Hogwarts' Golden Glory

Sirius snorted but didn't reply.

Dumbledore took a step forward, his blue eyes lingering on Kane's face for a moment before turning to Igor.

"Fox asked me to give his regards to Iger. He said the stars tonight are special and good for resolving some...long-standing problems."

Kane understood the meaning behind Dumbledore's words.

This was not a chance encounter, nor was it just passing by.

They came specifically to find him.

Igor chirped softly, as if in response to Fox's greeting.

"A long-standing problem," Kane repeated. "You mean Regulus Black?"

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes. "Your information network is excellent."

"Just a guess," Kane said. "Mr. Black showed up at Hogwarts with a house-elf and came to see me late at night—not to catch up. The only thing that could make Sirius Black bow down is something about his brother."

Sirius finally spoke, his voice hoarse like sandpaper.

"Dumbledore said you might have a way. He said you know something... that others don't."

Kane looked at Sirius.

That face showed only a weariness and persistence left after being repeatedly crushed by time.

He had been searching for Regulus for almost a year. After leaving Azkaban, he went from being a wanted criminal to a free man, from having nothing to rebuilding his life—he had been searching and had not found him.

Kreacher didn't want to go back to that place, and more importantly, he said he no longer belonged to him, but only to Kane and Malfoy!

He truly didn't know what charm Kane Malfoy possessed that could make a house-elf so obedient!

Do you know where he is?

"I know," Kane said.

Sirius's eyes suddenly widened.

"Then why didn't you say so sooner?"

"Because you didn't ask." Kane's tone was calm.

All eyes turned to Kane at the same time.

Kreacher huddled behind Sirius, his huge eyes fixed on Kane.

Its body was trembling, but there was a strange expectation in its eyes.

"Kreacher," Kane said, looking down at the house-elf, "you know where Regulus is, and so do I. But you don't want to tell Mr. Black, do you?"

Kreacher's lips trembled, and he finally uttered a sound: "Kreacher... doesn't believe Master Black. Master Black only scolds Kreacher and despises him."

"Young Master Regulus is different. Young Master Regulus is good to Kreacher. Kreacher only tells Young Master Regulus."

"However, Malfoy is Kreacher's master. Malfoy is better than Black. Kreacher listens to Malfoy."

Sirius's face turned ashen.

"you--"

“Mr. Black,” Kane interrupted him, “I can take you to where Regulus’s body is.”

"But it's not free."

Sirius paused for a moment, then let out a cold laugh.

"You really are your father's son."

"Five thousand Galleons. Not much," Kane said.

Sirius gritted his teeth. "Deal."

"I'm not surprised you'd ask for money."

"After all, your surname is Malfoy."

Kane did not refute.

He turned to Kreacher.

"Kreacher, let's go find Regulus together. Let's bring him home. Would you like to?"

Tears welled up in Kreacher's large eyes.

"Young Master Malfoy...would you be willing to take Kreacher with you?"

"Kreacher wants to go. Kreacher has wanted to go for many, many years."

"But Kreacher dared not go alone. He feared he wouldn't return."

"Now that Master Malfoy is gone, Kreacher can rest assured."

It nodded vigorously.

"If Master Malfoy wishes to go, Kreacher can lead the way."

Kane wiped his face, which was noticed by Dumbledore.

"Youth is wonderful," Dumbledore said suddenly, a kind yet sly glint in his blue eyes. "So many young girls like you."

Kane looked at him but didn't reply.

"Miss Granger stood in the hallway for a long time tonight," Dumbledore continued. "Her heartbeat was so loud that Fawkes could hear it. And Miss Delacour—she's a good girl, intelligent and loyal."

Kane's lips twitched slightly. "I can't compare to you, Headmaster. It's said that Mr. Grindelwald treated you—"

"Ahem," Dumbledore coughed. "That was a long time ago."

"Is that so?" Kane's tone was calm. "But Mr. Grindelwald is still single. So are you. Perhaps—"

"Mr. Malfoy," Dumbledore's voice carried a hint of helplessness, "you should be concerned with bringing Regulus back, not my love life."

"I'm just stating the facts," Kane said, "just like you just stated the facts."

Sirius rolled his eyes. "Can't you two get down to business? My brother's lying somewhere out there, and you're here talking about your love lives?"

Dumbledore and Kane both looked at him.

"Mr. Black," Dumbledore said gently, "concern for the love lives of young people is one of the few pleasures of old age. Don't you think?"

"I don't think so," Sirius gritted his teeth. "I just think it's a waste of time."

Kreacher stood there, tears still streaming down his face, but his expression had changed—no longer one of fear and resistance, but of anticipation, as if he had finally seen the end of a long wait.

It looked at Kane, its huge eyes holding an almost pious light.

"Master Malfoy," Kreacher's voice was still high-pitched, but no longer trembling, "Kreacher is ready. When shall we leave?"

Kane looked out the window at the night sky.

The moon is already setting in the west; it will be dawn in a few hours.

He has classes, training, and competition preparations during the day.

But Regulus Black had been lying in darkness for over a decade.

"Every day we wait is another day of loneliness," Kane said. "Now."

Sirius stepped forward and grabbed Kane's arm.

"Are you crazy? Now? In the middle of the night? You still have tomorrow—"

"I have class tomorrow," Kane said, "so I need to get this sorted out tonight."

Sirius paused for a moment.

He looked at Kane, his grey eyes showing no hesitation.

He suddenly realized that this thirteen-year-old was serious.

It wasn't to show off or to please anyone; it was simply because I felt, "This needs to be done, so let's do it now."

"Do you know how dangerous that place is?" Sirius's voice lowered. "Voldemort's traps—dark magic—Infernals—those things—"

"I know," Kane said. "I've studied it."

Sirius fell silent.

He recalled how he had rummaged through Black's old house all these years, how he had stayed up all night researching in the Ministry of Magic's archives, and how he had been disappointed time and time again, unable to find any clues.

A thirteen-year-old child knows everything.

He should be happy.

But he only felt heartbroken.

"Where did you learn this from?" he asked, his voice a little hoarse.

"The library in the Black family mansion. Your brother's study has some notes about Voldemort's hidden items." Kane's tone was as calm as reading from a textbook. "Regulus was a very meticulous man. He recorded everything, except for the location."