Harry Potter 7: Chapter Nine and Three Quarters
This story is about what happens between the end of chapter nine and the beginning of chapter ten in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It also shows part of chapter nine from Kreacher's point of view.
Warning: This contains spoilers.
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Kreacher's POV
Kreacher was upset. Miss Bella and Miss Cissy had not returned like they had promised to. Mrs. Black was in such a foul mood that she refused to talk to Kreacher. And the thief, Mundungus Fletcher, had cleared out the house of the Black family heirlooms, including the locket.
The locket.
The memory swept over Kreacher, and he sniffled. The locket. Kreacher had failed Regulus. Not only had Kreacher failed to destroy the locket, he had lost the locket.
Sirius had almost managed to throw away the locket. But Kreacher had saved it. But then Mundungus Fletcher had taken it. Now Kreacher would never be able to fullfill Regulus's last order. This was not right.
Then, there was the creaking sound of the front door. Kreacher looked up, alert. No one had been in this house for a while. He crept down the stairs.
There was some shouting, both from the intruders and Mrs. Black.
Then, there was silent. The intruders began to talk among themselves. Kreacher wondered who they were, but he didn't dare go closer. He would wait until they were asleep. One of the intruders, a dark haired one, went to the bathroom, while the other two set up sleeping bags.
The dark-haired one returned to collect his toothbrush. Toothbrush? This meant that the intruders were planning on staying here for a while. Kreacher listened closely.
"Hermione, you sleep on the cushions," the red-haired boy said.
"No, no," said the girl, whose voice sounded familiar to Kreacher. "I'm perfectly fine on the floor."
"C'mon, Hermione, I insist," the redhead said.
"Oh, alright."
Kreacher decided that the intruders were young, probably barely of age. They lay down in the sleeping bags without talking much. There was silence.
The three teenagers made an odd sight - a black-haired boy with glasses and a scar, a red-haired boy with freckles, and a brown-haired girl, all in sleeping bags on the floor of Grimmauld Place.
They were quite familiar, too. Kreacher moved forward, cautiously.
Yes! That was Harry Potter and Ron Weasley and the Mudblood Granger!
Kreacher could tell Miss Bella, yes, and Miss Cissy, too. They would be so proud of Kreacher! Kreacher thought of how happy they had been when he had sent Harry Potter to the Ministry.
The red-haired boy, Ron, stirred. Kreacher jumped back immediately into the shadows.
"'Mione?" he said softly.
"What is it, Ron?" the Mudblood, Hermione, asked.
"I just-" Ron began. "Are you cold?"
"I'm fine, Ron," Hermione said.
There was a bit more silence.
"Hermione?"
"Mmmhmmm?"
"Remember how I told you that you looked great?"
Ron and Hermione's faces were inches apart.
"Yeah."
"You always look great," said Ron.
Hermione smiled nervously.
Kreacher watched from behind the sofa as Ron slipped his hand into Hermione's.
Something about it was so sweet and pure.
Maybe he wouldn't tell Miss Bella and Miss Cissy.