Kreacher quietly moved Regulus to the kitchen doorway. The dim dining room—only kitchen light illuminated a small area.
Walburga was busy in the kitchen. Kept speaking in a language he couldn't understand.
Regulus signaled Kreacher to move closer. Distance shortened. Regulus slowly caught a strange fragrance.
"Aunt Wu, I'm doing exactly what you said. Will this really work?" Walburga asked the phone on the windowsill. Her hands kept processing food.
Aunt Wu's voice came through the speakerphone: "Trust me. Can't go wrong. They say medicine can't beat food therapy. Weak body needs this tonic soup. Must make it yourself. Magic-made has no soul. Doesn't taste good!"
"Mm-hmm, I'm doing it myself." Walburga nodded seriously. Back in the day, her Potions level was quite good. Just cutting and stirring, right? Simple!
"I know plenty more. One tonic soup a day. Definitely build up your youngest son nice and plump. Don't worry!" Aunt Wu's loud voice carried a happy tone. "Oh right, I'll mail some medicinal herbs to Gemini later. Ginseng slices, lingzhi, things like that. You stew them together. I'm afraid you'll buy fake herbs there. Better I get them for you myself."
"Won't that be too much trouble?" Walburga's hands paused. Asked.
Aunt Wu laughed heartily. "What trouble? Mailing things abroad is convenient now. Much faster than before."
"Then thank you." Walburga showed a smile. Quickly finished processing the ingredients in her hands. Opened the pot beside her to check. Carefully compared it with parchment stuck on the wall. Only then put things in. "Ah, really troubling you. Calling you in the middle of the night. Too much trouble."
Aunt Wu paused. "It's daytime here. It's midnight there? Oh my, that won't do! You're not young anymore. Can't stay up like this! I'll ask my son later about our time difference. Set a time to teach you. Anyway, stewing soup—learn one, the rest are similar!"
Walburga nodded repeatedly. "I know. I won't stay up every night. Just that the child came back today. Seeing him look so pitiful—I really can't sleep."
Aunt Wu sighed too. "Ah, children are debts. Let me tell you..."
Regulus behind didn't keep listening. Couldn't understand anyway. Silently waved at Kreacher. Quietly returned to his room.
Kreacher helped Regulus with personal matters. Carefully put him back in bed.
"Kreacher." Regulus lay under the covers. Looked at the green canopy overhead. "Can you understand what Mother was saying?"
Kreacher nodded matter-of-factly. "Kreacher knows! Mistress was talking to that lady from China!"
Regulus turned his head. "Right, how did you go to China? I can't sleep. And about Gemini—can you tell me now?"
Kreacher had no reason to refuse. Immediately started by translating Walburga's earlier conversation. About Gemini—Kreacher said he couldn't say too much. Had to ask her directly.
This went on until dawn broke. Regulus looked toward the window with good spirits. "It's light. Mother still hasn't gone to rest?"
Kreacher checked at the door. Came back to report. "Yes, Young Master. Mistress has been in the kitchen."
Regulus smiled. Though he knew Mother must be tired. He should care about her. But this feeling of being valued—so good. Besides, he didn't know how to interact with this version of his mother. The mother in his memory was always stern. First time seeing her like this.
Soon, full daylight came. The house started getting lively.
First was the loud Sirius rushing from his room. Calling for Regulus. Then Harry, woken by the noise, grumbling about his godfather.
Finally came Gemini with morning grumpiness. Standing at the door unceremoniously throwing a tantrum.
Until Walburga stood downstairs calling people. They finally dragged themselves together and came down.
"Wow! Soy milk and youtiao?!" Harry looked at breakfast on the table with delight. Couldn't wait to sit in his spot. Sweet soy milk smell went straight up his nose. Crispy fluffy youtiao lay quietly on white plates. Small pickled vegetables on the side.
The table center held stacked bamboo steamers. Harry took an intoxicated breath. "Xiaolongbao!"
Gemini, originally black-faced from morning grumpiness, hearing Harry's voice, quickly sat in her spot. Looked at breakfast without blinking. Just waiting for everyone to sit and eat!
Only Sirius looked somewhat unpleasant. Everything about China—not great memories for him!
Regulus looked bewildered at the chopsticks beside him. "Why are there wands here?"
Harry snorted. Barely held back. Looked at Regulus apologetically. "Sorry. Didn't mean to."
Regulus realized he'd made a joke. Smiled gently. "It's fine. Could you tell me what these are?"
Harry seriously introduced Chinese tableware to Regulus. From origins to different materials to various symbolic meanings.
"Okay, okay, can we eat now?" Gemini impatiently interrupted Harry's endless talking.
Harry grinned. "Okay, okay! Wait a moment!"
Harry left his seat. Went into the kitchen. Soon came out with spoons and forks. Neatly placed them before Regulus. "You probably can't use chopsticks. Spoons and forks work well too."
Regulus smiled at Harry. Reached out and ruffled his messy hair. "Thank you. I understand. Go back to your seat. We should eat. Gemini can't wait. I can't wait either."
"Where's Grandmother?" Gemini looked strangely toward the head seat. Walburga wasn't there.
"I know. Walburga's in the kitchen. She said almost ready." Harry called loudly.
Walburga entered the dining room on cue. "Coming, coming!" While speaking, quickly walked to Regulus. Put a covered soup tureen before him.
"This is tonic soup I learned from someone. Tastes pretty good. I tried it. Drink it after breakfast." Walburga spoke while sitting down.
