Chapter 93, A Profitable New Venture
Kreacher found he very much enjoyed being able to literally take on new heights at will. Though the physical pleasures with Master Regulus were always intensely gratifying, being nearly Regulus's height did provide a benefit or two that altered the experience even more for the better. Feeling Master Regulus inside of him was a different sort of intense that he found he also very much enjoyed, and full body head to toe contact without a major height difference added an extra level that was difficult to explain but somehow even more completing. That first night of the experiment, Regulus asked if he planned to remain tall, but Kreacher hadn't made up his mind, so resumed his own size afterward, only expanding it when he was in the mood to ramp up their intimate experience.
Soon he had another new experience to add to that one, though the second was not in the least sexual. Though it also rather involved expansion of a magical nature, it ran more along the lines of financial profits. They were invited by Severus to a Christmas party at Durmstrang.
Gellert Grindelwald and Blaise Zabini were also in attendance. While they stuffed themselves on fittingly fancy horderves, Blaise Zabini asked Kreacher if he'd ever combined elf and human magic to craft any spells or enchanted items.
Though Kreacher hadn't, as he and Master Regulus had never had cause to do so, he found the idea a tantalizing and challenging one due to its unique and seemingly unexplored nature. Blaise explained that he and Gellert planned to put their rare skills at enchantments to use by opening their own shop in which they crafted rare and specialized items they'd made. He asked if Kreacher would be interested in participating in the crafting of such items to give them an even more rare touch with his elf magic, and he promised to give it some consideration.
While the idea was intriguing, he didn't want such a commitment to take too greatly from his time with Master Regulus. That and he wasn't yet sure what he could actually make. His mind was soon distracted from the topic when Kereston asked Gellert to show them around Durmstrang. Though Severus, Mag, and Albus lived there now, she felt Gellert showing them about his old school would be somehow more authentic. Kreacher agreed. As it turned out, Kereston was correct, as Gellert even paused to show them where he'd carved the symbol for the Hallows on various walls throughout the school, including in his former dorm room.
From time to time over the next several months, Kreacher pondered the various ways human and elf magic could be combined, but for the most part he grew busy with Master Regulus and nearly forgot about Blaise's proposition. That was, until one Saturday when Kereston asked him to go with her to lunch with Blaise and Gellert. As it turned out, the two had been home from their travels for nearly two months, but had remained sequestered in the Zabini family manor working on enchanted items for the shop they planned to open.
"If we don't drag them out into the light, they shall never come out on their own," Kereston joked.
"We'll tempt them with Gellert's favorite restaurant. It's Chinese and it's also Muggle so we shall have to disguise you."
Kreacher felt his mouth turning down into a frown of disgusted disapproval. How could his dearest friend soil her palate with Muggle food?
"But why," he protested.
"It started when I tried to take Gellert to McDonalds, and he really hated it."
Kreacher nodded in understanding.
Once Kereston and Millicent had stopped in at this McDonalds before meeting Kreacher for lunch at Adler Manor. The food they'd brought was questionable at best. Dry, flavorless and full of very unnecessary grease. The ice cream like coffee drink that Kereston called a frap, had made Kreacher quite hyper all day, which Master Regulus had rather enjoyed later that evening. Still in spite of this fact, the inferior quality hadn't made it worth it as far as Kreacher was concerned.
"I wanted to show Gellert how vastly the Muggle population has grown," Kereston explained.
"I know he claims to have no interest in ever picking up where he left off when he was put into Nurmengard, and I do believe he means it. Just in case he ever changes his mind, though, he needs to understand how much things have changed...and grown when it comes to Muggles. Though he didn't at all like McDonalds, he did like the Chinese restaurant that is close by, so I figure eating there from time to time will keep the current Muggle situation fresh in his mind."
Kreacher nodded his reluctant agreement, because he couldn't argue with the logic of that.
"How should Kreacher disguise himself," he wondered.
Kereston frowned in thought as she considered.
"Can you do anything with illusion? Like casting an illusion over yourself to appear to be a very short human?"
Kreacher nodded, considering how he'd work such an illusion charm.
"Kreacher needs a mirror, he thinks. He will be right back."
Heading for the bedchamber of Master Regulus that was now also his, he quietly opened the door and slipped inside. He could just make out Mortis in the darkness, perched on the edge of Master Regulus's coffin.
"Kreacher has just come to use the mirror," he explained to the black phoenix before filling the room with soft light with a gesture of one hand.
Moving to the long wall mirror he stood before it and peered at himself. He wore a long green tunic, and that wouldn't do at all. First he imagined the illusion of a black suit, much in the style Griphook wore. The illusion sprang forth easily, settling like an intangible glove over his own clothes. He then pictured a clean shaven human face with short black hair.
