The Search Is Over,
Chapter 119, Free Your Mind
Dora agreed to travel with Kreacher and Regulus. The three of them were gone for over two and a half months. They spent much of their time in Switzerland where many bohemian lifestyle type wizards tended to gather in the bars and inns belonging to magical folk.
Dora's face nearly constantly wore that charming fascinated expression she got when meeting new magical people or learning something new about magic. Regulus hoped to use this time of meeting so many new and interesting people to continue research on some particular topics of interest, but unfortunately this was not to be so. Simply meeting interesting intelligent people didn't mean they knew secrets of how the elves were bound as slaves to wizards or anything he didn't already know about the Peverell brothers.
Still getting out, and encountering a variety of different and interesting people was nice. Just because they were different and interesting didn't mean he or Kreacher made any long lasting connections, though. Both tended to require more than that for such connections. Most of the close friends or relations Regulus and Kreacher formed in their lives were with others who also had few friends. From Severus to Blaise to the Lestranges, this was so. Kereston and Gellert were the more social exceptions, though Gellert claimed to be an introvert by nature nonetheless.
For her part, though, Dora was more interested in longer lasting connections on this vacation. Though she was generally even more anti-social than Regulus, she found herself a debonair Swiss wizard named Fisnik to...befriend.
He was a head taller than Regulus with wide shoulders, blazing green eyes and a long blonde mane of curls. While he and Dora double dated with Regulus and Kreacher a few times, both couples did enjoy many nights of romantic alone time, so there was a nice balance.
Though Regulus had never seen it in action, Dora had mentioned keeping the company of other gentlemen before. As a result, he dared not hope she would be over Marius for good even if she currently appeared to have herself a Swiss Mr. Vampires lived a long time, and relationships ebbed and flowed, leaving plenty of time to be burned by old flames. Kreacher dared to hope, though, quite vocally to Regulus's amusement and Dora's embarrassment.
When they left Switzerland for Germany, they invited Fisnik to come along, which he was glad to do. He wasn't one of those lay-about wizards with far too much money and no job, but his job didn't take up much of his time. He was a transporter...of wizards. He made a great deal of money providing apparating services to drunk wizards, or any other wizards who were uncomfortable with apparating themselves. Regulus and Kreacher were surprised to learn of how many of those existed.
"It's a phobia, often because they are taught in school the dangers of what can happen when apparating is not done properly," Fisnik explained.
"This phobia, of course, causes them to overlook the fact that this is why we are always taught to do it properly, but phobias aren't logical."
"They likely doubt their ability to manage it properly for whatever reason," Regulus mused.
"We have a good friend who is very much interested in Muggle psychology," he explained almost apologetically.
Fisnik and Dora laughed but Kreacher's expression was thoughtfully distracted.
"Does Kreacher feel a horror story coming on," Fisnik teased and Kreacher nodded.
"Kreacher does. He was picturing a group of people apparating together, and it goes all wrong!"
He leaned forward eagerly. They sat in a bar while Fisnik had dinner, and the ambiance was warm and companionable.
"When they arrive at their destination, everyone's body parts are switched around. They keep apparating in an attempt to fix things, but in the end they will all become one huge creature that can never separate!"
"A monster," Regulus chuckled and Kreacher nodded gleefully.
"You must be the strangest elf to have ever lived, and I like you very much," Fisnik told Kreacher warmly in his musical Swiss accent, then gave a bemused chuckle.
"But how many elves does one truly get to know in a social capacity," Dora asked curiously.
"Kreacher's situation is unique."
"Because he is special. I seriously doubt Regulus wants to shag other elves," Fisnik wagered.
He arched his blond brows as he glanced enquiringly over at Regulus, who was in the process of choking.
"No...Not other elves," he managed.
Kreacher smirked in amusement at the show everyone was so kindly putting on for him.
Regulus could feel the heat of embarrassment in his face.
"There," Fisnik told Dora, flashing a pleased smile.
"I told you so."
"Other elves can still be interesting without Regulus having a desire to become intimately involved with them," Dora said.
Her voice shook as she struggled to contain her laughter.
"But honestly Fisnik is right," Kreacher said.
"Most elves are silly or stupid, or judgmental like that dreadful Mira who knows nothing!"
The spite and raw venom in his voice on that last bit said clearly that Kreacher hadn't forgiven the WestCraven elf for whatever perceived slight she had given him at his and Regulus's wedding.
"But how much of what you call silly or stupid is a result of slavery bonds dulling their minds," Dora asked.
