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Chapter 699 They Are Still Children!!
Fortunately, after an hour, everything finally began to calm down.
Everyone slowly returned to normal.
Moody activated his magical eye, stared at himself in the mirror, and said in his rough voice,
"Merlin… wearing Darren's face, I didn't even spit."
Harry couldn't imagine what Darren would have said if he had seen that.
He was extremely grateful Darren was unconscious—otherwise, Darren would probably have been furious enough to lock Moody up.
Just then, Mrs. Weasley came out of the room.
Harry rushed over immediately.
So did many others.
They all looked at her expectantly, as if waiting for a verdict on whether Darren would live or die.
At last, Mrs. Weasley smiled.
"He's asleep," she said softly.
"The wounds will take a long time to heal, and they hurt badly. There's no potion that can completely take away the pain.
The most troublesome part is that he's highly resistant to magic. He kept waking up, so we had to use two or three Stupefy spells on him. Only just now did he finally fall asleep.
I believe that by tomorrow morning, he'll be much better."
Sirius finally let out a breath and smiled in relief.
He opened two bottles of red wine and poured everyone a glass.
They raised their glasses together.
"To Darren!"
Harry shouted.
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Over the next few days, Harry stayed at the Burrow.
By the third day, Darren had basically recovered.
Harry watched members of the Order of the Phoenix coming and going with grim expressions, and more and more, he felt the urge to leave.
Because if Voldemort discovered that both he and Darren were at the Burrow, he would certainly find a way to attack it.
As for Grimmauld Place—
Although it had become a new headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix, and intelligence could be passed through it, Darren himself couldn't stay there all the time, since he was now the Secret-Keeper.
Many members still had to move openly.
The Burrow, therefore, was protected by both Aurors and members of the Order.
Darren, meanwhile, had endless matters to deal with every day.
Harry felt increasingly lonely.
It reminded him of the summer after his fifth year—when no one seemed to care what he thought or felt.
So he went to find Darren.
And said he wanted to leave.
But Darren refused to let him go immediately.
"Wait two more days," Darren said calmly.
"When we officially come of age and the Trace disappears completely, we'll leave.
During these two days, I'm reorganizing the Order's affairs, making sure that even if I'm not here, someone can still take responsibility.
What do you think, Kingsley?"
Darren asked with a smile.
Harry thought for a moment.
Then nodded.
"I think that's fine."
Darren raised an eyebrow.
"That's a perfunctory answer. I'm afraid you only know Kingsley's name, don't you?"
"I've met him before!" Harry replied weakly.
Despite that, he was genuinely relieved.
Because Darren had agreed.
Darren was willing to leave with him.
"Well then," Darren said cheerfully,
"Tonight Mrs. Weasley will hold our coming-of-age celebration. After that, we'll leave overnight."
Harry was instantly excited.
He ran off to pack his things, ready to leave at any moment.
But his behavior clearly caught Mrs. Weasley's attention.
She looked anxious and deeply worried.
"So it's true, Harry," she said sternly.
"Ron told me—you're planning to leave school and do something dangerous?"
Harry glanced helplessly at Ron, who had followed his mother in.
There was no way around it.
Harry couldn't explain the truth to Mrs. Weasley.
And Darren certainly couldn't.
Ron, however, would never lie to his mother.
Still, Ron clearly hadn't told her everything—otherwise, she wouldn't be questioning Harry so calmly.
Harry understood that much.
So he nodded helplessly.
"Yes… we're leaving. There's something Dumbledore entrusted us with. We have to go."
"But you're still children!"
Mrs. Weasley shouted.
"I won't agree! I won't agree to you dropping out of school and running around outside!
The Dark Lord and the Death Eaters are out there—you'll be killed!
If there's something Dumbledore wanted done, tell me! We adults will do it!
I will never agree to a group of children risking their lives!"
She was resolute.
Ron suddenly laughed from behind her.
"Mom, the only person you can actually stop is me," he said.
"Harry and Darren aren't your kids, are they?"
Mrs. Weasley froze.
She turned slowly, glaring at Ron like an enraged lioness.
Ron swallowed, clearly nervous—but he didn't back down.
"Harry and Darren—I'll talk to Lupin and Sirius," Mrs. Weasley snapped.
"But you—"
"Sorry, Mum," Ron said quietly.
"I'm an adult now. I get to choose my own life."
Mrs. Weasley looked as though she might explode.
But Ron said nothing more.
The atmosphere grew unbearably tense.
Just then, Darren walked in.
He gently pulled Ron aside.
"Alright, stop arguing," Darren said calmly.
"If Voldemort knew we were fighting among ourselves, he'd die laughing.
Mrs. Weasley, you don't need to pressure Ron anymore.
Whether we leave or not was never really our choice.
According to the intelligence I've received, Voldemort already knows about the Burrow. He plans to attack on the 31st.
This time, he will come personally.
If we stay and go back to school afterward, then Hogwarts will be the next target.
Do you want other children to live under the shadow of the Dark Mark?"
Mrs. Weasley trembled.
She couldn't find a single word to refute him.
Darren softened his expression and put an arm around her shoulders.
"Don't worry.
On the 31st, we'll let the Death Eaters attack the Burrow, and everyone will evacuate to Grimmauld Place.
I'll face Voldemort again.
I've already broken his final safeguard.
You don't need to worry.
After that, I'll arrange for my brother to meet him once—under controlled conditions.
With me there, he'll be safe.
Voldemort wants to see what Headmaster Dumbledore left behind for Harry.
Once that's done, we'll leave.
I only ask that you take care of yourselves and wait for my return.
Because next time—
we might be able to kill him once and for all."