Just as with the clothes, the human visage settled over his own. Pleased with the effect, he locked it in place. Though he'd never performed such a charm before, it was rather intuitive and not as difficult as he'd feared. With a smile of satisfaction, he waved at the dapper little man in the mirror and turned toward the door.
"Kreacher is off to lunch with Kereston and we are meeting Blaise Zabini and Gellert Grindelwald," he told Mortis in way of explanation.
As the phoenix had never seen him work such a charm before, Kreacher guessed he was likely curious. Mortis nodded and Kreacher apparated back downstairs to the library where Kereston waited.
"What does Kereston think," he asked eagerly.
"You are adorable," she said, laughing in pleasure.
"That's impressive!"
"Kreacher thanks Kereston," the elf said, not bothering to keep the wide smile of pleasure from his face at her admiration and praise.
"I'll apparate us to the restaurant," she said, and took his hand to do just that.
"Actually we have to apparate to the nearest alley so no Muggle sees us arriving, but that's only a block away."
Kreacher nodded and with a crack they were off. The alley smelled of disgusting Muggle food. As they walked out of it, Kreacher understood why. The McDonalds was just ahead of them, but thankfully Kereston led them past it without slowing. As she'd promised the walk was very short. The summer day was hot and sunny so short walks were best as far as Kreacher was concerned. When they reached the restaurant, Kereston stopped just beside the door.
"Let's wait for them out here," she suggested and Kreacher nodded.
The covered walkway was shady which kept the temperature pleasant enough. It was lined on either side with fragrant bushes that also leant favorably to the atmosphere. Before long Blaise and Gellert arrived, walking from the same direction Kreacher and Kereston had come. They wore matching black slacks and black button down shirts with appropriately short sleeves for the summer weather.
"Gelaise," Kereston called in way of greeting, a smile spreading across her face as she waved enthusiastically at their approach.
"You'll be pleased to know that Kreacher didn't like McDonalds either," she told Gellert with a disappointed frown.
"Wise man," Gellert told Kreacher fervently as he made a face of adamant disgust.
Kreacher couldn't help a pleased smile at the compliment. It had come from the likes of Gellert Grindelwald, after all. Out of loyalty to Kereston, he didn't expound on his own opinions of McDonalds, though. The restaurant was surprisingly cool, and Kreacher wondered how the Muggles managed it without magic. There was a jade fountain just inside the door that bubbled pleasantly, and he paused to admire it for a moment.
"Chinese culture is quite unlike anything I've ever seen, and it really is quite lovely," Kereston murmured.
"Agreed," Gellert said.
A small man arrived then to show them to a table.
"You must tell us about all the things you've been making," Kereston said eagerly as soon as the four of them were seated.
Blaise and Gellert obliged as they all looked through their menus.
"Well, we got some stones from a temple of Athena's while in Greece that we turned into book ends and imbued with spells for opening a person's own higher learning potential so that they may more quickly gain wisdom," Blaise said.
"Most recently we made a sort of paperweight out of a rock that came from a temple of Poseidon's in the same area," Gellert added.
"It's mainly just for fun, but the charms we worked on it are complex none the less. They're visual and auditory. One hears the crashing of ocean waves while seeing images of the sea. The images are animated but they also change from time to time with various sea creatures leaping up out of the waves."
"What sort of sea creatures," Kereston asked, leaning forward in interest.
Gellert shrugged casually.
"Anything from the Hydra to a dolphin. We were all inclusive but the rare ones flash by more quickly so one has to look out for them."
"We made some very advanced burglar alarms as well," Blaise said with a pleased smile.
"Not only do they capture images of the burglar in question, but they also track them when they leave, at least to their first destination."
"That is impressive," Kreacher said, meaning it.
"Thanks," Blaise and Gellert said nearly in unison.
"We only made a few of each item at the most, because otherwise they aren't rare or difficult to come by," Blaise said. We were creative with each idea, though, so there are lots of rare treasures for customers to choose from."
"I bet you've got enough to make you rich just from what you've made so far," Kereston said.
"Richer," Blaise corrected with a smirk.
"The more money we make, the larger our next accomplishments, though," Gellert said.
"Big goals are reached more readily with vast amounts of money."
"So we plan to keep making it in heaps," Blaise added, a pleased smirk curving his full lips at the thought.
"When will your shop open," Kereston asked.
Blaise shrugged.
"Perhaps in a year. It gives us plenty of time to stock enough unique items, find a suitable location and decorate it properly."
"How do you want it to look," Kereston asked.
"Old I think, with a dark flair and a bit of a subtly dangerous undertone, but other than that, we're still working out the particulars," Blaise said, glancing toward Gellert who nodded.
