Come Hell and High Water

WIP

Of Libraries and Discoveries

AN: Thank you ProngsPotter 22 for kicking my pathetic arse :D

Meanwhile Harry was busying sneezing noisily into the dust-filled tomes of the Black Family Library. Though the house at Grimmauld Place had gone through a thorough cleaning after the war the books had been deemed too sensitive and valuable to allow house-elves to clean them and were supposed to be hand cleaned. A task that Harry had yet to set himself to Hermione's increasing frustration.

So as a result the books and the mahogany shelves were covered in decades of dust and grime and though the wards on the property preserved the books themselves it didn't clean anything. So Harry was busy sneezing into a mountain of dirty books in an otherwise nice library with newly painted caramel walls and nice Chesterfield lounge set. And as an added bonus there seemed to be no immediate organisation on the shelves either, which left Harry in his current predicament, carefully levitating books down from their shelves and checking for curses before checking for information.

It had been an angel carving on a ceiling ornament in the bathroom that finally made Harry realise that despite spending a good year with one, he knew nothing about angels other than the populist cherubic art that seemed to be prevalent. As far as Harry could discern through Lucifer's few stories from his angel days they were warriors. Soldiers created by G-d to do His divine bidding and not the cutesy diaper-wearing cherubs that Mr Weasley had a rather large collection of for some reason. That lead him to his current forage through the extensive but decidedly dark collection of tomes in his library.

Though Sirius had hated everything with this house Harry had tried his best to make it home desperate for anything that spoke to him of family and belonging. Therefore seeing the still grime-filled shelves shamed Harry quite a bit realising that he had neglected to learn all he could about the Blacks. Sure it was dark, but not all was evil. Though…sacrificial rituals to increase harvests by offering virgin blood wasn't exactly vanilla and definitely something Harry would be avoiding as he shut another book and levitated into the pile with blood-rituals. But other books looked more promising. There was a whole host of rituals to honour magic and its blessings on wizards and witches. Another book was also levitated towards that pile cleaned and fresh once more. But still, no mention of angels or even the Muggle religion.

It was noon when Kreature interrupted Harry with a delicious lunch that made his stomach rumble loudly.

"Thank you, Kreature. I guess I lost track of time a bit".

"Hmpf! Master not take care of himself properly. So Kreature must make sure Master and Little Master easts properly. "

Chuckling a bit Harry slowly eased his gravid body down into one of the huge leather chairs. "I am sorry, Kreature. But I am very glad that you are here to take care of us."

Kreature just grumbled unintelligibly while levitating the pasta-chicken salad onto the table.

"Kreature tries and tries. May this humble house elf ask what Master be's searching for?"

Swallowing some good English cheddar with garlic dressing, Harry gave the elf a thoughtful look.

"I am looking for any information about angels and demons". Harry explained hesitating; knowing that he never bothered telling exactly who and what the other father was and was still uncertain if anybody should ever know.

Kreature stilled and looked at Harry with a very assessing and surprisingly sane look in his huge eyes.

"Kreature is not knowing what Master wants with such things. Long has angels, demons and wizards avoided each other or so they say."

"So you know about them?" Harry asked astounded.

"Hmm… Kreature knows, as all house elves know. Wizards always forget history, but we elves remember."

"Does that mean there are no books about the subject?"

"Kreature wants to know why Master is searching for such subjects. All we house elves know that wizards are supposed to belong to the angels but that bad things, terrible things happen to wizards who meet with demons. Master must not seek demons! Promise Kreature!"

Harry's mouth and fallen open at the sudden desperation that coloured the old elf's voice and was quick to voice his promise never to seek out any demons.

"Kreature is glad that Master listens. Last wizards who tried to meddle with demons became something horrible. The Dark One. But Harry Potter-Black managed to defeat him and so us elves are safe again and so is the rest of the world. Terrible terrible what the Dark One did to Master Regulus. Poor Master"

Harry had paled drastically at the mention of Voldemort and was suddenly very glad that he was still sitting down. He had always wondered why Voldemort was so much more powerful then any other wizard and where the hell a school-boy Riddle had first come across the mentions of Horcruxes. It was just so much darker than what anybody else had tried and the man's magic had always been foul, tainted and so wretched. Had Voldemort really been making deals with demons? Had Dumbledore known? It rankled Harry and once more he cursed the old manipulating man. Hadn't Dumbledore once cautioned that house elves always seemed to know more then they let on? Did that mean that he had known?

