Chapter 77: Home Is Where The Heart Is

When Doge opened the door, Kreacher presented him with the silver wrapped plate of cookies at once. "For Elphias Doge," he said gravely. "Kreacher has made cookies."

"Well, they smell delightful," Doge observed. "Thank you, Kreacher! But what's the occasion," he asked, his kindly face wearing an expression both surprised and perplexed as he stepped back so Regulus and Kreacher could enter.

"We have just gotten our home back," Regulus explained with a glad smile. "We are celebrating as well as thanking you once again for your more than kind hospitality. Many would not allow two vampires into their home yet you did so and with an open heart. We felt entirely at home while staying here, and you have gone far out of your way to ensure that this is so. Our gratitude to you is vast, and though we can't say thank you enough, we can at least give it our best try. Kreacher made his delicious cookies and we also would like to give you this...It looks odd, but it's rather ancient and we hoped you may enjoy it." As he spoke, he presented the mirror, hoping Doge wouldn't find it's oddly twisted iron frame to be displeasing. Regulus hoped the antique factor would make it more tantalizing.

Elphias's eyes narrowed in interest as he took the heavy mirror into his hands. "Well look at it, won't you! I have never seen anything of the like." He turned the thing around and around in his hands before freezing in place, eyes focused on the glass of the mirror rather than the frame. "Do you know what this does," he asked, tone suddenly filled with awe. Kreacher and Regulus both shook their heads. "If I am correct, and I've only seen a similar spell once long ago in a Defense Against The Dark Arts class during my own Hogwarts days, this mirror prevents magic from being cast in its vicinity. Moreover the way in which it does so is fascinating! It uses the cold iron frame to hold the spell and directs said spell at the glass of the mirror. The mirror glass absorbs the magic into it when any spell is cast." His gaze on the frame was reverent. "Are you quite sure the two of you want to give this up? Because if you've changed your mind, I will not hold it against you in the least. You had no idea what you were parting with, after all."

Though the mirror did seem more interesting now, Regulus exchanged a glance with Kreacher and both shook their heads. They'd already made it a gift and it would not be right to take it back. "No. We wish for you to have it. That's probably why my Mum stuck it into the attic in the first place. It was probably too disruptive, absorbing whatever magic we were casting when it was around, and not allowing it to work."

Doge nodded, chuckling. "I definitely understand its intrigue for defensive purposes but indeed having it about in daily life could become taxing when magic isn't allowed to work properly."

Regulus nodded. "Just so." He watched, pleased, as Doge continued to turn the heavy thing around and around, regarding it from all angles. "Do you think you could repeat the spells that were used on it," Regulus asked curiously. "That is, did you learn that in defense class?"

Doge shook his head. "We learned how they work, not how to make such items. I believe it is goblin crafted."

"Interesting," Regulus nodded. "That makes sense." Goblins had made the sword of Gryffindor after all. Or at least one of them."

"This is a true treasure. Regulus and Kreacher, thank you very much," Doge said gravely. "You truly had to give me nothing. It has been more than a pleasure to have all of you staying here. An old man gets lonely, even an at times antisocial one like myself, and you have all given me a great deal of happiness."

"We don't intend to forget you now that we're moving back home," Regulus promised. "You must visit often."

Doge nodded. "Of course! And you must return to visit here as well. None of you are allowed to become strangers."

"What's happening," Dora quipped as she came into the room. "I hope noone is dying...because there is a fix for that," she said, flashing fangs in an overly wide smile that made Doge chuckle.

"No, my Dear, nothing like that. It is just that Regulus and Kreacher have their home back now and are free to return to it."

Dora turned to Regulus. "Oh? When did this happen?"

"Just today, actually."

"Well good then. It's been lovely here, but I am pleased that I can at last return to my own home. Of course all of you may visit at any time."

Regulus suddenly realized that he felt oddly unsettled at the thought of being separated from Dora. He hadn't separated from her since becoming a vampire, and without even fully thinking it out, his mouth was already opening in protest. "No. I don't want you to do that just yet. Let us make sure everything is settled first."

Dora gave a perplexed frown. "Settled how? He's dead."

"Yes but... can't you just stay a bit longer in case? Besides... You haven't seen my old family home yet," Regulus coaxed, hoping he didn't sound desperate.

Kreacher nodded enthusiastically as he chimed in. "Kreacher thinks Miss Dora will like it. She is interested in magic, after all, and there are so many fascinating magical things she has yet to see. Why she hasn't even met Kreacher's boggarts yet. They are ever such charming pets."

