Regulus looked at the little boy and had no idea what was happening. He knew Harry was missing but had no idea how he got here. There was no doubt it was Harry. He had met both James and Lily, and would know their son anywhere. But his brother was in prison and couldn't have taken the child. And though his mother was alive when the boy was taken he couldn't comprehend why she would take him and how.

Harry looked up terrified at the man, holding his kitty to his chest. He had heard stories of the man but he was scared. Grandmother had told him he would be sent back to old home if he was found. He was terrified, he didn't want to go back, they hurt him very bad there.

Kreacher was worried. "You no touch Little Master."

Regulus looked at the elf. "What do you mean?"

"He little master. He be master. You no touch."

Harry buried his head against his cat. "Please don't hurt me."

Regulus knelt. "I won't hurt you Harry. But we need to take you from here."

Harry cowered deeper. "No. No."

Kreacher put a shield up. "You no taking Master."

Regulus was shocked. "I am your master."

"Mistress and Old Masters say no. Master Harry be master."

"My parents? They are dead."

Kreacher shook his head. "The paintings."

He looked at the elf. "Where are they?"

Kreacher pointed. "In den."

Regulus headed for the den to speak to the paintings and try and sort out what had happened. He had no idea why the boy was here. And why Kreacher was under the impression that Harry was his master. The elf was determined not to allow him to touch Harry or take him from the house. He had no idea why but Harry couldn't stay here. He worried that the boy had been alone in the house since his mother had died. He wondered how Kreacher had fed the little boy and the cat. Elves could not simply make food appear and he would have had no money.

Regulus headed for the den and hoped the paintings would be reasonable. His parents hadn't spoken to him when they found out he had taken the mark. His father had helped him turn spy when he learned Regulus was forced into the mark. He thought he already was one but for Albus.

He saw they were all asleep or so they pretended. "I know you are awake."

Wallburga eyed him. "So you are alive."

"What are you doing with the boy?"

Orion asked. "Boy? What are you talking about?"

"Harry. Harry Potter. The boy Kreacher won't let me near and thinks is his Master."

Wallburga smiled. "He is just that."

"Last I looked I was your son. And that doesn't explain what he is doing here."

Orion said coolly. "He has been adopted legally. He is being raised as a proper Black."

"By an elf? All alone in this house without humans? How is that proper?"

Wallburga smirked. "You suggest we return our grandson to those muggles who abuse him?"

"Grandson? Grandson? Even if I could admit to understanding how he is your grandson, what do you mean?"

Arcturus reminded him. "You recall my niece? The squib daughter my brother had from an affair?"

Regulus nodded. "Arabella. We called her the crazy cat woman."

"She was his neighbor."

Arabella Fig was Regulus' namesake's bastard squib daughter. Fig was her married name, and few knew she was a Black. Her husband had died many years before and she had lived alone with cats. For all their pure blood beliefs, Arcturus and later his son and daughter in law, spoke to her. The woman had informed Wallburga when the little boy she had often baby-sat, had broken his arm. She had suspected abuse before, but nothing so obvious. Wallburga had retrieved the boy from the house and brought him here. Buttertail was one of Arabella's kittens when Harry came. Wallburga had legally adopted Harry and had ensured Kreacher would keep him safe. He was under orders that no one was to take Harry.

Regulus went to leave. "I am taking Harry. Tell Kreacher to back down."

"You will not take him. He will not return to that abuse." Wallburga spat.

"I don't plan on returning him. But he can't live like this." Regulus countered.

Wallburga called. "If Albus finds him, he will send him back. He isn't safe out there."

Regulus turned back. "Why do you care? Why are you calling him you grandson?"

Orion spoke when his wife refused. "All you need to know is that boy belongs here and he will remain."

Regulus was shocked when he was presented with paper work by Kreacher. He was even more confused when he found his brother had signed them. They had been signed shortly after Halloween, but before his brother had been arrested. It had placed Harry into the care of his family if he was unable. Sirius had likely not intended his mother but it seemed she took the boy. Wallburga took it a step further and had adopted him fully.

