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Ever since Dumbledore learned that Darren had Grindelwald's bloodline, he had suddenly beco much more amiable.
Before, when Lockhart caused the Valentine's Day dwarf chaos, Dumbledore would have encouraged it for "school atmosphere."
But once he realized Darren disliked the dwarfs, he sent them away imdiately.
This ti was the sa.
Snape had only made a few mildly sarcastic comnts.
In the past, Dumbledore would only defend Harry Potter.
Now he even defended him against Snape.
It was double standards at their peak.
But the Dumbledore after applying double standards… was much more lovable.
Darren gave a faint, embarrassed smile.
He pulled the quilt up to hide the wounds and said guiltily,
"I'm sorry, Professor Snape, Headmaster Dumbledore… I really can't rember what happened before.
I only rember brewing the potion in the dormitory. I was very close to succeeding. I was planning to add the next ingredient…
I'm sorry, Professor, I forgot the rest. I just… suddenly had no mory. And then I woke up on the lawn."
His tone was obedient, his face full of sha.
Clearly discouraged at not being able to help Dumbledore and Snape.
"Oh, child, you need rest," Dumbledore said seriously. "Although your injuries aren't fatal, they're much worse than last ti…
Madam Pomfrey said you haven't slept for a long ti.
Don't try to deny it—anyone who walks into your room can see it.
You must have been working on that potion every day. If this continues, I might have to ask Severus to remove all your experintal materials.
Research is important, but so is your health."
"But, Professor, I have to finish the potion quickly…" Darren said anxiously.
"You know there are many people waiting for it. It gives them hope.
I want them to beco wizards as soon as possible… so people won't ridicule them."
[Ding, Father 100]
[Ding, Father 100]
[Ding, Father 100]
[Ding…]
Dumbledore suddenly felt a deep ache in his chest.
He stared at the boy in front of him.
This wasn't the first ti he had been stunned into silence by this child.
Darren always overturned his assumptions.
Yes—he admitted—there had been a period where he viewed everything Darren did with suspicion.
As he once told Severus, anything Darren did could be interpreted as strategy or manipulation.
There were also things he never said aloud:
How unbelievable this boy was.
He had good relationships with almost everyone.
People saw him as a gentle, harmless fool.
Even Slytherins rarely spoke ill of him.
For a while, Dumbledore truly wondered whether the boy was pretending.
Would he one day aim to take over Hogwarts?
If he ever called, would the whole school follow him—even against Muggles?
These were thoughts he had again and again.
Until the last incident—when Darren had been pushed into desperation—yet still refused to kill.
Only then did Dumbledore realize the boy truly had no such ambitions.
He could not bear to see others hard because of him.
That mont deeply relieved Dumbledore.
And it filled him with guilt.
Not to ntion—he later learned from Gellert that the boy carried Grindelwald's bloodline.
If Dumbledore had heard that before… he would have been terrified all over again.
Because this child really was like Grindelwald.
The sa natural charisma.
Yet even knowing the bloodline, Dumbledore felt no alarm.
Perhaps because Grindelwald had actively sought Darren, even shown vulnerability—Dumbledore's view of both of them softened.
Once he stopped seeing Darren through the filter of "future Dark Lord,"
he realized he had been far too harsh.
This child truly had no ill intentions.
Even though he accepted Rozier's people, it did not change his heart.
Dumbledore admitted he had overthought everything.
And now—after this incident—he was even more certain.
When he entered Darren's room, he saw the books worn from countless readings, the cauldrons that had clearly been used over and over.
Recipes written on the walls.
Water cups on the floor.
A neatly cleaned bed where he clearly hadn't slept.
All of it proved the child worked tirelessly for others.
One could pretend in public…
but you couldn't fake your private dormitory.
Especially when he had been suddenly kidnapped—there was no way to stage all that.
And none of the traces looked magical.
They looked used, worn, exhausted.
Even rlin couldn't fake that.
This boy was truly kind.
"I'm sorry… I didn't find you sooner," Dumbledore murmured.
"And you suffered so much. If I could… I would take those injuries myself."
He removed his glasses and wiped his eyes.
His voice trembled.
The old man was truly heartbroken.
"No, Headmaster Dumbledore… It's not your fault. I was the one who got caught off guard."
Darren's expression turned panicked.
"It's because I was rushing the potion. I stayed in the dormitory all the ti.
It has nothing to do with you.
I'm sorry… I'll listen to you from now on.
I won't push myself too hard again…"
His eyes were full of guilt, worried that he had upset Dumbledore.
How could this child be so kind?
Both Dumbledore and Snape had the sa thought at the sa mont.
"Well, child," Dumbledore said gently, "forgive an old man's sentintality. He is… getting old.
But he still must warn you: if you don't take care of your body, he might have to give you a small punishnt."
He said it gravely.
Then, when he reached the door, he stopped, as if rembering sothing.
"By the way—Aurors may arrive later. Don't be afraid. They won't dare cause trouble here.
Also, after the visitors leave, I hope you return quickly to your room.
I finally managed to send Poppy away.
If she sees anyone disturbing your rest… she might get angry."
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