Hogwarts: This professor is too Muggle.

Chapter 359 The Kind Death Eater
“One day, Master Regulus came to visit Kreacher in the kitchen. Master Regulus was so kind to everyone, even the lowly house-elves. Master Regulus told me that the Dark Lord needed a house-elf, and Kreacher was just the right person for the job.”

"Young Master Regulus contributed Kreacher, which is an honor, Young Master Regulus said, it is an honor for himself and for Kreacher."

"Kreacher must do everything the Dark Lord wants him to do, and then go home."

"Kreacher arrived at the Dark Lord's place. The Dark Lord did not tell Kreacher what to do, but instead took him to a cave by the sea, made him drink a potion that made him feel unwell, watched him throw a locket into an empty basin, refill it with the potion, and then left Kreacher on the island."

“Kreacher needed water, so he climbed to the edge of the island to drink from the lake, where many dead hands reached out, trying to drag him down.”

“It seems like Kreacher will stay there forever, but Kreacher always remembers that Master Regulus told him to come home.”

……

Early morning at Blake's old house.

Melvin woke up in his guest room, where the soft, comfortable down comforter had provided him with a good night's sleep. This gave him a new perspective on the wizard's old house. Although it looked dilapidated and eerie, and emphasized the style and pomp of a pure-blood family, the furniture and furnishings that he used personally were still designed with comfort in mind.

After groping around to use the old house's bathroom and washing up, they went downstairs. Sure enough, there was no breakfast. Sirius and Kreacher sat facing each other, their bloodshot eyes staring at each other, looking like they hadn't slept all night.

Last night, in front of the family tree tapestry, I listened to Kreacher recount his experiences from thirteen years ago. Sirius was only concerned about the whereabouts of his brother Regulus and didn't care much about the Horcruxes Voldemort had hidden. He kept asking about the location of the cave, the details of the story, and even ordered Kreacher to take him back to that cave.

But Kreacher was sobbing uncontrollably, agitated, and disoriented. Considering the safety concerns at night, Melvin suggested that the two calm down for the night and take action at dawn.

There was a locket on the table with the Slytherin logo printed on it.

The heavy, octagonal gold box, smaller than the palm of an adult wizard, had a somewhat dull gold finish after being washed by thousands of years, adding an ancient and heavy feel to the locket. It was adorned with a snake-shaped mark made of tiny emeralds, tightly closed, exuding a faint chill, as if there was some kind of faint magical pulsation.

Melvin was no stranger to this; Voldemort had created five Horcruxes, all of which were now in Melvin's hands: his student diary, the Gaunt ring he acquired after discovering his origins at age sixteen, the tiara he found by deceiving Helena, and the golden cup and locket he obtained by murdering Mrs. Smith.

Melvin discovered that in addition to the magic attached to Voldemort's remnant soul, the locket also contained another, even more profound, magical power.

This is an alchemical artifact. Before Voldemort transformed it into a Horcrux, ancient runes were engraved on its hidden inner walls, seemingly a profound and meticulous study of the soul by Slytherin, the purpose of which is unknown.

The only certainty is that the alchemy on the locket involves dark magic, and the faint magical pulsation is disturbing the emotions of the surrounding wizards.

Since the locket wasn't worn directly around their necks, its influence was very weak. However, the master and servant, who sat in front of the locket all night, still showed some unusual behavior. Melvin could keenly sense some emotional distortion. Not only did they not calm down, but the urgency and grief in their eyes became even stronger.

“Kreacher, tell me about that cave again,” Sirius’s voice was hoarse.

Kreacher spoke in a similarly hoarse voice: "It's a cave by the sea, inside which is a black lake, and in the center of the lake is a small island. On the island sits a stone basin filled with magic potions..."

At first, it was all about location and environment descriptions, with trivial details and no coherence. As Melvin listened, he compared it with his memories from his previous life. When Kreacher mentioned those potions, his thin body began to tremble, and he kept shaking his head, a clear fear showing in his eyes.

