Chapter 56: Nosferatu
In the next several weeks, Grindelwald had removed most of the Death Eater's memories that made him who he was. All thoughts, opinions and memories of his life that gave him his identity were stripped, only leaving him with basic knowledge such as how to write or apparate. Well not just how to write and apparate, but the understanding of magic, a Hogwarts education, an understanding of geography...What made a person an educated human was left, what made this particular human Boris Bane was erased. By the time that was finished, Wolfgang, Gellert, Regulus and Albus had all studied the book Mag had supplied so they were all familiar with the concepts of emotional empathy via thought sharing as well as how to apply it to their Death Eater via Severus's real and fake memories. When Albus implanted the memories Severus had put into the pensieve in the Death Eater's mind, the man was able to feel what Severus felt when experiencing the memories. When Albus implanted the memories he'd faked concerning Harry Potter's mother, he simply added the feelings he thought were suitable using the method of emotional transference described in the book, Empathic Experience. Watching Dumbledore at work was fascinating. The older man handled the situation with a focused detachment that did much to remove his lighthearted demeanor, leaving him almost grim and highly concentrated for the most part. Regulus clearly recognized this state as the defense mechanism it was. Albus liked to believe that most people were redeemable, and he was, to save Severus's life, taking Bane's opportunity for redemption away forever. Of course Regulus did not believe the man would be redeeming himself or that he deserved the opportunity. Before Bane's memories were wiped, Regulus had clearly seen in the man's head that he'd done enough harm to deserve exactly what he was getting and more. When it came to Regulus himself, Wolfgang, Gellert and Kreacher, none of them had a single qualm. Bane's demise would not cost them a single second of sleep or a twinge of guilt. There were enough things to lose sleep over and feel guilty about that were actually true, after all. What they'd done over the past few weeks, was all to save Severus's life. Bane was, in essence, now ready to take Snape's place at a moment's notice.
"It's nearly disconcerting to see him," Regulus marveled as he stood with the others before their finished product. At present, Kreacher had Bane resting under a sleep spell. He lay peacefully on the bed in the guest room Wolfgang had chosen for him. "He looks like Severus, his mind feels like...a rather relaxed and out of it Severus but still Severus for all that. I truly think it's believable! We did it!" Granted if Regulus dug long enough, he'd see that there weren't enough memories to be Severus, but there wouldn't be time or cause for anyone to dig so deeply when Bane was at last put into play.
"We done good," Grindelwald quipped with a roguish grin that made Regulus smile back. "I must admit the process of combining the various forms of magic it took to accomplish the feat was quite a fascinating exploration." Regulus caught the fleeting frown on Dumbledore's face at Gellert's words. It was obvious that the former headmaster disapproved of Grindelwald's open fascination with how they'd basically implanted a, at least on the surface, personality over who another human was.
"I'm so tired," Albus murmured. "So ready for all of this to be over."
"Welcome to the club," Regulus said, flashing the old headmaster a sincere smile as Kreacher and Wolfgang nodded in agreement.
Grindelwald was the only one to remain impassive, seeming unburdened for the most part, but he was the one literally most unaffected by Voldemort. He'd been cooling his heals in Nurmengard during Voldemort's entire reign of terror...both of them, so the weight of the Dark Lord's shadow had never made its impression on him. Just as he was unmoved by mention of Voldemort, he was unmoved by Albus's disapproval, if he'd even noticed it at all. Regulus opened his mouth to say he and Kreacher should be getting back to Doge's when the sound of Adler's door chime rang through the manor.
"Well I can't imagine who that could be," Wolfgang said, glancing around the guest room as though he expected the new guest to suddenly appear, making themselves known. "Anyone I was expecting is already here." Regulus hoped it wasn't Severus with dire news. From the tightening of Albus's expression, the former headmaster had similar concerns. The little group left Bane sleeping and trooped downstairs to see who had come calling. When they'd gotten half way down, the sound of female voices could be heard, at least by Regulus's vampiric ears.
"Millicent," Wolfgang called questioningly when they reached the front hall.
"It's Kereston! We're in the library," Millicent called back. At that, Gellert's face broke into a happy grin, blue eyes dancing eagerly.
"It isn't like her to call so late," Wolfgang murmured. Well, Regulus thought. With a late night visit, the news could still be dire even if Severus wasn't stuck bringing it. When they entered the library, Millicent was seated across from a small girl with long blonde ringlets wearing Ministry robes. At sight of her, Gellert's pleased grin returned.
"Porky Mouth," he crowed happily. "It's been too long!"
The blonde frowned, presumably at being called...Porky Mouth but then gave Gellert a small smile anyway. "It's been less than two weeks, Gellert," she said dryly.
Gellert nodded sagely. "Yes. Exactly." He somehow managed to load the two words with playful accusation.
"Is all well," Wolfgang asked Kereston, a look of mild concern on his face.
"I guess," she said with a sigh and slight shake of her head. "I don't know...It's just really dreadful at the Ministry right now with *HIM* in charge. It's creepy too," she complained with a slight widening of her eyes. "It's like we all know he's in charge but he still leaves the Minister in place...I don't know, pretending that he isn't truly in charge or something? Not being directly open until he kills Potter."
