The Good Son
"I'll get your robe and mask made tomorrow," Bellatrix told Regulus as they entered #12 Grimmauld place.
He gave his cousin a grateful smile. "Thank you," he said, suddenly feeling a rush of excitement at the prospect of dawning the famous Death Eater garb with the others. It meant he was worthy...was good enough to stand with the best to change the world. It meant he was among the best, and he was ready to prove to the Dark Lord that he was right to think so of him.
"How did it go," Kreacher asked, rushing to meet them in the front hall.
"Oh it was brilliant, Kreacher," Regulus said, bending to embrace his friend. "I do wish you were there to see, though," he added, wishing to share the joy of the moment.
"Right. No touching. There are civilized people present," Rodolphus growled.
"It was just a hug, Rodolphus," Regulus said, straightening.
"Yes well we know where those apparently lead," Rodolphus said under his breath so that no one else other than those present might hear. Bellatrix nodded, making a face.
"All that time we thought your overly close relationship was innocent," she huffed.
"It was," Regulus protested and Kreacher nodded fervently. "It only changed around new years eve."
Bellatrix rolled her eyes. "Oh wait...I must apologize. If we gave you the impression that we cared or were interested in any of the disgusting details...well we aren't."
Rodolphus snickered.
"The Master and Mistress are already entertaining family and friends in the parlor," Kreacher said, tactfully returning the topic to a matter of current relevance. "They are having drinks. Perhaps Master Regulus, Miss Bella and Mr. Rodolphus would like a drink now as well to celebrate Master Regulus's grand success with the Dark Lord."
When Bellatrix and Rodolphus nodded, Kreacher led the way into the parlor. Regulus's joy was only dampened by the fact that Kreacher wasn't allowed to sit and enjoy drinks with them. Kreacher was the main person with whom Regulus longed to share his success. The fact the elf had to stand to the side, in case anyone needed anything rather than sitting among them as an equal really got to Regulus even more than usual which was saying something. He sat watching Kreacher watching him while his mother praised him for getting into the ranks of the Dark Lord at such an impressively young age. After the second time that Bellatrix had to jab him in the ribs with an elbow because an aunt, uncle or family friend had spoken to him and he hadn't noticed, he turned to his parents.
"Dad...Mum...It would truly mean a lot to me if Kreacher could share in the celebration. He was my rock while I readied myself for the Dark Lord's service and he's one of the family." His mother hesitated, frowning in slight disapproval, but when Regulus smiled and repeated that it would mean quite a lot to him, she relented.
"Oh very well. Anything for you, my dear boy. You are our family pride and truly the salvation of the Black name. We are so proud of you." Though Walburga Black did not speak the name of Regulus's older brother Sirius, it hung like a silent curse in the air nonetheless.
"Thank you, dearest and best of all mothers," Regulus said, giving her a charming smile. "Kreacher, most dear and deserving of friends...Come and sit with me," he happily invited the elf. Now he could fully enjoy his celebration. Kreacher beamed, then shyly cast down his gaze as he rushed to take a seat at Regulus's side. Though he still had to be up and down serving when someone needed more to drink, he was more often than not with Regulus, and for now that would have to do. Regulus couldn't help imagining how grand it would be when Kreacher was free and some other elf was waiting on everyone. Kreacher was so much more than other elves he'd encountered like silly Dobby who served the Malfoys for example. Dobby deserved to serve, but not his Kreacher. Kreacher was better than that and surely destined for greatness.
After a few drinks and several rounds of toasts in Regulus's honor the party proceeded into the dining room where Kreacher already had the table laden with all of Regulus's favorite foods. There were stuffed Greek grape leaves, succulent stuffed crabs, olives, coconut shrimp, roast pheasant, stewed potatoes, cheese bread and dates with honeyed nuts. Once again he was allowed to remain at Regulus's side for the feast. The food was delicious and Regulus was heady on all the compliments and praise heaped upon him. When the party was over, and his parents retired to their bed, his exuberant mood was far from over.
"Come upstairs and I'll show you my dark mark," he invited Kreacher whose eyes widened eagerly.
"Yes. Kreacher is excited to see how it looks on Master Regulus."
Once upstairs with the bedroom door closed behind them, Regulus pushed up the sleeve of his green and silver robe. "It looked black and stood out more when he first placed it upon me, but here it is," he told Kreacher.
While the elf bent forward to study the Dark Mark in awe, Regulus told him what it was like to receive it. "Though it was an honor it really hurt! I didn't show it, though as that just wouldn't do."
Kreacher nodded in approval. "Indeed. Master Regulus is strong enough to withstand a little pain. He did well. Kreacher is proud."
"I thought he might draw it on with the wand, but it was just fire coming out of the wand's tip all in black, as if the entire design was already a spell," Regulus explained excitedly. "It just came out onto my arm all at once. That's some rather impressive magic." Kreacher nodded again in agreement, then asked softly," Does it still hurt Master Regulus? If so Kreacher could kiss it and..."
"No. It doesn't hurt at all, but there are plenty of other parts of me that suffer greatly without your kisses."
