Chapter 535 – Mission!!
No one raised any objections to Darren's proposal.
Even Dumbledore nodded in satisfaction.
Snape's response, however, brought up a new problem.
That was—how to make Darren appear to have a falling-out with Snape.
After all, everyone knew that Darren was terrible at lying.
Letting him fight Death Eaters or hunt enemies was fine, but asking him to act? Everyone knew that was madness.
Even Dumbledore couldn't offer a comment on this point.
Because even Dumbledore himself had no confidence at all in Darren's acting skills.
"Maybe we can manipulate Darren instead?"
Tonks suggested.
Dumbledore didn't reject the idea outright.
"Wait. This stage doesn't require them to break yet. For now, Severus only needs to continuously curry favor with Darren.
"The actual rupture will come in the next phase.
"However, the matter of teaching Harry Occlumency must begin.
"As Darren said, Harry can receive information from Voldemort, and Voldemort can in turn access what's in Harry's mind.
"That's why I haven't allowed you to tell Harry too much.
"Voldemort will eventually realize this connection, so we must teach Harry Occlumency.
"The problem is the instructor. I hesitated for a long time.
"At first, I considered Darren. The two of them could have learned together.
"But I realized that when facing Darren, Harry doesn't guard himself at all. Just as Darren is completely defenseless toward Harry, Harry is the same toward Darren.
"If the two of them study together, they'll never learn Occlumency.
"I then considered Remus and Sirius, but the problem is similar.
"For both Harry and Darren, they instinctively believe that certain things should never be hidden from people they trust.
"So unless the teacher is someone they deeply dislike, they won't guard their memories.
"Darren reminded me that Severus could teach Harry… Though I'm not optimistic about the process, it's the only workable solution.
"As for Darren—Darren, you'll start learning on your own first. I'll guide you later.
"To be honest, I'm uneasy about this decision. Because that would mean facing your memories directly.
"And every time I see them, it hurts. Deeply."
Dumbledore spoke helplessly.
Darren was silent.
Fine. It seemed he had left Dumbledore with psychological trauma.
After all, the memories he'd fabricated were… extremely impactful.
The listener wept. The observer grieved. That was talent.
Still, Darren showed an embarrassed expression and hurriedly said,
"I'll try to learn it myself first. I'll do my best to hide those memories so you won't have to see them."
[Ding, Holy Father value +100]
[Ding, Holy Father value +100]
[Ding, Holy Father value +100]
[Ding… ]
"Darren, that's not what I meant," Dumbledore sighed.
"If it were possible, I truly wish you had never experienced any of this.
"When I heard you crying in pain earlier, under Luna's guidance, I wondered if I should never have brought you to Hogwarts at all.
"If you had stayed with Muggles, and I only helped you from the shadows, perhaps you would have been far safer than you are now—nearly dying again and again.
"I once thought your memories from the orphanage were tragic.
"But later I realized… your memories at Hogwarts were even more painful."
Dumbledore gave a bitter smile.
Darren tried to shake his head, but Dumbledore stopped him.
"Don't worry about my emotions. I'm already an old man—I can bear it.
"I just sometimes think about the future resting on your memories and… sigh.
"You'll have to forgive an old man for his cowardice."
Darren accepted this silently.
After all, Dumbledore was a major source of Holy Father value. Darren understood him very well.
The meeting soon came to an end.
For Darren, the only thing left was to head to the address Dumbledore had given him and complete his first mission—his first official task.
"Darren, you'll go tonight. If possible, I don't want the children to know what you're doing.
"And give me your wand. I need to make it usable during the summer holidays."
Darren took out his wand.
Dumbledore tapped it with the Elder Wand, and glowing text appeared, sealed by Dumbledore's magic.
"Be careful. If there's danger, notify me immediately with a Patronus."
Darren nodded and stood up.
He glanced once more at the address written on the note, waved his wand, and burned it away.
"Then I'll be leaving. No need to see me off—I can open the door myself."
He winked at the others and walked straight out.
The moment he left, everyone in the room let out a breath.
"Darren's presence is still overwhelming. When he was speaking just now, I almost thought I was looking at Dumbledore."
"Yeah… except for Moody, no one even dared to interrupt."
"Even that greasy bat didn't hesitate and agreed immediately."
"I wasn't scared, you mangy dog—watch your mouth!"
"It's strange. His tone was gentle, but somehow it was impossible to argue against him."
"I don't know. I just hope everything goes smoothly. We've all checked this mission—there shouldn't be any danger."
"Exactly. We need to give Darren some confidence."
"He'll be happy once he completes this."
"That child is too pitiful. I just want him to be happy."
They reassured each other like that.
They had no idea that Darren, the focus of their concern, was already planning something far bigger.
Darren naturally had no clue what they were discussing.
He followed the address Dumbledore gave him and rushed through the night, infiltrating the manor.
Inside were two Death Eaters.
Dean Perkins had been tied up in his own home. The two Death Eaters had taken over the house.
Under normal circumstances, Darren should have rushed in and captured both of them.
But he didn't.
Instead, he planned to use an Execution Card.
This was a reward he had obtained during a trial in his second year.
It could compel a target to do something they would genuinely believe, from the depths of their heart, that they wanted to do.
Of course, the system had clearly stated that certain obscene uses were prohibited.
That restriction was the reason the card had been sitting unused for so long.
[System, use an Execution Card.]
[Command: On the grounds that Voldemort suspects this location is a site Dumbledore uses to train personnel, make him come here personally to observe.]
[Ding, execution successful. Voldemort will arrive in three minutes.]