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Chapter 364: Dumbledore Discovers the Donation!!
Darren had just finished packing and leaving the Slytherin common room when he saw Harry and Ron standing outside.
Hermione came striding over with an annoyed expression.
It turned out that Harry had received a Firebolt for Christmas.
He originally planned to let Darren try it out, but Hermione refused to allow it and insisted that Harry show the broom to Professor McGonagall first.
Harry, of course, didn't want to.
That was how the argument started.
Since they didn't want to quarrel in front of Darren, they quickly changed the topic.
---
"Darren, why won't you accept the Firebolt shares I gave you?" Harry asked anxiously.
"You don't even have much money anymore…"
He had brought the contract specially for Darren.
And Darren had rejected it.
---
"Brother, as long as I have enough Galleons to live, that's enough," Darren said seriously.
"And if I really need money, I'll tell you, alright?"
He promised again and again.
In the end, Harry could only give up.
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The Christmas Feast
This year's Christmas dinner was unusually quiet.
Very few students remained at the school.
Only one long table had been set.
Dumbledore, Snape, McGonagall, Flitwick… all of them were seated there.
And of course—
Two first-years from Slytherin sat quietly nearby.
The moment Filch saw Darren, he stood up.
He strode forward and seized Darren's hand tightly.
"I love you, Darren! Do you understand?! I'm a wizard now… a real wizard!"
His eyes instantly filled with tears.
"It's all because of you… all because of you… I can live like this now…"
He couldn't go on.
Everyone present knew he was simply overwhelmed.
They smiled gently.
But Dumbledore intervened anyway.
"Now, Argus," he said kindly,
"Darren hasn't eaten yet. You should let him sit down before you thank him properly… besides, he isn't very comfortable with too much praise."
Dumbledore chuckled.
Darren's face quickly reddened to the tips of his ears.
Filch finally released him.
Just as Darren was about to sit down—
Dumbledore beckoned to him.
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"Darren, come here," Dumbledore said gently.
"There's something I'd like to ask you… oh, Harry, don't worry. I'm not scolding him.
If you'd like, you can listen too. It may help Darren keep his head clear in the future."
Harry immediately followed.
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Dumbledore sighed softly.
"Darren… I heard that you donated another fifty thousand Galleons to the Longbottoms?"
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"What?!"
"Fifty thousand?!"
"Darren, where did you get that much money?"
"What will you live on in the future?!"
Hermione and Harry both cried out at once.
Even the other professors were startled.
They had never known.
---
Darren froze.
He knew Dumbledore would find out.
But not this fast.
How long had it been?!
Seriously… did Dumbledore have eyes everywhere?
His heart skipped.
Would Dumbledore know that Slytherin alone had given him more than 300,000 Galleons?
That would be disastrous.
So Darren said weakly:
"Professor… they were just Christmas gifts from everyone.
I didn't really spend much of my own money…"
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[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
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Dumbledore interrupted gently.
"Oh, Darren… you might fool others, but you can't fool me.
The head of Gringotts personally wrote to me.
They were worried—because you emptied your entire vault."
Darren stiffened.
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"I later spoke with Paige," Dumbledore continued softly,
"and that's how I learned what you had done.
Darren… have I ever told you that when you love others, you must also love yourself?"
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The blue eyes beneath the half-moon glasses were full of concern.
Darren always broke his defenses.
Again and again.
It made Dumbledore feel… heartbroken.
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Darren relaxed slightly.
So Dumbledore didn't know about the gifts yet.
Good.
Very good.
That meant—
He could make things sound much better.
He put on an embarrassed expression.
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"Headmaster Dumbledore… I'm not that poor."
"Rozier gave me thirty thousand in shop profits," Darren explained seriously.
"I only donated what I withdrew from my vault at the time.
I hadn't even opened the other presents yet."
"Later, I found out Paige had already transferred the money…"
"I still have plenty left."
"So you don't need to worry about me.
I'm really not as great as you think."
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[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
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He looked honest.
Open.
Sincere.
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Dumbledore gave a helpless smile.
"Child… I can't judge you.
And I certainly don't want to scold you.
I only want you to understand one thing."
He leaned forward slightly.
"While loving others…
You must also learn to love yourself."
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Darren looked up.
Then he smiled gently.
"Headmaster… don't worry.
Everyone gave me too much this year, that's all."
"I still eat well."
"I don't spend recklessly."
"I don't have extra expenses in school."
"I know how to measure myself."
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[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
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Even Snape had nothing sharp to say.
Only a sigh.
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Finally—
Darren spoke softly.
"Headmaster…"
"I just think the Longbottoms… are too pitiful.
They protected so many people.
They shouldn't have ended like that."
"I can't cure them yet."
"But I can keep them alive."
"I can give them hope."
"If some Galleons can buy them even a chance…"
"I'm willing to trade poverty for it."
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[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
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