Chapter 114: 4-2
"—My brother was a truly good son to our parents."
Sirius traced the slightly pretentious lettering written on the door.
『Do Not Enter Without the Express Permission of Regulus Arcturus Black』
Harry finally learned at this moment the relationship between Sirius and the owner of the room he had been wondering about. Sirius had been continuously avoiding his younger brother's room.
"He was a soft, foolish brother. He did whatever our parents told him—and he was a follower of Voldemort, too."
There was a sharp gasp. It was from Harry. Sirius opened the door without paying it any mind. It was a room they had visited just yesterday. And yet—to Harry, it suddenly felt like a terrifying place.
"A follower of Voldemort—do you understand what that means? It means he was a Death Eater. And because of that, he was killed. He was around seventeen. ...Though I remained unaware of that fact for a very long time."
The room remained immaculate. It was the sanctuary of an unspoken hero, protected by a servant and friend who truly adored his master, a place that had refused entry to anyone for a long, long time.
I was remembering. The sight of Dumbledore suffering from the potion in the basin. A hellish pain that made even the great Dumbledore beg for death—and a seventeen-year-old boy had endured it. All of it—just because he wanted to protect his friends and family.
"In the end, my brother ran away. He was half-hearted about everything. He got scared of Voldemort's atrocities—turned tail in a pathetic way, and died because he brought it upon himself."
Hearing insults spun from the mouth of the very family he had wanted to protect—his older brother, Sirius—felt terribly cruel.
"—Are you sure about that?"
The young girl's voice echoed, sounding almost out of place. It felt as though the room itself had demanded it.
"How can you say that? Even though you didn't know about Regulus's death, Sirius?"
"Maria—?"
"Was the Regulus you knew nothing but a weakling? Is that all there is to your memories of Regulus? —Didn't you ever think that there might be someone else who knows the cause of his death?"
Sirius showed irritation before confusion. There was an unspoken understanding that touching upon his former family was just that dangerous.
"I don't know what you're trying to say, but my mother and father died a long time ago. Lucius or Bellatrix might be a different story, but I doubt Narcissa had anything to do with Regulus's case. I'm the only one left of the main Black family. So, who am I supposed to ask? Dumbledore? Or Voldemort himself? 'How exactly did you use your Death Eaters to kill my brother?' —Something like that?"
"It's not just you."
I realized there was strength pouring into my hand. I had unconsciously grabbed Harry's hand. Harry squeezed back without hesitation.
"Isn't there someone who, even in old age, has continued to protect this house?"
Sirius finally fell silent. There was no way his brilliant mind couldn't deduce the answer.
"This is my request. —Get the story of Regulus out of Kreacher."
A tense air stretched taut between us Potter siblings and Sirius.
"Maria... I don't see your goal here."
"That doesn't matter. It's just my vulgar curiosity. So please, find out about Regulus's final moments. Kreacher cannot disobey your orders. Even if you have to force him. —It has to be you."
Because, his will... should have been entrusted to you, his family, not to a stranger like 'me'. —You should not have died without knowing your brother's true courage.
Sirius took a few seconds, and though bewildered, he nodded after some internal conflict. He was quite reluctant, but he gave in, as they say.
"Fine. I don't want to be thought of as a man who breaks his promises. —Kreacher!"
With a single call from Sirius, a house-elf resembling a scrawny chicken carcass appeared. Kreacher looked around at those of us who had intruded into Regulus's private room and glared with his bulging eyes. His glare held the deepest hatred I had seen in all the times we had met him so far.
"What is it, Master? ...Kreacher cannot forgive this. The traitor to the House of Black and a pack of stray dogs are trampling their dirty boots all over Master Regulus's room. This place alone must not be defiled. Kreacher must never forgive this—"
"This is about 'Master Regulus'. —Do you know how Regulus died?"
