---
Chapter 684 Darren, Don't Come Over!!
Harry really wanted to say that he did know the Water-Repelling Charm and the Warming Charm—but he was afraid Darren would think he was stupid.
So he silently accepted Darren's assumption that he didn't know either spell.
"This method is truly naïve," Dumbledore suddenly said.
Harry thought Dumbledore was talking about him.
He felt a little guilty—
But then he realized Dumbledore was referring to the method Voldemort had used to seal the entrance.
"Very naïve… He actually thought that blood was required to open this door."
Dumbledore raised his palm.
Darren immediately tried to stop him.
But Dumbledore had already sliced his hand and pressed his blood forward.
He smiled faintly and said,
"Oh, Darren, I told you—everything must be done my way. Compared to you, I am far less valuable."
He said nothing more.
The stone entrance opened.
They passed through the cave mouth, and the rock wall sealed itself behind them.
Obviously, leaving would require blood again.
Dumbledore smiled.
"Yes… this is exactly Voldemort's style."
Darren nodded.
They moved carefully along the cave wall, deeper inside.
Harry hurried to keep up.
Then—
The space suddenly opened up.
They were standing at the edge of a vast underground lake.
Harry couldn't see the far shore at all.
But in the center of the lake, a faint green glow shimmered.
It wasn't bright—
Yet it stained the surface of the water an eerie green.
"Headmaster, we—"
"Don't worry," Dumbledore said calmly.
"We need to determine where the Horcrux is. And Harry—do not touch the water."
Harry nodded quickly.
He watched Dumbledore and Darren exchange serious looks.
They both pointed subtly toward the glowing center.
Harry felt awkward.
Because it was obvious—
He was completely useless here.
He forced himself to contribute.
"Headmaster, if we're looking for the Horcrux… shouldn't we try a Summoning Charm?"
Dumbledore looked momentarily surprised.
He hadn't expected Harry to suggest something so basic.
Still, he nodded.
"You may try, Harry."
Harry felt encouraged.
He raised his wand and shouted,
"Accio Horcrux!"
Nothing moved.
Instead—
Something leapt beneath the water.
Harry recoiled in terror.
"What was that?!"
Darren's expression turned grave.
"Those are Inferi. Many of them," he said quietly.
"Brother, don't touch the water. They sense living beings.
If you fall in, they'll drag you under and turn you into one of them."
Harry stumbled backward.
But panic followed.
"Then… how do we get across?"
The green glow in the center was clearly the key.
Darren and Dumbledore both smiled.
They reached out simultaneously.
A small boat appeared out of thin air.
The boat was tiny.
Harry stared at it uneasily.
"Will that even hold us safely?"
"It should," Dumbledore replied.
"This was Voldemort's contingency. He needed to come here himself, so it must be safe."
"But it's so small…"
"Brother," Darren said gently,
"Voldemort doesn't measure people by weight. He measures magic."
"But if three of us—"
Harry stopped.
Dumbledore finally turned to Darren.
"It seems you'll need to make a second trip."
Darren nodded.
He glanced at Harry, worried.
"Then… what about my brother?"
"Harry's magic contribution is… negligible compared to ours—
Oh. I forgot he was still here."
Dumbledore paused, then smiled.
"Forgive me. No wonder Voldemort underestimates young people.
I made the same mistake.
Harry is not useless.
He possesses a power Voldemort does not understand."
Harry felt deeply conflicted.
He felt insulted—then vaguely reassured.
Love again.
He still didn't fully believe love could defeat Voldemort.
But at least now he understood—
This was a path he had chosen himself.
"Alright," Dumbledore said.
"Harry, you go first. Be careful not to touch the water."
Harry climbed onto the boat and crouched low to keep his balance.
When Dumbledore joined him, the space felt impossibly cramped.
The boat glided forward.
Darren remained on the shore, watching it move toward the lake's center.
He glanced down at the water.
The Inferi were terrifying.
One of them suddenly opened its eyes.
Even Darren felt a chill crawl up his spine.
He clicked his tongue softly.
He tried to track Dumbledore and Harry—
But the distance blurred their figures.
Voldemort clearly had little patience.
The boat moved steadily, not slowly.
After about ten minutes—
There was a dull sound of impact.
They had arrived.
By their agreement, Dumbledore and Harry were supposed to wait for Darren before proceeding.
But before the boat returned—
Darren heard Dumbledore scream.
He had already begun drinking the potion.
Darren clenched his teeth.
He could have summoned house-elves.
A house-elf could drink it.
Then he could simply command them to return.
But Dumbledore hadn't done that.
Perhaps—
It was intentional.
Perhaps tonight truly was meant for a staged death.
Because Darren could feel it.
Dumbledore was weak—
But not that weak.
It was a feeling only Darren could sense.
As Darren stepped onto the returning boat, Dumbledore's voice grew more desperate.
And then—
"Don't let Darren die… please…
He's still a child…"
Darren froze.
…Alright.
That guilt hit hard.
What kind of psychological trauma had he given the old man?
But he couldn't ignore it.
Lowering his voice, Darren called out steadily,
"Brother… what happened to Headmaster Dumbledore?"
From across the lake, Harry shouted back—
"Darren, don't come over!"