---
Chapter 729: I Thought My Brother Was Dead!!
Harry and Hermione stood there in silence.
Tears streamed down their faces.
They both understood—
Darren could not stay.
No matter how much they wanted him to.
The only thing they could do now…
was destroy the Horcruxes as quickly as possible.
Harry forced himself to change the subject.
"…Alright, let's not talk about that."
"Darren, tell us again—how did you find us?"
Darren nodded.
"I didn't see you after we separated during Apparition.
So I guessed… you didn't trust Phineas."
He smiled faintly.
"So you must have hidden."
"I searched everywhere…"
His voice softened.
"…then I saw our parents' graves.
And our house."
He paused briefly.
"There were so many people leaving blessings…"
"I also saw the statue of Mum and Dad… and you."
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
His voice became distant.
Almost fragile.
Hermione's chest tightened.
Darren had gone there alone.
To a home that had never truly belonged to him.
To a past that excluded him completely.
Did he cry there?
She didn't ask.
Because she already knew the answer.
Darren continued,
"I stayed there for a long time.
Then I felt a fluctuation in magic."
His expression changed slightly.
"I Apparated immediately."
"And then… I saw you."
He looked at Harry.
"…your wand was broken.
You were being strangled."
His voice trembled slightly.
"I thought you were dead."
"I almost killed the snake on the spot."
He let out a quiet breath.
"…Fortunately, you were still alive."
[Ding, Father +100560]
[Ding, Father +100]
Harry opened his mouth—
But suddenly froze.
His wand.
It was gone.
Completely destroyed.
A wave of panic hit him.
He hadn't even brought it back.
"I brought it."
Darren said softly.
He reached into his pocket and took it out.
Harry's wand.
Broken.
Cracked.
Almost unrecognizable.
Harry stared at it.
"Can it be fixed?" he asked, almost desperately.
Darren shook his head gently.
"I'm sorry, brother…"
Harry's heart sank.
Ollivander was gone.
Grindelwald's wandmaker was gone.
He had no way to get another wand.
"Then use mine."
Darren tapped a nearby cup.
A flash of light appeared.
Then he handed his wand to Harry.
"You use this for now."
Harry hesitated.
"Then what about you?"
Darren smiled lightly.
"When I go back…
they'll definitely realize I snuck out."
"They'll confiscate my wand."
He shrugged.
"They might even break it."
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
Harry and Hermione both went pale.
They could already imagine what would happen when Darren returned.
Punishment.
Interrogation.
Possibly worse.
For a moment—
They almost wished Darren would stay.
Be selfish.
Just this once.
But they knew—
He wouldn't.
"…Alright, don't think about that," Darren said quickly.
"I came here for more than just this."
He reached into his robes—
And pulled out the Sorting Hat.
Harry and Hermione both froze.
"Wasn't it sent to Gringotts?" Hermione asked in shock.
"It was supposed to be," Darren replied.
"But Ginny made a copy."
"Snape didn't notice."
"They sent the fake one instead."
Harry couldn't help but laugh slightly.
"Goblins don't care enough to check."
"Especially after Voldemort tried to make them call him 'Master.'"
Darren handed the hat over.
"The Sword of Gryffindor is inside."
"When you need it—just pull it out."
Harry held it tightly.
Like it was the key to everything.
Darren continued,
"There's something else."
"Phineas told me—Ron left?"
Harry and Hermione both stiffened.
Then explained everything.
Ron's anger.
The argument.
His departure.
Darren listened quietly.
Then sighed.
"…Forget it."
"If he can't continue, forcing him won't help."
"I'm just worried…"
"…Mrs. Weasley."
He paused.
Then looked at Hermione.
"You're not leaving too… right?"
Hermione immediately shook her head.
"No."
"I decided from the moment I agreed to help you."
Her voice was firm.
Darren looked at her.
Hermione lowered her head slightly.
Her face flushed.
Harry noticed.
But said nothing.
Instead, he forced himself to speak.
"…Do you have any clues about the Horcruxes?"
Darren shook his head.
"Not yet."
"If you find anything—
contact me through Phineas."
"I'll come out again."
Harry nodded quietly.
Then suddenly—
His scar burned.
Pain shot through his head.
He saw a flash—
Bathilda's house.
Nagini reporting failure.
A photograph on the floor.
A blond boy.
The image vanished.
Harry gasped slightly.
Then quickly pulled out the photograph he had taken earlier.
"Darren… do you know who this is?"
He didn't expect much.
But Darren nodded.
Though his expression was slightly uneasy.
"That's Gellert Grindelwald."
"Dumbledore's… friend."
"And his former partner."
"What?!"
Hermione and Harry both stared at him.
"Incredible—"
"Darren, you didn't read that from Rita Skeeter, did you?" Harry asked.
Darren looked embarrassed.
"I wanted to tell you before…
but it felt like a private matter."
"And at that time…
Grindelwald was supposed to be in Nurmengard."
"Dumbledore released him."
Harry and Hermione were stunned.
Darren continued softly,
"I didn't agree with it.
Even if Grindelwald said he had changed…"
"I still didn't trust him."
He lowered his head.
"And after Dumbledore died…
I couldn't contact him anymore."
"I heard he went back to Nurmengard."
Darren's eyes reddened.
"I didn't protect Dumbledore…"
"It's my fault…"
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
Harry shook his head immediately.
"No, Darren, it's not your fault!"
"It's Dumbledore!"
"He hid things from us!"
"He never told us everything!"
"He—"
Darren interrupted him.
He shook his head.
"I don't believe that."
"I don't believe he was that kind of person."
His voice was firm.
"I believe he cared about us."
He stood up.
"There's no time."
"I have to go."
"It's almost dawn."
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
Harry stepped forward.
But before he could say anything—
Darren activated the Portkey.
In that brief moment—
Harry saw Hermione reach out.
Trying to grab Darren's hand.
But she was just a second too late.
Darren disappeared.
Leaving behind only—
The faint trace of warmth…
And eyes that had been red the entire time.