Dumbledore did not specifically pull the boat prepared by Voldemort from the Black Lake, nor did he place the Pendant Box on the stone platform in the middle of the lake.
He simply bent down casually and placed Slytherin's Pendant Box carelessly on the ground.
If Vid remembered correctly, that was the very place where Regulus, turned into an Inferi, lay the last time.
"This is a relic of Salazar Slytherin," Dumbledore said with regret, "If possible, I would have liked to preserve it."
"Unfortunately..." Sirius said coldly, "It has been tainted by the dirty soul of Salazar Slytherin's descendant."
The place where Regulus perished seemed to evoke many unpleasant memories for him. Sirius's expression was unfriendly, even in front of Dumbledore, showing little respect.
"Who can predict what will happen a thousand years later?"
Lupin said gently, "At least when the four founders established Hogwarts, they surely had grand and pure ideals. We studied here and gained so much."
His calmness was like warm water, soothing the resentment and anger in Sirius's heart.
"Let's step back a bit," Dumbledore said. "What happens next might not be very pleasant to see."
The group retreated to the edge of the cave, watching as Dumbledore pointed his magic wand at the Pendant Box on the ground, emitting a "hiss hiss hiss" sound.
"Open?" Harry said in surprise.
"Parseltongue?" The two adult Wizards were even more shocked.
"I think when Harry opened the Chamber of Secret last time, Dumbledore had already grasped the pronunciation," Vid explained.
As they spoke, the Pendant Box on the ground opened, and a vague human figure rose from the box, gradually forming the figure of a girl.
"Why did you do this to me? Why kill me? Did I do something wrong?"
Vid and the others saw that Dumbledore's once steady back suddenly became frail, and his hand holding the magic wand was trembling.
Sirius and the others looked surprised at Dumbledore, then at the girl, not understanding what was happening.
The girl, with a tearful and plaintive voice, lamented sorrowfully. Her red eyes appeared extremely eerie and evil, with twisted resentment on her face.
"You know... You did it... You know what you've done... You're just like him, aren't you, Albus? You and Gri..."
"Defodio!"
Without hesitation, Vid cast a spell, and the girl's figure was instantly dispersed but quickly reformed.
This time, she turned into a blond boy, saying in a seductive voice, "I can see your heart, Dumbledore... Do you really understand what..."
Before he could finish, Dumbledore's wand suddenly swung mightily!
An ancient spell resonated in the cave, and with a "puff", a bluish-white flame surged up, engulfing the figure in an instant.
Vid and the others only heard a very short, sharp scream — so short as if it were an illusion, and the figure vanished like a burst soap bubble.
As if it had never existed at all.
Seconds later, the flames finally disappeared, and Slytherin's Pendant Box had completely changed in appearance —
The colorful silk lining and the gems on it were incinerated entirely, leaving only a puddle of golden-red molten metal on the ground, which gradually turned to a dark color.
An unusual atmosphere made the young adults afraid to speak.
Moments later, Kreacher finally reacted, throwing himself on the ground, wailing and crying. The piercing cries echoed through the vast cave, making it even more eerie.
Sirius finally came to his senses; he didn't have the heart to explore what the apparition was, he only looked at the portrait he held in his arms as his first thought.
He only saw a corner of a robe.
Regulus had left his portrait, gone who knows where.
— Even if he's just a painting, he might need a quiet place...
Sirius thought, his heart suddenly feeling a bit empty.
Dumbledore came back, his expression seemingly unchanged from before.
"Professor..." Harry mustered the courage to ask, "That was..."
"Just one of Tom's tricks to confuse people," Dumbledore said calmly. "I must admit, he's quite skilled at stirring people's hearts."
For some reason, the usually slow Harry suddenly realized — he shouldn't ask any further.
"The Pendant Box has been destroyed; I suppose Regulus in the other world, if he knew, would also feel some comfort."
Dumbledore finally showed a gentle smile and said, "You should take the children back first — there might still be some Inferi left in this place."
"Yes, Professor."
Sirius and Lupin, like students again, obediently responded.
"Let's go!"
Sirius, with an arm around Harry, led him out of the cave.
They needed to leave the cave before they could Apparate home.
"Vid, let's go too," Lupin said, extending his hand.
"You all go ahead," Vid said. "I still have some matters to discuss with Professor Dumbledore."
Lupin gave him a glance and, seeing that Dumbledore didn't object, nodded and said, "Alright."
He casually picked up the still-crying Kreacher from the ground and also left the cave.
Dumbledore took off his glasses, rubbed his brow, having some guesses about why Vid stayed behind.
"Vid, do you want to ask about the spell just now? I can understand your eagerness to learn, but this is still too dangerous for you... Though it's not Dark Magic, it's much more dangerous than the Fiendfyre Curse..."
He might have been in a bad mood and unconsciously babbled a bit.
"Professor," Vid interrupted softly, "That thing... I still have one in my hand."
"What thing?"
Dumbledore for a moment did not react.
Vid didn't explain immediately; he looked at the other, knowing the headmaster would soon understand.
Sure enough, after a moment, Dumbledore knew what Vid was referring to. His eyes slowly widened, and his blue eyes were filled with a myriad of emotions.
Not just pure shock or delight...
Countless indescribable emotions seemed to burst forth momentarily, reflected in the cave's green glow, so complex that Vid felt a chill.
He subconsciously wanted to step back, but as his steps shifted slightly, Vid controlled himself not to retreat.
He held his breath and stared directly at the other.
After a few breaths, Dumbledore finally spoke softly, "You have... another Soul Artifact?"
"Unbelievable, isn't it?" Vid said, feigning a relaxed smile, "But I genuinely have one."