Ch.16

Year 4, 1974 – 75

Regulus would never admit to stalking Sirius Black. If anything, he would call it observing an irritating unknown to his future.

That's how the younger Black found himself surrounded by paintings full of food, but his attention was to the obscure painting near the end of the hallway. The inconspicuous pear piece was soon stroked by pale fingers and with a giggle, the frame swung open to reveal the hustle and bustle of the Hogwarts kitchen.

Although being a Black, he was raised to believe himself to be above all other creatures and even other wizards, he was also raised by house elves. He especially had a soft spot for Kreacher. Considering Sirius' more eccentric tendencies didn't show until he was older, he was still the heir and himself the spare.

Their parents would dote and spoil his brother when they had a moment to spare, often leaving Regulus to seek attention from the house elves. While the situation has definitely changed since Sirius was practically disowned, Regulus couldn't deny the calm he felt around house elves.

Naturally the discovery of the Hogwarts kitchen was an oasis for the boy. Regulus knew he didn't really have any friends here; allies yes, enemies definitely, but no friends. Magical kind tended to overlook house elves, demeaning them as purely slaves to do chores and serve their masters, but he saw much more.

House elves are not so detached from the pure elves who were known to be one with nature and magic. They were not restrained by magic and were above petty notions of society. House elves developed deep bonds that could surmount any other in the magical world. It didn't need to be forced or coerced, but simple exchanged through loyalty and love that nobody could fabricate. And once this bond was there, nothing could stop it.

That was Kreacher and him.

Everyone believed him to love and worship his mother, but he knew better. Everything the elf did was to protect the boy and make his life better. His mother would leave the elf to raise her child, believing the elf would raise him to her standards and beliefs, but she could not be more wrong.

Kreacher had raised the boy as he needed to be raised. Although never replacing the instinctive need of parental approval, the house elf gave his everything to the child. From comforting his cries in the night by summoning fireflies to fill the darkness, to sneaking the young Black to the nearby forests to connect him to nature. The boy learnt to think and do what was best for himself and those that mattered most to him. That small circle included Kreacher, Sirius, and to a lesser extent his parents and other house elves.

Somehow Kreacher was able to appear within the walls of Hogwarts to continue his care of his young master. He made sure to let the other house elves in the castle know how the Slytherin should be treated and how he was kin to elf-kind. Therefore, he was not without thorough care in his time at school.

"Oh Master Regulus has come to visit!" A lilted voice exclaimed, as he stepped through the frame.

"Hello Tilly. And you know I would prefer you all just call me Regulus. I hope I'm not intruding, but if you had a moment, I would love a cup of tea."

"No, no, Master Regulus is always welcome." The elf completely ignoring the earlier part of his reply. "Tilly will bring master's favourite!"

Regulus smirked at the fact the elves had grown so comfortable with him. In the beginning, the house elves would stutter and worry over every little thing. Now instead of swarming him at each entrance, they had developed a schedule so only one would welcome him while the others continued their work.

More nights than not, the third year would make the trek to the kitchens and enjoy the sanctity of the place. Every so often a house elf would stop by to check on him or drop another treat on the table before him. A smile found its way to his face as he watched the hustle and bustle around him.

The last meal of the day was done and tidied and already the elves began work to prepare for the morning after. Maintaining the castle was also another great task that took a great deal of time. Regulus had finally stopped jolting at the sudden pops indicating another elf had apparated.

One sound he wasn't used to though was the frame swinging open and footsteps stepping into his space. The elves usually drove off any visitors or at the very least gave him a warning beforehand. Shooting a startled look over at the nearest house elves, they in turn pointed at Tilly and ran off to presumedly punish themselves. Try as he might, he couldn't stop any of them when they had such despairing looks.

With a sigh, he waited for Tilly to make her way to where he was seated.

"Tilly, why did you stop the others from warning me that someone was coming?"

"Master Regulus is always so lonely. Tilly help young master make friends! Miss Hermione is very kind and nice to Tilly just like Master Regulus. Miss Hermione and Master Regulus will be good friends!" The elf proclaimed.

"Umm… Sorry if I'm interrupting…" Hermione interjected as she watched the Slytherin and house elf hold each other's gaze. "I can just go… didn't really need anything."

"No, no. Miss Hermione must sit and Tilly will fetch Miss' tea and snack!"

"Oh, alright then. Thank you very much Tilly." She took the only open seat, just opposite the boy. She took in his sudden straight posture and blank face, a complete opposite to the glimpse she caught when Hermione first entered.

"Sorry again for interrupting. I can still just have the refreshments delivered back to my room if I'm bothering you." Hermione said. Although she hoped he would let her stay so she could begin building some semblance of a relationship with the wizard. This would be the best opportunity she would have to make use of him in her plans. "I'm Hermione by the way."

All she got in response was a furled brow and a slight dip in the corners of his mouth.

"You're Regulus, right? Sirius' younger brother and Severus' friend."

"Hmm." He hummed in agreeance. "Snape is not my friend."

"Really?" Hermione raised an eyebrow in response. "Well, I always see the two of you talking in the halls and sit together at the Slytherin's table. And weren't you two just studying together in the library the other day. I suppose you Slytherins have an alternate definition for the word friends." She took a sip of her Earl Grey and small thanks to the house elf.

His face warmed, "That was not two friends together. We are housemates and have established an agreement that is mutually beneficial! If anything, we're simply partners." He explained. "Not that it has anything to do with you."

"Well here I thought that someone was concerned for a certain airheaded brother…"

"He told you."

"Well Severus and I are friends. We were all glad to hear that your other housemates were leaving him alone and he told us what he did in exchange for that peace and quiet. Of course, it's not as though Severus and Sirius are friends so he would often ask the rest of us for updates on him."

"And how is he?" Regulus diverted his grey eyes away from her.

"He's better. Still arrogant and a constant annoyance but I don't imagine that'll ever change. Sirius has definitely grown up a bit, I haven't heard of his little gang pulling any awful pranks recently. Seems as though they're caught up doing something else."

Remus had kept her updated on the werewolf situation and how the boys had caught on. They had begun the process to become Animagus and while Hermione would of loved to participate, she had too much already on her plate.

"Good. We can't have him continuing to sully the Black name and all that."

"It's okay to be concerned and worried about him. He is your brother."

"Hmm." He released a noncommittal grunt.

"Why don't you just talk to him yourself?"

"I can't."

"Even if no one else would know or ever see you?"

"I-I don't know." He whispered, look down at his cooled drink.

"Well think on it. Until you've come to a decision, I'm sure Severus and myself can suffice to fulfill your need to keep up Sirius."

"Thanks." Regulus mumbled out.

"What was that?" Hermione asked, missing out on his gratitude as she waved over a house elf.

"Nothing. Do what you want."

"I think we'll be good friends, Regulus." She said, returning her finished cup to Tilly. Getting to her feet, she sent a smile to the Slytherin and made her way over to the exit.

She left behind another Black with an unknown feeling inside. A friend, he wasn't so sure about that, even if it did sound nice.