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Chapter 726: Darren Appears!!
Hermione followed Harry nervously toward Bathilda.
They asked again,
"Bathilda?"
The old woman nodded.
Then she turned and gestured for them to follow.
Hermione whispered anxiously,
"Harry… maybe we shouldn't go."
Harry shook his head.
The Horcrux around his neck was pulsing harder.
He had a strange feeling that whatever was here might be connected to the Horcruxes.
"We'll be fine," Harry said firmly.
"Look at her. We can handle her easily."
Bathilda's frail body hardly looked threatening.
Harry followed her.
Hermione hesitated, but eventually followed as well.
They passed the church.
They walked past several quiet houses.
Harry remained alert the whole time.
Then Hermione suddenly tugged his sleeve and pointed.
Harry turned to look.
A ruined house stood there.
The surrounding homes were neat and well kept.
Only this one had collapsed into rubble, overgrown with weeds.
Harry was about to ask why no one had repaired it—
When suddenly roses began spreading across the ruins.
Then a wooden sign appeared.
31 October 1981
James Potter and Lily Potter died here.
The Ministry of Magic has preserved the site as a memorial and as a reminder of the consequences of violent magic.
Around the sign were countless messages.
At first the older ones simply blessed Harry.
Later there were messages wishing Darren well.
The most recent ones shimmered with magic.
Harry and Darren, long live.
Harry and Darren, stay safe.
Harry and Darren, happiness always.
Harry noticed a bright turquoise message.
It read:
Darren Potter will always be safe!
Harry almost laughed.
He suspected it had been written by one of Darren's admirers.
"Harry, hurry up," Hermione whispered urgently.
"She's leaving!"
Harry looked up.
Bathilda was already walking away.
He hurried after her.
After passing another house, they reached Bathilda's home.
It stood not far from Harry's parents' ruined house.
Bathilda took out a key.
After fumbling for a moment, she unlocked the door.
The moment it opened, Harry smelled rot and rust.
"Come here!"
Bathilda's voice echoed from inside.
Hermione jumped.
Harry shook his head reassuringly.
"It's fine. Let's just see what she wants.
She doesn't look dangerous."
Harry stepped inside.
The dust in the room was thick.
Harry wondered how Bathilda had managed to live here.
Then he remembered Ron mentioning that Aunt Muriel had said Bathilda was confused and not likely to live much longer.
A flicker of pity crossed his face.
Harry noticed several oil lamps.
He lit them with his wand.
The room brightened.
Only then did he see the photographs scattered around the house.
They were covered in thick dust.
Harry waved his wand.
"Scourgify."
The dust vanished.
Harry picked up one photo.
It showed a blond boy.
The same boy he had seen inside Voldemort's memories.
The boy's expression was sly, smiling strangely.
"Who is this?" Harry asked quickly.
Bathilda said nothing.
Hermione frowned.
"What exactly did you bring us here for?" she demanded.
Bathilda simply pointed upstairs.
But she motioned for Harry to go alone.
Hermione frowned again.
Harry shrugged.
"It'll be fine."
He slipped the photograph quietly into his pocket.
Then he followed Bathilda upstairs.
The moment he entered the room—
The door slammed shut.
Bathilda spoke suddenly.
"You are Harry Potter?"
"Yes," Harry replied cautiously.
"What do you want?"
Then his scar began to burn.
It was as if he heard someone speaking far away.
Watch him… don't let him escape…
Harry staggered slightly.
He didn't understand what was happening.
He looked back at Bathilda.
"Why did you bring me here?"
"Look there," Bathilda said, pointing to a mirror.
Harry turned.
For a moment he wondered if it was like the Mirror of Erised.
Maybe it hid something important.
But suddenly—
Bathilda's shriveled skin split open.
A massive snake burst out.
Bathilda's body collapsed to the floor.
Harry stared in horror.
Nagini.
He raised his wand instinctively.
But the snake struck first.
Its jaws snapped around his arm—along with his wand.
His wand shattered.
The snake coiled around him.
Tighter.
Tighter.
Harry heard hissing voices.
Stop him… stop him…
The air vanished from his lungs.
His thoughts grew hazy.
Strangely calm.
Almost peaceful.
As if it might be easier to simply stop fighting.
Then—
He heard a voice.
Darren's voice.
Harry thought it must be his imagination.
Perhaps he missed Darren so much that he was hearing things before he died.
But the voice became clearer.
And the scene before him changed.
The snake was suddenly flung across the room.
It lay motionless on the floor.
Standing nearby—
Was Darren.
Smiling.
"Brother," Darren said lightly,
"I brought you something."
[Ding, Father +100]
But before Darren could finish speaking—
Harry had already lunged forward.
His eyes were red.
He grabbed Darren's shoulders, looking him up and down.
Tears streamed down his face.
"You're here… you're really here…"
"I'm not dreaming, right?"
"I'm not dreaming, am I?"
Darren nodded quickly.
Harry nearly shouted in excitement.
Hermione was no better.
She rushed forward and hugged Darren tightly.
"We heard about what happened to you…"
She stopped herself.
"Are you okay now?"
"Of course," Darren replied calmly.
"But we should leave first.
I think he will arrive soon."
Darren grabbed both Harry and Hermione.
In the next moment—
They Apparated away.
They landed near a farmhouse.
Hermione immediately pulled out the tent.
She cast several protective spells around it.
Darren watched in surprise.
Hermione looked slightly embarrassed.
"We're constantly being hunted by Death Eaters.
I think someone placed tracking magic on us.
Even with concealment spells, they still wander nearby.
So we have to be careful."
Darren frowned thoughtfully.
He pretended to check them.
He tapped each of them with his wand several times.
But after casting several detection spells, he shook his head.
"There's nothing wrong with you…"
He looked concerned.
"Maybe they have some new tracking method.
Or maybe I'm just rusty from not using my wand for too long."
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]