However, Severus's gentle attempts at pacification didn't seem to have much effect.
Lucas continued to shake its body, constantly struggling, displaying intense resistance.
"With creatures like house-elves, you really don't need to bother with lengthy discussions!" Sirius snarled at that moment. "They are different from wizards, yes, but they are still affected by spells and potions! If we want to know what's in its mind, we don't necessarily have to seek its permission!"
These words caused Lucas to let out a piercing shriek. Its gaze towards Sirius was filled with the utmost hatred, as if it wanted to flay him alive with its eyes.
For this, Severus only felt a headache.
He hadn't really believed that mere words could convince a house-elf with such mental conditioning. Pacifying Lucas was merely to prevent its emotions from becoming too agitated, preparing for the next steps.
But now, Sirius's words had rendered his earlier efforts useless.
Left with no choice, Severus could only direct Lockhart.
"Gilderoy, help clear its memory."
Lucas's gaze grew even more terrified. However, Lockhart was clearly more reliable than anyone when it came to Memory Charms. After Severus spoke, his wand was already extended.
In the next moment, Lucas's gaze turned vacant. Its memory had become like malleable clay, allowing Lockhart to reshape it at will.
"Do you need me to alter anything specific? Preparing it for Veritaserum?" Lockhart asked, clearly familiar with the procedure.
However, Severus did not instruct him to do that. He merely said,
"Erase its memory from just now. Make it forget what Sirius said. Then calm its emotions."
Sirius glared.
"Hey! What are you doing?! The answer is right in front of us, isn't it? This house-elf clearly knows everything! Making it drink a little Veritaserum isn't going to harm it!"
He stared intently at Severus, his tone noticeably heavier.
"I think you're over-correcting! Becoming all wishy-washy like this!"
The room fell silent for a moment. Lockhart looked at Severus, then turned to look at Sirius. He seemed to want to say something to mediate, to interrupt their argument.
But he only opened his mouth and found he couldn't utter a word.
Severus was not angered by Sirius's words. He simply explained seriously,
"If Veritaserum were absolutely necessary, of course I wouldn't hesitate. But when we have other, better methods available, something akin to private punishment that violates magical law should naturally be relegated to a lower priority."
"Better methods?" Sirius raised his voice. "I don't see any other better methods! House-elves are all like this! They only believe what they want to believe. You tried just now, and no matter what you say, it won't listen!"
"But they never disobey their master's commands," Severus said calmly.
This statement left Sirius momentarily speechless.
That's right, even in the Black household, Kreacher disliked him so much. But as the Black Family's only remaining heir, that old, stubborn house-elf still regarded him as its master and never defied his orders.
For Lucas here, it would undoubtedly be the same.
And the Fawley Family, at least for now, had clearly not reached the point of complete extinction.
"It's clearly been watching over Meilia, protecting her in secret. Yet why has it always been unwilling to meet its master?"
Severus's question made Sirius fall silent for a moment. But only for a moment. Sirius did not evade the question because of it… instead, he understood what Severus was implying.
"It's avoiding Meilia. Meilia is still its master. If its master orders it to reveal everything it's concealing, it cannot refuse."
"Exactly," Severus said. "Obeying the master's command is an absolute, unbreakable rule for every house-elf. And now, our goal is aligned with Meilia's, is it not?"
"No Veritaserum is needed. We only need its master to ask in person, right in front of it."
Just as Severus finished speaking, Muriel brought Meilia over to them.
This girl, who usually appeared muddled and vacant, showed a distinctly different expression in her eyes upon seeing Lucas.
Her memories were confused, but not entirely erased. Regarding this house-elf that had watched her grow up, Meilia clearly had deep impressions.
Under the effect of Lockhart's Memory Charm, Lucas's eyes regained clarity. When it saw Meilia standing right before it, its body began to tremble visibly.
"No, no, no..." it stammered, its words unclear.
"Lu... Lucas..."
Meilia's voice was faint, drifting. This was the first sentence Severus and the others had heard her speak since meeting her.
Upon hearing its name, Lucas's trembling suddenly ceased. It widened its eyes, staring blankly into Meilia's gaze.
"I've always wanted to find you, but I could never find you," Meilia's voice grew somewhat urgent, yet felt more genuine, more like the voice of a living, breathing person.
"There is something you must remember. There is something you must remember. I've forgotten someone, haven't I? Forgotten someone very important to me, to my parents."
"Tell me," Meilia stared straight at the house-elf. "Tell me, who he is."
Lucas began to sob, like a croaking bullfrog weeping. The sound wasn't pleasant, but it caused everyone present to instinctively hold their breath.
"It's R.A.B.! It's R.A.B...."