Hogwarts' Golden Glory

"Then let's set off."

Dumbledore stood in the middle of the corridor, his deep purple robes gleaming silver in the moonlight.

He reached out and grasped Sirius's arm.

Sirius was pale and his lips were pressed into a thin line, but he did not refuse.

Kane stepped forward, placing one hand on Dumbledore's shoulder and the other on Kreacher's trembling hand.

"Hurry up," Dumbledore said.

A flash of white light. The three people and a house-elf disappeared from the corridor.

After the white light dissipated, they stood on a desolate, rocky coastline.

The sea breeze was salty and briny, carrying the smell of rotting seaweed and some deeper, ominous odor. The sky was a deep black, without stars or a moon, only thick clouds pressing down like lead weights overhead.

Beneath my feet were black reefs, slippery and covered in dark green moss. In the distance came the sound of waves crashing against the rocks, deep and rhythmic, like the heartbeat of some giant beast.

"This is it." Kreacher's voice was high-pitched and trembling. "The place where Master Regulus brought me. The place where the Dark Lord hid his things."

Dumbledore looked around, a hint of surprise flashing in his blue eyes.

"Tom has chosen a good spot," he said. "The magical traces here are ancient, older than he himself."

He walked to the edge of the cliff and looked down at the dark sea below.

Sirius followed behind him, his face pale.

Kane carried Kreacher and walked at the very back.

The fluorescent light flickered.

Dumbledore's wand lit up, illuminating a crack in the cliff.

The dark seawater swirled within.

"Let's go," said Dumbledore.

He gently slid into the seawater and swam toward the crevice.

Sirius followed behind him, gritting his teeth.

Kane switched Klee to a carrying position and jumped into the water as well.

The seawater was extremely cold.

Kane cast a spell to warm the surroundings.

This opponent has an advantage over Kane and Kreacher because they are not tall enough.

They went even deeper.

They arrived at a large cave.

We've finally made it out of the sea!

With a single spell, everyone's clothes dried.

But Kane sensed that something was wrong.

There are restrictions on his magic here!

"Be careful!"

Kane reminded him.

"There's a trap Voldemort has set here!"

Dumbledore stared at the wall!

Kreacher spoke up at this moment.

"You need blood to get through this place."

Upon hearing Kreacher speak, Dumbledore rolled up his sleeves.

"Professor," Kane stepped forward, "let him handle it."

Kane's gaze fell on Sirius.

Dumbledore glanced at Sirius Black.

Without hesitation, Sirius took the dagger.

A flash of silver light.

He cut a gash in his arm, and blood splattered onto the rocks.

It's clear that it's very effective!

A doorway was visible above the rock.

The place was filled with the aura of dark magic!

It looks extremely dangerous!

Upon seeing this, the group became wary.

"I thought he would have some other means to restrict us, but it turns out this is all?"

Dumbledore's voice carried a hint of disdain, seemingly reflecting his disappointment in Voldemort.

"Stay behind me, be careful, and be careful not to be teleported to different locations!"

Dumbledore gave the instructions and went inside.

Once inside, the darkness subsided, revealing a vast lake!

There was water everywhere, and dark rocks all around.

The difference is that in the middle of the lake, there is another piece of land, and a green light.

"That is..." Sirius's voice caught in his throat.

"Kreacher knows," Kreacher said. "When Master Regulus brought me here, we went to that island, and then the young master drank a potion and was dragged down by a monster in the water."

"Kreacher is useless; Kreacher cannot protect Master Regulus."

"Kreacher, shut up."

Sirius's heart skipped a beat when he heard the news about his younger brother.

"There's something in the water!"

Because of Kreacher's noise, they could hear what seemed to be something swimming in the water.

It's not a fish, not any normal creature.

Those things swam around under the boat, occasionally bumping against the hull with a dull "thump".

Kreacher curled up and covered his ears.

Sirius Black's wand was already drawn, its tip glowing faintly.

Kane looked down at the lake, his gray eyes unusually calm in the darkness.

"What's underwater?" Sirius asked in a low voice.

"Infernals," Dumbledore said. "A lot of them."

Sirius Black clenched his fists as he looked at the pale, distorted shadows underwater.

"Regulus... came from here."

"Yes," Kreacher's voice came from beside his feet, "Young Master Regulus traveled there in this ship."

"Then we'll row over there too," Sirius said in a low voice. "Let's go."

Dumbledore nodded and turned to walk toward the small boat on the lake.

The black robe dragged silently across the rocks in the darkness.

Sirius followed behind, his steps heavy.

Kreacher huddled at Sirius's feet, his huge eyes filled with tears, muttering under his breath, "Kreacher is useless. Kreacher can't protect Master Regulus."

Kane stood still, without moving.

He glanced at the dilapidated little boat, then at the backs of Dumbledore and Sirius, and then looked down at Kreacher.

"Kreacher," Kane said.

Kreacher looked up, his eyes blurred with tears. "Master Malfoy?"

"You can apparite here, right?"

Kreacher hesitated for a moment. "B-yes, it's possible. House-elves' magic is different from wizards'; magical restrictions won't work on Kreacher."

Kane nodded and turned to Dumbledore and Sirius.

"Then why are we even rowing?"

Dumbledore stopped in his tracks.

Sirius Black stopped walking.

The two men turned around at the same time and looked at Kane.

"Kreacher can teleport us directly to the island in the middle of the lake. No boat, no rowing, and we won't be attacked by the infernals in the water. Just go there."

silence.

The wind on the lake has stopped.

Can this be done?

Dumbledore blinked. His blue eyes flashed in the darkness, then his lips twitched slightly.

"I know, I thought Mr. Blake wanted to try rowing."

Sirius opened his mouth.

He looked at Kane, then at Kreacher, then at Dumbledore, and finally at the dilapidated little boat.

"Oh," Sirius said, uttering a single word.

Then he shut his mouth, and his expression went through shock, embarrassment, anger, speechlessness, and deep regret for saying "let's go" in just three seconds.

"Kreacher," Dumbledore's voice remained gentle.

But with a subtle, uncharacteristic tone—like an old professor who has realized he's taken a roundabout route, trying to maintain his last shred of dignity—he asked, "Can you take us there?"

Kreacher nodded vigorously. "Kreacher can. Kreacher remembers that island. Kreacher has been there."

"Then let's go," Kane said.

Kreacher extended his trembling hand.

Several people were captured.

They disappeared.

The small boat sat forlornly on the lakeshore, gently rocking on the black water, as if it had been abandoned.

Nobody sits on it. Nobody needs it.

It had been lying there for over a decade, waiting for this day—only to be snatched away by a house-elf.

The white light dissipated.