The weather at Number 12, Grimmauld Place in London was not much better than Hogwarts before it came under the protection of the "Clear-Sky Charm."
Snow and wind still swirled outside, though not quite as fiercely.
"Let it snow a bit more now..." Sirius said with a yawn. Sitting beside the warm fireplace, he lounged lazily in a soft armchair, his legs casually propped on a footstool.
"But once Christmas break comes, it'd better not snow at all..." He seemed almost swallowed by the armchair, with a trace of weariness in his expression. "It shouldn't snow at all during the day, so I can take Harry outside."
Heavy footsteps sounded from nearby. Regulus Black entered the room stiffly, carrying a tray laden with tea things and pastries.
Sirius frowned, his tone clearly displeased. "Kreacher is getting more and more outrageous!"
He rose to his feet and strode toward Regulus Black. "He actually made you carry things?"
Kreacher was in fact right behind Regulus Black, his face full of worry and vigilance. "Master Sirius, Kreacher also wanted very much to take care of this..."
"Sirius, Kreacher wasn't wrong. I wanted to do it myself." Though Regulus Black explained expressionlessly, the warmth in his voice was unmistakable, especially the amusement within it.
In truth, this was a magical artifact Sirius had created for Regulus Black by combining French Alchemy with the alchemical arts of Helga Hufflepuff and Rowena Ravenclaw.
With the help of this magical artifact, Regulus Black could at least move normally, though his movements remained as stiff as a doll's, and he could not make any expressions.
Yet for Regulus Black, being able to move according to his own will was already more than enough to satisfy him.
Regulus Black stiffly turned sideways to prevent Sirius from taking the tray