The Search Is Over,
Chapter 117, Make New Friends, But Keep The Old
"So when are we going to the Hog's Head to meet Aberforth Dumbledore's daughter, and is she hot," Rabastan asked.
Regulus exchanged a look with Kreacher.
"She is pretty and young, and we can go whenever, I suppose," Regulus said.
"Tomorrow if everyone would like?"
No time like the present, after all, he thought.
"Albus, you should come along," he added, giving the older man an encouraging smile.
"She was quite amazed to discover the two of you were related, so I think she would very much like to meet you. She was interested in you as well, Gellert."
Gellert frowned.
"Many people are and I shall not be going near the Hog's Head dump," he proclaimed, making a face as though he'd just bitten into something quite sour.
Zabini's expression was nearly as affronted, though he remained silent.
Rabastan grinned.
"Okay then. So Grindelwald doesn't wanna go to the Hog's Head. We'll just have to hang with him elsewhere. As for the rest of you, tomorrow at the Hog's Head? What time?"
Severus glanced over to Albus, who still looked hesitant.
"Mag and I will go with you for support. You have a right to meet your niece."
"Aberforth won't want me there," Albus said dully.
"Well that's too bad, we all have to deal with things we don't wish to at times," Severus said.
"I, for example, do it almost daily."
Mag chuckled.
"We'll act as buffers between you and Aberforth if necessary, Albus," she said kindly.
"Well I'd say tell me how it all goes, but I don't care," Gellert drawled.
"Get in touch when something interesting is actually happening, Black," he said, nodding to Regulus.
"And Kreacher, hopefully we'll see you at the shop soon. We always enjoy your creative ideas," Blaise added, and Kreacher smiled and nodded before the two apparated away.
"So is everyone else in," Rabastan asked.
"I think I'll bow out if Kreacher doesn't mind," Kereston said.
"I've met Ariana, after all, and after work I'm generally wiped out. I shall just want to go home, eat something and curl up with a good book for a few hours."
"Kreacher understands. That is fine," the elf assured, giving Kereston a smile.
"So should we go for dinner, then," Rabastan pressed.
"Sure, that sounds fine," Severus said.
"Around seven, then," Bellatrix asked, looking to Regulus who nodded.
That would give he and Kreacher time to feed, then join everyone else at the Hog's Head.
"So do you know if she's single," Rabastan asked.
"I think she is, yes," Regulus replied.
Rabastan grinned.
"Brilliant. I've never shagged a Necromancer before."
Albus cleared his throat.
"My niece," he said warningly and Rabastan had the grace to look embarrassed.
"Sorry."
"We'll meet for dinner tomorrow at the Hog's Head at seven, then," Regulus asked, confirming mostly to break up the gathering so he, Kreacher and Kereston could get back home.
When everyone gave murmurs or nods of assent, he smiled.
"Good. See you then. Good night."
Taking his cue, Kreacher placed one hand on Regulus's forearm and the other on Kereston's before apparating them home to #12 Grimmauld.
"I've been thinking," Regulus said as he unlocked the front door.
"We've spoken of traveling, because I did feel better when stimulated with new sights and experiences. Why don't we do that a bit while we wait for the goblins to return? We can return in three months, in time to meet up with Ariana to talk to the parents again."
Kreacher nodded, giving him a bright smile.
"That sounds wonderful to Kreacher."
Regulus smiled back.
"Just like in the old days when we planned to travel the world," he said, bending to hug his friend in a sudden burst of eager excitement.
"We'll go to all the places Gellert and Blaise recommended beginning with Switzerland. How does that sound?"
"Kreacher is ready," the elf said, just as eager as Regulus.
"You're both safe to be alone in the day," Kereston asked, a slight frown of concern creasing her brow.
"We're not alone," Regulus reminded.
"We have Mortis. And Dora if she'd like to go," he added.
"Though she's nearly as useless in the day as we are."
He frowned. "She should've written back by now."
"Nearly," Kereston asked, arching her brows.
"Do older vampires function better in the sun?"
Regulus shrugged.
"To a small point. It hurts them, burns their skin, but would take far longer to kill them, so they could have time to get themselves somewhere dark. Older vampires can also wake in the day if they must. If someone were mucking about with her body or in our room, she would probably wake enough to make them sorry."
Kereston's lips twitched.
"She can do that half asleep?"
Regulus chuckled.
"Oh certainly so. She just has to grab their neck and give a good twist. Even feeling drugged by the sun, as she says she does, that's manageable."
"Ha. Talking about twisting necks over tea. I love it."
The small rasping voice came from the floor and Regulus glanced down to give Reynaldo a smile.
"While that is rather a charming concept, we aren't having tea."
"Well not yet, but I asked one of the boggarts to make some for me and Kereston to enjoy while you all tell me how it went in the forest," the spider said cheerfully.
Kreacher choked as Regulus gaped.
"The boggart...made tea," Kreacher asked.
"Yep," The spider replied casually.
"I asked nicely. It's waiting in the library."
"The boggart or the tea," Kreacher wondered.
