Douglas, who had been keeping an eye on the window, noticed Dumbledore and Lupin looking their way from the square outside.
Douglas said to Sirius, "Sirius, go and fetch Dumbledore and the others. They need you to get inside."
Once Sirius had left, Douglas lifted the magic on Kreacher and said, "Dumbledore is here. Now we need you to take us to that place and bring Regulus's remains home. Think it over."
Kreacher, who had been about to continue punishing himself, immediately quieted down at Douglas's words. He said excitedly, "Really? Bring Master Regulus's remains home? Yes, we must bring the young master home, but the young master ordered Kreacher not to leave this room..."
Douglas sneered. Now you remember Regulus's orders. Still, he patiently said, "Sirius is your master now, so you don't need to worry about that. But I have one small request: don't take us straight onto that little island.
"After all, none of us knows what evil magic Voldemort set up there. If we suddenly appear there and the place destroys itself, we can forget about ever recovering Regulus's remains.
"You only need to take us to the actual entrance to the cave's magical defenses..."
Kreacher nodded through his sobs, then made an awkward gesture toward Douglas. Douglas could tell that he wanted to bow to him, but the Black family's beliefs were so deeply ingrained that his body instinctively resisted the act.
After Dumbledore came in, he first looked at Douglas, then circled him twice with a smile. "Permanent magic? I can understand the Bubble-Head Charm, but the Shield Charm-have you turned your clothes into magical items?"
Douglas casually dispelled the magic on himself and said with a smile, "Trade secret. I'm afraid I can't tell you."
Then he took out Slytherin's Locket again. The