Chapter 623: Department of Mysteries!!
Darren quickly calculated the situation.
They passed the elevator and finally entered the Ministry of Magic. Unlike the previous times when Darren and Harry had come here, the Ministry was completely empty now.
There was not a single person in sight.
Logically, there should always be a few people on duty here. Harry clenched his fists even tighter.
"This way! I've seen these places in my dreams—I know how to get there!"
Harry said excitedly. Darren nodded.
Everyone followed Harry into a descending elevator.
Ninth floor.
"Department of Mysteries."
The cold, mysterious female voice echoed as the elevator stopped.
They rushed out. Harry stared at the Department of Mysteries, his expression tense and full of confusion.
He had thought Voldemort would spend a long time torturing Sirius here, but the place was eerily quiet, completely empty.
"Brother, we—"
"Since we're here, we must find Black!"
Harry said anxiously.
Darren fell silent, but he moved closer to Harry and gestured for everyone to follow him. Hermione and Ginny stayed close behind.
When they looked at Darren's back again, their eyes nearly filled with tears. The bloodstains there seemed even darker now.
Darren's face had grown noticeably paler.
Yet everyone seemed to subconsciously ignore it.
Hermione covered her mouth.
She wanted to tell Harry to look properly at Darren, but Darren suddenly turned around and pressed a finger to his lips, silently asking her not to speak.
Hermione understood. Darren didn't want Harry to be distracted.
But… Sirius was Harry's family. Wasn't Darren family too?
Harry had already lost his temper with Darren several times today, all because of Black.
Hermione snorted softly in anger.
She decided that when they got back tonight, she would make Harry apologize properly. Darren must be feeling terrible right now.
Harry, however, knew none of this.
He walked toward an ordinary black door.
It was the same door he had seen countless times in his dreams—so familiar it felt ingrained in his memory.
He pushed it open.
Inside was a circular antechamber, dimly lit.
In his dreams, he usually passed straight through and entered the door directly opposite.
But just as he thought that, all the doors around the room began to rotate, as if deliberately preventing them from knowing which one to choose.
They could only randomly rush through one.
Inside, there was nothing useful—only rows upon rows of brains floating in greenish fluid.
The sight was deeply unsettling.
"We'll leave a mark here. That way, we won't come in again by mistake,"
Darren said quietly.
Luna immediately followed his suggestion.
A red mark unfolded in midair.
When they exited the room, the mark was still clearly visible.
"Great."
Darren finally showed a genuinely approving smile. Luna laughed shyly.
They entered another room.
This one was also circular, with steps descending into a hollow. At the center stood a huge stone pit.
In the middle of the pit was a raised stone platform, and on it stood an ancient archway.
A tattered curtain hung from the arch.
Darren walked closer.
Just as he was thinking about what that place was—and how he could possibly make Black fall into it and not die—Hermione suddenly grabbed him.
"No, Darren, don't go there!"
She said, her voice filled with fear.
"Professor Vector once said that people like you have a very high probability of falling into that curtain and disappearing forever!"
Darren froze.
He immediately stepped back from the curtain, deciding that he would stay as far away from it as possible tonight.
Harry was drawn by their voices and looked toward the curtain.
Then he heard whispers coming from behind it, as if someone were calling to him.
It even sounded like Darren's voice, telling him to come closer.
Harry stared blankly at the curtain.
He reached out, almost unconsciously, as if to touch it—
But Darren grabbed him.
"Brother, hurry up. Your goal is to save Sirius!"
Harry jolted awake.
That's right—he was here to find Sirius.
Still, he didn't know why that curtain attracted him so strongly.
"Darren… I heard you talking from inside,"
Harry said dazedly.
Darren really wanted to shout at him to snap out of it, but instead he forced a helpless smile.
"It's an illusion. That place leads to life and death. I've heard that anyone who falls in can never come back."
Harry finally regained his senses completely and hurried away from the curtain, instinctively feeling how ominous it was.
"There's someone there,"
Luna suddenly said.
Harry and Darren both turned to look at her.
But Luna wasn't looking at Harry—she was staring at Darren.
"Darren… I think I see you inside…"
"Don't talk nonsense!"
Hermione snapped angrily.
Darren also felt awkward, but he quickly reassured her.
"It's fine. I'll just stay away from it."
Hermione firmly grabbed Darren's arm and dragged him out of the room. Harry followed closely behind.
Luna lingered, silently staring at the curtain for a long moment before finally leaving as well. Her expression grew strangely melancholy.
From time to time, she looked at Darren with sad eyes, which made Harry feel slightly irritated.
But they still had to find Sirius. No one had the time to focus on Luna right now.
They left another mark in this room and pushed open the next door.
The moment the door opened, Harry cried out excitedly,
"This is it!"
The room glittered like it was filled with diamonds. A massive mechanical dial stood within, and at the far end was a huge crystal cover sheltering a clock.
Lights flickered across the ceiling and floor. Harry's eyes lit up.
"This is the place!"
Darren glanced at him, then said in a low voice,
"Brother, don't rush. Stay here. I'll go in first and see if there's any trace of Sirius."
He rushed in with his wand raised.
Harry was startled and immediately chased after him.
Ginny followed without hesitation. Footsteps echoed throughout the room.
Harry passed the ninety-seventh shelf—
Then he stopped.
Before him were rows of crystal balls.
"Harry, this one has your name on it!"
Ron suddenly exclaimed.
Harry quickly turned. An intense desire surged in his heart, and he reached out toward the crystal ball.
"Brother, don't—this is a trap!"
Darren shouted.
But Harry's hand had already touched it.
In an instant, pitch-black ropes appeared out of nowhere, wrapping tightly around Harry's body and constricting mercilessly.
"Stop!"
Darren slashed his wand through the air. A barrier sprang up, separating Harry from the others, dividing the space in two.
Through it, Harry saw several figures step forward.
Lucius Malfoy.
Crabbe. Goyle.
Bellatrix.
And several unfamiliar Death Eaters.
Lucius's voice rang out coldly.
"Right here, Darren Potter. Don't struggle. The Dark Lord knew you were coming—why do you think he wouldn't be prepared?"