Here we go! Another familiar scene with hopefully a bit of a new twist on the whole Harry/Kreacher relationship. As always, I'm appreciative to those who review and give their encouragement as well as their constructive criticism.
Just a reminder for those who have kept on the whole time, this is intended to be as near canon to DH as possible. So if you are looking for a story that takes a significant AU turn, this story will not meet your criteria. Yes, there will be Au moments, but only if they support meaningfully to the overall story of DH. The story will begin to deviate slightly as Harry and Hermione grow in their relationship. Anyway, all that to say I hope you are enjoying my attempt at being loyal to the original while I add my own personal tidbits to the story.
Also, I thought I would add that many of you might be thinking just what role is old Snape going to play, now that his vital role of telling harry he is a Horcrux has been removed by yours truly. He still has an important role to play, a role that actually fits with Dumbledore's plan to get him closer to Voldemort in the first place.
For those who might feel Ron has been heavily side-lined, I must admit that he has indeed been side-lined a bit, but fear not-he will have his moment before this story is over. Having written that bit already, I was shocked myself that I had to reevaluate my opinion of Ron just slightly. No, I don't think he's useless, if you're wondering. And now, without further ado, the next chapter. It all belongs to Rowling.
*Don't worry, you haven't seen the last of Fawkes-he will be very important.
Chapter Seventeen: The Nature of House-Elves
With a loud crack, the disgruntled and aged house elf of Grimmauld Place appeared at the doorway of the kitchen. Pale-skinned with long floppy pointed ears, Kreacher stood before them severely hunched over with a contemptuous glare.
"Master summons Kreacher back into my Mistress' home with the envious blood-traitor Weasley and the know-it-all Mudblood—"
"Kreacher, you will never call anyone 'blood-traitor' or 'Mudblood' ever again," ordered Harry. Kreacher opened his mouth but no words came out as he grasped his throat in a clear effort to obey his master's order.
"Harry, stop him," said Hermione with a slight catch in her voice.
"Kreacher, I order you not to punish yourself," said Harry. Kreacher looked at Harry, his expression one of complete bewilderment, but after a long moment of consideration, Kreacher lowered his hands as his contemptuous stare returned.
"Kreacher, two years ago we found a locket, a locket that none of us could open. It had an ornate 's' on it. We threw it out. Did you take it back? Tell me." Kreacher rocked back and forth on his heels, his eyes rolling to the back of head and back into focus.
"Kreacher," Harry warned.
"Yes, Kreacher took the locket, along with Mistress' gloves and other things."
"Where is it now?" asked Harry, unable to conceal his anticipation. Ron and Hermione began looking triumphant once more.
"Gone."
"What do you mean, gone?"
"Stolen…taken under the cover of night…filthy hands touching poor Mistress' things."
"Who, Kreacher," Harry asked, though he felt he knew the answer already.
"Mundungus Fletcher," Kreacher said, his eyes shut tight and his voice higher than usual. "Miss Bella's and Miss Cissy's pictures, my Mistress' gloves, the Order of Merlin, the goblets and silver with the family crest, and—"
"The locket," said Harry. Kreacher threw himself to the floor and reached for the poker standing in the fire grate. Before Harry or the others could react, Kreacher began to bludgeon himself as he lay on the floor, his body acting in a fit of seizure as he screamed:
"Master Regulus' locket. Kreacher did wrong, Kreacher did wrong. Kreacher must be punished. Kreacher failed Master Regulus!"
Harry moved to restrain the elf as his screams grew louder and a small puddle of blood was already pooling beneath his head and onto the stone floor. Harry yanked the poker from the elf's surprisingly strong grip and threw it haphazardly back into the grate. Harry then restrained the elf with his full weight, pinning both of the elf's hands to the floor and bellowed.
"Kreacher, be still!"
The elf froze. Once sure Kreacher would not move unless allowed too, he stood up to catch his own breath. The short struggle had been more difficult than expected.
"Harry, he's still bleeding," said Hermione.
"Can you heal him," he asked. Hermione nodded and withdrew her wand and pointed it at the fresh cut in the elf's scalp. After a minute the wound had been healed and with a last flick of her wand, the blood was cleaned from the stone floor.
"You should let him up," she said.
"So he can attempt to beat himself to death again?"
"It isn't right," she said firmly. Her eyes told him everything.
"I know," said Harry. "But I can't let him go. Once he's freed he's no longer bound by anyone. He can say anything he wants about the Order. A lot of people could be in danger if we do."
"What if you forbid him from doing self-harm ever again?" Harry nodded.
