Chapter 4:The Mother and the Thief

It had been almost a week since Kreacher left to find Mundungus. When Sirius and Harry told the others the story of Regulus Black and his valiant betrayal of Voldemort Hermione had sobbed.

"Oh poor Kreacher." she said, "can you imagine how horrible it must have been?"

"Yes," Harry said flatly. Hermione paled.

"Oh! Oh, Harry, I'm so sorry! I forgot-"

"It's fine," Harry said with no emotion in his voice. He'd been having more nightmares about Dumbledore lately. He'd also felt himself feeling more connected to Kreacher lately. He too had been forced to feed that vile potion to someone he cared about. Susan gave him a worried look and held his hand in hers. Then she pulled him out of the room and to the back garden.

"It's alright to be upset Harry." she said, "it's okay to feel." Harry laughed sardonically.

"Susan if I started feeling anything about Dumbledore I think I'd shatter…" he admitted. Susan rubbed his cheeks. Then she gave him a firm look.

"You need to let yourself feel something Harry. If you keep acting like this you'll end up like Snape." Harry felt as though she'd slapped him right across the face. He choked and made a distressed noise. "I mean it." Harry stared at her.

"I… I can't." he insisted. Susan's eyes filled with pain.

"Harry I'm scared that one day you'll just shut down… that one day you'll be so focused on keeping everyone at arm's length you'll leave me behind… I don't want you to be alone. I love you too much to see you waste away like this." she cried with a few tears spilling out. Harry's face twisted up. "Please!" Susan begged. Harry took a deep breath. Then he closed his eyes. Then slowly he let the grief wash over him. In an instant, he started shaking. Sobs wracked his frame and he wanted to curl into a ball and cease to exist. Susan guided him down to the grass as his legs gave out. She held him as the depth of his emotions make it difficult to breathe. He held her, gasping for air as the pain in his heart finally began to ebb. It still hurt. He didn't think it would ever stop hurting. But it was a manageable hurt. The kind he could carry around without having to hide. Susan rubbed his back as his crying subsided into hiccups. Then finally she pulled out a handkerchief and wiped his eyes. She kissed each eyelid then each cheek and finally his scar. He sighed as she continued to hold him. Then finally he wiped his own eyes.

"We should go back inside." Harry proclaimed with a slightly husky voice. "Sirius is probably worried as hell."

"He's gotten quite clingy hasn't he?" she remarked with a frown "I've noticed that."

"I think the attack at the coffee shop spooked him," Harry admitted. "And the crowd of death eaters outside on my birthday didn't help."

"But he knows they can't get in unless they're brought in." Susan reminded with a roll of her eyes.

"You know it's weird that Snape hasn't come yet," he remarked with a frown.

"He's probably too busy." Susan reminded him, "now that he's headmaster." Harry scowled. That was honestly the most upsetting thing he'd heard in the last month. To put Snape in Dumbledore's place, after the man had so blatantly betrayed him. It was an absolutely disgusting insult to the wizard's memory. As soon as they walked in they heard the voices in the basement.

"Is that-" Harry began before rushing down the stairs. Sure enough. "REMUS!"

"Harry!" the werewolf cried with a grin. He accepted Harry's tight hug with a smile. The teen was so glad to see the man. They hadn't heard anything from him in so long that he, Sirius, and Dudley feared the worst.

"Wotcher Harry." Tonks suddenly called from behind Remus. Harry looked behind the man with a grin then gaped. The ex-Auror smiled and rubbed her noticeable belly.

"Four months." Remus declared proudly. Harry laughed.

"Congratulations you two!"

"I'm going to be an uncle again!" Sirius cried with tears pricking at his eyes. Remus laughed.

"Yes… although." he winced, "I'm afraid I can't ask you to be godfather Sirius."

"What?!" Sirius cried in alarm.

"You've got your handsful already." Remus insisted. Then he turned to Dudley. "So. Mr. Dursley. Would you do the honour?"

"Wot?" Dudley asked in shock. "I can't be a godfather! I'm only seventeen!"

"Well, you are technically a legal wizard now," Ron remarked matter of factly. Dudley looked around flabbergasted.

"So?" Remus asked again. Slowly Dudley smiled if a little uncertainly.

"Sure."

"It's only a formality." Tonks assured him, "It's not as though we'll be holding a formal christening. Not yet anyway."

"That's why Dora and I came to see you actually," Remus said with a tone of grim business overtaking him. "We're leaving England."

"Leaving?!" Sirius cried in alarm, "leaving for where?!"

"Saskatchewan." Tonks supplied with a weak smile. "in Canada. My father's family owns an old farm. It's nice and isolated. Plus it's far enough away that the recruiters won't bother to come calling…"

"Hopefully," Remus muttered worriedly. Dora tried to smile to reassure him. But it was obvious in her eyes that she was afraid as well. Harry bit his lip. It suddenly hit home. This war was only beginning, but it was terrible to behold. How much worse would it get in the coming weeks?

"We really should get going, Remus… we'll miss our flight," she remarked quietly. Remus nodded before he turned back to Sirius.

