A Debt is Paid, a Slave is Made

"Listen up," Harry said after the ritual was completed, "I have several things that I need you to do."

"Yes master."

"First, I need you to find a way to get me out from under Dumbledore's thumb."

"Since you've sat your OWL exams, you have the option if leaving school," she replied quietly, "If you leave school then you are automatically considered an adult for most legal purposes."

"Only most?"

"Different laws written at different times have different ideas of what constitutes an 'Adult'," she explained, "I could research it if you wish..."

"Who knows about this?"

"Most everyone," Hermione said dully, "Dumbledore made a point of ordering us not to let you find out."

"I see... in that case the two of us are leaving school."

"The two of us?" Hermione asked in horror.

"Afraid so," Harry agreed cheerfully, "Don't worry, it's for the greater good and we all know that no sacrifice is too big for the greater good."

"I... I understand master," Hermione had tears trickling down her face as she spoke, "What else do you require of me, master."

"How hard is it going to be to hire a couple of tutors?"

"Tutors?"

"Just because I'm leaving Hogwarts doesn't mean that I'm going to neglect my education," Harry explained, "I still have Voldemort to deal with, for a start."

"You do master," Hermione agreed, "And hiring a Tutor or two or even five won't be a problem master... would I be permitted to attend lessons with you?"

"Will you be good?"

"Yes master," Hermione answered quickly.

"Then yes, you may have lessons with me."

"Thank you master."

"Remember," Harry told her "I am not doing this to punish you for betraying me, I wouldn't do that."

"Then... why master?"

"I need a loyal researcher," Harry answered with a shrug, "This was the easiest way to make you loyal. The next thing on the agenda is that you are not to tell anyone about your new status."

"As your slave?" Hermione asked with a bit of heat.

"Yes, that. So don't address me as master in public – only when the two of us are alone and can't be overheard."

"I understand master."

"Good, now I am also going to need you to find me a place to stay long term where I won't be disturbed... preferably in the magical world."

"I... I'm not sure I could afford that master."

"I'll cover the expenses," Harry waved off her concerns, "Just tell me what you need and why."

"Anything else, master?"

"I have several books that I'm going to be leaving here," he told her, "I need you to read them and take notes on anything that might be useful for me to know."

"That's one thing I'd be happy to do." Hermione said with a sigh.

"One more thing, I'm going to need some sort of truth potion or spell. You are to either brew it or acquire it for me. Same deal as before, just tell me what you need in terms of money."

"I can do that master."

"Good, get on it then, and call this number when you are finished."

"I will."

"Almost forgot," Harry waved his wand around Hermione's, whispering an incantation before he returned it to her, "This is the last spell in the little book on top, which I'm leaving for your reference. I've already read it, but I suggest you check it out when you have the time."

"Yes master,"

"Then I'm not going to keep you up any longer," Harry said cheerfully, "After all, you've got a busy day ahead of you tomorrow."

"Goodbye master."

"Goodnight Hermione," Harry said as he threw the invisibility cloak on, "Pleasant dreams."

. . .

Hermione called Harry's new disposable mobile the following evening to give her first report.

"I've accomplished most of what you wanted me to master," she informed him in a subdued tone, "Sirius left you his house, which you should inherit as next in line anyway, so you have a place to stay in the magical world. I've gone through your books and noted several spells and potions that could be useful."

"And the last thing," he pressed her, "A way to determine truth?"

"There is something that I found a reference to," she replied nervously, "That would allow you to to know when people are trying to mislead you. It... it wouldn't compel them to tell you the truth, but it also wouldn't do anything to tip them off that you're doing it."

"Well?"

"It's a kind of charm," Hermione said reluctantly, "I think I'll need a few more books to research it."

"How much time do you need?"

"Just a couple of minutes master, I think," Hermione mumbled the last part, "I think that I can work out the mechanics of the spell from these descriptions."

"Get to it then,"

"Yes master,"

"And hurry," Harry continued, "We have a meeting we need to go to tonight."

"I understand master."

. . .

Hermione paid the taxi fare from Vernon's wallet as Harry swept up the steps of 12 Grimmaud Place. Drawing his new wand as he crossed the threshold he approached the kitchen with confidence. On the other side he heard a hush falling and the voice of Albus Dumbledore.

"Someone's entered the wards."

"It's just me," Harry informed them as he entered the room to find a forest's worth of wands pointed at him, "Though I do appreciate the welcome, Heil Dumbledore." he extended his wand hand before continuing, "You may be seated."

The wands disappeared and several grumbling witches and wizards took their seats. Though a couple of muggleborn shot worried looks at the headmaster, the meaning behind Harry's gesture seemed to have passed over the collective heads of the majority of the Order.

"Why have you come here," Dumbledore asked in a grandfatherly voice, "You know it's not safe for you to be out on your own."

"I know several things," Harry answered, "For example, did you know that I own this house?"

