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Chapter 416: Eating Soft Rice!!
"How is that possible?!"
Ron exclaimed, staring at Harry in disbelief.
Then he pointed at Ginny and Hermione with disdain.
"You mean those two?
Which one of them even looks like a woman?
Their figures don't compare at all to Madam Rosmerta's—
Fred calls them bean sprouts!"
Harry let out the breath he'd been holding.
Ron stared.
"You're not serious, are you?
Why do you even care who Darren dates?"
Harry looked awkward, but still insisted:
"I won't interfere in Darren's choices.
I just… feel like if he gets a girlfriend, things between us won't be the same anymore.
And Darren is… too simple.
I worry he'll be toyed with by girls who don't take love seriously.
Don't glare at me—I really mean it.
If he fell in love and then got abandoned… I don't think he could take it."
Ron stared at him.
Then suddenly burst out laughing.
Harry flushed angrily.
Ron wiped tears from his eyes.
"You know who you sound like?
You sound exactly like my mum when Ginny first went to Hogwarts.
Harry—admit it.
You don't treat Darren like a brother.
You treat him like a son."
Harry froze.
Ron sighed.
"And like it or not, Darren is growing up.
Sooner or later, he'll belong to someone else.
And one day—you won't be the most important person to him anymore."
Harry's fingers tightened.
That thought terrified him.
He didn't know whether he feared Darren getting hurt…
Or feared being left behind.
"What if…" Harry muttered,
"What if I just tell him not to fall in love for now?"
Ron shook his head.
"Dream on.
No one can forbid a boy from falling in love.
And he isn't wrong for doing it either."
Harry felt hollow.
Just moments ago…
He'd still had a brother.
And now that brother might soon become… someone else's.
Maybe Darren would leave Britain.
Maybe they'd only meet once a year.
Maybe one day they would become strangers.
Like Uncle Vernon and Aunt Marge.
Harry felt his chest tighten.
If no one were around, he might have cried.
When Darren returned from playing chess, he immediately noticed Harry's expression.
It looked…
Like someone who had been abandoned.
Darren frowned and walked over.
"Brother, what's wrong?"
Harry blurted out:
"After you get married…
Will you move abroad?"
Darren nearly short-circuited.
Marriage?!
He hadn't even held a girl's hand—
And Harry was already planning his retirement.
But then Darren noticed Ginny and Hermione secretly watching.
He slowed his breath and replied seriously:
"Why would I move abroad?
I want to live with my brother."
Harry's eyes lit up.
"Really?!"
Then his lips pressed together in doubt.
"But… what if your girlfriend wants to travel the world?
Who will you choose?
Her… or me?"
Darren felt his scalp go numb.
In his head, the answer was simple.
Of course a girlfriend.
Who chooses a grown man over romance?
But on the surface—
He sighed softly.
"Brother…
I won't fall in love for now."
Everyone froze.
Darren continued quietly:
"You know our destinies.
We don't know how long we'll live.
Why should I drag a girl into danger?
What if tomorrow I die?
Or the next moment?
I don't want someone to cry just because they loved me."
[Ding, Father Value +100]
[Ding, Father Value +100]
[Ding, Father Value +100]
The tent fell silent.
Harry's eyes were red.
No one spoke.
Because…
They had all thought about it.
Harry and Darren were not ordinary boys.
Especially Darren.
Every year at Hogwarts, he stood on the edge of death.
How could he afford love?
How could someone like him ever allow himself to be happy selfishly?
Darren smiled gently at everyone.
"Let's not talk about sad things.
We're here to watch Quidditch, aren't we?"
Gradually, the atmosphere eased.
As evening fell, the sky turned gold.
Then, as darkness descended—
The Ministry of Magic finally stopped pretending.
Vendors floated down from the air.
Floating signs lit the field.
Even hovering magical cameras drifted past.
Darren stared at them in awe.
He really wanted to buy one.
But his persona wouldn't allow reckless spending.
Then—
"Five Sickles!"
Hermione smiled and handed something to Darren.
He froze.
"O-Oh—thank you…"
So this is what it feels like…
Eating soft rice.
Not bad, actually.
Hermione had bought one for everyone, so at least he didn't stand out.
Darren turned the small flying camera in his hand.
The image was incredibly clear.
Better than any drone he had ever seen.
Then—
He saw something familiar on the screen.
Two figures.
One tall.
One stiff.
Barty Crouch.
And…
His son.