Chapter 205 The Cave Beneath The Cliff
Upon hearing Dumbledore, Evan tried to perceive those traces left by magic, but he simply stood there blinking as he felt nothing.
From the expressions of Sirius, Harry, and Hermione, they seemed as lost as he was, not understanding what Dumbledore was talking about.
This displayed the gap between them and Dumbledore.
"Does it bother any of you three to get a little wet?"
"No, it doesn't matter to us." Evan, Harry, and Hermione hastily shook their heads.
"Very well, now that the tide is rising, the entrance will get deeper, we must hurry, take the risk, and try it." Dumbledore turned his head and continued, "I will go first, the three of you will follow me, and Sirius behind. As for you, Kreacher, go to the cave and wait for us there."
After some preparations, they began to act.
And with the sudden agility of a much younger man, Dumbledore slid down from the cliff, plunged into the sea, put his wand in his mouth, and began to swim with a perfect breaststroke towards the dark crevice in the rock wall.
Evan, Harry, Hermione hurried to follow him, with Sirius behind them.
The water was icy and biting, making them all uncomfortable. Especially Evan, who carried too many magic books in his arms. His soaked clothing flapped around him, impeding his progress.
He breathed deeply, filling his nostrils with the taste of salt and seaweed.
Then he sank into the water, struggling to find Dumbledore ahead of him and the narrow opening in the depths of the cliff.
But he saw nothing, not even Harry and Hermione, who should have been beside him. There seemed to be a strong suction in the depths of the sea. Like a black and unfathomable whirlpool, it dragged him downward.
In the dark and cold waters, Evan felt alone and powerless, unable to even catch his breath.
Just as he could barely stay afloat, someone pulled him upward.
It was Sirius, with great strength, pulling Evan to swim in the opposite direction.
Soon, they entered the crevice in the depths of the cliff, and the crack opened into a dark tunnel. They hurried through the dark passage, and Evan could breathe again. So far, the seawater had not filled the entire dark tunnel, but it had risen to their chests.
With the tide rising, although the tunnel would hold for a while, it would definitely fill with water at high tide.
"You're alright, Evan," Sirius patted his shoulder and said with concern, "Don't overexert yourself, I saw you lagging behind..."
"I... I'm okay."
Evan, Harry, and Hermione hurried, feeling very cold, all three pale and shivering in the water up to their chests.
Not far away, Dumbledore's wand tip glowed brightly gold. He looked around. The slick walls were barely three feet apart and glistened like wet tar.
He said nothing, simply waved his hand and signaled for them to follow.
A little further on, they encountered a crossroads, and Kreacher was not there. They did not know which way to go, but Dumbledore turned left without hesitation.
They continued to follow Dumbledore, and the temperature in the cave was much colder than outside, as there was no sunlight, and the biting water was even colder. Their numb fingers brushed against the rough, wet rocks as they hesitantly waded through the sea.
At the end of the dark tunnel, Dumbledore emerged from the water, his silver hair and dark robes glistening.
They swam there and found steps leading to a large cave.
Evan struggled to climb up them, water dripping from his soaked clothes.
Finally, he emerged, uncontrollably trembling, in the still and icy air.
He saw that Kreacher was already standing in the middle of the cave and speaking with Dumbledore beside him.
Dumbledore was in the center of the cave, with his wand held high, whispering as he slowly turned around, examining the walls and the ceiling.
"There is no doubt that this is the place," Dumbledore said briefly. "These walls have been enchanted, the traces left by Riddle..."
Evan watched as Dumbledore continued to spin in place, apparently focused on something Evan couldn't see, studying the traces left by Voldemort.
"Yes, Kreacher, I know this is just the entrance hall," Dumbledore whispered. "We need to penetrate the inner place... Now it is the obstacles of Lord Voldemort that stand in our way, rather than those created by nature..."
Dumbledore approached the cave wall and caressed it with his blackened fingertips.
The wand in his hand moved slightly, and his mouth murmured in a strange language that Harry did not understand. It seemed to be a magical spell, or perhaps it was not.
Because nothing happened, twice Dumbledore went through the cave, touching the rocky surface as much as he could, pausing occasionally, running his fingers back and forth over a particular point.
"Prof... Professor"
Evan took a few steps forward. Dumbledore was identifying the magical traces left by Voldemort. He wanted to know how Dumbledore did it. He had never seen a wizard figure things out in this manner, simply observing and touching, and using his mind to perceive it.
It is the work of a master, without the noise and smoke that were more often signs of ineptitude than experience...
Evan wanted to learn from Dumbledore how to distinguish the magical traces left on the object, but then he realized he had no energy to do such things.
Because the cold penetrated his bones, he trembled entirely.
Sirius, Harry, and Hermione beside him were not doing much better, trembling uncontrollably.
Evan saw Sirius take out his wand and try to use magic to warm himself, but it didn't work. Due to the cold, his teeth chattered, and his magic failed.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, I forgot," Dumbledore noted. He pointed at the four with his wand.
With Dumbledore's gesture, Evan felt his body immediately become dry and warm, and there was no trace of moisture on his clothes as if they had been hung in front of a blazing fire.
"Thank you," Evan, Harry, and Hermione said gratefully, but Dumbledore had already returned his attention to the solid cave wall.
He attempted no more magic, simply stood there staring at it, as if something extremely interesting was written on it.
"Where is Regulus?" Sirius suddenly shouted, "Kreacher, tell us how to enter."
There was a hint of impatience in his voice. They had lost too much time, and this dark and strange hole in front of them was beyond their reach.
This was not something he was good at. He would prefer to fight the underworld than stay here...