Chapter 778: Merlin Didn't Treat Him Better?!!
Darren's popularity had already surpassed Harry Potter. In the wizarding world now, there was almost no one who didn't know his name.
Of course, a large part of that credit went to The Potter Brothers—the book written by an "unknown author."
That "unknown author"… was actually Pansy Parkinson.
Even Darren hadn't expected she had that kind of talent. She had practically written him into the biographies of great men.
Darren smiled faintly and set the newspaper down.
Beside him, Hermione handed him a glass of water. She glanced at the front page and let out a soft laugh.
"Rita Skeeter actually told the truth for once. She must be scared you'll deal with her."
Then she sighed, her tone softening.
"But I know you wouldn't. You're always so kind."
Hermione's expression turned complicated.
Darren was just too simple… too kind. There would always be people who misunderstood him—people like Rita Skeeter, like the centaurs.
They even told outsiders that Darren had oppressed them.
How could that be?
If anything, Darren had been forced into survival by them. Lately, he'd been carrying so much guilt and pain. Add to that Voldemort's bloodline—he could barely even sleep.
He only went to the Forbidden Forest occasionally to clear his head, and yet they twisted it into something else.
It was too much.
Hermione clenched her fist slightly.
One day, she would become Minister for Magic. And when that happened… she wouldn't let anyone treat Darren like that again.
Darren noticed her expression and smiled gently.
"Still hurting?" she asked softly. "But… even if it's selfish of us… please live well. I'm sorry for making you stay like this."
Darren smiled as if it didn't matter.
"I'm fine. I'll live a long life—hundreds of years."
[Ding, Father +100]
Hermione's face flushed red.
She nodded, then leaned forward and hugged him tightly.
"I've wronged you…"
Darren didn't quite understand what she meant, but he still smiled warmly.
"Don't feel that way. If you're happy, then I'm happy."
[Ding, Father +100]
Hermione choked up.
She remembered the sadness in Darren's eyes from the interview.
He wasn't really happy—he was just pretending, for their sake.
Because everyone liked him… he couldn't bear to refuse them.
The only time he could show weakness… was probably when no one was watching.
They owed him too much.
But no matter what—
they wouldn't let him die.
Someone like Darren deserved to live a long, full life.
---
Five years later.
Darren lay on a beach chair, drink in hand, the sea breeze brushing lightly across his face.
Ginny walked over, smiling.
"Hermione's still busy with Ministry work. She'll come tonight. Darren, want to come with us?"
Darren shook his head.
"I'll pass. Tom's been restless in my soul again. I need to calm him down."
After saying that, he closed his eyes and leaned back, as if sinking into his own mind.
Ginny looked at him quietly.
Then she leaned down and kissed him.
She wasn't worried about him waking up—when Darren entered his own soul space, he couldn't sense the outside world.
With a flick of her wand, a blanket settled over him.
She brushed his cheek lightly.
"Idiot… you worry about everything. When will you finally rest?"
Only after she left did Darren slowly open his eyes again.
In front of him—
Lord Voldemort was already halfway manifested.
Darren sighed helplessly.
"Tom—if Ginny saw you, there'd be no hiding this anymore."
Voldemort frowned immediately.
"Don't call me Tom. I hate that name."
He crossed his arms, clearly irritated.
"And what's wrong with being seen? Didn't Dumbledore already agree I could leave your soul and go to the East?"
Darren rubbed his temples.
"Yes, Headmaster agreed. But no one else knows."
"If the wizarding world finds out you're alive again, things will spiral out of control."
He looked at Voldemort seriously.
"If you really want to go out, at least change your face first. I'm not organizing another 'defeat the Dark Lord' campaign."
Voldemort snorted, though his expression softened slightly.
Still, he looked dissatisfied.
"Dumbledore, Grindelwald—even Snape—get to be tied to your name. Why not me?"
"I have your blood too."
Darren sighed.
"If you go by 'Tom,' no one would care."
"But if you use 'Voldemort'… the entire wizarding world will panic overnight."
He paused, then added quietly,
"Besides… now that your soul and body are complete, you could go to the East and have your own child."
Voldemort's face darkened instantly.
"You think I'd be like the Malfoys?"
He turned away sharply, clearly annoyed.
Then, after a moment, he added,
"I've heard you've been encouraging Dumbledore, Snape—even Lupin—to have children."
He narrowed his eyes.
"Planning to die again?"
Darren froze.
That misunderstanding again.
Five years later—and Voldemort still believed he might choose death at any moment.
In reality, Darren had only suggested it because those people hovered around him constantly.
Even while teaching at Hogwarts, they would come find him.
It was… exhausting.
He just wanted them to have their own lives.
Darren forced a bitter smile.
"No. I just… thought maybe you should all have your own families."
Voldemort stared at him for a long moment.
Then he sighed deeply.
"You're still lying."
"I can tell."
"You're still suffering. You haven't moved on at all."
He shook his head.
"What are we supposed to do with you?"
Darren smiled gently, as always.
"Don't worry. I'll live well."
[Ding, Father +100]
Voldemort fell silent.
Looking at him like this—so gentle, so selfless—
he could only sigh.
Such a simple, kind child…
Why hadn't Merlin ever been kinder to him?