Chapter 68: A Family Reunion
Regulus wanted to celebrate the long, LONG awaited victory over the Dark Lord, but sunrise was coming soon, so that would have to wait. "I still can't believe it's really over to be honest," he told Kreacher quietly as they stood together inside the bedroom they shared at Doge's. Kreacher had just apparated them in from Adler's, where they'd left Severus and Mag to return to their slumber, or celebration, or whatever they chose to do with their morning. "I expected to feel more, but I think I'm still...just taking it all in," he admitted and Kreacher nodded slowly.
"Kreacher understands." The elf smiled tiredly. "He also relates. There is time, though. Time to become accustomed to Voldemort at last and truly being dead..." Kreacher paused, tilting his head to the side, and giving a worried frown. "Master Regulus does believe he is truly dead this time, does he not?"
Regulus nodded. "The prophecy seemed to dictate so, thank all the gods." He started slightly when a tapping came at the door. "Yes," he called.
"And Mr. Doge insisted that you would not be inconsiderate enough not to stop in and tell us what happened! We sat up all night in the library awaiting your return," Dora snapped peevishly.
"We are sorry," Regulus hastily apologized as he quickly opened the door. "It was just a lot...so much happening and now that it's finally over...somehow we forgot."
"That's no excuse," Doge teased from where he stood at Dora's shoulder. He gave a wink before clapping both Regulus and Kreacher on the back. "I'm so proud of both of you for helping to take him down, especially after all he has already done to you. Thank you for helping to protect the world from that mad man. He is truly dead then?"
"We had to because of all he's done," Regulus said, wondering idly even as he spoke, if the haze of depression that permeated his very being at the thought of the bad old days would ever fade with time now that the monster named Voldemort was well and truly dead.
"He is truly dead," Kreacher added with a satisfied nod. "Master Regulus believes it is for good this time."
"Well now I can sleep easy," Dora said dryly. "I'm just glad you made it back before sun-up...which should be in about three minutes. It would have been quite the tragedy if you got yourself incinerated by its rays if you were still out there fighting when it rose," she told Regulus with a frown.
"I would've just left with Kreacher before that happened, Dora. I do pay bloody attention to things like that," Regulus said, returning his beloved maker's dry tone.
"Would you like to have a celebratory breakfast with me before we turn in as well, Kreacher," Doge asked.
Kreacher hesitated, then shook his head. "Kreacher thanks Elphias Doge, but he believes he shall remain with Master Regulus."
Regulus frowned. "Rubbish. You have exerted yourself extensively and you need food to keep up your strength. Go. eat and I shall see you in the evening. Come and sleep with me after you eat if you wish to." Kreacher nodded, eyes adoringly on Regulus as the vampire spoke. Regulus returned the look of adoration before bending to give the elf a very nonplatonic good night kiss, uncaring that Dora and Doge were present. Dora knew and if Albus had not told Doge, the old man was no fool and had to have guessed by now. Voldemort was dead and that needed to count for something. He'd already cost them enough including Regulus's proper place in wizarding society so there had to be some benefit. Not having to hide their love for one another was something they'd bloody earned. Kreacher clung to Regulus for a moment before gently pushing him away.
"Kreacher will join Master Regulus soon. Go now before the sun rises." Regulus nodded and hurried back into their bedroom, noting that Dora was already gone. He hurriedly settled himself into his coffin and closed the lid with a hasty bang. He could feel his limbs already growing heavy, an indication that the sun was in the process of rising. When next Regulus was aware, he felt the warmth of Kreacher snuggled in at his side. The elf's arm was flung across Regulus's middle and he was breathing slowly and deeply as he slept. For a time, Regulus just lay watching him sleep and listening to the even flow of his breathing. The elf somehow looked tired even when in repose. Regulus hoped that now Voldemort was dead it would be easier for their worries and concerns to fade. They still had many things to sort out including reclaiming #12 Grimmauld Place. Regulus was not sure if he should publicly return to society, or how best to handle anything around his return. He planned to brainstorm with Kreacher and perhaps even to ask advice of Albus Dumbledore before making any decisions. Today, though, he very much wanted to catch up with the Lestranges. He was eager to reconnect with his family and to share news as it were. He owed them an explanation about...everything and he very much wanted to hear how things had gone for them after their escape from Azkaban. For the moment, though, he was perfectly content to simply lie with Kreacher in the dim evening and listen to the elf breathing in his sleep. Nearly an hour later, Kreacher shifted and slowly came awake. "Good evening, Dear One," Regulus said, gently running a forefinger over the soft skin of Kreacher's cheek.
"Mmmm," Kreacher responded, turning his head to kiss Regulus's finger tips. Neither spoke for some time after that, completely giving way to their passion, simply reveling in one another's touch and the pleasure both gained from doing so. When they rose, Regulus asked Kreacher to write Kereston to see if they could speak with her. They still needed to find out where the Lestranges were staying. Kreacher asked Kereston to meet them at Black Brew, a coffee shop in Knockturn Alley and the blonde agreed readily. They stopped off in downtown London for Regulus to find a Muggle to drink for dinner which didn't take long. The man he chose beat every woman he dated and Regulus richly enjoyed ridding the world of his presence. When they walked into Black Brew, Kereston was already seated at a corner table with a cup of coffee. "I wanted to buy you a cup," Regulus said and Kereston shrugged.
"Oh it's alright. I'm drinking cherry vanilla. You should try it, Kreacher. It's divine!" The elf brightened.
"That sounds interesting."
