---
"Harry, are you okay?"
Lupin looked worried. Harry shook his head slightly.
After realizing that these people were not as devastated over Darren as he was, Harry no longer wanted to talk about Darren.
So he gently shook his head and said, "I'm fine. Nothing's wrong."
"Sirius is free, my na has been cleared, the Ministry of Magic has apologized, and Dumbledore is back at Hogwarts…"
He smiled faintly.
"What regrets could I possibly have?"
"Darren—"
Lupin seed to want to say sothing, but Harry interrupted him.
He changed the subject.
"Why did you all suddenly co here?"
"Oh," Lupin replied, "we planned to speak to your aunt and uncle before you went back. About your stay with them, and how they should treat you—"
"They treat very well," Harry said, forcing a smile.
After speaking with Dumbledore, Harry already knew he had to return to Uncle Vernon's house.
But he also knew that because Darren had spoken to Uncle Vernon before, the Dursleys' attitude toward him had improved greatly.
However, the Dentor attack on Dudley last sumr had made them wary again.
If Dumbledore hadn't sent that furious letter to Petunia and forced her to keep him, Harry might really have been thrown out.
In the end, it was Darren who ca to take him away, and only then did the Dursleys show him so goodwill again.
Harry thought of how much the Dursleys had liked Darren, and a faint smile appeared at the corners of his mouth.
Then he rembered—
Darren was gone.
There was no one left to protect him anymore.
"Oh, Ron! Ginny! My babies!"
Mrs. Weasley's voice rang out as she rushed over.
She hugged her two children tightly, then pulled Harry into her arms as well.
Harry's eyes reddened quietly.
In previous years, Mrs. Weasley had hugged him and Darren together.
This year, only he was left.
Mr. Weasley stood behind her, smiling gently. Fred and George were there too.
The twins were wearing brand-new coats, looking particularly proud.
"Our joke shop made a fortune," Fred said cheerfully.
"This is dragon hide! Thought we should treat ourselves!"
"Enough," Moody growled.
"Let's go find the Dursleys."
Harry wanted to say sothing, but they had already moved forward—especially Sirius.
Sirius walked straight up to the Dursleys and said politely,
"You should've seen on the news. Sirius Black. The man who supposedly murdered thirteen people and left only one finger behind."
The Dursleys looked terrified.
Uncle Vernon pulled Dudley behind him.
"What do you want?" he shouted.
"I can call the police and have you all arrested!"
"Go ahead," Sirius snarled.
"Let's see how that works out for you!"
If this had happened before, Harry might have felt secretly pleased.
His godfather was standing up for him.
But he rembered how last year, when Darren ca to pick him up, the Dursleys had been nervous and restrained.
He didn't want this scene anymore.
So Harry stepped forward, forcing a smile.
"Aunt, Uncle—this is my godfather. He isn't a murderer. The charges against him were false."
"The real culprit has already been exposed. My godfather has been cleared. I'm sorry for frightening you."
Sirius stared at him in disbelief.
"Oh rlin, Harry," he joked,
"you're starting to sound exactly like Darren. Don't tell you've been possessed?"
He ant it as a joke.
Harry couldn't laugh.
Hearing Harry speak like this, the Dursleys slowly regained their arrogance.
They didn't threaten him again, but Uncle Vernon frowned and asked,
"These are the people who took you and Darren away last ti, right? Then… where is Darren?"
Harry lowered his eyes.
He raised a hand, stopping Lupin from speaking.
In a low voice, he said,
"Darren is at St. Mungo's. He was badly injured and can't co back this year."
"Your world is dangerous," Uncle Vernon said with disgust.
"Darren shouldn't have followed you people. He was different from you."
Moody and the others bristled with anger.
They looked ready to retort, but in the end, said nothing.
Lupin stepped forward and said calmly,
"I hope you don't bully Harry. If you do… believe , I will report you."
"I think the authorities would be very interested in child abusers."
This threat worked better than Sirius's.
Uncle Vernon went pale. Petunia whimpered softly.
Looking at her, Harry felt no satisfaction at all.
Just as Darren had once said—
at least they took him in.
Perhaps, at this mont, the Dursleys were the only ones who might feel even a little sorry for Darren.
Harry didn't want Lupin to threaten them anymore.
"I know you an well," he said quietly.
"Sumr holiday, Harry," Mrs. Weasley said warmly.
"We'll co pick you up as soon as we can."
"I'm his godfather," Sirius said irritably.
"Harry should live with !"
"But you'd starve him," Mrs. Weasley teased.
"You don't even know how to cook!"
They were clearly trying to lighten the mood.
Harry understood that.
Still, who could really be happy?
He forced a smile and said, as he had every year before,
"Goodbye."
He walked over to the Dursleys.
---
It was almost midnight.
The Pri Minister was still in his office—as he was required to be.
Because earlier, he had received a notice.
From that minister.
The Ministry of Magic.
The Pri Minister didn't even want to think about the word "magic."
If he had a choice, he would have refused the eting outright.
He still rembered his first day in office.
He had been sitting in this very room, congratulating himself on finally reaching the peak of his career.
Then the portrait on the wall had spoken.
Telling him that the Minister of Magic would be coming to see him.
He had nearly jumped out of his skin.
Minister of Magic?
His country had such a thing?
And—
since when did portraits talk?
---
Reviews
All reviews (0)