Chapter 23 – Cho and Lupin
It was quarter until two on Saturday afternoon as Darren passed Gladrags and got closer to Madam Puddifoot's. He stopped at the intersection and almost didn't turn up the road, but his conscience made him do it. Even if he didn't tell her the truth, he at least had to tell her something to make her leave him alone. Even hate him if necessary, as long as it made her safe. That was all that mattered to him as far as Cho was concerned and as he got closer to the tea shop and saw her standing out front he realized just how much he cared about her and how hard what he had to do was going to be.
"Well, I thought for sure you wouldn't come," she said as he stood in front of her.
He said nothing but opened the door for her and led her to a seat near the back by the kitchen door. As they sat down the waitress came over and they both ordered hot tea and scones and when the woman had left them alone Cho folded her hands together and put them in her lap. Her raised eyebrow told him she was out of patience and that he had better start talking so he took a deep breath and began.
"Cho, I don't think we can see each other any more."
"Well, that is obvious isn't it?"
"What does that mean?" he asked in reply.
"Darren, we don't even talk anymore, for some reason. So, it doesn't take a genius to figure out that you are breaking up with me, does it?"
"No, I guess it doesn't," he admitted.
"So, what I want to know is why," she said.
The woman came back with heir tea and scones and he waited until she had left and was out of earshot before speaking again.
"Cho, I just think you would be better off without me around."
"What the hell does that mean Darren?"
"It means exactly what it sounds like it means. I'm not the right guy for you, and I don't think you are right for me either. It won't work out so we should just call it quits now, before it gets any further along."
She had a look of shock on her face as she sat and looked at him as he sipped his tea and tried to avoid her gaze. After a minute he saw her wipe a small tear from her eye.
"So, you came to this decision on your own then Darren?"
"Yes," he told her, which was the first truthful thing he had said to her that day. He felt horrible treating her this way, but the potential alternative was worse.
"So, that's that then, is it?"
"Yes."
Cho got up to leave and he took her hand. Surprisingly she didn't yank it away as he had thought she might.
"I'm sorry Cho."
"Sorry? What does that mean Darren? Sorry for what? Sorry for not fucking me more, not telling me sooner, or for using me like a fool so you could get what you wanted?"
He opened his mouth to respond, but she cut him off.
"NO! You shut up and listen to me asshole. I really fell in love with you, do you know that? I wanted to be with you after you finished school. I was going to tell you this after the Christmas holiday, but you wouldn't even look at me. I laid awake every night trying to convince myself that it was something I did, but I finally realized that I didn't do anything to you or anything to deserve this, so I hope you are happy."
He couldn't respond to this. He couldn't even look at her and instead looked out of the front window at the people walking up and down the street.
"Look at you Darren. Even now you won't look at me. So tell me the truth now, if you can because I don't believe a word of anything that you have told me today. Is there somebody else? Some girl at home that means more to you than I do? Somebody else that you love more than me?"
He looked her straight in the eyes before answering with a simple "Yes."
Cho grabbed her bag and mad to leave but turned back at the door. "You now what I thought about the other night when I was casting my Patronus Darren? Do you know what I thought of that made me happy?"
"What?" he said without looking at her.
"Being with you."
Twenty minutes later Darren was in the Hogshead and feeling pretty lousy. He had just purposely hurt a person he truly loved and cared for, and even though he had done it to protect her, he felt like the biggest jerk in the world. He took at seat in the far corner from the door at sat with is back to the small crowd of people. He was on his third butterbeer and contemplating trying to get the old barman to sell him some Old Ogden's Firewhisky when a voice asked "May I join you Darren?"
Darren looked up to see Professor Lupin standing next to him.
"Sure, have a set Professor," he said.
"Thanks," Professor Lupin said as he took his seat.
Daren sat without saying a word for a while and an awkward silence was between the two of them.
"Darren, are you okay?" Professor Lupin asked.
"I'm sorry?" Darren said as he came out of his daydream.
"I asked if you are okay. You seem to have a lot on your mind this year."
"I'm okay professor," he lied.
