Hogwarts: I Obtained the Paternal System

"I really like you. Could you give me a chance?"

Tonks said tearfully.

Harry saw Darren's stunned expression.

He seemed utterly unable to believe it.

Held in Tonks's embrace, he did not react for a long while.

It was not until Lupin and the others went over and pulled Tonks away

that he finally came back to his senses.

"I... I can't..."

He hurriedly tried to refuse. But Tonks was drunk. She wailed and made a scene.

She would not let it go.

Mrs. Weasley lost her temper.

She dragged Tonks outside.

They could all hear Tonks screaming hysterically, "We're about to fight. If I die then, I won't even have confessed!"

Then came Mrs. Weasley's comforting voice.

"Maybe we'll survive..."

"Do you think that's possible? How many people died back then? Fewer than one in ten survived... What war doesn't kill people?"

Harry felt his throat go dry.

He looked at Darren.

Darren's eyes were a little red. There was nothing they could do.

Wasn't that what war was?

"Go back and get some sleep!"

At last, Darren said hoarsely.

He walked out of the room...

After Darren helped Tonks sober up, she slipped away. She was terribly embarrassed.

She probably would not show up here again for quite a while.

But no one found it funny.

Because she had been telling the truth.

War.

People would die, one way or another.

Fortunately,

Christmas the next day dispelled the gloom Tonks had brought.

Darren woke up in a room filled with presents.

Harry had given him a bag of Galleons. Hermione and Ginny had given him two robes embroidered with handsome Azure Dragons.

They could even let out skyward roars from time to time.

Mrs. Weasley had given him another sweater, along with a large block of lactose.

Snape