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Chapter 289: Your Heart Is Dirty!!
Too tired.
Just those two soft words.
Harry instantly burst into tears as he supported Darren.
His brother said he was too tired.
Of course he was.
Darren had faced everything in the wizarding world head-on. How could he not be exhausted?
He wanted to save everyone, even when his own body was failing. Now that he suddenly couldn't… how could he not be hurting?
"It's all right. Let's go back and let Dumbledore take a look. You know he's the best—he'll find a way to restore your ability to help people from the beginning!"
Harry spoke earnestly.
He remembered Darren's pale, weakening face every time he saved someone. He always thought Darren's ability was terrifying yet amazing. But he still forced himself to smile, trying to comfort him.
His brother only wanted to help others.
If he suddenly couldn't, he must be devastated.
Snap!
A sharp clap echoed.
"How touching. Truly touching. I'm moved to tears over here!"
Tom Riddle stepped out of the shadows.
Ginny's wand spun lazily between his fingers.
Harry stared at him as though he'd just appeared out of thin air.
"I know you! Tom Riddle! You're here too—quick, you hold Ginny and I'll help Darren. We need to get them out of here, Darren's in bad shape—"
He rushed forward, but Darren lightly shook his head.
He gently lowered Ginny to the ground.
Then—slowly—he stood up on his own.
His eyes locked onto Tom Riddle.
"Tom Riddle… you opened the Chamber of Secrets. You brought Ginny here."
"Darren," Harry whispered beside him, "Tom Riddle was the one who showed me the scene of Hagrid being taken away. He wouldn't be…"
Riddle looked like a polite, brilliant boy. How could he be Slytherin's heir?
"No, brother. He tricked you. Everything was his doing… and part of this is my fault too.
You told me the diary could show you memories. I should've realized he wasn't something simple.
He isn't a ghost, and he isn't alive, yet he can appear so real.
Brother… I let you keep that diary near you for so long. Thank Merlin you're safe. Really… thank goodness…"
Relief filled Darren's voice.
Tom Riddle smiled and applauded him again.
A hungry, greedy light flickered in his eyes.
He wanted Darren's body.
He'd noticed Darren before—when he was always standing beside Harry Potter. And every time he saw Darren, he felt an irresistible pull.
He wanted to take him.
To replace him.
But whenever he tried to act, something in him recoiled in fear. As if he had already attempted to seize Darren once… and had been violently beaten back.
That fear froze him each time.
So he stayed near Harry instead, planning to try again someday.
But then the red-haired girl took the diary.
And she had written about Darren.
If she told Darren anything, Dumbledore would learn of it next.
His Horcrux would be destroyed.
To prevent that, he had to drag Ginny down here.
He planned to wait out the danger. With her life feeding him, he'd grow stronger anyway.
As long as Darren Porter stayed at Hogwarts, he would eventually get his chance.
What he didn't expect was—
The professors sent all the students home.
Even Harry Potter boarded the train and left.
Riddle nearly shattered the Chamber walls in rage.
Darren was in Slytherin; fine, maybe he wouldn't rush in here. But Harry Potter?
That reckless Gryffindor lion?
How could he not come charging into the Chamber to save his friend's sister?
Riddle was furious.
But not for long.
Because Darren Porter stepped inside.
Lockhart followed like a decorative plant—Riddle barely glanced at him.
He cared only about Darren.
Today, he would take that body.
And after hearing Darren's words, he was even more delighted.
As expected of the person he favored.
Sharp mind.
Much better than that idiotic Harry Potter.
His main soul fragment had been tied to such a fool… what a waste.
Riddle clapped again.
"Yes, Darren Porter. Aren't you curious why this red-haired girl became like this?"
Darren frowned, lips tightening.
"Ginny must've been targeted by you for a long time. She's so young, so innocent. Exactly the type you'd take advantage of—and then drag here."
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding…]
"Hahaha, you still don't know?"
Riddle's grin widened.
"This girl knew about me from the beginning. She treated me like a close brother. She asked me why she blushes when she sees Harry, why her heart beats faster, why she sometimes gets jealous of him because of you, and she doesn't understand what's happening to her.
She asked me what was wrong with her.
Oh—her exact words were adorable. 'I think I might like Darren. He's like a little angel…'"
He spoke each sentence in a mocking tone, dragging Ginny's feelings into the open purely to humiliate her.
Darren's expression softened.
If Ginny were truly unconscious, she wouldn't feel this—isn't that better?
But when he held her earlier, he sensed it—she wasn't completely unconscious. She could still hear.
This poor girl probably wanted to sink into the floor and die.
Of course.
As a little Holy Father, he couldn't laugh at her misery.
He cut Riddle off sharply.
"Shut up! Ginny is just a simple little girl who doesn't even understand what love is. She only admires me and Harry, nothing more.
You're the one twisting it.
Don't insult a child like this. Even if you look decent on the outside, your heart is filthy."
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding…]