Chapter 489: Regulus Arcturus Black
Chapter 489: Regulus Arcturus Black
"Kreacher is always working, sir", the old House-Elf said, holding a broom and sweeping the floor lightly. His eyes, however, remained fixed on Ivan. He pouted and muttered in a voice just loud enough for Ivan to hear.
"That hateful little brat is trying to get rid of Kreacher so he can steal something. He won't succeed!"
Ivan's lips twitched. He now understood how Sirius Black must have felt. If he had a House-Elf like Kreacher, he would have sealed its mouth shut long ago!
The old House-Elf noticed Ivan's expression change and glared at him with disdain, muttering under his breath.
"Sir must be thinking about how to get rid of Kreacher. Kreacher saw it coming; he's so evil. But it doesn't matter. Kreacher has lived long enough and can now accompany Mistress. It's just a shame to see what the brat will do to this Manor. Poor thing."
"Shut up! Can't you stop filling your head with conspiracy theories? No one is trying to kill you!" Ivan rolled his eyes and cut off Kreacher's rambling.
"Also, if you don't want people to hear what you're saying, don't speak so loudly! Keep it to yourself, got it?"
Ivan strongly suspected that Kreacher's whispered insults were deliberately aimed at him. How else would they always be heard so clearly?
Kreacher pouted, his long, pointed ears drooping, but he didn't say anything more and didn't leave.
Ivan shook his head, at a loss for what to do with the House-Elf.
In fact, the quickest way to find the exact location of the Slytherin Locket would be to ask Kreacher directly. However, this House-Elf clearly didn't trust him and would never reveal the Locket's whereabouts. He might even think Ivan was after the Locket and hide it, making things more difficult.
Just as Ivan was feeling frustrated, a wild, bone-chilling scream echoed from outside.
"Get out, you filthy bug, you dirty scoundrel! Get out of this Manor! How dare you defile the noble Black Family Manor!"
The high-pitched female voice shattered the tranquility of the Manor. Kreacher, who was guarding the door, turned pale and snapped his fingers, disappearing on the spot.
Ivan furrowed his brow and immediately walked out of the room, following the sound. In a corridor, he saw Lupin standing awkwardly in front of a half-open Velvet Curtain, looking uncertain.
Behind the curtain, a life-sized portrait of an old woman in a Black hat was screaming and cursing nonstop.
Upon seeing Ivan, the old woman's face twisted into a grotesque expression. "Oh, heavens! Another one! Who allowed you in here? This is the ancestral home of the Black Family! Get out! All of you, get out!"
Her shrill screams were so loud that even with his hands covering his ears, Ivan could still hear them.
The dirty House-Elf Kreacher stood at the corner, muttering to himself.
However, the screaming didn't last long because Sirius Black came rushing over.
"Shut up, you old hag! You're the one who should get out! If you keep this up, I'll throw you into the fireplace!" Sirius shouted, advancing a few steps to pull the curtain shut.
But this thing seemed to be under a spell, and no matter how hard he tried, it wouldn't budge. The old woman in the portrait kept scolding louder and louder.
"You despicable Disgraced Heir, the shame of the family, a cursed offspring! How dare you have the nerve to come back!"
"Lupin, Harry, Ivan, come over and help me!" Sirius Black couldn't move it alone, so he had to ask for help from Ivan and the others. Finally, with everyone's effort, they managed to pull the Velvet Curtain aside.
When the shrill screams finally stopped, everyone present heaved a sigh of relief.
"Sorry, Sirius, I didn't know this thing was here. I just wanted to clean the curtain", Lupin said apologetically.
"No, it's not your fault! I should have reminded you about it", Sirius shook his head.
"Sirius, who was that person in the portrait?" Harry asked curiously.
"That was my mother! A stubborn fanatic, a staunch pure-blood supremacist who despised all non-pure-blood Wizards and wouldn't allow them to step foot in the house! Of course, besides my uncle and that spineless brother, the rest of the Black Family had similar issues!"
Sirius said angrily, then looked at the curtain again. "Anyway, I'll find a time to get rid of this portrait. It should end up in the fireplace!"
The hidden Kreacher muttered softly from the side. "Ungrateful Disgraced Heir, poor Mistress is already dead, and he still plans to destroy her portrait. But they won't succeed; no one can move that painting."
"If you say another word, I'll tear your mouth apart!" Sirius turned to look at the old House-Elf and threatened him angrily.
But Kreacher didn't care. As a House-Elf, punishment was a daily occurrence, and having his mouth torn didn't seem like a big deal, so he continued to murmur.
"Mistress was strict, Bellatrix was clever, Regulus was brave, and the others were all good! Not like someone else at all."
Sirius heard Kreacher's words and laughed disdainfully.
"I'll admit that mother was strict, and that my cousin was cunning, but you actually say Regulus was brave?"
As he spoke, Sirius seemed to remember something and continued sarcastically.
"Oh, right! You're correct, he was very brave, brave enough to join the Dark Lord and become a Death Eater. I never thought he had the guts for it!
I bet that old hag was thrilled, because her constant teachings finally pushed her little son into the fire!"
Sirius's voice was sharp, but he didn't notice that Kreacher was glaring at him angrily.
Harry, who had been listening, was shocked and quickly asked.
"Who is Regulus? You said he joined Voldemort?"
Sirius gave a bitter laugh, sighed, and said, "Regulus was my brother, a cowardly fool!"
(End of Chapter)
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