Witcher at Hogwarts

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"This is it." Dumbledore stepped onto the island, surveying his surroundings with a calm intensity.

His gaze soon fell upon a stone basin, its eerie presence drawing him closer.

"This must be Tom's final safeguard," Dumbledore murmured, his eyes fixed on the basin.

A sickly green light emanated from the potion within, casting an unsettling glow on Dumbledore's face and distorting his features.

Without hesitation, Dumbledore extended his hand towards the basin, his fingers brushing against an invisible barrier that resisted his touch. It was as though an unseen wall prevented him from delving further.

"Just as I suspected," Dumbledore said, his voice steady.

"This is Tom's magic—a barrier that only he can penetrate."

"So, there's nothing we can do?" Sirius asked, his eyes narrowing as he stared into the murky liquid, searching for the pendant his brother had once hidden.

"Not necessarily," Dumbledore replied.

"I have a few tricks left."

Dumbledore traced a complex symbol above the basin, raising his wand and muttering incantations under his breath. Ethan and Sirius watched intently, understanding this was a battle between a master and a former student.

The potion shimmered momentarily, then returned to its original state.

"I taught Tom this spell," Dumbledore said quietly, his eyes reflecting pride and regret.

Sirius stepped closer, scrutinizing the potion, but the pendant remained elusive.

"How can I retrieve it?" Sirius demanded, his voice tinged with desperation.

"It's my brother's relic—I must get it back."

Dumbledore sighed. "I'm afraid the only way is to drink the potion."

Kreacher, standing nearby, nodded vigorously.

"Yes, yes! Kreacher remembers... Kreacher and the young master, one by one..."

The memory seemed to chill him, and he shuddered.

"This is madness!" Sirius exclaimed, stepping forward with determination.

"I'll deal with this cursed potion myself."

He cast a vanishing spell, but the potion remained unchanged, its surface smooth and mocking, reflecting Sirius's frustrated face.

His anger flared. "I refuse to believe it's invincible!" he shouted.

Sirius grabbed a stone and transformed it into a hook with a quick wand flick. He was determined to fish out the fake Horcrux that Regulus had sacrificed so much to place within the potion.

When Sirius's iron hook touched the potion, a harsh, acrid smoke rose from the surface. The hook sizzled, emitting a grating, metallic screech. The iron had corroded away in mere moments, leaving only the handle clutched in Sirius's hand.

"Damn it!" Sirius cursed, throwing the handle to the ground in frustration.

"I warned you, Black. This potion can only be removed by drinking it," Dumbledore said, his tone both gentle and grave.

Sirius hesitated, his eyes drawn to the eerie, green liquid swirling ominously in the basin. Finally, his resolve hardened.

"I'll drink it," Sirius declared, determination etched into every line of his face.

"I'm getting that pendant back."

"No, Master! You can't!" Kreacher cried out sharply, his voice laced with fear.

"Think this through, Black," Dumbledore urged, his voice serious, almost pleading.

Sirius's gaze didn't waver.

"I have thought it through. My brother endured this, and so can I. I need to retrieve his relic—his pendant."

Seeing the unwavering determination in Sirius's eyes, Dumbledore sighed, realizing further persuasion was futile. With a swift wand movement, he conjured a glass and handed it to Sirius.

"I respect your decision, Black," Dumbledore said solemnly.

"Master, please! You can't drink it! The pain will be unbearable! Let Kreacher do it!" Kreacher screamed, desperation in his voice.

"No! I have to do this myself!" Sirius replied firmly.

"Kreacher, you must make sure I drink every drop. If I try to stop, force me to finish it! That's an order!"

"Master, no! You'll die if you drink this potion!" Kreacher wailed, but Sirius was beyond listening.

Steeling himself, Sirius stepped forward, dipped the glass into the potion, and, with a determined tilt of his head, downed the first cup.

The moment the liquid hit his throat, Sirius's expression twisted in agony. His eyes clenched shut, his facial features contorted, and his entire body began to tremble uncontrollably.

The pain was unimaginable—his insides felt as though an inferno was scorching them. But the physical torment paled in comparison to the mental anguish that assailed him.

Images flashed through Sirius's mind, each more horrifying than the last. He saw the night before James and Lily's deaths, reliving every agonizing moment. He watched them lying on the ground, their lifeless eyes suddenly reopening, filled with blood and tears, staring accusingly at him, demanding to know why he had betrayed them.

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry," Sirius murmured, his voice choked with guilt.

Summoning every ounce of his willpower, Sirius reached for the cup again. His hands shook violently as he dipped it into the potion once more and forced the burning liquid down his throat.

"Ah!" Sirius cried out, the pain overwhelming him. He fell to the ground, unable to continue. The cup slipped from his hand, spilling its contents across the floor. Yet, as if by some dark magic, the potion in the basin drew the spilled liquid back to itself, replenishing what had been lost.

Sirius lay on the cold ground, his body convulsing. His mind was a battlefield of torment. He saw Peter Pettigrew, that traitorous rat reporting to Voldemort, revealing James and Lily's secret hiding place. He saw Pettigrew and Voldemort laughing, mocking his foolishness. And then, Pettigrew turned, his eyes gleaming with malice, snickering at Sirius.

"Oh my God, I didn't… I didn't…" Sirius stammered, unable to bear the crushing weight of his guilt and pain.

But then, amid the horror, another image emerged. Regulus. Sirius saw his younger brother, a boy again, playing with him in the gardens of their childhood home. He saw Regulus as a fresh-faced student, just starting at Hogwarts, wandering the corridors with an innocent smile. These memories cut through the darkness, offering Sirius a fleeting glimpse of warmth and light amidst his torment.