"You... you filthy Mudblood, how do you know Young Master Regulus's secret?!"
Kreacher shrieked, tugging desperately at his long ears.
He stared at Ethan in horror, as if seeing a monster!
Sirius: ?
What locket?
What secret of Regulus?
Am I still the eldest young master of House Black?
How does even Ethan know more than I do?!
Sirius was utterly bewildered.
But seeing the blatant horror and repulsion on Kreacher's face,
He quickly turned his mind and sternly reprimanded:
"Didn't you hear me! Get Ethan the locket he wants!"
Kreacher flinched, his eyes wide as he said:
"Young Master! You cannot side with outsiders—even an ungrateful traitor should understand this."
Sirius was almost amused to the point of anger.
He narrowed his eyes and said in a deep voice:
"Are you defying your master's orders, Kreacher?"
"Ethan is my distinguished guest, and even more so, a great benefactor of the House of Black! I order you to do as he asks!"
Hearing this,
Ethan raised an eyebrow in surprise.
He cast an appreciative glance at Sirius.
Not bad.
He was getting the hang of it.
Kreacher froze.
Then, his body trembled violently.
But under the pressure of the command, he had no choice but to bow his head:
"...Y-yes, Master—Woo!"
The originally arrogant and rude Kreacher was on the verge of tears.
He let out a choked cry and disappeared with a pop.
Seeing this,
The seriousness on Sirius's face immediately vanished.
He burst into laughter!
"That was great! I've never seen that snobbish house-elf look so utterly humiliated!!"
Sirius took a deep breath.
Without the house-elf and his mother, the air in the ancestral home felt fresh.
The look in his eyes towards Ethan was not just admiration, but outright worship!
It was his first time in their house,
Yet he knew everyone's weaknesses clearly!
As if he had known all of this long ago.
Ethan's smiling, standing figure suddenly became profound and unfathomable.
"—Indeed, eliminating all impossibilities, Ethan must be my never-before-met ancestor."
Sirius thought seriously, then laughed:
"It's not like he traveled here from another time, right? Hahahaha."
Without Kreacher's harassment and surveillance, the surroundings suddenly became quiet.
Sirius said relaxedly:
"That useless creature will probably take a while to get here, so how about I show you around the ancestral home first and help you find what you're looking for?"
Ethan nodded.
He stepped forward, following Sirius's pace.
Mr. Black hadn't said where he hid the Ancient Magic notes.
So, he had to search carefully.
Ethan wasn't in a hurry; there was still plenty of time.
He was also full of curiosity about this ancient ancestral home.
He touched the Troll leg umbrella stand and went to the second floor.
On the wall, a row of house-elf heads hung.
"See, that's where Kreacher saved a spot for himself."
Sirius pointed to an empty mounting board and said mockingly.
Ethan looked at this unique decoration and nodded thoughtfully.
In his mind, he envisioned hanging a certain noseless head on the wall.
—Hmm, it would certainly be very artistic.
In the main drawing-room,
Ethan stopped in front of the giant tapestry embroidered with the House of Black family tree.
He searched carefully,
But he didn't find Eve Black's name among the unburnt names.
So he asked:
"Sirius, do you know if there was an ancestor named Eve Black about three hundred years ago?"
"Eve Black?"
Sirius looked puzzled and shook his head.
"I haven't heard of her. However, the House of Black has always only kept honorable members."
"Any 'defective' members with 'problems' would be disowned."
Sirius laughed.
"Defective—"
Ethan raised an eyebrow slightly.
He stroked the charred holes on the tapestry.
—Miss Eve Black.
In his impression, she was an outstanding and brave army commander.
She couldn't be associated with the word "defective."
Could it be that leading the army into battle was too reckless?
Did the family not advocate such "Gryffindor" behavior?
Sirius: "Speaking of which, during the period you mentioned, there was also a Dark Arts madman in the family!"
"He killed dozens of Muggles and even experimented with Dark Arts on his own daughter."
"It caused a huge stir at the time, and some people in the family followed him. But he disappeared shortly after—perhaps he was consumed by his own Dark Arts."
"Hm, mm."
Ethan responded and withdrew his gaze.
In any case, he was going to participate in the last great war between Goblins and humans.
Mysteries that couldn't be answered in the present,
He would go to the past and witness the answers firsthand.
After searching the mansion,
Ethan didn't find any prominent magical fluctuations.
Shaking off a pixie, Ethan folded his arms and mused:
"It must have been secretly sealed away, just like the previous scrolls and the ancient well."
"Until it's discovered, an immense amount of magic will surge forth—"
"This is going to be difficult."
Ethan looked at the vast mansion with a troubled expression.
He wondered if a dog's nose could help in the search.
"Achoo!"
Sirius sneezed.
He rubbed his nose, wondering:
Why did he feel like a giant octopus was watching him? Ethan: "Is there really no clue at all—"
Even a riddle, or a hint by insinuation would do. "Ah!"
Ethan suddenly exclaimed.
His eyes lit up, and he snapped his fingers!
There was! There was a hint!
And it was a very clear, directional hint: Professor Trelawney's prophecy!
[When the sealed mansion is opened, when the treasure behind the painting is revealed]
The treasure behind the painting!!
It very likely referred to the authentic work of Ancient Magic!
And the painting referred to in the prophecy…
Professor Trelawney! Thank you for your guidance!
You have made a significant contribution to this world!!
Under Sirius's surprised gaze,
Ethan turned and quickly ran downstairs.
He arrived in front of the most special and conspicuous painting in the mansion!
—Sirius's mother's portrait!
"Whoosh!"
Ethan yanked off the covering cloth.
He raised his wand, aiming it at the old woman who was about to shout but held back.
Sirius rushed over, saying urgently:
"It's no use! That painting has a Permanent Sticking Charm on it, there's no way—"
"Finite Incantatem."
Before he finished speaking,
A dazzling red light shot from the tip of Ethan's wand,
The next second,
"Clang!"
The picture frame, which members of the Order of the Phoenix had tried so hard to remove back then,
Fell heavily from the wall onto the floor!
?!
Sirius's mouth hung open in an "O" shape.
He stared dumbfounded at the painting lying on the floor!
He felt as if his worldview had been completely reshaped!!
Ethan turned and asked, "What did you just say?"
"...I-I didn't say anything."
Sirius said, looking flustered.
In his mind, Ethan's previous words suddenly popped up: [I can do anything.]
It seemed it wasn't an exaggeration.
From killing Dementors to all the things he had done since entering this mansion,
Ethan had already accomplished many things no one before him had.
From the wall where the portrait had fallen,
A faint magical power emanated.
It was the aura of Ancient Magic!
It had been concealed by a Disillusionment Charm, identical to the one beneath the ancient well!
Ethan's pupils contracted.
An uncontrollable excitement surged within him!
He raised his hand and reached towards the aura.
—!
Sirius, standing by, gasped sharply.
He watched in astonishment.
Ethan's hand went straight through the wall, reaching inside!
—No, this is my house!
How did I not know there was a hidden space here?!
Sirius grumbled inwardly.
His Gryffindor adventurous nature also made him excited.
He held his breath.
Watching Ethan pull out a stack of yellowed papers from the wall.
[Congratulations!]
[You have found the Ancient Magic notes!]
[You have learned the Absorption Rune of Ancient Runes]
[Absorb the magic, characteristics, and even curses and bloodline power of others for your own growth]
?!
Bloodline power?!!
Ethan raised an eyebrow in surprise.
Immediately, he thought of "Werewolf."
Would that count as a type of bloodline power?
--
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