Chapter 525 – Grimmauld Square!!
Darren was so embarrassed that he could only pretend he didn't understand—and, honestly, he really wanted to cover his eyes.
These two were standing far too close together.
Are you two flirting or what?
Darren complained nonstop in his heart.
Alright.
Dumbledore finally remembered that this was not the time to indulge anything.
After a burst of whirlwind motion, Darren finally arrived in a square.
"Inside. No need to rush."
Dumbledore pulled Darren along and walked straight in one direction.
Then Darren saw a door.
Dumbledore stepped forward and knocked.
Mrs. Weasley opened it.
When she saw Darren, she exclaimed in surprise.
But she immediately noticed that Darren was completely unable to move.
"Dumbledore?"
Mrs. Weasley looked at him.
Dumbledore nodded.
He gently handed Darren over to her.
"Let him calm down for a while. He heard about Harry's accident and kept trying to rush over."
Mrs. Weasley's eyes instantly turned red.
She supported Darren carefully and helped him into the room.
"Oh, child, lie down here first. Once we finish discussing things, we'll decide whether to take you along or not."
She kissed Darren on the forehead.
Then she left immediately.
Not long after, Ron and Hermione came in.
Darren immediately looked at them with a pleading expression.
But both of them shook their heads weakly.
"No, Darren. They won't let us untie you.
And we can't use magic during the holidays. Do you want us to be warned by the Ministry like Harry was?"
Hermione said helplessly.
Darren blinked.
His eyes were already red.
This made Hermione and Ron feel even more conflicted.
"No, we can't let you go. If we do, you'll definitely run off, and we won't be able to stop you at all."
The two of them spoke firmly.
They deliberately avoided meeting Darren's eyes.
But Darren could clearly feel the Father values constantly being generated from the two of them.
He thought to himself that using his eyes like this was actually very convenient—
it would be nice if he could just look at people all day.
Unfortunately, his eyes soon started to ache.
He quickly abandoned the idea.
Seems like talking is still more practical.
Seeing Darren close his eyes, Hermione and Ron finally dared to look at him again.
"You'd better calm down, just like Dumbledore said.
Otherwise, you might really be stuck here all day. I've seen their meetings before—they take forever.
Why don't you sleep for a bit? Maybe when you wake up, they'll be done and… untie you?"
Hermione tried to comfort him.
She pulled over a blanket and covered him.
"I'm also worried about Harry. I don't know how he's doing right now…"
Ron muttered.
Hermione shot him a sharp look.
She was afraid Darren would get even more anxious.
Darren complained silently.
Of course he wasn't anxious.
He couldn't move anyway, his eyes got tired from staring, and he hadn't slept properly in ages.
Hermione was right.
Maybe when he woke up, Dumbledore's conscience would kick in and he'd untie him?
Thinking that way—
He really did feel sleepy.
Darren quietly yawned.
And just like that, he fell asleep.
When he woke up again, it was because of voices.
"Keep your voices down. Why do you keep coming in?
If you wake Darren up, are you going to send him to Harry?"
Hermione's voice.
Perfectly summarized.
"Well, they're planning to pick Harry up in a few days. They asked us to tell Darren."
Fred's voice.
"So what? Can you persuade him?"
Ginny said mockingly.
Fred fell silent.
They seemed to exchange looks.
Finally, George spoke.
"Since they've already made this decision, why don't they come tell Darren themselves?"
"Probably because they don't dare look into Darren's eyes."
Ron rolled his eyes.
He and Hermione still felt guilty just thinking about being stared at by Darren.
One could imagine how those people would feel facing him directly.
No wonder none of them came upstairs.
"By the way, did they say how Harry's situation will be handled? Will he really be expelled?"
"Probably not. Harry still has to go through a hearing.
Two Dementors appeared in Privet Drive.
They almost performed the Dementor's Kiss on Harry's cousin—the fat one—and Harry used magic to save him."
Fred said angrily.
"I think it's completely insane.
The Ministry must've done it on purpose. Otherwise, how could Dementors end up there?"
"Exactly. So what are you going to tell Darren? How do you calm him down? How do you stop him from running out?"
Hermione said impatiently.
The room fell silent.
Then, in that silence, there was another knock on the door.
Ginny said irritably,
"Who is it now? Can you stop knocking?
If you wake Darren up, are you going to talk to him?"
"Children, it's me."
It was Dumbledore.
Darren blinked.
Dumbledore looked at him and said softly,
"Darren, let's talk when you wake up."
Darren deliberately fluttered his eyelashes in front of him.
Then he slowly opened his eyes, pretending to wake.
Dumbledore waved his wand.
Darren immediately felt his body loosen.
He rolled over and sat up, clearly about to leave.
But Dumbledore grabbed his arm.
"Don't go."
"Then kill me—or keep me pressed here."
[Ding, Holy Father value +200]
[Ding, Holy Father value +200]
[Ding, Holy Father value +200]
[Ding... ］
Darren looked at him with reddened eyes.
Dumbledore fell silent.
"I'm sorry, Headmaster Dumbledore. I didn't mean to anger you.
But I can't leave my brother alone out there while I wait here.
I'd rather die together than stay like this."
Darren grabbed his wand.
He rushed out.
"Darren!"
"Come back!"
"Stop him!"
There were many people outside the room.
They had clearly believed Dumbledore would succeed in persuading him.
So there was no defense at all, and Darren broke through instantly.
"Alastor, follow Darren.
Remus, Tonks, Kingsley—you go as well. Execute Plan B."
Dumbledore said gravely.
Those whose names were called responded immediately and rushed out after him.
The room suddenly felt much emptier.
Mrs. Weasley stood at the doorway, deeply worried.
"That child… will he be alright?
At a time like this, rushing out alone—he's too reckless, far too reckless!"
"Molly, don't worry.
Darren is very strong. As long as he doesn't do something irrational out of kindness—
even if it's Voldemort, he can still leave unharmed."
"Yes, yes… but when will he ever be less kind?"
Dumbledore was left speechless.
After a moment, he said helplessly,
"There was no other choice.
I let him calm down for so long, but he never abandoned this idea.
I can't keep him lying there forever.
Sooner or later, he would've found a way to secretly break the spell.
And if that happened, he would've left quietly—
which would have been even more dangerous."