Chapter 590: Is You!!
"Sit down, Potter!"
Snape said in a mocking tone.
Harry noticed that Snape cast a warning glance at Darren. Darren turned his head away, refusing to meet his eyes, as if his heart had suddenly been hollowed out.
Harry felt a chill run down his spine.
He couldn't tell what kind of trouble Snape was about to stir up.
"This is my house," Sirius shouted angrily. "You don't get to give Harry orders here!"
Snape's face flushed red, but he quickly regained his composure. He looked at Harry with a sneer and said,
"I merely wished to speak to you alone. But clearly, your brother and your dog godfather insist on hovering nearby."
Harry clenched his fists.
He saw Darren standing there, completely motionless, as if frozen in place. But Harry knew that wasn't true.
Just a moment ago, Darren had opened his mouth uneasily, as if trying to say something—only to be silenced again by one sharp look from Snape.
"Potter," Snape continued coldly, "the Headmaster has instructed me to teach you Occlumency. You do remember this, don't you? I believe I informed you at the beginning of term."
Harry froze.
There was such a thing. He had simply assumed that since it hadn't been mentioned for so long, it might have been forgotten.
"I can teach my brother Occlumency," Darren said sharply. "Memories should only be seen by people he trusts—"
"Yes," Snape interrupted, cutting him off, "but I believe you haven't forgotten my warning, have you?"
He shot Darren another threatening look.
Harry noticed that Darren fell silent again.
He didn't argue. He didn't explain.
He simply stood there, staring at Snape—staring deeply, quietly.
Harry didn't know why, but Darren felt strange to him at this moment. He couldn't quite put his finger on it.
But one thing was becoming clear.
There really was a rift between Darren and Snape now.
Darren no longer defended Snape the way he used to.
Why?
Harry's mind filled with questions, but no one was going to answer them for him now.
Frowning, he turned back to Snape.
"Why do I have to learn Occlumency?"
"Because the Headmaster deems it necessary," Snape replied. "Therefore, once school resumes, you will come to my office once a week. And you are not to tell anyone—especially Umbridge."
Snape's lips curled into a cold smile.
Harry understood why Umbridge couldn't know. But another question immediately followed.
"You're really the one teaching me?"
"Yes," Snape said flatly. "Although I have no desire to do so, I do not question Dumbledore's decisions."
"So. Monday evening. Six-thirty. My office."
"You'll be making up for your Potions lessons. For someone like you, I imagine that's a perfectly reasonable excuse."
Harry was furious.
He wanted nothing more than to punch Snape in the face—but he restrained himself.
Because this was Dumbledore's decision.
And Darren had no room to oppose it.
"Enough!"
Sirius stood up abruptly.
He stared at Snape and said fiercely,
"If I find out you're using Occlumency lessons as an excuse to bully Harry, I won't let it go."
"And wasn't it you who once locked Darren up and humiliated him?" Sirius added coldly. "Am I mistaken?"
Harry turned toward Darren in shock.
Darren remained silent.
Completely silent.
Because this—this was exactly what Dumbledore had asked him to do.
Dumbledore had said he couldn't act, so instead, he should remain withdrawn and silent, letting Sirius and Snape take center stage.
After all, the little Holy Father had no acting talent.
Sirius and Snape were no longer pretending now.
Their anger was real. Their hatred unmistakable.
Even if this was supposed to be an act, the moment their tempers ignited, it turned into a real fight.
Snape sneered at Sirius.
"How touching. But wasn't it you who abandoned him first?"
"You wanted him dead. I merely humiliated him with a few words. Compared to that, I'd say your actions were far more excessive, wouldn't you?"
Crash!
Sirius smashed a vase to the floor.
Harry rushed forward to stop him, but Sirius shoved him aside.
Fury blazing in his eyes, Sirius raised his wand and pointed it at Snape.
"You don't get to judge what I did. But from now on, you are not allowed to insult either of them again."
"And if I find out you've done anything to them—anything at all—I'll kill you."
"You think I wouldn't dare?" Snape hissed. "I've wanted to for a long time—ever since Potter's father, you arrogant, reckless fool!"
Bang!
They started fighting.
Harry tried desperately to pull them apart, but neither of them budged.
At that moment, Darren finally seemed to snap out of it.
He rushed between them anxiously.
"Stop it! Why are you fighting like this? My brother is still here—and everyone else is here!"
Bang.
The door burst open.
Members of the Order of the Phoenix poured in, stunned by the scene before them.
Mrs. Weasley immediately pulled Darren aside, clearly trying to stop him from saying anything unnecessary.
Then she stepped forward herself, panting slightly.
"That's enough! Stop this at once! At a time like this, and you're still behaving like children!"
"It's Snape who went too far!" Harry couldn't help shouting.
But Mrs. Weasley corrected him sharply.
"It's Professor Snape."
Snape straightened his robes and said coldly,
"Monday evening. Six-thirty, Potter."
"And Darren Potter—Dumbledore asked me to inform you that your Occlumency lesson is also at six-thirty on Monday."
"So your detention will be on Sunday as well."
"I don't want to go."
Darren spoke suddenly.
This, too, was part of the act.
To deepen the conflict.
To lay the groundwork for the complete rupture between him and Snape.
It had to feel layered. Gradual.
Harry had to believe it. Voldemort had to believe it.
Snape, of course, didn't agree.
He sneered.
"As your Head of House, I believe I have every right to assign you detention."
"Don't forget—this is still during the term."
Harry saw Darren freeze in place once again.
That night.
Mr. Weasley returned home—the potion Darren had made was extremely effective.
Everyone thanked Darren repeatedly at the dinner table.
But Harry noticed something.
Darren wasn't happy.
He seemed distracted, lost in thought.
Just like Sirius, Darren now carried a faint air of depression.
Harry knew why Sirius felt that way.
Sirius missed being out in the world, doing things for the Order of the Phoenix, instead of being trapped in this decaying old house.
But Darren?
Harry didn't know the reason.
One thing, however, he was certain of.
Whatever was wrong—
It had to have something to do with Snape.