Regulus went to leave. "You can't keep him here. He needs a proper home."

Regulus knew he needed help and there had to be some way out of this. As long as Kreacher was following orders, he couldn't take the boy. The wards would keep Harry from being removed. He needed to convince the paintings and Kreacher that he had to take the boy. He had no plan to return Harry to the muggles, or Albus. But being raised alone in this house was no way for a small child to be raised.

He headed to back to Remus, reminded that Sirius had not been Harry's only guardian. Remus had somehow been over looked by the paper work. But he was reminded the ministry would likely never have allowed it. He still wasn't sure how his parents got an adoption through.

Remus was surprised when he arrived. "What are you doing here?"

"This again."

"I didn't think you were coming back so soon."

"I have news about Harry."

Remus was shocked. "Harry?"

"I found him."

Remus stared at him in shock. "What do you mean, you found him?"

Regulus admitted. "He is at Grimmauld."

"If you found him why did you take him there and leave him? I don't get how you found him so soon."

"I found him in the house."

Remus was so confused. "In the house?"

Regulus was still confused but he had the man sit and explained all he had known. How he found Harry and the discussion with the elf. Remus wasn't surprised Sirius had gone to his parents. He had actually told Remus he had been. But the rest of this he had no idea. The last time he spoke to Remus, had been the day before he was arrested. He had told Remus he needed to hide, and that he made plans for Harry. Remus had no idea what Sirius had meant. He thought he had simply meant he had adopted Harry as his heir, now he realized it was so much more.

Regulus explained that Kreacher would not allow him to take Harry from the house. The little boy had been alone there but for the elf and three paintings for a year now. And unless they could convince the elf and paintings to cooperate, he couldn't take Harry.

Remus thought. "We need to go to Malfoy Manor."

Regulus followed him into the hut. "Why?"

"Narcissa." Remus said simply.

"They wouldn't listen to me, what makes you think they will listen to my cousin?"

"Lucius can offer a safe house for us, better than this. And I believe your parents liked him."

"You hope we can reason with my mother?"

"Novel concept I know but we must try something."

Regulus reluctantly agreed. "I still have no idea why my mother has done this."

Remus found a portkey. "They won't tell you?"

Regulus shook his head and took the portkey in hand as it activated. "No."

They could see the shock of Lucius and Narcissa when they arrived in their sitting room. And it wasn't simply because they thought Regulus dead. Though of course that was a large part of it. Moody was one of the only people alive who knew that he was. He had helped Regulus stay hidden and kept him updated over time. Severus appeared, as Regulus and Remus were doing their best to explain to his cousins.

Narcissa was just dealing with her cousin being alive when she found out about Harry. They were shocked that he was staying at Grimmauld. They had to wonder as well about things like food and something occurred to Narcissa and she decided to find out.

She called one of the elves that came with her. "Have you been providing food to Kreacher?"

The elf eyed her. "Mistress?"

"You know you serve me and not my Aunt. You will answer me."

"Yes mistress. And books. Since Mistress' Aunt died. Kreacher be asking."

Narcissa turned to the men when the elf was gone. "What will you do?"

Remus said. "We need a safe house to take him."

Regulus added. "And your help to convince them to relinquish Harry into our care."

Lucius thought. "I believe I have a house in mind. It's a bit remote but will serve for now."

Narcissa stood. "I will do what I can."

Remus was not about to be left behind and was coming with them to the house. Harry was his godson and he had as much part of this as any. Lucius thought they would stay in Grimmauld a night or two until he got the safe house ready. The Malfoys and Blacks had many homes but those were too obvious. They needed a home with space for three, but some security. For now the home he had in mind would work well enough.

Lucius thought when they still wondered about Wallburga's reason. "Sirius may be key. We are working to get him out."

An: So Regulus has enlisted Remus and the Malfoys to help get Harry out of the house, so he can have a proper childhood away from Albus too.

But why did Wallburga and Orion adopt Harry? The mystery continues. And yes, we will see Sirius soon enough.

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