HP: Azkaban's Outstanding Graduate

Surprisingly, the Ministry of Magic also sent representatives, whose expressions were intriguing, clearly showing their great interest in the sudden recognition of this "former Death Eater".

The auditorium was filled with somber conversations and a sense of oppressive sadness.

Neville stood beside Harry, looking at Regulus's Slytherin crest of silver and green, and whispered to Harry, "He...he's a Slytherin? I mean, he's so brave..."

Harry gazed at the coffin and answered softly, "Yes, he was Slytherin. But courage never belongs to any one house, Neville. We shouldn't let prejudice blind us."

Neville nodded blankly, as if he hadn't expected Harry to say such a thing.

Finally, Albus Dumbledore arrived, having already learned the whole story from Sirius Black.

He wore a solemn deep purple robe, and his silver-white beard and hair seemed to radiate a faint light in the dim room.

He walked straight to the coffin, gazed at Regulus silently for a moment, and his sharp blue eyes flashed with a complex light—mourning, admiration, and a hint of barely perceptible regret.

He whispered a few words to Sirius beside him, and Sirius nodded heavily.

Harry stood next to Sirius Black, and he could feel the curiosity and questions in the eyes of the people, but no one actually came up to ask "what exactly happened".

Dumbledore's presence seemed to set the tone for the event—it was a mourning for the rebels, and the details need not be examined.

At the start of the ceremony, Sirius Black, as the head of the family and the eldest brother, delivered a short but sincere speech.

He made no mention of the Horcruxes or the dangers of the cave, only telling everyone that his brother Regulus had seen through Voldemort's true nature before his death and had chosen to sacrifice himself to destroy something that could enhance Voldemort's power.

“He may have gone astray,” Sirius’s voice trembled slightly, “but I am proud of his final choice.”

After Sirius finished speaking, he stepped off the stage. Harry gently comforted him, but he shook his head and looked at Sagrada Faso.

The guests were abuzz with discussion. Sirius's words shocked them, but many others remained silent, perhaps because they simply didn't care about the truth.

Sagles stepped forward and began his narration.

“We are here today not only to mourn a deceased person,” his voice clearly reached everyone’s ears, “but also to introduce to you a lone traveler who trekked through the long night alone and ultimately lit a fire with his life.”

His gaze swept over the various expressions on the faces of the people present.

"Some people walk in the light; their courage is visible to all and is praised. Others, however, are born in the deepest darkness."

"They may have been lost, or they may have hesitated, but when they finally see the way forward, the price they pay is often far more devastating—they must betray their past selves, fight against their former comrades, endure the loneliness of being misunderstood by everyone, and even fall silently, bearing the misunderstanding and stigma of the world."

His words plunged many into deep thought. Sirius clenched his fists, while Kreacher sobbed softly beside him.

“Regulus Black chose the latter path. His battlefield had no spectators, his victory had no hymns, and his sacrifice remained unknown for a long time. It was a kind of pure courage that did not seek recognition or crave glory, but was only true to one’s conscience and desire for justice. He demonstrated what true ‘ambition’ is—not an insatiable greed for power, but the courage to overturn everything and reshape oneself for a higher standard.”

Finally, Sagles calmly concluded, "He was a true Slytherin!"

Chapter 280 Funeral

The scene was completely silent, with only the sound of raindrops tapping on the windows.

Most people were moved by these words, especially the pure-blood Slytherin students, whose eyes revealed a complex shock.

However, a discordant voice suddenly rang out.

The speaker was a pale-faced sorcerer with thin, light-colored hair and squinting eyes. He wore an unpleasant, fake smile, like a vulture that had caught the scent of carrion.

“Ah, what a deeply moving eulogy, Mr. Greengrass…”

He drew out his words, the contempt in them almost tangible.

"To package a Death Eater who fled in panic and died a violent death as a hero who endured humiliation and hardship? That certainly requires... extraordinary imagination."

He took a step forward, his gaze sweeping over Regulus's body as if examining a flawed item.

"But why should we believe that a Black, a Death Eater, has suddenly converted to the light? This family is far more likely to produce madmen and dark wizards than heroes. Are we really going to believe it based on a story full of holes? Maybe he was just executed by his master for failing a mission, and you... just picked up a pitiful corpse and used it to gild the name of this rotten family?"

Vicious words echoed in the hall, attempting to tarnish the newly established honor.

Sirius's face turned ashen instantly, and he gripped his wand tightly. A restless commotion arose in the crowd.

“I’ve found this strange from the very beginning. First, Sirius Black was suddenly exonerated not long ago, and now his brother has been cleared of charges. A murderer and a Death Eater, what a coincidence…”

Sagrass's gaze slowly shifted to the male wizard, and the temperature in the entire hall seemed to drop suddenly.

"You are questioning the truth I'm telling you..."

"Are you still questioning me personally?"

He calmly looked at the wizard, and a powerful magic made the wizard who asked the question turn pale instantly, and involuntarily take half a step back.

"There is no room for 'discussion' regarding Regulus Black's sacrifice. It is an indisputable fact. If you, or anyone else..."

His gaze swept over the Ministry of Magic officials and those who looked doubtful. "If you can't even maintain the most basic respect for this, then now, I'll give you the chance to leave."

