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Chapter 293 The Nasty Dumbledore!!
"Oh, Darren, that was a phoenix, not just a bird. It saved you just now—if it hadn't rushed in, you really would have been swallowed by the Fiendfyre."
"Even Fawkes's tears couldn't help you at that moment. You terrified me. I thought I was going to lose you."
"Luckily it forced its way in and carried you out. You absolutely cannot do that again."
Dumbledore's voice was stern.
Darren seemed to recall everything from earlier.
But to keep Harry and Dumbledore from worrying, he forced himself to hide it quickly.
"I know… I won't do that again…"
But he didn't hide it well at all.
Both Dumbledore and Harry could see how hollow the words were.
Fawkes could save his body, but nothing could patch up the shaken state of his mind.
Harry looked worried.
Terrified, even.
He kept glancing at Darren like Darren might burst into flames again and run straight back into the fire where no one could follow.
"Darren, you have to promise me. Promise you won't ever do something like that again."
Then he turned sharply toward Dumbledore.
"Headmaster, can't you just tell him Fiendfyre can be cast through love and protection? Please? Just say it!"
He was practically begging.
But Dumbledore did not answer the way Harry wanted.
He shook his head firmly. "Harry, I cannot tell him that. Darren is not a fool. He has obviously read plenty of books. He knows perfectly well that Fiendfyre is a curse."
"But if you say it, Darren will believe it!"
Harry sounded shocked—almost betrayed.
Dumbledore only sighed.
"You know very well Darren trusts Minerva and Severus deeply, but even they couldn't convince him this time. Do you think I'm some Kim Garon figure he'll blindly obey?"
Dumbledore gave a little blink, deliberately teasing him.
His serious face dissolved into a cheerful smile.
Harry stared at him, annoyed, his temper rising.
Dumbledore was always like this—why did he have to torment Darren?
"Ah, Harry, I can practically hear you cursing me in your head,"
Dumbledore chuckled.
Harry opened his mouth, wanting to argue for Darren, but Dumbledore cut him off.
"Darren, my child… Fiendfyre is a curse. Every single book says so."
As he said it, Darren's face drained of color.
His eyes slowly filled with despair.
Like something inside him had given up resisting.
Harry felt rage boiling in his chest.
Bringing Dumbledore here had been a mistake.
A terrible one.
Dumbledore wasn't kind.
He didn't care how much this hurt Darren.
He was the one who let Snape dose Darren with vomit potion.
He was—
"Darren, come on. I need to talk to you."
Harry grabbed Darren's hand. He just wanted to leave.
He couldn't stand hearing Dumbledore push Darren like this again.
It was like Dumbledore wanted to crush him.
"Harry," Dumbledore sighed, "I knew you'd misunderstand me. We'll speak later… perhaps calmly."
He turned his attention back to Darren.
"Oh, Darren, don't worry. I'm not here to scold you. I'm here to make sure you're all right. As Headmaster, I must watch over the students' mental state."
"Harry has misjudged me, but for now we are discussing you."
He paused, then added:
"Yes, Darren, Fiendfyre is a curse. That part is true. Every book says so.
But… I suspect you have not read this book."
Dumbledore pulled out an old, shabby volume from his robes.
"Emotions Combined with Magic."
"This was written by Bathilda Bagshot long ago. Turn to page fifty-six. Read the marked section. It may help you understand that your professors were not deceiving you."
He placed the book into Darren's hands.
A strange expression—half exasperated, half amused—crossed Dumbledore's face.
"I honestly expected you to believe Minerva and Severus. Why would they ever lie to you?"
"If there were no such thing as emotionally-modified magic, Minerva would be the first to panic. She would warn you never to cast such spells again—not 'fake' reassurance."
Dumbledore stepped back, twirling his wand idly, watching Darren with an almost playful curiosity, clearly waiting for him to start reading.
Darren resisted the urge to groan.
He didn't want to read.
He was used to the System giving him instant knowledge—fast, precise, like he'd studied it for years.
Why flip pages manually?
But Dumbledore and Harry were both staring at him.
If he didn't read, it would seem as though he didn't believe them.
Darren wanted to yell, "I'm not reading this!" and just walk out.
But he was the Little Father… he couldn't.
Helplessly, he opened the book to page fifty-six.
It read:
According to the author's research, magic released through deep love and protective emotion—even a curse—is controllable.
However, the conditions are extremely strict.
The caster must be overflowing with love and protection, and possess absolutely no malice.
The more dangerous the curse, the harsher the requirement.
Almost no one can maintain zero malice while casting dark spells. Thus, this form of magic cannot be popularized.
The Ministry of Magic is correct in banning the casting of curses; most people cannot meet these conditions.
If someone can, however, the author believes such a person must be exceptionally kind.
Note:
Magic released through love and guardianship manifests as warm gold or ethereal hues.
If not, the caster is performing a standard curse and should be reported to the Ministry of Magic.
Darren's ears burned.
His entire face went red.
"P-Principal… I'm sorry… I didn't know… I thought…"
"Oh? It seems our little Darren has realized his mistake."
Dumbledore's tone shifted, becoming serious again.
"So, Darren… you won't ever try to hurt yourself like that again, will you?"
"I'm sorry, Headmaster… Brother… I made you worry. I won't ever do something like that again. I was wrong."
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding…]
"Well then," Dumbledore turned to Harry, smiling broadly,
"Harry, may I laugh now?"
And this time, he really laughed.
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