[70] The Dark Passage

The three of them and the elf stood on a huge rock in the sea. The sky was dark, covered with thick clouds. Waves rolled like a grey curtain, churning foam. The salty smell of the sea washed over their faces.

Kreacher excitedly pointed at a cliff face in the distance. "There it is! Master Regulus brought Kreacher here."

A huge cave in the cliff face, surrounded by an eerie atmosphere. Kreacher couldn't wait. Dumbledore frowned slightly — a sense of foreboding.

They Apparated into the cave. Pitch black — you couldn't see your hand in front of your face.

Dumbledore sensed a slight fluctuation and walked to a stone wall. "Someone cast a spell here."

"Kreacher, how do we get in?" Sirius asked.

Kreacher trembled. "Kreacher... Kreacher..." He couldn't speak clearly.

"Sirius, don't force it." Dumbledore examined the wall. Then he raised his wand and cut a gash in his own hand.

"Dumbledore!" Sirius shouted.

"Headmaster!" Hall exclaimed, quickly pulling out a healing potion.

"This is the price we must pay." Dumbledore smeared his blood on the stone wall. "Only by weakening one's own power can one enter here." His tone held a hint of disdain for those who set the trap.

The wall opened, revealing a narrow passage.

Hall poured the healing potion onto Dumbledore's hand. It healed quickly. Dumbledore noticed even this slight change — he had exceptional emotional control. "This potion is quite interesting. If I buy it, is there a discount?"

Hall smiled. "Headmaster, it's a small business. No discounts — except for Aurors."

In the pitch-black cave, Dumbledore's tone sounded relaxed and cheerful, dispelling any fear from the blood-cutting moment.

Hall followed behind Dumbledore, ahead of Sirius. He kept his head down, his mood not particularly relaxed. This experience had made him realise his understanding of Dark Magic was incomplete. Voldemort's traps must have a way to be broken — a way that wouldn't harm the person entering. Hogwarts had books on Dark Magic, but they were basic. The Malfoy library had few as well — probably hidden away.

He'd have to find a reason to visit the Black family's study later.

Passing through the passage, a vast lake opened before them.

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Passing through the passage, the path abruptly ended at a vast lake. A bizarre scene unfolded before Hall and his companions. They stood on the shore of a black lake, its surface seemingly endless, the opposite shore invisible. The cave was very high — even looking up, the ceiling was lost in darkness.

Far away, in the centre of the lake, a hazy emerald-green light shimmered, reflected in the still water. Apart from the green light and the glow of two wands, there was only dense, impenetrable darkness. The darkness here seemed denser and heavier than usual.

"A lake?" Sirius frowned. He could sense a restriction on Apparition.

"No need to go over," Hall said.

He drew his wand and waved it. "Lumos Maxima." The entire cave was illuminated.

Hall had secretly brought his wand. Dumbledore glanced at him but said nothing. Hall's act of casting the spell before Dumbledore was impulsive — but he didn't want to be treated like a child anymore, protected by adults. He could wield a wand and fight alongside them. He only unleashed thirty percent of his power.

The bright cave revealed the vastness of the lake — and the countless layers of corpses lying at the bottom. The platform in the middle of the lake was completely overlooked. All eyes were fixed on the lakebed.

"Inferi," Dumbledore murmured.

The corpses were unusual. Normally, submerged corpses would be swollen, but these were all emaciated, lying motionless — yet giving the impression they might awaken at any moment.

A chill rose from their feet, spreading through their bodies. Hall felt as if countless eyes were watching from the bottom. The faces of the corpses were unrecognisable — pale, white, cloudy eyes staring out. The air was thick with the stench of death.

"Why don't we move forward?" Sirius asked with a forced smile. He didn't want to think about the possibility. He dared not look at the bottom anymore.

"Master Regulus! Master Regulus!" Kreacher lay on the shore, looking in a certain direction and calling out.

"Didn't you guess?" Hall shattered Sirius's illusions.

Sirius's smile vanished. "You said you'd bring him back! You said you'd bring Regulus back!" He grabbed Hall by the collar and slammed him against the stone wall.

"Sirius!" Dumbledore roared.

"Harry said you could do anything you took on! You liar!" Sirius cursed, tears streaming down his face.

Hall sighed. "I said I would bring Regulus back. You know the chances of him being alive are extremely slim. Why deceive yourself?"

"But what if!" Sirius was unwilling to give up. "You said you would bring Reg home! You have to do it!"

Dumbledore spoke gently. "The Inferi are corpses resurrected by dark magic. Your brother's soul hasn't been there for a long time."

Sirius's lips trembled. He looked at Dumbledore, then at Hall. Tears streamed down his face. He set Hall down and straightened his clothes. "Hall, do you have a way? If you could find Reg — even the entire Black family would be yours."

Sirius crouched down, burying his face in his hands. His memories of Reg were from a distant past. He hadn't had a proper conversation with Reg since starting Hogwarts. After that, his friends became James, Lupin, and Pettigrew. At school, he was almost completely ignored. At home, he often hid alone. When he came out, it was always to fight with his parents. He'd fled Grimmauld Place, a place he loathed. Reg was no longer by his side.

Dumbledore and Hall exchanged a glance, giving Sirius space to grieve. They walked to the lakeside.

"Child, how do you intend to find Regulus?" Dumbledore asked.

"With the blood of a loved one."

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