Hogwarts Lion Girl

At this moment, there was a slight sound of footsteps at the door, accompanied by the crisp sound of keys colliding. Sirius pricked up his ears alertly, and Serena also raised her head curiously. Harry got up and walked to the door. Through the peephole, he saw Lupin carrying two heavy shopping bags with a gentle smile on his face.

In the kitchen, Lupin hummed an unknown tune, like an experienced conductor, the knife and fork in his hands seemed to become musical instruments, playing a concerto of pots and pans. He skillfully cut a piece of butter into small pieces and threw it into the pan. With a sizzling sound, the butter melted and the aroma filled the air.

"Harry, remember to soak the onions in water before cutting them, so they won't irritate your eyes." Lupin said as he poured the chopped beef into the pan and stir-fried it. The oil splashed and the aroma was fragrant.

Harry stood beside Lupin, like a primary school student listening attentively to a lesson. He clumsily imitated Lupin's movements, trying to cut the carrot in his hand into even cubes.

"Yes, Professor Lupin," he whispered back, his cheeks slightly flushed from the heat of the kitchen.

Lupin smiled and patted Harry's shoulder: "I'm not a professor anymore, just call me Lupin."

Harry scratched his head embarrassedly: "Sorry, I'm used to calling you Professor." He raised his head and smiled a little embarrassedly: "I can't change it for the time being."

"It's okay, take your time." Lupin said gently, "Just call me Lupin."

Sirius, who was kicked out of the kitchen for breaking three plates, lay on the sofa in the living room like an abandoned large dog, bored, with his head resting on a pillow. From time to time, he stretched his neck, trying to cross the wall and peek into the kitchen.

He took a sip of tea boredly, but his eyes never left the direction of the kitchen. His nostrils flared slightly as he greedily breathed in the aroma wafting from the kitchen.

While they were busy, Salina tiptoed out of the living room. The corridor was dark and quiet, and the air was filled with a stale smell.

Salina walked lightly. The floor in the corridor was old and made a creaking sound with every step.

She searched every corner carefully, and finally her eyes fell on the shadow at the end of the corridor.

A hunched figure emerged from the shadows, and the house-elf's cloudy eyes stared straight at Sharina.

"Kreacher..." Serena called the house-elf's name softly, trying her best to make her tone sound calm and gentle.

She couldn't see the expression on Kreacher's face, she could only see its cloudy eyes flickering in the shadows. "I want to know more about Regulus, can you tell me?"

Serena held her breath, waiting for Kreacher's response.

Kreacher's body trembled slightly. He lowered his head, staring at his toes with cloudy eyes, as if Salina had touched the scar that he didn't want to mention. Salina could even hear his heavy breathing echoing in the silent corridor.

Finally, Kreacher said in a hoarse, trembling voice: "Kreacher cannot speak of Master Regulus' affairs."

Salina did not give up. She slowly squatted down and kept her eyes level with Kreacher's cloudy eyes.

In the dim light of the corridor, she saw Kreacher's cloudy eyes move slightly, as if avoiding her gaze.

Salina lowered her voice and said with a hint of pleading: "Kreacher, I know you have always been loyal to the Black family. I know you care about Regulus. Don't you want to know what happened to him?"

Silence spread between the two of them, and Salina could hear her own slightly rapid breathing due to nervousness, and Kreacher's suppressed sobs.

Kreacher's body was trembling slightly. He lowered his head, his cloudy eyes seemed to be covered with a layer of mist, and his gaze fell on his dry hands.

Its dry fingers twisted the corners of its clothes nervously, and after a long time, it whispered: "Master Regulus, he... he is a good man, he... he is just... bewildered by the Dark Mark..."

Kreacher paused when he spoke here, and suddenly raised his head, his cloudy eyes looking around in fear, as if he was worried that there were ears on the other side of the wall.

It lowered its voice, so soft that Salina had to put her ear close to it to barely hear it: "He...he took away a locket..."

Kreacher clenched his dry fingers into fists, his knuckles turning bluish white. "He said it was... for... for... the Dark Lord..."

Sharina could feel her heartbeat speeding up as Klee cut off her description. Slytherin's locket... She took a deep breath and tried to keep herself calm. "What kind of locket?"

Kreacher hesitated for a moment, but finally, at Salina's insistence, he stood up tremblingly and led her through the corridor to the cupboard in the corner of the room.

There was a damp and moldy smell in the place, the curtains were closed, the light was dim, and the atmosphere was depressing.

Kreacher bent down and opened the wooden door under the cupboard with difficulty with his skinny fingers. A damp and moldy smell hit her face, and Salina couldn't help frowning.

He went in first. Salina looked over and found that the space inside was very cramped and she had to bend over to barely stand up straight.

Kreacher's dry fingers groped deep in the cupboard. The slight rustling sound echoed in the silent space. Salina could smell a damp smell mixed with dust and mold.

Suddenly, Kreacher stopped and his fingers seemed to touch something.

He carefully moved the thing out of the corner, and Salina saw a black box appear in Kreacher's hand.

The box looked very simple and ancient, with intricate patterns carved on it, giving off a chilling aura. "This is it..."

Salina took the box carefully. Her fingertips touched the cold and hard surface of the box. A chill instantly spread from her fingertips to her whole body. She felt dizzy and her eyes dimmed for a moment, as if something was trying to invade her mind.

Salina withdrew her hand abruptly, the piercing coldness still seeming on her fingertips. The locket slipped weakly from her hand with a dull thud that was particularly clear in the silent room.

Seeing this, Kreacher rushed forward, caught the falling locket with his trembling skinny hands, and held it tightly in his arms.

Salina took a deep breath, steadied her body that was shaking due to dizziness, and gently said to Kreacher, "I'm sorry, Kreacher."

Then she held onto the wall and turned to walk towards the kitchen. The smell of mold and dust was left behind, and the warm fire and the aroma of food in the kitchen made her feel at ease.