Dora took the bait, gaze lighting with interest. "What are boggarts?"

Kreacher grinned in triumph. "Miss Dora shall have to come home with Master Regulus and Kreacher to see for herself. And perhaps if she would fancy meeting goblins, she can come along to the bank with us when we have our meeting there."

"Goblins? What are those? I mean they obviously aren't like those in Lord Of The Rings, or you'd have said, Regulus."

Regulus nodded in agreement. "Yes if they were like those, I would have said, and they aren't at all. They run Gringott's bank, and you can come along and see when Kreacher and I go to have the paperwork corrected that shall place the family home back in our names."

"Alright. I shall stay a little while longer," Dora acquiesced.

"You did get a letter, if you're expecting mail from the bank, but there was no official seal," Doge told Regulus. "Just a moment and I'll get it."

"Thank you," Regulus said, thinking once again how kind the old man was. He returned with the letter quickly and Regulus wasted no time in opening it. Though it was from Griphook, it was a personal letter so unofficial. It simply stated that they had an appointment at Gringotts in two days at nine in the evening. Regulus smiled, feeling a rush of excitement at the prospect of at last having everything wrapped up with getting his home back. "It seems our appointment to finalize everything is in two days," he said, folding the letter and pocketing it in his robe. "I should go and write Mr. Potter about that directly so that he will have as much notice as possible."

"So do we wait here for two days," Dora asked, slightly confused.

Regulus smiled and shook his head. "No. That isn't necessary because Mr. Potter has agreed to return my home and he wasn't living in it anyway. We're free to return today if you are ready."

Dora shrugged. "I can be." While Dora got packed, Kreacher packed up his and Regulus's things and Regulus wrote a quick note to Harry. He used Doge's owl to send it off while Kreacher apparated their and Dora's things to 12 Grimmauld. Now there was only to bid a farewell to Doge. There were hugs all around and it was sad. Regulus found it odd to discover he could feel sentimental but at least Kreacher and Dora did as well. Kreacher invited Doge to dinner in three days time to celebrate the paper work being finalized and he gladly accepted. Somehow knowing they would see the old man again in three days made leaving far easier. Once at Grimmauld, Kreacher gave Dora the tour while Regulus followed along behind. "It's such a beautiful and spooky house," Dora gushed admiringly, face full of open sincerity.

"Thank you," Regulus said. "My mum would be pleased to hear it. It has belonged to our ancestors for generations. And that reminds me. We should show you her portrait so that you know where it is as we try not to disturb it."

Dora looked confused. "Um...How does one disturb a portrait? I mean it's just a portrait. Unless...it's magical somehow! That's it, isn't it?"

Regulus and Kreacher exchanged a look and Kreacher nodded. "Perhaps you can meet the Mistress, and then you will understand," he said.

They presented Dora to Walburga after Kreacher lifted the sleep charm on her curtains, and she was very pleased at how awe struck Dora was over the fact that she could move and talk. She even straightened her hair and dress, visibly preening under Dora's attentions. "We haven't had a vampire in this house for centuries if my great grandfather is to be believed when he is in his cups," Walburga said. "His portrait is the third frame down the hall there if you wish to ask him. The house of Black is proud to host you, Ancient One."

Dora flushed and gave a slight graceful bow. "Thank you, Ma'am."

Of course they didn't explain that now Regulus was a vampire as well. While it would be brilliant if Walburga felt he honored the house of Black with a new level of dark, Regulus wasn't counting on it. His choices were his choices and he felt he'd done the best with what options he'd had at the time, at least in the decision to become a vampire to survive the Dark Lord as well as his lake. After chatting for a few minutes, they bid Walburga a good evening and closed her curtains. Kreacher replaced the sleep charm and they quietly turned away.

"Portraits only have a fragment of what the living person was, so they don't process as well," Regulus told Dora. "I haven't told her anything about...anything, and she hasn't asked, which I take as an indication of her limitations, chosen or otherwise. If she asks, we'll go from there I suppose, but until then I see no reason to risk upsetting her when she isn't truly Mum."

"Still that's all so fascinating," Dora said, eyes round with awe. "I wish I had portraits of my ancestors that could still talk to me! And it was so nice to meet your mother, Regulus, even in a limited form."

Regulus smiled, nodding. "I am pleased you got to meet her as well. I know were she still alive, she would want to thank you for all you have done."