---
"Headmaster Dumbledore, can we listen too? Darren is my brother. I have the right to know what happened to him."
Harry stood in front of Dumbledore, looking straight into his blue eyes.
Ron and Hermione stood beside him with the sa determined expressions.
"Well…"
"I'm rather curious," Snape cut in coldly, "why you aren't returning to the Gryffindor common room. Or perhaps you believe breaking school rules is justified—"
He didn't get to finish.
"Severus," Dumbledore said gently but firmly, "don't speak of them that way. Harry does have a right to know. He's family."
Harry noticed the way Snape's face reddened.
He was furious—clearly furious—but could only swallow it down.
"So, let's—"
"Dumbledore!"
A furious voice echoed through the corridor. Lucius Malfoy stord in, his cane tapping sharply against the floor.
"I heard a student was injured—this is the level of managent you provide? Constant danger! I will ask the school governors to remove you imdiately!"
He looked outraged, as though Draco had been gravely injured.
The professors exchanged confused looks; none of this matched the reality.
Lucius had co to make trouble. Nothing more.
"Well," Dumbledore said calmly, "it seems we may need a bit of quiet… Tongue-Tying Curse."
His wand flicked toward Lucius.
Lucius's mouth opened angrily—but no sound ca out.
He tried to undo the spell, but Dumbledore's expression made him freeze.
"My dear Lucius," Dumbledore said pleasantly, "perhaps we should continue sowhere without interruptions. Before the Ministry arrives, I'd prefer not to do anything… regrettable."
His wand twirled lazily, and Lucius's eyes widened—he understood the threat perfectly.
He finally nodded stiffly.
"Then let's go."
---
Dumbledore led them all to the Headmaster's office.
Madam Pomfrey followed behind, pouring restorative potions down the throats of the surviving Slytherin students.
The students writhed in pain, as though the potion burned.
Harry felt nothing for them.
His heart was too full of Darren.
They had a hand in this—he was sure of it.
Did they all gang up on Darren?
Did Darren have to defend himself?
Did he… kill nine of them?
If Darren killed soone, he could be expelled. Arrested.
The thought made Harry dizzy.
He silently prayed that being the "Savior" would sohow help protect Darren this ti.
"Lemon black tea," Dumbledore said suddenly.
The gargoyle jumped aside. Harry blinked—he hadn't even noticed they'd reached the office.
This hallway had never felt so short.
Hermione, Ron, and even Lucius (who was still silently raging) looked equally startled.
"Now," Dumbledore said, settling into his chair, "tell exactly what happened. I would prefer not to use Veritaserum."
He glanced at the group of Slytherin students, who had woken up on the way here.
"Oh—one mont."
He waved his wand. Long benches appeared behind everyone.
"Sit. Let's begin. You—start."
---
"That's right," the first boy said timidly. "Flint holds a grudge against Harry Potter because of Quidditch. And Darren Potter always helps Harry, which angers him even more. Yesterday Darren threatened Flint—he said if Flint bothered Harry again, he'd fight him even if it ant getting expelled… and he slapped him."
Harry winced.
Darren always got into trouble because of him.
"Later, Flint lost his temper over losing the match. Then he suddenly rembered sothing—he told us Death Eaters had contacted him earlier. They wanted to enter Hogwarts and take Harry Potter."
Harry's breath caught.
"Flint said, of course Harry would never go with them. So he rejected the idea. But when he saw Darren Potter, he realized another thod."
Harry's hands clenched into fists.
"They could take Darren Potter first. Then use him to lure Harry Potter out… and kill him."
BANG!
Harry slamd the table so hard the wood split.
He glared at the Slytherins, shaking with fury.
He knew it.
He knew all of this was because of him.
They always targeted Darren because he was kind, gentle, easy to use.
"If Darren dies," Harry snarled, pointing at them with trembling hands, "I'll kill you. All of you. I swear—I'll do it!"
"Clearly," Snape drawled, "the famous Savior overestimates his abilities."
Harry whipped around. Snape's face was blank, eyes hollow, expression unreadable.
The other professors—even Lockhart—looked outraged by Snape's tone.
Only Snape was completely unmoved.
"Severus," Dumbledore warned.
Snape fell silent.
It seed he only said it to relieve his own irritation.
"Harry," Dumbledore said quietly, "the Ministry is coming. We must understand the truth quickly. Please don't interrupt again."
"…Fine."
Harry sat down, still shaking, eyes fixed on the group in the center.
They nearly killed Darren.
The boy continued nervously, glancing at Dumbledore for permission.
"That night, Flint told Darren Potter that he had Harry Potter's fatal weakness. If Darren didn't co to the Black Lake at midnight, Flint would tell everyone. He wanted the Death Eaters to kill Harry Potter."
Harry felt sick.
"Darren Potter was frightened. He agreed to et him at the lake. He also did what Flint told him—he wrote a note in the dorm saying he wanted to calm down and shouldn't be looked for."
The boy swallowed hard.
"Flint wanted Darren Potter's disappearance to look real… so the professors would notice later."
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