Chapter 50: Chapter 50: “The Tale of Regulus and Kreacher”
Standing in front of Regulus Black's room, the only maintained room in the whole building, Sirius called Kreacher.
Kreacher appeared, looking unwilling, and stood before them, mumbling under his breath.
"Kreacher, whose room is this, and why is it in such good condition?" Sirius asked.
"This belongs to Master Regulus," Kreacher replied, then began to cry softly.
Arcturus then spoke up, "I always wondered what happened to Regulus, Kreacher. I tried investigating the events but the only thing I got to know is that something happened which led to Regulus betraying Voldemort and you were involved somehow. Kreacher tell me everything."
Kreacher remained silent, prompting Sirius to plead, "Kreacher, I need to know. Regulus... I've missed him. After I left, my mother cut off all contact between Regulus and me. I heard he joined the Death Eaters and later had a change of heart. But now, there's talk that there's more to the story. Kreacher, please, for Regulus's sake, tell us what happened."
Harry watched quietly, knowing what Kreacher was about to say would change everything. He knew this story was important—it showed courage and sacrifice in the fight against Voldemort. Yet, telling it would bring up the secret of Voldemort's Horcruxes, leading him into unknown territory. Harry worried about how revealing this might change future events in ways he couldn't predict.
Ultimately, Harry chose not to interfere. Given the circumstances, he recognized there was no stopping the revelation from unfolding. He understood that Sirius and Arcturus needed to hear Kreacher's story about Regulus. This truth was essential for them to grasp the full extent of Regulus's actions. Harry figured that knowing this could help them close a painful chapter and maybe even prepare for what was coming.
Over time, Harry's fear of Voldemort had lessened, especially when he thought about the history of the wizarding world. The conflict led by Voldemort paled in comparison to the cataclysmic war waged by Grindelwald, a war in which Harry's own great-grandfather, Charlus Potter, had been a formidable participant. The scope of Grindelwald's war had spanned continents, dwarfing the relatively insular strife Voldemort had ignited within Britain.
After seeing the old battles in Arcturus's memories through a Pensieve, Harry had started to see things differently. The duels he had seen, particularly one where his great-grandfather clashed with Grindelwald, were of a magnitude far surpassing anything documented in recent history. These fights were much bigger and more dangerous than any fight Harry had known or read about, including those involving Voldemort and Dumbledore.
This made Harry feel stronger and more focused. He wanted to do more than just beat Voldemort; he wanted to be even braver and stronger than his great-grandfather. To Harry, Voldemort was just one challenge he needed to overcome on his way to becoming the best wizard ever.
This determination steeled him against the uncertainty of the future. He knew things might change because of what was happening now, but he was prepared. As long as he kept those changes small, he believed he still had an edge over Voldemort. Plus, he was comforted by the fact that Voldemort couldn't make any more Horcruxes.
Kreacher, now compelled by Sirius's plea, began his tale with a heavy heart. "Master Regulus was always the pride of the Black family, embracing his pure-blood heritage with zeal. He spoke often of the Dark Lord's vision—a world ruled by pure-blood wizards. At sixteen, he joined the Dark Lord, a decision that filled him with pride and purpose. But within a year, everything changed. Master Regulus volunteered Kreacher for a task demanded by the Dark Lord himself—a task that would unveil the true horror behind the Dark Lord's secret of immortality."
The elf recounted the harrowing journey to a hidden cave, where a basin filled with potion awaited. "The Dark Lord forced Kreacher to drink the potion," Kreacher's voice broke, tears streaming down his face. "It showed Kreacher horrors, burned him from within. And then... he left Kreacher there, with a locket in the basin."
Kreacher's tale grew more desperate as he described the excruciating pain, the overwhelming thirst that led him to the water's edge, and the dead hands that pulled him beneath the lake's surface.
"How did you escape?" Sirius whispered, dread filling the silence that followed.
"Master Regulus commanded Kreacher to return home," Kreacher looked up, his eyes meeting Sirius's.
Harry and others in the room understood that the cave was not warded against elf travel. So Kreacher was able to easily escape when Regulus called him.
In the somber quiet of Regulus Black's room, a pall of tension and anticipation hung heavily as Sirius, with a newfound understanding and concern in his voice, pressed Kreacher for more of the story.
"So what happened when you got back?" he asked, his tone imbued with a mixture of curiosity and dread. "What did Regulus say when you told him what happened?"
