AN: Thanks again to sirius-seriously, my ever faithful beta. And also, a big thanks to lakewater, our first ever reviewer! Oh right, we own nothing. Except for Zac Efron chapstick!
What Kreacher Knows
Harry snapped his fingers and requested Kreacher to come to Number Four Privet Drive.
"Master Harry requested Kreacher, would you like something to eat Master?" asked Kreacher dutifully.
"Kreacher, you don't have to call me Master, I've told you that many times."
"Kreacher knows, but he forgets sir. Now what did Master Harry need from Kreacher?"
Harry rolled his eyes. "I don't need anything Kreacher, I just wanted to see how you were doing," Harry said. He had become quite fond of the elf and got worried if he left him alone too long.
"Kreacher is well sir; how about some treacle tart?"
"Okay Kreacher, that would be nice," Harry said, just to shut him up.
Harry hadn't noticed Dudley as he was conversing with Kreacher. The boy had started backing away slowly, startled by the elf's apparition. He had a blank, frightened expression on his face. Harry laughed when he saw him because he forgot that Dudley was new to most of the things the two wizards and witch could do. Dudley had never seen a house elf before, and was fearful of him.
"Dudley, don't worry about Kreacher, he's my house elf." said Harry.
"Always here to serve Master Harry!" Kreacher proudly stated.
"He's absolutely harmless Dud, don't worry!" Harry tried to assure Dudley, who was backed against the wall, hyperventilating slightly.
Kreacher ran over to Dudley and offered him some treacle tart. Dudley shook his head madly and attempted refusal, but Kreacher wouldn't take no for an answer. Kreacher thrust the tart at Dudley and smiled. Dudley stared at the poor elf who was only trying to be polite.
"Kreacher, I think Dudley isn't hungry," Harry said, trying to help Dudley.
"But Master! He should try some treacle tart, he would like it!" Kreacher squeaked.
Dudley shook his head rapidly, hands clamped over his mouth, and started slowly for the stairs.
"Dudley! He's not dangerous, I promise!" Harry called as he chased Dudley down the stairs.
"Some tart for Master Weasley and Miss Granger?" Kreacher asked Ron and Hermione.
"Thanks Kreacher." They said in unison, long having gotten used to Kreacher's insistent offers of food.
"Fo how do woo fink we find Hay's tin?" asked Ron with a mouthful of tart. Feeling the glare of Hermione, he swallowed, and repeated his sentence. "So how do you think we find Harry's twin?"
"I have no idea." Hermione said, the look of disgust upon her face disappearing. The sun that was streaming through the window caught the blue in Ron's eyes, and they sparkled. He saw her looking at him, and smiled. Walking over, he squeezed her shoulder affectionately. Just then, Kreacher interrupted their moment.
"Excuse me Master Weasley, who is this twin of Master Harry's you speak of?" Kreacher asked eagerly.
"Well Kreacher, Harry found out he has a twin sister named Blaire Callie Potter. You haven't heard of her have you?" said Hermione.
"Another Potter? Miss Blaire Potter... Kreacher has never heard of this girl. Are you sure she is Master Harry's sister?" asked Kreacher, sounding slightly flustered.
"Yes we're sure. Harry read it in a letter from his mum," Ron said to Kreacher.
Kreacher fiddled with his rags and stared at the floor.
"Kreacher... are you sure you haven't heard of Blaire?" Hermione asked him.
"Yes. Kreacher doesn't lie to Master's friends. Oh no he does not! Although he does not have to tell them the truth..." Kreacher trailed off towards the end.
"Do you think he has heard of him? He sounded pretty nervous when we asked him," Hermione asked Ron.
"I dunno, but he doesn't have to tell us the truth. So we'll get Harry to ask him," Ron replied.
The two finished their treacle tart, and thanked Kreacher. They started to go downstairs, when Kreacher dropped their dishes.
"Kreacher, why don't you come downstairs with us?" Hermione asked the elf sympathetically.
Kreacher agreed, but scooped up the broken pieces of porcelain first. The three headed downstairs and into the living room, where they found Dudley and Harry sitting on the couch.
"Why wouldn't mum tell me you had a sister? I knew about your mum and dad before you did. I just don't understand why she would keep that a secret." Dudley said to Harry.
"I don't know Dud; I'm confused as to why she didn't come with me here, or why nobody told me about her!"
"Harry, Voldemort probably killed her when he killed your mum and dad." Hermione said logically.
"Then why did no one tell me? Why did I not know I had a sister? If she died with them, why would Dumbledore not tell me?" Harry said, confused.
No one had an answer. Kreacher stood at the doorway, looking very apprehensive.
"Kreacher, what's wrong?" Harry asked him.
