Chapter 703 The Demon Eye Is Gone!!
Inside the house, Harry and the others took hot showers.
The exhaustion was finally washed away.
But after they settled down, unease quietly crept back in.
"I wonder how Mum and Dad are doing… and the Order of the Phoenix… are they all right?"
Ron whispered.
Silence filled the room.
Darren hesitated for a moment before saying,
"Do you want me to take you to Grimmauld Place?"
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
"Is that really okay?"
Ron asked eagerly.
Harry and Hermione looked at Darren as well.
Darren smiled.
"Of course it's dangerous—there's no avoiding that. But we're no different from the other members of the Order when they go on missions.
Actually, I brought you here tonight mainly to let you see this place, to let you know it exists.
I could have taken you to Grimmauld Place earlier. Even though I can't stay there long, visiting once in a while is fine."
His voice was gentle.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione immediately became excited.
After all, they were still kids.
They hurriedly got dressed.
Darren told them to hold onto him.
The next moment, they arrived at Grimmauld Place.
---
Inside Grimmauld Place, Lupin and Sirius were speaking in low, solemn voices.
Moody was standing nearby, pulling at his face with one hand.
When they saw Harry and the others, everyone let out a sigh of relief.
"You're finally here…"
Moody muttered.
He turned sideways, clearly trying to avoid Darren's gaze.
But Darren noticed immediately.
He grabbed Moody's arm and forced him to turn around.
His eyes reddened instantly.
A large portion of Moody's face had been blasted away.
The eye socket that once held the Demon Eye was completely destroyed.
The Demon Eye itself was gone.
One hand that had rested on his crutch was missing as well.
"This was dark magic," Lupin said softly.
"It can't be restored."
Moody's expression stiffened.
"I knew it," he said gruffly.
"I should've just died there—at least then I'd have a proper obituary!"
He spoke as if he didn't care.
Darren exhaled slowly.
He examined Moody's wounds and said quietly,
"Alastor… I have a way to regenerate your fingers.
It's something I learned while observing Voldemort.
But I need to place my mark on you. You understand that, right?"
"Then do it."
Moody didn't hesitate.
He held out his arm without a second thought.
Darren looked genuinely moved.
He raised his wand and carved the image of a phoenix onto Moody's arm.
Instantly, Moody felt a deep connection form between them.
Darren smiled faintly.
"That's how it works. Otherwise, how do you think the Death Eaters can openly call out to Voldemort?"
He tapped his wand lightly against Moody's ruined eye socket.
The flesh regenerated.
Then he moved to the hand.
Crystal-clear light formed into fingers and bone.
Moody flexed his hand slowly.
"It doesn't affect my movement… feels just like a real one," he muttered.
"But the Demon Eye…"
His voice turned sharp with anger.
"They were after the Demon Eye from the start. The moment they attacked, they went straight for it!"
"I'll keep an eye out for it," Darren said calmly.
"When we find it, you can reinstall it. It won't be a problem."
Then he turned toward the others.
Mrs. Weasley was holding Harry and Ron tightly.
When she saw Darren finally finish, relief appeared on her face.
"No one died. Everyone made it back safely," she said.
"Dedalus was hit by a coma spell and dragged away by us.
Two Death Eaters died. One was taken down by you, Darren… you didn't finish him, so Lupin did."
She hesitated, as if wanting to say something else.
Perhaps that Darren should be more decisive next time.
But Darren's expression grew complicated.
"I can't keep using that kind of dark magic," he said quietly.
"I only seem to use it when I lose control… when I'm angry."
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding...]
His words made everyone sigh.
Darren was too kind.
Not being able to rely on dark magic was normal.
No one had the right to demand otherwise from him.
---
"Ah!"
Harry suddenly cried out.
Everyone turned toward him.
Harry didn't speak.
The pain in his scar surged violently.
Just like in his fifth year.
He saw Voldemort raging at an old man.
"You told me that using another wand would work! Why can't I kill him?!"
In Harry's vision, an elderly man with white hair and ragged clothes appeared—screaming, struggling, making horrifying sounds.
"I don't know… I don't know…"
"I thought a different wand would solve it…"
"You don't know?"
"Ollivander, you have humiliated Lord Voldemort!"
Voldemort's voice was filled with fury.
"He was nearly killed—treated like a weak goblin—by someone using Crucio "
Another spell struck.
Ollivander screamed again.
"I didn't lie to you!"
"Lie!"
Voldemort raised his wand—
And the vision shattered.
Harry gasped, still feeling the burning pain in his scar.
The room came back into focus.
Everyone was staring at him in concern.
"Brother… can you feel Voldemort's emotions again?"
Darren asked worriedly.
Harry nodded weakly.
Because Voldemort had once sealed his mind, Harry hadn't practiced mental defenses properly.
So this connection had resurfaced.
"It's okay," Darren said gently.
"You're not the same as him. Feeling his emotions doesn't mean you're being controlled.
As long as we stay cautious, even if he tries to lure you, we can find the flaw."
"But… Dumbledore wanted Harry to block his mind completely,"
Hermione said anxiously.
Darren shook his head.
"Don't worry so much.
I trust my brother's judgment.
And I trust that he won't gamble with the lives of anyone in the Order.
The lesson he learned last time was enough.
He's smart.
He won't make the same mistake twice."
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding...]
---
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