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Chapter 320 – Potter, Are You Out of Your Mind?!
"Darren… if I heard correctly, that's what they call you… what's your last name?"
Lupin's voice trembled.
He genuinely felt like he was losing his mind.
He had the overwhelming, absurd feeling that this child was somehow connected to him.
Which made absolutely no sense.
It was impossible.
Ridiculous.
How could Lily and James's child have anything to do with him?
He began doubting reality itself.
Maybe… maybe the child belonged to someone else?
And this kid didn't even use the same surname.
Was he not the Darren Porter he thought he'd heard?
But Darren's answer shattered whatever theories he'd been building.
"Professor, my surname is Porter."
Darren smiled lightly.
He repeated, "Darren Porter."
Watching Lupin, he felt the professor was on the verge of an existential breakdown.
"Ahem… this is Harry Potter…"
After a long pause, Lupin turned toward Harry awkwardly. Harry had already recovered from his faint spell.
Harry nodded politely, still a bit dazed.
Because just now—
He had seen a man and a woman.
He heard them arguing.
"I'll never forgive you!"
"Take Harry and go!"
"I hate you, James!"
"Lily, it's Voldemort! Take the baby and leave — I'll stop him!"
"Don't kill him! Please! He's my only child!"
"I love him! I love my children!"
"Harry!"
The voices—a woman's sobbing, a man shouting—made Harry black out.
Luckily, Ron got him up before Hermione completely panicked.
"I heard a man and a woman arguing," Harry muttered, uneasy.
"Was anyone hurt?"
"No one was hurt," Ron said quickly. "You fainted because you were still freaked out about earlier."
Hermione wiped at her eyes. "The way you looked scared me. It was just like that day… when you saw Darren's photograph—"
But before she could spiral again, Darren pulled her gently into a hug.
She froze, stunned.
Darren murmured, embarrassed, "Sorry I worried you, Hermione. I actually forgot about that whole thing. The Dementors dragged it back up. I won't let it happen again."
[Ding, Fatherhood Value +100]
[Ding, Fatherhood Value +100]
[Ding, Fatherhood Value +100]
[bite...…]
Everyone let out the same soft sigh.
They looked at Darren with deep pity.
Darren would never forget — he was just pretending to, to keep them from worrying.
He kept everything buried so they wouldn't carry the weight with him.
And now they understood how much pain he'd been hiding.
"Sorry to interrupt… I think you might need this."
Lupin broke a large piece of chocolate and placed it in front of Darren.
Then he pulled out another bar from his pocket, snapped it in half, and handed a piece to Harry.
His face flushed faintly with embarrassment.
"Chocolate helps… if you trust me on that…" he muttered, rubbing his hands nervously.
He tucked the rest of the chocolate back into his pocket, lifted his wand, and hurried out of the compartment.
"He seems like a good professor," Harry murmured.
Darren smiled warmly. "He's also extremely skilled. I just tested quite a few spells on him."
If he hadn't stopped, he might've gotten himself into trouble…
If those Death Eaters came looking for him with the Dementors, he'd probably be dragged away on the spot.
Darren said it in a half-joking tone—but when he saw Harry and the others' expressions twist into horror, he realized how that must have sounded.
Like a Dementor could appear at any second to drag him off.
"Oh—why haven't you eaten? You know there's no poison in it… I am a professor."
Lupin had returned without them noticing, sounding confused at the tense atmosphere.
Darren quickly apologized, then took a bite of the chocolate.
Mm.
Still delicious.
He wondered how Lupin even afforded chocolate.
Chocolate wasn't exactly cheap in the wizarding world.
Had he specifically brought it because the school was full of Dementors?
That was… unexpectedly thoughtful.
He remembered reading in some fanfics that Lupin was the "bottom" in his pairing. But—
Outwardly, he just said kindly, "Thank you, Professor. I feel much better. Harry, you should try some too. Professor Lupin is amazing!"
The rest of the train ride passed peacefully.
But the moment they stepped off the train, they realized something was wrong.
People were staring at Darren and Harry.
Before they could figure out why, Malfoy swooped in with a triumphant smirk.
His eyes flicked over Darren first, settled on Harry, and he gave a theatrical gasp.
"My goodness, if it isn't the famous Harry Potter!"
He drawled, "Neville told me you fainted. You didn't really faint, did you? I think—yes—I think you might be the only student in the entire school who passed out!"
Darren nearly burst out laughing at the way Malfoy said it.
This guy had mastered the art of insulting someone while sounding delighted.
He was rubbing salt into Harry's biggest insecurity.
And Harry had been agonizing over it on the train.
He'd been terrified people would talk.
And the moment he stepped out—Malfoy attacked it head-on.
"Malfoy, if you say one more thing about my brother—"
Darren stepped forward, ready to milk this for "saintly" points.
But the moment he moved, Malfoy took a giant step backward.
"I was wrong! I'll leave immediately!"
Darren stared, dumbfounded.
Malfoy had finally evolved.
He now insulted people and then ran.
"Hmph, don't mind him, Darren," Ron snorted. "He's a coward. His only move is 'I'll tell my father!'"
Darren sighed and turned to Harry.
Surely I can earn at least one more Fatherhood point?
Impossible.
So he just said gently, "Harry, I won't laugh at you. You know I also blacked out. I'm exactly the same as you."
[Ding, Fatherhood Value +100]
[Ding, Fatherhood Value +100]
[Ding, Fatherhood Value +100]
[bite...…]
Harry looked at Darren with wide, emotional eyes.
Darren was always like this.
Always thinking of him first.
"Alright, Darren… I'm not upset."
Harry shook his head.
Truthfully, he wasn't as bothered anymore.
He was just confused.
Who were the voices he heard when the Dementors came near?
And the crying woman…
He heard his name too.
Who were they?
---
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