"What have the two of you been occupying yourselves with," Gellert asked.
That and he supposed he was mildly curious.
"Well there is my job at the ministry all during the week, but I usually hang with Kreacher on the weekends and sometimes on the weekdays at lunch," Kereston said.
"And today is what," Gellert asked.
"Saturday," Kereston said with a bemused grin.
"You two must really be working all the time."
Blaise nodded.
"It's our thing."
"Well our other thing," Gellert said giving Blaise a suggestive look.
Kereston rolled her blue-gray eyes and made a face but before she could comment the waiter came over to take their order. As Kreacher had no idea about Chinese food, he took a calculated risk and ordered what Blaise and Gellert were having. At least the two disapproved of McDonalds so there was hope that they could share similar enough taste.
When the waiter departed, Kreacher spoke up. Blaise and Gellert's talk of the items they'd crafted served to renew his own interest in Blaise's request that he work with them.
"Kreacher was thinking over the past several months about Blaise Zabini's interest in the attempt to combine elf and wizard magic to enchant items. Though he appreciates the fact that Blaise Zabini and Gellert Grindelwald wish to make rare and specialized items, Kreacher wonders if they should begin with something simple. Simple work could make the initial experiment of combining elf and wizard magic more telling. We could also get more done faster and thus have more immediate results."
"Good idea," Blaise said, giving the elf an approving nod and a pleased smile.
"Indeed Kreacher is a wise elf," Gellert agreed.
"Did you have any ideas of a concept we could start with," the blonde asked curiously.
Pleased by the encouragement of both men, Kreacher nodded.
"Actually Kreacher did. He was thinking of a pillow that would help people get a proper eight hours of sleep. It would have none of the side effects of next day grogginess or pre-sleep inability to work complicated magic that sleep potions can have."
"I'd really like that," Kereston enthused, eyes sparking with eagerness.
"I often have a time getting to sleep at night on Sunday. I've had a weekend of sleeping when I like then it's back to the work schedule for the week and that night of transition is always a bother."
"That's a brilliant idea," Blaise told Kreacher excitedly.
The elf beamed, ducking his head and feeling suddenly shy. such an honest show of eagerness from the generally quiet and reserved Zabini was an expectedly high compliment for Kreacher's off the cuff spur of the moment idea.
"Does Blaise Zabini truly think so," he asked and Blaise nodded.
"So does Gellert," Gellert said with a grin.
"If those are fast and easy to make as you suggest, they will sell like...as they say, hotcakes."
"When would you like to begin working on our first draft," Blaise asked, ice blue gaze enquiringly on Kreacher.
Being asked how and when he wished to do things by Master Regulus, or even Millicent and Kereston was something Kreacher was accustomed to, but from others it still felt new and nearly awe inspiring somehow. This new endeavor was starting to look better and better by the second! He found himself actually eager to get started.
Everyone appreciated his idea and thought it was a good one! Master Regulus had always believed Kreacher to be the most brilliant of elves, but it seemed others could appreciate him as well. Others including Gellert Grindelwald himself! Suddenly Kreacher looked very forward to combining elf and human magics to discover what results such could bring.
"Kreacher is free any time during the day," Kreacher replied.
"Whenever Blaise Zabini and Gellert Grindelwald would like, he is available as long as it is before sunset. After that Kreacher's time belongs to Master Regulus."
"Of course we would never get in the way of that," Gellert assured with an understanding smile.
"If today is Saturday, how does Monday sound?"
Kreacher nodded.
"Shall Kreacher come to the Zabini Manor, then?"
Blaise nodded.
"Unless you wish us to come to Grimmauld instead."
Kreacher considered.
"That would allow him to remain close to Master Regulus. If Blaise Zabini and Gellert Grindelwald would not mind..."
"It's fine," Gellert assured.
"It gives us an opportunity to stretch our legs a bit. We've sat quite a lot over the past several months that we've been back home."
"We'll even bring the practice pillows," Blaise offered expansively.
The elf smiled.
"And Kreacher will provide lunch."
"Did you make that overlay that you're wearing," Gellert asked and Kreacher nodded.
"It is very well done," Blaise complimented and Kreacher beamed again, basking in the praise.
Their food arrived then, and the rest of lunch passed quickly with light conversation, mostly related to Chinese food. Kreacher rather enjoyed the taste of the shrimp fried rice and peanut butter chicken. Though the combination of peanut butter and chicken did not sound as though it should work at all, it tasted quite marvelous. He found himself experiencing a brief pang of sadness that he could never make it for Master Regulus to try, for he believed Regulus would find it interesting. As they left the restaurant, Blaise thanked Kereston for bringing Kreacher along. Somehow that made Kreacher feel even more special.