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Chapter 692 This Is a Good Thing!!
All classes were suspended.
All exams were cancelled as well.
Over the next two days, parents arrived from every direction.
Some came for Dumbledore's funeral.
Others came to take their children home.
The day before the funeral, Madame Maxime also arrived.
She threw herself into Hagrid's arms the moment she saw him.
The delegation from the Ministry of Magic was now staying at Hogwarts.
Harry also saw the Flamel couple.
They were here as well.
After visiting Darren in the hospital wing, they repeatedly said they wanted to take him away with them.
But under Harry's firm objections, they did not do anything reckless—especially not taking Darren away while he was asleep.
Harry and Ron sat together on the sunlit lawn, pretending that everything was exactly the same as before.
Ginny had finished all her classes by then.
She was sitting nearby, relaxed, knitting a sweater.
"Darren's growing so fast," she said softly.
"I need to prepare all his winter sweaters as soon as possible…"
Then she looked at Harry and smiled gently.
"Smile, Harry. No matter how hard things get, you still have to think of something happy, right?"
Harry nodded.
But he still couldn't smile.
He knew it.
He had to move forward now—there were still so many unanswered questions pressing on him.
And yet…
he didn't want to move at all.
He knew that once he started moving again, everything would become even more dangerous.
Right now, all his friends and family were still alive.
He just wanted to delay things a little longer.
They visited the hospital wing twice a day—
a strict requirement from Madam Pomfrey.
Otherwise, she would have had them practically living there.
Neville, Luna, and Hermione were already much better.
Neville and Hermione had been discharged.
Luna was still a little weak.
Bill was also still being treated.
His face—especially around the eye that had been bitten—looked frightening.
But Madam Pomfrey said he would recover.
As for Darren—
He had been asleep the entire time.
Harry learned from Mrs. Weasley that this had been Darren's own request.
He wanted to sleep well.
That was a good thing.
At the very least, it meant Darren had woken up in good spirits before.
Fleur still came once a day.
Every visit, she insisted on kissing Darren several times.
Ginny complained quietly to Hermione, a little unhappy, that Fleur really didn't know how to restrain herself.
But she still accepted it.
"Even though I don't really like her…
well… I admit it. She's sincere toward Darren.
And Darren always says sincerity shouldn't be trampled on…"
Ginny whispered.
Hermione ignored her.
She was reading the Daily Prophet.
Then she suddenly said,
"Harry, Darren thinks Snape might actually be the Half-Blood Prince…
but he said it lightly, almost jokingly.
He just wanted you to know that Snape had once been good to you."
Harry felt as if all sound had been blocked.
He remembered Darren questioning Dumbledore in the headmaster's office.
Maybe Darren hadn't been angry because Snape treated him badly.
Maybe Darren had been angry because Snape treated his brother badly.
That was why Darren had spat out every single potion Snape ever gave him.
Even while unconscious, he hadn't taken a single sip.
He hated Snape.
Harry didn't even dare to imagine what Darren had felt when he watched the man he trusted kill Dumbledore.
What kind of pain would drive someone to use the Cruciatus Curse?
Harry froze.
He looked at Hermione and whispered,
"Darren must be in so much pain."
Hermione's eyes turned red.
Harry hadn't meant to make her cry.
He was barely holding himself together.
Tomorrow was Dumbledore's funeral.
An hour after the funeral, they would have to leave the school.
That much was certain.
Madam Pomfrey would wake Darren early tomorrow morning.
Darren had said he didn't want to miss Dumbledore's funeral.
But Harry was worried.
Could Darren really withstand such a blow?
When Amos Diggory died, Darren had spent an entire summer just recovering.
Harry could only hope that Darren would get through this as well.
---
The next morning.
Harry arrived at the Great Hall early.
Darren was already there.
It looked like he had only just arrived as well.
He was wearing a black robe.
It seemed a little too large on him—making him look even thinner than before.
Yet he was still handsome.
Harry almost laughed bitterly.
In the Pensieve, he had once seen Voldemort trying to charm Heqi's mistress—
dressed up like a harmless, polished young man, all surface and disguise.
Darren hadn't dressed up at all.
His robe was slightly worn.
His hair wasn't styled—just a little messy, like he hadn't bothered.
No accessories.
Only a thin necklace hanging at his chest.
He looked fragile, like he might tear if touched.
And yet—
he still looked far better than Voldemort ever had.
Harry noticed that many girls were secretly looking at Darren.
Perhaps sensing Harry's gaze, Darren turned around.
When he saw Harry, he smiled.
He walked straight toward Gryffindor, without even glancing at Slytherin.
Harry had always wanted Darren to maintain his relationship with Slytherin.
But at this moment—
he couldn't laugh at that thought at all.
Only bitterness remained.
Darren had been the one holding Slytherin together in the first place.
And yet…
Slytherin had disappointed him.
As Darren walked toward Gryffindor, the Great Hall fell silent.
Professor McGonagall finally stood.
Her face was pale as she said,
"Students, when the time comes, please follow your Head of House to the venue.
Gryffindor students, come with me."
Darren followed Harry.
Professor McGonagall said nothing—
she did not send Darren back to Slytherin.
Clearly, she had tacitly allowed it.
Harry felt a flicker of something like grim satisfaction.
If Snape were here, he would be furious.
After all, despite his hatred of Darren,
Darren's achievements were something Snape had always taken pride in for Slytherin.
Professor McGonagall led them to the grounds.
Rows and rows of chairs had already been arranged.
Hermione pulled Darren to choose a seat.
Harry and Ron sat beside them.
Ginny and Neville quickly followed.
Harry also spotted Umbridge, wearing an exaggerated expression of grief, making her way toward her seat.
Harry's fists clenched.
Darren quietly pressed down on his hand.
That calmed him.
But what truly stopped Harry wasn't Darren's gesture—
it was Darren himself.
His body was trembling.
Darren's face still held a faint smile,
but his hands and shoulders were shaking uncontrollably.
"Darren… if you want to cry, then cry…"
Darren's voice was barely audible.
"Brother… I don't want to attend anymore.
I want to go back.
I don't want to see this…"
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding…］
Through his blurred, tear-filled vision,
Harry saw Hermione gently pull Darren's head against her chest.
"If only we didn't have to watch this…"