Chapter 41, Of Love And War
"How did Master Regulus know that he could trust Severus Snape," Kreacher demanded. Regulus and Kreacher had just apparated from Wolfgang's and into the room they'd shared the previous night at Dora's. The two had spent over an hour at Adler Manor before taking their leave. Both Kreacher and Regulus found Wolfgang and Millicent's company engaging and entertaining as well as educational.
"I wondered when you'd ask that," Regulus said, lips twitching in amusement as he flopped back onto the bed. He was frankly a bit tired. The day had been a long and full if fascinating one. "Want to play with the invisibility cloak," he asked, tantalized by the fact that they had one of their own for a while at least.
Kreacher frowned. "No. Kreacher wishes to know how Master Regulus is so certain that Severus Snape can be trusted! He followed the Dark Lord as well, and if Kreacher recalls," the elf concluded dryly. "People don't just get out of that, because if they COULD, Kreacher and Master Regulus would not have had to go through so much trouble and vampirism."
"Very astute of you, my dearest one," Regulus said, unable to keep from smiling again which made Kreacher's frown deepen. "Alright," Regulus relented with a chuckle, at last giving into the elf's curiosity. "It's quite obvious really. I just read Snape's mind. He, unlike me, never truly served the Dark Lord. He was the true smart one."
"Master Regulus is far smarter, Kreacher is sure," the elf muttered, never liking anyone to be put above Regulus in the brains department.
Rather than arguing that one all night, Regulus wisely chose to move on with a slight shrug. "Apparently Voldemort killed Severus's father when Severus was only six. Of course Voldemort was unaware that he had killed anyone's father, but we know by now that he would not have cared in the least if he had known. In fact, he would've probably taken more glee from the fact and committed the murder with even more vigor and gusto." Regulus had slipped into Severus's mind during dinner to learn even more while the man was distracted by speaking to the red head at his side.
Kreacher nodded wordlessly, coming to lean against the end of the bed to stare at Regulus as he continued. "Severus and his mum had to go and live with his Grandfather Prince after that and Prince didn't like Severus one bit for being a half blood. Old man Prince never allowed Severus or his mum to forget it. For that reason, Snape had a score to settle with the Dark Lord as he saw it. He joined the Death Eaters to take him down, and as a result began working for Albus as a double agent apparently. He has some rather impressive skills to keep all that hidden from the Dark Lord, so again I'll have to say he has something on me," Regulus concluded. Though he had once thought quite highly of himself, almost as much as did Kreacher, Regulus was never above admitting when someone was better. He'd always liked Snape, and in at least a few areas, Snape was a more skilled wizard. Regulus had his abilities, of which he was quite proud, but he wasn't the very best at everything even if Kreacher did beg to differ.
"So he pretends to serve the Dark Lord even now," Kreacher asked and Regulus nodded.
"He cared for his father very much. Though he lost him at a far younger age than I did, I can most definitely relate. Voldemort has likely killed many a boy's father," he said grimly. "I only wish it had made him even more direct enemies."
"Master Regulus was able to gather all of that information from Severus Snape's mind without him noticing," Kreacher asked. "If his skills are good enough to block the Dark Lord, how is this possible?"
"Because vampires don't use the sort of magic he would notice," Regulus explained. "And we can delve deeper into the mind than can spells." Clearly impressed, Kreacher merely nodded. Regulus smiled. "Now do you want to play with the cloak," he asked.
Kreacher shrugged. "Kreacher supposes." Regulus sat up on the bed and lifted the thin gossamer material of the cloak from where it rested beside him. Unfolding it, he eagerly tossed it over Kreacher, watching the elf vanish. "I can still sense your mind, but others wouldn't," he noted. "Otherwise you're quite invisible."
"In that case, Kreacher could find a few uses for this cloak the next time Mr. Potter is in his home," the elf grumbled darkly. He sprang back into view as he removed the cloak and folded it neatly before moving to the closet to hang it up. "These American... closets are strange, but Kreacher rather likes them," he commented.
"We should go and catch Dora up," Regulus said, but as he spoke, his selfish body was expressing other ideas. Sensing the heat in his glance, Kreacher returned to the bed.
"Soon, we could do that," the elf murmured. As he joined Regulus on the bed, all thought of anyone but Kreacher fled his mind. They became lost in one another, in slow lingering touches that built up a smoldering heat in both of them, allowing for sweet release. Afterward they simply lay quietly together, Regulus's lips trailing over the soft skin of Kreacher's cheek. "I could stay just as we are forever," he murmured and the elf raised a hand to tenderly push strands of black hair away from Regulus's eyes.
