The quiet cave entrance was filled with the roar of waves as seawater surged in like a thousand charging horses, sweeping everything before it.
"Don't move," Sirius heard Wayne's warning just as he was about to dodge.
Only then did he realise this deluge was Wayne's doing.
Wayne's hands danced like a conductor's, and the rushing seawater seemed to have eyes, deftly avoiding the platform where the three stood before crashing mercilessly into the black lake, turning the world upside down.
All of Voldemort's traps were triggered. Aside from the Inferi, the twenty-metre-long white creature revealed its full form—an enormous, monstrous shark.
These dark creatures struggled furiously, but against the might of nature, they were less than a leaf adrift, helpless against the tide.
The black lake emitted thick, dark mist. Hundreds of Inferi had barely surfaced before the waves dragged them back into the depths.
Perhaps this Black Lake seemed vast on its own, but compared to the entire ocean, it was no more than a drop of ink.
Wayne was like the most diligent cleaner, wielding the sea's power to scour away the filth here.
Visibly, the lake's colour grew lighter with each surge, as waves carried away portions of its tainted waters.
Sirius gaped at the spectacle before finally stammering, "Are you the King of the Sea?"
"How did you know?" Wayne looked at him in surprise.
"I'm not blind," Sirius said irritably. This method of manipulating the sea was utterly un-magical!
Wayne realised he and Sirius might not be talking about the same thing.
He reached out, separating a massive orb of water from the seawater that enveloped all the Inferi. As for the giant shark, he simply tossed it aside.
"I know this move! It's the Orb of Water, the ultimate control spell!" Sirius exclaimed excitedly.
"Speaking of which, Wayne, couldn't you just sell those game cards directly? There are so many spells I still haven't drawn yet."
With the situation now fully under control, Sirius was in the mood for casual conversation.
He was currently an avid fan of Hogwarts: Magic Awakened. Celia Store in Diagon Alley also sold card packs, but he'd nearly cleared them out. Wayne still hadn't restocked.
"Impossible. The thrill is in the drawing. Buying complete cards directly would be boring."
Sirius thought about it and nodded in agreement.
Every time he saw that golden glow during a draw, his heart would pound wildly—it was incredibly exhilarating.
"Alright, you two identify which one is Regulus," Wayne said, pulling the water orb closer before dividing it into smaller orbs for easier identification by Sirius and Kreacher.
After each batch was examined and confirmed not to contain Regulus, Wayne simply tossed the Inferi back into the now-clear lake.
Finally, on the seventh attempt, Kreacher shouted excitedly:
"Young Master Regulus!"
Sirius also recognised his brother: "Wayne, quick! The third from the left!"
The young man looked up to see a male Inferi indistinguishable from the others. With shrivelled skin and drained blood, it was impossible to determine his age.
"Are you sure?" Wayne asked again.
"He has a birthmark on his chest," Sirius pointed out. "And on his left arm—that should be the Dark Mark!"
After disposing of the other Inferi into the depths of the lake, Wayne pulled Regulus to the shore. Freed from restraint, Regulus instinctively reached out to attack them.
"Petrificus Totalus!" A bolt of light shot from Sirius's wand, immobilising him.
Seeing his revered young master reduced to this monstrous state, Kreacher began sobbing again, while Sirius's eyes reddened.
Wayne comforted them: "There are ways to restore an Inferi to a normal corpse. Lockhart wrote about it in his books."
Sirius had heard some things from Lupin and asked sceptically, "Wasn't he a fraud?"
"The man was a fraud, but most of the events were real," Wayne explained. "It's just that the process is quite troublesome, so few attempt it."
"Then let's hurry back," Sirius decided, resolved to buy a complete set of Lockhart's books immediately upon returning.
"Not so fast." Wayne shook his head, gazing at the small island at the lake's centre.
It still emitted an eerie green glow.
Wayne said softly, "The locket inside is Regulus's relic after all. I think we should retrieve it."
"Oh, kind and gracious young master! Your benevolence far surpasses that of the elder master!" Kreacher praised, his head nearly touching the ground, completely ignoring Sirius's darkening expression.
"Kreacher is willing to help, Kreacher can drink all the potion inside!"