Sighing heavily and trying to rub the coming headache away Harry gently interrupted Kreature's lament over Regulus Black.

"I just want to research the angels, Kreature and what sort of relationship they have with us wizards" And whether or not they can command wizards or manipulate emotions. He didn't want to think about that. He wanted to believe that there might have been love towards the end of his... captivity. Damn, there were just so many doubts.

"Kreature will find them for Master. But you's must promise to be careful and never try and summon angels. No mortals can look at true angels without terrible things happening". That was the second time Harry had heard that. What did it mean that he could see through Lucifer's vessel?

"I promise Kreature." Harry vowed having no design to summon those sword-swinging homicidal manics.

Kreature just snapped his fingers and suddenly three thick and very well worn books came floating out from various crevices around the library. It didn't seem that there was a lot of information but Harry would take anything he could.

"That all's there be about that. Much is written in Enochian. Angel's writings, but Master will still try and read it?" the old house elf asked Harry seemingly wanted Harry to promise never to even open the books. Enochian huh? Wonder if a translation charm or potion would work.

"I promise to be careful, Kreature"

The house elf just harrumphed before popping out of existence. Harry sighed before settling down back to his salad. The three books piled neatly beside his plate. Sadly Harry's concentration was shot to pieces with all the new information. He glanced nervously at the books. Had a young Tom Riddle come across something similar? Was this the start? Would he wander the same path? He certainly had the power and had first hand knowledge of Horcrux-making, having actually been one.

A sharp kick to his stomach made him chuckle a bit.

"Sorry little one" Harry smiled softly rubbing the distended stomach under his worn Dudley T-shirt, the only thing that fit anymore as he hadn't dared to go shopping. "I promise I won't go down that path. I want to make sure you are loved and treasured." An small roll under his hand seemed answer enough.

As it turned out further contemplation was useless as the shrill sound of an alarm filled the house startling Harry thoroughly. A 'pop' by his side saw Kreature arrive in the library with a bag half filled with clothing and some food.

"Master must leave! The wards! They are falling!" Kreature bellowed out already grabbing Harry hand and pulling him to his feet. Harry was however frozen in fear. How had they found him? He immediately reached out with his magic to confirm Kreature's exclamation and paled drastically when he realised that it was indeed so. The wards were under attack. Long buried war instincts kicked in as Harry quickly shrunk the three books of demon and angel lore and tossed them into the bag.

"We need to leave through the Floo, then find some other transport. I don't know how good my Apparition is anymore especially with three" Harry stated in a no-nonsense voice, nothing of his absolute panic bleeding through.

"This loyal house elf will stay, Master. Make sure that the wards cause enough problems so that Master can escape!"

"Kreature, no I can...-" He was cut off when the hole house suddenly seemed to shake and he could literally see the glimmer of magic wavering alongside the windows and doors.

"Master! Go! You needs to get away. To hide! Hide from the Angels and their sight! Hide!"

Hide... He needed to hide. How? How could he possibly hide from angels? Well first things first, he needed to get the hell out of here.

"Kreature, I need you to be ready to open up the Floo... just for a second so I can get out. Then I need you to activate the Sauvegarde Portkey and save the library, please!".

Harry quickly scampered down the stairs, desperately trying to think over the sound of the blaring sirens. What else did he need? What was he missing? He had his wand, and it seemed like Kreature had packed several clothes, potions and preserved food... he needed.. The Cloak! Dashing across the landing, Harry hurried into his bedroom rummaging through his old school trunk. The house shook again and magic actually started sparking like electricity alongside the window. He didn't even have minutes anymore. Finally he felt the fluid silk of his trusted cloak and pulled it out before grabbing his school scarf, mittens and oversized sweater. He had to hold the bannister as the hole house seemed to jump as he ran down the stairs into the kitchen.

"Kreature. Get ready." It was suddenly hard to swallow as he looked at the old wrinkled House Elf that had amazingly turned out so loyal and helpful.

"Please get out, if you can Kreature. The house can be rebuilt, but... "

"Master takes care of himself and littlest Master. Go!" Harry quickly grabbed a pinch of Floo powder as Kreature gently drew his finger down the runes on the fireplace.

"The Three Broomsticks!" Harry cried out with tears blurring his eyes as he spun away in the flames.

AN: The Sauvegard Portkey was just something I made up. French, meaning to safeguard. So basically it would portkey e.g. something to safety. It this case it sends the Black Library to the Black Vault at Gringgotts. It's not 'important' but helps out something later.

AN2: Thank you every singe person that bother to read this. Love you all.