---
Chapter 493: Goodbye, Black!!
"Not worthy to mention him? Then who is—you?
You're just like your father—arrogant and conceited. Maybe you've forgotten… you threw Darren away, along with your father's share!"
Harry was furious.
His fists clenched tightly, yet he didn't know how to strike back—because, painfully, he realized that Snape was right.
Sirius had said it.
He had abandoned Darren, and his father had known about it.
And Harry also had to admit that, in the memories he could recall, his parents had not been as harmonious as he once believed.
They hated him.
They loved him too.
Love and hatred intertwined, forming contradictions and pain.
He had never told Darren any of this before, because he had always hoped those memories were mistaken.
But after learning what Sirius had done in the past, he had to admit that those memories were real.
His parents were not as loving as he had imagined.
And Darren's loss was even more deeply rooted in conspiracy.
"That's why you don't deserve to mention him," Snape said coldly.
His icy gaze fixed on Harry as he casually twirled the vial of Veritaserum in front of him.
"Sooner or later, I'll put this in your food and make you reveal every secret in your heart."
"Let your exemplary brother see what kind of person you really are."
Harry's heart lurched.
It wasn't that he bore Darren any ill will.
He simply didn't want Darren to know anything about their parents.
Darren had already suffered enough.
If he learned the truth about their parents, it would hurt him deeply.
And Harry was also terrified—terrified that Snape would use Veritaserum on him, just as he had suspected them in second year of stealing potion ingredients.
Snape had known back then.
He just hadn't had proof.
But now, if Snape used Veritaserum, Harry might confess everything.
Harry felt completely cornered.
He didn't believe Snape would let him go.
He believed Snape would do exactly what he said.
Just as Harry was lost in thought, the classroom door opened.
Karkaroff walked in.
The moment he entered, his gaze locked onto Snape.
"Snape, I need to speak with you. I don't think this matter can be delayed any longer—especially since—"
Harry noticed it.
The instant Karkaroff spoke, fear flashed across Snape's face.
It vanished almost immediately.
But Harry saw it.
"No… can this wait until after class?" Snape said, his tone unusually restrained.
Harry glanced at Darren.
"I'm worried you'll slip away after class," Karkaroff replied. "I think we should talk now."
Karkaroff also looked uneasy.
Aware of the students around them, he lowered his voice.
"After class," Snape said firmly.
Karkaroff hesitated, then noticed the anger in Snape's expression.
Snape clearly hated being pressed.
"…Fine," Karkaroff agreed.
But he stayed unusually close to Snape, as if afraid Snape might actually run off.
Harry's anger and sorrow were replaced by curiosity.
He deliberately knocked over his potion with only two minutes left in class.
Snape ignored it.
After class, Harry stayed behind, pretending to clean, intending to eavesdrop once the others left.
"Look—look at this. You know what I'm talking about," Karkaroff said, raising his arm as if showing something.
"Put that away. Later," Snape said sharply, scanning the room.
Then his eyes landed on Harry.
"What are you still doing here?"
"I spilled my potion. I'm cleaning it up," Harry said innocently, raising the rag.
Snape sneered.
"Spilling potion—Gryffindor loses ten points. Get out."
Harry stormed out.
Darren was waiting for him outside.
Ron was about to ask why Harry had come out so late, but Harry grabbed them both and hurried off.
"I'll explain later. Snape's behind us—don't talk or we'll lose more points!"
---
Early the next morning, they left the castle carrying food and juice.
It was their Hogsmeade day.
They met Sirius at the fence on the outskirts of Hogsmeade—a sparsely populated exit where he could flee at any time.
They removed their cloaks, sat in the grass, and spread a large cloth, pretending to camp.
They had stolen over a dozen sandwiches, a whole roast chicken, and two jugs of pumpkin juice, all packed into kettles.
Just as they finished setting everything down, a large black dog darted out from behind a corner.
It scanned the area, then transformed into Black.
He wore the same clothes Darren had last seen—hair wild, face gaunt, body thin.
"Darren, give me the roast chicken," Black said hoarsely.
"I'm starving. I've been eating rats all this time—absolutely sick of it."
Darren hurriedly handed over the chicken, guilt on his face.
"It's my fault. That necklace—its transformation function is gone now."
"I think I'll have to buy the materials again… but they're too expensive. I haven't saved enough Galleons yet."
[Ding, Father Value +100]
[Ding, Father Value +100]
"Oh, Darren, it's not your fault," Black said apologetically.
"It was my mistake. I should've taken the necklace off and transformed directly."
"I forgot it couldn't withstand the magic of so many wizards."
Originally, the chain had worked perfectly—but his oversight left him wandering as a black dog.
His hunger now was entirely self-inflicted.
"Don't worry about me," Black said.
"Tell me about you all at school."
He looked at Harry.
"I saw what you wrote—about Crouch, about Snape's office. Something about it feels very wrong."