"No need for such trouble." With a light tap of Wayne's wand, a large rock beside them transformed into a small boat, spacious enough to carry all three.
Voldemort's trap had long since deactivated, allowing the trio to reach the central islet without incident.
The heavy stone basin was filled with green liquid, from which the faint glow originated.
Sirius reached out to touch it, but was blocked by an invisible barrier.
Wayne attempted to control the potion using his Tidecaller abilities, but failed.
"What now? Do we really have to drink all the potion?" Sirius asked anxiously.
Kreacher was eager to try.
Despite the immense pain, he was willing to endure it to retrieve Regulus's relic.
"Don't rush. Let me study this first."
As he spoke, Wayne pointed his wand around the basin, as if searching for something.
"Found it." The boy's eyes lit up as his wand glowed gold, pressing against a specific node.
A crisp, shattering sound echoed as the invisible shackles broke. The potion in the basin rippled, its protective layer dispelled.
Then, Wayne placed his hand on the basin.
Knight Does Not Die Empty-Handed, activate!
In an instant, Wayne seized control of the basin, and the potion within obeyed his command, floating effortlessly.
Sirius swiftly retrieved Slytherin's Locket from inside, wearing a triumphant smile.
The green liquid settled back into the basin. Just as Sirius and Kreacher thought they were finally leaving, Wayne began another round of tinkering.
He picked up a rock from the ground and transfigured it into a replica of Regulus's locket, even borrowing the real one from Sirius to ensure perfect accuracy.
He matched every detail, even the weight.
"Are you trying to fool Voldemort?" Sirius asked curiously.
"Correct. And leaving him a little gift too." With that, Wayne pulled out his suitcase and climbed inside in front of them. He emerged moments later holding a sphere the size of a Bludger.
"This is the Dungbomb Pro·Max·Plus·Ultra edition. One detonation, and the stench will knock someone out instantly."
He paused, then added, "Even noseless individuals can smell it. And I've enchanted the odour to linger for seven days and nights."
An image flashed through Sirius's mind.
Voldemort arrives at his treasure trove, eagerly inspecting his prized possession, only for the locket to open and the Dungbomb to explode.
"Pfft!"
He couldn't help but laugh, giving a thumbs-up.
"That's brilliant!"
"Reducio!" Wayne shrank the Dungbomb to the size of a pea, stuffed it into the locket, and tossed the locket back into the basin.
This clearly demonstrated the unreliability of Horcruxes as an immortality method.
Not only could the creator not sense their Horcrux's location remotely, even when it was right before their eyes, they'd need a thorough examination to confirm it was genuine.
Take Harry, for example. Voldemort died without ever realising he'd accidentally created a living Horcrux.
Having completed everything, Wayne tossed several more dungbombs into the lake before finally leaving the cave with Kreacher and Sirius in satisfaction, returning to the Black ancestral home.
...
"Headmaster, what brings you here?"
When Kreacher brought the two back to the Black residence, they were surprised to find that apart from Lupin, Dumbledore had also joined them in the room.
"I was the one who called Professor Dumbledore," Lupin explained. "Shortly after you left, Headmaster Phineas came visiting. I used him to relay the message to Hogwarts."
"Sirius!" Phineas shouted. "Did you bring Regulus back or not? He's the Black Family's hero!"
"Shut it!" Sirius snapped irritably. "He's my brother, too. Of course, I brought him back."
"Sirius, Wayne, this was far too reckless of you," Dumbledore said sternly. "Why didn't you inform me before undertaking such a dangerous mission?"
"Professor," Wayne replied with a smile. "If even I couldn't handle it, having you along wouldn't have made much difference, would it?"
Dumbledore said calmly, "At the very least, I could have sacrificed my life to ensure your survival."
Wayne's teasing smile vanished, and he unconsciously straightened his posture.
He could tell there wasn't an ounce of pretence in Dumbledore's words—they came straight from the heart.
"Professor Dumbledore, Wayne was truly remarkable," Sirius chimed in, deeply moved but eager to shift focus from the scolding. "Voldemort's traps posed no threat to him at all..."
