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"I didn't wash their hands properly… they just rinsed them casually…"
Darren said it lightly.
As if it were nothing.
But Harry's expression darkened instantly.
He began pacing back and forth in front of Darren.
His fists clenched tightly.
In his mind, he had already imagined countless ways to deal with the Carrows.
If he ever got the chance—
He would make them pay for everything Darren had endured.
But when he looked up and saw Darren watching him with concern…
Harry forced himself to stop.
What could he do right now?
Nothing.
He could only stand here—
And listen to what Darren had gone through.
That helplessness made his chest ache.
He took a deep breath and forced himself to change the topic.
"…Let's not talk about that."
"Dean said Snape punished you to clean with Filch.
That you fainted in Slytherin…"
Harry's voice trembled slightly.
"Is it true?"
Darren imdiately shook his head.
"It's nothing.
I wasn't tired… it's just that my health isn't very good…"
He said it weakly.
As if trying to downplay everything.
In reality—
He had simply fallen asleep on the sofa.
But of course, he couldn't say that.
So he forced himself to explain,
"I was just… too sleepy.
I fell asleep.
Not because I was tired…"
[Ding, Father 100]
[Ding, Father 100]
Harry and Hermione looked at him.
Neither of them spoke.
But their eyes said everything.
They didn't believe him.
Not at all.
All they could think was—
How much Darren must have suffered.
Darren quickly changed the subject again.
"Alright, stop thinking about it.
Co eat sothing."
He pulled out food and potions one after another.
"I spent a long ti preparing these.
Phineas told you weren't eating properly.
And that you didn't have warm clothes.
So I packed everything I could from the dormitory."
He smiled.
"Don't worry.
They won't notice.
These are all mine."
Harry and Hermione's eyes reddened imdiately.
Of course they understood.
Darren had prepared all this long ago.
Even while trapped in Hogwarts—
He had been thinking about them.
"Darren…"
Hermione hesitated.
"…You're not leaving, right?"
Darren froze.
Then his face turned pale.
"I… have to go back."
His voice was soft.
"Ginny and the others are still there.
They threatened .
If I run…
they'll kill them."
He lowered his gaze.
"I can't leave."
[Ding, Father 100]
[Ding, Father 100]
"I'll be fine.
I have food at Hogwarts.
I'm safe there."
He tried to reassure them.
But neither Harry nor Hermione believed a word.
Safe?
How could that place be safe?
They didn't even dare ask what he had gone through anymore.
Because whatever the truth was—
It would only hurt more.
"Don't worry about ," Darren urged.
"Eat first."
He pushed the sandwiches and beef patties toward them.
Harry tried to hand one back.
Darren instinctively made a slight expression of discomfort—
Then quickly hid it.
"I'm not hungry," he said with a forced smile.
But that only made things worse.
Harry and Hermione exchanged a glance.
Their hearts sank.
They misunderstood completely.
They thought—
Darren had been forced to eat so much that he had developed an aversion to food.
Silently, they continued eating.
The cold food felt heavy in their mouths.
Darren watched them.
Then quickly changed the subject again.
"You two… why did you run into that snake today?"
Harry imdiately answered,
"After we figured out your hint,
we ca to Godric's Hollow.
I wanted to visit my parents' graves.
Then Bathilda appeared.
She led us to her house."
His face turned grim.
"She told to go upstairs.
Then suddenly—
she turned into that snake."
Hermione shuddered.
"Bathilda should have died long ago…
I don't even know if the snake is dead."
"It's not," Darren said calmly.
"I didn't kill it."
Harry and Hermione both looked at him.
Darren explained,
"If we destroy it now,
he'll know he lost a Horcrux.
Then he'll just make another one."
He shook his head.
"That would make things worse.
We wouldn't know what he used next."
Hermione nodded slowly.
"That makes sense…"
Harry didn't object either.
Darren's reasoning was clear.
"What about you?" Hermione asked softly.
"How did you find us?"
"I got your location from Phineas," Darren replied.
"I packed what I needed.
Then I sneaked into Snape's office.
The portraits like .
As long as Snape doesn't ask,
they won't say anything."
Harry and Hermione both stiffened.
Not ask—
won't say.
But if Darren returned…
Snape would definitely ask.
And when he did—
Everything would be exposed.
And Darren—
would be punished.
Possibly worse.
"Darren…" Hermione started.
"Can you just—"
"Stay?" Darren finished for her.
He shook his head imdiately.
"No."
His voice was gentle but firm.
"If I leave,
they'll kill the others.
I can't accept that."
He took a breath.
"And this magic I'm using…
it won't last long."
"After I Apparated and saved Harry,
it's almost gone."
"Once it runs out,
I won't be able to block the tracking on ."
He looked at them seriously.
"If you stay with ,
you'll beco targets too.
I can't let that happen."
Harry clenched his fists.
Hermione bit her lip.
Darren continued,
"I still need to find a way to break the seal.
I already have so ideas."
He smiled slightly.
"Don't worry.
I won't die."
He said it simply.
As if stating a fact.
"I don't think he'll kill .
Even if he wants to—
he'll wait until he catches you first."
He looked at Harry.
"So as long as you stay safe,
I'll be fine."
[Ding, Father 100]
[Ding, Father 100]
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