Back in the kitchen, the house-elves Dewdrop and Cropper bustled about,
hurriedly sweeping and cleaning the room.
"Poor mistress!" Dewdrop remarked, gathering a pile of thread in her hands. "Master horrid angry tonight."
"Master got right idea." Cropper grunted, taking the split needles and throwing them away. "Younger master Black soft, will grow up with a spot for muggles like his mother." Cropper practically spit the last word out.
"You is not knowing the ways around here," He said, regarding Dewdrop. "you is coming from that strange Nigellus house, not knowing how things are."
"And what's that mean?" Dewdrop squeaked indignantly.
"You is not knowing that nasty mudbloods are taking over the wizarding world. They is not worthy is do so, scum they is! Nothing but dirty, dirty mudbloods-"
"Ooh you stop it Cropper, you bad elf!" Dewdrop squealed, covering her bat- like ears.
"Cropper will be telling master soon what Dewdrop thinks. Master might have clothes for Dewdrop by the morning." Cropper calmly swept a pile of dust to the middle of the room.
"Cropper not right in the head." Dewdrop stated, talking to her dustpan, yet making sure the other house-elf heard. "No no, not right at all. Little elf Kreacher not going to be right in the head either, with father like that. No no."
**************************** Kreacher stood outside the doorway of Sirius' room, watching Vivica softly sing her son to sleep. He cautiously walked inside.
"D-does mistress want anything?" He asked tentatively. Father had said always offer master and mistress things, always.
Vivica looked up, her eyes red and swollen.
"A cup of tea would be nice, thank you Kreacher."
Kreacher bowed and made his way into the kitchen, where Dewdrop and Cropper were in the middle of their row.
"You is BAD BAD ELF CROPPER!" Dewdrop yelled, bristling with anger.
"At least Cropper knows how things go! Dewdrop will soon see, see what Dark Lord-"
"Dark Lord? What Dark Lord?"
Cropper sneered. "Meddling elves like Dewdrop will be first to go once Dark Lord gathers more strength.."
Kreacher tugged on the end of Dewdrop's bath towel.
"Can Dewdrop teach Kreacher to make tea?" The little elf glanced up to the high counter, and since he didn't have control on his magic yet, could do little to make the tea himself.
"Not now Kreacher!" Dewdrop roared, still glaring at Cropper. "Go clean youngest master's bedroom."
Kreacher tottered over to Cropper, and tugged hard on his towel.
"Will Cropper help Kreach-"
Kreacher was silenced as Cropper struck him, and sent him sprawling across the stone floor. Kreacher scuttled upright again, and quickly ran back to Sirius' room and his mistress, trying hard not show emotion. He sat outside the door and rocked back and forth, extremely upset.
"Kreacher must be punished, for Kreacher couldn't fulfill mistress's wishes."
Kreacher muttered miserably, chiding himself for going anywhere near Cropper, who had lashed out at the younger elf before. In fact, the only one who ever showed him kindness was the mistress, and that was when master was not around. Kreacher hugged his knees, thinking of the argument between the two other elves.
Cropper had been telling Kreacher about this 'Dark Lord', and how he believed that only the elite, or purebloods, should be able to inhabit the wizarding world.
Remembering Cropper caused Kreacher to tremble. Oh, how Kreacher would do anything to avoid being hurt again by Cropper, even say he supported the Dark Lord! Yes, that's what he would have to do. There was no way around it, Kreacher must act like Cropper. He would always, always be loyal to mistress though, no matter what she thought of the 'Dark Lord' and muggle- borns. Yes, that's what would have to happen. Kreacher stood up, and hurried towards Regulus' room to begin cleaning.
***********************
Orion Black stood looking out the window of his study, surveying the setting sun. Regulus sat on the floor, playing with a toy wand.
"Avavca Kedoovra!" He said happily, pointing at a fly on the wall.
Orion smirked. Regulus would make a perfect addition, once he was of age. For news had come that the Dark Lord needed followers, and was branding them as his servants, his 'Death Eaters'. Orion himself wasn't interested in joining, he didn't want to mix himself up with the wrong side too soon, in case this new lord wasn't as powerful as the reports claimed. Regulus, however, would make a fine Death Eater. Oh yes.
"Not like that half-wit heir of mine, Sirius." Orion cursed under his breath. Also, the daily memory charms couldn't continue, although if one finally addled his brains enough, Orion figured he would declare Sirius 'incompetent' and have Regulus his heir. Now, that was a thought.
Further thoughts were interrupted, however, by several popping noises coming from the kitchen downstairs.
"Damn!"
