Orli's gaze shifted toward Lupin, who acknowledged her unspoken question with the slightest nod.
"Sirius and I are now aware of the Horcruxes as well,"Lupin said, his voice carrying the weight of recent revelations. "We ventured to that cave Kreacher described... Sirius compelled Kreacher to drink the poison once more."
Dumbledore's expression darkened with unmistakable disapproval, his weathered features creasing into a frown.
"Beneath that stone basin, we discovered a locket bearing the Black family crest—completely devoid of any Dark Magic signatures. We opened it with surprising ease, only to find nothing but a handwritten note inside."
"I suspect that message was left by Regulus?"Dumbledore inquired, though his tone suggested he already knew the answer.
"Indeed."Lupin's voice trembled almost imperceptibly, like a string pulled too taut. He drew a steadying breath before continuing: "I intended to bring the actual note for your examination, but Sirius placed it back within the locket and now wears it constantly around his neck—he refuses to be parted from it even for a moment."
"Therefore, I can only relay its contents from memory:"
To the Dark Lord. I know I will be dead long before you read this, but I want you to know that it was I who discovered your secret. I have stolen the real Horcrux and intend to destroy it as soon as I can. I face death in the hope that when you meet your match, you will be mortal once more.
Lupin's recitation carried an undercurrent of barely suppressed grief that seemed to permeate the already somber atmosphere. Orli felt her eyes burn with unshed tears, her throat constricting with emotion she couldn't quite name.
"The note bore the signature R.A.B.—Regulus Arcturus Black."
"Regulus—yes, I remember that young man quite distinctly,"Dumbledore said with the distant look of someone peering through the mists of memory. "To think he was the first to uncover the secret of Voldemort's Horcruxes. How has Sirius been managing lately?"
"He's been scouring that accursed lake like a man possessed, searching for any trace of Regulus,"Lupin replied, exhaustion evident in every syllable. "You understand the boat's limitations—it can transport only one person at a time, perhaps two if we force Kreacher aboard. Sirius and I must alternate shifts, entering the cave to lure out clusters of Inferi, destroy them, examine their decomposed faces for any resemblance to Regulus, then begin the entire ghastly process anew."
Lupin shook his head with profound weariness. "We've found no trace of him yet."
"How unfortunate that the genuine Horcrux's location remains a mystery,"Dumbledore mused, his fingers steepled in contemplation. "If Kreacher's account proves reliable, the locket was indeed returned to Grimmauld Place, only to vanish once more."
"Precisely. According to Kreacher's description, it should be a considerably more ancient artifact—another locket, but with a lid of translucent amber containing what appeared to be a serpent crafted from precious gems."
"Slytherin's locket,"Dumbledore confirmed, his penetrating blue gaze settling on Orli with unmistakable significance.
"It has already been eliminated—during the summer holidays,"Orli stated with practiced calm. Years of necessity had honed her ability to weave truth and fiction seamlessly, her expression betraying nothing of the deception. Combined with her Occlumency training, even Dumbledore's legendary insight couldn't penetrate her carefully constructed facade.
"Regrettably, I was unable to preserve any remnants as evidence, but I can absolutely confirm its complete destruction."
"Orli? How did you accomplish such a feat?"Lupin asked, his amazement evident in both voice and expression.
"I enlisted Dobby's assistance for Apparition, then employed Fiendfyre,"Orli replied with deliberate brevity, offering no unnecessary details that might invite further scrutiny.
"An exceptionally clever approach,"Dumbledore observed, his eyes twinkling with what might have been approval—or perhaps suspicion. "I trust you exercised proper caution and didn't abandon the Fiendfyre to burn unchecked?"
"Certainly not, Professor. I instructed Dobby to transport me to a completely barren desert, far from any potential collateral damage. The magical fire consumed itself naturally within a short time,"Orli answered, her tone carrying just the right note of responsible concern.
The silence that followed seemed to pulse with unspoken questions and carefully guarded secrets, each person present harboring knowledge that could shift the balance of their desperate war.
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