Chapter 612: I Want to Kill!!
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Harry looked at Darren with pain and fear in his eyes. Darren remained silent.
Why?
Of course, everything Harry saw was being viewed through Voldemort's eyes. Telling him would have been strange.
Naturally, Darren couldn't say that. He pretended Harry was asking about the poison.
He spoke softly,
"I haven't found the antidote yet. For now, I can only endure it. Once I do, I'll be fine…"
[Ding, Holy Father value +100]
Harry burst into tears, crying openly.
"How can this be? Didn't Dumbledore care?"
"Headmaster Dumbledore said I was overthinking it. He said Snape was just testing whether I could be trusted, and that he didn't mean it."
Or perhaps Snape was acting for the Dark Lord—so Darren didn't take it to heart.
"But you're poisoned. You can go to Madam Pomfrey…"
"Brother, I've already been to the hospital wing several times. Madam Pomfrey couldn't detect anything…"
Harry's lips trembled. No words came out.
"Then… will you die? Does it hurt? I saw it in Snape's memory—you kept vomiting blood!"
"It shouldn't be fatal. It's just very painful, and I vomit blood occasionally. But I'm already researching the antidote. I'm a genius—how could I fail?"
"It's just that I didn't have enough time before, so he got the upper hand. But brother, don't worry. Even if I die, I won't turn to Voldemort!"
[Ding, Father +100]
"Shut up!" Harry shouted hoarsely.
"If—if you really can't find an antidote, then turn to them. Give me to them, Darren! I don't want you sacrificing yourself to save me!"
Darren laughed softly and nodded.
"I know you, brother. But have a little faith in me. I'll definitely figure out the antidote."
"The potion colors you saw in Snape's memory helped me a lot."
"I already have a direction. I even think it'll take less than two months to solve it completely."
[Ding, Holy Father value +100]
Darren's firm tone reignited Harry's confidence. This was the Darren he believed in—the genius Darren.
Harry nodded vigorously.
"I believe you. You'll definitely succeed!"
Harry finally felt a bit relieved.
Then his thoughts drifted to what he had seen of his parents in Snape's memories. He almost spoke—
But stopped himself.
No. Absolutely not.
Darren admired his parents so much. If he knew the truth about his father, it would destroy him.
When Harry himself realized what kind of person his father had been, his heart filled with shame.
In the past, people often said he was just like his father, and he had been proud of it.
Now, he felt embarrassed.
Professor McGonagall had said his father and Sirius were pioneers, like Fred and George.
But—
Harry couldn't imagine Fred and George hanging someone upside down and stripping them in public.
Unless it was someone like Malfoy—truly despicable.
But his father bullied Snape not because Snape deserved it, but to get his mother's attention.
The thought made Harry feel sick.
He couldn't even understand how someone like his mother could have married his father.
Did his father force her?
After all, when he saw the memories of past under influence of Dementors in third year , the relationship between his parents didn't seem harmonious at all.
The truth made him nauseous.
He couldn't let Darren know. Darren was already suffering enough.
Of course, Harry had no intention of telling Ron or Hermione either.
This kind of thing… must never be told to anyone.
"I believe Darren will definitely make a perfect antidote. There's no need to doubt his genius."
—
The next day, Hermione learned about the poison in Darren's body after hearing what Harry had seen in Snape's memories.
She said firmly,
"He'll definitely survive."
But when Darren wasn't looking, her eyes turned red. She wiped her tears away stubbornly.
After calming herself, she looked at Harry and said seriously,
"But the situation is complicated. If you still can't learn Occlumency, then the Dark Lord will—"
Harry snapped irritably.
"Then what do you want me to do? Go to Snape alone again? I'll go insane, and he'll definitely punish me!"
With Dumbledore gone from the school, Harry didn't dare approach Snape at all.
Especially since Snape was using him to threaten Darren.
And he still remembered how Snape had tried to kill him.
Hermione was left speechless.
In the end, she angrily drew up a strict study schedule for Harry and Ron.
If they couldn't learn Occlumency, then they'd study everything else.
When Harry and Ron saw the packed schedule, they felt like they were going mad.
"But Hermione actually gave me one day off," Ron said weakly.
Hermione replied coldly,
"That's the day Ron lets you play Quidditch."
Ron would rather quit Quidditch.
"Why didn't you make a study plan for Darren?" Harry asked suddenly, looking at the schedule.
Hermione glared at him.
"Darren doesn't need a study plan."
"And right now, the most important thing for him is preparing the antidote."
She turned to Darren, concern clear in her eyes.
"Do you have any leads now?"
Ever since learning Darren was still poisoned, Hermione had been quietly urging him to hurry.
Darren glanced at Harry, who was watching him expectantly, and nodded.
"I do. I'm waiting for mandrake. It's an essential ingredient for the antidote."
"Professor Sprout said that once the current batch matures, she'll give some to me."
That eased both Hermione and Harry considerably.
Mandrakes usually mature around May or June. There was about a month left—maybe less.
Once then, Darren would be free from Snape's threat.
"If Snape finds out the poison's been cured, he'll explode," Ron laughed.
Darren smiled gently.
"Thanks to my brother seeing the potion colors, I was able to identify the poison and prescribe the right treatment."
"Otherwise, it might have taken me much longer—and that could've been dangerous."
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
Darren's words made Harry happy—but also guilty.
If he had told Darren earlier about Snape's memory, maybe Darren would have recovered faster.
"Oh, brother," Darren added lightly,
"Even if you'd told me sooner, I'd still have to wait for mandrakes. There was no way around it."
Harry froze.
Then he laughed awkwardly.