Chapter 583 – I Won't Do This!!
Sure enough, half an hour later, Darren changed back.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief—except Ginny, who showed a distinctly regretful expression.
After all, turning Darren into a little fox had made everyone feel as though they had just played a joke on Dumbledore himself.
After Mr. Weasley asked Harry and the others a pile of irrelevant questions, he finally waved them out of the ward.
Darren was the one left behind.
Although Dumbledore had told him not to participate in the Order of the Phoenix for the time being, Darren did not leave, and no one urged him to. It was an unspoken agreement that Darren could listen to these matters.
Sitting there, Darren noticed Fred's Extendable Ears.
Moody and the others had not cast any soundproofing spell.
Or perhaps it was pointless.
Darren suspected this was deliberate—either Moody's indulgence or Dumbledore's instruction.
They wanted Harry to hear something.
It didn't matter. Darren simply pretended he knew nothing and quietly listened as Mr. Weasley described what had happened.
Finally, Moody spoke.
"The plan really does need to be carried out," he said gravely. "After all, Potter has now seen the world through the eyes of that snake."
"Potter himself doesn't understand what this means," Moody continued, "but I think all of you do."
"This means there's a very real possibility that Voldemort could awaken from within Potter's mind. And if that happens, the first thing he'll want to do is kill you."
Moody looked at Darren with concern. Darren forced a bitter smile.
"I know," he said quietly. "I've already thought of that. And what we've planned… isn't for him."
"Yes," Moody nodded. "And there's more. Voldemort is still searching for a weapon—a weapon that can…"
His voice dropped even lower, so low that only a few of them could hear.
After a pause, he said softly, "That's how it is. Darren, you need to stay safe. Voldemort probably wants to kill you the most—because he hates you the most."
"Even if he only wakes inside Potter's body for a single day, he'll find a way to kill you. I think you need to be vigilant… especially where Potter is concerned."
Dumbledore had already distanced himself from Potter—
"..."
"I can't do it."
Darren spoke in a whisper.
Then he suddenly raised his voice.
"I can't do it. I really can't do it. That's my brother… I'd rather be killed by Voldemort than let him know I'm guarding against him. I won't be on guard against him. I won't make my brother feel hurt or betrayed!"
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding…]
Once again, Darren gained Holy Father points.
He pushed the door open.
There was no one outside.
But Darren knew—Harry was listening somewhere nearby.
So he stood there, lowered his head, let his hair fall over his eyes, and choked out a few quiet sobs.
In a hoarse whisper, he said, "Why does it have to be my brother…? Why not me?"
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding…]
Harry felt filthy.
The moment he learned that Voldemort might awaken from inside him, that thought had surfaced.
No wonder Dumbledore no longer looked him in the eye.
No wonder so many people were always protecting him.
They weren't protecting him at all.
They were protecting everyone else—protecting Darren.
Darren must have guessed it too.
Yet Darren still stayed by his side every day, completely defenseless, risking being possessed by Voldemort at any moment—and being killed by Voldemort at any moment.
And he never said a word.
Listening to Darren's suppressed sobs through the Extendable Ears, Harry felt only one thing:
It was terrifying for him to be alive.
He brought danger to Darren.
He caused Darren to be scolded, misunderstood, even treated like a madman because of him.
And now Darren might even die because of him.
What right did he have to keep living?
He even began to think that the snake biting Mr. Weasley last night had been Voldemort controlling him.
Voldemort woke up inside his body.
Voldemort controlled him.
Voldemort sent him to where Mr. Weasley was.
Voldemort used him to bite Mr. Weasley.
It was entirely possible.
Even if the time was short, for someone like Voldemort, wasn't shifting positions trivial?
Harry's thoughts spiraled.
He couldn't stay here any longer.
If he stayed, Darren might be hurt.
If he stayed, the secrets of the Order of the Phoenix might be exposed.
He didn't even dare meet anyone's eyes anymore.
Because now everyone knew—he could become Voldemort's weapon. A weapon aimed at Darren.
"Brother, are you okay?"
On the Underground, Darren looked at Harry's withdrawn expression and asked worriedly.
Harry didn't dare look at him.
He muttered a vague reply and lowered his head.
He was terrified—terrified that Darren would be killed by Voldemort.
Terrified that if Voldemort controlled him and appeared before Darren, Darren wouldn't be able to strike back.
Because it would be him.
And that would give Voldemort the chance to use his body to bite Darren's throat.
Harry didn't dare think any further.
His whole body trembled.
He didn't even know how he made it back to Grimmauld Place.
The moment he returned, he rushed straight into his room.
He made an excuse about needing rest—but in reality, he was preparing to leave.
He packed everything.
He would leave tonight.
He absolutely could not let Darren get hurt.
Where would he go?
Harry didn't dare think too deeply.
But perhaps there was only one place left.
His aunt's house.
Just as that thought formed, a voice interrupted him.
It seemed Darren had guessed what he was thinking—and told Dumbledore.
"You probably overheard Moody and the others," the voice said lazily. "They were talking, and Dumbledore thought you'd get worked up and try to run away."
Harry froze.
He looked over.
It was Phineas.
The former headmaster in the portrait in Dumbledore's office was looking at him with a mocking expression.
When Harry realized who it was, he snapped, "So what do you want me to do? I can only leave. I can't let Darren get hurt—he's already suffered enough because of me!"
"Very touching brotherly affection," Phineas said dryly. "But I think if Darren knew, he wouldn't agree to you leaving like this."
"That's exactly why I have to leave now!" Harry roared. "Darren is too simple, too kind—he doesn't care about his own life, but I can't not care about his!"
"What are you yelling at me for?" Phineas said irritably. "I was just sighing. But Dumbledore asked me to pass on a message. Are you going to listen or not?"
Harry stiffened.
He looked at Phineas and said hoarsely, "Go on."