Chapter 448: The Cave
It seemed Fawkes had caught the Hogwarts headmaster mid-nap, as Dumbledore looked a bit dazed when he first landed. A cold sea breeze blew through the cavern, making him shiver, but it also cleared his head.
"Oh, Kyle, and Sirius... what's happened? Why did you summon Fawkes?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.
"Horcruxes, Professor," Kyle said bluntly. "We've found Voldemort's Horcruxes."
For a brief moment, Dumbledore's composure slipped, his expression one of sheer disbelief—as if he'd just seen Snape in a tuxedo dancing with a Troll.
He'd spent years searching for clues about the Horcruxes, but had always come up empty. Now, after a single night's sleep, he was hearing that Kyle had stumbled upon them?
But before Dumbledore could process it fully, Kyle urged them on. "Time is short; I'll explain everything later," he said, nodding toward Kreacher. "Kreacher, please take us there."
Without hesitation, Kreacher scurried forward, guiding them deeper into the cave. Sirius followed closely behind, and Kyle brought up the rear, giving Dumbledore a quick summary of the events as they moved. Fawkes perched on his shoulder, gently pecking at Kyle's hair, seemingly anxious himself.
By the time they reached the heart of the cavern, Dumbledore's expression had darkened. He was deeply moved by Regulus's story: a young man, misled by pride, who sacrificed his life to atone and help destroy Voldemort's evil. It was the sort of bravery Dumbledore rarely encountered, and his admiration showed.
"He deserves every honor, even if it means using a Phoenix tail feather to bring him home just a little sooner," Kyle said quietly.