"When Kreacher is a vampire, that will be quite likely," he teased lightly, and Regulus smiled. Soon they were dressed again and heading down stairs to find Dora. She was playing the piano, a melancholy air about her.
"I woke and you were already gone," she said dully, turning on the piano stool to peer nearly accusingly at both Regulus and Kreacher.
"It was a bit of an experiment due to the rainy weather," Regulus explained. Hastily he and Kreacher filled Dora in on the afternoon and evening they'd had. She listened with interest, only frowning when the topic of Albus wanting them to remain with his friend was broached.
"Well I certainly don't wish to stay with a complete stranger," she said with a disgruntled frown.
Regulus sighed. "I understand that, but if you remain here, it may not be safe." Kreacher nodded, lending silent support to Regulus's stance.
"With you both gone, I hardly see why not," Dora shot back.
Regulus scowled, hurt. "I wasn't planning to stay gone. If I return to visit you, it could draw attention."
Dora sighed. "It isn't that I don't want to see you. We can meet up at the library again. I just don't wish to leave a perfectly comfortable home that is all mine and stay with a complete stranger! When I thought we were going to your manor, that was fine, but this is a bit much. It will be uncomfortable for this friend of Albus as well as me."
"How do you know it will be uncomfortable for him," Regulus asked. In truth he hadn't mentioned Dora to Albus yet, because it had felt like a one step at a time sort of situation. Still he wasn't planning to leave her in danger, so if she wasn't allowed to stay, they'd just have to go somewhere else and that was that.
Dora sighed. "From his perspective, because I am a strange vampire who could eat him in his sleep, and for my part, because I'm simply not very social and I will hate it."
"None of us wish to impose on the hospitality of a complete stranger, but in times of war, the situations we face are not ideal," Kreacher said. "Miss Dora may be uncomfortable, but she will be alive. It would distress Kreacher very much if something were to happen to Miss Dora. She saved his Master Regulus,and Kreacher would repay that in kind by keeping her safe."
"That is truly sweet, Kreacher, but I don't feel I would be unsafe if I remained here," Dora objected. "And I honestly don't know why the two of you believe so strongly that I would be entirely unable to handle myself around magic. I bet I could move faster than several spells. I could kill a wizard by breaking his neck if it comes to that." She suddenly smiled, eyes lighting with sudden mischief. "We could practice. I'll dodge around your spells and try to tackle the two of you...Don't worry, though, I won't break your necks."
"Kreacher has already been impressed by Master Regulus's vampiric speed, so he is quite certain that Miss Dora is correct. However if she encountered an entire group of wizards, there would still be a problem. Kreacher would be very sad if anything befell her."
The playful amusement left Dora's face to be replaced by a resentful expression that bordered dangerously close to sulky. "In other words, you insist," she said and Kreacher smiled happily.
"Miss Dora is very smart," the elf said happily. Before Dora could form any sort of comeback to that, Kreacher asked, "Why does Miss Dora not have a computer, Kreacher wonders? Or has she one hidden away? Kreacher found Millicent's to be very intriguing even if the information it had on elves was complete and utter rubbish."
Dora blinked, obviously and properly distracted as Kreacher had intended. "Well...I just never had a need for one. I am not particularly social as you know, and the modern world rarely interests me. Most of the changes it is making are, to my mind, not particularly for the better." Regulus nodded in agreement, sharing his maker's thoughts on the matter.
"While this is true, Kreacher still finds the computer entertaining. He will ask Millicent to see hers again when we go for another visit to Adler Manor," the elf decided. "For now, though, Kreacher thinks Miss Dora should enjoy her last night at home for quite a while. Would she prefer to spend it alone, or would she like company?"
Dora looked very much as if she'd like to throw something at Kreacher, but there was nothing to hand. "Alone," she bit out. "Though I am very fascinated by your company, it seems I shall have plenty of it while this war is on. You will not be leaving me alone with a strange wizard, after all. You will be quite frequently at my side, the both of you."
Kreacher gave a satisfied smile, bowing briefly to Dora from the waist as he did. "Of course! With that in mind, Kreacher thinks he and Master Regulus should make the most of this evening's alone time, for it seems they shall have very little in the months to come."
Regulus nodded. "Wise, as ever," he said. With that, Kreacher apparated them back up to their room, where they remained for a very pleasant night.