A Professor of Magic at Hogwarts

"As the Easter holiday comes to an end tomorrow, and the weekend follows in two days, how about we plan for that day?" suggested Felix Harp.

"Could we not do it tonight? Just the two of us, getting started," Sirius impatiently replied.

"If that place is Voldemort's secret horcrux hiding spot, do you really think he'd let us leave comfortably?" Felix retorted, especially since Felix was already quite certain in his mind that it was where Voldemort had hidden a horcrux. Caution was key.

"Sirius, I need to make some preparations, and so should you. You seem a bit too eager right now."

"You're right, Felix," Sirius conceded at last.

Felix offered a faint smile. "Let's go, Harry is waiting for us."

Walking one after the other, they stepped into the fireplace.

Inside the Black family house.

Harry curiously examined this aged and quite frightening house-elf. He couldn't help but draw comparisons to Dobby, even though they looked entirely different, and dressed in dissimilar clothing. Yet, there was a strangely similar demeanor between the two — as if they were both butlers he had seen in Muggle TV shows.

Dobby's butler-like demeanor was even more pronounced, with the addition of a small suit jacket compared to the house-elf before him.

"Hello, what's your name?" Harry greeted amiably.

Kreacher pouted, muttering something under his breath, but Harry didn't catch it. Kreacher adjusted the clean white cloth that covered him and respectfully bowed, saying, "You may call me Kreacher, esteemed guest. Welcome to the Black ancestral home."

Harry felt a bit bashful, not quite accustomed to house-elves' welcoming speeches. "Actually, uh, wait a moment. The Black ancestral home? This is Sirius's house?"

"Indeed," Kreacher confirmed, "Young Master was born and raised here. Though he left home foolishly in his youth…" Kreacher's eyes gleamed with mischief, "when danger arose, he immediately thought of this place."

Harry, intrigued, asked for more details. He wanted to know more about his godfather. When Kreacher learned that Harry was Sirius's godson, his attitude turned even more respectful, and he was willing to reveal more hidden information.

"Young Master has been quite tearful these days, Kreacher has heard it, but he stubbornly denies it…"

"Kreacher! Enough!" The fireplace flickered again, and Sirius emerged from it. He had overheard Kreacher badmouthing him and was visibly annoyed. He strode over, lifting Kreacher up from the ground, and said loudly, "You're not to mention—"

Kreacher respectfully interjected, "But Mr. Potter is the young master's godson. As your heir, he has the right to know…"

"I said no!" Sirius's lips trembled. "Go make tea."

"At your command." Kreacher's figure blinked out of sight.

Felix, standing nearby, observed for a while before a slight smile crept across his face. "So, I suppose your relationship has improved?"

"In which eye did you see that? He's still as annoying as ever…" Sirius grumbled.

Harry blinked, considering that he should tell Ron about what he had observed. Ron always thought of house-elves as obedient servants to the noble families, but the two house-elves he had encountered—Dobby and Kreacher—had distinct personalities of their own.

They entered the living room, Harry's first visit. He was curious about everything and inexplicably had a favorable impression. Although the house seemed a bit dim, maybe it was just because the lights weren't on? After all, it was evening, and Sirius lived alone; no need to be wasteful...

The air was somewhat damp, carrying a hint of mustiness, which wasn't much of an issue. A little cleaning would fix that. Harry felt he could help with that.

Entering the living room, it was a bit brighter here. Candles along the walls burned quietly, and an exquisite golden chandelier hung from the ceiling. Harry suspected it might be made entirely of gold.

"Feel free to sit, the room's a bit messy," Sirius gathered up scattered comic books and piled them aside. He stood there for a moment, somewhat lost. "Oh, right, I need to fetch something."

Sirius left, the creaking of floorboards echoed in the distance. Soon, he returned, carrying a heavy golden locket box.

Kreacher timely delivered hot tea, standing at the doorway.

"This is it... Regulus entrusted Kreacher with it, to destroy it. But there's so much magic on the box, poor Kreacher tried everything, and there was no way to leave even a trace..."

"Kreacher suspects it needs to be opened from within, but I can't do it."

Harry looked at Kreacher, who was tearfully recounting, worried he might suddenly punish himself any second. But then, a thought crossed his mind. Opened from within? He vaguely grasped something.

Felix Harp leaned in, scrutinizing the locket box carefully. It looked clean, likely cleaned by Sirius. On its surface, a splendid, S-shaped serpent was embedded, crafted from multiple small green gemstones, emitting a subtle glow.

"The letter 'S.'" "A snake?"

Felix and Harry spoke simultaneously, and as they looked at each other, Felix smiled. "We're both right." He tapped the locket box with his index finger, and his perspective shifted. Colors seemed to wash away like rain, turning into a murky gray, replaced by dazzling magical radiance, layered upon layers, dense and intricate. Within these layers of protective magic, a tremendously evil darkness loomed, writhing like a monstrous entity.

It was a horcrux, no doubt. Moreover... Felix noticed that this horcrux was more active than any he had seen before. It was as if it might jump out the next second.

Felix pondered. It seemed Voldemort arranged each horcrux differently. The diary horcrux was quite lively, but it was the memories of the young Voldemort hidden within it that were active, not the fragment of his soul inside.

As for the diadem, it was even more secretive. Felix couldn't find any flaws. Combined with the characteristics of Ravenclaw's diadem, perhaps this was part of the deception—catching the person who obtained the diadem completely off-guard.

Sirius stared at Felix and Harry, both suddenly silent. "What have you figured out?"

"If I'm not mistaken, this should be Salazar Slytherin's locket. Voldemort used it to—" Felix stopped himself, the locket box trembled slightly, indicating restlessness.

"I've never seen it do this." Sirius stood up, uncertain, and pulled Harry aside, watching the locket box closely. The gold chain attached to it twisted frantically, as if trying to strangle someone among them.

"Sirius, Professor..." Harry struggled to swallow, "I want to, want to try something."

"What are you saying, Harry?" Sirius asked, concerned that the locket box might be affecting Harry, and he looked at his godson with worry. "Do you feel unwell?"

"No, not that," Harry found his own idea rather incredible, "It's Parseltongue. I want to try speaking Parseltongue!" Sirius looked at Harry in confusion; he had no idea Harry had this ability.

"Go ahead, let's see what happens." Felix said calmly.

So, Harry stared at the locket box, imagining the pattern on it as a little snake. That was quite easy, especially since the locket box was still vibrating and making a buzzing sound. He opened his mouth and emitted a series of hissing sounds.

Felix was familiar with the sound. He had heard it several times in the Chamber of Secrets last year. Its meaning should be—

"Open." Harry spoke in Parseltongue.

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