Chapter 529 – I'm Scared!!
"B-but you…"
Harry said dazedly, wanting to protest that he had just been attacked by them. In response, Moody gave him a completely speechless look.
"I warned you three times to come down. Who told you to fly so high?"
...
Harry felt even more confused.
He wanted to leave, but Moody was still holding on to him.
"Sorry. I was worried you two would run around recklessly, so I had to use some force," Moody said gruffly.
"Trust me. When we get there, I'll wake Darren up and let him go in with you. I imagine the two of you will receive plenty of criticism once we arrive."
Moody sounded almost gloating.
Harry opened his mouth, hesitating.
Darren's earlier words had unsettled him deeply.
But if he didn't believe them… then why had Moody and so many others come all this way without killing either him or Darren? That seemed to suggest it was real.
While Harry was tangled in his thoughts, the Dursleys finally calmed down.
"So you're here to take him away?" Uncle Vernon said irritably.
"Then hurry up and leave! I don't want my house turning into a place everyone keeps watching!"
Then he looked at Darren and added hesitantly, "You can take him… but maybe Darren could stay. We don't object to him living here."
"Oh, no need," Lupin said gently with a smile.
"We need to leave quickly. Harry, say goodbye. We'll see them again next summer. Be polite."
"Are you really Remus?" Harry asked, still doubtful.
"Of course. Ask me something."
"When will the parchment you took from Darren be returned to him?"
"I gave both of you the maps on the day I resigned."
Lupin smiled.
Harry froze.
It really was Lupin.
Many people knew Harry had a map, but very few knew Darren had one too—and that Lupin had given it to him.
"So… you guessed it from Remus's words?" Harry asked cautiously.
"There's no other way to know that much," Moody said impatiently.
"Even Merlin wouldn't know otherwise. Let's go. Darren prepared very thoroughly—just as we expected. Let Harry ride a broom."
Moody sounded almost approving.
Harry felt strangely uncomfortable. It reminded him of last year, when Barty Crouch Jr. had praised Darren in the same tone.
"Don't look at me like that," Moody said gruffly.
"I know it's strange for you. You looked at my face for a whole year while I was locked up. That's why you must stay vigilant. Always vigilant. Don't end up like me—calculated so thoroughly."
Then he turned to Tonks.
"Two people per broom. You take Darren, I'll take Harry. And drink the Polyjuice—Darren really was prepared."
Moody glanced at Harry.
Harry had already transformed into an unremarkable adult wizard. He couldn't help thinking Darren really was Auror material.
The others plucked hairs from Harry's head and drank the Polyjuice.
Soon, nine identical Harrys stood together.
They looked more like him than he did.
"Enough talking. Move!"
Moody barked.
Tonks immediately helped Darren out of the room and onto a broom.
"Let's go!"
"Hope everything goes smoothly!"
They shot up into the sky.
"Higher, Tonks! And stop changing your hair color—it's blinding! Why are you still changing after Polyjuice?"
"I didn't drink it," Tonks said awkwardly.
"I'm a Metamorphmagus. I can change into Harry on my own."
Moody grunted.
"Next time you should drink it anyway. You can't control your hair at all. What are you so nervous about?"
"I… I don't know. I just feel nervous. Very nervous."
Tonks hugged Darren tighter, her face flushed.
"That's normal. Control your hair."
Moody's tone was stern.
Harry felt miserable.
It was freezing.
At this moment, he would rather fight Moody again than sit in front of him while icy wind drilled into his neck.
After an unknown amount of time—
"We're here. Descend. Stay hidden!"
"Follow me!"
They dropped rapidly, and Harry's feet finally touched the ground.
"Hurry! Give Darren the antidote. We need to go in immediately!"
Moody handed a vial to Tonks.
Blushing slightly, Tonks poured the potion into Darren's mouth.
Within two seconds, Darren opened his eyes.
He looked alert—then stunned.
When he saw Grimmauld Place, his mouth fell open.
"Don't delay," Moody urged.
"Think of the address and go in. Now!"
He shoved a scrap of paper into Harry's hand.
Only then did Harry notice the shabby doorway that had appeared in front of them. Darren stared at it more carefully this time.
Before, he'd been too busy to pay attention.
Darren, however, was already planning to squeeze out more Holy Father value. There were still ten minutes before midnight.
His double-value coupon hadn't expired yet.
"Go, Darren!"
Tonks grabbed his hand and pulled him inside as the door opened.
An unfamiliar wizard stood there, silent.
Inside, the house felt decayed and oppressive. Yellowed portraits hung on the walls. Lamps and carvings twisted into serpentine shapes.
Footsteps echoed.
Mrs. Weasley rushed forward, clearly out of breath.
She grabbed Darren tightly.
"You ran off like that—did you think about how worried we'd be?
They wrote that you were leaving with Harry! How were you supposed to survive outside?
You're still children! If you run away now, you'll be wanted by the Ministry. You'll be caught—thrown into Azkaban!"
She suddenly stopped.
"Darren?"
She reached out and touched his forehead.
Darren stared blankly, as if he hadn't fully come back to himself.
"Darren, are you alright?" Mrs. Weasley asked anxiously.
Only then did Darren seem to regain awareness.
He spoke softly, voice trembling.
"Ma'am… I'm not afraid of Azkaban. I'm just worried about my brother.
If we stayed, he'd face the inquiry. Fudge hates him. They'd snap his wand… imprison him.
I'm scared. I really can't take this anymore.
I'm really scared…"
[Ding, Holy Father value +200]
[Ding, Holy Father value +200]
[Ding, Holy Father value +200]
[Ding…]