Chapter 853: Summoning

"Young Master Sirius ran away, good riddance, because he was a bad child; his unruly behavior broke my mistress's heart.

But Young Master Regulus had self-respect; he knew what the Black name and his pure blood meant.

For many years he often talked about the Dark Lord; the Dark Lord wanted to let wizards no longer have to hide, but to come out and rule over Muggles and Muggle-borns...

When Young Master Regulus was sixteen, he joined the Dark Lord's organization; he was so proud, so proud, so happy to be able to serve..."

Listening to Kreacher's words, Sirius's brow furrowed again and again.

"What is the point?"

He said urgently.

"Young Master Sirius, I will say it immediately—"

Kreacher trembled, and then began to speak to the carpet again,

"Oh, you see, he is just not likable."

Sirius was already frantic, and Xiang Xien pulled him back at the right moment.

"Kreacher thinks... a year later, one day, Young Master Regulus came to the kitchen to visit Kreacher. Young Master Regulus always liked Kreacher. Young Master Regulus said... he said..."

The aged elf rocked faster.

"... he said the Dark Lord wanted a house-elf."

"Voldemort wanted a house-elf?"

Sirius asked suspiciously.

Voldemort, he had always treated house-elves like bugs.

"Oh, yes,"

Kreacher said painfully,

"Young Master Regulus contributed Kreacher. It was an honor, Young Master Regulus said, an honor for himself and for Kreacher."

"Heh—"

Sirius sneered.

"Kreacher had to do everything the Dark Lord wanted him to do... and then return—return home."

Kreacher rocked faster, his breathing turning into sobs.

"So Kreacher went to the Dark Lord. The Dark Lord didn't tell Kreacher what to do, but took Kreacher to a cave by the sea.

It was a large cave, and in the cave was a large black lake..."

Kreacher's hoarse voice seemed to come from the surface of that black water,

"... there was a boat..."

Of course there was a boat, and that boat, a ghostly green little boat, was enchanted. It could only take one wizard and one sacrifice to the island in the middle of the lake.

So, that was how Voldemort tested the protection measures of the Horcrux:

By using an insignificant life, a house-elf.

"On the island there was a stone—stone basin, filled with potion. The Da—Dark Lord made Kreacher drink..."

The house-elf was trembling all over.

"Kreacher drank, and while drinking saw many terrifying scenes... Kreacher's internal organs were on fire...

Kreacher called for Young Master Regulus to save him, called for the mistress, but the Dark Lord just laughed... he forced Kreacher to drink the potion dry... he threw a locket into the empty basin... and filled it with potion again.

Then the Dark Lord got on the boat and left, leaving Kreacher on the island..."

The house-elf's description was too vivid; the hair on the back of Sirius's neck stood up, and he seemed to be able to see that scene.

Seeing Voldemort's pale snake-face disappear into the darkness, his red eyes staring coldly at the elf writhing in pain.

His evaluation of his idiot brother in his heart dropped another notch.

"Kreacher needed water, he crawled to the edge of the island to drink the water from the black lake... many hands, dead hands, reached out from the water and dragged Kreacher down..."

"Then how did you escape?"

Sirius mocked.

Kreacher raised his ugly head and looked at Sirius with his bloodshot eyes.

"Young Master Regulus had told Kreacher to return home."

He said.

"I know—but how did you get rid of the Inferi?"

Kreacher seemed not to understand.

"Young Master Regulus had told Kreacher to return home."

He repeated.

"I know, but—"

"He Apparated."

Xiang Xien helped him finish the explanation softly.

"The highest law for a house-elf is the master's order,"

Kreacher sang,

"The master told Kreacher to return home, so Kreacher returned home..."

"Then what happened after you returned?"

Sirius asked immediately.

He suddenly had a bad guess.

"Kreacher returned, Young Master Regulus was very worried, very worried."

Kreacher shrieked,

"Young Master Regulus told Kreacher to hide, not to leave the house.

Then... after a while... one night, Young Master Regulus came to the cupboard and found Kreacher.

Young Master Regulus looked strange, not like his usual self, Kreacher could tell his heart was in turmoil... the young master told Kreacher to take him to the cave, the same cave Kreacher had gone to with the Dark Lord..."

So they set off; Sirius could clearly imagine a terrified, aged elf, and his brother.

Kreacher knew how to open the secret entrance to the underground cave, knew how to make the boat float up; this time it was Regulus sailing to the island filled with potion...

"He made you drink the potion?" ===== CHAPTER 854 =====