Professor Lupin cocked his head to one side and raised an eyebrow as if he questioned the truthfulness of Darren's answer. "Are you sure Darren?"
Darren let out a great sigh and his shoulders slumped. "No sir, I'm not, not really. Well, I don't know to tell the truth."
"Well, what's wrong then?"
"Cho Chang and I broke up today. And it, well, it hurts sir."
Professor Lupin nodded his head and smiled to himself. "Yes, it does Darren, losing someone that means a lot to you is always hard to deal with."
"Yeah, it is sir."
A moment passed without either speaking until Professor Lupin finally broke the silence.
"So, what else is bothering you Darren?"
Darren looked up and then quickly looked away before answering. 'Does he have a clue, or is he just genuinely concerned?' he thought to himself.
"What do you mean sir?"
"Darren, you have seemed, well, troubled all year, not like when I was teaching here before. I seem to remember that you and Blaise Zabini were best of friends then, but now you two avoid each other. Of course, the change from Slytherin to Gryffindor could explain it, but I think there is more that is bothering you then what you have told me, isn't there?"
Darren looked at the table for what seemed like an hour before answering. When he looked up, he was to the point of tears and he didn't think he could hold it in anymore.
"I haven't seen my father for more than two years professor," was all that he could say.
"Yes, Professor Dumbledore and I spoke a while back about that. Right after the start of the school year in fact."
Darren shrugged his shoulders as if to say 'And?'
Professor Dumbledore, as well as Professor McGonagall, is very worried about you Darren. All of your teachers are."
"Ha! I bet Snape is really worried about me!"
"Actually, Professor Snape is worried, even though he doesn't let on that he cares at all about any of the students, and probably never will admit it to be truthful about him."
"Professor Snape? Since when does he care about anybody but that little group of Slytherins he always caters to?" Darren asked vehemently.
Professor Lupin laughed quietly at Darren's accurate description of Professor Snape.
"Let me tell you something about Professor Snape Darren."
Lupin smiled and leaned closer to Darren as if being conspiratorial.
"Professor Snape wasn't always the person he portrays himself to be now. He was a lot like your friend Neville Longbottom; at least he was the Slytherin version. When he got to school, he was in the same year as I and my friends and he wasn't quite the evil genius all the students seem to think he is. I mean, he knew a lot about the Dark Arts, but he was picked on mercilessly as a student by a couple of older students in his own house."
Darren could not quite believe what Professor Lupin was telling him. Why would he tell a student these things? It was not at all like Lupin to tell anyone anything about, well, anything.
"Who were the students that picked on him?" Darren asked out of curiosity.
"Lucius Malfoy and Andrew Clarkson," Professor Lupin said evenly.
"My father was friends with Lucius Malfoy?" he asked incredulously.
"They were inseparable Darren."
Darren could not believe what he had just heard. He knew that his father was at school with Lucius Malfoy, they had to be because they were roughly the same age, but he had never tried to verify that they were in the same class together. Of course it made sense now. Not only did his grandfather hate his mother for the change she brought over her father, but Lucius Malfoy probably hated him as well for not following him in service to Lord Voldemort.
"You seem surprised at this Darren."
"Well, I never thought of my father as somebody that would be friends with a Malfoy, that's all."
"Well, we all have people from our past that never turned out to be quite how we thought they would," Lupin said in a distant voice.
"Sir?"
"A few years after I left Hogwarts, Lord Voldemort was trying to take over, and a lot of people thought your father would be, or was, one of his supporters, but he wasn't. Instead he met your mother and a profound change came over him. He changed completely and turned is back on what some pureblood wizards believed."
"My mother made him change his mind sir?"
"Well Darren, look at it this way. Perhaps your father realized that if he married a Muggle, his children would be the type of person that Lord Voldemort hated and was trying to destroy. Therefore he would be forced to have become an enemy of his own family. Look, the reason I am telling you this is because I am concerned about the fact that you and your father have had some sort of fight and that you may not be aware of the type of man he became."
"It wasn't a fight between us sir," Darren said without thinking, "and besides, I have a pretty good idea of what kind of man he was."
"Really? Then what was it?"