Kreacher, the old elf, trembled under the weight of his memories, his voice breaking as he recounted the events. "Master Regulus was very worried, very worried," he said, his usual grumble softened by the tears that streaked down his face. "He told Kreacher to stay hidden and not to leave the house. Then, one night, he came to Kreacher, his mind troubled, not himself. He asked Kreacher to take him to the cave, the same cave Kreacher had visited with the Dark Lord."
Harry, Sirius, and Arcturus listened intently, picturing the scene in their minds: the young Regulus, so similar in appearance to Sirius yet carrying a burden too heavy for his years, setting off with Kreacher to confront a darkness beyond imagination.
Kreacher continued the sorrow in his voice deepening. "Master Regulus took a locket from his pocket, similar to the one the Dark Lord had, and instructed Kreacher to switch them once the basin was empty." The elf's sobs grew louder, his grief palpable in the silent room.
Sirius's perception of his brother transformed as he listened. Regulus, the brother he had thought aligned with the darkest of wizards, had in fact rebelled against Voldemort with a bravery and love for Kreacher that was unheard of in their family. Regulus had chosen to drink the potion himself, sparing Kreacher the torment, and met his end with courage that left Sirius and even the stoic Arcturus with tears in their eyes.
"So you brought the locket home?" Sirius managed to ask through his emotions. "And tried to destroy it?"
Kreacher nodded, his misery echoed in his words. "Nothing worked. Kreacher tried everything, but the locket remained unscathed, its secrets locked away. Kreacher failed to obey Master Regulus's last order," he lamented, overwhelmed by his perceived failure and the grief that had consumed the Black household following Regulus's disappearance.
The room fell silent as Kreacher's sobs filled the space, a testament to the tragedy of Regulus's untimely demise and the weight of the secret he carried to his grave.
Reflecting on the gravity of his brother's actions, Sirius voiced a question that lingered in the air, "What was so important about the locket that Regulus gave his life to destroy it?"
Arcturus, his mind racing with implications, responded gravely, "If my suspicions are correct, we may have uncovered the reason behind Voldemort's claims of immortality. Regulus's final act was one of unparalleled bravery—a true Lord Black, facing the darkness with courage and resolve."
Turning to Kreacher, Arcturus commanded, "Bring the locket to me. It's time we complete Regulus's last mission."
As Kreacher scurried away to retrieve the locket, the room was filled with a sense of purpose. Regulus's sacrifice had not been in vain; his actions had set his family on a path to confronting a darkness that threatened their world.
Chapter 51: Chapter 51: “Horcrux”
Kreacher returned with a locket, crafted from weighty gold, featuring an intricate 'S' shaped like a serpent, embedded with a sparkling green stone on its facade. Arcturus, with his deep knowledge of Dark Magic, sensed the malevolence emanating from it, a sensation not perceptible to Sirius or Harry to the same extent.
Sirius said, "That locket seems special. The symbol looks like it's from the Slytherin house. Could this be Slytherin's own locket?"
Arcturus said, "It very well might be. It's said only someone who can speak Parseltongue can open it, and Voldemort was known for that skill. But it looks like he has misused this significant artifact."
Arcturus didn't touch the locket directly. He used his wand to lift it and examined it closely. "Just as I thought," he said, looking closely at the locket, "this has a piece of Voldemort's soul inside. To think he'd use soul anchors in our time..." His voice trailed off, a mix of disbelief and concern in his tone.
Sirius, puzzled, inquired, "Soul Anchors? What exactly are those?"
Arcturus proceeded to elucidate, "A Soul Anchor, more commonly known as a Horcrux, is a dark artifact. It's an object in which a wizard or witch conceals a part of their soul, achieving a twisted form of immortality. As long as the Horcrux remains intact, the soul fragment within it ensures the creator's anchor to the living world, making them immune to physical death."
Without waiting for more questions, Arcturus shared more details. "Making a Horcrux is considered the darkest kind of magic. It goes against nature. To create one, you have to commit a murder in a specific cold-hearted way, which splits the soul. Then, with a spell, the torn piece of the soul is placed inside an object. This process of splitting and placing the soul creates a Horcrux."
The revelation struck Sirius with a chilling reality, "So, Dumbledore was right when he said that Voldemort isn't completely gone."
Arcturus nodded, "Yes. The sacrifice made by Harry's grandmother should have defeated Voldemort, but it seems this soul anchor kept him connected to our world. Dumbledore likely suspects Voldemort created this anchor."
