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Chapter 139 — Forced to Move!!
Fred and George — who had only just recovered from being dragged around for half the night — were still thinking proudly about how strong their brotherly bond was when Ron suddenly spoke in a miserable voice:
"D-Darren won't be able to go to Hogwarts anymore after he gets adopted? He won't be Harry's brother either? Isn't that… awful?"
"This Nicolas Flamel is really too much! Darren is still so small, and he wants to take him away — and not even let him see Harry again—!"
Ron's voice broke, and he actually sniffled.
Fred and George snapped out of their thoughts, turned to look at him, and exchanged identical bewildered expressions.
Then George spoke in a deliberately serious tone.
"As far as we know, Ron, adopted children aren't dragged away forever. They usually just spend holidays with their adoptive family — y'know, so they can bond."
Fred added, "And transferring Darren out of Hogwarts? Impossible. He's already enrolled. You can't just yank a student out halfway through a term."
"And Dumbledore would never let Nicolas Flamel take Harry Potter's brother away without a fight."
George shrugged. "Besides, Darren's practically an all-round prodigy. What professor would willingly give that up? Unless Darren himself wanted to leave — which he doesn't. Do you see him wanting that?"
Fred rolled his eyes dramatically.
Honestly. Sitting with these overly naïve children was lowering his IQ.
"Ah… I…" Harry opened his mouth and looked at Darren with a trembling smile. "I thought I was going to lose you. Even if you were happy with it, I… I knew I'd miss you. Especially over the summer."
"I'll miss you too, brother!"
[Ding, Father +100]
"All right, all right," George muttered, waving his hand. "No need to get emotional again. Darren, try to look cheerful… If Mum sees you upset, she'll think Fred and I bullied you, and she'll skin us alive—"
Fred elbowed him.
"I'm joking, Darren! Merlin, don't force a smile like that. You look even sadder…"
But the joke hid a real warning — because they had just reached the Burrow. Dawn light was beginning to tint the sky red.
Everyone piled out of the flying car.
A crooked wooden sign reading "The Burrow" stood in front of them. The house itself looked like it had once been a barn someone decided to stack several additional floors onto in defiance of basic architectural logic.
Four or five chimneys stuck out of the red roof at odd angles. A pile of tall, muddy boots had been abandoned near the door, and several plump hens clucked lazily across the yard.
"How is it?" Ron asked proudly.
"It's wonderful!"
"We love it!"
Darren and Harry spoke at the exact same time.
"Right, then don't talk," Fred whispered urgently. "We'll sneak upstairs first… When Mum wakes up, we'll take Harry and Darren out again. She won't even notice we used the car—"
Fred stopped mid-sentence. His skin turned pale green.
Darren followed his gaze.
A plump woman with kind features — who somehow at this moment looked more like a charging lioness — was stomping toward them with terrifying force.
"The bed empty — no note — THE CAR GONE— I thought you were DEAD — your father — Percy — Bill — Charlie—"
Her voice cracked as she shouted, the tirade going on for what felt like hours.
Darren tried to step forward to defend the twins, but Fred, George, and Ron all grabbed him at the same time.
This child was far too kind — too kind for his own safety.
Finally, Mrs. Weasley's voice grew hoarse, and she suddenly noticed Darren and Harry behind the others.
"Oh! I didn't see you two…"
Her tone immediately melted into honey.
Darren rushed forward.
"I'm sorry, Madame Weasley! It's all because of me that Ron and Fred and George took such a risk. It's my fault — if you're still angry, you can punish me instead! I'm not afraid!"
He obediently held out his hands as if offering them for a scolding smack.
"You silly boy," Mrs. Weasley sighed, her voice softening even more. "You and Harry aren't like them… Those three would get into trouble even without a flying car. But at least they brought you both back safely — that was good of them."
She clicked her tongue. "I'm only angry they didn't wake Arthur and me. We would've come with them — much safer, much more proper."
She took Darren by one hand and Harry by the other and marched them warmly into the Burrow.
Behind them, Ron grumbled, "That house-elf scared Harry into nightmares… scared Darren so badly he wrote us long letters…"
"You still couldn't go rescue them alone!" Mrs. Weasley snapped — but her tone was much lighter now.
"Honey, you two must not have eaten breakfast yet…"
In a whirlwind of motherly fussing, she buttered their bread by hand, piled sausages and eggs onto their plates, and watched them like a hawk to make sure they ate.
As they were eating quietly, a small red-haired girl in pajamas came down the stairs.
The moment she saw Harry and Darren sitting at the table, she let out a squeak, turned bright red, and bolted back upstairs.
"That's Ginny," Ron whispered. "She's been reading about Harry for ages… And now she actually saw him…"
"No, no," Fred corrected with a grin. "She's going to ask for Harry's autograph—"
Mrs. Weasley gave him a look that could silence a dragon. Fred shut up instantly.
"Well, I'm tired. I think I'll—"
"No," Mrs. Weasley cut him off. "You, George, and Ron will go de-gnome the garden. Use the method Lockhart recommends."
She pulled out a book with shiny golden lettering:
"Gilderoy Lockhart Teaches You to Get Rid of Household Pests."
A handsome blond wizard in the moving picture winked dramatically.
Mrs. Weasley giggled like a schoolgirl.
"Mom always does that," Ron muttered. "Honestly… Darren's better looking than Lockhart anyway. All the girls at Hogwarts think so. Not exaggerating!"
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