[71] Blood and Bonds

Hall didn't understand Sirius's pain. He grabbed Sirius's hand. Sirius stumbled, finally revealing his bloodshot eyes. Hall raised his wand and slashed Sirius's hand. Blood streamed down.

"I should have just let Sirius do it — he was going to get cut anyway."

Sirius froze, then felt the pain. "Ah!"

"Using blood as a medium to summon Regulus's body," Dumbledore said.

A clot of Sirius's blood gathered at the wand tip, hovering in the air, spinning eerily. Hall nodded. "Headmaster, after I summon Regulus, please help remove the remaining Inferi from the lake."

Dumbledore looked at the dense mass of corpses — innocent wizards and Muggles who had suffered at Voldemort's hands, even in death still driven by his dark magic. "It is what I should do."

Hall carried the blood bead to the lakeside. He took a deep breath. The challenge wasn't bringing Regulus out — it was controlling him without harm.

"Sirius, once I summon him, immediately use the Binding Charm."

Sirius stepped behind Hall, wand raised.

"Regulus Black's corpse — fly!"

Ripples appeared on the calm surface, growing larger. A few seconds later, a pale corpse flew out of the lake — cloudy white eyes, open mouth, piercing roar.

"This — this is Reg?" Sirius couldn't believe it, stepping back.

"Attack!" Hall shouted.

As Regulus emerged, the barrier shattered. A torrent of Inferi surged forth, crawling onto the ground. Regulus lunged at Hall.

Sirius, awakened by the shout, raised his wand and bound Regulus completely. He hoisted him onto his shoulder, called to Kreacher, and rushed toward the entrance. Hall followed.

Waves of heat swept over them from behind. Dumbledore was sending the corpses on their way.

They waited at the entrance. The heat was palpable even outside. Soon Dumbledore emerged.

"Let's go."

They Apparated back to Grimmauld Place. Hall still wasn't used to Apparition. The most comfortable transportation he'd used was still the Floo Network — it was just too troublesome to apply.

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Dumbledore left first. Before leaving, Hall showed him the object he'd found at the Burrow — Dumbledore didn't know what it was either and said he'd look into it.

After Dumbledore left, Hall wanted to go home. "Alright, I've brought Regulus back. Remember to sign a contract about your promise."

Regulus was placed in his own room — clean and tidy, cleaned daily by Kreacher.

Sirius grabbed Hall. "Dumbledore isn't here, so I'm asking you now — do you have a way to awaken Regulus?" He quickly added, "If you succeed, the Black family will be loyal to you, at your beck and call, as long as it doesn't violate morality or the law."

Hall raised an eyebrow. The temptation was incredibly strong — control of the Black family would make everything easier. He could bypass Malfoy and the Board of Governors. He could do business under the Black name without Ministry attention.

He sighed. "His soul is gone. How can I summon it? Where do I even begin?"

Sirius's gaze was strange — a mixture of sorrow and madness. "There must be a way, right!"

A possibility surfaced in Hall's mind — something he'd previously considered as a game. "If — if there's a way — but it's only theoretical."

Sirius gripped his arm. "What method? Tell me!"

"It's similar to the principle of a Time-Turner. We go back to before his death and bring him back."

Sirius froze — hope and despair flickering in his eyes. "Really?"

"I haven't tried this before. If it succeeds, reality will change — maybe for the better, maybe for the worse."

Hall understood the weight of the decision before him.

Hall knew what this decision meant, yet a deep longing lingered within him. It wasn't just about controlling the Black family — it was about the ancient array. A magic array capable of traversing time. The temptation was too great. And now he had the perfect reason to try, and a suitable candidate for the experiment.

"Even if there's only a sliver of a chance, I'm willing to try," Sirius said firmly. "Provided no one is harmed."

"Of course. I'm a good person."

Hall closed his eyes, the magic array from the Chamber flashing through his mind.

"How long will it take?" Sirius asked eagerly.

"I don't know — days, weeks, months, even years. I can't guarantee anything. But until then, please take care of this body."

Sirius nodded. Even if Hall hadn't asked, Kreacher would have cared for Regulus.

Hall asked for access to the Black family study — not just superficially. Sirius was silent for a few seconds but ultimately agreed.

The study had an entire wall of bookshelves. But Hall knew the Black family possessed more than that. Sirius sighed. He used to be entitled to these books but felt aversion towards them — now he had to rely on them to save someone.

Sirius waved his wand. The bookshelves twisted and unfolded. The study expanded more than tenfold. "You've been granted access. As for restricted books — that depends on your ability to see them."

Hall nodded, his attention focused. The Black family library was vast — in no way inferior to Hogwarts's. The books he could see were merely the tip of the iceberg — countless more were folded away in the space above.

"Looks like I'll be bothering you for a few days. Please have Kreacher bring my meals."

Hall walked to the nearest bookshelf, found a spot on the floor, and began reading.

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