The patrol boat, with its engine rumbling, sailed steadily through the waves toward the green light at the center of the lake.
Soon, the rocky walls of the cave were out of sight, and it felt as though they were on an endless sea, though without the waves.
Suddenly, the boat shook, and the engine's roar began to weaken. The boat slowed down.
Alaric moved to the stern and looked into the lake. Countless pale hands were flailing on the water's surface, many reaching towards the boat's propeller.
"Damn it, I should have modified it with magic beforehand," Alaric muttered, "The engine's been jammed by the Inferi."
He pointed his wand at the stern, and a red light shot out, striking the water.
In the next moment, there was a massive explosion in the water, and dismembered limbs of wizards flew everywhere.
The patrol boat's speed immediately increased.
When Fleur and Hermione reached the stern, they saw many Inferi, having "died" once again, floating a few inches from the water's surface.
Their eyes were glazed over as if covered in cobwebs, their hair and robes swirling around them like smoke, and their limbs, especially the arms, were mostly broken.
Many arms drifted nearby.
Fleur was too horrified to speak—she immediately threw up.
The mere thought of the Inferi floating around and beneath them was terrifying, but seeing so many of them up close made her, always concerned with beauty, feel utterly nauseated.
Alaric approached with concern, patting her back and offering her a small dose of calming potion.
It took her a while to recover, but she immediately turned her gaze back to the green light, no longer looking into the water.
The patrol boat continued its unstoppable journey towards the lake's center.
Fleur could no longer pretend she wasn't afraid. The boundless black lake, filled with corpses…
"We're almost there," Hermione suddenly announced cheerfully.
Indeed, the green light seemed to grow larger and brighter.
A few minutes later, the boat jolted heavily as it hit something and came to a stop.
At first, Fleur couldn't see clearly.
When she held up her lit wand, she realized they had arrived at a smooth, rocky island in the center of the lake.
The island was about the size of Ravenclaw's common room: a large, flat slab of black stone with nothing but the source of the green light.
Now that they were closer, the green light seemed much brighter.
Fleur squinted at it, initially thinking it was some kind of lamp.
Then she saw that the green light emanated from a stone basin with a base.
Alaric approached the basin, with Hermione and Fleur following.
They stood side by side, gazing into the basin, which was filled with a shimmering emerald liquid.
"What is this?" Fleur asked softly.
"I don't know," Hermione replied, "But it's likely something more concerning than blood and corpses."
Alaric suddenly reached for the basin.
"No, don't touch it—!"
"I can't reach it," Alaric said with a faint smile, "See? My hand can't go any further. Try it yourself."
Hermione stretched out her hand towards the basin, attempting to touch the liquid, and Fleur did the same.
But they encountered an invisible barrier; their hands couldn't get close to the liquid.
No matter how hard they tried, their fingers felt only an impenetrable, solid air.
"Please step back a little," Alaric said.
He raised his wand and made some complex movements above the liquid, murmuring silently.
Nothing happened, except the light of the liquid seemed to grow a little brighter.
The two girls watched Alaric's experiment in silence, waiting until he withdrew his wand before speaking again.
"Do you think the Horcrux is hidden in the liquid, Alaric?" Hermione asked.
"Oh, yes," Alaric said, focusing intently on the basin. Hermione saw his reflection on the smooth green surface.
"But how do we get it? We can't reach into it, split it, scoop it out, or make it disappear with spells.
We can't transform it or alter its properties in any way.
The only conclusion I can come to is that this liquid needs to be drunk."
"What?" the two girls said in unison, "No way!"
"I think so: only by drinking it can I empty the basin and see what's hidden underneath."
"But what if—what if it poisons you?" Hermione said anxiously, and Fleur clung tightly to Alaric's hand.
"What? Poison me?" Alaric looked at them puzzled.
"I never said I would drink it myself. In fact, only a fool would drink this stuff."
"So you meant…" Their confusion only grew with Alaric's explanation.
"Don't you remember?" Alaric said with a slight smile, "There's more than just the three of us here."
"You mean… those… Inferi?" Fleur reluctantly voiced the nauseating name.
"Exactly. They're barely 'living,' but with a bit of preparation."
Alaric waved his wand and selected an Inferi from the lake, pulling it out.
The Inferi, once on land, immediately staggered towards them.
However, the Transfiguration spell's chains shot out, binding the Inferi's limbs and securing it tightly.
"Well, you're the one," Alaric said, looking at the male Inferi with satisfaction.
"Now, open your mouth, sir. I'd like to offer you a drink."
With the chains forcing its mouth open, the Inferi's rotten breath was discernible from afar.
Hermione and Fleur involuntarily stepped back, feeling resigned to Alaric's disturbing sense of humor.
Alaric cast a Bubble-Head Charm on himself, put on gloves, and eagerly approached, pouring a vial of red potion into the Inferi's mouth.
The two girls recognized it as Restoration Potion from the Triwizard Tournament maze.
"Restoration Potion works by restoring vitality to heal injuries," Alaric explained.
"Though the Inferi is a corpse, the Dark Magic has forcibly restored some of its life force, which is what gives the Inferi its activity.
It's quite remarkable; the Dark Lord indeed has a knack for using death magic to bring forth life…"
"Get to the point!" Fleur interrupted, not wanting to hear Alaric's lengthy discussion on Inferi.
"Alright, alright, to the point," Alaric said, somewhat irritated.
"My Restoration Potion won't dispel the Inferi's Dark Magic but will further revive its vitality.
Such an Inferi, aside from lacking a soul, is almost as good as a living person, so it can bear the responsibility of drinking the potion."
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