Regulus stopped moving completely. Floated quietly in midair.
The lake surface went still. No more Inferi jumped out.
The three defending finally relaxed slightly. Not exactly tired. But the constant drain—not small.
Snape's brow furrowed tight. He felt something wasn't right about Regulus's condition.
Gemini didn't notice. She called to Sirius standing aside. Told him to recover fully. They still needed to go to the central stone. Get Regulus's last message. Couldn't leave it here to accompany Voldemort. He didn't deserve it!
"Wait!"
Just as Gemini prepared to board the boat, Snape suddenly shouted.
Gemini turned. Snape stared at Regulus with horror.
"He has—he has a pulse!" Snape said. "But how is this possible?!"
Gemini abandoned the boat. Rushed over with Sirius. One grabbed the wrist. One pressed against the chest. Carefully felt.
Thump—thump—
Gemini felt the movement under her fingers. Though weak. And slow. But definitely there!
"Kreacher! Take us home! I order it!" Gemini suddenly spoke.
Kreacher grabbed Regulus with one hand. Gemini with the other. Gemini quickly freed a hand to grab Snape. Only had time to shout at Dumbledore: "Help me bring the others!"
They vanished from the cavern. Left Tony, Steve, and Lupin completely bewildered.
"What is this?! We're abandoned?! That ungrateful—I went through all that trouble bringing a live sheep!" Tony threw the sheep straight into the lake. Huge splash. The surface immediately rippled. Inferi about to attack again.
Dumbledore immediately cast a spell. Orange-red flames surrounded them completely. The reactivated Inferi circled outside the flames. Didn't dare approach.
Dumbledore put his fingers in his mouth. Whistled loudly. With the echoing whistle, Fawkes cried out. Appeared in the cavern. Flames kept dropping from his body. Even the lake water seemed about to burn.
Fawkes circled several times. Flew accurately toward Dumbledore's group. Each grabbed a tail feather. With a flash of fire, they disappeared.
Everyone arrived home almost simultaneously. Tony barely recovered when he saw Snape's grave expression. Constantly using magic and potions on Regulus lying on a high platform bed conjured from the sofa.
Regulus's face gradually changed from bluish-white to pale. Faintly could see tiny white mist spraying from his nose.
Dumbledore stepped forward. Helped Snape. Used various healing spells Tony had never seen.
"No good. This won't work!" Snape frowned tightly. Again pulled out a pill. Stuffed it in Regulus's mouth.
"What do you need?" Gemini asked.
Snape carefully examined Regulus's condition again. Lips slightly blackened. Nails also showed black. Proved his body still contained massive toxins. Skin cold and damp. Like ice. Severe poisoning. With hypothermia. Plus unknown curse damage. "Need a large tub. Camphorwood! Must be carved with Constant Temperature runes. Also phoenix tears. Mermaid scales. Unicorn blood willingly given!"
Gemini pressed her lips. The first items—manageable. Still had channels to obtain them. The last item—nearly impossible!
"Prepare the rest first. I'll check the Forbidden Forest unicorn herd. My relationship with them is decent." Dumbledore said decisively.
Gemini looked at him. Nodded hard. Called loudly for Kreacher and Coby. Everyone sprang into action.
Even Tony, not particularly skilled in this area, assisted Snape.
Soon, a camphorwood tub large enough for Regulus was placed in the room. Gemini scattered her bottles and jars messily on the floor. Knelt down to personally carve Constant Temperature runes. She'd drawn this when thawing Steve. This time went smoothly.
"Can you add detoxification?" Snape watched Gemini pause and asked.
Gemini nodded. Without a word began overlaying above the temperature runes. Cleverly used those gaps to connect the two runes. Formed a new rune.
Snape couldn't help nodding with satisfaction. Set up a cauldron. Began brewing the potion needed.
Phoenix tears generously provided by Fawkes. Mermaid scales from Snape's private collection. At the last moment, Dumbledore returned with grass in his hair. Held a potion bottle. Inside—only a few drops of silver blood. "Enough?" Dumbledore asked.
Snape grabbed the bottle. Carefully sensed. "Enough!"
Carefully dropped one drop into the finished potion.
The originally black-smoking strange potion—after that silver drop fell—BANG! Shot out silver smoke. The entire pot turned transparent with silver light. Not a trace of impurity visible.
Snape gently stirred. The potion flowed. Like adding chopped starlight. Sparkling.
Snape poured the entire pot into the tub. Barely covered the bottom. But gradually, the potion slowly rose. Absorbed the camphorwood tub's properties. Turned golden.
The potion rose to half the tub's depth and stopped. Snape sighed with relief. "Good thing. Just enough."
He looked at Gemini. "When I place Regulus in, the same moment he touches the potion—I need you to activate the runes at maximum. Two seconds later, reduce intensity to minimum. As low as possible. Can you do it?"
Gemini thought. Felt the rune patterns she'd drawn. "No problem!"
Snape nodded. "Follow my command."
Wand wave. Regulus became completely bare. Clothes stripped off. Gemini stared at her runes. Didn't notice at all.
"Three! Two! One!" Snape counted steadily. "Begin!"
Words fell. Gemini activated the runes. Simultaneously, Snape suddenly withdrew magic. Regulus dropped straight into the tub. Not a splash.
Gemini remembered Snape's instructions. Counted silently. Controlled magic input. Adjusted the runes to barely active.
