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Chapter 395: Stay Away from My Brother!!
"Darren is right. People like him are already disgusting. However, without you and Harry intervening, I would have killed him myself today. This revenge should have been carried out twelve years ago. But I didn't know the truth at the beginning. Now, Sirius, let's… do it properly!"
Lupin looked at Black. Sirius Black nodded vigorously. They both raised their wands, aiming at Peter Pettigrew.
Peter Pettigrew finally gave up pleading with anyone. He burst into tears, his expression repulsive—like a giant insect. Darren turned his head in disgust. Harry couldn't bear to look and blocked his view.
Just as Lupin and Sirius were about to strike, Darren intervened. He waved his wand, interrupting their spell casting.
"Darren! He killed your mom and dad!" Sirius growled.
"If you hate me, then when i kill him, you can call the Dementors. But please, let me—please let me kill him!" Black screamed.
Even Lupin was shocked.
"Darren, be obedient! Don't do this!"
"Listen to me." Darren took a deep breath, his voice trembling slightly. "Don't kill him. I'm not soft-hearted—I know he killed Mom and Dad—but I hope… I hope you can deliver him to the Dementors. Remus, I don't want you to be implicated. Sirius, if you kill him today, from now on, you and Lupin will either return to Azkaban or wander endlessly with him. Don't do it, okay? Harry and I finally have family left. We don't want to lose anyone else. Besides, my parents wouldn't want him killed or your hands to be sullied."
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding... ］
Darren's words made Harry nod in agreement. The fact that this was his father's friend gave him an indescribable warmth. He also didn't want Sirius or Lupin to go to Azkaban.
"Let's bring him to Dumbledore and let him decide," Darren said.
"Yes. If anyone should go to Azkaban, it's him!"
Peter Pettigrew climbed in front of Darren, sobbing.
"Darren… thank you, thank you… you and your dad…"
Before he could finish, Harry kicked him in the face.
"Shut up! Stay away from my brother!" he shouted angrily.
"Now, let's take him away!"
Lupin and Black compromised. They restrained Peter Pettigrew with their wands. Ron got a bandage to help secure his leg for the journey.
As for Snape, Darren said worriedly, "I'm going to bring Professor Snape here while we deliver Peter to the Headmaster."
Black agreed, and they began dragging Peter Pettigrew while Harry helped Ron.
The path back to the tunnels was rough. The ground was uneven, and they stumbled along the way. Finally, they reached the open area. Harry felt as if he had been in a dream. Over an hour had passed, and it seemed as if they had experienced countless trials.
Peter Pettigrew was still gasping. Lupin raised his wand and pointed it at him.
"Don't take a wrong step, or else…" he sneered.
Peter nodded hurriedly, and they continued in silence, heading toward the castle.
As they approached, hundreds of Dementors suddenly surrounded them. They lunged at Black. Harry felt as if he had been plunged into ice. He had never felt such despair. He struggled to raise his wand.
"Expecto Patronum!" he shouted.
Only a thin silver strand of light emitted from his wand. It dissipated in the air.
"Please… don't… don't…" came Black's voice.
Harry followed the sound. Black had collapsed completely, his wand on the ground, squatting and clutching his head.
Peter Pettigrew saw an opportunity. He grabbed Black's wand.
"Stop!" Harry roared. Ron reached out to grab Peter, but a red flash struck, knocking him back.
"Disarm him!" Harry shouted.
Peter Pettigrew's wand fell. He instantly transformed into a rat and vanished into the field.
"Peter Pettigrew ran away!" Harry shouted frantically.
No one responded. Harry looked back—Ron hadn't moved, but he was still alive. Hermione was trying to cast a Patronus but couldn't complete the spell fully. Surrounded by Dementors, she struggled to recall happy memories. She even saw a Dementor pressing its face against Black's mouth.
"Expecto Patronum!" Harry shouted with all his strength. He thought of joyful memories with Darren. The wand emitted only a faint shadow. The shadow drove back a single Dementor—but more rushed to their side.
Hermione fell. Harry struggled with the spell, but it had no effect.
Then, a pair of icy hands grabbed his neck, forcing him to look up. Rancid breath hit his face. His vision blurred.
"Let them go!" a furious, familiar voice roared in his ear.
Harry struggled to open his eyes. A silvery-white light lingered around him. It was a Patronus.
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