A/N: Sorry for going AWOL on you guys, I had a pretty crazy week, but anyway here's the next chapter, enjoy!
Chapter 4: Reparations (kind of) and R.A.B
Harry's feet hit the ground with a thud. He looked around, taking in his foreign surroundings; a nearly deserted muggle street.
"Hermione, where exactly did you take us?" Ron asked.
Harry turned around and was shocked to see Ron standing on the street beside Hermione.
"What are you doing here?" Harry asked, trying to cover his shock with cold indifference.
Ron was about to say something, but Hermione cut him off in fear of what would come out of his mouth.
"He couldn't stay there, not with the Death Eaters coming. He's Harry Potter's best friend—"Ron cleared his throat disgruntledly. "Oh, grow up, Ron! Honestly, do you think Harry knocked her up on purpose?"
"That's not the point! The fact that he was shagging her in the first place!" Ron's face was turning its infamous nasty shade of puce.
"It was ONE night, Ron! It was after we won the cup and we were both drunk! She came into my room and—well—it just happened!" Ron attempted to cut him off. "No Ron, you're my best mate and I am sick of fighting with you. It kills me not to be able to have you at my side through all of this, but what's done is done and I can't change that. Are you coming with me or not?" Harry said, furrowing his brow.
"Fine, but know this, I'm not doing this for you." Ron said, spitting out the last word. Harry rolled his eyes and folded his arms, trying to cover up the hurt he felt.
"Boys," Hermione muttered under her breath with a sigh.
The wedding had been absolutely beautiful, but unfortunately, it had come to an abrupt and chaotic end, as most things did in these days. A message had arrived in the form of Kingsley Shacklebolt's patronus: A brilliant, silver light traveled through the air and landed in the middle of the dance floor, taking on the shape of a Lynx. It delivered its message quickly and clearly in the deep, booming voice of Kingsley Shacklebolt.
"The Ministry has fallen. Scrimgeour is dead. They are coming."
Hermione Granger acted quickly; they had no time to lose. She double-checked that she had her purse (She had used an expanding spell that morning and had packed all of their things, just in case). Hooded figures began to appear amongst the crowd creating a mass panic. Hermione grabbed Ron's hand and shoved through the crowd to find Harry. She spotted him in the corner, holding on to a frightened Ginny, trying to make himself invisible. She shot him a meaningful glance and he turned, kissed Ginny firmly on the lips, uttering a rushed goodbye, and then they disapparated to the first place that had flitted across her mind.
The trio had wandered the muggle street for awhile, shooting ideas back and forth on what they were to do. They eventually settled on the idea of staying At Number 12 Grimmauld Place. The three had set up camp in the living room of the dusty old house, with Ron melodramatically moving his sleeping bag as far away from Harry as possible, and Hermione muttering to herself about the idiocy of boys. Eventually though, they all settled down and drifted into sleep.
0.0.0...0.0.00...0.
Harry's eyes fluttered open. He sat up and groped the floor blindly in an attempt to find his glasses. Upon locating them, he untangled himself from the sleeping bag and made his way up the stairs.
When Harry reached the landing he muttered "Lumos." And his wand tip glowed brightly. He then strode apprehensively into Sirius's bedroom.
The walls were decorated with so many posters that barely any of the translucent silvery paint showed through. Gryffindor banners, bikini clad muggle girls, and to Harry's great pleasure, a single wizarding photograph of Sirius with James, Remus, and Pettigrew. In the photo the four of them were standing arm in arm, laughing at the camera.
Harry attempted to take the photograph from the wall, but to no avail; Sirius had taken no shortcuts in preventing his parents from redecorating his room.
Books, paper and little trinkets littered Sirius's room. It looked as though somebody had searched through it, but evidently everything had been judged as worthless. Harry began picking up some of the paper, when he came across a crumpled, handwritten note. Harry's insides went numb as he recognized his mother's handwriting. He read through the note again and again, its contents were meaningless, but its author was beyond important. He picked out the little things, the way Lily potter's 'G's swirled to match his own and the way she smudged her letters just a bit as she scrawled the seemingly casual words.
The second half of the note was missing and Harry crawled around on his hands and knees, scouring the floor for the rest of it. Finally he saw what looked like a jaggedly ripped piece of paper. It was a photo, the same photo that Lily had mentioned in her letter. It showed a black haired baby zooming around on a toy broomstick.
