The Search Is Over,
Chapter 91, A New Roommate
Over the next few days, Regulus attempted to ride out the momentum the vacation had given him to continue doing things that made him feel alive. Doubting he'd ever truly be accepted in general wizarding society, he decided not to even try. He knew Bellatrix was right on that front and he may as well spare his own feelings on the matter by not bothering. Instead he would continue to seek stimulating company from those who already seemed to accept him.
Other than family, Gellert Grindelwald was the first to come to mind. Perhaps he was aiming high, but who needed society when one could have tea with the great Grindelwald himself. When he wrote Gellert to invite he and Blaise over, however, it took Grindelwald a few days to reply. As it turned out, this was because like the goblin healers, Blaise and Gellert were out of the country for an extended amount of time.
At the moment, they were in Switzerland. Regulus experienced a flair of interest, because though it wasn't one of the places on his and Kreacher's travel list, if Gellert and Blaise found it worth while, it was intriguing. He considered suggesting to Kreacher that they join Blaise and Gellert on their travels. It would be grand fun!
Almost as soon as he had the thought, he discounted it, though. He and Kreacher had wanted their privacy, after all. Surely Blaise and Gellert did as well. Regulus clearly recalled how much Grindelwald missed Zabini while the two were separated over the past few months. Catching up with them in Switzerland didn't seem suitable, but it still made Regulus miss being out of the country himself.
He wished he and Kreacher had stayed away for longer as well. Kreacher seemed to be fine being back home, though. He went to take Millicent and Kereston their gifts while Regulus slept the third day they were back, and after that he was out with them frequently.
This made no impact on Regulus, for it was during the day as he slept. While Kreacher was reluctant to leave him alone at first, Regulus was quick to remind him that Mortis was with him and he'd be fine. He was fine when Kreacher visited with Kereston and Millicent before while they were at Doge's and now they were at home where the security was even better.
They'd been back home for about a week when Kreacher suggested that Kereston move in with them. He broached the topic when they returned from Regulus hunting down his evening meal aka a Muggle criminal.
"Kreacher has been thinking," the elf began.
"When he is a vampire he will not be able to afford Master Regulus the same protection. Nor will he be able to venture out into the light of day for affairs of business that may need attending to from time to time."
Regulus felt a pit growing in his stomach.
"Have you changed your mind, then," he asked quietly.
If Kreacher had, what would he do? He couldn't stand to watch the elf age and die, and he certainly couldn't stand to live without him. If he couldn't change Kreacher's mind, he'd just walk into the sun, ending his own existence when the elf died, he decided. He'd do that rather than push Kreacher into doing anything he did not wish to do.
"Oh certainly not," Kreacher said firmly, reaching to take Regulus's hand as he smiled up at him.
"He just found someone to take his place! Someone to take care of those day time things when Kreacher is unable to do so. Someone who can protect us both because she is Kreacher's dear dear friend. Kreacher thinks Kereston should move into the manor!"
Regulus blinked in surprise, then smiled as relief washed over him.
"Oh...Well that sounds fine! Have you spoken to her about this offer of yours?"
Regulus didn't know Kereston well at all, but if Kreacher liked and trusted her he did as well. Kreacher did not like or trust easily, after all, and Regulus trusted the elf's instincts to a fault.
"In fact Kreacher has," he said, nodding.
"She is happy to help if Master Regulus is fine with the arrangement."
"If that is what you would like, of course I am fine with it. This is your home as much as it is mine, after all."
Kreacher frowned.
"Still, if Master Regulus did not relish the idea of someone else living here with us, Kreacher would not wish to make him uncomfortable."
Regulus's lips twitched.
"But four elves weren't even discussed?"
Kreacher huffed.
"That involves Kreacher's personal work standards! In that, he is the only one who knows what is best."
Laughing, Regulus bent to draw him into his arms.
"Anything you want, always," he said softly as their eyes met.
"For a moment there I was afraid you'd changed your mind about becoming a vampire."
Kreacher gave him a look of surprise that turned reproachful.
"Kreacher would never."
"Yes I know. I just...I don't know, I suppose the topic just surprised me," Regulus admitted, shrugging.
"Kreacher shall be ready to become a vampire when the house is entirely as he would like it," the elf promised.
"It is our stronghold, after all. Kreacher wishes to be certain that we are fully protected, and that nothing untoward can befall us. Kreacher knows Master Orion would want it that way."
Regulus nodded.
"Of course. Whenever you're ready, just say the word."
"Right now, Kreacher is ready for something else," the elf murmured, brushing his lips across Regulus's own.
Regulus felt his breath catch as his body responded as enthusiastically as it always did. Gladly he gave into the moment that turned into hours of pleasure in their bedchamber. There were no more thoughts of anything but their mutual physical needs and the shared joy and peace of simply being together with no restrictions of any sort.
