Chapter 360 — He Gave Darren to the Death Eaters!!
Darren snorted.
Worthy of Hermione.
It was just so decisive.
Especially Harry's kick, which was clearly mixed with personal grievance.
He almost laughed out loud.
But as a little Holy Father, of course, there was a worried, puzzled expression on his face.
Hermione looked at him, a little embarrassed, and spoke in a low voice, "Darren, you don't really think Professor brought Harry over, do you?"
Darren opened his mouth in astonishment.
Obviously he had thought that at first.
When he realized Harry had lied to him, Darren's face showed shock—and sadness.
"Brother," he whispered. Harry felt guilty.
He knew Harry wouldn't lie to him.
Darren sighed as he looked at Harry, then he draped the Invisibility Cloak over him.
"Brother, dress properly. I'll block the professors—just don't let them see you."
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Holy Father value +100]
The guilt on Darren's face was plain.
He had always been obedient and well-behaved; he hadn't expected to hide things from professors for Harry's sake.
He bowed his head and tried to pretend he had never shown up.
Hermione glared at Harry fiercely, which made Harry feel even guiltier.
Fortunately, Professor McGonagall's voice cut across the tense silence.
"A glass of canyon water."
Professor McGonagall said it to Ms. Rosmerta.
"My four pints of mead," Hagrid added.
"I'll have a glass of juice."
"Red-currant wine."
They placed their orders. It looked as if they intended to sit a while.
Harry sighed in frustration. How could he have guessed that, on the last trip to Hogsmeade before the holiday, so many professors would turn up?
He watched Hermione's stern expression and Darren's pale face, and felt even worse. Then McGonagall's next question drew his attention away.
"Minister, what brings you here?" Ms. Rosmerta asked as she set down four drinks, smiling at Fudge.
Fudge sighed helplessly. "It's about Sirius Black."
"When exactly will he be caught? My shop's been searched twice this month by Dementors—my customers were terrified!" Ms. Rosmerta snapped.
Fudge looked uncomfortable but said, "It had to be done…"
Ms. Rosmerta interrupted. "Minister, I just can't accept that Sirius could be that kind of person. When he was at school—when he was a boy—I never imagined he would become like this."
"Of course not. None of us did," Fudge said, sneering. "You've only read about his crimes in the papers. You have no idea what else he did. It's awful."
Ms. Rosmerta leaned in eagerly. "Tell me—what else did he do?"
Fudge glanced at Professor McGonagall. She gave a bitter smile and shook her head. "You remember Sirius—then you must remember who Sirius's best friend was, right?"
"Of course!" someone answered. "Sirius Black and his best friend James Potter —they always made me laugh!"
Bang.
Harry's head hit the table. Ron kicked him hard, but Harry barely registered it. He watched Darren—shock flickered in Darren's eyes at precisely the right moment.
"Sirius Black and James Potter were inseparable," Professor Flitwick said with a small smile. "They were mischievous, always getting into trouble with professors—rather like Fred and George."
Fudge nodded, then turned to Ms. Rosmerta. "The worst thing about Sirius wasn't that he blew up thirteen Muggles. It was that he betrayed James Potter."
After graduation that year James and Lily married, with Sirius as best man. Later, Lily became pregnant with twins—Harry and Darren—and Remus became Darren's godfather, Sirius Harry's godfather. Imagine how close they all were.
And yet—Fudge went on—the ironclad friendship ended with Sirius handing Darren over to the Death Eaters.
"Yes." He met their shocked faces. "Every Death Eater we captured said the same. Sirius had a chance to save Darren—but he didn't. He let the Death Eaters go. That's one reason they later believed Darren wasn't the Chosen Child."
Ms. Rosmerta gasped. "I can't believe Sirius could be so cruel."
"Maybe the Death Eaters lied," someone whispered. "What they said might not be true."
Fudge snorted coldly and lowered his voice. "There's worse. At that time the Potters knew they were being hunted. Dumbledore had spies among the Death Eaters. One warned him. Dumbledore told the Potters to hide and suggested the Fidelius Charm, with Dumbledore as Secret-Keeper."
"As you know, that charm hides a secret inside a person's soul. As long as the Secret-Keeper never reveals it, not even the Dark Lord could find you."
"But James refused. He appointed Sirius as Secret-Keeper. Within a week, the Potters were killed."
Hagrid slammed his fist on the table. "When Dumbledore sent me, I saw him. I tried to comfort him—he was devastated."
The conversation died down. Professor McGonagall dabbed her eyes. "It's been so long…poor little Darren. He inherited his mother's kindness and talent, and yet he was—abandoned by Sirius."
"By the way," she added, voice trembling, "I remember Lily seemed angry with James afterward. Maybe she had seen something."
"Maybe," someone murmured.
"But James still trusted Sirius… until the end."