"Kreacher, I forbid you from ever causing yourself harm ever again." The house elf gave him a murderous glare.
"I don't think he liked that much," observed Ron.
"I don't care if he likes me," said Harry. "I just want information." He stood over Kreacher as he fought the loathing and hateful thoughts darting through his brain. He struggled to find empathy for the elf knowing that some of the blame of Sirius' death lay at the elf's feet. As the hate festered in his stomach, Dumbledore's now distant words echoed in the back of his mind. …Yes, he is to be pitied…Kreacher is what he has been made by wizards… He looked over to the cupboard where Kreacher slept and felt a sense of familiarity: the cupboard. He knew, inside, that Kreacher had certainly suffered and lived a difficult life. However, he could not justify Kreacher's actions that night. Kreacher had deliberately chosen to betray Sirius. He had made a choice. He thought of Dobby and how he had purposely worked against Malfoy's plan to save a life, even when he had to punish himself for doing so, while Kreacher had done the very opposite. Indeed, when compared to Dobby, who had likely been treated far worse than Kreacher on a daily basis, the excuses made for Kreacher's actions were pitiful at best. He looked at the cupboard once more and shook his head. If Dumbledore's logic was to be followed, he too should have been as vindictive and twisted as the creature lying on the floor. Harry felt his fists clench and the hate stir once more in his stomach.
"Kreacher, I'm going to let you sit up, but before I do, I want your word that you will never lie to me, to Hermione, or to Ron ever again. If we ask you a question, you will be truthful, leaving nothing out, no matter how small the detail. This is an order. Do you understand?" The look on Kreacher's face was beyond murderous now, but the elf nodded.
"Kreacher, please sit up." Kreacher sat up on the floor, crossed his legs and held himself tightly as though trying to warm himself.
"How do you know Mundungus took the locket," he asked.
"Kreacher saw him, arms full of Kreacher's treasures taken from Kreacher's room. Kreacher ordered the sneak thief to stop, but the thief only laughed at poor Kreacher."
"Why did you call the locket 'Master Regulus,'" asked Harry. "Tell me everything Regulus had to do with it."
"Master Regulus was a proper wizard, unlike Master Sirius who ran away and broke my Mistress' heart. When Master Regulus turned sixteen years of age he joined the Dark Lord in his quest to bring wizards out of hiding to rule the Muggles. So proud and so happy to serve he was." Kreacher's eyes became distant for a moment as his ears perked slightly and what might be considered a look of youthful joy on the old elf's face surfaced. But as quickly as it came it vanished as the gray skin on his face folded over.
"A year after he joined, Master Regulus summoned Kreacher. Kind Master Regulus, always liked Kreacher…not like Master Sirius. Master Regulus said the Dark lord required an elf. Master Regulus had volunteered Kreacher, said it was an honor for Master and for Kreacher. Kreacher was proud to represent the noble house of Black and serve the Dark Lord. Master Regulus ordered Kreacher to do whatever the Dark Lord ordered him to do, and then to come home."
"Kreacher did not know what he was to do for the Dark Lord, but he traveled with him to a cave beside the sea. In the cave was a cavern, and in the cavern a great lake as black as the night…"
"There was a boat," whispered Harry, his eyes wide and the hairs sticking up on the back of his neck. Kreacher gave him a wide-eyed stare.
"Master knows of this place?"
"I was there," said Harry. "There was an island at the center, wasn't there?" Kreacher shook his head.
"The Dark Lord made the island," said Kreacher with a sense of awe. "…Conjured a basin…"
"And filled it with a green potion," finished Harry.
"Yes..." said Kreacher. "The D-Dark Lord made Kreacher drink it…" He heard the sharp intake of breath from Hermione as Ron looked both confused and horrified. Harry gave himself a mental note to at least talk with Ron about the cave. He realized that Ron was the most unaware of just how dangerous searching for the Horcruxes would be.
"Kreacher drank and saw terrible things…everything Kreacher had done…all the times he had displeased his poor Mistress..." The elf began to rock back and forth heavily now as he continued his tale. "Kreacher's insides burned. Kreacher cried for Master Regulus to save him, but the Dark Lord only laughed at poor Kreacher…didn't care about poor Kreacher's pain. He made Kreacher drink it all and Kreacher remembers wanting to die. The Dark Lord dropped a locket into the basin and filled it with more potion…and then…he left Kreacher on the island…"
"You drank from the lake," said Harry, reaching out a hand and placing it on the elf's shoulder. Kreacher shuddered at his touch and gave him a look of utter disgust, forcing Harry to retract his hand quickly.
