HP: The Duelist of Hogwarts - 395

Chapter 395: Regulus

"Young Master Regulus, Young Master Regulus is in here."

Kreacher stumbled forward on unsteady feet, kneeling before the pool, extending both hands into the water as if trying to pull Regulus out.

But at that moment, a pair of pallid hands emerged from the pool, reaching for Kreacher.

Before Kreacher could react, a hand grabbed his arm and yanked him back. Simultaneously, those pale arms simply snapped off and fell back into the water.

"Stay calm, Kreacher. Today I'll help you bring Regulus's body home."

Kreacher, now calmed, looked at Sean and slowly nodded, stepping back two paces to stand behind him.

Sean slowly raised his wand. With a gentle flick of his wrist, the previously still pool suddenly churned. Two waves surged outward to both sides, climbing up the walls and converging there. The pool's water level dropped lower and lower, gradually revealing the Inferi within.

As the water receded, the Inferi in the pool began to stir. They slowly looked toward Sean and began walking toward the shore, taking each step carefully.

When nearly all the water had gathered on both sides, Sean waved his wand again. A cold wind swept across instantly, freezing both the gathered water and the Inferi in place, encasing them in ice and rendering them immobile.

Only then did Sean lower his wand and tell Kreacher, "Kreacher, find Regulus. We'll bring him home."

"Yes, Young Master Sean... thank you."

"We already agreed. No need to thank me."

Kreacher hurried down, searching through the frozen Inferi until he finally found Regulus near an island in what was once the pool's center—the one he'd been yearning for all these years.

"Young Master Sean, Young Master Sean! Kreacher found him! Kreacher found Young Master Regulus! He's here, he's right here!"

Hearing Kreacher's continuous cries, Sean quickly came to his side. Though the pool and Inferi were frozen, the enchantments preventing flight and Apparition still remained.

Reaching Kreacher, Sean looked at Regulus in the ice. His face was deathly pale, yet still showed an elegant, youthful beauty. Sean gently waved his wand, extracting the ice-encased Regulus from the frozen layer, then reinforced the ice surrounding him before looking at Kreacher.

"Let's go."

"Yes, yes, Young Master Sean."

Sean waved his wand, making the ice-encased Regulus levitate beside him. Then he led Regulus and Kreacher, who stayed glued to Regulus's side, back to the shore.

Seeing the mass of Inferi, Sean lightly waved his wand. The frozen Inferi shattered into pieces, never to threaten anyone again.

With that complete, Sean and Kreacher left the cave. Kreacher Apparated, bringing Sean and Regulus's body directly back to 12 Grimmauld Place.

Seeing the familiar surroundings, Sean told Kreacher, "Kreacher, set Regulus's body down carefully. Tomorrow we'll give him a proper burial. However, since Regulus became an Inferi, we may need to treat his body carefully before—"

"Inferi? What have you brought back?!"

Before Sean could finish, the Order members in pajamas stood in the doorway, looking both startled and terrified at the ice-encased Regulus.

Sean sighed. "I left without making a sound. How did you wake up?"

"Sirius went to the toilet and checked on the children," Lupin answered, his expression complex.

Hearing this, Sean sighed helplessly. "So you discovered I was gone that way?"

"Exactly. Some coincidence. But... shouldn't you explain something, Sean?"

Looking at everyone, Sean sighed again. "Fine, I'll explain. I couldn't sleep tonight, so I walked around and encountered Kreacher. He told me some things regarding this body. So I went with Kreacher and brought this body back. It's that simple."

"This is anything but simple!" Sirius was clearly angry, but restrained himself due to his previous guilt toward Sean. He asked, "Sean, why would you concern yourself with Kreacher and bring back a corpse? And you just said this corpse is an Inferi? So... what exactly is going on?!"

Looking at Sirius, Sean directly answered, "This Inferi is called Regulus Black."

At these words, everyone fell silent. They looked at the body on the ground, appearing at a loss.

"He is... Regulus? My brother, Regulus?"

"You have no right to speak of Young Master Regulus in that manner!"

"Be quiet, Kreacher!"

Though Kreacher refused to acknowledge Sirius's authority, he still had to obey direct orders. When Sirius commanded silence, Kreacher could only comply.

Sirius rushed to Regulus's side, carefully examining his face through the ice. Finally, he recognized his brother.

"Regulus... it really is you..."

He embraced Regulus's body, and Sirius's eyes grew red.

Suddenly raising his head, Sirius looked at Sean, his voice hoarse and low. "What happened?! Sean, tell me. What happened?!"

Glancing at Kreacher, then back at Sirius, Sean slowly nodded. "Kreacher told me everything. I can relay the complete story to you."

As Sean finished explaining, everyone fell silent again. But this time, when they looked at Regulus in the ice, the confusion and fear were gone, replaced by admiration and respect. Sirius, meanwhile, held Regulus's body, head bowed, scalding tears falling one by one onto his brother.