"Kreacher drank that potion and saw many terrifying sights while he was drinking it. It felt like his internal organs were on fire. Kreacher called out to Master Regulus and the mistress, begging the Dark Lord to save him. He shouted until his throat was hoarse. Kreacher wanted to extinguish the fire in his stomach, so he could only crawl towards the lake."

Although Melvin and Sirius did not witness it firsthand, they could clearly sense the anxiety and fear emanating from Kreacher. Then Kreacher recounted the second exploration of the cave, during which Regulus drank poison and remained forever at the bottom of the lake filled with Infernals.

This Regulus Black is clearly not the typical Death Eater.

“Kreacher should have noticed earlier. Kreacher shouldn’t have taken him to that cave. Young Master Regulus was acting strangely lately, not like usual. Kreacher could tell he was very troubled…”

The elderly elf trembled even more violently, its bloodshot eyes no longer able to shed tears, its tear tracks dried on its face, yet its breathing was still tinged with sobs.

Melvin waved his wand, drawing back the tightly drawn curtains. Summer sunlight streamed in through the window, illuminating the master and servant. The locket's magic retreated like a nocturnal snake back to its lair. Kreacher, feeling the warmth, gradually calmed down.

Sirius didn't rush to say anything, but instead recalled many things from the years before he left the old house. The most memorable thing was his complete break with his parents, and countless smaller arguments. From the moment he was sorted into Gryffindor, his parents were completely disappointed in him.

He had tried to study hard and earn praise from professors, returning to his old house with good grades, but he often failed to gain praise from his parents and suffered insults and blame for hanging out with Muggle-born people.

During this period, his relationship with Regulus also gradually began to change.

From initially laughing and playing together to gradually growing distant and cold, from discussing Quidditch and Goblin together to becoming indifferent and silent, the two brothers also became estranged due to their parents' differential treatment. Sirius completely abandoned the pure-blood concept believed in by the Black family and came into contact with a lot of Muggle things.

“Brother, I received my Hogwarts acceptance letter yesterday. Let’s ride in the same carriage and go to school together.”

Which college do you want to go to?

"S...Lytling."

"I'm going with my friend, so you can find a seat yourself."

Sirius, expressionless, sat in front of the wardrobe packing his luggage. Through the dressing mirror, he saw his younger brother leave dejectedly. When the Sorting Ceremony began, Regulus was admitted to Slytherin as he wished. The pure-blooded students applauded and cheered, and the two looked at each other across the house table.

"Brother, I'm planning to join the Quidditch team. Can you help me train?"

“I’m from Gryffindor, we’re rivals.”

During the summer vacation when he was sixteen, after an argument, Sirius stormed into his bedroom, haphazardly stuffing his clothes and hat into his suitcase. He could no longer tolerate the eerie and gloomy decor of the old house, nor the extreme and stubborn witch living there.

Before leaving, the thin younger brother stood in the hallway and said softly:

"Brother, I've joined the Death Eaters."

"..."

Sirius's thoughts returned to reality, and he finally heard Kreacher's concluding remarks.

"He ordered Kreacher to leave and ignore him. He told Kreacher to go home and not to tell his mistress what he had done, but he had to destroy the locket. Then he drank... drank the potion dry."

The house-elf sobbed, almost fainting: "Kreacher replaced the locket, and I just watched... Master Regulus was dragged underwater, and then..."

The elderly elf could barely stay upright by holding onto the table, panting, trembling all over, with green mucus around his nose and bloodshot, red eyes that could no longer seep out.

Sirius Black kept his head down, staring at the locket, his face expressionless. After a moment of silence, he finally spoke softly:
"Melvin, I need to ask you for a favor. You can have anything you want."

Melvin vaguely guessed something: "You say it."

"Bring Regulus back to me and let him go home."

Melvin wasn't surprised: "Let's rest for a while. I'll inform Dumbledore immediately, and we'll set off once he arrives."

Sirius nodded, slowly closed his eyes, and wet streaks of water ran down his cheeks.

(End of this chapter)