Chapter 584 – Let's Talk!!
"Stay where you are."
Phineas spoke calmly. Harry frowned.
He was already irritated and wanted to argue, but Phineas shrugged and said bluntly, "That's all he said. He told you to stay here. You don't need to worry about anything else."
"Don't need to worry?" Harry exploded. "Did he think about Darren's safety? What if Darren gets killed by him? Why didn't Dumbledore let Darren go—or let me go? Why?!"
Phineas rolled his eyes.
"Just obey. Why do you care so much? You kids always have so many issues, and I'm the one sent to pass messages every time."
He curled his lips, then vanished from the frame.
Harry glared at the empty portrait for a long time before finally collapsing onto the bed.
Since Dumbledore wouldn't let him leave, then he wouldn't leave. He wouldn't even step out of this room. As long as he stayed here, he wouldn't give himself any chance to hurt Darren.
Clinging to that thought, Harry eventually fell asleep.
In his dream, he saw that door again.
His hand pressed against a black door, as if desperately trying to reach whatever lay behind it.
Then he heard Darren's voice.
"Brother, brother, come out and eat…"
Harry woke with a jolt.
But he didn't want to open his eyes. He pretended to still be asleep.
He felt someone standing there, quietly watching him, as if Darren had already seen through the act.
"Brother… I'd rather be killed by you."
Harry's tears flooded out uncontrollably.
He didn't want that.
He didn't want it at all.
He didn't want Darren to die, and he certainly didn't want Darren to die at his own hands. But even so, he didn't open his eyes or say a word. He couldn't face Darren right now—Darren, who was so foolishly kind.
Even worse, he was terrified that Voldemort might look through his eyes at Darren, awaken from the scar, and kill him.
If that happened, Harry knew he would completely collapse.
"Brother… well, if you don't want to talk to me, forget it. Think it over. I'll talk to you again this evening."
Darren's voice carried a trace of disappointment as it faded away. Harry knew Darren must feel awful.
But even so, he couldn't talk to him. He couldn't risk it.
He turned over and fell asleep again.
When he woke later, he could hear Ron's breathing—and Darren's as well. All of them were sleeping in the same room.
And he could hurt them at any moment.
Then he noticed Phineas inside the portrait frame.
He was probably sent by Dumbledore to keep an eye on him.
Dumbledore might be worried that he would suddenly lose control and hurt Darren and Ron. Normally, Harry would have hated this kind of surveillance—but now, he felt relieved.
As long as someone was watching, maybe they could stop him in time if Voldemort tried to possess him.
Or wake Darren.
That way, none of this would happen.
Harry let out a quiet breath of relief.
The next morning, Darren woke up early.
Of course, it wasn't because he'd slept badly—it was because Mrs. Black was screaming downstairs again.
"Good morning, brother. Good morning, Ron!"
Darren stretched and spoke cheerfully.
Ron and Harry groggily sat up and replied with sleepy greetings. They muttered that they wanted to sleep a bit longer—but Hermione interrupted that plan.
She was already knocking on the door.
"Boys, hurry up! Mrs. Weasley says it's time for breakfast!"
Harry and Ron scrambled to get dressed.
By the time they started folding their quilts, Darren was already in the bathroom, checking himself in the mirror.
Satisfied that everything looked fine, he opened the door just as Hermione walked in.
Like she was inspecting the place, she glanced at Darren's neatly made bed and said with satisfaction to Harry and Ron, "If only you two were like Darren. Every time you're rushed, everything's a mess. It's so irritating."
Ron pouted, muttering something under his breath. Harry stayed silent, lowering his head as he folded the quilt.
But Darren suddenly sat down on Harry's bed and fixed him with a sharp look.
"Let's talk, brother. You've been ignoring me for a whole day."
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Holy Father value +100]
"I'm fine…" Harry muttered.
"If you keep acting like this," Darren said calmly, "I might as well hurt myself right now. That way, before Voldemort even shows up, you can watch me bleed in front of you."
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Holy Father value +100]
Darren raised his wand, looking as if he truly meant it.
Harry panicked and lunged forward, snatching the wand from his hand.
"If you ever hurt yourself again, I'll kill you!"
"So," Darren said with a faint smile, "you're finally willing to pay attention to me?"
Harry's face turned ashen. He shoved the wand away and said hoarsely, "But Voldemort might wake up inside my body soon. Are you going to make me watch you die?"
"I watched Mr. Weasley get bitten by me. And now you want me to watch you get killed by me too?"
Harry's eyes filled with tears.
Darren was silent for a moment before speaking softly, "I think you've misunderstood something. I know you heard what Moody said—but you misunderstood him."
Harry froze. Ron looked up as well.
Darren continued helplessly, "We already discussed this before. Voldemort can influence you through what he left in your scar.
When Moody said Voldemort might 'wake up inside you,' he didn't mean full possession. He meant Voldemort awakening through that fragment—through influence.
He can interfere with your thoughts, your perceptions. But do you really think he can completely control your body?"
Harry hesitated.
"Dumbledore isn't incompetent," Darren went on. "He's watching you closely. If you were truly possessed, do you think he'd let you stay at the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix?"
"But… that night," Harry said shakily, "I really felt like I was biting Mr. Weasley…"
"Oh, Harry," Ron finally cut in, exasperated. "We woke up a full minute before you did that night. We were calling your name the whole time. Think about it!"
Ron scratched his head. "I wanted to tell you yesterday, but you wouldn't talk to us. You didn't even come down to eat."
"Don't be stupid," Ron continued bluntly. "Even if Voldemort did try to control you, how much power do you think he could use through your magic?"
"He'd probably get beaten up by Darren before he even finished a spell."