Chapter 777: My Brother Is the Hero!!
Half a month later.
[Ariana too had been resurrected, but her new body is still weak, so she is still in the hospital. She is also one of his wives.]
Darren was still staying in the school infirmary. He sat on the bed with a newspaper in his hands, while the people around him tried their best not to make a sound, afraid of disturbing his "reading mood."
It was an interview from the Daily Prophet.
"The Daily Prophet, under the direction of Minister Kingsley Shacklebolt, has launched a special interview column following the war half a month ago.
Today's guest is someone we have long wished to interview—Mr. Darren Potter.
As we all know, in the final battle, Mr. Darren Potter nearly gave his life to destroy the last Horcrux.
It is precisely because of this that he has been recuperating during this period.
Only three days ago, with the permission of Albus Dumbledore (who has now resumed his position as Headmaster of Hogwarts), our reporters were finally able to enter Hogwarts and interview this legendary figure.
Before meeting him, the reporter imagined a proud and distant genius.
But to their shock—even when drinking water, this gentleman personally poured it and handed it to the reporter with kindness."
Darren shook the newspaper slightly.
He remembered very clearly how he had shoved the cup into Rita Skeeter's hand—while quietly radiating enough magical pressure to make it clear:
Say anything wrong, and you won't see tomorrow.
Darren smirked inwardly.
At least Skeeter had good judgment.
He lifted the paper a little higher, pretending to read seriously.
"The reporter was stunned by such courtesy and nearly forgot to respond."
Darren recalled what he had actually said at the time:
"Rita Skeeter… are you tired of living?"
Apparently, she wasn't.
He continued reading.
"Though shocked by Mr. Darren Potter's approachability, the reporter did not forget their duty and began the interview under his gentle gaze."
Q: Mr. Darren Potter, do you regret nearly dying to defeat the Dark Lord?
A: "Of course not. At that moment, everyone was prepared to give their life to protect the wizarding world."
"The reporter's eyes filled with tears, as if witnessing that moment once more—when heroes stood fearless in the face of death."
Q: Then second—why have you seemed so withdrawn since waking up?
A: "There's nothing much to say. Many of my friends died. I survived by chance… but I'm not heartless."
"At this point, the gentleman was overwhelmed with emotion, but in order not to burden the reporter, he merely excused himself to get some air.
From the window, the reporter saw his frail figure and reddened eyes—and understood what it meant to carry the weight of others."
Darren almost laughed out loud.
He remembered that "getting some air" moment.
He had stepped outside and casually smashed a training dummy into dust to calm down.
But clearly—
Skeeter had… a different interpretation.
"The reporter believed the interview had ended, but Mr. Darren Potter insisted on continuing, unwilling to waste the reporter's time."
Darren kept reading.
Q: Third question—It is said that over thirty girls signed marriage contracts with you to save your life. Is that true?
A: "Yes. I'm trying to find a way to free them. They are all good people. They sacrificed too much for me."
Q: And if you cannot free them?
A: "Then I will take responsibility. They saved my life—I cannot run from that."
He paused.
"In truth, I always dreamed of a simple life… one partner, growing old together."
"But… that chance is gone."
"If they fall in love with someone else, they are free to marry. I will not stand in their way."
Darren's lips twitched.
Try it.
Let someone try.
He would personally wipe their memories and start over if needed.
Of course—
it would never come to that.
His grip tightened slightly on the newspaper.
In the printed photo, Skeeter looked faintly terrified.
Darren quickly forced a smile back onto his face.
Calm. Stay calm.
He continued reading.
"The reporter has never encountered such a noble individual. Compared to certain aristocratic figures… Mr. Darren Potter's character is exceptionally rare."
Q: Fourth question—Have you read the recent book The Potter Brothers?
Darren: "I'm still recovering. Everyone won't let me follow outside news. I don't know it."
Reporter: "It tells the story of you and Mr. Harry Potter from first year to now. It moved me deeply."
Darren: "Really?"
He smiled faintly.
"But my brother is the real hero."
"I'm just a speck beside him. His brilliance is so great… I can barely look at it."
"The reporter was deeply moved."
"Even though Mr. Harry Potter himself acknowledges Darren's immense contributions, Darren remains humble and self-effacing."
"As Mr. Harry Potter once said—if Darren were not this kind of person, perhaps we would not love him so much."
At the end—
the article shifted tone.
"When the reporter left the infirmary, they saw Darren Potter gazing out the window, eyes filled with melancholy.
Though he returned from death, it was not by his own choice.
He was pulled back.
Perhaps… he would rather remain with those who had already passed."
"We disturbed his peace."
"And yet—he never complained."
"On unknown nights, perhaps he wept until his tears ran dry."
Beside the article—
a large photograph of Darren.
He leaned against the hospital bed, pale and distant, eyes shadowed with quiet sorrow.
Handsome enough to make people stop and stare.
The photo had been taken secretly—through glass.
In reality—
Darren had forced Skeeter to retake it from dozens of angles until it looked exactly like this.
The result was perfect.
The newspaper had sold out instantly.
Whether it was the striking image, the "melancholy hero," or the narrative of sacrifice and responsibility—
everyone was talking about it.
Darren lowered the paper slowly.
His expression returned to calm.
But his eyes—
flickered with something unreadable.