The next day, Kereston began moving in. Oddly enough the little blonde's presence didn't really even take any getting used to for Regulus. She naturally seemed to fit into the home and her friendly chatter kept Kreacher cheerful.
"I feel so posh living here whilst working my humble starter job at the Ministry," she said cheerfully as the three of them sat at the dining table while Kereston and Kreacher had dinner.
Regulus found he envied the blonde being able to eat Kreacher's food even if he technically no longer craved it. Kreacher cooking for him had always been so personal, every dish made with such love, and now it was a thing they could no longer share.
"Kereston shall be Minister For Magic some day," Kreacher proclaimed proudly and Kereston gave an embarrassed smile as her cheeks flushed.
"It's my goal, for what it's worth. The Ministry botched things so badly with Voldemort that I spent my teen years feeling extremely unsafe. Our own government refused to believe in or stop the true threat due to blind cowardice. I always thought something harsher and more decisive needed to be done about Voldemort even the first go round to keep his power from growing! Then I realized that it's those people who think so who should be placing their efforts where their opinions are."
Regulus nodded.
"Sounds logical."
"So some day I'm going to make a go for Minister," Kereston said.
"And when I do I plan to be harsher on criminals like Voldemort. Kill first and ask questions later, I say, then they won't be around to terrorize us for a second time. Not only that, it sets an example for others that we won't take rubbish from anyone."
Regulus nodded gravely. The problem was that he found himself struggling not to smile. It was a problem because Kereston would certainly interpret such an expression to be demeaning when he meant no sort of thing. It was just that a cute little blonde girl talking of killing first and asking questions later was so at odds that it was brilliant!
"You're just the sort of Minister we need," he said and Kreacher nodded vigorously.
Kereston gave a quick grin.
"Thanks. I appreciate that."
She returned her attention almost shyly to the bowl of lamb stew before her.
"Gods, Kreacher this is the best ever," she praised and Kreacher grinned from ear to ear.
"Kreacher is glad that Kereston enjoys his cooking. He does not always enjoy cooking for himself when he has no one to share it with. Sometimes if he has a particular mood for a favorite dish, he enjoys cooking for himself alone, but often it can simply feel like a chore."
"Well I am always more than happy and grateful to eat your delicious cooking, my friend," Kereston assured warmly and Kreacher beamed.
The two chattered about a bit of everything throughout the rest of dinner. For the most part, Regulus listened on in silence unless he was brought into the conversation by Kreacher. At one point, Kereston commented on the ineptitude of the Cursebreakers the Ministry had on their payroll and Kreacher turned a studied glance on Regulus.
"Master Regulus would make a most excellent Cursebreaker if he cared to, Kreacher is quite certain."
"I bet so," Kereston agreed.
Kreacher practically glowed with pleasure that his friend saw that his Master Regulus was cursebreaker material.
"Thank you, Love. You would be just as good if not better, though," Regulus told Kreacher with a soft smile.
"Elf magic is very under rated, and I'm surprised the Ministry never made better use of it," he added thoughtfully, turning to Kereston.
Kereston nodded enthusiastically.
"I agree! Elves, goblins, acromantulas even if they were willing and could all work together. Hell many magical folk are more powerful than witches and wizards, and if they were a part of the Ministry during the Voldemort rubbish, we'd all have been far safer."
"Very true," Regulus agreed, nodding.
"You see tools that no other Minister has, and you are willing to use them to make the wizarding world better. If you do become Minister some day, I think you'll make a brilliant job of it."
"She truly shall," Kreacher said happily.
His pleasure that Regulus saw the value in Kereston was obvious.
"For now, though, you'll make an interesting roommate. I appreciate you being willing to move in and help us out if it's ever necessary," Regulus told Kereston.
"Oh I was glad to do it," Kereston assured.
Her friendly smile was contagious, and Regulus understood why Kreacher and Gellert liked her so much.
"I suppose it was time I moved out of my parents' place, and I love the idea of hanging out with Kreacher more."
After dinner, Kereston went upstairs to her room to unpack and Kreacher and Regulus retired to the library to read. Kereston joined them in an hour or so and the three read companionably together. Before he and Regulus went up to bed, Kreacher called his pet Boggarts out of wherever they were hiding and introduced them to Kereston. He informed them that she lived with them now and so was never to be frightened or tricked. Both nodded, and obediently kept their original forms. Kereston smiled a bit hesitantly at them and they smiled back before fading into the shadows.
"I could hire Boggarts too when I become Minister," she murmured excitedly.
"Just imagine how they could've terrorized Voldemort during an attack."
Kreacher nodded.
"Kereston is wise," the elf noted sagely.
"And creative."
For his part, Regulus was imagining what a Boggart would look like who presented itself to the Dark Lord.