The Cave

Read up to 25 chapters ahead on Patreon - patreon.com/Dark_sym

-----

Mrs. Black began to sob once more.

Seeing her in such a state, Dumbledore silently stepped back, intending to leave her in peace.

"Albus," Mrs. Black called out just as he was leaving.

"Please... take care of Sirius. He's all that's left," she whispered, her voice frail.

"I would do so even if you hadn't asked," Dumbledore replied calmly.

By the time Dumbledore rejoined Ethan and Sirius Black, Sirius was visibly impatient.

He didn't care what his mother had discussed with Dumbledore; all he wanted now was to retrieve his brother's body from that dreadful place as quickly as possible.

"Alright, Kreacher, take us there now," Sirius demanded, his tone sharp with impatience.

"Master, do you truly intend to return to that place?" Kreacher asked, his voice trembling.

"For Merlin's sake, Kreacher! This is the eighth time I've told you—yes! I must go!" Sirius shouted, his frustration boiling over.

"Kreacher believes you should ask the mistress first," Kreacher suggested cautiously.

"Merlin's beard! You foolish elf!" Sirius was nearly beside himself with anger.

"I am your master now! It's me! My mother is just a painting!"

"How dare the young master speak of his mother like that!" Kreacher shrieked, dashing out of the room to complain to Mrs. Black.

Sirius was left alone, seething with anger, pacing back and forth.

A short while later, Kreacher returned, looking dejected.

"The mistress says... she permits Kreacher to take the young master to the cave," Kreacher muttered quietly.

"Finally! You're satisfied!" Sirius exclaimed, barely containing his exasperation.

"Now, take us to the cave! Immediately!"

"Yes, Master," Kreacher responded obediently.

"Please hold Kreacher's hand."

Ethan, Dumbledore, and Sirius exchanged glances before forming a circle, each taking hold of Kreacher's hand.

With a loud "pop," they vanished from the Black family home.

In an instant, they reappeared on an unfamiliar beach. Ethan inhaled deeply, taking in the salty sea breeze.

He surveyed their surroundings. It was late at night, and the crashing waves were thunderous. The sea breeze tousled his hair as he took in the scene.

The moonlight shimmered on the dark, restless sea, where the horizon seemed to merge with the starry sky.

They stood on a jagged, high black rock jutting from the ocean. The waves rolled and crashed against the rock below, filling the air with foam and thunderous noise.

Ethan squinted as he scanned the area. The rocks were barren and desolate—there were no trees, grass, or sand—just an expanse of black, rocky shoreline.

"Where is that cave, Kreacher?" Sirius Black asked with a frown, scanning the area but finding no trace of the cave.

"Everyone follow Kreacher! Kreacher will take you to the cave!" Kreacher squeaked in his high-pitched voice.

He led the trio to the edge of the rock, where jagged fissures provided precarious footholds for climbing down to the cliff below. At the bottom, the cliff was littered with giant, slippery pebbles, polished smooth by years of relentless sea waves.

"Light!" Kreacher snapped his fingers, and a glowing light appeared in his hand. The light illuminated the dark, turbulent sea and the jagged rock walls around them.

"There! The cave is there!" Kreacher said, pointing with his thin arm to a narrow crack in the rock wall.

The sea below was treacherous, with dangerous rapids converging into a swirling vortex.

"We have to jump down and swim there—it's the only way to reach the cave," Kreacher said, piercing the night.

Without hesitation, Sirius Black bit down on his wand and, with a splash, plunged into the sea.

Dumbledore followed closely behind, diving into the water with a graceful leap.

Ethan hesitated, staring at the ominous, dark waters below. He had always feared heights, and this descent into the unknown was unnerving.

"What are you waiting for? Get down here!" Sirius shouted, his voice barely audible over the crashing waves as he bobbed in the icy water.

With no other choice, Ethan gritted his teeth, took a deep breath, and jumped into the frigid sea. The impact of the water stung, and the cold immediately seeped into his bones. Gasping, he broke the surface and inhaled the salty air.

The three of them, now soaked to the skin, remained silent as they followed the orb of light above Kreacher's head, swimming toward the gap in the rock that Kreacher had pointed out.

The further they swam, the narrower the crack became, eventually transforming into a dark, narrow passage. Kreacher's light reflected off the wet rock walls, creating eerie ripples that danced across the cave.

They swam deeper into the passage, the water growing colder with every stroke. Ethan's hands and feet were numb, the freezing water sapping his strength.

At last, Ethan saw Sirius, who had been leading the way, stand up in the shallows. They had reached the end of the passage.

"Are we there?" Sirius asked Kreacher, his voice trembling from the cold.

"Yes, we're here," Kreacher replied, his voice quivering with fear. His entire body was shaking, not just from the cold but also from the memories of his previous visit to this dreadful place.

The air in the cave was unnaturally cold, but Dumbledore stood in the center, seemingly unaffected. The tip of his wand glowed brightly as he surveyed their surroundings.

"This place reeks of Voldemort," Sirius muttered under his breath.

"There is a door," Kreacher stammered, pointing shakily. The cave's mere presence brought back Kreacher's deep-seated terror.

Sirius searched the cave, his hands running along the smooth, damp rock walls, but he found nothing resembling a door. It was just an ordinary, eerie cave.

"Kreacher, are you toying with us?" Sirius asked, irritation creeping into his voice.

"No!" Dumbledore interjected, his eyes narrowing as he carefully examined the rock wall. "I can sense it—there's a hidden magic here," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.