Chapter 622: Bullying the Centaurs!!
Harry and the others heard a series of explosions behind them and turned to look at Darren in horror, worry written all over their faces.
Darren wouldn't really have killed those centaurs, would he?
"No," Darren whispered. "At most, they'll suffer some minor injuries. It's just a lesson."
They finally found a quiet place to stop.
Only then did Harry and Hermione notice that the back of Darren's robes was soaked red with blood.
Harry wanted to ask, but his throat felt dry, his voice stuck. Darren seemed to notice his gaze and glanced at his own back, then said a little awkwardly, "It's nothing… it's all the centaurs' blood."
Harry and Hermione didn't believe that for a second.
They had both seen it clearly—none of the centaurs were injured. Darren was the only one bleeding.
While the centaurs were dealing with Umbridge, Darren had stood in front of them, shielding them with his own body. To get them out safely, he must have fought his way through.
It was precisely because he wanted to protect them that he had clashed with the centaurs.
Harry's nose stung, but right now, he really wasn't in the mood to comfort Darren. All he could think about was Black.
"What now? What do we do now?"
Harry asked irritably.
If they hadn't gone to verify things, they might already be in front of Black by now.
"Brother…"
Darren looked helpless.
"I didn't expect this either… but I still think we should go back to the castle, wait for news from Neville, wait for news from Professor Snape—"
"Darren, my grandma didn't reply!"
Neville ran over anxiously, with Luna and Ginny close behind.
They were holding Harry and Hermione's wands.
"We stunned those people and rushed out," Ginny said excitedly.
Ron tried to retort, but Ginny shot him a glare.
"You were saved by me too!"
Ron shrugged and looked helplessly at Harry. "That's right. Malfoy didn't think much when he attacked."
Darren didn't bother with that. He looked at Neville and said, "Keep trying to contact Mrs. Longbottom—"
Neville was about to answer when Harry finally snapped.
"No need! I'm going to the Ministry. I'm going to save Black. I can't stay here any longer!"
"But how are you getting there?" Hermione asked coldly.
Harry thought of his Firebolt. "I'll go on my Firebolt!"
"Then take me."
Darren shook his head helplessly and looked at Harry's stunned expression.
"If I can't stop you from going there to die, then I'll go and die with you."
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding…]
Harry laughed angrily and pointed at Darren.
"What do you mean, die? None of us are going to die!"
That made Darren laugh as well.
He turned to Ginny. "You should all go back—"
"We're not going back," Ginny interrupted firmly. "I'm coming too. I'm a member of the DA. Don't you know my strength? I won't drag you down."
"I'm fine too," Luna said with a light laugh. "I can even heal you if you're in pain."
Neville looked just as resolute.
"There's no transport," Darren tried again.
"I've got a broom. Harry has one. I have one too," Ron said loudly.
At the same time, Ginny raised her broom as well. She looked at Darren deeply—at his back, where blood was still seeping.
"I'm going anyway. What do you think the DA exists for? We'll help you."
Darren still wanted to stop them.
But Luna gently pressed his lips with her finger and pointed ahead.
"Look. You're injured, and they're coming. We can ride them to the Ministry."
Thestrals.
Several Thestrals emerged from the darkness.
"But—"
Before Darren could make another excuse, Luna had already climbed onto one.
She smiled brightly. "Wherever you're going, I can go by myself anyway."
Not to be outdone, Neville mounted another Thestral. Hermione and Ron couldn't see them, but they could touch them, and they climbed up as well.
Harry finally couldn't wait any longer.
He mounted a Thestral and said urgently, "I can't wait. Ministry of Magic—go, if you understand!"
The Thestral took off.
Everyone else looked at Darren.
Darren said slowly, unease clear in his eyes, "I have a very bad feeling… I always feel something will happen tonight.
I didn't want to go, and I didn't want any of you to go. But if it's against Voldemort, then no one here is afraid of death. Let's go.
I just hope that when we come back… we'll all still be whole."
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding…]
They flew over Hogwarts Castle, past rows of windows, over small villages, across fields.
Dusk fell.
Harry buried his face in the Thestral's mane, his thoughts filled with Black's situation.
He could tell that Black wasn't being tortured at this moment—because his scar didn't hurt much.
Whenever Voldemort was truly angry or delighted, the pain in his scar was unmistakable.
Tonight, there hadn't been much of that… but still, Harry couldn't be sure of anything until he saw Sirius with his own eyes.
As the sky darkened, Harry's legs began to go numb from gripping the Thestral.
Suddenly, the Thestrals began to descend.
Lights appeared below. Buildings came into view.
When they landed, Harry saw the telephone booth.
"Over here!"
He waved Darren over, and they squeezed into the narrow space together.
Darren's face ended up very close to Ginny's, his body pressed in by Luna and Hermione. In the cramped space, he felt someone brush against his hand.
This was… something.
Harry had already entered the booth and received a stack of badges, handing them out for everyone to pin on.
Darren took his and glanced at it.
Special Commissioner: Darren Potter
Purpose: Warmth Campaign
He twitched.
A special commissioner… but that wasn't strange. Ever since he'd obtained that little key, he'd gained all sorts of privileges.
What he cared about now was something else entirely.
How was he supposed to make Sirius fall through the veil tonight—without dying?
Using Father Points? Or forcing some kind of substitution?
After all, if Sirius really fell through the veil, it would definitely cost him a massive amount of Father Points to save him …