"Nothing sir! Kreacher is fine!" Kreacher tried to reassure Harry, but he didn't believe him.
"Harry, we reckon Kreacher knows something about Blaire. He wouldn't give us an answer, not a truthful one, but he has to give you one right?" Ron whispered in Harry's ear.
"Kreacher, have you ever heard of my sister, Blaire Callie Potter?" Harry asked his elf.
"Only from Master Weasley and Miss Granger." Kreacher replied hurriedly.
"Kreacher, what do you think about what they have told you?"
"Nonsense. Kreacher thinks it is nonsense!" squeaked the elf.
"Kreacher, are you telling me the truth?"
"No."
"Would you like to tell me the truth?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because Kreacher was not supposed to repeat anything about Miss Potter."
"I see. Well, would you like to tell me who told you not to repeat anything about Blaire?"
"No."
"Please, Kreacher."
"Miss Evans."
"Miss Evans? As in Miss Lily Evans?"
"Yes."
"How did you meet her Kreacher?"
"Master Sirius Black's friend, James Potter."
"I see. Would you like to tell me anything else Kreacher?"
"No Master Harry, Kreacher would not."
"Okay, when you do though, let me know, alright?"
"Yes Master Harry."
"Can you get us a couple of butterbeers please, Kreacher?"
"Yes sir."
Kreacher disapparated from the living room and Harry relaxed on the couch. The four teenagers sat in the living room without saying a word. Until Ron broke the silence.
"Why didn't you make him tell you everything he knows?" Ron said angrily at Harry.
"Because Ron, if he is forced to tell me, he won't be as pleasant. Besides, I wouldn't force you to tell me."
"That's because I would tell you everything I know about her!"
"Yes and so will Kreacher... when he is ready."
"Well who knows when that will be?"
"I do. He will soon. Don't worry about it Ron."
"But..."
"I said don't worry about it," Harry repeated sternly.
Hermione, Ron, Dudley, and Harry sat on the cushioned couch and waited for Kreacher to return. Hermione opened up an old photo album that had beenlying on the table. Dudley looked impatiently at her as she pointed at a picture.
"Look Harry, it's your aunt and mum, on a swing set." Hermione said gently.
Harry and Dudley looked at the picture. Lily and Petunia were smiling brightly. This was the first time Harry had seen his aunt actually smile. His mum's eyes were twinkling in the sun. Harry felt his eye's begin to tear up and looked away. Dudley swiped a tear away.
"They look so... happy," Dudley muttered.
"Yeah, they really do." Harry replied.
A loud crack informed them of Kreacher's return. He began to hand everyone a butterbeer, smiling.
"There you are, Master Harry." Kreacher said and bowed.
"Thanks Kreacher."
Ron picked up his butterbeer and took a sip. He wondered why Kreacher didn't have any, so he asked him.
"Kreacher, why don't you have any butterbeer?"
"Because Master Weasley, butterbeer is like firewhiskey to an elf."
"Oh really?"
"We knew that Ron, remember in the kitchens at Hogwarts?" Hermione said.
"Oh yeah! That little blubbering elf!"
"Yes." Hermione replied, shooting a reproving glance at her boyfriend.
Ron sat with the others, sipping his butterbeer slowly, and wondering about Blaire. Then it hit him. Slip Kreacher some butterbeer, get him drunk, and maybe he'll spill everything he knows about Blaire.
"Kreacher, would you like some tea?" Ron asked the elf.
"Kreacher is fine Master Weasley, but thank you sir."
"No, no, no! I insist! I'll go make you some tea; after all, you always get us whatever we ask for."
Ron hurried to the kitchen, and grabbed a cup out of a nearby cupboard.
"Aguamenti," Ron said, pointing his was into the cup, which filled with water.
He heated up the water with his wand, and put a tea bag in it. After a minute, he took out the tea bag, and called to Kreacher, "Milk, Cream, Sugar?"
"Milk and honey please sir, but Kreacher can get it..." The elf began to move towards the kitchen.
"No! Kreacher it's alright, I promise!" said Ron, waving his away.
Ron added in a bit of milk and honey, and then his secret weapon, butterbeer. He added only enough to slightly intoxicate the elf. He tasted it. Hardly detectable.
"Here you go Kreacher." Ron handed him the cup and winked.
"Thank you Master Weasley, Kreacher is delighted," Kreacher smiled.
Ron sat back down and stared at Kreacher as he sipped the tea spiked with butterbeer. He took a swig of his own, and glanced anxiously at the small, ragged elf. Harry noticed this but thought nothing of it; he assumed it was just normal Ron, being normally weird.
Kreacher started to blink more and more, and he began hiccupping.
