Chapter 42: The Alchemy Of Magic
As it happened, Mr. Doge was more than pleased to have Regulus, Kreacher and even Dora as his guests until Regulus could speak to Harry Potter about getting his home back. As they were all uncomfortable with the idea of imposing on Doge for so long, Regulus and Dora insisted on paying him and the old wizard flatly refused. He declared that their fascinating company was payment enough. He also pointed out that they slept all day and went out for at least half of the night, and as such were the least bothersome guests in the entire world! As vampires could read thoughts, lying to Regulus and Dora was next to impossible. They knew Doge spoke the truth. Still it was difficult not to feel they were imposing even so. They knew this was their feeling and not Doge's, though. Kreacher, ever wise, decided to offer a payment that no sane man would turn down. He prepared lavish meals nightly for Doge. Regulus supplied the gold that bought the food, and Kreacher enjoyed the opportunity to show off. This suited Regulus because what Kreacher cooked for Doge, he also ate himself. As a result the elf was regaining all the weight and the glow of health that he'd lost over the years with Regulus gone.
Doge provided Dora with her own room and Kreacher and Regulus with another. He was horrified when Dora offered to sleep in his cellar. She claimed that all she needed was a dark place. He firmly stated that no lady slept in a cellar and as Dora was most definitely a lady, she would have his best guest room. While Dora and Regulus slept, Kreacher only emerged from the room he shared with Regulus long enough to prepare food for himself, Mortis and Doge. The instant he finished eating, he retreated with the phoenix once again to guard Regulus's sleep. They all settled into the new routine of living elsewhere rather quickly. It was comfortable and stress free. When a thing is pleasant and flows smoothly it is easy to quickly grow accustom to it. The mind and soul gladly adjust to improvements, but pain is never easy. It did not escape Regulus that he'd gotten far more out of the few weeks of life since returning to Kreacher than the nearly two decades away from him, steeped within his own misery. He never separated from the elf. He couldn't even send Kreacher to deliver a message to Wolfgang while he hunted down his evening meal, though such an divide and conquer approach would've been more efficient. Instead Kreacher would accompany him on his hunt, both of them traveling under the cloak of invisibility, and then they would visit Wolfgang. Regulus kept in touch with the half giant on a steady basis to report the names of Death Eaters that he'd hunted down on those few times he actually managed to do so. Voldemort didn't have as many followers as Regulus had expected...At least not willing ones...At least not willing ones that frequented Knockturn Alley. So either there weren't as many followers of the mad man or they frequented other places. He was hoping for the former. As Severus pointed out when Regulus and Kreacher came to speak with Albus again concerning the lessons Regulus would be giving Mr. Potter, Voldemort knew how to play chess well. He knew where to strategically place a few followers to cause a lot of damage and make establishments like the ministry topple like a house of cards. Still the fewer chess pieces the Dark Lord had to play with the better. At this point it was all they could do until Harry Potter rolled the dice. If he won, everyone could breathe easier, and if he lost, it would be time for plan B. Fortunately Grindelwald was available. Regulus and Kreacher were ready and willing to work with Wolfgang's group to do whatever Grindelwald deemed necessary if such a time came. For now, though, Regulus had settled into his return to wizarding society in far more comfort than he'd expected and for that he was grateful. The only draw back, other than Potter still having his manor, was Potter still sort of having his elf. After getting them settled in at Doge's, Albus requested that Regulus refrain from freeing Kreacher until Harry's hand against Voldemort was played. Regulus hated the idea of Kreacher being compelled to answer to Harry or anyone, especially after all they'd gone through! Albus made the point that if Kreacher no longer answered to Harry, this would be noted by Harry and thus could be information subject to Voldemort's notice as well. Technically there should be no one alive other than Harry who could free Kreacher. If Potter didn't do it, of course he would wonder who had? A question best for all if left unanswered. For this reason, Regulus grudgingly acquiesced to Albus's request.
"Like it or not, I am freeing you the instant Voldemort is dead...or the instant Potter is, however it plays out," Regulus told Kreacher darkly. This was a conversation the two of them had more than once after Regulus agreed to Albus's wishes on the matter.
"As Master Regulus prefers," Kreacher murmured. "Kreacher has the utmost confidence in Master Regulus's good judgment. Master Regulus always makes wise decisions."
Regulus frowned, annoyed and a little resentful if unfairly so. Always emotionally aware, he attempted to reply from a reasonable place that did not come from an unfair emotional reaction...mostly succeeding. "Harsh, aren't you," he said with a sigh, a mildly amused twist to his mouth.
Kreacher shook his head, frowning back. "If Master Regulus had freed Kreacher when he wished to in Nineteen-Seventy-Eight, Kreacher may not have survived the lake of Inferi. It was the imperative of the binding that forced Kreacher to remember Master Regulus's last order for Kreacher to come home."
"Which you know I did not mean as an order," Regulus said, feeling that not wanting his lover to be his slave was a bloody good thing even if said lover did not agree!
"That has nothing to do with the point Kreacher is making as Master Regulus well knows," the elf shot back. "The point is it saved Kreacher's life and without it he may not be here now."
Regulus closed his eyes against the very thought. "Were you not here, I would not be either," he said, drawing Kreacher close and holding him tight. They sat on the edge of the bed in the guest room Doge had selected for them so it was all too easy for a loving embrace to quickly become much more. That was often the way with any of their mild arguments. Stumbling onto a bit of shared pain sent them into one another's arms and they forgot whatever they were vexed over, feelings of mutual frustration gladly giving way to those of passion. They never had trouble finding their passion, and Regulus was quite certain they never would. Nearly an hour later they lay together on the bed, satiated and languorous. Kreacher lay sprawled across Regulus's chest, idly twining a strand of Regulus's black hair around a forefinger. "We should be able to work out a compromise," Regulus said, voice heavy with relaxation.
