Chapter 2

One thing Harry was certain of: if Dumbledore or any of the Order were to find him, he'd be forced back to the hated Dursleys. He was determined not to let that happen, so the first thing he did was order Kreacher to change the wards and disallow entry to the house.

The second thing was to visit Gringotts, discover just what Sirius had said in his will, and find out how to cast certain parties from the House of Black.

His resolve had hardened in the time since Walburga and Phineas had spoken to him; his resentment of Dumbledore had begun to increase.

By the conclusion of his visit to the bank, Harry had confirmed he was emanicipated, succeeded in disowning Bellatrix, Andromeda, and Narcissa, along with all of their descendants, and reclaimed any monies they had received from the Black vaults.

"This house is no longer under Fidelius," Walburga informed him upon his return. "The change in the wards means none of Dumbledore's Order may access it.

"A good thing, too," approved Phineas. "That Granger girl wasn't shy about helping herself to books from the Black library. Fortunately, she couldn't access the inner library."

"Hermione stole books?" Harry gasped. "Maybe Sirius gave her permission to take them?"

"He didn't," Walburga snarled. "Dumbledore did!"

Rage swept through Harry.

"Control yourself," snapped Phineas. "The Lord of Black is never manipulated by others!"

Harry gave a sharp nod, and summoned Kreacher.

"Find and return any items belonging to the House of Black," he ordered the elf.

Before night had fallen, Kreacher had returned with a dozen books, a pensieve, a locket, and a handful of silver goblets.

"Who?" Harry demanded, holding to his temper.

"Mudblood girl, metamorphmagus girl, and smelly thief Dung," said Kreacher triumphantly. "Kreacher found them all!"

Kreacher placed all the items on the dining room table, and Harry felt a sudden burn from the Black lord's ring.

"Wait! What is that?" An initialed locket was in the pile of stolen items, and Harry felt a miasma of dark magic emanating from it…much like the diary that had possessed Ginny.

Kreacher's eyes filled with tears. "Master Regulus told Kreacher to destroy it, but Kreacher could not."

"Basilisk venom." Harry dispatched the elf back to Hogwarts to fetch a fang from the corpse of Slytherin's monster.

"If you killed it, it is yours," Phineas informed him. "Worth a substantial sum, as well. Get Gringotts to harvest it for you!"

Kreacher popped back in, bearing a fang carefully wrapped to prevent any contact with the venom.

Harry could not help noticing how much better and livelier the old elf was looking.

"Yes," Walburga told him. "He was alone too much and never bonded properly with Sirius. Now you are here, he will do better."

"He's bonded with me?" Harry was startled.

"House elves can't survive for long without the bond, no matter how much magic permeates a place."

"But what about Hogwarts? I know elves are bonded to the castle!"

Phineas snorted. "Hardly! They're bonded to the Headmaster, and obey his orders."

"I know a free elf," objected Harry.

"If you mean that Dobby elf," Phineas smirked," I think you'll discover he is bonded to you, whether you know it or not."

Harry swallowed. "Dobby!"

The little elf popped in. "The Great Harry Potter has called Dobby! Dobby is so happy."

The elf did not look so pleased a moment later, when Harry questioned him about the bond.

"Dobby will punish himself," he said sadly. "Dobby did not mean to trick Harry Potter, but Dobby did not wish to die or to bond with Whiskers."

"No, no! I don't want that," Harry assured the woebegone elf. "In fact…" he looked around at the dingy wallpaper and musty drapes…"it's good you're here. You can help Kreacher to get this place in order."

The elf went from miserable to ecstatic instantly. "Master Harry will accept Dobby? That be's Dobby's greatest wish!"

Harry forebore to tell the elf that it was apparently a done deal.

Something occurred to him. "Would you really die without the bond, Dobby?"

"Oh yes, Master Harry! Dobby's friend Winky is nearly dead!"

"WHAT! No! Dobby, if she's willing, bring her here. I don't want anyone to die if I can help it!"

Much to Harry's surprise, Dobby returned not only with a bleary-eyed Winky but with a tiny elf so weak that Dobby had to carry him.

"This be Petey," Dobby said anxiously. "He be very young and sick so Whiskers did not wants him. Will Master Harry have him?"

Harry promptly agreed, and ordered Kreacher to look after the other elves and see that they had whatever they needed. The little regard Dumbledore had for the sick elves hardened Harry's anger against him.

He set about destroying the ring. "Wonder how many of these things snakeface made?"

"Horcruxes. Created by spitting the soul. Dumbledore is convinced there are more. He dislikes sharing information, but the portraits know he set out to find a ring that belonged to Slytherin. He was fool enough to try it on, and it unleashed a curse that will soon kill him." Phineas' loyalty to Hogwarts was a paltry thing compared to his devotion to the Blacks.

"He's dying?" Harry wasn't sure how he felt about that. "Without him…"

"You will do better." Walburga was implacable. "Your ring will help guide you to the other horcruxes; they must all be destroyed."

"One of those horrors was in my scar." Harry still could not comprehend that.

"Yes," Phineas agreed. "Dumbledore feared you would have to die to get rid of it. He never realized that the Blacks would not tolerate any dark magic they could not master."

"So now, you are free of the taint," Walburga continued. "And have the means to destroy the others. You will survive, and lead the House of Black to greatness."

She sounded so certain that Harry was shaken. But he recalled his vow. He would do as he had promised, once he destroyed Voldemort.

A/N: Apologies for the way I seem to have scrambled the format of this story. I think it's fixed now. Hopefully. Thanks for reading.