Darren was thinking quickly now, trying to cover up what he wanted to tell Professor Lupin. He was trying his best to not ask for help, to tell somebody, to not condemn his mother and Ellie to horrible death.
"It was with my grandfather sir. He and my father got into a fight about me, and my father got so mad he left and we haven't seen him for over two years."
Professor Lupin looked at him with a look of disbelief, but he did not say anything right away. But when he did Darren could tell that his weak lie did not convince him at all.
"So, your father and grandfather got into a fight about you, and then your father left his wife and children with his own father, who he did not get along with for years, and hasn't seen them in over two years?'
It even seemed preposterous to Darren. "Yes, sir," Darren said while not looking at Professor Lupin.
"Darren, I'm sorry, but I find that hard to believe. I had seen your father several times after I left school, and I was aware of the change in his life that happened due to your mother and how much he cared for her. I find it hard to believe that he would just abandon his family and never see them again."
"Well, he did sir, so can we leave it alone now?" Darren asked testily. He had screwed up already, and he didn't need any further prying from anyone, especially a teacher as sharp as Professor Lupin.
"Okay, that is fine Darren. Sorry I pried into your personal life. I'll leave you alone now and see you in class on Monday."
Lupin got up to leave but Darren stopped him. There was one thing he had wanted to know for a while.
"How did you get Brogan to trust you?" he blurted out loud.
"Excuse me?" professor Lupin said in surprise.
"Brogan. The Griffin. How did you get him to trust you when you were at school here? I have been curious ever since the day you were at the pen with me."
"Well, like I said before, a Griffin will only trust those that he or she believes to have a pure and honest heart. That doesn't mean I feel that way about myself, but it is that explanation that was in my old textbooks and I believe is in yours as well."
Professor Lupin looked at him with a look of curiosity on his face and seemed to want to ask him another question, but also seemed to be willing to let Darren ask it instead.
"There is one other thing about Brogan I am curious about sir?"
"Did he trust your father when he was a student here?"
"Yes, sir," Darren said in surprise.
"No Darren, I'm sorry he didn't. The other student he trusted was also one of my best friends, and he was also Harry's father."
As Darren sat staring in silence at him, Professor Lupin turned and walked away without another word.
'So, Lupin and Harry's father were friends. That means that Lupin has strong feeling for Harry, and it shows if you look at it the right way.' Darren thought to himself as he sat sipping at the last of his butterbeer.
'But how can I use that to my advantage? I probably can't, but it is good to know never the less,' he was thinking when a sharp pain shot through his head. A blinding light seemed to be coming from the back of his eyes, instead of from in front of them and he clutched the sides of his head in agony.
"Do it Darren, do it now, or face the consequences," a cold voice said to him. He jumped up and ran out of the bar at full speed and made his way back to the school at a dead run. Once inside the Entrance Hall, his head started to hurt less and the pain gradually receded but he could feel himself shaking with fear. He knew the voice. It was Lord Voldemort's and he was reminding him to do what he had been sent to do, and to do it soon, or else.
That night Darren could not get to sleep. He kept tossing and turning as the thoughts he had tried to keep out of his mind slipped back in. He could hear Neville snoring softly next to him and see Harry sleeping peacefully on the other side of the room. The others were asleep as well but Darren kept tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep. He looked at his watch by the moonlight falling through the window and saw that it was four in the morning. Two more hours and he would nave to get up. No sense in trying to sleep no…
He felt like he was somewhere else instead of at Hogwarts. It was dark and he was outside. The building looked familiar, and he could just make out that it was a large house with one window lit up from the inside. He could not stop himself from walking towards the door and when his hand involuntarily reached for the knob on the door, he saw the name Mortice Manor on the plaque next to the door. He was at his grandfather's estate, but he did not remember leaving the dormitory.
'What the hell is going on,' he was thinking when the door opened and he felt his body step inside. He walked to the study and there was the same green chair facing the fire, hiding the person that sat in it.
Darren saw a thin hand wave a wand and then heard the door slam shut behind him and he jumped in shock. He was with Voldemort, at his grandfather's estate, and he had no idea how he had gotten there.
