---
Chapter 630: Original Time and Space!!
Harry froze.
He stared at the boy in front of him, his brows knitted in confusion. Boy—yes, a boy.
The other was only about the size of a fifth-year student, at least a head shorter than him. His features were strikingly handsome. Even more so than Cedric's. If this weren't wartime, plenty of girls would probably be sneaking glances at him.
Fiery red hair. Turquoise eyes. A rebellious lock falling over his forehead.
He stood amid the dust, smiling at Harry.
"Brother?"
Harry murmured.
He wanted to say that he wasn't the boy's brother—but then he hesitated. Maybe the boy meant senior?
And yet, for some reason, he felt an inexplicable familiarity.
"Brother, you don't recognize me anymore?" Darren said cheerfully.
"Although it looks like you've grown up now—maybe even graduated—it can't have been that many years, right? When we were in fifth year, we were twin brothers!"
Darren spoke casually, smiling.
Of course, he knew this was the Harry of the original timeline.
But as a conscientious little saint, he still had to act convincingly.
Otherwise, if someone here really did cross timelines later, his entire persona would collapse.
Still, his words stunned everyone present.
"Harry, when did you get a twin brother?"
"Yeah—didn't your mum only give birth to you?"
"That's right. Hey, kid, did you recognize the wrong person? Or did you eat something strange?"
Percy suddenly turned to Fred. "Fred, did you give him anything?"
Fred hastily checked his pockets.
"No! Definitely not mine! Maybe George's!" he said indignantly.
Darren looked confused—almost hurt.
He tried to explain earnestly to Harry.
"It's really me, brother. Darren. Darren Potter. You don't remember?"
"In first year, we protected the Philosopher's Stone together. We faced Voldemort together. In the end, Headmaster Dumbledore arranged for us to live with our aunt."
"In second year, we dealt with the basilisk. In third year, we used the Time-Turner to rescue Sirius and Buckbeak."
"Oh—Remus is my godfather. Sirius is yours."
"In fourth year, we competed in the Triwizard Tournament together. And in fifth year, I worked with Professor Snape to trick you. Haha."
Darren spoke smoothly, smiling the whole time.
But Harry and the others only grew more unsettled.
Harry looked at Hermione and Ron.
"How does he know all this? Did you tell him?"
Both shook their heads.
Darren's expression turned even more pitiful.
"Well… if you're all angry and don't want to recognize me, then I'll go find Headmaster Dumbledore. I've just come back, and I don't even know how he is now."
He stood up, as if heading for Dumbledore's office.
Harry subconsciously grabbed his arm.
"Dumbledore died in sixth year," Harry said quickly.
"It was Snape who killed him."
Darren turned around sharply.
"No… impossible," he said, his voice trembling.
"Professor Snape loved our mother. He was a double agent. He was willing to protect her—and us—with his life!"
"But I saw him kill Dumbledore myself," Harry said bluntly.
Darren's face went pale.
"I think… he must have had no choice," Darren said softly.
"Brother, if—if his life is ever in danger, save him. I don't want you to live with regrets. Promise me."
Harry nodded without thinking.
He didn't know why—but he trusted him.
Then Harry frowned slightly.
"I don't know why, but you remind me of someone…"
"Mom," Darren said immediately.
"I look like Mom. You look like Dad."
"When we first met on the train in first year, neither of us recognized each other."
Harry stared at his face in shock.
Yes.
This boy really did resemble his mother.
Could it be…?
But there were more urgent matters.
"You stay here," Harry said quickly.
"I'm going to destroy Voldemort's Horcruxes. When I'm done, you'll explain everything."
Darren nodded eagerly.
Harry and the others rushed off.
Darren turned to Percy, smiling.
"Mrs. Weasley said you argued with them a lot. When Mr. Weasley was bitten by the snake, you didn't even write. Have you made up now?"
"Of course," Percy said proudly, straightening his chest. "I'm back."
Darren nodded, then looked toward the center of the battlefield.
"Is Voldemort fighting already? Why is it chaos everywhere?"
"You don't know? He's about to arrive. This is just the advance force."
"I'll help," Darren said simply.
He leapt down the steps, intercepting a green curse that would have hit Lupin.
"Remus! Godfather!"
Lupin turned, his face filled with shock, disbelief, and confusion.
"You… you are—"
"Darren Potter!"
"Potter?" Lupin whispered.
"But… how do you have my blood?"
Two timelines apart.
At last, Lupin asked the question.
Darren merely smiled.
"Whose blood I have—shouldn't that person ask himself?"
Lupin's lips twitched. He said nothing more.
Darren moved on.
Near the Shrieking Shack, Snape stood staring at the ground.
Darren approached him.
"I want to ask you something," Darren said hesitantly.
"Did you really kill Headmaster Dumbledore?"
Snape spun around instantly, wand raised.
"Who are you?"
Yet Darren's appearance—and the unmistakable bloodline aura—made Snape falter.
"I'm Darren Potter. I don't know how I got here."
"I was in the Department of Mysteries. Sirius and my brother nearly fell through the veil. I threw them out… and fell in myself."
"When I woke up, everything had changed. Dumbledore is dead. You defected. No one remembers me—not even you or Remus."
"What's going on?"
Snape stared at him, then spoke slowly.
"A space-time displacement. You fell from your timeline into ours."
"In your world, you truly are Harry Potter's twin."
"Answer me—what house were you sorted into? And what did I tell you to call me?"
"Slytherin," Darren replied.
"You told me to call you Professor Snape."
"Then why would you betray us? You were so good to me… Professor, were you framed?"
Snape's face drained of color.
Before he could respond, Malfoy emerged from the Shrieking Shack.
"The Dark Lord wants you inside," Malfoy whispered.
At that moment, the system sounded.
[Ding. Time-space corridor closing. Return countdown: 10… 9… 8…]
Darren followed Snape into the shack.
Voldemort's eyes locked onto him.
[3… 2… 1…]
"Who are you?"
---