Chapter 521 – It's a Little Scary!!
"Alright, Darren, don't worry. We're absolutely sure.
"You and Harry here drink the remaining potion. When you wake up again, your injuries should be completely healed."
Dumbledore spoke seriously.
Darren glanced at the potion beside him.
This wasn't something Snape had prepared.
And the taste… was terrifying.
The last time he had been sent to St. Mungo's, he had barely managed a few mouthfuls before he simply couldn't go on.
That was why he had pretended to struggle and insisted on waiting for Harry—he truly didn't want to drink it.
He would much rather have someone cast a Stunning Spell on him.
So he leaned back weakly and said softly,
"Headmaster, I don't want to sleep… I'm a little scared when I fall asleep. I'm afraid I won't be able to wake up again…"
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding… ]
Dumbledore froze.
He fell silent for a long moment.
Finally, he walked to Darren's side and said hoarsely,
"Then… I'll have to use another method. Stupefy."
Darren immediately collapsed into Mrs. Weasley's arms.
Dumbledore then turned his gaze to Harry.
Harry hesitated, took a sip of the potion, and looked back at Dumbledore.
Without speaking, his expression clearly said:
I'm afraid I won't wake up either. Do you believe me or not?
Harry felt that he would also rather be knocked out by a spell than drink this thing.
But Dumbledore clearly didn't believe him.
He probably thought Harry was just trying to be clever.
With tears but no sobs, Harry forced himself to pour the potion down.
He felt that the potion at St. Mungo's tasted even worse than anything Madam Pomfrey had ever made.
As drowsiness overtook him, Harry vaguely saw Dumbledore carefully pull a quilt over Darren.
For a brief moment, Dumbledore's eyes seemed a little red.
Harry thought he must be mistaken.
Because when Dumbledore straightened up again, there was nothing unusual about him.
He walked out solemnly.
---
Darren was discharged on the fourth day.
Mr. Diggory's funeral was about to be held.
Naturally, he couldn't stay in St. Mungo's and skip such an important occasion.
That was impossible.
As a "little Holy Father," how could he miss such an opportunity?
So he went.
Before attending Mr. Diggory's funeral, Darren thought he might face reproach from Cedric and his mother.
But that didn't happen.
They were gentle.
And grateful.
They thanked Darren for bringing Mr. Diggory's body back.
"But I didn't save him… If I hadn't been so reckless, if I hadn't been under the effect of that potion, I might have been able to save him.
"But I couldn't do anything. I just watched as he killed Mr. Diggory…"
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding… ]
Darren tilted his head upward at a forty-five-degree angle, wearing a sorrowful expression.
Many people around him showed deep distress on his behalf.
"That's not true. If you hadn't participated in the Triwizard Tournament, none of you would have been transported there."
Cedric said guiltily.
He looked at Darren's body.
He had seen how close Darren had been to death, blood soaking his robes.
If he hadn't helped pass along that note encouraging Darren to sign up for the Tournament, perhaps Darren would never have gone through any of this.
"It's not like that. I should thank you…
"If you hadn't let me take part in the Triwizard Tournament, my brother might truly have been killed by Voldemort.
"The only thing that makes me feel grief and guilt… is Mr. Diggory. I didn't do anything for him…"
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding… ]
Once again, Darren received a surge of Holy Father points.
But he believed in following things through properly.
So he pulled a bag of gold Galleons from his pocket.
This was the Triwizard Tournament prize money that Fudge had given to the winner—Harry had passed it to him.
One thousand Galleons.
He pressed it into Cedric's hands.
"Take it. You haven't started working yet… you'll need money."
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding… ]
"No, no, Darren. I have money. We still have some.
"And I've already entered the Ministry of Magic, where my father used to work.
"I… I still feel guilty toward you.
"But I know you're the kindest person. You saved his life before, and this time…
"Maybe this was simply his fate."
Cedric pushed the Galleons back toward Darren.
Darren looked stunned.
No one thought he was pretending.
He was simply too sad.
Back in second year, when several students had nearly been killed, he had already been on the verge of collapse.
Let alone Mr. Diggory—
A gentleman who had never truly wronged him.
---
After the funeral, Harry dragged Darren to the school infirmary.
He stayed there for another two days before Madam Pomfrey finally declared him completely recovered.
Even so, when Darren left the infirmary, students from every House still looked at him with deep concern.
As if he might collapse and fall at any moment.
Darren began to wonder whether he had acted things out a bit too convincingly.
Fortunately, Hermione explained it to him.
The day after the accident, Dumbledore had warned everyone not to disturb him or Harry.
He believed everyone already knew the truth and didn't need to hear it again from Darren.
And so, he asked everyone to give Harry and Darren some personal space.
Personal space…
Darren looked at the way people stared at him and felt this was very different from personal space.
It was more like they wanted to devour him with their eyes.
During a break, Harry told Darren about the outcome of Barty Crouch Jr.'s interrogation.
Darren was startled.
"He gave me the potion…"
"Yes. Barty Crouch Jr. said he didn't kill you because he didn't have enough time.
"But Dumbledore thinks he was hiding something—most likely protected by some kind of secrecy magic.
"After all, even under Veritaserum, he didn't say it.
"They planned to interrogate him further later, but Fudge allowed a Dementor to approach him and administer the Dementor's Kiss.
"Although it's technically acceptable—since he killed many people—it also prevented us from learning anything more from him."
Harry spoke softly.
He was afraid Darren wouldn't be able to accept it.
After all, Barty Crouch Jr. had seemed quite kind to Darren.
And Darren himself had felt guilty for suspecting him earlier.
Darren gave a bitter smile.
"It's fine, brother. I'm used to it."
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding… ]
Harry's eyes reddened.
He forced a smile to match Darren's.
But that single sentence—I'm used to it—completely shattered his defenses.
Why should Darren have to be used to this?
Why was it always Darren who suffered the most?
What did Darren ever do wrong?