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Chapter 90 — Darren's Gift
For the next few days, Harry kept dragging Darren back to the Mirror of Erised.
Darren didn't enjoy it at all.
Every visit meant he had to invent new fake memories for the mirror to show him… and then pretend to feel something deep about them. Exhausting.
If the Holy Father system wasn't rewarding him for comforting Harry, he would've refused entirely.
But Dumbledore had clearly noticed something.
And on the night Harry pulled Darren toward the mirror again, the headmaster appeared.
"Ah. Here you two are again."
"Professor Dumbledore… I'm sorry."
Darren lowered his head, guilt dripping from his voice.
[Ding, Holy Father +50]
"No need to apologize, my boy," Dumbledore said gently. "Anyone who discovers the Mirror of Erised ends up returning to it."
He winked at Darren, who gave a sheepish smile.
Harry, meanwhile, stepped back like a guilty accomplice.
"I'm not here to punish you," Dumbledore continued. "Only to tell you that I'll be moving the mirror somewhere no one can find it."
Harry reacted immediately.
"Don't—! I… I want to see Mum and Dad again. Please. I won't sneak out at night anymore!"
Dumbledore didn't answer.
He looked to Darren instead, as if Darren's opinion mattered more here.
Darren sighed under Harry's desperate stare.
"Professor… you were right. At first, I was addicted to the mirror. I thought it could show me the future. Or some other world."
He looked at the mirror, voice softening.
"But the more I looked, the more I understood—it wasn't real. It was just showing what I wished was true.
I thought Mum and Dad would live in a world like the one I saw, so the mirror showed it.
I thought Harry and I had younger siblings… so I saw that too. It was fake."
He swallowed, blinking rapidly.
"I miss them. I really do. But I can't live in a fantasy. Harry's been bringing me here every day, and I wanted to tell him."
He turned his head away and wiped his eyes.
"I just wanted him to have a few more days of happiness before the truth hit him."
Darren's green eyes—Lily's eyes—were rimmed red.
[Ding, Holy Father +100]
[Ding, Holy Father +100]
His words hit Dumbledore and Harry straight in the heart.
And it cleanly explained why Darren hadn't been eager to look in the mirror lately: every time he did, the system demanded he fake memories or else stare at a sad illusion of himself.
Humiliating.
At least no one else knew.
"Child… I'm glad you're so clear-headed," Dumbledore said softly. "This mirror only shows desire. The happiest people in the world see only themselves."
He smiled and added, "It's very late. Put the cloak on and head back to your dormitories."
"Professor," Harry asked, "what do you see in the mirror?"
"Socks," Dumbledore said without missing a beat. "Thick woolen socks. Christmas comes and goes, and people insist on giving me books instead of socks."
Darren resisted the urge to snort.
Lie of the century.
But he kept his expression sweet and said earnestly, "I'm sorry, Professor. I thought you liked candy. That's why I gave you sweets for Christmas. Next year I'll definitely send you wool socks."
[Ding, Holy Father +100]
[Ding, Holy Father +50]
Harry pulled Darren away before he could say anything else terrible.
How could someone so innocent protect himself?
---
With the mirror gone, Harry finally told Ron everything.
Ron was offended.
"You should've invited me! I want to know what I desire most!"
But once he heard Harry had been staring at his parents for hours, Ron decided maybe it was for the best the mirror was moved.
Hermione had just returned from her break.
She blushed when she thanked Darren for the silver necklace.
It was a star-shaped diamond pendant—simple but beautiful.
"Oh, no need to thank him," Harry said proudly. "Pachi bought it. Said it's popular in the Muggle world. Bought a whole diamond mine and boxed a bunch up for me and Darren to give away!"
Hermione's expression shifted instantly.
Her face flushed.
Then hardened.
She glared at Harry like she wanted to strangle him.
"Ahem."
She huffed, turned sharply, and hurried to the girls' dormitory, sounding irritated as she yelled from upstairs:
"I'm packing my things! And you don't need to report it!"
Harry stared after her, confused.
"What? She's angry about the necklace? But it was from Pachi!"
He scratched his head helplessly.
Girls were mysterious. Apparently even Hermione.
Darren just twitched his mouth.
He was grateful he wasn't in Gryffindor.
If he were, Harry would've loudly announced the entire set of necklaces Darren prepared for various girls.
Slytherin girls at least knew how to accept gifts quietly.
Not like Harry—who could expose state secrets without trying.
Still… Harry was his big brother.
And he was young. Naive. No girl would stay mad at him for long.
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