"Professor... I've packed up!"
Darren lifted his robes cheerfully, pretending not to notice the simultaneous frowns from Snape and Dumbledore.
Did they not expect this? As the youngest son of Lily and James, the brother of the famous Harry Potter, he owned only two sets of clothes.
Darren could easily guess what the two men were thinking right now, but he wasn't about to offer any comfort to those who had made his life miserable.
"Severus, I believe this young man could use some groceries and a change of clothes... Oh, dear Darren, I hope you accept a belated gift from an old man who wishes to make amends for the guilt he feels," Dumbledore interjected, preventing Darren from displaying his faux Fatherly pose.
Darren rolled his eyes. While he hadn't considered buying clothes himself, he couldn't pass up an opportunity to play the Holy Father.
However, as a Father perpetually seeking to assert himself, Darren found another angle. Tilting his head, he looked up at Dumbledore and spoke gently, "Mr. Dumbledore, Mr. Snape, I sense your guilt for not finding me all these years and your desire to compensate me.
I genuinely forgive you. You don't owe me. If you feel overwhelmed, perhaps you can find me a place to stay, and it might bring more peace to your hearts."
[Ding, Father +100].
Darren was pleased. With this Father Value, he now had hundreds, and though he didn't fully understand its function beyond manipulating silence, he looked forward to future interactions.
...
The boy's eyes exuded comfort, and he spoke these words sincerely, wanting them to feel at ease and willing to accept their compensations.
However, Dumbledore and Snape felt even more conflicted. They should have been the ones comforting the child, yet here they were, being comforted by him.
James and Lily had sacrificed for the wizarding world, and their children deserved a normal life, if not a wealthy one. But Darren lacked even basic clothing, endured beatings, hunger, and bullying – a result of their neglect.
The child, genuinely concerned about their feelings, found a way to comfort them. He was the antithesis of Voldemort.
Dumbledore wiped his eyes, sighed, and said, "Child, I hope you accept our compensation as a sincere request from an old man. As for where to live, for now, you'll stay at Hogwarts. I believe Harry needs time to adjust to your presence."
"Well, I have no objections, Professor Dumbledore. If Professor Snape concurs, I'll accept your gift. Although I feel I've taken advantage, if it brings you comfort."
[Ding, Father +50].
Darren felt a bit sorry; it wasn't a hundred this time, but fifty was still acceptable. Dumbledore, however, doubted Harry's claim about adjusting to Darren's presence.
The old man feared hidden problems, given his naturally suspicious nature. Additionally, Petunia needed an explanation, and considering Petunia and Vernon's personalities, Darren couldn't help but feel a headache for Dumbledore.
As Darren smiled, Dumbledore reciprocated. "Severus may be willing to get you a gift. He isn't good with words, so accept it graciously."
With a snort, Snape, maintaining an empty look in his eyes, expressed his agreement.
"Alright, if you're finished, it's time to leave. By the way, your 'friend' with possible troll blood is over there!" Snape's tone intensified as he mentioned his friend. He lifted his chin, pointing in Kenley's direction with the tip of his greasy nose.
Darren followed Snape's gaze and spotted Kenley with a few children, curiously observing them. Judging by their expressions, the past events seemed forgotten. Reflecting on Snape's casting of the Avada spell, erasing memories, Darren couldn't help but mourn for them momentarily.
However, his sympathy waned. He was leaving, and the uncertain fate of continuing to reap rewards from Kenley in the welfare home worried him.
"Go, bid farewell to them, kiddo," Dumbledore urged gently.
Darren shook his head and sighed, "No, after what happened, they might be scared of me. It's better not to go, in case it frightens them."
[Ding, Father +50].
Stowing away the Father's value again, Darren also withdrew his gaze from Kenley. He had avenged the original owner, and he should have no further contact with him in the days to come.
Dumbledore, however, doubted Harry's claim about adjusting to Darren's presence. The old man feared hidden problems, given his naturally suspicious nature. Additionally, Petunia needed an explanation, and considering Petunia and Vernon's personalities, Darren couldn't help but feel a headache for Dumbledore.
As Darren smiled, Dumbledore reciprocated. "Severus may be willing to get you a gift. He isn't good with words, so accept it graciously."
With a snort, Snape, maintaining an empty look in his eyes, expressed his agreement.
"Alright, if you're finished, it's time to leave. By the way, your 'friend' with possible troll blood is over there!" Snape's tone intensified as he mentioned his friend. He lifted his chin, pointing in Kenley's direction with the tip of his greasy nose.
Darren followed Snape's gaze and spotted Kenley with a few children, curiously observing them. Judging by their expressions, the past events seemed forgotten. Reflecting on Snape's casting of the Avada spell, erasing memories, Darren couldn't help but mourn for them momentarily.
However, his sympathy waned. He was leaving, and the uncertain fate of continuing to reap rewards from Kenley in the welfare home worried him.
"Go, bid farewell to them, kiddo," Dumbledore urged gently.
Darren shook his head and sighed, "No, after what happened, they might be scared of me. It's better not to go, in case it frightens them."
[Ding, Father +50].
Stowing away the Father's value again, Darren also withdrew his gaze from Kenley. He had avenged
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