[94] Behind the Mask

The goblin stared at Harry's face for a long time, unable to discern anything. The paper-white mask seemed to blend seamlessly with his skin, as if it were truly his original appearance.

"How much longer are you going to look? He was born looking like this. Can we hurry up?" Hall urged, feigning impatience.

The goblin couldn't see anything wrong. This person was someone the Malfoys had asked to retrieve something. Though something felt off, he ultimately said nothing and led the two onto the cart.

Retrieving the item went smoothly.

After entering the vault, Harry felt something drawing him in. The golden cup was placed in a very luxurious-looking cabinet against the wall. The location was actually quite obvious, but Sirius and Narcissa hadn't seen it, nor had Hall. They walked past the cabinet repeatedly, completely oblivious.

It wasn't until Harry pointed that Hall was surprised to find a cabinet right in front of him. It was probably under some kind of notice-me-not charm, like the Leaky Cauldron.

Hall carefully opened the cabinet and cast a simple detection spell to check if the item was cursed. He remembered Dumbledore being struck by the curse on the Gaunt family ring, his right hand almost completely paralysed. The check showed it was under a powerful protective spell — nothing more.

Hall put aside his worries and reached for the golden cup. He could clearly feel the unsettling aura emanating from it. After putting the cup in a bag, the two quickly left.

Before leaving Gringotts, Harry donned the Invisibility Cloak under the goblins' gaze. Hall wasn't worried about them telling the Malfoys — they wouldn't recognise who was beside him.

Narcissa sat elegantly in the dining room where Hall had eaten cake, waiting for them to emerge.

After Hall emerged, he sincerely thanked her. "Thank you, Madam." He returned the key.

"What are your plans now?" Hall inquired with concern about Narcissa's future.

The Malfoy family was now essentially tied to Dumbledore's cause. The appearance of the Golden Cup directly declared Malfoy's betrayal of You-Know-Who. After all, Bellatrix Lestrange was still in Azkaban, and the only one who could enter her vault was her own sister, Narcissa Malfoy. Until they completely eliminated the Dark Lord and his loyal Death Eaters, the Malfoy family remained in danger.

Hall couldn't change his family's choice, nor did he want to. Their decision to stand behind Dumbledore was their freedom. Hall respected their choice. Similarly, Hall firmly chose the path of protecting himself and his family.

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Narcissa didn't directly answer his question. "Kids who think so much will go bald." Her tone was still condescending as she reached out and ruffled Hall's red hair. "I used to not like red hair, but now it looks pretty good."

She looked at Hall with admiration, a smile playing on her lips. "We adults aren't useless. We don't need a child like you to worry about us."

As she spoke, she gracefully handed Hall a beautifully crafted cake box. "Please take this to Draco for me. It's his favourite little cake."

The goblin studied Harry's face, unable to read the mask beneath.

She had been carrying the box since she first appeared. Hall guessed it must have been brought from home by Mrs Malfoy. He carefully took it, assuring her, "Don't worry, I'll deliver it to Draco safely."

Narcissa nodded in satisfaction, then turned and left. Her skirt swayed gently with her steps, drawing a semi-circle, quite elegant. Watching her depart, Hall couldn't help but sigh — Draco still had a long way to go to become such an elegant adult.

Just then, he heard a soft murmur beside him — Harry's slightly envious voice. "Malfoy is so lucky to have such a wonderful mother."

Hall smiled but didn't speak. Some things couldn't be comforted without empathy. Besides, he knew Harry well and understood he was just a little envious, nothing more.

The two walked out, where Kreacher was waiting for them where they had come from.

Back at Black House.

"Wait." Hall tossed Harry the backpack containing the golden cup. Then he walked over to the Inferi version of Regulus, wrapped him securely in a sheet to ensure he couldn't move, and hoisted him onto his shoulder. The movement seemed remarkably effortless.

Even as an Inferius, Regulus was still a grown man over six feet tall. Hall carried him on his shoulder, Regulus's long legs dragging along the ground. The posture looked slightly comical.

"Pfft." Harry couldn't help but laugh. "Hall, I can help you carry him."

"No way. You're wearing an Invisibility Cloak. If you help me carry him and someone sees us, it'll turn into a horror story." Hall's mind conjured up that image, and he couldn't help but shudder.

Harry shook his head helplessly. "Alright, let's hurry up."

Hall, carrying Regulus, opened the Vanishing Cabinet door and went out the other end, followed by Harry.

Upon reaching Nurmengard, Hall hoisted Regulus onto his back and walked out of the castle with slightly awkward steps. As he left, he turned back and waved goodbye to Grindelwald, who was sitting by the study window.

Grindelwald looked at what Hall was carrying. Though it was wrapped tightly in cloth, its shape clearly indicated it was a person. A male at that.

Was this kid kidnapping someone? The thought flashed through his mind.

Regulus, in his Inferi form, had most of his legs dragging on the ground, adding considerable resistance for Hall. Though Hall was strong, this walking posture was quite uncomfortable. Fortunately, once they were outside Nurmengard, he could use the Portkey.

Meanwhile, Sirius was pacing nervously in his hut under the Whomping Willow. Though he often broke the rules at school, bringing an Inferius — a creature with immense destructive power — into Hogwarts was far beyond his past transgressions. Regardless of Dumbledore's reaction, would Regulus really recover if he came to Hogwarts?

Sirius wasn't sure if letting Hall act as he pleased was a good thing.

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