"Good tea, Master Weasley." Kreacher slurred.
"Kreacher, are you alright?" Harry asked.
"Ohhh yes, sir Kreacher is gooooooood, hehe." The elf replied.
Harry looked at Kreacher, then at Ron, who was fiddling with his wand and butterbeer cap. He wondered what was up with Kreacher.
"You know Master Harry, you look a lot like that twin of yours. Blaire Callie Potter. She has the same eyes, quite a striking shade of green, like a froggy... Ribbit, Ribbit, Ribbit!" Kreacher started jumping around, holding his tea cup.
"What is he doing?" squeaked Dudley.
"I have no idea, he never acts like this." Harry said, his eyes following Kreacher around the room as he continued to leap about.
"Maybe he's just letting out all of that pent up energy and sense of fun he never uses!" Hermione squealed happily.
Ron, and Harry and even Dudley looked at her as if she was insane.
"What!?! How often do you see a house elf have fun?"
"Never, but they aren't supposed to Hermione..." Ron said.
"WELL THEY SHOULD! THEY ARE LIVING PEOPLE TOO!"
"Hermione, they are not people, they are elves!"
"Oh that is so like you Ronald, just because they look different, they must not have feelings!"
"I didn't say that!"
"Well you basically did!"
"SHUT UP, YOU TWO!" Harry finally shouted.
Ron and Hermione snapped their attention towards Harry, who was looking worriedly at Kreacher. Kreacher was sitting on the carpet, cross-legged, and humming.
"Master Harry and Mistress Blaire, sitting around in their underwear! Hehe!" shouted the intoxicated house elf.
They all stared at Kreacher.
"Kreacher! What's wrong with you?" Harry asked the elf eagerly.
"Kreacher isn't in at the moment; please leave a message at the beep. BEEEPPPP!" Kreacher squealed and then giggled insanely.
"I think he's ill..." Hermione said.
"How did he suddenly become sick?" Harry asked her.
"Well I really can't explain that..."
Everyone stared at Kreacher as he ran around them quietly saying, 'Master Harry and Mistress Blaire, sitting around in their underwear!' Dudley looked more scared then ever, and Ron was quite entertained by the elf because he knew why he was being so strange. Harry was worried about his elf's sudden change in behaviour.
"Now Miss Lily, your daughter is beautiful, and your son is too! I will keep your secret Miss Evans, never shall anyone hear about Miss Blaire Callie Potter. I give you my word." Kreacher said giddily to a nearby lamp.
Harry stared at Kreacher in astonishment.
"Oh yes Miss Lestrange, no one will know of your adoption of Miss Potter. No Kreacher won't say a word about the name change, no Kreacher will not!"
"Harry! He's telling us everything!" Ron shrieked.
"Yeah... but why?"
They all sat in the living room staring at the elf who was sitting on the floor speaking to the lamp.
"So, Blaire is with the Lestranges? Bellatrix's parents?" Hermione asked Kreacher.
"Oh yes! Miss Morganna welcomed Blaire into her life quickly, after Bellatrix asked her to do so for her best friend Miss Lily Evans! Oh how Bellatrix loved Lily..."
Harry's mouth opened in shock. Bellatrix, his mother's best friend? No way could that be true. Bellatrix was a Death Eater! A Murderer! A Torturer! Bellatrix was evil. And his mother... was not. If anything she was the exact opposite. From what Harry had learned, Lily Evans was quite possibly the kindest person he had ever come accross, standing up for what she believed in and those she cared for.
"Kreacher! Are you sure of what you are saying?" Harry stared at him.
"Yes of course Master Harry. Kreacher does not lie about Miss Bellatrix or Miss Evans! They were both so very nice to Kreacher."
"Harry, maybe he's lying, I mean your mum and Bellatrix? That can't be right." Hermione said, puzzled.
"He has to tell me the truth, and I just demanded it from him. He isn't lying to me."
"Hey Kreacher? Do you know where Blaire is?" Ron asked.
"Yes sir! Blaire is living with Master Nathaniel and Mistress Morganna Lestrange Desmarais. Kreacher believes they are in France, where they have a home."
"Ron! Don't demand information from him when he is clearly not well!" Hermione said angrily.
"Oh what's the harm? Hey Kreacher, do you have her address?" Ron asked casually.
"No sir, Mundungus stole it from Kreacher when he stole all of Kreacher's other things..."
"Dung stole it?"
"Yes sir..." Kreacher replied drowsily.
"Kreacher! Don't fall asleep yet!" Ron shouted at him.
And with that, Kreacher drifted off right there on the floor, curled up in a ball near the lamp.
AN[2: You know the drill, R&R!
