Chapter One: In Which Kreacher Is Summoned
"He couldn't have left, could he?" said Harry. "I mean, when you said 'out,' maybe he thought you meant, get out of the house?"
"No, no house elves can't leave the house unless they're given clothes, they're tied to the family's house," said Sirius.
"They can leave the house if they really want to," Harry contradicted him. "Dobby did, he left the Malfoys' to give me warnings three years ago. He had to punish himself afterwards, but he still managed it."
Sirius looked slightly disconcerted for a moment, then said, "I'll look for him later —"
"Are you a wizard or what, Sirius? Use magic or something!" said Harry exasperatedly.
"Er, right. I can just call him. Kreacher!"
Kreacher the house elf appeared with a loud crack of displaced air. "Yes, Master?"
Harry looked pointedly at Sirius, who immediately understood.
"I command you to tell me truthfully what you were doing before you were summoned!"
"Bad Master wants Kreacher to tell what Kreacher was doing. Kreacher was with Miss Cissy and Bella. They are kind to Kreacher, so Kreacher told them what they wanted to know!"
He muttered some more, referencing himself in the third person every now and then.
"Who are Cissy and Bella, Sirius?" asked Harry.
"They are my cousins, Narcissa Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange."
"Well, shit."
AN: Why did Sirius not call Kreacher? 'I'll look for him later.' Is he not a wizard? Obviously he is, so he must be out of practice or something. Whatever works.
Really stupid of Sirius not to command him to appear.