Orion had totally forgotten, Narcissa Malfoy and some other sister in-law of Vivica's were coming over for tea. He vainly hoped it wasn't that Andromeda woman; worst traitor he'd ever set eyes on in his opinion. Went and got herself married to some piece of slime muggle, by the name of Tonks he thinks.
Orion scowled, only to have the portrait of Vivaca's great grandfather Phineas Nigellus scowl back. He had hung it there reluctantly for show, and mainly because Vivaca's constant insistence annoyed him.
"You shouldn't be a cursin' like that in front o' the young'in."
Orion grated his teeth. "Shut up you muggle-loving fool. If I hadn't given my wife enough time where she was able to sneak a permanent sticking charm on your photo, you'd be naught but a pile of ashes now."
The old wizard stuck his tongue between his teeth and blew Orion a raspberry.
"Stupefy!" Mr. Black said through gritted teeth, pointing his wand at the portrait, where Phineas was attempting to moon Orion. To his frustration, the spell bounced off the painting and flew right back at him, causing him to duck. He felt the spell zoom over the stop over his head and out the window. Touching a hand to his hair, he felt some scorched strands.
"You think it's funny, do you?" He snarled at a crow, who was sitting outside on the windowsill, cawing his head off. In a fit of rage Orion raised his wand.
"Crucio!"
The unfortunate bird screamed, making a horrible guttural sound in its throat, before falling off the sill and landing hard on the ground beneath. Orion smirked at the twitching raven that lay on the dirt mound. He turned to Regulus, who watched with a sickening smile. The boy laughed.
"Good 'un daddy! Filthy birdie, laughin atta you."
Orion gave the boy a significant look, and headed down the stairs. Regulus followed, pointing his toy wand at certain objects, yelling happily.
"Crewkio!"
Kreacher watched them as they passed, unluckily catching Mr. Black's eye.
"You! Elf! What are you doing?"
Kreacher shrunk away, terrified.
"I is, I was, I-I is cleaning youngest master's bedroom!"
Orion regarded the elf coldly.
"K-Kreacher is cleaning," the elf repeated. "Kreacher lives to serve the noble house of Black-"
"-and it's getting blacker every day." Orion finished.
"Stop standing around gawking, get to work!" He gave the elf a kick. "Sniveling, worthless excuse for a servant.." Orion's muttering followed him downstairs into the kitchen, where three of the most unexpected people stood, talking to his wife.
"Poor mistress!" Dewdrop remarked, gathering a pile of thread in her hands. "Master horrid angry tonight."
"Master got right idea." Cropper grunted, taking the split needles and throwing them away. "Younger master Black soft, will grow up with a spot for muggles like his mother." Cropper practically spit the last word out.
"You is not knowing the ways around here," He said, regarding Dewdrop. "you is coming from that strange Nigellus house, not knowing how things are."
"And what's that mean?" Dewdrop squeaked indignantly.
"You is not knowing that nasty mudbloods are taking over the wizarding world. They is not worthy is do so, scum they is! Nothing but dirty, dirty mudbloods-"
"Ooh you stop it Cropper, you bad elf!" Dewdrop squealed, covering her bat- like ears.
"Cropper will be telling master soon what Dewdrop thinks. Master might have clothes for Dewdrop by the morning." Cropper calmly swept a pile of dust to the middle of the room.
"Cropper not right in the head." Dewdrop stated, talking to her dustpan, yet making sure the other house-elf heard. "No no, not right at all. Little elf Kreacher not going to be right in the head either, with father like that. No no."
**************************** Kreacher stood outside the doorway of Sirius' room, watching Vivica softly sing her son to sleep. He cautiously walked inside.
"D-does mistress want anything?" He asked tentatively. Father had said always offer master and mistress things, always.
Vivica looked up, her eyes red and swollen.
"A cup of tea would be nice, thank you Kreacher."
Kreacher bowed and made his way into the kitchen, where Dewdrop and Cropper were in the middle of their row.
"You is BAD BAD ELF CROPPER!" Dewdrop yelled, bristling with anger.
"At least Cropper knows how things go! Dewdrop will soon see, see what Dark Lord-"
"Dark Lord? What Dark Lord?"
Cropper sneered. "Meddling elves like Dewdrop will be first to go once Dark Lord gathers more strength.."
Kreacher tugged on the end of Dewdrop's bath towel.
"Can Dewdrop teach Kreacher to make tea?" The little elf glanced up to the high counter, and since he didn't have control on his magic yet, could do little to make the tea himself.
"Not now Kreacher!" Dewdrop roared, still glaring at Cropper. "Go clean youngest master's bedroom."