"I was aware of it," Dumbledore replied dryly, "I was not aware that you where."

"And as the owner," Harry continued, "I'm afraid that I don't like the idea of so many people being here unsupervised. In future, no one is to be here without my express permission."

"Harry..." Dumbledore began.

"I also know," Harry spoke over the interruption, "How little the Order has done to combat the Death Eaters. Rather, you've been spending all your time and resources spying on me and keeping me confined to my former... 'residence'"

"It was for the greater..."

"Yes, yes," Harry interrupted with a yawn, "We're all well aware that you think that."

"What I don't understand is how you where," Moody growled.

"He has his and I have mine," Harry answered cryptically, "And with that I believe our business is concluded. This meeting is adjourned. That means you may all leave my house; immediately. Kreacher!"

"You called, bad master Potter sir."

"These individuals are just leaving," Harry gestured at the assembled Order, "Please show them out. Then search this house top to bottom, and return any items belonging to those individuals to their nearest residence. Do you understand."

"Yes, bad master Potter sir."

With that Harry swept out of the kitchen, chaos erupting in his wake. He expected to find Hermione in the library, until he saw her on the landing still listening in. He had told her to monitor the meeting, but now that it was breaking up she stayed where she was listening to the fallout.

The Order of the Phoenix departed a trifle slower than he would have liked, but Kreacher did as ordered and made sure that nobody dawdled. Once outside they popped away, one by one, a few lingering to argue before they too left.

"Dumbledore thinks you're going to come running back to him master." Hermione said after the wizard in question dissapparated.

"You read lips?"

"Not well, master; I left an extendable ear outside."

"Why does Dumbledore expect me to return?"

"Because you used magic, master." Hermione replied, "He said that he would make sure there was a proper law suit brought against you so that you would need his protection."

"I used subtle spells and a muffled wand," Harry replied, "Like I did last night. Did you receive a warning for underage magic use in your house?"

"No master."

"Neither did I, so I don't expect to get one this time either. You did read the section on muffled wands, did you not?"

"Yes master," Hermione replied with a sad smile, "Apparently Dumbledore did not."

"Him and everyone else," Harry muttered, thinking of the witch he'd bought it from, "You cast the truth charm successfully?"

"Of course, master," Hermione answered in a subdued voice, "Though I think that I still need to refine it a little."

"It will do for now," Harry assured her, "Mine pinged a few times – yours?"

"Likewise master."

"Let's compare notes in the library, then."

. . .

Harry settled into a comfortable chair with a sigh, thinking back over the conversation he had just had with the Order as he gestured for Hermione to take a nearby seat. There was something odd about the way her truth charm had been reacting – he trusted Hermione's work, with the enslavement ritual on her, so he doubted it was a false reading. It was almost as if…

"That truth charm of yours… Does it read magnitude?"

"It should do master."

"And Dumbledore was subtly misleading throughout the entire meeting." Harry groaned.

"Just barely master." Hermione pointed out, "It was almost as if..."

"As if, what?"

"As if he was trying to be honest master," she whispered, "But has become so accustomed to misdirection that it is automatic and ingrained."

"Are you sure?"

"No master," she sighed, "It is a new spell. It is rough, in need of refinement and calibration. For now master I would suggest you take any of Dumbledore's words with a pinch of salt."

"A rather generous pinch at that." Harry sighed, "Any specific spikes?"

"Nothing that seemed especially relevant."

"Nothing entirely false, or as it seems; but it would appear that we are on our own."

"Yes master."

"Bad master potter want Kreacher throw nasty mudblood out too?" Kreacher asked as he appeared before them.

"NO!" Harry snapped, "And do not use that term!"

Kreacher immediately ran head first into the nearest bookshelf and began beating his head against it, before collapsing on the floor when Harry ordered him to stop.

"Hermione serves me, Kreacher." Harry explained, "Her loyalty I can trust, Her ability likewise. I need someone like her so I can make sure to thoroughly avenge those Voldemort killed."

"Potter master wants to avenge good master Black sir?" Kreacher ventured.

"I wish to end Voldemort properly," Harry replied softly, "To finish what so many have started. I want to ensure that this time, he either cannot come back, or won't try."

"Kreacher wants to help."

"Care to explain that?" Harry inquired, more than a little surprised by the change in Kreacher's attitude.

. . .

Kreacher's explanation took the better part of an hour. As far as Harry could tell, Mr and Mrs Black had forced their son Regulus into joining the Death Eaters before Voldemort revealed his true colours. Kreacher had been assigned to help Voldemort hide pendant of some value, and had then helped his 'Good Master Black sir' get the item. Regulus had sacrificed himself to pierce Voldemort's final defence, after ordering Kreacher to take the Dark Lord's precious artefact and destroy it.

