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Chapter 685 He Was Poisoned!!
Harry was desperate.
The moment he and Dumbledore reached the island, they saw a stone basin sitting there.
The basin was filled with a large amount of green liquid.
Just looking at its color made Harry's scalp prickle.
But Dumbledore intended to drink it.
Because inside that basin was what they believed to be Voldemort's Horcrux—the Slytherin locket.
Of course.
Dumbledore did not drink it all at once.
After several attempts, he finally came to the conclusion that the potion had to be drunk completely.
Harry thought it should be him who drank it.
But Dumbledore made him swear that if Dumbledore stopped midway, Harry would force him to continue, no matter what.
Under Dumbledore's urging, Harry had no choice.
He poured the potion into Dumbledore's mouth again and again.
Dumbledore drank.
And as he did, his face twisted in pain from time to time.
He kept crying out words—as if he were seeing something unimaginably horrifying.
Among the names he shouted…
Darren's name appeared again and again.
There were others too.
But Harry kept his oath.
He poured every last drop into Dumbledore.
When the basin was finally empty, Dumbledore whispered hoarsely,
"Water…"
Harry grabbed the cup.
He kept casting spells, trying to fill it with water—
But the moment water appeared, it vanished.
Only then did Harry understand.
Voldemort wanted them to take water from the lake.
Suppressing his terror, Harry turned toward the water.
Then—
He heard Darren's voice.
For so many years, Harry had longed for Darren to appear at his side.
But this time—
He was terrified.
Because Inferi surged out of the lake in countless numbers.
They clawed toward him, dragging him down.
Harry attacked frantically.
Spells struck them—but they felt no pain.
Arms shattered.
Legs broke.
They still crawled forward.
So Harry screamed,
"Darren, don't come!!"
If he could choose—
He would rather die himself than let Darren disappear in front of him again.
"All Petrified! Sectum—no—Shadowless—!"
He shouted blindly.
But the Inferi had already surrounded him.
Harry felt death close in.
He knew it.
He would be dragged into the lake.
Drowned.
Turned into one of them.
He didn't want Darren to see that.
But he couldn't even speak anymore—
Then suddenly—
A blazing warmth wrapped around him.
Flames surged.
The Inferi were engulfed in fire.
They tried to retreat into the lake—
Some vanished completely.
Others fell into the water, their flames extinguished.
Harry froze.
Fire Curse.
This was a fire spell.
It was Darren.
"Brother! Headmaster Dumbledore!"
Darren's voice rang out.
Only then did Harry snap back to himself.
"I'm here!!"
He shouted.
The next moment, a hand grabbed his arm.
Harry could feel it trembling.
Through the flames, he couldn't clearly see Darren's expression—
But he knew.
Darren's eyes must have been red.
"Headmaster Dumbledore!"
Darren lifted Dumbledore.
Dumbledore looked terrifyingly weak.
Of course—
Only on the surface.
Darren could feel it.
Dumbledore wasn't actually that weak.
But Darren pretended not to notice.
With a panicked expression, he hurried Dumbledore toward the boat.
"Brother, you and Headmaster Dumbledore go first," Darren said urgently.
"I'll hold the Inferi back. I'm fine—Fire Curses work on them!"
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Holy Father Straight +100]
Harry had no strength to argue.
Darren shoved him onto the boat.
The boat surged across the raging lake.
Inferi clawed at it again and again—
But Darren's fierce flames surrounded them completely.
The bright fire chased away the cold.
The terror gripping Harry's body slowly faded.
Finally—
They reached the shore.
Harry lifted Dumbledore.
Dumbledore's face was deathly pale.
He barely had the strength to speak.
"The Horcrux…"
Dumbledore whispered.
Harry froze.
He said weakly that he'd forgotten to take it.
In the flames, he'd truly thought he was about to die.
Darren had pushed him straight into the boat.
There was no time.
He could only pray Darren had taken it.
Dumbledore frowned.
He tried to turn back toward the island.
Harry knew—
If Darren hadn't retrieved the Horcrux, Dumbledore would go back.
No matter what.
Just as Harry thought they'd have to return—
The boat finally came back.
The flames were dim now.
Harry saw an Inferius nearly grab Darren.
At the last second—
Darren's fire burned it to ash.
"Darren! Are you alright?!"
Harry shouted anxiously.
Darren laughed.
His face was pale.
It was hard to tell whose condition was worse—his or Dumbledore's.
But his smile was still bright.
And then—
He pulled a locket from inside his robes.
Harry's heart finally settled.
Darren had it.
But when Darren stepped off the boat and moved to hand the locket to Dumbledore—
He froze.
The smile vanished.
Panic flashed across his face.
He shoved the Horcrux back into his pocket.
Then he forced a smile and said,
"Go… I'll erase the entrance magic."
Harry was deeply worried.
But seeing Darren's expression, he knew—
This wasn't the time to ask.
Dumbledore didn't ask either.
Darren returned and supported Dumbledore toward the cave entrance.
"My blood…"
Dumbledore murmured weakly.
Darren shook his head.
"No. My arm was cut earlier."
He pressed his arm against the stone.
Only then did Harry and Dumbledore notice—
A long scratch ran across Darren's arm.
The wound was already ulcerating.
Bluish-purple veins spread around it.
He had been poisoned.
It must have happened when he saved Harry—
When he was scratched by the Inferi.
Dumbledore said weakly,
"Darren… you should Apparate back first. Detoxify. I'll rest a moment, then take Harry back."
Darren looked at him.
Then he smiled and shook his head.
"It's fine. I can take you both back."
He grabbed Dumbledore and Harry.
With a sharp crack—
They Apparated into Hogsmeade.
Harry let out a breath.
"Darren… we're back—"
His voice stopped.
Darren's face was deathly pale.
His body swayed.
"Darren…"
"It's okay, brother… let's go… we have to get back to school…"
His voice faded.
He suddenly looked toward the sky.
And froze.
Harry followed his gaze.
Above Hogwarts—
A Dark Mark burned in the air.
Harry inhaled sharply.