Chapter 600: Secrets of the Darkest Art
As one of the oldest families in the magical world, the Blacks indeed possessed an extensive collection of books, accumulated over many generations.
It was rumored that during Phineas Black's tenure as headmaster of Hogwarts, several rare books mysteriously vanished from the school library. Many suspected that Phineas had taken them for the Black family's collection. However, Phineas himself never admitted to such accusations, engaging in numerous heated debates with other portraits over the matter. Of course, this had all happened centuries ago, and there was no way to confirm whether the stories were true.
Guided by Kreacher, the House-elf, the group made their way through the foyer and kitchen, heading toward the basement behind the storage cupboard. Along the way, they passed three students discussing their holiday homework and Lupin, who showed an immediate interest in the Black family's library and expressed a desire to join them.
Sirius readily agreed, though Kreacher was visibly displeased at the idea of Hermione—a Muggle-born witch—stepping foot in what he considered the most sacred part of the Black household. Nevertheless, with both Sirius and Kyle's approval, the elf had no choice but to lead the way, muttering resentfully under his breath.
The group descended into the dark, damp basement. After some fiddling with the fireplace, Kreacher triggered a mechanism, and the moldy cupboard in the corner sprang apart, revealing a wide, hidden passage. As they stepped inside, torches on either side of the corridor flared to life, illuminating their path.
"This is incredible. I never imagined there was such a hidden place," Harry said, unable to contain his excitement. "It feels like an adventure."
"That's normal," Ron replied. "After all, the Blacks have been around for hundreds of years."
The passage wasn't long, and before long, they emerged into a large room. Unlike the basement, the space was impeccably clean—no sign of mold or even a speck of dust. Bright sunlight streamed in through enchanted windows, casting a warm glow over the room. They could now see nearly a hundred bookshelves, all packed with books of every kind.
Though it wasn't as vast as a school library, for a private home, the collection was undeniably impressive.