"Kreacher was thirsty, wanted to ease the boiling in his stomach…" Harry felt his eyes water, feeling, for the first time, sorry for Kreacher, but also at the revelation of the depth of suffering Dumbledore had endured in his place.
"…Kreacher drank from the black lake, but dead hands reached out from the water…dragged poor Kreacher under the surface…"
"How did you get away," he asked as he remembered the Inferi's cold grip around his torso.
"Master Regulus told Kreacher to come back," he said.
"But how did you escape the Inferi?"
"Master Regulus told Kreacher to come back," he repeated.
"Kreacher, I'm ordering you to tell me how—"
"He Disapparated," said Ron.
"That's not possible," said Harry. "Otherwise Dumbledore would've—"
"Elf Magic isn't like our magic, is it," said Ron. "Look at Hogwarts, mate—Elves Apparate and Disapparate all the time and that's supposed to be impossible."
"He never considered that a house-elf might have magic he didn't," said Hermione.
"Kreacher must always do his Master's bidding. Kreacher must follow the highest law."
"So how did Regulus end up with the real locket," asked Harry.
"Kreacher took him to it," said Kreacher. "Master Regulus was worried about Kreacher…told Kreacher to stay hidden and not leave the house. After a while, Master Regulus came to find Kreacher and Kreacher could tell Master was not himself. He asked Kreacher to take him to the cave where Kreacher had gone with the Dark Lord." And then the elf broke into fitful sobs.
"M-Master had K-Kreacher take him to the c-cave again with the b-black lake. K-Kreacher raised the b-boat and Master t-took K-Kreacher with him t-to the island. Master R-Regulus t-took a loc…locket like the o-one the D-Dark Lord had and t-told Kreacher to t-take it when the basin was e-empty, to switch places…" The elf's cries turned to dry heaves.
"He ordered—Kreacher—to leave—to leave without him. Told Kreacher—go home—never tell anyone, not even my poor Mistress—what he had done—told Kreacher to destroy—the first locket. And Master drank—and Kreacher swapped the original with the fake—and watched…" Harry closed his eyes as Kreacher's last words washed over him.
"…watched as Master Regulus was dragged beneath the water…" Hermione was openly crying now. She went forward to comfort the distressed elf but Kreacher wouldn't have it.
"Kreacher will not allow the Mudblood to touch him." Hermione shrank away visibly frustrated by the elf's stubborn refusal for comfort. Harry's momentary pity for the elf vanished and was about to remind the elf of his previous order when Kreacher threw himself to the floor again. His hands formed into tight fists. Just as the Elf was about to strike a self-imposed blow to the head for his transgression against Hermione, his fist came to a sudden halt inches from his face as though it struck upon an invisible wall. Kreacher flew into hysteria as he struggled to uphold both of Harry's recent commands.
"Harry, make him stop," she cried. "Don't you see how wrong it is—the way they have to obey—stop him!"
"Kreacher, stop it," he shouted, desperate to bring order to the pitiful sight before him. Kreacher complied, but his murderous stare had returned intermixed with his grief over the loss of the only master he had ever been affectionate towards.
"Why weren't you able to destroy the locket, Kreacher," he asked.
"Kreacher tried everything, everything he knew, but nothing would work…Kreacher was sure if he could get inside, if he could pry the locket open that Kreacher could destroy it. Powerful spells were on the locket…made Kreacher think terrible things…just like the burning potion. Kreacher would try and fail and punish himself, and try again. Poor Kreacher's Mistress was mad with grief when Master Regulus never returned. Kreacher couldn't tell his poor Mistress where he'd gone…"
His tale told, Kreacher broke down completely and wept into his wrinkled hands. Harry shook his head, his thoughts torn. He knew it wasn't right to hold Kreacher in so much contempt but he couldn't help it. He knew that Sirius' death was a responsibility that could be laid at several feet. Voldemort, Dumbledore, both Sirius and himself, Bellatrix, and finally Kreacher.
"I don't understand you, Kreacher," he said finally as he slumped into a chair at the kitchen table. "Voldemort left you to die in that cave and your master gave his life to destroy the locket, yet you were perfectly happy to give Sirius over to Voldemort, despite fighting for the same thing? You were happy to go to Narcissa and Bellatrix, who would have treated you far worse than Sirius ever did…"
"Harry, he doesn't think like that," said Hermione. "He's loyal to those that are kind to him. Kreacher doesn't understand wizard wars, but he understands kindness and loathing, and Sirius loathed Kreacher—and don't look at me like that," she added, catching his indignant stare, "—you know it's true, regardless if he had reason to loathe Kreacher. Kreacher doesn't know what Narcissa and Bellatrix are really like. All he saw was their kindness and didn't stop to consider whether it was genuine or not. I've said all along that wizards would pay for how they treat house-elves. Voldemort will, just as Sirius did." Harry sat silently, his gaze shifting to Ron who also gave Kreacher a troubled look. Once more, Dumbledore's distant words came to mind.
