Chapter 46

"Kreacher?" Silver called for the house-elf. Sirius had gone to get groceries with Harry, who was visiting for the day, and Silver was alone in Grimmuld place.

"Yes, Miss Silver?" Kreacher asked. His voice was gruff, but not nearly as unfriendly as it had once been.

"Do you know where this locket came from?" Silver held up a golden locket. The green S that was emblazoned on it glittered in the light of the room. Kreacher stared at the locket for nearly a minute before replying.

"Master Regulus," he stuttered out, before he was compelled with the urge to harm himself. He grabbed a cup from the bag that Silver was collecting and began hitting himself on the head.

"Stop! Stop, Kreacher! I don't need to know any more," Silver exclaimed. She was shocked that he had displayed such self-harm. She had only seen Dobby doing such a thing, and Kreacher was a much different elf than him. Kreacher stilled, before dropping the cup back into the bag.

"You can't talk about the locket, then, without disobeying Master Regulus's orders. Hmm."

Kreacher was looking at Silver with a blank look. Silver stood there for a few minutes, before realizing that she hadn't dismissed the elf yet.

"Oh, Kreacher, I'm sorry. I was wondering if you could bring this bag downstairs to the tree room? I've been collecting the Black memorabilia there for the time being. Feel free to take anything that you wish to keep for yourself. Only something small, though. I'll be figuring out the layout of everything soon enough."

"As you wish, Miss Silver," Kreacher replied, taking the bag that Silver had filled. She went back to studying the locket, before Kreacher's rough voice was heard again.

"Locket causes madness." He left the room immediately after that statement, causing Silver to look at the locket even more curiously before she pocketed it. She finished cleaning the room before moving on to the next one down the hall. Looking around, she heard a thunk come from the desk, before it visibly rattled. Eyeing it warily, she moved around the room more until she was right in front of it. She began to hear whispers, just as she did in the classroom during Professor Lupin's lesson on boggarts. She pulled out the master list of all of the rooms, before finding the one she was in. Sure enough, there was a symbol next to it for 'creature infested.' Silver had taught Kreacher how to draw the symbol, along with a few others, the day after she had him check every room. To her surprise, Kreacher had known how to read, but not how to write, so it made the task momentously easier.

As Silver left the room, she heard Sirius and Harry returning from their trip and intercepted Mrs. Black's wails before she could start. Although Mrs. Black had said she'd cease shrieking at every noise, she still went on a rant at least once a day.

"Mrs. Black?" Silver asked, throwing open the curtains that contained her.

"What is it?" Lady Black looked annoyed that Silver was interrupting her daily rant.

"Do you know when the boggart upstairs moved in?" Mrs. Black huffed.

"Of course not. It's not as if I can leave my frame, and boggarts come and go as they please. Are you not able to take care of it yourself?"

"I know how to get rid of a boggart. I just shouldn't since I'm not supposed to magic outside of school and it's better to do it in a group to maximize confusion. I should go. Have a pleasant day." Silver descended the stairs, leaving the curtains open.

"Hi guys. Successful venture?"

"Sure was, Silver. We got enough food to feed an army, I think," Harry replied.

"Then you need to re-imagine your idea of an army, Potter. At least you got enough for a week for the three of us. Oh, Sirius. Is it all right if I invite a few of my friends over for Thursday? I was thinking we could go to Diagon Alley and get school supplies together, and then meet up back here."

"Oh, yeah? If they want to come here, that's their right. How many are we talking though?"

"Well, if everyone says yes...it'll be three. Luna, Hermione, and Neville."

"Yes, that's fine, as long as they don't care about this place being gloomy."

"Hey, I've worked hard to brighten the place up a bit," Silver retorted, indicating the decorations she had thrown around the kitchen. There were several flower garlands hanging on the walls and a couple of vases scattered throughout the house.

"Yeah, you have. Thanks for that. I don't believe this place will ever be completely lively though. So much Dark Magic has been used or studied in here over the years."

"Maybe not, but we can at least try. I'll let August go with the letters, then. Since Hermione's at the Burrow for the rest of the summer, do you just want to see if we can meet up with the Weasleys as well, Harry?"

"That would be great! Erm, only if it's all right with you, Sirius," Harry added. Sirius laughed.

"You two need to stop treating me like I give a damn about this place. Silver's the one who wants to make it presentable before selling it."

"I have my reasons. I'll see you guys in a bit. Do you mind making me something to eat?"

"Nah, I don't mind. I'll just make enough for all three of us," Harry replied. Silver nodded before heading back up the stairs.

"Did I hear you say 'Weasleys'?" Mrs. Black asked as Silver passed.

"Sure did. Both Harry and I are friends with them, and this place is big enough to accommodate that many people."

"How many children did they have?" There was a bit of intrigue mixed with horror in Mrs. Black's voice.

"A total of seven. Only four of them will be coming, though, as the three eldest sons are out of Hogwarts."

"Why is it always the ingrates who breed like rabbits?"

"When you're poor, you don't have many options for entertainment," Silver replied before going to her room. She had begun decorating it slightly with some of her drawings to make it feel more homely.

"Hey, August. I'm going to need you to deliver a couple of letters in a few minutes, ok?" August hooted quietly, preening his feathers in preparation of the flight. He took off from Silver's window a little while later.