Snape watched several minutes. Finally relaxed. "Good. Return to normal!"
Gemini's spirit loosened. Nearly collapsed on the floor.
"How is he?" After being helped up, Gemini quickly asked.
Snape frowned at Regulus in the tub. "Don't know yet. But we've done everything we can. The rest—only depends on him."
Gemini couldn't help asking: "So what exactly happened? The Black family tapestry already shows a death date after his name. That can't be faked."
Dumbledore pushed his glasses. "I think I can answer that."
Everyone turned.
Dumbledore smiled. "Let's prepare drinks for everyone. This isn't something explained quickly."
Gemini ordered Coby to prepare. Everyone didn't feel comfortable leaving. Just conjured sofas and chairs. Sat where they could see Regulus.
"In the magical world, ancient pure-blood families all have a forbidden magic. Hidden in their bloodline." Dumbledore began slowly. "When a family has adult wizards but no next generation, this magic activates in those adults."
"But the Black family still has me! Still has Sirius!" Gemini frowned. This matter too ancient. She had no elders. Didn't know these secrets. Harry even less so.
Dumbledore chuckled. "Don't rush. Let me finish."
He continued: "However, this magic only activates in the heir each generation. Usually we call it Bloodline Guarantee. If this heir faces mortal danger, this magic protects him for a time. Until a new heir appears. For the Black family—Sirius ran away in fifth year. As I understand, before he graduated, Walburga burned his name off. So at that time, the Black family had only one adult wizard. Regulus. He automatically became the family heir. This magic activated in him. In that cavern, he faced mortal danger. Completely helpless. This activated magic bizarrely balanced with the curses and toxins entering his body. Put him in suspended animation. Must say, that lake helped greatly. If not for the lake providing enough toxins to balance this magic, Regulus might have drowned. The lake bottom's low temperature also preserved his body from decay. So he lasted until we arrived."
Gemini anxiously touched the ring on her hand. "But I authenticated as Black family head ten years ago!"
Dumbledore smiled. "But you have no children. Right? The heir is still Regulus. No new heir appeared. You skipped the heir step. Became head directly. So the Black family heir magic still remains in Regulus."
Gemini relaxed slightly. Then frowned again. This means the original world's Regulus...
Dumbledore saw what she was thinking at a glance. "This situation is nearly miraculous. Probably won't be a second case."
Gemini pressed her lips. Turned to look at Regulus with closed eyes in the tub. "Saving one is one. Not a loss!"
Tony laughed and patted her shoulder. "That's right! We're not gods. Besides, gods aren't omnipotent. Look at Thor and Loki. Those two still haven't learned to drive properly!"
Gemini covered her head. "Don't they know how to pilot spaceships?"
Tony shrugged. "Right. But they can't drive cars."
Gemini burst out laughing. Became more spirited. "So what else do we need? How do we cure him?"
Snape frowned in thought. "The potion I brewed can maximally clear all toxins from his body. Your rune control was good. Can restore his body temperature. Most important—wake him. But that's hard."
"How to wake him? Like Sleeping Beauty's fairy tale with true love's kiss?" Hawkeye crunched on cookies and asked.
Everyone present looked at him with disdain. Not one person planned to respond.
"Hey! I'm just joking!" Hawkeye shouted. But no one looked back. Each discussed how to wake someone in suspended animation for over ten years.
Tony pulled up a virtual screen. "According to normal research, can use someone close to talk to him. Stimulate his emotions. Thus awaken."
"People close to him—Walburga definitely won't work. She's old. Can't take the shock. We might have to save her too." Gemini said.
Tony turned to look at anxious Sirius. "What about him?"
Sirius's eyes lit up. His magic still wasn't released. Could only look eagerly. Couldn't speak.
"I think he won't work." Snape smiled maliciously.
Sirius glared at Snape furiously. Clenched his fists ready to pounce. Everyone hastily held him back.
Snape acted like he didn't see. Leisurely drank tea. "He said in front of the whole school that Regulus was cowardly. Timid. Unworthy of being his brother. I think if Regulus hears his voice, definitely won't want to wake up."
Tony stared in shock. "Really?! He really said that? In front of the whole school?!"
Snape snorted coldly. "You can ask that werewolf."
Everyone looked at Lupin. He smiled bitterly and nodded.
Everyone's contempt immediately shifted to Sirius.
Sirius seemed to recall what he'd done to his brother. Suddenly whimpered. Transformed into a large black dog. Lay on the ground. Buried his head under his paws. Made whimpering sounds.
"Looks like this method won't work." Gemini frowned.
Tony suddenly slapped his thigh. "Wait! There's one more!"
"Who?!" Everyone asked in unison.
"Him!" Tony pointed.
Everyone looked. House-elf Kreacher crouched tearfully in the corner. Stared at Regulus in the tub without blinking.
"Will this really be okay?" Kreacher sat trembling on a high stool by the tub.
"Only you can do it!" Gemini said solemnly. "Kreacher, you want Regulus to live too, right? He'll wake again. And call for you!"
Kreacher's eyes became resolute. Took a deep breath. "What should I say! Master!"
Gemini thought. "Say you've destroyed the locket. Sirius returned home. Walburga is very happy. You understand him. You know what he wants to hear. Tell him, Kreacher—the war is over. Time to come home. Someone's waiting!"
Kreacher nodded hard. Carefully approached the tub. Gently murmured in Regulus's ear.
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