The Search Is Over,
Chapter 112, Mothers Always Know Best
"You explained what happened," Regulus repeated, gaze on his father.
This conversation wasn't exactly going as he'd planned. The difficult bits were coming up far too fast.
"Precisely how much of what happened did you explain?"
"He told me everything," Walburga said angrily.
"I can't believe you were all so stupid!"
Regulus blinked, scrambling to sort out exactly what she was talking about. She should be having kittens over he and Kreacher having a intimate relationship, but he seriously doubted that stupid was the word she'd choose to describe her feelings on that.
"We are sorry," Kreacher said hastily.
"Yes, but for which bit," Regulus asked, glancing back to his father.
Orion simply frowned and gave his head a slight shake, raising his hands toward Walburga in silent defeat.
"For not coming to me when you discovered what Voldemort was, of course," Walburga practically thundered.
"We...ur...wanted to protect you," Regulus said, echoing Orion's words of the past.
"Plus we were afraid of how angry Mistress Walburga would be. At least Kreacher was quite worried on that front," the elf spoke up.
"And it never occurred to you that I, in fact, did not require your protection," Walburga bit out, glaring from Orion to Regulus, and finally to Kreacher.
"You, however, are correct, Kreacher. I would've indeed been very, very angry. I, however, also would've solved everything for all of us."
"How," Regulus asked, unable to hide his bafflement at the concept of anyone being able to fix the mess that had basically destroyed their family. Especially as Orion's strategy had seemed so fool proof yet had failed so disastrously.
"Well, let's start at the beginning, shall we," Walburga said.
"First, if Voldemort simply believed Kreacher had drowned in the lake and that we weren't that concerned over it, we could've kept under the radar. We would've simply acquired another elf eventually, and Kreacher would be free."
"But," Kreacher began to protest and Walburga held up a hand.
"Shut up," she said.
Regulus cringed at that all too familiar tone that one, if they were wise, never argued with, ever. It was a soft tone, but deadly calm. Kreacher was generally wise, so he shut up.
"Orion also told me of your relationship," Walburga continued.
"While it is very inconsiderate to the continuation of the family line of Black as well as our good name at best, and disturbing at worst, it does not measure up in import to avoiding Voldemort's wrath. Of course Orion and I could have forbidden the two of you to be together, but you both would've only rebelled and caused more trouble for the family."
"Kreacher is sorry," Kreacher assured tremulously.
Walburga gestured sharply for him to be silent.
"Eventually we shall have the conversation concerning how inconsiderate the both of you are, but right now I am in the process of explaining to you why you are stupid and how, if I had been informed, I could have fixed things. As I said the two of you were already inconsiderately together and according to Orion, determined to remain so. Perhaps we should've paid more mind to how overly close the two of you always were, but as perversions don't come naturally to our minds, we would not have."
"Mother. Simply because he is an elf..." Regulus began, ready to brave his mother's fury at a slight to Kreacher.
Walburga shook her head, mouth tightening as she frowned at him.
"Not that, Regulus. Don't be stupid. It's the man bit."
"Ah," Regulus said, nodding.
"Well, Mother, that can't be helped."
Kreacher snickered, then cringed, giving Walburga an apologetic look.
"But I had a fix for that, you see. Had I been informed, I could've fixed everything," Walburga ranted.
Regulus remained humbly silent, knowing that she had every right to rant. She was right, after all. They'd chosen to put one less great mind to the problem of Voldemort when opting to keep Walburga clueless and thus safe.
"My fix for your relationship was the same fix for Kreacher remaining missing, you see," she explained.
"Kreacher would've had to transfigure into a human woman, and live as your wife. We could've constructed a fake identity for her. Of course not being a true woman, she/he could never breed with you to bring our family heirs but many wizarding couples do not conceive, so that could've passed as normal.
