---
Darren felt a trace of curiosity.
But on the surface, his expression remained cold and mocking.
Scrimgeour looked at him and said harshly,
"I am not Dumbledore, and I will not show you any rcy.
Darren Potter, you should cooperate with the Ministry of Magic. Otherwise, you will never set foot inside the Ministry again!"
Darren laughed.
He looked straight at Scrimgeour.
A terrifying surge of magic burst out from his body.
His voice was icy.
"I don't think you have the right to threaten .
And I don't need your so-called rcy.
I've already lost everything except the people I care about, and I will not place them in danger.
If you ask again, I can't guarantee that I won't do sothing you regret.
You should know—if it ans keeping more people alive, I am willing to commit far worse acts."
Scrimgeour stared at him for a long ti.
Then his expression stiffened.
He turned around and left without another word.
---
The banquet officially began.
Lupin and Sirius brought Harry and Darren several ridiculous dog-shaped toys.
There were piles of cakes.
Fireworks shot high into the sky.
Everyone shouted and laughed.
In the end, Lupin hugged Darren and cried continuously, shocking Sirius.
Sirius looked helpless.
"I never realized Remus was this emotional," he said in disbelief.
"He's this excited about your coming-of-age ceremony…
Poor Remus. He's never even been in love. He must really treat you like his own child."
Darren patted Lupin's shoulder gently to comfort him.
Nearby, Harry was listening to Aunt Muriel talking loudly.
She seed to be recounting Dumbledore's past—his sister Ariana, and the fight with Aberforth.
Those words quietly eroded Harry's blind admiration for Dumbledore.
At that mont, Hermione walked over and sat beside Darren.
She looked like she wanted to say sothing.
But before she could speak—
Kingsley's Patronus burst into the room.
It shouted loudly:
"The Ministry of Magic has fallen! Scrimgeour is dead! We're too late!"
Almost everyone at the banquet vanished instantly.
Harry pulled out his wand.
Darren didn't stop him.
He turned to Hermione.
"Hermione, according to the plan—
You and Ron leave first. I'll take Harry and catch up imdiately!"
Hermione looked at him deeply.
Then she and Ron pressed a Portkey.
They disappeared.
One cloaked figure after another appeared.
Darren raised his wand.
A red light struck a Death Eater.
More and more Death Eaters rushed in.
"Darren Potter is here!"
"I saw Harry Potter!"
"Tell the Dark Lord!"
Shouts echoed everywhere.
Darren's wand never stopped moving.
Death Eaters fell one after another.
Harry stayed close behind him.
So of their own side fell as well.
No one looked back.
Then—
A figure appeared.
Voldemort.
Darren charged straight toward him.
At the sa ti, another Voldemort appeared in front of Harry.
Both were identical.
Indistinguishable.
Neither Harry nor Darren panicked.
Darren continued attacking the Voldemort in front of him.
Harry raised his wand at the one facing him.
"It's over!"
Voldemort laughed softly.
But in the next instant—
Darren was blasted backward.
Harry's wand burst into golden light.
The light restrained Voldemort.
Darren's spell struck him squarely.
Voldemort's face turned deathly pale.
He stared coldly at the wand in Harry's hand.
Then he vanished.
Explosions echoed.
"Go!"
Darren grabbed Harry.
The world spun violently.
They reappeared in a Muggle square.
It was bustling and bright.
Ron and Hermione were already waiting.
The mont they saw Harry and Darren, they rushed forward with red eyes.
"You're really okay!"
Hermione shouted.
"You're incredible!"
"What now?" Harry asked quickly.
"Where are we going?"
He looked at the carefree Muggles around them.
For a mont, he felt envious.
"It's ti to rest," Darren said with a smile.
"We need proper rest so we can go to Godric's Hollow tomorrow."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione were stunned.
Shouldn't they be fleeing?
"No rush," Darren continued calmly.
"Let's go to one of my properties nearby."
He led them into a narrow alley.
Harry and the others stared at him in disbelief.
"You still have property?" Harry asked.
"You even have money to buy houses?"
Darren laughed.
"I didn't buy it. Teacher gave it to .
He was afraid I wouldn't have anywhere to stay, so he bought places for .
He said Muggle houses were cheap, and that he'd buy one every year—so wherever I went, I'd have sowhere to live.
Headmaster Dumbledore gave several houses on my birthday. I don't even rember where most of them are.
Peggy keeps all the deeds for .
When we move later, you'll have plenty of choices."
He smiled.
Then he pushed open an ordinary-looking door.
"Doesn't look very secure—" Ron began.
Suddenly, colorful light flashed.
A chanical voice echoed:
"Master and companions detected.
Forbidden Mode activated.
Camouflage Mode activated.
Anti-Apparition System activated.
Defense Protocols online."
Everyone froze.
"What… is this?" Harry asked in shock.
Darren laughed.
"A system I built—combining magic and Muggle technology.
It's still simple for now.
But as long as we're inside, even Voldemort won't find us.
I wanted to install this in Grimmauld Place, but it wasn't finished then.
And maybe… I was being a little selfish.
I didn't want you to suffer too much.
This place can provide everything we need.
After everything ends, we can hide here for a few days."
[Ding, Father 100]
[Ding, Father 100]
[Ding, Father 100]
"Genius."
"You're not selfish at all."
"This is absolutely the right choice."
"That's incredible."
Harry looked at Darren with genuine admiration.
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