Harry chimed in, sharing his own experience, "I saw him turn into something ghost-like that night. It was so odd; I thought I had imagined it. Now it looks like he could come back. Dumbledore probably knew more about Voldemort, considering he might have been his teacher."
Sirius wondered, "You might be right, Harry. But if these Horcruxes are so powerful, why don't more dark wizards make them? They'd be happily willing to kill many people for immortality."
Arcturus explained, "Well, there are quite a few reasons why not many wizards choose to make Horcruxes. For starters, Horcruxes don't exactly stop you from dying; instead, they keep your soul tied to the living world, kind of like a ghost. Not many people would want to exist like that, preferring death over such a state. Plus, getting back into a real body from being a ghost is really tough."
He continued, "Also, when you split your soul to make a Horcrux, it messes with your mind and who you are. Your soul is what keeps you thinking straight and being yourself. Look at Voldemort; he went completely mad and evil in the last part of his fight. At first, he might have thought he was protecting other wizards from the threat of muggles, but that idea got twisted, and he ended up causing a lot of harm. His battles almost destroyed the wizarding world, making it weaker than it had been in a very long time."
"Another thing is Horcruxes don't last forever. They can keep you from dying too soon, but when it's naturally time for your soul to move on, you'll die anyway. If Horcruxes worked forever, we'd have a bunch of old Dark Wizards still kicking around. I've heard that in Egypt, they were into making these soul anchors. Treasure hunters often find stuff that might have been Horcruxes, but the souls in them have already died a natural death."
The weight of Arcturus's words hung in the air, marking a moment of sober reflection on the complexities of dark magic and the costs of seeking immortality.
Harry pondered aloud, "I bet Voldemort didn't know everything about Horcruxes. If he did, I can't imagine he'd risk everything for such an uncertain form of immortality. He was able to draw people to him because of his charm and strength. It doesn't make sense for him to throw all that away."
Arcturus nodded, adding, "Information on Horcruxes is highly guarded. It's likely that a young Voldemort stumbled upon partial knowledge and, intrigued by the prospect of living forever, decided to pursue it without fully understanding the consequences."
"Let's set aside that topic for now. We've got something more pressing to address," Arcturus said, turning his attention back to the locket on the table.
Sirius, with determination in his voice, said, "I still can't believe Regulus figured out what this locket was without even seeing it. We shouldn't wait any longer to fulfill his final wish of destroying this locket."
Arcturus paused for a moment, reflecting, "Regulus's actions, turning against Voldemort and rejecting the dark path to sabotage his attempt at immortality, show he was a true Black. He might have even made a worthy Lord Black," he said, a note of pride in his voice.
"As for the locket, yes, we will destroy it, but not in haste. There's something unusual about its size that needs a closer look. I suspect Voldemort did something unprecedented. I ask for your patience, Kreacher. We will proceed with its destruction once I've confirmed my suspicions," he assured them, signaling that they would take action soon.
As Arcturus exited the room, Harry and Sirius were left to process everything they had just learned.
"So, what's the plan now? Are we going to start planning how to redo this place?" Harry asked, trying to shift the mood towards something lighter.
Sirius let out a sigh, looking weary. "Not right now, Harry. My head's still spinning from all that information. But yes, eventually, we will. Kreacher, you're dismissed for now. Feel free to start cleaning up around here if you want. And Kreacher... after Voldemort is truly defeated, I promise to retrieve Regulus's remains from that cave," he said, his voice carrying a newfound respect for the house-elf.
Kreacher, visibly moved by Sirius's promise, gave a small nod before disappearing with a soft pop, presumably to start tidying up the neglected mansion or to attend to his own matters.
Harry, reflecting on the day's events, turned to Sirius. "Your brother was much smarter and braver than you've given him credit for, Padfoot. He figured out Voldemort's true nature on his own and bravely sought to destroy one of his tools for immortality. You, on the other hand, needed a lot of signs before you finally saw through Dumbledore's manipulations."
Sirius, his usual bravado tempered by the day's revelations, simply nodded in agreement. They remained in the house for a while longer, each lost in their own thoughts. Harry was contemplating the possible changes these new revelations could bring to the future, while Sirius was consumed with thoughts of his younger brother, filled with regret for not having reached out to him when he had the chance.
Eventually, they decided it was time to leave and made their way back to Black Castle.
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