"Goodbye old friend."

"Don't." Sirius said coldly, "Say it like that… I can't go through that...not again." he insisted. Remus's face twisted.

"I'm sorry… I'll see you later," he said instead. Sirius smiled.

"Of course! You have to be at the next family reunion after all! I promise not to invite the crazies." he declared. Tonks laughed and hugged him tightly even as a few tears dripped from her eyes.

"Sorry," she said, wiping her face, "bloody hormones."

"Of course." Sirius agreed. But Harry had a feeling it wasn't that at all. And then the couple were gone. The six stared after the empty doorway for some time.

"Bloody hell." Dudley suddenly whispered, "I'm a godfather."

"I can give you all sorts of tips don't worry." Sirius assured him, "tip number one! Don't get wrongfully convicted and sent to prison for twelve years." Harry snorted and shook his head.

"Oh, I hope they make it alright." Hermione cried worriedly.

"They'll be fine." Anthony insisted. "Professor Lupin is smart. He knows what he's doing."

"Plus He's got Tonks!" Ron assured her, "They'll be right as rain and raising chickens by September!" the teens grinned. But in the back of Harry's mind, he would continue to worry about Remus and Tonks and their unborn child for many nights indeed.

Harry stared down at the vial of veritaserum in his hand. It was absolutely perfect. There wasn't a thing wrong with it. But he felt himself feeling depressed. As per Susan's instructions, he had begun to let himself mourn. It was a difficult thing. Some of the strangest things reminded Harry of Dumbledore. The other day Hermione had been talking about a new British drama about police officers. And all Harry could think about was Dumbledore's strange fixation with Law and Order. But right now he felt so very conflicted.

Because part of him was mourning Snape.

Not Snape as he was now, who was still very much alive and very much headmaster of Hogwarts, despite him being wildly undeserving of the position.

But the one Harry had seen after hours. The one who could be kind, if begrudgingly and hidden behind a wall of sarcasm and a bad attitude. It was one of the hardest things he'd come to terms with.

The fact that he missed him.

And genuinely wanted to talk with him.

Harry had told himself that he would hate him forever.

But now that the hurt was ebbing away he just felt sad.

Sad and lonely despite being in a house full of friends. He sighed and slipped the vial into his pocket again. Then suddenly there was a crash from the kitchen.

"Oi! Le'go of me you slimy creatures!" came a very familiar voice.

"FLETCHER!" Harry screamed in fury. The thief froze in place. There was a thundering from above, followed by the muted shrinking of Mrs. Black. Then the door burst open, with the various residents of the house tumbling in, and it began to echo into the dining room loudly.

"FILTH! VERMIN! WORMS OF THE EARTH! SULLYING THE HALLS OF MY FOREFATHERS!"

"SHUT IT!" Sirius screamed before slamming the door shut behind the group. Mundungus seemed to realize he was cornered. And that's when Harry noticed.

"Dobby!" he exclaimed with a grin.

"Hello Harry Potter!" the peppy elf cried with a grin, "Dobby is most happy to see you again!" he was a lot different than Harry remembered. He was dressed absurdly of course. A green and red plain kilt was slung around his waist, complete with sporran. He had a sweater that was definitely a Weasley make, complete with his initial. As was his way there was an absurdly large stack of hats on his head, which swayed this way and that as he bobbed around animatedly. The ensemble was completed by a pair of bright children's sneakers with kinetic lights and mismatched socks. the left was the same black one that Harry had given him at the age of twelve, the right was enchanted, with barn owls swooping over the surface occasionally. Kreacher gave the elf a firm scowl.

"You is calling master Harry sir with proper respect!" he snapped angrily.

"It's fine Kreacher." Harry insisted with a roll of his eyes. Evidently, Kreacher was taking this 'Master Harry' thing to heart.

"See Kreacher! Dobby was telling you that Harry Potter is a good wizard who is kind and doesn't need Dobby to put on airs." The elf insisted with a roll of his own eyes. "Dobby should explain! Dobby is working for the order now!"

"You are?" Hermione cried with a grin, "that's wonderful."

"Yes, Dobby thinks so too. Dobby has been helping the order gather intelligence. Mostly on death eaters. They have many house elves you see. Many of them won't talk to Dobby of course. But some do. We house elves hear things. We learn things. Dobby has been most helpful. At least Dobby thinks so." the elf explained. "Anyway! Dobby was helping Miss. Jones with an errand- oh!" the elf stopped midway through his sentence and clapped his hands. "Dobby must tell you! Dobby has met Harry Potter's aunt!"

"Aunt Petunia?!" Harry cried in shock.

"You've seen mum?" Dudley asked, "where is she? Is she okay?"

"She is living with Miss. Jones in a safe house. Dobby doesn't know where it is exactly. Miss. Jones just calls for Dobby and he appears. Miss. Evans-"

"Mistress Petunia!" Kreacher snapped angrily. Dobby ignored him.

