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Chapter 687 Can't Go Through With It!!
Malfoy's face turned even paler.
He looked at Dumbledore.
Clearly, he had already learned from Rosmerta that Dumbledore's condition was extremely bad.
He could kill him.
But he… couldn't do it.
He closed his eyes, and Darren's words from that day echoed in his mind.
"As long as you don't have a human life on your hands…"
No human life?
Did that really count?
He wanted to give up his own life.
But—
His father.
His mother.
Their lives.
If he didn't do this, Voldemort would kill them all.
He had to.
Malfoy raised his wand.
His hands shook uncontrollably.
He forced himself to sneer coldly.
"I will kill you eventually. A wizard like you—hiding here—"
"No," Dumbledore interrupted gently.
"I have always known it was you.
"And Darren knew it as well. He and I kept Severus watching you. He guided you back onto the right path, step by step."
"You were slapped awake by him."
"You don't know him at all!" Malfoy shouted.
"He just wants to steal my credit now!
"What double agent? You've lost control of him—he's been unreliable for a long time!"
"I trust him," Dumbledore said firmly.
Malfoy laughed hollowly.
He listened carefully to the sounds outside.
Nothing moved.
Still, he forced himself to sound confident.
"My friends… they'll be here soon."
"Speaking of your friends," Dumbledore said calmly,
"I'm curious—how did you contact them?"
Malfoy hesitated.
Then he pulled out a gold coin.
It looked eerily similar to the DA coins Darren had made.
"I stole one from a student," he said quietly.
"Studied it for a while… and made a simpler version."
Harry felt Darren's body shudder violently.
He couldn't move.
He couldn't see Darren's expression.
But Harry knew—
This must have hurt him deeply.
Malfoy had taken Darren's creation and twisted it into a tool for the Death Eaters.
Harry suddenly understood—
This must have been one of Darren's nightmares.
The only consolation was that Malfoy truly was exactly as Darren had said.
A bad person.
But not a killer.
That realization steadied Harry slightly.
Dumbledore's calm voice broke the silence again.
"So… no one was killed by you during your entry?"
Malfoy's body trembled.
"There was a dead man. One of yours. I don't know who. I didn't see clearly… I only stepped over his body."
Harry and Darren both shook violently.
Ron.
Hermione.
Ginny.
Harry felt like he couldn't breathe.
He couldn't bear to lose anyone else.
Dumbledore fell silent.
After a long time, he finally said,
"Then, Draco… make your choice."
Malfoy's wand shook.
"I'll kill you!" he roared.
"But if you truly wanted to kill me," Dumbledore said quietly,
"you would have done it already.
"Why speak so much to an old man about to die?
"Draco… you are not a murderer."
"He'll kill me! He'll kill my entire family!"
"I know," Dumbledore said softly.
"I've known for a long time.
"That is why I avoided you—because if Voldemort suspected I doubted you, he would kill you at once.
"But now it's different.
"At this moment, you still have another choice.
"And fortunately… your hands are not yet stained with innocent blood."
Malfoy's wand slowly lowered.
But—
BOOM!
The door exploded open.
Four figures rushed in.
Two witches.
Two wizards.
Harry recognized one instantly.
Fenrir Greyback.
The werewolf who had turned Lupin.
Harry felt Darren struggle violently again.
If only they could move—
If only—
They might actually be able to stop this.
But they couldn't.
Darren's poison was spreading.
His strength was nearly gone.
Greyback mocked Dumbledore.
Then—
An explosion echoed outside.
One of the witches shouted,
"Hurry up, Draco! Kill the old man! The kids are coming!"
Harry's heart leapt.
They're alive.
Ron and the others were alive.
He prayed desperately for Dumbledore to delay just a little longer—
Then someone else entered.
Snape.
"Severus…"
Dumbledore's voice cracked.
Harry was stunned.
Dumbledore was begging.
"Severus… please…"
Snape raised his wand.
His eyes were empty.
"Avada Kedavra."
Green light struck.
Dumbledore fell from the tower.
"Go!" Snape shouted, shoving Malfoy.
Malfoy stood frozen.
Harry hadn't reacted yet either.
Then—
The paralysis lifted.
He could move.
He tore off the Invisibility Cloak and grabbed Darren.
Darren was still standing—still forcing himself forward.
Their eyes met.
Harry felt terror pierce his chest.
He remembered the curtain.
Mr. Diggory.
Dumbledore falling.
The Dementors were coming.
Darren stood in front of him.
Harry couldn't push him away.
He could only shout hoarsely,
"Darren—do something—"
Then—
An explosion of light.
"Expecto Patronum!"
A blazing dragon erupted into the night.
Hundreds of Dementors were driven back.
Warmth flooded Harry again.
The dragon turned its head.
Those eyes looked at him.
Harry felt his throat tighten.
"Brother," Darren said hoarsely,
"don't sleep yet. There's still a Death Eater—catch him."
Harry turned back.
His tears finally fell.
Darren was drenched in blood.
His skin looked torn apart.
Harry understood—
Darren had forced his own will awake through pain.
He had cast the Patronus by sheer sacrifice.
Sensing Harry's gaze, Darren smiled faintly.
"Don't be afraid," he said softly.
"They're just small injuries… really."