"From my understanding, you always lived a life of privilege with your family aside from Sirius's treatment of you even when you were a slave, Kreacher. Mira is free. The two of you, as a result of your unique factors, are free to think. Those others are not."
"Dora hasn't seen stupid Dobby or the Hogwarts elves," Kreacher said darkly.
"Dobby is dead, so Dora cannot be tormented by his empty headed idiocy, but Kreacher could certainly take her to visit the Hogwarts elves, and he bets she would change her mind," Kreacher muttered darkly.
"Are the Hogwarts elves free then," Dora asked and Kreacher shook his head.
"No, but they are left to themselves to do their jobs and they are certainly not abused or mistreated."
"But the very bond of slavery, especially because it is magical in this case, could very well have the effect of making them as they are now. Slavery in itself removes avenues of thinking that others are born being allowed to explore. Now combine that with a magical binding curse and you've got a lot of constriction of self going on, I should think. I saw the Greeks enslaved by the Romans. I saw how it bent and bowed the spirits of otherwise proud and brilliant minded people!"
"Yes you were alive to see all of that," Fisnik enthused.
"You are a walking, talking and very beautiful history book."
Laughing he kissed Dora enthusiastically and Regulus glanced away in discomfort, meeting Kreacher's understanding gaze.
It wasn't that Dora was his maker, because he considered her, in most cases more of a friend than a parent. Still seeing her alone for so long, made it odd when he had to watch her being affectionate in a romantic way. He'd get used to it, though, as would Kreacher. At least they both liked Fisnik.
"Dobby was eventually freed, though," Regulus said.
"At least that was my understanding. Do you not think that mattered at all," he asked Kreacher.
Regulus had known Dobby as the Malfoy's elf, but had never seen him free.
Kreacher's lip curled.
"Dobby became Harry Potter's slave unofficially. Dobby was never comfortable with his freedom."
"What kind of a dumb name is Dobby," Fisnik wanted to know and Kreacher snorted.
"Kreacher agrees."
"But did you not have fits whenever Regulus tried to free you before everything happened with Voldemort," Dora asked Kreacher.
Brave woman, Regulus thought, struggling not to cringe as he slid a worried sidelong look in Kreacher's direction.
Kreacher frowned.
"Had Kreacher been able to allow Master Regulus to free him without strongly objecting, we all know that Kreacher may now be in the black lake of inferi. Master Regulus may have said to come home casually, as he would to anyone he loves, but the very enslavement that harms elves kept Kreacher alive this once. Though Kreacher is glad to be free, he is thankful for the one time the curse served him in spite of itself."
The smile he gave Dora was nearly victorious and it caused Regulus to shiver for a reason he did not quite understand.
"Kreacher did not enjoy the feelings that the curse produced to upset him when Master Regulus wanted to free him, and they did grip his mind as Dora says, though."
Dora was studying Kreacher thoughtfully, nodding slightly as he spoke.
"What were the feelings that came up when Regulus wanted to free you?"
Kreacher paused to consider, and when he spoke, the words came out slowly.
"Kreacher...felt very upset. Though he knew otherwise, the feelings said that as soon as Master Regulus freed Kreacher, he would toss him aside. That he no longer wanted Kreacher else he would never have suggested such a thing."
"And I told him how untrue that was," Regulus exclaimed.
"Kreacher was unable to care or believe even though he knew this was wrong," Kreacher said.
"Kreacher hears Master Regulus speak of the reasons he did not come home when he believed Kreacher did not want him, and no matter how angry or hurt that makes Kreacher feel, he cannot blame Master Regulus because it is too familiar."
"You're saying it reminds you of how you felt when Regulus wanted to free you," Dora said and Kreacher nodded.
"Now that is interesting," Fisnik said and Dora nodded.
"Voldemort made the lake what it is, and the green potion as well, but he could not have known of how the elves were enslaved," Regulus said.
"At least I highly doubt he could've."
Dora nodded.
"I agree. But there are only so many faces that evil can take. Perhaps the evil one gets there in different ways, but in the end hurting and twisting one against who they are feels the same be it a green potion or magical slavery."
"I agree," Fisnik said.
"Bad shit in the end is just bad shit no matter how you spin it, and there are only so many flavors and shades that bad shit can take, because in the end, shit is just shit."
Kreacher grinned.
"Kreacher supposes so."
"So how did you know about the black lake," Regulus asked Fisnik curiously.
"If Dora told you, I don't care, of course. It's no secret."
Fisnik grinned impishly.
"Oh I had no idea what the fuck you lot were talking about. I just didn't want to appear stupid!"