"He isn't going to kill Potter, Remember," Millicent said firmly, a slight note of panic in her voice. "Somehow, mediocre Potter will still manage to pull a Voldemort murder out of his broom riding snitch chasing ass and save us all, Remember?" At that Kreacher made a choking sound that Regulus knew very well for restrained laughter.
"I know, but he thinks he is and I was speaking from what I assume is his perspective," Kereston said with a slight shudder.
"So there is no specific new news," Gellert asked, walking over to sit on the sofa beside Kereston. Regulus had only seen Grindelwald's guard down as low as it was at present with Blaise. It was interesting, he had to admit. Though Grindelwald had no romantic interest in Kereston, he obviously had some sort of strong affection for the little blonde, thus the open familiarity and very odd pet name of Porky mouth.
"Not really," Kereston admitted. "I suppose I just wanted to vent to someone about the general weird haze that seems to hang over the bloody Ministry of late, and bringing it up to my parents will only make them worry. I know Millicent is always awake late into the night, so..." She shrugged. "I didn't know the rest of you would be here." She smiled at Albus. "It's nice to see you again, Headmaster. I'm glad I graduated just in time to miss you not being at Hogwarts anymore. I know professor Snape must hate having your job! He already hated teaching, much less having even more responsibility."
Albus nodded, giving a slight frown of agreement. "Indeed he is rather displeased with the necessity of the entire situation. It is good to see you again, Miss Boxwood."
When Kereston's blue-gray eyes at last lit on Regulus and Kreacher, she wore an expression of open curiosity. "Kereston, this is Regulus Black and Kreacher," Millicent said. Before Kereston could speak, Millicent hastily turned to Regulus. "Kereston Boxwood is in our group, and though she talks more than anyone I've ever met, she can keep a secret. She wouldn't tell anyone that you're alive," she assured. Kereston shot Millicent a frown at the comment on how much she talked, then returned an interested gaze to Regulus and Kreacher.
"It's wonderful to meet both of you. Regulus, congratulations on surviving Voldemort!"
"Kereston graduated Hogwarts last year and now works at the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes," Millicent explained.
"It is grand to make your acquaintance, Miss Boxwood," Regulus said, giving the little blonde a polite smile.
Kreacher nodded. "Yes, it is nice to meet Miss Kereston," he murmured.
"Mag has spoken highly of both of you," Kereston said. "She said that it was Voldemort's treatment of Kreacher that opened your eyes to who he truly was, Regulus. I am sorry that had to happen."
Kreacher lifted his gaze shyly and smiled. "Kreacher is as well, but he thanks Miss Kereston for her thoughtful words. As long as Kreacher has Master Regulus back, no past hurts matter."
Regulus gave a faint smile, wishing he could put past hurts aside as Kreacher seemed to do.
"Are you both vampires then," Kereston asked in open curiosity. To her credit, she did not seem in the least concerned if they were, Regulus thought.
"Not yet," he said. "I wanted Kreacher to enjoy mortality a bit longer before he can no longer eat or enjoy the sunlight."
Kereston nodded. "Ah. I understand." She grinned suddenly at Kreacher as her gray-blue eyes lit with delight. "When you do become a vampire, though, you shall be delightfully frightening! You shall look exactly like the Nosferatu from that old silent film from...what was it, nineteen twenty or something? That vampire terrified everyone!" When Regulus and Kreacher both gave her blank looks, she elaborated. "It was around the time the concept of moving pictures was first invented for wizards and Muggles alike, and it was the scariest vampire ever!"
"Miss Kereston was alive then," Kreacher asked, voice and expression openly incredulous.
Laughing, Kereston shook her head of blonde ringlets. "Of course not! I just saw pictures of Nosferatu on Halloween some time ago and he impressed me as the most frightful depiction of a vampire. Nosferatu has no hair, a long hooked nose, and pointed ears...He literally could've been you as a taller version of yourself, Kreacher! It is quite a brilliant coincidence!"
The elf's eyes narrowed in interest. "Kreacher would like to see this Nosferatu that looks like Kreacher."
"I'll show you, then," Kereston said with a smile. "Perhaps Millicent can help. Millicent, do you think the silent films are online?"
Millicent shrugged. "We can certainly look."
"Why don't we do it over the weekend," Kereston said enthusiastically.
"Kreacher, can you come over during the day while Regulus sleeps?" "We could do it Saturday," Millicent offered. "We'll have popcorn and make it a proper movie day. Unless you'd like us to wait and have it Saturday night, Regulus," she offered hastily.
Regulus shook his head. "No. Go ahead and enjoy your movie day. I know Kreacher grows bored when I sleep, and having a day of activity will do him good." The elf hesitated and Regulus shook his head firmly. "No, Kreacher. I insist. You have the right to go out and have fun when the opportunity presents itself. Doge will be home, Mortis will guard me, and I shall be perfectly safe for the few hours you are away." The fact these girls were reaching out to Kreacher as a friend...and an equal meant a lot to Regulus. Whenever he and Kreacher got around to making their relationship public, the more friends the elf had to support him in the face of disapproving wizarding society the better.