Harry's eyes filled with tears and he continued to look for the rest of the letter and after a half hour, he was forced to admit it wasn't there.
He eventually left Sirius's room and headed downstairs for breakfast. He stopped in shock as he read the hand-lettered sign that hung on the other door in the hallway.
Do Not Enter
Without the Express permission of
Regulus Arcturus Black
"Ron! Hermione!" He screamed as excitement coursed through his veins.
They both appeared at the top of the stairs, only seconds later.
"What is it? What's wrong?" Hermione asked breathlessly.
"The sign," Harry said, pointing, "R.A.B."
Harry unlocked the door and walked through into the room. The trio searched through the room for over two hours, shuffling through papers and books and knickknacks alike. Albeit Regulus's room was much cleaner than Sirius's, it had a more detached atmosphere. Few personal effects ordained the walls and only a single photo lay on his dresser, covered in years of dust. It showed Regulus with whom Harry assumed to be his father at this graduation from Hogwarts. The three searched through all of Regulus's things for the locket, but it simply wasn't there.
"It could still be somewhere else," Ron said. "What about Kreacher? He loves to knick family objects. Doesn't he?"
"He had a whole stash of things down in his cupboard, c'mon." Harry said, refraining from complimenting Ron on this obviously good idea.
He ran down the stairs with Hermione and Ron thundering along in his wake. He dashed into the basement kitchen and wrenched open Kreacher's cupboard.
Harry was shocked to find that the small area was devoid of all the glittering objects it had once held. The same dirty old blankets were there in a nest-like fashion, but nothing that remotely resembled the locket was there. Ron groaned and threw himself onto the nearest chair; Hermione closed her eyes and rubbed her temples.
"It's not over yet! Kreacher!" Harry yelled.
With a crack the house-elf appeared at Harry's feet. "Master," He croaked. Then continued muttering to himself. "Mudblood Granger fouling up my mistress's house my poor mistress having-"
"Enough, Kreacher. I forbid you from using the word 'mudblood'." Harry growled. "I've got a question for you and I command you to answer truthfully. There used to be a big gold locket in this house, it was your master Regulus's, I believe. Where is it?"
"Gone."
"Gone? What do you mean, gone?"
The elf shuddered, then burst into tears; Harry was taken aback by the sudden outburst of emotion and felt a twinge of sympathy for the odd, little creature. He awkwardly attempted to pat Kreacher on the back, but the elf pulled away, explaining himself tearfully, "That filth, Mundungus Fletcher. He took my mistress's things. Her pictures, Order of Merlin, the goblets—and—and—the locket, Master Regulus's locket. Kreacher failed Master Regulus!"
Harry grabbed Kreacher as he lunged for the fire poker. Such a reaction had become instinctive after Dobby. "Kreacher, I order you not to hurt yourself. Now, tell me where the locket came from in the first place?"
"For years, Master Regulus talked of the Dark Lord, who was going to bring wizards out of hiding to rule the muggles. When he turned sixteen… he joined him. He was so proud, so very proud, and happy to serve…. And one day, a year after he had joined, Master Regulus came to visit Kreacher. Master Regulus had always liked Kreacher, he had always been kind to Kreacher… he—he said …. The Dark Lord needed an elf and Master Regulus had volunteered Kreacher."
Harry listened to Kreacher stony faced as the little elf rocked back and forth in the fetal postion.
"Master Regulus told Kreacher to do the Dark Lord's bidding then immediately return home. So Kreacher went with the Dark lord. He took Kreacher to a cave beside the sea. And behind the cave was a cavern, and inside, a dark, dark cave. An evil cave, full of dark magic." The elf shuddered.
The hairs on the back of Harry's neck stood up as Kreacher continued to describe the boat, the lake, and the potion, the very same experiences he had had with Dumbledore on that fateful night.
"…And then the Dark Lord sailed away, leaving Kreacher to die. Kreacher needed water so he went to the lake…. And hands… dead hands grabbed him and pulled him under."
"How did you get away?"
"Master Regulus told Kreacher to come home."
Harry stared at Kreacher with a puzzled expression.
"He disapparated, Harry. Remember, elf magic is different than wizard magic." Hermione told him matter-of-factly.
Kreacher continued with his story, with only a slight glare at Hermione.
