Witcher at Hogwarts

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Sirius's determination to find his younger brother, Regulus, had brought him to the cave. Yet, as they faced the unknown, he was at a loss for what to do next.

"Let me think about it," Dumbledore said quietly.

Suddenly, Sirius raised his wand and cast the Flying Charm, "Wingardium Leviosa," aiming to lift the boat he hoped was hidden nearby.

Ethan tried to signal Sirius to stop, but it was too late. There was a loud, explosive sound from the lake, and a pale, sinister creature erupted from the water before crashing back in with a tremendous splash, soaking everyone.

Before they could identify the creature, it sank back into the lake, leaving only ripples on the surface.

"What kind of monster was that?" Sirius asked, wiping the water from his face, his voice filled with astonishment.

"It seems that Voldemort has set a protective measure here to prevent intruders," Dumbledore murmured.

"We must adhere to his rules."

"I'm sorry—I acted impulsively," Sirius admitted, his frustration evident.

"It's alright," Dumbledore said gently.

"I anticipated that Voldemort's complex defenses wouldn't be easily bypassed. Your actions have helped us understand the nature of these protections."

Dumbledore's words, though meant to reassure, only deepened Sirius's embarrassment.

"We need to move forward. According to Kreacher, there should be a boat here. We need to reach the island in the lake's center," Dumbledore said.

"There is a boat! Kreacher will find it for you!" Kreacher declared sharply. He then scurried ahead, his small frame darting forward as he led them along.

After a short while, Kreacher halted and squinted at a spot.

"It's here, gentlemen!" he announced.

Kreacher stepped forward, searching the area with his hands, and soon cried in surprise, "Here! Kreacher found it!"

In his hand was a thick copper chain covered in green rust. Kreacher tugged at it with all his might, but the chain only clanked against the ground. House elves are not known for their strength.

Sirius stepped in, taking hold of the chain. With considerable effort, he pulled it from the lake and twisted it into a pile on the ground. The clinking sound echoed loudly through the cavern, filling the silence.

A deep "gudong" reverberated from the lake as Sirius continued to pull.

Finally, a small boat emerged from the water, its size accommodating only one person. Sirius eyed the boat warily.

"Could this be a trap?" Sirius said, his voice tinged with anxiety.

"Why would Voldemort leave such a means of transport to retrieve his Horcrux? It doesn't make sense—it has to be a trap!"

"Let me see." Dumbledore took a few steps closer and scrutinized the boat.

He raised his wand and tapped the boat several times, examining it in detail.

"No traps," Dumbledore announced.

"This boat is typical of Tom's methods."

"This vessel is cleverly concealed. Without Kreacher, it would have taken me quite some time to find it. Tom must be extremely confident, believing no one could uncover it."

Dumbledore paused, seemingly deep in thought.

"However, Voldemort is sure to have set up safeguards that only he can bypass. As for what those might be, we'll have to discover that ourselves," he continued.

"What if the monster in the lake attacks us while we're in the boat?" Sirius asked.

"If it had detected that we were not Voldemort, it would have attacked. But since it allowed us to pull the boat up, we're in the clear," Dumbledore explained.

"We need to send someone to the island in the middle of the lake to avoid arousing the monster's suspicion. I'll take the boat while you and Ethan use Kreacher to get there," Dumbledore directed Sirius.

Sirius, Ethan, and Kreacher agreed, recognizing that following Dumbledore's plan was the right course of action.

They quickly set to work: Dumbledore boarded the boat, and Ethan and Sirius used Kreacher to move them to the island in the lake's center.

With a loud pop, Ethan, Sirius, and Kreacher arrived on the island. The boat, moving slower than Kreacher's Apparition, had not yet reached the shore.

Ethan took the opportunity to study the island. It was a tiny landmass holding a large, very flat rock with a smooth surface.

As they approached, Ethan and Sirius realized the rock was a massive stone basin, glowing with a vivid green light.

Ethan stepped closer to examine it. The basin was filled with a luminescent, emerald-green liquid that cast a shimmering light throughout the cave.

"Ethan, look over there!" Sirius called out, gripping Ethan's shoulder as he pointed toward the lake.

A pale shape floated motionless on the lake's surface, resembling a reef.

Ethan squinted to get a better look and soon recognized it as a human back.

Just then, Dumbledore arrived on the boat. The boat's motion caused the body to turn, revealing the front of the corpse.

The lower half of the corpse was submerged, leaving only the chest and face visible above the water. The corpse's pale chest and face were eerily unchanged, with its eyes wide open and cloudy, as if covered in a web of spider silk. Its hair and robes moved about as if stirred by an invisible wind.

For some reason, the body showed no signs of decay.

"The lake is full of Inferni," Sirius whispered.

"My brother is among them."

"It's going to be alright," Ethan said, reassuringly patting Sirius's shoulder.

"We'll bring your brother back."

As they spoke, Dumbledore deftly maneuvered the boat to the island, stepping ashore with a skill that belied his age, avoiding contact with the lake altogether.