For once, Kreacher remained with him nearly until the morning without fretting that they would be caught. It seemed even he was utterly swept up in the moment of Regulus's success. When they awoke near daybreak Kreacher slipped regretfully from the bed. "Kreacher must be in his own bed when the Mistress calls for him to begin breakfast ," he said and Regulus nodded, rising as well.
"What is Master Regulus doing?" Regulus smiled. "I'm going to tuck you into bed. You're always leaving me all snug and sleepy, and it's only fair I do the same for you."
"Master Regulus does not need to..." Kreacher began to object but Regulus silenced him with a kiss, then led the way down to the room off the kitchens where Kreacher slept. Once Kreacher was lying on his small cot, blankets drawn over him, Regulus tucked the elf in, then knelt beside the bed to kiss Kreacher breathless. "I love you," he murmured against the elf's mouth. "Sleep well"
"Kreacher! What is the meaning of this!" Regulus's blood ran cold. Though the voice was not raised, it cracked across the room like thunder none the less. It belonged to Orion Black. "Forgive me for that was a stupid question as the meaning is disturbingly plain to see. I now only need to understand precisely why the two of you feel the need to...with one another."
"Please, Father..."Regulus turned to look up imploringly into his father's shocked countenance. "We love one another, and love doesn't care about race or station. It just doesn't."
"Yes I heard about the love while on my way to get a drink of water," Orion replied dryly. "And unfortunately love may not care about all of those things, but trust me society does."
"Kreacher tried to tell Master Regulus that...Kreacher is a good elf...Kreacher is sorry...but he..." Kreacher fell silent then, his expression one of abject misery. It was obvious that he was torn between what he knew was expected of him and his love for and loyalty to Regulus.
"Please do not tell Mother. She would never understand," Regulus said and Orion barked a laugh.
"On that, my son, we agree."
Regulus let out a sigh of relief.
"The two of you...well I would say that you must stop, but something tells me that you aren't going to. So I will say that you must keep anyone else from discovering your...affections."
"Kreacher will...Kreacher is a good elf...Only Miss Bella, Mr. Rodolphus and Master Orion know," Kreacher spoke up and Regulus cringed at the shocked widening of his father's eyes.
"Bellatrix and Rodolphus are aware? Why?"
Regulus flushed..."You probably do not truly wish to know...It was an accident but they have promised not to tell."
"You had better hope they keep their word, because if they do tell, this family is ruined. Regulus, you must be good...After the damage Sirius has caused, we're relying on you..." Orion shook his head, expression suddenly baffled. "I just don't understand why you and Kreacher...Why can't you both simply get yourselves women?" Orion's baffled gaze was almost pleading and Kreacher glanced away.
Regulus sighed. "Because we don't want women, father."
"I remember when you were a little baby," Orion told Kreacher. "Do you recall when you were around three and I taught you to write?"
Kreacher blinked in surprise then shook his head.
"You were always wandering around, commenting on anything and everything you saw, much as you do now, only you were far cuter then," Orion recalled, a smile of suppressed amusement ghosting across his face. "I was writing and you asked me what it was. I explained that I was sending a message to someone and you shook your head and pointed at the letters themselves and asked why I was using those shapes to do it. I thought the question was so well thought out for such a young child that I set you on my desk and showed you how to write then and there."
Regulus had never heard that story before and from the look of wonder on Kreacher's face, it was clear that he'd forgotten it due to being so young when it happened. Regulus had always respected his father for being a great man of high intellect and wise perception. Hearing of his kindness to Kreacher was oddly touching, though. "That was very kind of you, father. Where were Kreacher's parents at the time?"
"Working in the kitchen and the garden I presume. I figured I had more time to teach him to write than they did and he was a rapid learner." He chuckled. "Why I still have the first note Kreacher ever wrote once he'd learned all his letters and how to spell enough words. It was a thank you letter to me for teaching him. I kept it and still use it as a book mark."
Kreacher didn't know," the elf said softly. Then he cleared his throat, running the back of one hand across his eyes. "Kreacher supposes the writing was embarrassingly bad."
"Actually for a child your age it was very neat," Orion told him with a smile.
"What happened to your parents," Regulus asked Kreacher and the elf shook his head. "They died, Kreacher supposes, but his memory is unclear as he was so very young at the time."
Orion nodded. "It was a magical accident...We were all working on defensive wards for this house and...I am not precisely certain how it happened but the wards backfired onto them. Kreacher was too young to understand and I felt so awful."
Kreacher stared sadly into space for several seconds while Regulus and Orion were respectfully silent. The silence was broken, however when Walburga Black called for Kreacher to begin breakfast and put on the morning tea.
Orion turned away with a sigh. "I saw nothing, and for gods sake no one else had better either," he hissed, then left the room.
Kreacher smiled as he hastily rose from bed. "Kreacher wasn't truly worried that Master Orion would punish us," he whispered to Regulus.
"That makes one of us," Regulus muttered, but forced a smile for Kreacher. "Are you sure you won't allow me to help in the kitchen? We didn't get much sleep, and I'm sure you're tired."
Kreacher shook his head firmly even as he yawned. "Master Regulus will ruin the tea and Mistress shall certainly punish Kreacher for serving such a poor fare...so Kreacher thanks Master Regulus for the offer but he must decline it."
Regulus laughed, shaking his head as he left the room to get himself dressed for the day.