At Tver's words, Sirius's earlier anger vanished at once, replaced by a hint of embarrassment.
"This is Regulus's business. How could I let you risk yourselves for it?" His tone softened noticeably.
"This concerns Voldemort. Dawlish and I have to go," Tver said with a smile, exchanging a glance with Marvolio.
In truth, Marvolio had just subtly passed him a message. That cave was very likely a manifestation of Voldemort's power at his peak. Going there would also give them a reference point for judging Voldemort's strength after his resurrection.
Sirius hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
If Voldemort really had set up magic there, he would indeed need Tver's help. And the Auror beside him looked strong as well. If they could go together, all the better.
After all, he wasn't alone anymore. He couldn't keep risking his life recklessly like he used to.
"All right. Kreacher, take the three of us to the cave."
"I want to go too!" Harry said quickly, realizing he was about to be left behind.
"Sirius is my godfather, so Regulus should be my… my… uncle?"
Tver and the others burst out laughing.
The title of godfather only applied to Sirius himself, just as no one expected Harry to call Sirius's mother his grandmother.
Harry flushed red, scratching his head with an awkward grin, but his gaze remained fixed firmly on Sirius.
"I can't let you—"
"I think it's fine," Tver interrupted. "Harry also needs to see Voldemort's arrangements."
"If Voldemort truly returns one day, he won't spare Harry, the one who caused his first defeat."
At those words, Sirius's heart tightened at once.
"Why does Voldemort target the Potter family so specifically?"
"You'll have to ask him that yourself," Tver said with a shrug.
"All right. I think Kreacher is already eager to take us there."
Beside them, Kreacher, who had already wiped away his tears, bowed nervously.
"This young master, Kreacher would never dare speak out of turn to his master. Kreacher is always ready to serve."
Sirius shot him a disdainful look. He'd never been treated with that much courtesy himself.
"Then take us there. Harry, hold onto my arm tightly and stay close, understood? Otherwise, I won't let you go," he warned sternly.
"I will!" Harry nodded repeatedly, gripping Sirius's right arm as hard as he could.
Sirius reluctantly took Kreacher's small hand, while Tver and Marvolio naturally each grabbed one of Kreacher's arms.
Kreacher seemed genuinely impatient. Before Sirius could even give the order, they were instantly pulled into Apparition.
...
Harry's first experience with Apparition was far from pleasant, especially since it was passive. A wave of nausea rose immediately, making him feel like he might retch.
But the darkness before his eyes was even worse.
"Sirius?" Losing his sight made Harry panic, though the warmth coming from the arm he was holding helped steady him a little.
"Lumos!"
"Lumos!"
Tver and Sirius raised their wands, the light barely illuminating a small patch of ground ahead.
"Hold your wand tight, Harry," Tver said as he surveyed the cave, which seemed to carry a kind of suppressive force. "I imagine you've learned quite a few combat techniques. Stay alert."
"But I can't use magic outside school…"
"Compared to getting expelled from Hogwarts, I'd much rather you not lose your life over a law."
Harry stiffened at once. He hurriedly pulled the wand from his pocket, though he didn't cast the Lighting Charm, instead scanning the surroundings with obvious unease.
"Has the Lumos spell gotten weaker, or has the darkness grown thicker?" Sirius muttered in confusion.
"We'll know if we try."
The light at the tip of Tver's wand suddenly intensified, yet it still illuminated only that small area around them.
"What does that mean?" Marvolio asked, watching closely.
"It means Voldemort has set up a kind of rule-based power here," Tver said, his brow knitting tightly. "A rule that limits how bright a Lumos spell can be in this place."
This kind of power wasn't unfamiliar to wizards. Anti-Apparition wards were a classic example of rule-based magic.
Such spells affected anyone who met their conditions, even the caster themselves.
But Anti-Apparition magic was the result of thousands of years of trial, error, and refinement within the wizarding world. Voldemort, on the other hand, had created something similar on his own.
And this cavern likely held more than just one such spell.
That meant Voldemort, at the height of his power, might already have brushed up against the realm where Dumbledore could cast spells freely, guided purely by intent.
Even Tver himself had only begun to understand that level after coming into contact with Salazar.
After a moment's thought, Tver shook his head, casting off the heaviness in his expression, then snapped his wand sharply.
"Lumos Nox!"
A burst of deep blue light exploded out from the original white glow.
The cavern was still far from bright, but it was a vast improvement over the pitch-black darkness, enough for them to clearly make out the layout of the place.
Voldemort at his peak had been powerful, but that didn't mean Tver was any weaker.
With a satisfied air, Tver lowered his wand.
"Let's go. The stone basin should be over there." He pointed toward a spot glowing with a faint green light.
Remembering his own horrifying experience, Kreacher couldn't help but shudder.
"We came to bring Master Regulus home… There's no need to go back there, is there?"
"That's still Regulus's belonging," Sirius said firmly. "I won't leave it on Voldemort's ground."
"But how do we get across?" Harry looked around. Aside from the still surface of the lake, there was nothing but jagged stone. "Wasn't there supposed to be a little boat?"
"Stupid. Kreacher can Apparate," the house-elf snapped irritably.
"Kreacher, I won't allow you to speak to Harry like that!" Sirius said angrily, grabbing the elf's hand again. "Take us over there. Now!"
They Apparated once more. Perhaps because the distance was shorter, or because Harry was starting to adapt, he didn't react as violently this time.
After taking a moment to steady himself, he followed the others toward the stone basin.
It was filled to the brim with a vivid green liquid, the eerie glow radiating directly from it.
"Where's Regulus's locket?" Harry asked, puzzled.
"You have to drink all the potion to get the locket…" Kreacher shrank back fearfully. This kind of potion was far beyond what a house-elf could endure.
"Can't we just scoop it out? Or drain it?" Sirius reached toward the basin.
"Don't—"
Harry hadn't even finished speaking before he realized Sirius's hand couldn't enter it at all.
"If even Voldemort needed to bring a house-elf here to drink it," Tver said thoughtfully, "then this means the magic enforcing this rule can't be resisted."
"All right." Sirius took a deep breath. "I'll drink it."
This time, before Harry could protest, Tver stopped him.
"There's no need. The rule is that it has to be drunk dry, but it doesn't necessarily mean we have to be the ones to drink it."
"Who else would there be?" Sirius looked at Tver in confusion. "Kreacher?"
"What do you think?" Tver grinned as he walked toward the lake. "Down there, there are plenty of 'people' willing to help us."