"Miss. Evans told Dobby to tell you that you are all grounded." he proclaimed solemnly. Both Harry and Dudley exchanged looks with Sirius and the three of them started laughing loudly.

"Dobby," Sirius replied after a few moments. "You be sure to tell Petunia we got her message loud and clear."

"Dobby doesn't think you really did." the elf replied with a confused frown, "you don't usually laugh when you get told you're being punished." the two boys began sputtering again, growing red in the face.

"Oi!" Mundungus cried, "are ya gonna keep me 'ere forever?! I got placed ta be!"

"Oh right!" Dobby cried, "you see Dobby was helping Miss. Jones with an errand when Dobby saw Kreacher chasing Mundungus down the alley. Dobby that was was a bit weird so Dobby asked Kreacher what was happening. When Kreacher told Dobby that he was ordered to capture Mundungus Fletcher by Harry Potter and Mr. Black-"

"MASTER AND MASTER HARRY!" Kreacher roared in disgust. Dobby huffed.

"Anyways. Dobby decided to help Kreacher. And now we've brought Mundungus to you. Sadly Dobby must get back to his duties. But it was very nice seeing Harry Potter and his friends. Perhaps we will meet again."

"Thanks, Dobby," Harry said with a grin. The elf bowed, hats remaining on his head but what was quite an impressive feat of magic indeed and he disappeared with a crack.

"Kreacher is so sorry Masters! That elf is being wrong in the head!" the old servant croaked.

"Shush," Harry said firmly. The elf harumph before turning to Fletcher with a scowl.

"Kreacher is catching the thief."

"Thief!?" Mundungus cried, affronted "I'm no thief!" Kreacher suddenly picked up the fire poker and jabbed him in the side. " OW! Oi Black call 'im off!"

"Guess we don't need veritaserum after all," Sirius remarked with a grin. "So tell us, Dung. What did you do with all my family heirlooms?"

"I dunno what you're talkin' about!" Mundungus insisted. Kreacher stabbed him again. "OW! Alright alright! I sold some of 'em, kept some of 'em! What do you care! You were always tryin' ta get rid of 'em anyways!"

"There was something with them," Harry said. "A locket. It was gold with emeralds on the front. What did you do with it?"

"Why?" Mundungus asked. Then his face grew scrutinizing, "was it valuable?" Kreacher escalated to waking him on the shins. "OW!"

"He's bloody sold it already!" Ron cried in desperation.

"I wish," Mundungus said sadly. Kreacher hit him again. "Oi cut that out you bleedin' menace!"

"What do you mean?" Susan demanded, "what happened to it?" Mundungus scowled.

"I was on the alley, sellin' my wares, which technically weren't stolen ya know, since no one was livin' 'ere or usin' 'em" Kreacher hit him again. He hissed and rubbed his shin with a wince. "As I was saying'! I was selling my wares when this lady walked up. She stopped and demanded to see my license. I thought I was a goner for sure, but then she saw that shiny necklace and she offered to take it and forget she saw me as it were."

"Who was this lady?" Anthony asked. Mundungus frowned.

"Was pretty familiar actually. Kinda short, a little plump. Had a great big pink bow in her hair." Harry's veins filled with ice. Mungdungus frowned, "looked a bit like a frog now that I think about it."

"Oh no…" Susan said with a scowl.

"Bloody hell I thought we'd heard the last of her," Ron complained.

"You know who it is?" Mundungus asked in confusion.

"I don't think I'll ever forget," Sirius said coldly. Harry clutched his left hand tightly. The tine scars on the back were still legible. There was no mistaking Mundungus's description. There was only one woman who fit it. A woman so vile that Hogwarts still whispered her name in revulsion as the only professor ever to usurp Snape's claim as the nastiest and most unfair professor of all time.

Dolores Jane Umbridge.

A/N: next week's chapter is sure to be a hit I think.

At least I hope it will be.

But we'll just have to wait and see...

Rori Potter & Anthro79: Thanks! See you next week!

ILoveGeorgeEads: As you can see, Kreacher is highly persuasive, so long as he is equipped with the proper tools :)

Aslan's Princess: Luna's Prophecy was a bit of indulgence in foreshadowing on my part. A bit of a scavenger hunt for all the Hufflepuff's out there. ;) The Motley Crew, as I affectionately refer to them, are indeed much better prepared. It's mostly down to Dudley's influence. He watched a lot of British spy movies growing up. As for Petunia and Hedwig...

well, you'll have to wait and see how that story plays out.

Snape's role in Harry's life is so different than it had been before. I readily admit I mostly did it for my own sick enjoyment.

Nothing gave me more sadistic pleasure than changing 'he' to 'I'

Not that it didn't also make narrative sense of course.

But it did give me a warm fuzzy feeling in the part of my chest I think my heart is supposed to be in.

But anyone who knows me can tell you that there will be ice castles in hell before I ever give Dumbledore a break.

It's coming.

Just be patient. :)

Well, that's all I have to say for now!

I look forward to hearing more from you all!

See you next week!

Don't forget to keep on reading!

-TTC