"Hmmm," Kreacher asked, giving Regulus a questioning glance through half closed eyes.
"A compromise for our current issue," Regulus clarified. "As it stands, I don't want you to be a bloody slave, but you want the connection that it gives us. Is that right?"
Kreacher hesitated, obviously thinking. "After several seconds he slowly nodded. "Kreacher supposes. He hardly sees how we can reach a compromise where we both get what we want in this matter, though."
"We've only to study it if we can figure it out," Regulus said. "The elf and wizarding family bond, that is. If we can discover the mechanics of it, we can forge our own bond after I have freed you. It could work both ways even. Where we can command one another if necessary...Not to be misused of course," he added quickly, giving Kreacher a smile full of amusement as he imagined all the ways the elf would love to use such a thing to his advantage.
"That could be interesting, if it is possible," Kreacher said slowly.
"Then you would have what you want, but you and I would be on equal footing as I wish and as you deserve," Regulus said. "And if you think I am about to muck something up beyond repair, you can simply command me not to," he added with a smile that didn't quite touch the sadness in his eyes as painful memories resurfaced with the utterance of those words.
"Kreacher would like that very much," the elf said, lightly touching the back of Regulus's hand.
"We've only to study how it works, then sort out how to forge our own a fresh," Regulus said thoughtfully. He'd always enjoyed studying the way magical connections worked especially when they particularly interested him as they did in this situation. "Can you feel it at all?"
Kreacher blinked. "Feel what?"
"The bond...Or whatever it is. Can you feel any link to me or Potter or even to Grimmauld?"
For a moment, Kreacher wore a searching expression then slowly shook his head. "Now Kreacher can feel nothing. Kreacher only feels it consciously when he is given a command. He must obey at once, or in the case of the command Master Regulus gave him when Kreacher went with the Dark Lord, when it is time to carry out the order, he feels the overwhelming need to do so," the elf explained.
Regulus frowned, sitting for several long seconds in silent thought. "And if you do not obey at once, for whatever reason, you are instead beset by the urge to bang your head, yes? To self harm?"
Kreacher nodded, giving a slight shudder. "It is not a want, but Kreacher is unable to stop. It is as if he is made to do so from something very deep on the inside of himself." He frowned. "Unless he is upset with himself for not carrying out an order as he feels he should have, then it can feel more like his own wish to punish himself, but he is not certain how truly accurate this is," the elf admitted.
"It is a strange thing indeed, and a thing of all elves it seems," Regulus said and Kreacher nodded.
"Do you think it has any magical ties in common with the Imperius curse," Regulus wondered.
Kreacher shrugged. "Kreacher does not know. Kreacher has never experienced the Imperius curse for himself so he cannot know for sure."
"We may have to experiment with it," Regulus said. "Do I have your permission to cast it on you to see if you can tell a difference between it and the general elf compulsion?"
"Of course," Kreacher agreed readily, eyes trusting as they met Regulus's.
Regulus had yet to acquire a wand, having little need for one these days. He would attempt to cast the Imperius curse without one, and if it failed, there was no harm done. Without a wand, the Ministry's attention wouldn't be drawn to the curse being cast either. That was good, because attention from the bloody Ministry was the last thing they needed. Regulus searched his mind for something harmless he could order Kreacher to do that would still be involved enough to give the elf the full experience of the curse. If the command was too simple it wouldn't last long enough to allow Kreacher the opportunity to fully study its effects.
Leaning toward Kreacher he gestured at him with his left hand, using the motion he would if casting with a wand. "Go down stairs and make Mortis a very small cup of tea. Make sure there is cream and honey in it and call him to drink it. Wait with the tea cup until Mortis drinks it all, then return to me."
Kreacher nodded and turned to go. Regulus waited for him to return, sitting pensively on the edge of the bed. In five minutes, Kreacher was back.
"What was it like," Regulus asked, leaning forward eagerly. "Did it feel different?"
Kreacher nodded. "Yes, somewhat. With this Imperius curse, Kreacher's mind was nearly blank, only allowed to focus on the task at hand. He had little resources for anything else, even his own private thoughts. With the family bond, Kreacher feels he has more of his own thoughts in general, without his entire awareness being given over to the command." The elf hesitated, thinking. Regulus waited patiently. "Also the pull of the family bond feels as though it comes from somewhere deeper inside of Kreacher while the Imperius curse somehow feels more on the surface...or more shallow even if it is very strong. Kreacher may not be explaining it properly," the elf concluded, expression suddenly frustrated.
"No I think you are," Regulus assured. "I understand you very well. I may not know what to make of it yet, but I do understand." He sighed. "It was an interesting experiment and now we're back to the drawing board as it were," he concluded with a sigh. "It's almost like some sort of magical alchemy, perhaps even with several spells combined, but which spells?"
Kreacher nodded, sharing Regulus's frustration. Indeed a point of magical curiosity that the two of them could not figure out together was a rare and frustrating thing. "Perhaps we can broach the subject with Wolfgang or Albus or even Grindelwald when there is time, to see if anyone else has suggestions on the origin of the link between elves and their families."
Kreacher nodded. "Kreacher agrees," he said, though his doubtful expression made it plain that he wasn't confident that they would discover much.