Chapter 78: Home Sweet Spooky Home
Though Dora was able to interact with Walburga's portrait, she was quite unable to see Kreacher's Boggarts. She could sense their existence vaguely with her mind, but not enough to pick up any true impressions. "That's probably a good thing," Regulus said, hoping to ease her disappointment with blunt truth. "At least they can't terrorize you with your worst fears if you can't see them."
"Kreacher," Dora reprimanded sharply, turning an accusing look on the elf. "You acted like they were your pleasant little pets! You didn't say they'd terrorize me!"
Kreacher shook his head. "Kreacher would not have allowed them. He planned to make them show their true forms to Miss Dora. Besides, can she truly fear anything anyway? She is a strong and powerful immortal vampire." The elf's eyes were round with genuine confidence in Dora's lack of fear as he regarded her.
She gave a nervous laugh, slender hands wiping nonexistent dust from her skirt. "Everyone fears something," she said quietly. As she spoke, she averted her gaze, eyes dropping to the soft brown swayed of her skirt, that as far as Regulus could tell, still had no hint of dust on it. "Well whatever you fear, I won't allow it to even come close to you," Regulus promised and she smiled. "That's nice to know," she murmured. Regulus found himself studying her expression, unable to decide if he saw doubt there or simply quiet contemplation. After a moment her eyes brightened with interest again as she turned her attention back to Kreacher. "Is your library as large as Doge's?"
Kreacher smirked proudly. "A bit larger, and with far more dangerous books."
"Dangerous how," Dora asked.
"Only dangerous to those who are snooping, unwanted in the Black family library," Kreacher pronounced grimly. "The books will not harm Miss Dora, though. Kreacher will ensure it and she may read any and all books that she finds to be of interest."
"Why thank you, Good Sir," Dora said with a warm smile that made Kreacher blush. "Because were I to run afoul of a magic book, I can not drink it's blood or break its neck, so I would be rather at a loss." They spent the next hour and a half giving Dora the tour of 12 Grimmauld place from top to bottom. She was fascinated by everything and kept pausing to ask about the history of this tapestry or that portrait. She even found the troll leg umbrella stand to be amazing. "There are really trolls," she asked, poking a finger at the foot experimentally. "And someone just chopped this from one to make an umbrella stand?"
Regulus couldn't help letting out an amused laugh. "After it was dead, I assure you, and there are actually several breeds of trolls."
"Even cute little ones who live under bridges and terrorize cute little goats," Dora asked eagerly and Regulus nodded.
"Even those."
"Kreacher believes we have a book on trolls and their various habitats in the library," the elf said thoughtfully. "He can show Miss Dora if she would like."
"I would, very much," Dora said enthusiastically.
"Let's get Miss Dora's things settled in one of the guest bedchambers, then Kreacher will give her the tour of the library," the elf said. They showed Dora all the guest rooms, and she chose the Rose room, all in red that Regulus's mum had decorated herself before he was born. Each guest room had a theme or at least a specific color scheme. "When Miss Dora opens her bedroom door she should always be careful to grasp the top of the knob where the rose is. If she goes lower to the thorns, they will prick her," Kreacher warned gravely.
Dora's gaze dropped to the knob and widened slightly. "It is magic as well," she asked of the heavy red brass rose shaped doorknob.
"Of course," Kreacher said. "This is a powerful wizarding house, after all," he reminded with obvious pride. "The thorns set a protective ward on the room."
"Ah," Dora nodded appreciatively. "I understand. That's far better than just randomly hurting guests if they happen to grasp the wrong part.
"Some could find that amusing," Kreacher said slyly. "Especially for certain guests...Never Miss Dora, of course."
Dora's lips twitched in amusement. "That's good to know. Thank you."
Kreacher grinned as he apparated Dora's bags in with a gesture from where they'd been standing in the front hall. "Of course...Good Kreacher, Kind Kreacher, Kreacher is a good elf."
"Not to mention the best of friends," Regulus added, taking his hand and giving it a fond squeeze. "Shall we show Dora the library now, then?"
"Kreacher will do that while Master Regulus unpacks. Kreacher has already put our bags in Master Regulus's old room. Kreacher knows that Master Regulus wishes to share the room with Kreacher now that we are free to do so, but Kreacher does not know where all the new clothes that Master Regulus got him for Christmas should go. He does not wish to put them anywhere that could inconvenience Master Regulus, so he shall leave it to Master Regulus to sort." Regulus nodded and turned to go and do just that. As he walked away he heard Dora chuckling.
"Have you ever made him put anything away in his entire life?"