"Stand where you are Darren," Voldemort's voice told him and Darren stopped in his tracks on a thick, soft rug tat he did not recognize as having been in the room before.
The chair then rose an inch off of the floor and rotated so that Darren could see him and the person on his lap. Voldemort had Ellie in his arms and she was fast asleep. Darren wanted to charge and grab her from him, but he knew he would never get more than two steps closer than he was then.
"Isn't she beautiful Darren? So young and innocent. I can almost see why Muggles and wizards want them, but not quite," Voldemort said softly. He was stroking Ellie's hair softly as he spoke and Darren thought he was going to be sick. He could feel his heart pumping furiously as he stood helpless in Lord Voldemort's presence.
"Do you know why I have brought you here tonight?" he asked as he continued to stroke Ellie's blonde hair.
"No, sir," Darren said unevenly.
"It is to remind you of your duty to me and your mission. You have not yet found out what it is that I need to know, nor have you exhausted all possible sources."
By "sources" Darren knew that he meant Neville and it made his blood run just a bit colder.
"Neville knows nothing sir; he is useless as a source of information."
"That may be true, but he is friends with Harry Potter, more so than you and he is to be used as a spy when you are not around. He may overhear something that could be useful, so you will carry out my instructions, tomorrow. Is that clear?"
Voldemort left no doubt that it was expected to be crystal clear, but Darren had to at least try to save Neville.
"I don't know if I can use the Imperius Curse at the school sir. I think some of the teachers are watching me closely, and my use of that spell be discovered."
Instead of responding to him, Darren heard a strange sound escape Voldemort's mouth. It sounded like a language, but none that Darren had ever heard before.
"Nasia hethmeint Nagini. Partocli basdorto," he said in a hissing voice, but Darren understood nothing he said.
Instead he heard a hiss come from behind him and when he turned, he saw a giant snake uncoil and slither across the floor towards Voldemort. The snake was huge. It was at least fifteen feet long and as thick as a full grown man. It slithered around Darren and sniffed at him before going to Voldemort and raising its huge head up as if it was waiting for a treat while Voldemort pointed his wand at Ellie and spoke.
"Wingardium Leviosa" he said and Ellie floated in mid-air.
Voldemort waved his wand and Ellie floated a bit higher, out of the snake's reach, but the snake started to raise itself up so as to reach her and Darren rushed forward to try to save her but the snake was too quick for him. It turned and wrapped its body around his; squeezing him tightly and then he felt the jaws on his throat. The fangs were against his skin, but they did not penetrate. The snake was giving him a warning not to interfere.
"Bring the woman to me," Voldemort said to the darkness and Darren could just make out a short fat and dark form leaving the room. A minute later it returned while pushing Darren's mother into the room.
When Jennifer Clarkson saw her daughter and son she lost all semblance of self-control. She started to scream hysterically and Voldemort silenced her with a wave of his wand. With a word of the strange language, the snake released Darren and took up its place in front of Voldemort who let Ellie continue to dangle only inches from death.
"Nagini prefers live food Darren. Shall I allow her to feed?"
Darren could not speak. He was too terrified to think, much less speak. He knew that he was in a hopeless situation, and he had no idea how to get out of it.
"I will give you a choice Darren. I will let you choose which one of them dies tonight. You will let one live, but the other will die."
Darren was sick on the floor. He vomited, and Voldemort laughed cruelly at his situation.
"You are weak Darren. Like your father. I gave him the chance to serve me once before, but he turned his back on me then. Now, you must choose."
Darren could not do it. Instead he unconsciously looked at his mother and started to cry.
"I see you have chosen then Darren. Give her to the Lethifold Wormtail."
Darren saw Peter Pettigrew step forward again from the darkness and grasp his mother from behind by the upper arms. Then, the thick rug that Darren had stood on moved like a wave across the floor. The edges rippled as they propelled the creature along and it moved in complete silence.
"My Lord, it will only feed on those that are sleeping," Wormtail said to his master.
"No Wormtail, it only prefers sleeping prey. It will do as I want,' Voldemort replied.
