[95] The Brother's Keeper

Sirius wasn't sure if sending Hall back to Hogwarts with Regulus was the right choice. What if Regulus lost control? What if he harmed innocent students? What if he was exposed? These questions plunged Sirius into deep thought, his heart filled with conflict and unease.

Just as his mind raced, a strange figure appeared vaguely in the secret passage and slowly approached. Sirius immediately became alert, drawing his wand. "Who's there! Come out!"

"It's me. Come help!" Hall hurriedly beckoned.

Sirius realised the figure looked strange — Hall was carrying a long bundle. He quickly went forward and took it from Hall's shoulder. Upon receiving it, he was surprised to find the cloth looked very familiar — it was the same sheet from Regulus's bed. He remembered clearly that when he went home to move the cabinet, he saw this very sheet covering Regulus.

Sirius reached out and squeezed the bundle, confirming the person in his arms was indeed Regulus. He had assumed Hall would use a more sophisticated spell to control him before bringing him here. He hadn't expected him to be dragged here wrapped in just a sheet.

The secret passage was extremely narrow, barely wide enough for one person. Hall shook his arms, feeling tired.

Sirius, carrying Regulus, had already reached the exit.

"You go out through the door. I'll open it for you," Hall whispered to Harry, who was following closely behind.

Harry nodded, then remembered Hall couldn't see him. "Okay," he whispered back.

The two exited the secret passage, preparing to split up. Hall pretended to look around, opened the door, and peeked out. He closed the door only after hearing Harry say he was gone.

Hall knew his acting was mediocre, but when he turned around, his only audience member — Sirius — was intently watching Regulus on the floor, completely oblivious to his performance. Sirius even carefully unwrapped the sheet covering Regulus's Inferi face to prevent him from suffocating.

Hall seemed exasperated. "He's not breathing anymore. He won't feel suffocation."

"How do you plan to bring Regulus into the castle?" Sirius didn't look up, his hands still focused on adjusting Regulus's clothes.

"As soon as the Whomping Willow appears, the Headmaster will know Regulus's whereabouts." After all, they had thoroughly investigated the entire school to create the Marauder's Map. Similarly, he knew that the Headmaster of Hogwarts had immense control over the institution.

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"I asked Harry to bring the Invisibility Cloak." Hall paced back and forth in the cabin, silently calculating the time. Finally, he stopped. "Then you take Regulus back to your room, and I'll come find you later."

"When is Harry coming?" Sirius finally looked up at Hall, his gaze slightly displeased. He didn't want Harry to see Regulus in his current state — the Inferius was truly horrifying.

"Soon."

Hall and Harry agreed the Room of Requirement was their next destination.

Hall and Harry agreed that after leaving the room, they would go directly to the Room of Requirement, remove the Invisibility Cloak, and then return to the cabin under the Whomping Willow.

Judging by the time, it should be about now.

Seven or eight minutes later, there was a knock at the door. Sirius hurried to open it. Sure enough, Harry was standing outside.

"Hall said he wanted me to bring this," Harry said, handing the Invisibility Cloak to Sirius.

Because Sirius was tall and deliberately blocking the view, Harry couldn't see anything inside the cabin.

Sirius took the cloak. "It's delivered, Harry. You can go back now."

But Hall interrupted. "Harry, wait at the door."

This drew Sirius's displeasure. He frowned and glared at Hall.

Hall shrugged. "It'd be strange for him to walk past the Whomping Willow all by himself."

Sirius's expression softened slightly, but he was still displeased. Hall was getting a headache from Sirius's unpredictable changes of mood.

"Alright then, Harry, wait a moment at the door. We'll be right out." Sirius looked at Harry with guilt in his eyes for not being able to tell him the truth.

Hall rubbed his temples. Sirius's protectiveness toward Harry was too much. If Sirius knew Harry had already seen Regulus's Inferi face, wouldn't he be furious?

Sirius grabbed the cloak and quickly closed the wooden door, making sure there wasn't even a crack. Then he tightly wrapped the Inferius Regulus on the ground, especially the head, which was completely covered. He carefully placed him on his shoulder. Hall helped by using several Binding Charms to firmly bind Regulus to Sirius, so even if Sirius let go, Regulus wouldn't fall.

Hall led the way out of the cabin. The three of them set off together, chatting as they walked. Sirius tried to maintain a normal posture, but with the burden on his shoulder, his movements were exceptionally stiff. He struggled to walk while still trying to talk to Harry, attempting to appear natural.

Hall, walking behind them, almost burst out laughing. He finally understood why Harry had laughed so hard at his earlier antics. Sirius, with his shoulders slumped and gait uneven, moved with incredible stiffness, exactly like a zombie.

Hall quickly covered his mouth with his hand, trying hard to suppress his laughter.

Sirius walked ahead, mentally beating the brat behind him countless times, including Regulus on his shoulder. "He's an Inferius, and still so heavy. Doesn't he know how to lose some weight?" He tried hard to keep a straight face.

While Sirius wasn't looking, Harry turned back and gave Hall a restrained smile. Hall immediately understood — Harry was also enduring a lot.

It was an ordinary day. Nothing unexpected was expected.

But, against all expectations, something unexpected happened.

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