Chapter 448: The Cavern
Chapter 448: The Cavern
The headmaster of Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore, seemed to have been plucked from his slumber by Fawkes, as he appeared somewhat dazed upon his arrival. A chilly breeze carrying the scent of the sea caused the centenarian to shiver, but it also seemed to bring him back to his senses.
"Oh, Kyle, and Sirius... What has happened? Why did you suddenly summon Fawkes?"
"Horcruxes, Professor," Kyle said bluntly. "We've found Voldemort's horcrux."
Dumbledore visibly paled for a moment, his expression akin to witnessing Severus Snape, clad in a formal gown, dancing with a giant—an equally unbelievable sight.
He, too, had searched for clues about horcruxes but had come up empty-handed. Yet, after merely a nap, Kyle had managed to locate one? Dumbledore couldn't shake the feeling of surrealism.
"Time is of the essence, I'll explain later..." Kyle said as he turned to Kreacher. "Lead the way, please."
The little elf promptly walked into the cave, followed closely by Sirius.
Kyle brought up the rear, recounting the events that had transpired while soothing Fawkes, who kept pecking at his hair.
It wasn't a complicated story, and by the time they reached the middle of the cavern, he had finished his tale.
Dumbledore's expression grew increasingly grave.
A brave and kind individual had strayed from the path but found his way back. Upon recognizing his mistakes, he chose to sacrifice himself to oppose Voldemort and protect others... Even Dumbledore admired the courage Regulus had displayed.
"I believe he deserves one of Fawkes' precious tail feathers, even if it only brings him home a few hours earlier... It would be worth it." Kyle added.
Dumbledore remained silent, merely nodding gently.
Meanwhile, Fawkes refrained from pecking at Kyle's hair any further, and they silently approached Kreacher, stopping before a section of the cave wall.
"It's here!" Kreacher exclaimed excitedly, brandishing a dining knife.
"What are you doing?" Sirius asked.
"I think," Dumbledore interjected, "this place likely requires blood to open."
Kreacher nodded; that was how he had done it before.
"How crude." Dumbledore's tone carried a hint of disdain, even disappointment. "He wants his opponents to weaken themselves before entering. Once again, Voldemort fails to comprehend that there are things far more terrifying than physical harm."
Kreacher didn't understand his words. He only knew that he was about to see Master Regulus and was delighted at the prospect, ready to cut his arm with the dagger.
However, the next second, the dining knife was snatched away.
"Let me do it," Sirius said, rolling up his sleeve while holding the knife. He felt that Regulus wouldn't have wanted the little elf to shed blood to open the door, so he wouldn't do it either.
But just as he was about to act, the knife was taken from him as well.
Kyle casually pocketed the hefty silver dining knife and took out a deep red bottle, addressing Sirius.
"Remember, you owe me three hundred galleons."
Kyle uncorked the bottle, and a pungent, bloody smell instantly permeated the small cave.
Dumbledore's lips twitched, suppressing a smile.
Voldemort probably never imagined that someone would bring a large amount of dragon blood with them on a trip like this.
Indeed, this magical blood was most suitable...
Kyle tossed the bottle aside.
Before them lay a bizarre scene. They stood on the shore of a vast, boundless black lake. The cave they were in was also exceptionally high, and when they looked up, they couldn't see its peak.
Far in the distance, at what seemed to be the center of the lake, a vague, greenish light flickered.
Kreacher, familiar with the surroundings, skillfully ran along the lakeshore, his footsteps echoing off the narrow rocks lining the lake.
Soon, he stopped, surveyed his surroundings, and then slowly reached out, waving his hand through the air as if trying to find and grasp something invisible.
However, perhaps due to his short stature, he searched for a long while to no avail.
On the other hand, Dumbledore's hand, suspended in mid-air, had actually grasped something.
He took out his wand and tapped it against his knuckles.
Immediately, a thick, green copper chain shot out from the lake, surging towards Dumbledore's tightly clenched fist. The chain pulled something out from the pitch-black depths, and Sirius looked on in astonishment as the bow of a small boat ghostly emerged from the lake, floating towards them without causing even a ripple.
"This is..."
"I believe Voldemort would have wanted a way to smoothly cross the lake in case he needed to visit or retrieve his Horcrux, without angering the creatures he placed within," Dumbledore explained.
The boat docked.
Almost simultaneously, Kreacher and Sirius jumped aboard, followed by Dumbledore.
The boat was exceedingly small, and with two adults and a house-elf on board, only a palm-sized space remained.
"Kyle, you should stay here. Fawkes will keep you company," Dumbledore suggested. "Also, Voldemort has likely enchanted this boat. If it carries too much magical power, it will sink into the lake."
"Indeed," Sirius nodded vigorously. "And this boat is too small. Even a regular boat couldn't bear the weight of three people."
Kyle suspected that they were deliberately trying to keep him from going, but he had no proof.
Because what they said was true; as soon as Dumbledore stepped on, the boat sank noticeably, and now the edge was barely an inch above the lake's surface. There was no way another person could fit, not even a cat.
But...
"Gentlemen," Kyle asked, his expression somewhat odd. "Do you remember the primary purpose of our trip here?"
"Of course, to find Regulus!" Sirius blurted out.
"In that case, why are you getting on the boat?" Kyle looked at the darkening lake water. "I think the water here has probably been turned into another form of potion by Voldemort. Any creature dragged into it will gradually be transformed into an Inferius over time. So, wouldn't it be the same if we fought here? Why must we go to the middle of the lake?
Although Regulus was pulled in from there, who can guarantee that he will still be in the same place?"
...
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