"But Kreacher couldn't follow good master Black's order." the house elf drooped, "Bad Kreacher failed, Bad Kreacher punished himself and Bad Kreacher still failed!"

Anticipating Kreacher's next move, Harry leapt from his seat and seized the house elf before he could punish himself again.

"Kreacher hold still." he ordered, stopping the elf in the act, "Punishing yourself now will not improve your chances. Now tell me, do you know where this artefact is now?"

"Kreacher knows,"

"Then fetch it here. Perhaps we can try something you haven't."

With that Harry released Kreacher who scuttled out the door as fast as he could. With a sigh Harry returned to his seat and asked Hermione what she thought.

"Kreacher is as loyal to you as I am, master," she replied, "However much he may hate it. If you are asking if I detected any misdirection the answer is no."

"What do you think of the circumstance Kreacher described," Harry pressed.

"Plausible master," Hermione mused, "Voldemort's rise was not initially a reign of terror – he won many followers when hiding behind a benign if bigoted masquerade. Followers who paid the price if they could not stomach the truth behind the masque."

"And the Artefact?"

"If Voldemort wanted it safe then destroying it would likely weaken him, master. I could not say more without further study."

"Dark Lord's pendant, Harry Potter Sir." Kreacher announced himself.

"Put it on the floor and step back," Harry ordered before turning to his slave, "Hermione?"

"Yes master?"

"What is that thing?"

In reply she drew her wand and hit the pendant with several diagnostic charms, an expression of disgust forming on her face.

"It is ugly master" she commented, "I can feel foul intent leaking from it – it would probably warp the mind of anyone who donned it. The protective enchantments are undeniably impressive, however. No amount of mundane force would so much as scratch it. We are going to need a specialised pick to crack this lock."

"Do you have what you need?"

"Just time master."

"Good. Keep it secret, Kreacher, keep it safe."

"Potter master wants Kreacher to protect bad Dark Lord's pendant?"

"Protect it from getting lost or stolen," Harry clarified, "We need to know exactly where to find it when we destroy it."

"Yes Harry Potter Sir! Kreacher will do it!"

"Hermione," Harry asked after Kreacher had left, "Was there anything else?"

"I am unsure master, but it may have been a potent artefact that Voldemort later corrupted. There where signs of older magics under the stinking corruption."

"So it may be something we can turn against Voldemort, his strength to our strength."

"Possibly master."

"Think about it," Harry ordered her, "We can not afford any mistakes. Tomorrow I want you to catalogue the contents of this library and shelve my new additions. Make sure that you have a good idea of where to look for specific answers."

"Yes master."

"Now get to bed. You have another long day ahead of you tomorrow."

"Yes master."

Harry felt a bitter smile as he watched the forlorn figure of Hermione Granger depart. It was necessary, he was sure, to keep her this way. There was no way he could do this alone – he needed a loyal researcher – and she had already betrayed him after all. That did not mean he had to like it, any more than it meant she did. More than that, though, the question boiling in his mind was:

"Who else has betrayed me?"

. . .

Harry woke the following morning to the sound of movement in the Library, having fallen asleep in his chair. A glance at the clock showed that it was still early, but Hermione was already working at the shelves, adding the books and catalogues he had gathered. He left quietly to find Kreacher in the kitchen and ordered breakfast – something that the little house elf was more than happy to arrange despite the early hour.

"Hermione," he called when it was done.

"Yes master," she answered behind him.

"How did you do that?" he asked, startled.

"You summoned me master." she replied, "One of the powers the enslavement ritual bestowed upon you as my master, just as it bestowed upon me the power to answer your summons."

"I see," he mused, "Time for breakfast."

"I shall see to it, master."

"Kreacher already has," Harry told her, "So sit and eat."

"It is not proper for a slave to dine with her master," Hermione objected.

"As my slave you are obligated to do as I instruct you," Harry replied, making sure to clearly enunciate every syllable, "Sit, Eat."

"Yes master."

Hermione sat at the table and began chewing through the meal Kreacher had prepared for her, whilst Harry took a seat away from his former friend before doing the same. As they ate Hermione updated him on her progress – the Black library had been well structured and she had already managed to place his new additions appropriately. There where some gaps in the knowledge provided, of course, but they could be filled in as and when required. Books on healing, for example, where rare and often outdated when compared to the Black family's extensive collection of dark curses.

"Anything else," Harry asked when he had finished.

"Yes master," Hermione replied, "Your letter."

"Gringotts telling me that I need to claim my magical inheritance." Harry commented after skimming the letter she passed him, "What do you think."

"Sounds conceivable, master."

"Sent your leaving letter to Hogwarts yet?"

"No master," Hermione drooped as Harry handed her a sheet of parchment.

"Write it up," he told her, "Then you can post it when we go shopping."

"Shopping master?"

"Yes Hermione, shopping" he replied, "I'll draw up a list of items for you to collect while I am in the bank."

"Yes master."

. . .