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Chapter 669 It's Amortentia!!
Ron was even more anxious than Harry.
Ever since he got a girlfriend himself, he seemed determined to push Harry into finding one too.
And Lini, obviously, was the most likely candidate.
Harry put on his glasses and opened the gift Lini had sent.
It was a box of chocolates.
"There's also a note," Harry said, reading aloud.
"Harry, this is my gift to Darren. Could you pass it on to him?"
Ron snorted with laughter.
Only Harry's face turned serious.
He showed Darren a piece of chocolate to check if there was anything wrong with it.
Darren tapped it with his wand.
No problem.
But—
"It seems a certain herb has been added. If it's eaten together with another ingredient… it would turn into Amortentia."
Darren said with a faint smile.
"She really wanted to pursue Darren? I thought she was into Harry?"
Ron looked utterly confused.
Darren and Harry exchanged a quiet glance.
They both wanted to say that Romilda had once tried to give Darren canyon water laced with Amortentia too.
But neither of them said it.
Ron, unaware of their thoughts, tossed a piece of chocolate into his mouth.
"What's there to be scared of? We're at home. I'm not going to mix it with any potion, am I?
And I don't think that girl Lini would secretly feed me another ingredient, right?
Chocolate is just chocolate. It tastes pretty good. You two want some? Don't waste it!"
Harry and Darren immediately shook their heads.
Ron simply put the chocolates away.
In his words, they could be saved as snacks.
When they went downstairs for Christmas lunch, everyone was wearing the sweaters Mrs. Weasley had knitted.
Mrs. Weasley hugged them one by one.
When she hugged Darren, she smiled brightly.
"Darren, I absolutely love the gemstone necklace you gave me!"
Only then did Harry and the others notice that Mrs. Weasley was wearing a sparkling necklace.
Each gemstone looked as big as a walnut.
It had a slightly extravagant, almost nouveau riche style.
But Mrs. Weasley clearly adored it.
"That must have cost a fortune, didn't it?"
"Not really. I asked Peggy to find large gemstones and craft them one by one. I thought you'd like this style."
Mrs. Weasley blushed and glanced at Mr. Weasley.
Mr. Weasley blushed too.
Darren had a vague suspicion they had discovered some… special use for the big gemstones, but he quickly stopped himself from thinking further.
Just as he was about to say something, he saw Mrs. Weasley's face suddenly turn pale with panic.
"Arthur—Arthur—is that Percy? Percy's back?"
Yes, Percy had returned.
And he came together with Minister Rufus Scrimgeour.
After an awkward silence—
Percy said stiffly,
"Merry Christmas, Mum."
Mrs. Weasley burst into tears.
Fred and George looked at him warily.
"What are you doing here?"
Percy remained silent.
Scrimgeour smiled, leaning on his cane.
"We were dealing with some matters nearby. Percy wanted to come back and see you… I won't disturb your reunion."
At that moment, his words seemed harmless.
Mrs. Weasley was overwhelmed with emotion.
But Scrimgeour's next sentence froze the atmosphere.
He looked at Harry and Darren.
"I need someone to accompany me to the garden. Would you two young men mind walking with me?"
Refusing the current Minister for Magic was clearly inappropriate.
Harry and Darren agreed.
But everyone knew that Scrimgeour's earlier words were just an excuse.
This wasn't Percy's visit.
It was Scrimgeour's visit to Harry and Darren.
Lupin tried to stand up.
But Darren pressed his shoulder.
"It's fine."
He and Harry walked out.
Scrimgeour followed.
As if he hadn't noticed that everyone in the house—even insects —clearly disliked him.
Scrimgeour stood in the garden.
There was a brief silence.
Then he looked at Darren and Harry.
"I've wanted to meet you two for a long time, but Dumbledore kept getting in the way.
There were rumors before that Harry was the 'Saviour.'
I thought that if Harry publicly supported the Ministry and showed trust in us, the situation in the wizarding world would improve greatly."
Harry said nothing.
Scrimgeour didn't seem to care.
Then he turned to Darren.
"I know you, Darren. You are almost the strongest wizard after Dumbledore and the mysterious man.
I've seen your magical strength records. Even in second year, you had already surpassed most adults.
I heard your dream is to become an Auror.
You could join the Ministry right now. What do you think?"
Darren opened his mouth to refuse.
But Harry suddenly exploded.
"I know what you want! You just want Darren to work for you!
You know perfectly well he's a target. You'll send him to face Voldemort and call it 'voluntary sacrifice'!
People like you, I will never let Darren serve under you.
Even if he agreed, I'd threaten him with my own life to stop it!"
Scrimgeour frowned.
"Harry, that's extreme—"
"Extreme? How are you any different from Fudge?
He carved scars into my hand and called me a liar.
And you? You arrested Stan Shunpike knowing he wasn't a Death Eater and wasn't under the Imperius Curse.
You just wanted achievements!"
Scrimgeour looked irritated.
Darren interrupted him calmly.
He raised Harry's hand.
Scrimgeour saw the words on the back of it—
I must not tell lies.
"If you were truly righteous, why didn't you speak out last year?
Yes, I once said I wanted to be an Auror.
But I never said I wanted to be an Auror of your Ministry.
I only want to be an Auror of justice."
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
Scrimgeour's smile disappeared.
"It seems you've been thoroughly brainwashed by Dumbledore."
Harry was about to retort.
Darren sneered first.
"That's right. Brainwashed very well.
We are Dumbledore's people—through and through."
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]