Douglas checked the time and urged, "It's getting late. Let's get going. We can't leave a hero lying in freezing lake water this Christmas."
At those words, Kreacher grew agitated again. Dobby stepped forward and held him firmly, which only agitated Kreacher further... he kept shouting that he had been defiled.
Only after a red-eyed Sirius sternly berated him did Kreacher finally quiet down.
Everyone turned to Douglas, who wasted no time giving instructions:
"Kreacher, take Dobby there first so he can learn the way, then come back together to pick us up."
As he spoke, he took out a porcelain bottle, handed it to Dobby, and said:
"These are strength pills I developed. Using Apparition this frequently while carrying passengers takes a lot out of you, and I don't want any accidents. Each of you should take one after every trip."
Dobby bowed excitedly and said, "Dobby's boss is such a good person. Boss is always thinking of Dobby..."
Kreacher, meanwhile, kept his distance from Dobby in disgust. Rather than respond to Douglas, he looked at Sirius.
Sirius frowned. "What are you looking at me for? Do whatever Douglas tells you."
Kreacher swayed his large head and muttered, "Oh, Master Sirius wants Kreacher to listen to that... that Douglas. Kreacher will listen to Sirius."
Hearing Kreacher's words, Douglas ground his back teeth in anger. At least Sirius's tone was fairly normal when he called him Douglas, but Kreacher's was dripping with sarcasm.
Just as Kreacher and Dobby returned and took Lupin and Sirius away, Dumbledore suddenly asked Douglas:
"Douglas, there's no longer a Horcrux in that cave. Why do you still need to go there? If it's only a matter of bringing Regulus back, I think Sirius and I would be enough. Surely you don't think Tom hid some