Kreacher gasped desperately for air, his skeletal chest heaving in rapid, shallow breaths. His eyes snapped open as he released a blood-curdling shriek that echoed through the chamber.
"You despicable, cunning, vile, treacherous devil! Kreacher will never reveal, Kreacher will never..."
"Seems he definitely knows something," Orli observed with a cold smile, one eyebrow arched in satisfaction.
"Kreacher," Sirius commanded with thunderous authority, "I order you to tell us everything you know about Regulus's death. No lies, no omissions!"
Kreacher froze completely. He collapsed onto the frigid stone floor, tears cascading from beneath his sagging eyelids. Though his voice emerged as barely a whisper, it carried with crystalline clarity through the silent, cavernous hall.
"Back then, Master Sirius had abandoned his family home. Such cause for celebration it was, for he proved himself a wicked child—never obeying, forever breaking his dear mistress's heart. But Master Regulus... ah, Master Regulus possessed proper breeding. He understood the sacred meaning of the Black name, the nobility of his pure bloodline. For years upon years, he revered the Dark Lord... dreaming of the day wizards would emerge from hiding to rule over Muggles and their mongrel spawn. Eventually, Master Regulus joined the Dark Lord's glorious cause. So proud he was, so honored, so blissfully devoted in his service..."
Kreacher drew himself into a trembling ball, burying his tear-stained face against his knees as violent shudders wracked his frail form.
"Then came that fateful day—one year after joining the Death Eaters—when Master Regulus descended to the kitchen seeking Kreacher. Master Regulus had always shown Kreacher such kindness. Master Regulus spoke... he said..."
The ancient house-elf's trembling escalated to violent convulsions.
"...he said the Dark Lord required a house-elf."
"Voldemort needed a house-elf?" Sirius repeated incredulously. He whirled toward Orli, but she gestured for continued silence. Hermione's complexion had drained to corpse-like pallor, while Harry and Ron appeared as bewildered as Sirius.
"Yes, oh yes," Kreacher wailed, "Master Regulus volunteered Kreacher for this sacred duty. Such honor, Master Regulus declared—honor for both himself and Kreacher. Kreacher would fulfill whatever commands the Dark Lord issued... then return... return home safely."
Kreacher's rocking intensified, his labored breathing dissolving into piteous whimpers.
"So Kreacher went to serve the Dark Lord. The Dark Lord offered no explanations—simply transported Kreacher to a seaside cavern. Deep within lay a vast underground chamber containing a great black lake... with a solitary boat... upon an island stood a basin brimming with potion... terrible potion. The Dark... Dark Lord commanded Kreacher to consume it all..."
Every fiber of the house-elf's being convulsed with remembered agony.
"Kreacher drank as ordered, witnessing unspeakable horrors during consumption... Kreacher's very essence burned like molten fire... Kreacher screamed for Master Regulus's salvation, cried out to beloved Mistress Black, but the Dark Lord merely laughed with cruel delight... He forced Kreacher to drain every last drop... then placed a locket within the emptied basin... refilling it with fresh potion."
"The Dark Lord rowed away in the boat, abandoning Kreacher alone upon that cursed island."
"You're recording this?" Sirius shouted to Lupin, his excitement mounting as if he'd uncovered intelligence of monumental importance.
"Every syllable," Professor Lupin confirmed, his wand raised and emanating the subtle glow of documentation magic.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
🔥 Want to read the next100+ chapters RIGHT NOW?
💎 Patreon members get instant access!
⚡ Limited-time offer currently running...
👉 [Join on Patreon - patreon.com/DarkGolds]