As he spoke, the calmness on his face vanished, replaced by a cold, authoritative expression.

"But if someone insists on tarnishing the reputation of a rebel, or discrediting a heroic victim... then I guarantee that the next place I'll attend will be his funeral."

This blunt and menacing threat silenced the entire room; even the officials from the Ministry of Magic were too shocked to utter a sound.

The sorcerer recoiled in terror as if burned, nearly tripping over his own robes, and could no longer maintain his wicked mask.

“Now,” Sagres’s voice echoed through the silent cemetery, “get out of here immediately. While I can still control myself and prevent your filthy blood from soiling the resting place of the dead.”

The wizard fled the hall in a disheveled state, as if avoiding a plague, and disappeared into the rain.

The funeral concluded in a solemn and respectful atmosphere, and Regulus's remains were interred in the Black family cemetery, resting alongside his ancestors.

The lingering effects of the funeral slowly settled in the chilly air.

The guests had all left, leaving only withered flowers and the lingering sound of rain.

Kreacher sat motionless all day, holding the locket, his hunched back becoming a sorrowful sculpture.

Sagres stood by the window, gazing intently at the endless rain outside, his eyes deep and thoughtful.

After exchanging a few quiet words with him, Dumbledore took his leave. The old headmaster had originally wanted Sagres to give him the Horcrux, but Sagres refused his request without hesitation.

Many people offered their condolences to Sirius again before leaving. At that moment, Sirius took a deep breath, trying to dispel the heaviness in his chest.

He turned to Sagles: "Professor... thank you for everything you've done. Without you, Regulus might never have..."

He choked up and couldn't continue speaking.

Sagles slowly turned around, his expression returning to its usual calm.

"Letting the deceased rest in peace and preventing the truth from being buried is what we, the living, should do."

He took out the ominous-smelling locket from the inner pocket of his robe.

It lay quietly in his palm, the cold metal and the eerie green gem shimmering faintly in the dim light, like a sleeping demon.

Harry stood quietly to the side, looking at his godfather, then at Sacramento, and couldn't help but ask, "Professor, you said earlier... this is the second Horcrux you've seen. What about the first one...?"

Sagles turned his gaze to Harry, remaining silent for a moment, as if weighing something.

“The first one,” he finally spoke, his voice low, “is also an object imbued with powerful, evil magic. Their forms are completely different, but the nauseating aura emanating from their core is exactly the same.”

Sagres confirmed this as his fingertips lightly brushed the cold surface of the locket, and the object seemed to tremble slightly at his touch.

Sirius frowned: "So what do you plan to do with this?"

He gestured toward the locket with his lip, his eyes filled with disgust.

"Direct destruction is the preferred choice for most people, and perhaps the safest approach."

"But this also means the end of the trail," Sagres said slowly, gripping the locket tightly again. "Voldemort wouldn't have made only two Horcruxes. This locket, and the one I encountered before, are just part of his madness."

His gaze sharpened, as if he could see through the locket to the soul dwelling within.

"A fragment of his soul is imprisoned here. Though twisted and insane, it must contain the memories and connections from when it was created. Perhaps... I can glean clues about other Horcruxes or their hiding places from it. This is far more efficient than blindly searching the magical world like headless flies."

Sirius breathed a sigh of relief, but at the same time felt worried about what Sagrais was about to face: "Professor, if you need any help..."

"I will speak up if it is really necessary."

Sagles said decisively, "This matter is settled. I need to return to Hogwarts."

He did not linger and politely declined the invitation to have dinner together.

After saying goodbye to Harry and Sirius, Sagrais disappeared into the green flames rising from the fireplace in Black's old house.

The familiar magical aura of Hogwarts Castle enveloped them, dispelling the gloom of Grimmauld Place.

Chapter 281 Loctis: I'm good again.

Hogwarts.

Office of Advanced Spell Theory and Practice.

The office was dimly lit, illuminated only by the cold flame of a silver candlestick. Towering bookshelves surrounded the room, crammed with all sorts of magical books, and of course, some Muggle books as well.

Slytherin's locket sat on the desk, gleaming ominously in the cold light.

Sagres stood silently before the table, gazing at the wicked creation. After a moment, he raised his wand.

"Open!"

The somber hissing sound had just stopped when the lock on the locket made a soft click, and the lid suddenly popped open.

A chilling magic instantly filled the entire room, causing even the candlelight to flicker.

A blurry, twisted black shadow struggled to rise from the box.

"I told you you'd regret it..." Voldemort's voice carried a hint of amusement.

Sagles, however, did not give it a chance to utter a single word.

The magic of mind-capturing and thought-stealing is like an invisible thorn, piercing fiercely at that chaotic soul.

In an instant, countless chaotic and shattered images flooded Sagrais's mind—fanatic worship, the thrill of killing, the greed for immortality, the fear of death...

However, when he tried to delve deeper into specific information about the other Horcruxes, he suddenly ran into an indestructible, cold wall.

Voldemort's soul fragment let out a short, contemptuous sneer.

The laughter was filled with mockery and smugness: "Mind control? Trying to spy on my thoughts? Hmph! Foolish fellow! Did you think I would be so unprepared?"

Sagres frowned slightly and decisively withdrew the spell.