Reynaldo laughed.
"The tea, Silly!"
They were settled in the library, telling Reynaldo all about finding the resurrection stone when Mortis suddenly appeared in front of Regulus in a shower of black sparks.
"I was getting worried," Regulus said, sighing in relief as he reached to take the note from the bird's claws.
Mortis trilled as he landed on Regulus's shoulder.
"What did he say," Kereston asked, leaning forward in her chair, slender hands wrapped around a cup of steaming tea.
Reynaldo sat on the floor near her feet sipping from a bowl of tea on the coffee table.
"He said Dora was in the midst of hunting, so he had to wait until she returned home before he risked showing himself."
"Right. Can't be seen by the Muggle-lings," Reynaldo said, waving a foreleg cheerfully at Mortis.
"She said we can pick her up tomorrow," Regulus told Kreacher, who grinned in pleasure.
The elf was obviously as eager to see Dora as was Regulus. He'd never been away from his maker and though he'd grown accustom to it mainly because he was with Kreacher again, he did miss her presence.
The next day, Regulus woke feeling very focused. He didn't even allow himself a morning...or rather evening shag, which greatly pained him.
"Later, I promise," he murmured, as he forced himself to rise even though, the hand Kreacher was running sensuously over his chest was extremely tempting.
They had to remain on task, not permitting themselves to become distracted like yesterday. If Bella had to come and get them again, it would not go well for them, he thought, lips twitching in amusement as he pulled on a silver robe shot through with green stars.
"Master Regulus looks magnificent as always," Kreacher complimented as Regulus spared a quick glance for the mirror as he hastily combed his straight black shoulder length hair.
"Thank you," Regulus said with a grin down at his friend.
Compliments of any sort had always meant the most coming from the elf at his side.
"You're looking dapper yourself."
Kreacher wore a plain black tunic, but of soft cashmere, so the simple design showed off the high quality of the fabric. Kreacher's severe hooked nosed features were somehow accentuated by the simple yet high quality attire, and it had Regulus distracted again, his thoughts wandering to places he could not go until far later in the night unfortunately.
Kreacher's pleased grin told Regulus more clearly than words that the elf had seen the thought in his mind.
"Later," Regulus groaned, bending to kiss Kreacher before nearly rushing from the room.
Kreacher gave a pleased chuckle as he followed, one hand lightly touching his own lips as a sigh of regret left them.
The two made short work of feeding, then apparated to Dora's. She was ready with a large suitcase packed and waiting near the front door.
"Oh Dora," Regulus said, embracing his maker hard.
Laughing she hugged him tightly in return.
"I've missed you too, both of you," she said with a regretful sigh.
"It cuts into my alone time to socialize, you know," she pointed out.
"Kreacher, you make a lovely vampire," she practically cooed, bending to embrace the elf next.
Kreacher was grinning from ear to ear.
"I shall have to hunt with you soon," Dora enthused.
Regulus shuddered.
"I doubt he shall enjoy that. It's dreadful."
Dora straightened from embracing Kreacher to frown at Regulus.
"The way I feed gets me the best tasting blood. Kreacher, being such a grand cook and connoisseur of food, will appreciate this far more than you."
Turning to Kreacher she added, "Blood directly from the heart has a quality that cannot be surpassed. You'll be doing yourself a disservice not to try it at least once."
"Very well," Kreacher said thoughtfully.
"Kreacher shall try. He does enjoy his food being of the highest quality."
Regulus shuddered, knowing that Kreacher would likely regret the experience.
"It's messy and disgusting."
"It's soooo good," Dora countered, giving a contented sigh at memories of meals past.
"Well right now, we're off to meet with some old friends and a new one," Regulus said cheerfully, glad to change the subject.
"You know, the Necromancer I told you about in my letter."
Just as he knew would happen, Dora was completely distracted by the idea of meeting a Necromancer.
"OOh, I get to meet her," she practically squealed, her usually reserved face breaking into a nearly girlish smile of eager glee.
"Indeed you do," Regulus said, unable not to smile back.
"Ariana Dumbledore is very nice," Kreacher informed.
"Has she ever raised zombies," Dora asked and Regulus shuddered in mild disgust even as he chuckled at the question.
"You'll have to ask her about that one. Let's go. We'll drop your suitcase at home then we're off to the Hog's Head Inn where she now resides with her father."
"Great," Dora gushed.
"Beam me up or whatever it is that you call it."
Kreacher blinked.
"It's a Muggle thing," Regulus drawled.
"We simply wouldn't understand."
"Dora should not soil her mind with such things," Kreacher chastised.
"She has risen above it for two-thousand years, and she is better than that."
"Hardly," Dora objected, frowning at the elf.
"I only had true access to magic when Regulus was with me. I can't depend on wizards for everything and Muggle things are convenient. Now beam...apparate, that's it! Apparate us out of here so I can meet a Necromancer!"
Kreacher scowled, obviously ready and willing to object some more, then he huffed a sigh and shook his head in exasperation as he APPARATED them home.