Kreacher sealed his lips tightly as if they were glued shut. It was an obvious display of refusal. Because of that, Sirius was convinced. —This elf was hiding something.
"It's an order. I won't allow lies or evasions. Speak about Regulus. —How did my brother die?"
"............"
"Kreacher... Do you intend to defy me, the current head of the house?"
"No, perish the thought. Kreacher is a loyal servant of the House of Black. ...Kreacher, Kreacher does not want to speak. To this man, especially—to this man who betrayed the House of Black, betrayed Master Regulus—"
"Kreacher."
I fell to my knees in front of the pitiful house-elf, who was rubbing his forehead against the floor, his entire body trembling. Kreacher didn't raise his head. Even so, I knew. 'I' know what it looks like when Kreacher cries.
"Kreacher."
Without touching him, I only let my voice reach him.
"—I will get Regulus's Locket back."
Kreacher raised his head with breathless speed. His already large eyes were wide open to their absolute limit.
"Why──why──"
"So, please talk. Tell us the story of the master you are so proud of."
Large tears spilled freely from Kreacher's eyes. Harry's hand was on my shoulder. Sirius was looking at Kreacher in sheer disbelief. Sirius hadn't known. —That even house-elves have a heart that cares for someone and weeps, just like us.
"Kreacher... failed to carry out Master Regulus's orders."
Kreacher spoke. Between gasps, he told the brave and tragic end of his beloved master. Regulus Black, who had cherished the house-elf Kreacher as family and as a friend. The kind person who stood up for Kreacher when his life was in danger. The lonely boy who sank to the bottom of the dark lake without telling anyone, for the sake of his family.
Sirius did not interrupt Kreacher's confession. By the time the high-pitched, hoarse voice unique to house-elves had turned into mere sobbing, everyone was silent, lost in their own thoughts. The air felt so heavy, as if it had mass. I looked up at Sirius.
"In your family—there was someone who fought, just like you."
Sirius's gray eyes wavered as he stared at Kreacher, who had collapsed onto the exceptionally polished, dust-free floor.
"...Could you leave me... alone for a bit?"
"Sirius."
"Please leave."
Dragging his body, Kreacher obeyed Sirius's order. And Harry and I also left Regulus Black's room, constantly looking back over our shoulders. Right before the door closed, Sirius's back, left behind in the room, was hunched over as if bearing a heavy weight.
"...Hey, Maria, are you—"
"Do you need a handkerchief? Hermione."
There was a sound of something falling over down the corridor. Two heads timidly peeked out from the corner. It was Ron and Hermione. Even though her eyes were swollen from crying, Hermione was frantically rubbing them. ...It might be better if I dampened the handkerchief with water.
"Um—we—"
"We didn't mean to eavesdrop. Really. I told her we shouldn't. But, you know—you get it, right?"
Hermione looked up at Ron with eyes that screamed 'traitor.' Judging by that, Ron had probably wanted to be here just as much. Figuring that Harry would end up reporting everything to them later anyway, I was half-exasperated, but decided to look on the bright side and be glad it saved me the trouble.
"I'm not mad. You were curious because we snuck out of the sitting room, weren't you?"
"We wanted to pass on a message. Mrs. Weasley said we should go visit Mr. Weasley at the hospital this afternoon. And then, we heard Sirius calling Kreacher..."
"And you got worried he might be mistreating him?"
"............"
Hermione looked down in shame.
"I'll say it again, we aren't mad. After all, we were planning to tell you guys anyway. Right, Harry?"
"Of course."
"So, with that settled, let's head back to the sitting room. We ended up missing breakfast."
"Mum saved some sandwiches for you guys."
"That's great!"
As the usual foursome, we walked away from the room bearing Regulus Black's name. I felt the unspoken consideration from everyone as they deliberately avoided bringing up the topic.
Please, let this not be a mistake—I prayed. May Kreacher open his heart. May Sirius believe in that heart.
Lend us your strength. —R.A.B.
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