No one would've ever known that you two were in a homosexual relationship together, and the family would not be disgraced. Of course Orion and I would have to live with the knowledge of what the two of you were doing, but at least we would be living. Instead the lot of you chose to be stupid and leave me out of things, so I never had the opportunity to ensure that this was the case. A lot of men trying to solve things with bullheaded violence will never win where the subtle cunning of a woman always shall.
"Bellatrix is a woman and she never suggested anything of the sort," Regulus said, uncertain of why he'd even made the comment.
"Bellatrix was busy being upset that her grand plans for greatness were crumbling," Walburga said.
"And she was still young enough to listen to her elders. It's just a pity the elder giving her instructions was Orion instead of me."
"You're right and I am sorry for the fiftieth time," Orion groaned, dropping his face briefly into his hands.
"Fifty-first," Walburga corrected and Kreacher snickered.
Regulus couldn't keep a flicker of a smile from his face either. His mother had obviously been counting.
"The moral of this dark little story is that chivalry only goes so bloody far," Walburga said.
"The entire family should've been involved in the handling of this situation. I understand that Orion was trying to protect me but there would have been no need for protection if we never showed Voldemort our hand. I understand that you wanted him to pay for what he did to Kreacher, Regulus, but that would've been too bad. You are right, of course, but better alive than right in a case like this one."
Regulus nodded, lowering his head in shame.
"You are right, Mother, and I apologize."
"So does Kreacher," the elf sniffled.
"Kreacher wishes with all of his heart for things to be different. Kreacher misses Mistress Walburga and Master Orion so much! He is sorrier than they shall ever know that he got them killed!"
Lowering his head, he sobbed wretchedly.
"Kreacher," Walburga crooned.
She extended a hand, but it just passed through the sobbing elf's shoulder.
"Dearest Kreacher. Do not cry so. It was not your fault...never your fault. Aside from engaging in perversions with my son, you were the best elf and loyal family friend anyone could've ever asked for."
"Master Regulus does not find our indulgences to be perverted," Kreacher muttered defiantly, but when he glanced up at Walburga with round eyes still wet with tears, his gaze was full of near worshipful adoration.
"Kreacher feels it is his fault, though. He feels if he had done better, not displeased Voldemort perhaps, that Master Orion would still be alive today, and Mistress Walburga too, for she would not have become ill with a broken heart!"
At that, both Orion and Walburga shook their heads.
"You know that you did not displease Voldemort, Kreacher," Orion said.
"He simply wished to dispose of you so that you could never tell his secret. It is as simple as that."
Regulus nodded, reaching to squeeze Kreacher's hand.
"I think I've only told him that one-hundred-and-fifty-one times," he said, grinning at his mother, who chuckled in appreciation.
"You truly would've allowed Kreacher and I to be together if we'd told you," he couldn't help asking.
"I'm sure you would've left me no choice," Walburga said tartly.
"You would not have cast me out as we did Sirius," Regulus asked, hearing the tremble in his own voice. at the potential of rejection from his parents who he almost loved more than anyone else in the world.
"Oh Regulus, never that," Orion said.
"Of course not," Walburga agreed.
"Sirius made himself a problem in every area he could. He hated everything our family stood for merely for spite and for the thrill of being disruptive and bringing us shame. You and Kreacher held our values, and you both did more than your best to uphold the good name of House Black. We could never stop loving you. Neither of you."
"Mummy," Regulus said, voice breaking as he attempted foolishly to reach for his mother.
It seemed that no matter how old one got, the need for the support and comfort of parents never went away.
"Baby," she replied, reaching for him as well, their hands passing through one another.
Then she seemed to at last focus on Ariana, who still sat between where Kreacher and Regulus stood flanking her.
"Who's the Necromancer? You aren't shagging her as well, are you?"
Regulus laughed.
"Mother! Of course not. Kreacher and I are quite exclusive."
"My name is Ariana Dumbledore," Ariana added, an expression of tolerant amusement on her face.
"Hm," Walburga said.
"I thought you looked familiar."