"Master Regulus was very worried… very worried. He told Kreacher to stay hidden and not to leave the house. Then… a little while later…. He came to find Kreacher in his cupboard. He asked Kreacher to take him to the Dark Lord's cave, M-master Regulus drank the potion—Kreacher tried to stop him! And then…. Replaced the locket with one that was identical to it…. Then he gave the real locket to Kreacher. He- ordered Kreacher-t-to – leave without him- and go home- and never-ever- speak of –what-he had- done. And Kreacher watched as….. Master Regulus- was-was dragged beneath the water….and….."
"Oh Kreacher!" Hermione wailed.
"Kreacher," Harry said, ignoring Hermione, "When you feel up to it, er— I have a job for you." He finished rather awkwardly, running his hands through his already messy hair.
After a half hour, Kreacher sat up, still hiccupping. "Master?" he said pitifully.
"I need you to track down Mundungus Fletcher and bring him back here. Do you understand? And Kreacher, er- I have something for you." Harry said, pulling out the locket. "Your Master Regulus would have—er, want you to have this." Harry handed him the locket.
The elf's ears perked up as he took the locket and put it around his scrawny neck. He seemed rejuvenated by its presence. He puffed out his bony chest and disapparated with a crack.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-..-.-.-..-.-.-.-..-.-.-.-.-.-..-.-.-.
His long, white fingers stretched towards the wooden door. He didn't bother knocking, he just brought out his wand and swiftly waved it in front of him. The door opened to reveal a woman laughing cheerfully in the kitchen of the small home.
Her laughter froze on her face and was replaced by an expression of fear.
"Gregorovitch?" His high, cold voice rang out.
The woman attempted to close the door, shaking her head furiously. His white hand prevented her from doing so with ease.
"I want Gregorvitch."
"He no live here! I know him not!" She cried shaking her head. She began to back away down the hallway.
Harry glided towards her and his hand reached for the elegant wand that lay within his robes.
"Where is he?" he hissed.
"He move! I know him not!"
He raised his wand and she let out a bloodcurdling scream, which brought two young children running out of their rooms. She attempted to shield them with her arms. He raised the wand and-"
"Harry! HARRY!"
He opened his eyes to find himself sprawled on the bathroom floor. Hermione was pounding on the door angrily.
"Open up!"
He knew he must have shouted out during the vision. He got up and unbolted the door. Hermione came tumbling through the door.
"Geeze 'Mione, take it easy. You're gonna break the damn door down." Harry said rubbing his head.
"What did you see?" she demanded, going straight to the point.
He knew it was pointless to deny it at this point. He sat down at the edge of the bath and put his head in his hands.
"I saw him. He murdered a woman and by now—by now he's probably killed her whole family. It was horrible; they didn't do anything. They were just there!"
"You're not supposed to let this happen anymore! What good does it do? You're only hurting yourself Harry! Why won't you stop it?" Hermione cried in frustration, crossing her arms. Harry thought it made her look like a mother scolding a small child, he would have laughed had the situation been more appropriate.
"It means I can see what he's doing. It means that if I can see what he's doing in advance I can protect the people I love. I've already lost my parents, Sirius, Dumbledore and so many others. I can't lose you, or Ron, or Ginny…. Or the baby. Do you understand?" Harry said.
Hermione just looked at him a moment, then spun on her heel and stormed out. Harry noticed Ron standing in the doorway a couple minutes later.
"What do you want?" Harry snapped. Ron just looked at him a second more, then walked away.
…-.-.-.-.-.-..-.-.-.-.-..-.
Harry fiddled with the knobs of the radio trying to find the station again. He punched in the password quickly, then, finally it came on. He breathed a sigh of relief and listened eagerly to the device.
"Welcome to Potterwatch," George's voice came over the radio, "Before we move on to other news we would just like to send a shout out to Hippogriff that your Hungarian Horntail would like to see you now, the wombat is in need of a tooth brushing. So please hurry your arse over there." George continued to go on about other events happening at the moment, but Harry had stopped listening. He had finally heard the code after weeks of waiting. He snatched up his jacket off the kitchen chair and dissapparated to St. Mungo's for Ginny's first prenatal Appointment.
A/N: So not to be one of those annoying authors who constantly begs for reviews, but would you guys mind throwing some my way? I would love to hear your opinions, on the gender, the names, anything at all, really. So PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, Review!