After steadying his mood, Darren strolled out of St Mungo's. Upon stepping outside, he spotted Betsy standing upright in front of the busy entrance.
Her dark black hair billowed in the wind, resembling a scene from a famous idol drama. However, the heroine of this particular drama was far from in a good mood. Standing amid the crowded doorway, her brow furrowed tightly, Betsy dodged the occasional wizard with peculiar bloodlines, a look of disgust on her face.
"Finally come out, don't come out again,
I may have to go to the boys' bathroom to catch you!" Betsy exclaimed with relief upon finally spotting Darren. If he hadn't emerged, she might have fled the scene altogether.
"Sorry to keep you waiting," Darren apologized sheepishly. Taking the initiative, he walked up to Betsy and tugged at the corner of her clothes. Betsy, watching his hand, snorted, raised her wand, and vanished in an instant.
Diagon Alley retained its lively atmosphere, with people bustling about.
Once Darren was back on solid ground, Patsy, another house-elf, greeted him. In hushed tones, she shared the events that had transpired in his absence.
"Darren's little master ran too fast, and Paggie came out of the bookstore and didn't find Darren's little master. In the end, he had to go to Dumbledore, and Mr. Dumbledore said that Darren's little master was all right, and asked Paggie to wait here..."
"I'm sorry, Paggie. I was so angry before, that's why... I'm sorry!" Darren expressed regret, imagining Paige's anxiety. House elves were typically dedicated to serving their masters, and when their owners disappeared, some might punish themselves out of guilt.
However, Darren refrained from divulging the details, fearing that Paggie, if aware of the recent brush with a death curse, would cause trouble.
"Darren's little master doesn't have to apologize to Paige.
The little master thinks that life is equal, and the little master thinks that Paggie and the little master are the same," Paggie spoke proudly and sadly in an aged voice. Expressing gratitude, she revealed that she had been moved to tears, touched by Darren's kindness.
Darren attempted to comfort her, emphasizing the equality of all lives. However, he refrained from expressing his views on other magical races, finding the notion somewhat bothersome. His actions seemed to contradict the ideals of his holy father's design, prompting him to resist opening his mouth.
"By the way, little master Darren, Mr. Dumbledore asked you to go back to his office," Paggie mentioned after recollecting the incident.
Darren was taken aback.
Thoughts of the blood of Voldemort he had recently acquired fueled a growing sense of unease. How did Dumbledore know so quickly? It couldn't be; he had just obtained it. It should be something else.
"Did Professor Dumbledore say anything?" Darren asked tentatively, holding onto a glimmer of hope that Dumbledore might not have been privy to the details. Even though he knew Dumbledore wouldn't reveal anything to Paige, there remained a sliver of optimism.
"Knowing that Mr. Dumbledore had asked Little Master Darren to come to his office, Paggie was worried that Mr. Dumbledore would hurt Little Master Darren, so she secretly listened for a while," Paggie admitted.
The revelation left Darren both surprised and uneasy. Could Dumbledore be so well-informed? The possibility that this might be another trap, testing his honesty, gave him a headache.
At this moment, Darren contemplated the unpredictable nature of the white wizard Dumbledore. On one hand, Dumbledore could potentially come to his rescue if he were in mortal danger, simultaneously allowing him to accumulate Holy Father values.
On the other hand, he would be left speculating about Dumbledore's thoughts, a constant challenge.
While pondering the pros and cons, Darren tried to reassure himself. Dumbledore was renowned for his wisdom, and his intentions were likely benevolent.
As long as Darren maintained his integrity, Dumbledore's assessments should work in his favor. The only exception was the blood of Voldemort, but he believed it wouldn't be easily detected.
Feeling a bit more at ease, Darren looked at Paige seriously and advised, "Paige, don't eavesdrop on other people's conversations in the future. It's impolite, not good, violates the privacy of others, and betrays their trust, you know?"
This wasn't merely about displaying his Father's manhood; it was a general lesson.
There were numerous talents in the wizarding world, but Darren doubted even famous wizards could detect house elves eavesdropping. This time, Dumbledore seemed unfazed, likely testing his qualities, so he didn't voice any objections. However, next time, if faced with a malicious wizard, he might have to intervene directly to protect Paige.
"Well, Darren's little master is always the best," Paggie nodded obediently, admiration evident in her gaze. To her, Darren was bright, kind, and lovely.
She believed that if he returned to the old house, the ancestors of the Potter family would also approve. However, she harbored a secret worry. Eavesdropping on Dumbledore's conversation, she had overheard that Harry, not Darren, was designated as the inheritor of the Potter family.
Darren's kind nature would prevent him from fighting for such privileges, and Paige pondered a solution for herself.
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