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Chapter 682 Listen to My Explanation!!
Dumbledore's expression froze in place.
Harry thought he saw his face turn pale for a moment.
"Children, listen to me… At that time, when Professor Snape heard that prophecy, he was working for Voldemort…
So he told Voldemort the prophecy. He didn't think too deeply about it at all…
It wasn't until Voldemort chose your parents that he realized what he had done. That became the most painful thing in his entire life.
Believe me, children, he was just as desperate as you."
But Harry interrupted him.
"I don't believe it! He hated my dad—how could he possibly regret it?
And he's a master of Occlumency. How do we know he hasn't been lying to you all along?"
He roared angrily.
Dumbledore looked a little impatient.
He wanted Harry to stop.
Then he heard Darren speak softly.
"Headmaster, I've always told my brother—father's debt, son's repayment. I told him to endure Professor Snape, not to talk back no matter what he said…
But Professor Snape told Voldemort the prophecy and caused our parents' deaths.
After doing something like that, why does he still treat my brother this way?"
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
"He's only acting—"
"No, Headmaster. He hates my brother because my brother looks like our father.
But after he indirectly killed our father, why can he still be so full of disgust toward Harry?
If he had killed our dad and at least treated my brother a little better afterward, I think Harry wouldn't always suspect him, would he?"
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
Dumbledore closed his eyes.
He said quietly, "Yes… children, if everything were as simple as you say, then Harry would not be facing this kind of hatred from Severus Snape."
Harry interrupted again.
"He hated my dad, humiliated my dad… and then indirectly killed him.
I can't see any trace of regret in him at all!
So tell me—where exactly is this so-called remorse?"
"Harry, Darren, I can't tell you everything right now.
Some things must be told to you personally by Professor Snape…
All I can say is this—I believe him. I believe he will help us. He is on my side."
Harry became even angrier.
He almost pointed at Dumbledore's nose and shouted, "You believe him?
You don't even know—he might be with Malfoy right now!
They're plotting something. Today Trelawney was thrown out of the Room of Requirement by them, and you—you're about to leave the school!"
"Enough!"
Dumbledore said sharply.
Harry finally fell silent.
Dumbledore sat back in his chair.
"Do you really think I would leave without arranging protection for the students and the school?"
Harry had no reply.
Dumbledore looked at him and continued, "So—back to the main question.
Are you still willing to come with me tonight to find the Horcrux?"
Harry hesitated.
Then he nodded.
Darren looked at Dumbledore for a long time, meeting his sincere gaze, and finally nodded as well.
Dumbledore smiled.
"Very good. But before we leave, I must make three conditions.
Children—when I give an order, you must obey.
For example, if I tell you to run, to leave, to save yourselves and not care about me—can you do that?"
Darren frowned.
He wanted to speak.
But Dumbledore stopped him.
"Listen to me, Darren. This is part of the plan.
Don't forget what you promised me."
Dumbledore looked at him seriously.
Darren's eyes slowly reddened, as if he had realized something.
He whispered, "You wouldn't be planning to sacrifice your own life, would you?
I said I would give everything I have—not you!"
[Ding, Father +100]
Dumbledore placed his hands on Darren's shoulders.
He smiled gently.
"Trust me. I won't have an accident…
It's only because there may be a Horcrux there that I need you to follow orders.
Can you understand that?"
Darren stared into his eyes for a long time.
Finally, he nodded.
Dumbledore smiled again.
He turned to Harry.
"Harry, go and fetch your Invisibility Cloak.
I hope in five minutes we can meet in the Entrance Hall."
Harry rushed out.
Dumbledore released Darren.
He removed the ring from his finger, threaded it onto a silver chain, and handed it to him.
"Wear this. It used to be Voldemort's Horcrux.
It will react if it encounters another one."
Darren naturally didn't refuse.
He remembered—this was the Resurrection Stone.
He hadn't had time to study it yet.
Dumbledore then took out a piece of parchment and wrote something on it.
As soon as he finished, the parchment vanished.
Darren only caught a glimpse of two words written on it: "Feel free to enter."
He couldn't help suspecting that Dumbledore might already be preparing for his own end tonight.
Dumbledore said nothing more.
He simply gestured for Darren to follow him out.
"I hope Harry won't keep us waiting."
Darren suddenly remembered something.
"Headmaster, I need to go back and arrange a few things!"
He rushed out as well.
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Darren ran straight to the Gryffindor common room.
Even the Fat Lady didn't stop him.
He hurried into Harry's dormitory.
Harry was just taking out the Invisibility Cloak and handing things to Ron.
Darren rushed forward, shoved a gold coin into Ron's hand.
"This is temporary authority for the D.A.
As long as you hold this coin, even if I'm not in school, you can still use the D.A. coins to communicate.
Something big might happen tonight. You've got the Marauder's Map—keep an eye on Malfoy.
Brother, there might not be enough Elixir of Luck on your side. I still have some…"
Darren waved his wand.
His bottle of Felix Felicis flew over.
A large bottle.
"Remember to drink it if necessary. I don't want any of you to have an accident while I'm gone!"
Ron didn't even have time to respond.
His eyes were fixed on the potion.
"So much!"
"Use it sparingly—once a year at most. This thing carries a heavy burden."
"You split these between you. If there's really an attack, drink it.
If not—don't touch it. Good steel must be used on the blade."
"What about you and Harry?" Ron asked anxiously.
Darren took out Harry's small bottle of Felix Felicis and tossed it to him.
"I already used it once not long ago. Brother can use this."
He said quickly.
Then he grabbed Harry and rushed out.
Ron stared at their backs, worry written all over his face.
"The last time he used it… that was to get Slughorn's memory…
This really makes me uneasy!"
He could only pray.
Pray that Dumbledore was still as powerful as ever.
And that he could bring the two of them back safely.
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