Chapter 59: A Good Day

When Regulus woke Saturday evening, it was to see a flushed Kreacher bending over the coffin and peeking in under a slightly opened lid. "Kreacher has watched. The sun is gone," the elf murmured half to himself.

"I am awake," Regulus said with a chuckle as he pushed the lid back the rest of the way and sat up. Kreacher seemed wired or excited or both. The elf paced about in a tight line along side the coffin and back again, eyes bright as they rested unwaveringly on Regulus. For his part, Mortis sat calmly on the bed preening his glossy black feathers. "Whatever is it, Kreacher," Regulus asked, then recalled Kreacher's movie outing with Kereston and Millicent. "Did you like the movie?"

"Kreacher did, but we can speak of that later," he said. "There are so many other things Kreacher wishes to speak of now. First, Kreacher had an idea...He had it as soon as he returned home from Adler Manor. Kereston works at the Ministry as Master Regulus is aware. So it occurred to Kreacher that perhaps she can get us in to speak to the Aurors so that Master Regulus may make them help the Lestranges."

Regulus nodded thoughtfully. "Good idea, as always," he said, giving Kreacher a smile of fond approval. "How much can we safely tell her, do you think?"

Kreacher frowned, one finger coming to rest on his bottom lip as he thought. He stopped his pacing to lean against the end of the bed. Regulus waited, allowing the silence to stretch out for several seconds, giving the elf time. It had always been thusly between them and some things he knew never would change. They gave one another space and time to sort their thoughts, and through that patience, the best thoughts always came. "Kreacher trusts Kereston, so were it solely a matter of trust, we could tell her anything at any time, Kreacher believes. She may have reservations, but she listens well and she would consider our explanations. Kreacher believes she shall be willing to help us in our endeavor. He merely fears, with the Ministry so much under the Dark Lord's control, that if Kereston knows too much too soon, she could be in danger. Kreacher would not at all like for anything to happen to her."

Regulus nodded quickly. "Of course not."

"So perhaps we should tell her as little as possible while explaining that we need access to the Aurors for a very good cause," Kreacher continued. "Kreacher thinks that honesty is best with her, so we can tell her that we fear for her safety if she knows too much at present. We can promise to tell her as soon as we are able, and of course we shall."

Regulus smiled. "Brilliant as always, Kreacher."

Kreacher beamed, obviously basking in Regulus's approval. This may have made Regulus feel awkward, had he not always valued the elf's own approval equally as highly. "Kreacher will speak to Kereston about it next Saturday unless Master Regulus wishes to be there as well."

"Next Saturday," Regulus asked, aware that he was obviously missing something.

"Oh yes," Kreacher said, glancing away almost shyly. "Kereston requires Kreacher's company to take her mind off the stress of work at the Ministry. Kreacher and Millicent have agreed to spend next Saturday with her as well, though Kreacher does not yet know what we plan to spend it doing as of yet."

"Well that's lovely," Regulus said warmly, meaning it. "I'm thrilled that you're making friends, Kreacher. If you'd only had friends back when...when everything happened, you would not have been alone with it all." Regulus felt the old familiar ache rising up in his chest. The one that sprang to miserable life any time he thought of the past and all the damage it had done.

"No amount of friends would have served to return Master Regulus to Kreacher," the elf grumbled. "Kreacher wishes Master Regulus would stop speaking of such sad times."

Regulus forced a smile. "I will try," he promised.

"Kreacher hopes so," the elf said a bit sullenly. "Now for the rest of his news." As Kreacher spoke, the unhappy expression faded from his face and the excitement that Regulus had noticed upon waking returned to his intelligent blue eyes. "Kereston was speaking of the people she knew who are in serious relationships and...well...Kreacher ended up sharing that he is in a relationship with Master Regulus and has been for quite some time. He explained that Master Regulus wished to free Kreacher from the start, so they do not think ill of him." Regulus took a moment to take it all in, but made an effort to speak quickly enough so that Kreacher did not mistake his silence for any sort of dismay that he'd told anyone, because of course it was not. "Well, I am glad that you felt you could speak of it to someone," he said honestly. "How did they take it?" He grinned in spite of himself, recalling how terrified Kreacher once was that he could lose his life over their love. "I see you still have your head," he pointed out.

"Master Regulus!" In spite of himself, Kreacher smiled a little as well, though. "They were kind to Kreacher. They did not seem to mind. They did not seem to believe that anyone would kill Kreacher over it either," he admitted almost reluctantly which caused Regulus to smile again. "Kreacher asked them not to speak of it to anyone else, and they agreed. He wished for Master Regulus to be able to tell his friends himself when he is ready."

"I am always ready," Regulus said, and reached for Kreacher. The two spent a pleasant hour in one another's arms before they went out so that Regulus could hunt down his evening meal.

"You choose your friends well," he complimented as he and Kreacher walked together in Knockturn Alley under the cloak of invisibility. The night was chill, but it was the wet chill of spring rather than the bone chilling unforgivable cold of winter. As a vampire, Regulus was not particularly affected by the cold, but he still appreciated more pleasant weather.

"Kreacher wasn't looking for friends, but he likes Kereston and Millicent very much," the elf replied. "He is glad that Master Regulus is pleased."

Regulus dropped a hand fondly on the elf's shoulder as they walked. His mind was open and scanning the other minds in the alley. If luck smiled on him this night, he'd take down another of Voldemort's followers. The mind of a Death Eater wasn't the first interesting one he found, though. Biting back a surprised laugh, he bent to whisper into Kreacher's ear. "Someone's got a drugged troll! I wonder what they're doing with it. The thing is rather sedated and in good enough spirits."

"Where," Kreacher asked, peering about.

"A street or two over...You can't see it. I felt its mind," Regulus explained, still whispering. "Rodolphus used to say anything and everything went on in this alley. I just wonder what they're going to use it for."

"Does Master Regulus care," Kreacher asked.

"I don't know," Regulus replied honestly.

"Would Master Regulus drink troll blood, Kreacher wonders?"

" The elf's voice was curious.

No. I think not. It doesn't sound particularly appetizing for some reason." The elf chuckled and Regulus reached for the mind of whoever had the drugged troll, knowing he'd rest easier when he knew what it was doing. "Oh. They're using it to move some sort of heavy equipment that is warded against magic so levitation spells won't work," he said. "That's alright then. It isn't being made to help Voldemort. We can't have him getting any more bloody help." With that settled, they were able to proceed with Regulus's mind fully focused on dinner. It was indeed a good day, for he found himself a Death Eater. A Ministry worker who was thinking about how to magically track down Harry Potter. The man was just walking out of a rundown potions shop when Regulus spotted his thoughts. "Got one," he murmured to Kreacher in satisfaction.