uncle are actually pretty nice… aren't they?"
Darren glanced at Harry, who was holding a huge pile of snacks Aunt Petunia had shoved at him on his way out.
When Darren asked the question, Harry forced a crooked smile.
Nice?
If "nice" ant ignoring him the entire ti, then sure — they were wonderful.
The only reason they even looked at him at the very end was because Aunt Petunia marched over, dumped an armful of snacks onto him, and said:
"This is for you and Darren. Take it."
That was the most attention he'd gotten all week.
And afterward, they rushed him toward the car without another word.
The mont Darren looked his way, Harry squeezed out a fake smile.
Honestly… he felt like one of the slugs they scraped off their garden wall and tossed out.
But who cared?
He was finally leaving the Dursleys. He was so happy he nearly bounced on the spot.
Even the weight of the snacks couldn't stop him from grinning like an idiot.
"Alright, stop smiling so much — your uncle's still watching," Ron whispered, patting him on the shoulder.
Harry slapped Ron's hand away without hesitation.
"They're not watching . They're staring at Darren.
Which is great — as long as I'm not the one they're hugging. That would make my skin crawl."
He shivered.
Luckily, the Dursleys were still consistent: they didn't like him.
But he said it softly, worried Darren might overhear and get upset.
His brother was too kind — he always tried to see the best in the Dursleys.
"Well, stop worrying. Darren, don't look back — we need to get airborne. We should get to the Burrow quickly."
"Burrow?" Darren asked.
"That's the na of our house. You'll love it," Ron grinned.
Fred, sitting in the front, twisted around.
"Mum's going to dote on both of you. Especially Darren. She'll say, 'Oh, rlin, what a well-behaved child! Just like Percy!'"
"No, no, Darren — we're not insulting you," Fred corrected quickly. "Even if you do tell on us all the ti… and lecture us…"
Fred and George exchanged a look and finished together:
"But who could ever get mad at sweet little Darren?"
"Right? Right? We're perfectly in sync!"
"You know Mum still can't tell us apart. That ans our disguises are working!
Oh — I'm George."
"Ha! No, I'm George. He's Fred!"
They burst into cackling laughter.
Darren smiled obediently.
"Alright, leave him alone," Ron cut in. "Can't you see he's half-asleep?
We need to get ho so he can nap. And Harry, tell everything. Darren's letter to Dad was basically a full essay on how you were wronged and how perfect you are."
Ron rolled his eyes.
"He wrote paragraphs defending you. And only three lines describing the house-elf. When Dad read it, he thought it ca from one of your fans."
Darren's ears turned red.
"S-sorry, Ron. I might've caused trouble for you."
[Ding, Father 100]
[Ding, Father 80]
[Ding, Father 50]
[Ding, Father 80]
"Oh, Darren, don't be like that," Fred groaned. "If Mum or Professor McGonagall saw that face, they'd snatch you up and coo, 'Darling Darren, you poor thing!'
Okay, okay, I'll shut up — don't give that look."
Darren forgave him with a small smile.
Still, everyone wanted to know what had happened.
And once Harry finished his explanation, their expressions turned serious.
"Soone's definitely targeting you," Fred said, guiding the car higher to avoid Muggle eyes. "After all… you're Harry Potter."
"House-elves serve old wizarding families," George muttered. "Think any pure-bloods have a grudge against you?"
"Malfoy!"
"Draco Malfoy!"
Harry and Ron blurted it out at the sa ti.
Darren didn't join in — he only frowned thoughtfully.
"He hates us," Ron said fiercely. "And last ti he tried to get his father to fire Darren. Lucky for us, Lucius Malfoy heard Darren was your brother and forced Draco to apologize. Bet Draco hasn't forgotten that. He probably sent the house-elf after you!"
Ron's fists clenched.
Fred lowered his voice, sounding conspiratorial.
"I know their family — Dad said they're tied to You-Know-Who. A while back, the Ministry inspected their place, and rumor is they were dealing in shady artefacts…"
"And," George added, "Lucius stord into Dumbledore's office, accusing him of endangering the school by keeping the Philosopher's Stone there. He even blad Dumbledore for you two getting hurt. Said Dumbledore was losing his mind."
Fred nodded.
"Snape argued with him too. Can you imagine Snape shouting? With anyone?"
Harry wasn't convinced this was just Lucius grandstanding.
He rembered Dumbledore's letter about the Potter family's ancestral ho.
"He's jealous," Harry muttered darkly. "Jealous that Darren might beco Nicolas Flal's heir… and Draco Malfoy is just stuck as his precious family's next spoiled brat."
The bitterness in his voice surprised even him.
Because the thought had been kicking at his heart for days—
If Darren becos Flal's heir…
I won't have a brother anymore.
Darren was the only family his parents left him.
He didn't want to lose him.
Of course, as the Little Holy Father, Darren caught the emotion imdiately.
"Brother," he said softly, "I'm not going to be anyone's heir. I just want to be your brother. I'm not leaving you."
[Ding, Father 100]
[Ding, Father 100]
[Ding, Father 100]
[Ding, Father 100]
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