I do not think Sirius ever saw Kreacher as a being with feelings as acute as a human's…
He knew Hermione was right, just as Dumbledore had been also. Kreacher had certainly been shaped and twisted by Death Eater and Pureblood-supremacist mentality. But Harry also felt he was right in thinking that Kreacher was more aware of what he was doing than the others were willing to admit. He remembered Dumbledore telling him that Kreacher was laughing, clearly aware of what awaited Sirius…knew exactly what his intended fate would be.
"You're right, Hermione," said Harry. "Kreacher might not have cared one ounce about the war between Voldemort and the rest of the world but I also think you're making too much of an excuse for him; Kreacher knows the difference between right and wrong. He knew full well what he was doing when he lied to me that night. Dumbledore told me that he was laughing when he told Dumbledore what he'd done."
Hermione considered Kreacher tearfully.
"No, I don't think he does, Harry," said Hermione failing miserably at hiding her shock. "Any elf in Kreacher's position, raised in the same way would have likely done something similar."
"No, it's like you've said in the past, Hermione," said Harry. "They deserve to be equal with us. What if it had been a human in Kreacher's place? What if it had been Malfoy?"
"It's not the same thing; they wouldn't be bound to the same magic."
"That's not the issue," said Harry. "It's whether they can tell the difference between right and wrong, and I for one know they are perfectly capable to distinguishing between the two."
"Name me one elf, Harry, one elf that would do the right thing because it was the right thing to do, not simply because they were being treated horribly. Name one elf willing to go against their master's orders and suffer the punishment to do the right thing when they've never known any different."
"Dobby," said Harry simply. Hermione opened her mouth to respond but closed it just as quickly.
"Well, Dobby's not exactly what you'd call normal, mate," said Ron, breaking his silence, his eyes still on Kreacher. "We all know he's an odd one, even to other house-elves. He's the only one that wanted to be free."
"But isn't it exactly the same with Dobby as it is with Kreacher," she asked. "Can't you see it? Dobby was terribly mistreated by his masters. That's why he came to you, Harry. And he's loyal to you because you freed him from his terrible masters."
"That might be true now," said Harry. "I'm not disagreeing that Dobby is loyal to me because I freed him. But Dobby wasn't loyal to me when he came to warn me about the chamber. He'd never met me before. He came to protect me."
"Yes I know," said Hermione impatiently. "But he came because—"
"—Because it was the right thing to do," said Harry. "You're right that Dobby certainly had no love for the Malfoys. Dobby was clearly breaking an order when he came to warn me. He did it anyway. He punished himself severely for it." Harry recalled it as though it were yesterday. "When he told me why he had come, he said it was to protect me…said I was…that I was too great, too good, to lose…said he had to warn me even if he had to shut his ears in the oven door."
"Harry…"
"Listen," said Harry, continuing before Hermione could interrupt. He rose from the chair and began to pace in a small circle. "Dobby clearly recognized the difference between right and wrong. If you truly believe that elves should be treated equally to wizards—and I know you do—I even agree with you—then you have to look at Kreacher as you would a wizard or a witch. If Kreacher were a wizard, how would you look at him now?
"I—"
"It's like Pettigrew's excuse for betraying my parents to Voldemort because he was afraid, interestingly enough, how he'd be treated by Voldemort if he didn't betray them. I feel sorry for Kreacher, Hermione, I really do. In fact, I probably understand Kreacher better than you, better than Sirius or Dumbledore ever did." Hermione's eyes swam with fresh tears as she realized what Harry was trying to say.
"Kreacher and I lived in similar environments," said Harry as he turned his eyes upon Kreacher, who actually looked back at him with curiosity in his puffy eyes. "We were starved of affection, had a cupboard as a bedroom, and yes, treated like a slave, punished for the smallest misstep. But that doesn't excuse his actions any more than it pardons him of his part in Sirius' death; just like Dumbledore's desire to keep the truth from me for the sake of my happiness doesn't excuse him from his hand in Sirius' death. The same can be said of me. We all knew the difference, didn't we, Kreacher?" Kreacher's lip trembled.