He recounted their experiences after entering the cave, and Dumbledore's expression gradually grew more animated.
The power to command the sea. An Orb of Water capable of restraining thousands of Inferi.
And finally, that method even he couldn't comprehend, effortlessly dismantling Voldemort's meticulously laid traps.
As he watched the young man blush modestly under Sirius's praise, a sudden wave of resignation washed over Dumbledore.
Perhaps... he should just leave the matter of dealing with Voldemort to Wayne?
In such a short time, Wayne had already uncovered another Horcrux. Moreover, he'd likely deduced that Voldemort's other Horcruxes were connected to the remaining founders.
With Wayne's nature—one that would put even a dragon to shame—even if he weren't fighting for magical society's peace and stability, his pursuit of these treasures alone would inevitably pit him against Voldemort.
Wouldn't that allow Dumbledore to enjoy his retirement in peace?
Yet this thought only briefly flickered through Dumbledore's mind.
He wasn't the type to shirk responsibility onto others.
Voldemort's rise was closely tied to his own failures. He'd recognised Tom Riddle's darkness but chose to turn a blind eye—a mistake he'd made, one that shouldn't fall upon Wayne's shoulders.
"Professor, what's on your mind?" Wayne asked, noticing the odd look in Dumbledore's eyes and subtly taking two steps back.
"Old age brings wandering thoughts," Dumbledore deflected, offering a casual excuse.
Wayne rolled his eyes. He wasn't buying that for a second.
"Hey! Will someone pay attention to me?" Phineas jumped agitatedly within his portrait frame. "Where is Regulus's body?"
Sirius opened the dragonhide pouch in his hand and released Regulus.
Seeing his descendant reduced to such a state, Phineas was nearly driven mad with fury.
"Damn it! Damn that half-blood bastard! Damn that half-blood Voldemort! How dare he disgrace the Black Family like this!"
"Dumbledore, go and kill him at once!"
Dumbledore said calmly, "Phineas, please compose yourself. Voldemort hasn't even been resurrected yet. How can we speak of killing him?"
"But there's still..." Phineas tried to continue, but fell silent under Dumbledore's sharp gaze.
Lupin glanced at them both in confusion.
What had Phineas been about to say?
"Leave Regulus to me," Dumbledore said softly. "I'll find an expert to help restore him as much as possible."
"You mean... Professor Snape?" Wayne asked quietly.
Dumbledore nodded. "Severus is not only a Potions Master, but also highly accomplished in Dark Magic. He's undoubtedly the most suitable candidate."
"Can't we choose someone else?" Sirius said reluctantly, never imagining he'd have to beg a favour from Snape one day.
"What are you thinking!"
Phineas rebuked him harshly. "This isn't just about you! Does the honour of the Black Family mean less than your petty grudges?"
Sirius lowered his head without retorting.
In the end, he handed the sack containing Regulus's body to Dumbledore.
Then Wayne produced Regulus's imitation of Slytherin's Locket.
"Keep this as a memento."
Sirius nodded solemnly. This was Regulus's finest work, his last pride.
As he took it, his fingers accidentally brushed the clasp.
The locket sprang open, revealing a folded piece of parchment.
"Is this... a letter from Regulus?" Sirius's eyes shone with excitement as he carefully unfolded the parchment. Soon, tears were streaming down his face once more.
That single day, he'd wept more than in the past thirty years combined.
Meeting the others' curious gazes, Sirius read the letter's contents aloud with immense pride.
When you read this, I will have been dead for some time.
But I want you to know it was I who discovered your secret.
I stole 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.
— R.A.B.
By the end, Sirius was sobbing uncontrollably. Kreacher had prostrated himself on the floor, knocking his head repeatedly against the ground.
Phineas breathed heavily, his eyes red-rimmed, before suddenly bursting into laughter.
"See this! This is what it means to be a Black! Always noble, always pure!"
"Regulus, you are the finest of our family. I'm proud to call you my descendant!"
Dumbledore's hands trembled as he looked down at Regulus's lifeless form, then bowed deeply.
Though the final war hadn't yet begun, its first martyr had already emerged.
Tonight, the brightest star in the sky would undoubtedly be Arcturus.