HP: It's a snake, not a badger.

Chapter 106 Entering the Cave

"Kreacher brought the box back and hid it in the house. He tried everything—spells, hammers, even gnawing with his teeth… but the box was enchanted by powerful magic, and Kreacher couldn't destroy it! Kreacher couldn't destroy it… something his young master risked his life for, Kreacher… he couldn't complete the task his young master entrusted to him, Kreacher was powerless…!"

A sharp, hoarse voice roared out all the sorrow that had been buried deep in her heart for so many years.

"Kreacher, what did Regulus tell you to hide? Show us, maybe we can destroy it. Kreacher wants to fulfill his last wish, doesn't he?"

"Really? Can you really grant the young master's wish?" Kreacher's tearful eyes revealed his longing. He wanted to fulfill his beloved young master's last wish, but he was afraid Dumbledore was lying to him, so he hesitated, wringing the towel in his hands. Dumbledore didn't speak, but simply extended his hand to him.

After a struggle, Kreacher led Dumbledore to his closet, where he had kept his belongings hidden for years, fearing theft. Kreacher took out a charm box wrapped in a towel, looking at Dumbledore with hope that he would destroy this evil thing.

"This is Slytherin's charm box? No wonder it disappeared for so many years. Regulus did a great thing; he hid the key to the war." Dumbledore said with some emotion. Wormtail, as a Gryffindor, betrayed his friends, while Regulus, as a Slytherin, was willing to give his life for justice. He was wrong to treat the houses differently all these years.

Sirius was a little confused; what was so important about Slytherin's trinket box? Thinking this, he asked him the same question. Dumbledore told him about the Horcruxes, how great Regulus's deeds were, how much trouble they could save, and even offered them a clue: the relics of the four founders were very likely Horcruxes.

"...Headmaster, for the sake of what Regulus did, may I go to the cave and bring him back? He's terrified of the dark; how scared he'll be alone at the bottom of the cold lake! I want to bring my brother back, I..." Sirius's eyes were filled with tears, his hoarse voice brimming with guilt as he pleaded with Dumbledore to let him go. Even if he died there, it wouldn't matter; that way, he could stay with Regulus, with his brother who would always look at him with adoration.

"Of course we'll go, but we need to bring Severus with us. No one else can handle that pool of poison except him. I suspect that only by drinking the poison can we see Regulus. Fox, please bring Severus with you. If Ellie is coming, bring him too. It might have a miraculous effect."

"Thank you, Headmaster, thank you." Sirius turned to Kreacher. "Kreacher, tell me what happened to Regulus after I left." He desperately wanted to know everything about Regulus; he missed his brother terribly.

Fawkes left the old house and returned to Hogwarts.

"Chirp~~"

It grabbed Severus's arm, preparing to forcibly move him, but Emeric reacted quickly, pouncing on Severus the instant he saw Fox. As expected, they were both taken away.

"Severus, you're here! Allie, you're here too! I need to talk to you both." Dumbledore stroked his beard cheerfully; he had spent a long time persuading Gellert to grow it a bit longer. As he spoke, he showed the two of them the trinket box.

"What do you want from me? Speak quickly. I'm only halfway through my experiment. Here's the snake venom for you. Take us back."

"Thank you, Severus, that's so thoughtful. There's one more small matter. We need to go to a cave with a pool inside. You need to detoxify the water in the pool so we can bring Regulus back."

"Regulus? Hasn't he disappeared for many years? Stop keeping me in suspense, or I'm leaving." Severus didn't understand Dumbledore's words at first. He wondered if the charm box was poisoned and had made Dumbledore stupid. He silently took two steps back, afraid that he would become stupid as well.

Dumbledore gave a general overview of the situation. After listening, Emeric and Severus fell silent, exchanged a glance, and agreed to his request. Even though he didn't get along with Sirius, Regulus was worthy of respect. They really didn't know how he could have such a brother.

"Kreacher, take us to that cave."

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"How do we get in?" Severus asked Dumbledore.

"Fresh blood needed to be poured onto the stone tablet at the entrance. Kreacher bled a lot, a lot."

Severus pushed Emeric behind him; neither of them would get involved. Aside from the fact that Emeric's blood was special, it even possessed a trace of life under the influence of the contract. Sirius, without waiting for them to speak, directly cut his wrist and poured his blood onto the stone tablet.

Once inside, they saw a vast, black lake with a small boat moored on the shore.

"Severus and I will go over there. Allie, you and Sirius stay here."

Dumbledore's plan was well-thought-out, but unfortunately, reality was completely different from what he had imagined. As soon as he and Severus stepped onto the ship, it began to sink, and they had no choice but to retreat.

"Could it be related to weight? Severus and I will try it."

"No, that's too dangerous. If all else fails, just drink poison. I'll go, I'm already old anyway."

"What are you thinking? Can't we just transport it a few more times? I'll transform into an Animagus and go with you first, then I'll bring the ship back and transport Severus over. That solves the problem. What's the point of drinking? I'll talk to Gellert when we get back."

Dumbledore was instantly gripped by a crisis; he fell silent, preparing to try Emeric's method. Whether by sheer luck or not, the ship truly didn't sink.

"I need time; this poison can't be cured all at once." Severus smelled the pool water and roughly determined what was in it, but there were still a few medicinal herbs that needed to be tested to confirm.

Before anyone could see, Emeric started acting up. He hadn't said he couldn't pour it out, so he took out a large basin, filled it with water, and poured it into the lake. Anyway, there wasn't anything good in the lake, so this poison shouldn't be able to revive the corpse, right?

Americh inadvertently lured out the Infernals. Based on the time of death, Regulus's body was positioned higher up, and the corpses crawled out of the water to attack the people in the center of the island.

"Emerick, look what you've done. Wait till we get back and you're done for." Severus threatened, then stood with Dumbledore to destroy the Infernal.

A body was pushed up by the Infernals; it was Regulus. Dumbledore recognized him immediately and pulled Regulus over to Emerick to take care of him, as this was their main target.

"Vulcan clears the way."

With no further worries, Dumbledore used the most powerful spell to set all the approaching Inferi ablaze. Emerick found it strange; the dead should be lifeless, but he sensed life in Regulus, who should have been dead, and even felt a familiar, almost familiar, life force, like that of a relative.

While he was struggling with his decision, Severus and Dumbledore used his unorthodox methods to obtain the fake trinket box, thus completing all their tasks and once again transporting the person back.