"Eat." Walburga's words just fell. Gemini immediately reached for the steamer lid. Xiaolongbao—flour mixed with meat filling fragrance—instantly exploded. Made everyone hungry all night swallow involuntarily.
Skillfully wielding chopsticks to grab a baby-fist-sized xiaolongbao. Harry took a bite. Eyes squinted with happiness. Washed down with hot soy milk. Absolutely amazing! Wouldn't trade for immortality!
Regulus stared at the tureen. That should be what Mother worked on all night. He suddenly didn't want breakfast. Wanted to taste the soup first.
Thought and acted. Regulus carefully moved the white tureen before him. Gently lifted the lid.
At first, no one noticed. Just after a moment, the soup's aroma spread.
Sirius was drinking soy milk. Suddenly felt his soy milk wasn't fragrant anymore. Like his nose smelled something better.
Following the scent's source. Before Regulus sat a tureen. Soup clear as water. Not a trace of oil. Surface floated green scallions. Several red dates. Bottom had dark meat pieces.
"Red date black chicken soup?" Sirius, however sensitive to China, couldn't help swallowing. Looked at Walburga eagerly. "Mother, I'm done! Is there more soup?"
Walburga elegantly ate youtiao. "No. Only one tureen."
Sirius looked at her in disbelief. "What?! You only made one tureen?! Are the house pots too small?! Or is the family out of money for meat?!"
Walburga didn't want to deal with him at all. Tactless fellow!
"Otherwise, let Brother drink this soup." Regulus looked at the soup reluctantly. Hadn't tasted it yet.
Sirius shuddered. Looked around. Found everyone except Regulus staring at him with disapproving looks. Faintly felt killing intent from Walburga's direction!
"No need, no need! Mother made this specially for you. You know what! This soup looks authentic! Regulus, quickly taste it!" Sirius smiled ingratiatingly. Silently grabbed youtiao from the table. Stuffed his mouth. Better not talk!
Regulus was stunned by Sirius's attitude. He looked around. Everyone was quietly eating. Nothing wrong.
Confirming Sirius really wouldn't drink it. Regulus picked up the spoon. Carefully scooped up soup. Gently blew on it. Put it in his mouth.
Warm soup went down his throat all the way to his stomach. Suddenly felt his ice-cold body had a trace of warmth. Regulus involuntarily smiled. Spoonful after spoonful without stopping.
Walburga kept watching Regulus with peripheral vision. Seeing him drink sweetly. Finally slowly sighed with relief.
After breakfast, Walburga said she'd rest. Told Sirius to take good care of his brother. Don't run around.
Sirius nodded hastily in agreement. Even raised his hand and swore. Guaranteed he wouldn't abandon his brother and run off.
Gemini wrote several letters. Had Kreacher send them out. She needed to communicate with the Malfoys. Dumbledore promised to clear Regulus's name. But they couldn't just watch. Pure-blood family insiders needed notification. When necessary, they'd need to cooperate.
Regulus's follow-up treatment and recovery plan arrived before noon by owl. Snape's densely packed small handwriting filled half a notebook.
Gemini flipped two pages. Tossed it to Sirius. Declared since he swore to watch his brother—naturally must memorize this. If any point wasn't done and harmed Regulus—Sirius could wait for that vow about returning to Chinese prison to come true!
Sirius had no choice. Could only miserably work hard memorizing Snape's almost-book-length precautions.
Stayed at the old house two days. Gemini left with Harry. Not to mention Dudley home alone. Just the Tonys next door—Gemini wasn't comfortable leaving them alone. None of them were peaceful types.
Gemini feared if she returned late—her house would be blown sky-high.
A few days later, Gemini saw Regulus's exoneration news in the Daily Prophet.
It portrayed Regulus as coerced into joining Death Eaters for family and innocent people. Attacked by dark magic saving an under-11 wizard. Only recently rescued and awakened.
For this, the Wizengamot deliberated. Would award Regulus a Third Class Order of Merlin.
For a time, talk of the Black family's two heroes continued endlessly. As for where the saved young wizard was—who cared?
This summer passed peacefully. Harry and Dudley temporarily stopped Chinese lessons. Studied with Tony.
Just Tony wasn't teaching material. Things obvious to him at a glance—somehow others needed to think through circuitously for ages.
So Privet Drive's summer passed almost entirely in Tony's roaring and two miserable students' wailing.
Near term start, Dumbledore and Grindelwald arrived at Privet Drive with dreamy expressions.
"What's with those faces?" Gemini ordered Coby to pour tea for them. Looked at them strangely. Dumbledore making this expression was normal—he was never serious. But Grindelwald with a similar expression? Odd.
Dumbledore's gaze wandered for a while. Finally focused on Gemini. Fumbled in his pocket. Pulled out a peachwood sword. Gently placed it on the table. Said with a complex expression: "We found the main soul."
Gemini immediately became serious. "Where? How did you find it?"
They looked at each other. Grindelwald coughed lightly. "Let me explain."
He paused. Then continued: "I don't know if you've heard—decades ago, I had an old friend with a blood curse. Named Nagini."
Gemini gasped. "The last Horcrux!"
Grindelwald choked. "She's not a Horcrux now." Then quickly added, "I heard Voldemort always had a snake companion. Also named Nagini. So I kept searching for that snake's whereabouts. Until I found her. Discovered she really was the old friend I knew. Naturally couldn't sit by. Brought her back to my manor."
Dumbledore glanced at the peachwood sword. "Let me continue. When summer started, for certain reasons, I went to find Gellert. Before leaving, on a whim, I brought this thing Daoist Sun gave me."
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