"There was no need," Kreacher said mildly as he led Dora away. Regulus frowned as he turned down the hallway where the family bedchambers were situated. He had repeatedly expressed his wish for Kreacher not to be a servant, yet if the elf didn't do everything, he grumbled about how it was done. If he didn't unpack a different way behind Regulus, it would be quite the shock indeed. Once inside of his old room, Regulus glanced around for a place to put Kreacher's clothes. He didn't see why he couldn't hang theirs up in the same wardrobe, so he pushed his over to the far right and made room for Kreacher's on the left. Then he got to work unpacking. He was just hanging up the last of his own robes when Kreacher opened the door and came in closing it gently behind him. "Is Dora loving the library," he asked with an amused smile as he turned to the elf.
Kreacher nodded, eyes serious as they rested on Regulus's face. "What did Master Regulus mean when he said he wouldn't let any fears come close to Miss Dora?" The question was asked in an oddly demanding tone that took Regulus aback. Likewise Kreacher crossing the room to run hands over Regulus's chest before he could answer was equally...different considering he'd just asked him a rather nonsexual question.
"Well...um..." he struggled to think as his body leaned into the elf's touch, feeling himself hardening under his robes as his lips parted with desire. "What do you mean," he finally managed, not truly caring at the moment and not wishing to speak of Dora or anything else. At present, he wanted to be doing many delicious things with Kreacher but talking wasn't one of them. Obviously taking notice of his aroused state, Kreacher knelt, pushing Regulus's robe up and his underpants down. Regulus groaned in raw need coupled with anticipation as his eyes fell on Kreacher's face. "What did Master Regulus mean when he spoke to Miss Dora of her fears!" Though Kreacher demanded an answer to a very strange question, he drew Regulus's erection hard into his mouth before Regulus could reply. Instead he groaned and arched his hips forward. "Gods yes! Kreacher," he gasped. At precisely the wrong time, a few seconds later, Kreacher drew back slightly, his hand wrapping around Regulus's erection instead, long slender fingers stroking. Regulus groaned again, leaning back into the wardrobe. Only when Kreacher's hand stilled its delicious stroking did Regulus realize his eyes were closed. Opening them with somewhat of an effort, he struggled to focus on Kreacher's face. "For Merlin's sake why are we talking of Dora's bloody fears while we're doing this," he demanded. The combination of rising confusion and annoyance did not mix well with extreme sexual need. Of course the sexual need won out but still.
"Kreacher just wonders what Master Regulus meant. That is all. He should tell him now, though, or Kreacher shall not be in the mood to proceed." With a sigh, Regulus closed his eyes again, this time for an entirely different reason as he struggled for patience. "I don't know what I meant really. I have no idea what she's afraid of so I am not sure how we would protect her from it, but I'm sure we could do something. We have magic, after all."
"We," Kreacher asked.
Regulus shrugged. "I assume you would help. You like her, after all, and you have always helped me in the past."
"Master Regulus meant nothing else," Kreacher pressed.
"Of course not! What else would I mean," Regulus demanded.
"This is truly perplexing, Kreacher. The questions, the way you're mixing the questions with shagging..."
"Not shagging yet," Kreacher murmured.
"Very well, a prelude to shagging." Regulus shook his head as he scowled down at his friend. "This is ridiculous. What is going on?"
"Kreacher just...well the gentle way Master Regulus spoke to Dora made him afraid himself."
Regulus felt his eyes flying wide in surprise. "But why? She saved my life. She was my friend when I was at my miserable worst! Trust me Kreacher, without you I was quite intolerable."
Kreacher gave a slight pleased smile. "Good. Kreacher is glad." He dropped his gaze to Regulus's erection where it was still resting in his hand before glancing back up at his face, apparently still unsatisfied. "So Master Regulus never considered more with Miss Dora? She is very pretty, after all, and she was so kind to Master Regulus."
"Haven't we had this conversation before," Regulus asked with a sigh. "Somehow it seems familiar." "No one can touch me like you. No one knows me like you. And no one can match wits with me like you, my beloved Kreacher." Bending and gently extricating his poor unsatisfied erection, he kissed the elf, who leaned into him, returning the kiss with equal passion. Straightening at last, Regulus took Kreacher's hand, practically dragging him to the bed. "Now it's time to finish what you started," he said, hand dropping to stroke the now prominent bulge under Kreacher's tunic. "Unless, of course, it is you who is interested in Dora instead," he teased, withdrawing his hand just to show Kreacher a bit of what excruciating frustration felt like.
"Of course not," Kreacher said, his lithe hand gripping Regulus's erection once again.
"Thank you," Regulus nearly groaned as he slid the elf's tunic up to expose smooth soft skin.