Chapter 764: Goodbye, Brother!!
The scene shifted one final time.
Back to Dumbledore's office.
Phineas Nigellus's portrait appeared in a rush, his voice loud and urgent.
"They're in Godric's Hollow—that Mudblood—"
"Don't use that word."
Snape's voice cut in, sharp but firm.
"Yes, yes… Miss Granger showed me. She wanted Darren to go there."
Snape nodded slightly.
"Good. Go and inform Darren. I think… he won't want to miss it."
"The Sorting Hat is already in his hands. He'll definitely send it to them."
---
The memory collapsed.
Harry and Darren were thrown out of the Pensieve.
Harry hit the floor hard, breath knocked out of him.
For a moment, he didn't move.
Then slowly—
he looked up.
At Darren.
But Darren didn't look at him.
He seemed lost in thought, as if everything he had just seen… was already being processed, sorted, accepted.
Harry's chest tightened.
So this was it.
This was the price.
All the distance, the coldness, the way he had pushed Darren away after learning about Voldemort's bloodline—
This was his retribution.
Darren didn't even look at him anymore.
Didn't feel sorry for him anymore.
And the worst part was—
Harry knew now how meaningless that had been.
Bloodline… what did it even matter?
Darren carried Voldemort's blood.
But he also carried Snape's.
Maybe there had always been something more complicated behind it.
Maybe none of it was as simple as he'd thought.
But it didn't matter anymore.
It was too late.
Harry let out a hollow breath.
Now he finally understood.
He had lived all this time… just to walk toward this moment.
He was a Horcrux.
A piece of Voldemort.
And that meant—
he had to die.
He had to be the one to end it.
A bitter thought crossed his mind—
If he had died back in Godric's Hollow… maybe things would have been simpler.
Or if he'd fallen like Ted Tonks, unconscious, unaware…
Then he wouldn't have to make this choice himself.
But Dumbledore had known.
That was why he left the Horcrux hunt to them.
Why he made Harry walk this path.
Harry closed his eyes briefly.
As for Darren—
Harry thought he understood now.
Darren was the one who would finish everything after he died.
He would kill Nagini.
He would carry out the rest of the plan.
That was what Dumbledore had arranged.
Everything… had already been decided.
Harry lay there, his heart pounding hard in his chest.
Strong.
Alive.
But not for long.
He looked at Darren again.
Darren stood there, quiet.
Still.
He looked exactly the same as always—calm, composed, almost untouchable when he wasn't speaking.
Harry's throat tightened.
Memories flooded in—
Darren standing in front of him.
Protecting him.
Again and again.
Harry wiped his face roughly.
"…From now on… eat properly," he said hoarsely. "Stop throwing your life away for things like this… and don't be so soft-hearted…"
His voice faltered.
"And… don't listen to what Voldemort says. I don't… I don't really care about your bloodline…"
Darren finally spoke.
"That means you still care a little, doesn't it?"
Harry froze.
Darren's voice was calm.
"You care. Professor Snape cares. Hermione cares. Ron cares."
He let out a quiet breath.
"And if Voldemort announces it… even more people will care."
"That I have such… filthy blood."
Harry's chest tightened.
Darren looked down slightly.
"But when I first learned about it… I already understood my fate."
Harry tried to speak—
but Darren didn't give him the chance.
"Brother, listen to me first."
His tone softened.
"I figured it out a long time ago… that you were a Horcrux."
"I worked it out myself. Even if Dumbledore erased my memory… I would just reach the same conclusion again."
"From the moment I realized it… I've been thinking about what to do."
He smiled faintly.
"Dumbledore didn't know my plan. And I didn't know his."
"Maybe he guessed… but he didn't believe I could actually do it."
"Darren…" Harry's voice was uneasy now. "What are you—"
Darren let out a soft laugh.
"I came up with a solution."
Harry's heart skipped.
"I could transfer the piece of Voldemort's soul… from you… into myself."
Silence.
"I would die in your place."
Harry's blood ran cold.
"Yes," Darren continued quietly. "In theory, it's possible."
"But there are conditions."
"I already have my own soul. I can't hold it for long."
"And there's another requirement…"
He lifted his eyes.
"I need your emotional state to reach the point where you're ready to die."
"That moment—when your will weakens just enough…"
"That's when I can transfer it."
Harry stared at him, horrified.
"Darren… what are you saying…"
He stepped back instinctively.
"No. No, you can't do this."
"You can't do this!"
"No matter how you look at it—you're the one who should live!"
Harry turned, trying to run—
to escape—
to stop this—
But Darren only watched him.
And then—
a rope shot out, binding him instantly.
"Listen to me," Darren said gently.
"I'm actually very lucky."
"I thought I would need to push you further… guide your emotions more carefully."
"But Snape's memories did that for me."
"They were enough."
Harry struggled violently.
"Don't move," Darren said softly. "Don't fight it."
"It's already started."
Harry froze.
"…What?"
Darren's voice was calm.
"From the moment we came out of the Pensieve… I began the transfer."
"It's almost done now."
"You know me," he added with a faint smile. "If I hadn't needed to stop you… I wouldn't have told you at all."
He paused.
"And now that I have told you… it's partly because I can't lie."
"And partly… because I wanted a little more time."
"To say a few things."
Harry's chest tightened.
"After I go to find Voldemort…"
Darren's voice was steady.
"You need to find a chance to kill Nagini."
"That's the last piece."
"As for Voldemort…"
He exhaled softly.
"I'll use mother's protection magic before I die."
"To make sure he can't harm you… or anyone else."
Harry's eyes burned.
"No—"
"And one more thing," Darren continued.
"The Elder Wand."
"It used to belong to me. After Snape killed Dumbledore, I defeated him—so it answered to me."
"But now…"
He smiled faintly.
"It belongs to you."
"So don't be afraid."
"When the time comes… you'll be the one to end him."
Harry stared at him, disbelief flooding his face.
"You… you did that on purpose… didn't you?"
"…Of course."
Darren's answer was simple.
"Because that's what I need you to do."
Harry's voice broke.
"…Darren…"
Darren's expression softened.
"Don't worry."
"You'll always be a hero to me."
"The best one."
He lifted his hand.
"And now… you should rest."
"There's about half an hour left."
"When you wake up… it'll be over."
Harry struggled desperately.
"Don't—Darren—don't—!"
But Darren only waved his hand.
Harry collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
Darren stood there quietly.
For a long moment.
Then, softly—
"Goodbye, brother."
He bent down, picked up his wand.
A faint smile touched his lips.
"…It's finally time."