"Kreacher knew what he was doing," said Kreacher slowly. "Kreacher did not like Master Sirius, just like Kreacher's poor Mistress did not like Master Sirius. Master Sirius was not kind to poor Kreacher…not like Master Regulus…Kreacher was not sad to see him gone."
"I can't pretend that he didn't betray Sirius any more than I can justify that his treatment in the past exonerates him from that choice," said Harry. "When this war is over, I'm going to set him free, and if he chooses, he can go to whomever he wishes to serve."
"He's never known anything but cruelty at the hand of wizards, Harry," said Hermione. "You can show him differently…help him to see the difference. Once he's free he'll go to the Malfoys and he'll suffer just like Dobby."
"It will be his choice," said Harry, looking at Kreacher. "But I can't keep him, Hermione. I can't pretend it never happened." He needed her to understand. He needed both of them to understand.
"No one's asking you too, mate," said Ron.
"It's exactly what you're asking me to do," said Harry, looking to both of them in turn. "How can I treat him kindly with this constantly in the back of my mind? Sirius was the only family I had, Ron. How would you treat him if it had been your dad in Sirius' place?"
"I—," said Ron, stuttering a moment. "When you put it that way…I guess I see your point." Hermione too looked startled as she appeared to consider the same thought.
"I'm sorry, Harry," she said staring at her feet. "I want to believe that I would be kind to Kreacher if our roles had been reversed. I don't know what it's like to lose my parents, not in the same way that you lost yours, the same way you lost Sirius, and when I think about it, the same way you lost Dumbledore. All of them were led to their death, betrayed by those they entrusted or where accepted into their circles. I'm just a foolish idealist."
"No, you're not," said Harry as he pulled her into a one-armed hug. "You're right about the treatment elves receive. And you're right about them needing their freedom. But freedom means they have a choice and they have to deal with the consequences of their choices. The only honestly kind thing I can do for Kreacher is to give him his freedom." Harry released Hermione and kneeled before Kreacher and the elf looked up to hold his gaze. His eyes were red-raw and stood out sorely from his pale-gray wrinkled skin.
"Kreacher, if you had a choice, if you could have another master besides me, would you?" Kreacher considered his master for a moment, his head tilting slightly to the side.
"Kreacher would prefer Mistress Cissy or Mistress Bella as a master, yes."
"I'll make a deal with you Kreacher," said Harry. "I will release you as my servant when Voldemort has been defeated provided you follow these rules until that day comes. First, you will never betray anyone in the Order of the Phoenix, myself, Hermione, or Ron, or anyone you know who opposes Voldemort. Finally, I want you to go and find Mundungus Fletcher and bring him here. Do you agree?"
"Master will set Kreacher free to serve the masters of his choice once the Dark Lord is defeated and Kreacher promises to not betray any who oppose the Dark Lord, and if Kreacher brings Master the sneak theif who stole his poor Mistress' things," repeated the elf.
"Yes," said Harry.
"Kreacher will do as Master requests."
"Kreacher, when Voldemort is defeated, I give you my permission to serve the masters of your choice. At that time, you will no longer be bound to me."
"Master must present Kreacher with clothes at such a time to be dismissed properly," said Kreacher. Harry had forgotten this requirement and panicked inwardly as he racked him brain.
"Kreacher, what if I ordered you to take a piece of clothing upon Voldemort's defeat? Would this be the same, or do I need to physically present you with clothes?" Kreacher's brow creased as the elf's eyes darted side to side as thought out the logic of the request.
"If Kreacher is ordered to take the clothes because his Master's intent is to free him, then no, Master does not need to present Kreacher with clothes himself."
"Right then," said Harry, relieved. "Kreacher, when Voldemort is defeated, I order you to take for yourself an article of clothing with the understanding that it is my intention to free you from my service and that you will be free to serve the master of your choice. Is this understood?"
"Kreacher understands," nodded the elf, truly happy. "Kreacher will do as Master says."
"Good," said Harry. He caught Hermione's glance and nodded. "Kreacher, when you are feeling up to it, would you please go and fetch Mundungus Fletcher and bring him here?"
"Kreacher will do as Master requests." And with a loud pop, the elf Disapparated.
"I think you're doing the right thing, Harry," she said with a smile. "Thank you for being kind to him." Harry nodded.
Then a loud grumbling sound came from Ron's stomach.
"Can we have breakfast now," he asked. For the first time in the last twenty four hours, the trio broke into unreserved laughter. Harry tended to the stove as Ron sat at the table absent-mindedly clicking the Deluminator while Hermione set the table and took a seat with a book propped open. All they could do now was wait for Kreacher to return.