So this is the first multi-chapter story I've posted in quite a long time. I have no beta and I'm crap at grammar so I apologize beforehand about any errors you will find within the story. Constructive criticism is appreciated just please be kind with your comments. If you don't like the story, click the back button or x out of the page, don't be nasty. I really do hope you like the story. I'm not sure where I'm going with it yet, I'll try to update as much as possible but I warn that I will be really busy (I'm in college, you know) and I also write when inspiration strikes. I do not own Harry Potter, it belongs to J.K. Rowling. I hope you enjoy the story. :)
Prologue
She traced the tree on the wall, swirling lines tracing back thousands of generations. Her family was on it—from both sides—it was almost hard to believe. She ran her fingers over the black scorch marks where her parents were meant to be, and her uncles…and Sirius. Grief bubbled up to the surface and her eyes welled up with tears. Oh God, she couldn't believe he was dead. One moment he was fighting Bellatrix, the fire had returned to his eyes and he looked almost as he did in those photographs of him during his years at Hogwarts (she'd found them one day while cleaning) but in the next he was falling into the veil, to his death. Through her tears she read the name next to his—Regulus Black (1961-1979). He'd only been 18. Ginny turned her back to the tapestry and walked away, curiosity lighting up within her.
Something bumped against her as she made her way down the narrow hallway to the room she shared with Hermione. "Filthy bloodtraitors, friends with mudblood…" The old house elf tried to make his way past her still muttering insults. "Kreacher?"
"The bloodtraitor speaks to Kreacher. Mistress would never have allowed-" Ginny ignored him.
"Kreacher, I wonder if you might be able to tell me about your old master, Regulus Black?"
It was almost comical to see the face Kreacher made at the sound of his old master's name. The utter love and devotion transformed the ugly house elf's face and made it almost seem pleasant. "Master Regulus?" Ginny nodded. It was like this was something that Kreacher had been aching to do in years. He launched into a tirade of complements and it became quite clear to Ginny that 'Brave Master Regulus' had been Kreacher's hero.
"Kreacher, what happened to him?" The house elf's face transformed again, this time sad and a bit nervous.
'Kreacher cannot say. Master made him promise not to say."
"Did You-Know-Who kill him? Is that why? He didn't want anyone to know he'd betrayed him?"
"NO! Master Regulus did not like The Dark Lord! He wanted the Dark Lord to know it was him who did it!"
"Did what Kreacher? What did Regulus do?"
"Kreacher cannot say."
Frustration bit at her. She was onto something important, she knew it. She just had to find a way to get him to talk about it without making him feel like he was betraying his master. "But how can anyone know that Master Regulus was brave and that he died a good man if you can't say what he did? You have to tell someone Kreacher." He looked torn, between keeping his Master's promise and upholding his image.
"Does Mistress promise not to say what Kreacher tells her?"
"Yes Kreacher, I promise."
"Master discovered the Dark Lord's secret."
Yes? No? Continue?