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Fred's words instantly caught Mrs. Weasley's attention.
She coughed lightly and said, slightly embarrassed,
"Of course Darren is handso, but he's still just a boy. For us 'older' won… it's still Gilderoy Lockhart who has more… charm."
"'Just a boy?' Mum, listen to yourself," Fred groaned dramatically. "You sound exactly like those little witches at Hogwarts. They keep saying all day, 'Darren is still a little boy… we'll wait for him to grow up.' Honestly, is Hogwarts so starved for options they're planning to reserve him in advance?"
Darren gave a small, helpless smile and quickly lowered his gaze.
"Oh rlin," George snorted. "Now I finally understand why even Snape — the grumpiest man alive — doesn't yell at Darren. Who in their right mind could bully a kid this soft?"
Mrs. Weasley huffed.
"Enough. Stop teasing him. Darren is not one of your foolish little friends!"
Fred, George, and Ron trudged toward the garden in defeat. The gnos always ca back, no matter how many tis they cleared them out. Mrs. Weasley called after them, reminding them firmly that they were not coming back inside until the job was done.
Then she set down Lockhart's book and turned to Darren and Harry with a warm smile.
"Children, you must be exhausted. Don't bother with that work. Let the boys handle it."
But Darren shook his head.
"No, ma'am. My brother and I should go with them. We didn't stop Fred when they flew the car…"
[Ding, Father 50]
[Ding, Father 60]
[Ding, Father 40]
[Ding…]
Pocketing the Father points, Darren pulled Harry along and followed the others outside.
While Darren was busy grabbing gnos in the garden, Mr. Weasley finally returned ho. The mont he stepped through the door, he collapsed into his chair with a groan, eyes shut in pure exhaustion.
"Raided nine houses today… Mundungus tried to curse the mont I turned my back…"
"Mundungus?" Darren echoed uncertainly.
Mr. Weasley jolted upright as if shocked.
He stared at Darren.
"You—? Who…?"
"Dad, this is Darren Potter. And Harry Potter," Ron said quickly. "We picked them up—"
"No, Arthur, they flew that ridiculous car to Harry's house at dawn and fetched the boys!" Mrs. Weasley cut in sharply.
"It flies well?" Mr. Weasley asked imdiately. "Oh, boys, that's— that's— incredibly irresponsible— absolutely wrong—"
He saw his wife's eyes widen and instantly corrected himself.
"Very wrong! Terribly wrong!"
Quickly changing the subject, he looked back at Darren.
"Darren… you know Mundungus Fletcher?"
"I don't know if I 'know' him, sir… but last year in Diagon Alley, I saw a wizard nad Mundungus. This happened…"
Darren described the encounter. Understanding dawned on Mr. Weasley's face.
"So that's it… Fletcher tried sothing shady and you stopped him. Well done, Darren! Oh— Molly, don't worry, I was praising him, not scolding."
He waved his hands defensively.
"Fletcher's always getting himself into trouble… frankly, he deserves being taught a lesson every now and then."
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley continued muttering about Mundungus while Ron grabbed Darren and Harry.
"Co on, let's go to my room. I'll show you everything. Leave them to talk."
Life at the Burrow was wonderful — especially for Darren.
Mrs. Weasley was gentle and warm; Mr. Weasley was endlessly curious and funny.
When he learned Darren had invented an antidote formula to counter more than three hundred poisons, Mr. Weasley nearly fainted.
"rlin's beard, Darren! You're a genius! Even Lily wasn't this gifted!"
He insisted Darren deserved a rlin dal for it.
Leaning closer, he pointed at Lockhart's smiling face on the book cover and whispered conspiratorially:
"Between us… even soone like Lockhart managed to get a Third Class Order of rlin. I suspect he— ah— sweet-talked the female judges."
Mrs. Weasley imdiately smacked him on the head with her chopsticks.
"Arthur Weasley! Don't tell Darren such things! He's still a sweet baby!"
Despite the syrupy nickna, Darren felt very at ho.
Especially with the youngest Weasley — Ginny.
She looked exactly like she did in the original story: shy, small, and adorable.
Every ti she saw Harry or Darren, she flushed scarlet, but she managed to whisper a few more words to Darren than to Harry.
She even told Mrs. Weasley, "Darren gave a sweet once! We were so close!"
Ron practically collapsed in horror.
"I never even knew Darren existed— now he's giving Ginny sweets?!"
"Ron, don't talk nonsense," Mrs. Weasley snapped. "Little Darren must be embarrassed. Not everyone is like Fred and George!"
Then she tipped the entire pot of sausages into Darren's plate.
"Baby, eat! After breakfast we're heading to Diagon Alley. Your Hogwarts letters arrived this morning."
She pulled out several thick envelopes and handed them around.
"Let's see!"
For a mont, the room was filled with the sound of envelopes tearing open.
Inside the letters were term notices and the list of required books — mostly by Gilderoy Lockhart.
Darren curled his lip slightly.
He wasn't sure he wanted to spend money on useless books… but if people learned Harry Potter's brother was stingy, they might assu Harry wasn't giving him pocket money. That wouldn't match his image.
Fine. He'd buy them.
He would treat them as storybooks — retell the real versions of those events, and secretly laugh at how Lockhart stole everyone's glory.
Honestly — how had no one realized he was a fraud? And who in their right mind hired him as a professor?
Hogwarts really dared to accept anyone…
And Lockhart was bold enough to apply.
A perfect match.
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