Kreacher tottered over to Cropper, and tugged hard on his towel.
"Will Cropper help Kreach-"
Kreacher was silenced as Cropper struck him, and sent him sprawling across the stone floor. Kreacher scuttled upright again, and quickly ran back to Sirius' room and his mistress, trying hard not show emotion. He sat outside the door and rocked back and forth, extremely upset.
"Kreacher must be punished, for Kreacher couldn't fulfill mistress's wishes."
Kreacher muttered miserably, chiding himself for going anywhere near Cropper, who had lashed out at the younger elf before. In fact, the only one who ever showed him kindness was the mistress, and that was when master was not around. Kreacher hugged his knees, thinking of the argument between the two other elves.
Cropper had been telling Kreacher about this 'Dark Lord', and how he believed that only the elite, or purebloods, should be able to inhabit the wizarding world.
Remembering Cropper caused Kreacher to tremble. Oh, how Kreacher would do anything to avoid being hurt again by Cropper, even say he supported the Dark Lord! Yes, that's what he would have to do. There was no way around it, Kreacher must act like Cropper. He would always, always be loyal to mistress though, no matter what she thought of the 'Dark Lord' and muggle- borns. Yes, that's what would have to happen. Kreacher stood up, and hurried towards Regulus' room to begin cleaning.
***********************
Orion Black stood looking out the window of his study, surveying the setting sun. Regulus sat on the floor, playing with a toy wand.
"Avavca Kedoovra!" He said happily, pointing at a fly on the wall.
Orion smirked. Regulus would make a perfect addition, once he was of age. For news had come that the Dark Lord needed followers, and was branding them as his servants, his 'Death Eaters'. Orion himself wasn't interested in joining, he didn't want to mix himself up with the wrong side too soon, in case this new lord wasn't as powerful as the reports claimed. Regulus, however, would make a fine Death Eater. Oh yes.
"Not like that half-wit heir of mine, Sirius." Orion cursed under his breath. Also, the daily memory charms couldn't continue, although if one finally addled his brains enough, Orion figured he would declare Sirius 'incompetent' and have Regulus his heir. Now, that was a thought.
Further thoughts were interrupted, however, by several popping noises coming from the kitchen downstairs.
"Damn!"
Orion had totally forgotten, Narcissa Malfoy and some other sister in-law of Vivica's were coming over for tea. He vainly hoped it wasn't that Andromeda woman; worst traitor he'd ever set eyes on in his opinion. Went and got herself married to some piece of slime muggle, by the name of Tonks he thinks.
Orion scowled, only to have the portrait of Vivaca's great grandfather Phineas Nigellus scowl back. He had hung it there reluctantly for show, and mainly because Vivaca's constant insistence annoyed him.
"You shouldn't be a cursin' like that in front o' the young'in."
Orion grated his teeth. "Shut up you muggle-loving fool. If I hadn't given my wife enough time where she was able to sneak a permanent sticking charm on your photo, you'd be naught but a pile of ashes now."
The old wizard stuck his tongue between his teeth and blew Orion a raspberry.
"Stupefy!" Mr. Black said through gritted teeth, pointing his wand at the portrait, where Phineas was attempting to moon Orion. To his frustration, the spell bounced off the painting and flew right back at him, causing him to duck. He felt the spell zoom over the stop over his head and out the window. Touching a hand to his hair, he felt some scorched strands.
"You think it's funny, do you?" He snarled at a crow, who was sitting outside on the windowsill, cawing his head off. In a fit of rage Orion raised his wand.
"Crucio!"
The unfortunate bird screamed, making a horrible guttural sound in its throat, before falling off the sill and landing hard on the ground beneath. Orion smirked at the twitching raven that lay on the dirt mound. He turned to Regulus, who watched with a sickening smile. The boy laughed.
"Good 'un daddy! Filthy birdie, laughin atta you."
Orion gave the boy a significant look, and headed down the stairs. Regulus followed, pointing his toy wand at certain objects, yelling happily.
"Crewkio!"
Kreacher watched them as they passed, unluckily catching Mr. Black's eye.
"You! Elf! What are you doing?"
Kreacher shrunk away, terrified.
"I is, I was, I-I is cleaning youngest master's bedroom!"
Orion regarded the elf coldly.
"K-Kreacher is cleaning," the elf repeated. "Kreacher lives to serve the noble house of Black-"
"-and it's getting blacker every day." Orion finished.
"Stop standing around gawking, get to work!" He gave the elf a kick. "Sniveling, worthless excuse for a servant.." Orion's muttering followed him downstairs into the kitchen, where three of the most unexpected people stood, talking to his wife.