Regulus nodded. It did indeed sound interesting. This particular shop had not existed in his time...a consideration that made him feel older than it perhaps should. "Go ahead and sit down with Kereston, and I will buy you your cherry vanilla coffee," he told Kreacher with a fond smile. Kreacher nodded and Regulus moved up to the counter, giving the young witch with ethereal purple curls a smile as he placed his order.
"Would you like a pastry to go with that," the witch asked, gesturing to the glass case that rested on the far right end of the counter.
Regulus dropped his gaze to take in the assortment. "Two of the Frightful Fudge cakes, please. They look delicious." The cakes were piled with fudge frosting in the shape of hex marks and thick cream oozed temptingly from the center of each.
She smiled. "Oh they truly are! Rather addictive too."
"And one of those lemon tarts," Regulus decided. Mortis was eying it, and the bird needed to eat too. Regulus only hoped he would end up liking lemon. When Regulus returned to the table with the cup of coffee and two plates of cake floating along ahead of him, Kereston and Kreacher were leaning across the table toward one another in quiet conversation. "I thought you two may enjoy a bit of cake," he said. "I realize dessert for dinner isn't the healthiest choice, Kreacher, but we could consider this a bit of a celebration."
Kreacher grinned and nodded, reaching eagerly for his cake and cup of coffee.
"Thank you," Kereston said, giving Regulus a bright smile as she took the other plate of cake. "That was very kind of you. I still can't believe he's dead. I know I'll start screaming with glee and losing my mind at any time as soon as it sinks in! Right now I'm just relieved."
"We share that sentiment," Regulus said, exchanging a brief glance with Kreacher. "And literally it was the least I could do, considering. We still owe you a great deal," Regulus insisted to Kereston's thanks for the cake. As he spoke, he placed Mortis's tart on the table beside Kreacher and the phoenix fluttered down from his shoulder to the table. He tore at once into the tart. Apparently he liked lemon just fine.
Kereston shrugged, waving the words away. "It was no trouble at all, and things seem to have gone smoothly, so no worries."
"Kreacher was just telling Kereston that we would like to learn where our family is staying now," the elf said carefully as Regulus took the seat beside him at the table. "She can get us the address of the man we spoke to about...relocating them."
Kereston nodded. "Yes. My parents work the front desks at Auror Headquarters. As soon as we've had our coffee I'll pop back home and ask them for the information and bring it back here to you if you like."
"Thank you so much," Regulus said gratefully and Kereston smiled.
"It's fine, really. Just you know...be careful when approaching him."
Regulus nodded. "Of course. We've gone through enough that careful is our middle name."
Kreacher grinned, nodding. "Yes, we share the same middle name now."
"Indeed," Regulus agreed, grinning back.
"Would you like to hang with Millicent and I this Saturday," Kereston asked Kreacher. "We can celebrate."
Kreacher smiled warmly, nodding. "Kreacher would very much like that." When Kereston and Kreacher had finished their coffee and cake, Kereston excused herself, promising to return soon.
"How was the coffee," Regulus asked.
"Kreacher found it to be very nice, actually," Kreacher said, not bothering to hide his surprise over that. The elf was very particular about anything he ate or drank, believing in most cases that he could do better. He'd even hated Regulus eating the cooking of other elves at Hogwarts. Though all the other students seemed to find the school's food exceptional, Regulus had preferred Kreacher's cooking.
"The cake was even passable," the elf said with a grin. For Kreacher, passable was nearly a compliment! "Today, Kreacher is happy not to have to cook."
"Good," Regulus said. After that, the two sat quietly waiting for Kereston to return. Regulus glanced idly around the shop noting that the place was only a third full. Many wizards and witches sat alone with a cup of coffee and a book while some sat together playing chess. Soon Kereston was back with an address written on a scrap of parchment which she presented to Regulus. He and Kreacher stood, thanking her again as they readied themselves to go and discover where the Lestranges were now. It only took them a few minutes to apparate to the home of the head Auror and question him about the current location of the Lestranges. Regulus was surprised to find himself feeling anxious at the last minute, hoping nothing had gone amiss once the three were in custody. Prepared to vamp any elf who opened the door into not remembering their faces, Regulus was pleased when the man himself answered instead. Regulus held his gaze, first commanding him to never remember seeing or speaking to them. He then asked where the Lestranges were and was shocked when the man replied simply, "With Corvus Lestrange for now." That was Rodolphus and Rabastan's father. Regulus hadn't expected the Ministry to allow the Lestranges to return to their families, but it was so obvious that no one would expect it. "Very well. Thank you," he said, then felt rather silly for thanking the man when he would never remember the conversation. Taking Kreacher's hand he apparated them directly to Corvus's. Of course he remembered well where the Lestrange manor was located, having visited often as a child as well as a teenager with his parents. A small stately elf dressed in a long black tunic opened the door to Regulus's knock on the raven shaped door knocker. Regulus struggled to recall the elf's name, but Kreacher stepped forward, speaking.
"Jackdaw. Good evening. Please tell the Lestranges that Kreacher and Master Regulus have come to see them!"
The elf blinked, clearly shocked at how young Regulus appeared. Nodding he backed into the manor, gesturing for them to follow. Regulus supposed the shock on the elf's face was something he'd have to get used to as more people discovered his...situation. He quietly closed the heavy front door before following the elf down a long hall with Kreacher at his side."Regi!" The cry came from Bellatrix, who hurled herself up the hallway toward them and into Regulus's glad embrace. Rodolphus and Rabastan along with their father Corvus trailed more sedately in Bella's wake. Rather than attempting to embrace Regulus as well, they merely stood back and looked on.