Darren watched with horror as the Lethifold moved quickly and covered his mother completely. Darren could see it start to tighten its grip on her as she struggled to fight it off and he tried to run to help her, but he was hit by a spell from Voldemort. His body went rigid and he fell to the floor, but he could still see what was going on. He tried in vain to move, but it was useless. The Lethifold was wrapped tightly now, smothering his mother and he was helpless, powerless to stop it. He could hear muffled screams coming from her as she cried out for help that was not coming. Her son was watching her die, and could do nothing to stop it. Voldemort was watching intently and he seemed to enjoy the show. From the darkness Darren could hear laughter that he recognized. It was Lucius Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange.
"Perhaps the boy would appreciate the chance to save her master," Darren heard Bellatrix say in amusement.
"Perhaps," and then Voldemort removed the spell from Darren, who jumped to his feet and pulled out his wand.
"Expecto Patronum!" he screamed, but nothing happened. Again he tried to cast the spell, but again it failed. The people in the room were laughing at his failure and Darren threw his wand down and ran to his mother's aid. He grabbed the Lethifold, but he could not get it loose from her body. He pulled at the creature's body, dug his nails into its flesh, but it was useless. He could hear her gasping for breath inside the creature and he pulled and tugged harder, but it was no use. He could not save her.
But then, something shocking happened. He heard Voldemort cast the Patronus Charm and a huge boom echoed in the room. A gigantic Patronus in the shape of a huge snake attacked the Lethifold, making it release his mother. Darren grabbed her and pulled her to him. She was gasping for air, her body shaking in absolute terror, and Darren looked up at Voldemort, who was smiling at him.
"That was a warning Darren. The next time, I will not stop it. I will let it have her, and you will watch the entire event, is that clear?"
Darren could only nod as he held his mother, hoping to God that she was okay. Tears were running down his face as he sat there. Voldemort then woke Ellie and allowed her to join them. He walked behind Ellie as she came over to her mother and brother. He stood above Darren, an imposing figure that would intimidate anyone.
"Do you fully understand now that I am not playing games Darren?" he asked.
Darren nodded and looked back at the remnants of his family. He had to do it, no matter what happened to him.
"Good, then go back to Hogwarts, boy."
"…wake up Darren! Wake up!"
"Darren, what is happening?"
"Somebody get Professor McGonagall," he could hear between the screams that filled his ears. Then he opened his eyes and saw five faces looking down on him. He was on the floor, the bed sheets thrown all over the room. His hands were clenched so tightly that he could feel his nails digging into his palms. The five boys had looks of shock and fear on their faces, and he tried to compose himself quickly.
"Darren, are you okay," Neville asked.
"You were thrashing around like a maniac Darren, we thought you were having a seizure or something," Ron told him.
Darren ignored their questions and stood up.
"I'm going to go get Professor McGonagall," Neville said, but Darren grabbed his arm to stop him.
"No Neville, I'm fine. It was just a bad dream, that's all."
"Are you sure Darren?" Harry asked with obvious concern.
Darren sat down on the bed before answering. They hadn't been kidding. His bed was torn apart, the covers and pillow on the other side of the room, and he had been on the floor. He rubbed his eyes and said, "Yes Harry, I'm sure."
Harry looked at him intently for a few seconds and then handed him his pillow. "Well, lets help you get this back together, and then we can all get back to sleep," he said.
"Ron pointed his wand at the broken headboard and said "Reparo!" and the wood fused itself back into one piece. A few minutes later and Darren was back in the bed, unable to sleep because his mind and pulse were racing out of control. It had taken every ounce of self control to keep calm when he had woken up, but he knew it had been no dream. He had been at the family estate, and the things he had seen had happened, eh had not imagined any of it. Voldemort had brought him there somehow because he wanted to make his point, which he had and for an hour Darren laid there pretending to be asleep as the others in the room gradually drifted off once more. Darren lay still and looked every so often at Neville, wondering what Neville had done to deserve that so many bad things happened to him. First, his parents, then everything that happened at school, and now what Darren had to do, tomorrow. Eventually Darren rolled over and tried to go back to sleep, unaware that Harry had been watching for the last hour from the darkness across the room.