When those three letters were shouted from Lucas's mouth, Meilia's body instantly became as if petrified, frozen in place.
It seemed as if she recalled something, yet something else appeared to prevent her from remembering those things.
Soon, her expression became pained. Lockhart immediately went to her side, raising his wand, attempting to use this opportunity to finally break the deeply ingrained Memory Charm within her mind.
Sirius, however, only felt bewildered by the three letters. He thought the house-elf was still trying to hide something, deliberately using a clever trick to utter a false name.
"Even now, you're still putting up a desperate fight! We need to know that person's real name, his real..."
However, before Sirius could finish, Severus stopped him, preventing him from continuing his question.
Sirius instinctively tried to look up and demand why Severus had stopped him, but just as he raised his head, he saw the peculiar expression on Severus's face.
Among those present, apart from Meilia, Severus was the only one whose expression changed upon hearing those three letters.
"You know who he is, this person he mentioned?" Sirius said keenly.
Severus did not answer his question immediately. Instead, facing Lucas, he spoke in a grave tone.
"He came to you before he made up his mind to go to that cave. He knew he might not come back alive. To prevent Meilia from grieving over him like she did when the Fawleys were killed, he used a Memory Charm on Meilia and asked you to quietly watch over your young mistress?"
Lucas stared at Severus in disbelief.
"You! How do you know where the Sir was going!!"
"He and Meilia, your young mistress, were once classmates, friends, correct?" Severus pressed further.
"They were the best of friends! No one was closer than them!" Lucas cried out. "The Sir modified the young mistress's memory to protect her! He was afraid she might do something foolish because of it! But... but..."
"But he misjudged Meilia's attachment to him. Even such a Memory Charm couldn't make her completely forget certain things. And by herself, Meilia couldn't break through the barrier of that charm to remember what she always wanted to, ultimately leading her to become like this."
"The Sir didn't want this either! The Sir didn't want this, but he couldn't... he just couldn't!" Lucas muttered.
Sirius was growing frantic. He could see that Severus clearly knew who this R.A.B. was, yet he had never once spoken the person's real name.
By then, Lockhart had also lowered his wand. The pain on Meilia's face had eased, but she hadn't remembered anything as a result. Instead, she had reverted to her previous blank, vacant state.
"No can do. The person who cast this Memory Charm is skilled. Although the technique wasn't polished, he had a deep understanding of the spell. This level of influence isn't enough to break it."
Lockhart shook his head with a sigh.
Severus, however, didn't show any sign of worry. He said softly,
"She will remember those things. Today, we can take her to meet the person who made her forget him."
These words made Lucas instantly leap up from the ground. This incredibly ancient-looking house-elf was visibly agitated, clutching tightly at the hem of Severus's robe.
"You! You mean the Sir is alive! He didn't die! I can still see him! The young mistress can still see him!!"
Severus gently patted its withered hand.
"Calm down, Lucas. It's not what you think. He is dead. He didn't survive. I can take you to find him, but only his remains."
Tears the size of beans streamed down from Lucas's large eyes. It couldn't help but sob loudly. It was a long time before it calmed down again.
"Also, Sirius, weren't you wanting to go to the place where your brother finally went?" At this moment, Severus turned back to Sirius and said, "We can go now."
For a moment, Sirius didn't grasp what Severus was saying. He hadn't connected the matter at hand with Regulus at all.
But by then, Severus was already in motion.
"Let's go. We'll go back to the Black House first. We need Kreacher's help to reach that place."
"My house? Kreacher?" Sirius followed behind Severus, still somewhat dazed.
It wasn't until the group, bringing Meilia and Lucas, returned to the Black ancestral home that Sirius seemed to snap out of it. His expression shifted, turning red, then white, finally settling into an unusually pale pallor. He pressed his lips together, his thoughts unreadable.
"Take us to that place, Kreacher. Take us there."
Kreacher stared blankly at him, then looked at the others behind him. It shook its head frantically.
"No, can't. Kreacher can't..."
"He has been sleeping there for too long. We are going to bring him back to his own home." Severus simply crouched down and looked seriously at Kreacher.
Kreacher's eyes brimmed with tears. It covered its face with both hands. Only after a long while did its constantly heaving shoulders finally still.
"Go... Kreacher can take you... to bring... bring Master Regulus... home..."