The Search Is Over,
Chapter 129, One To Guard, One to Clean, one to Cook, One To See To All The Rest
The very next evening, Kreacher and Regulus were surprised by a visit from the Lestranges. They had an elf with them. He wore a loose black garment, toga style, and looked nervous.
"The Rosier elves don't have a placement for their youngest child, so he's in the running for the four elves you wanted, Kreacher," Bellatrix said.
"They're going away for the next month, though, so they wanted you to meet Piper and see if you want him before they leave. I'm still bringing the other five next week, though."
Kreacher studied the elf, who stared back at him, with a growing look of shock and confusion on his face.
"Piper shall be taking orders from Kreacher. Does he understand," Kreacher demanded and Piper blinked.
"He...Is trying to understand. He is not taking orders from this wizard?"
He nodded toward Regulus.
Kreacher shook his head.
"Not unless Master Regulus requires something specific such as tea being prepared for guests or some such, but normally Piper's orders shall come from Kreacher himself."
Piper blinked, obviously struggling to take this in. Regulus could see the curiosity on the elf's face, that he wanted very much to ask why, but he did not.
"Very well," Piper said rather than asking any of the questions in his eyes.
Kreacher smiled.
"Good. Piper is a good elf, and not a stupid elf. Kreacher can see as much in his eyes, so he accepts Piper into 12 Grimmauld Place."
It was clear from Piper's pensive expression that he couldn't decide if this was a good or a bad thing.
Still smiling, Kreacher turned to the Lestranges.
"Kreacher thanks Bella, Rod and Rabastan. If they would like to come in for a drink, Kreacher can begin Piper's training, and he may serve them."
"Sure," Rod said.
"It's been a long day and we're tired."
"Lots of sneaking into government buildings and hiding in small spaces," Rabastan complained.
"Ask me, we don't get paid enough for this shit."
"We'll meet you in the library then," Regulus told Kreacher. Kreacher nodded and Regulus bent to kiss his cheek before leading the Lestranges inside.
Piper's eyes went wide and Kreacher smiled happily.
"Kreacher has much to explain to Piper," he said, grasping the other elf's toga and practically dragging him along to the kitchen.
Piper was small and easily dragged even if Kreacher weren't a vampire with far more strength than any other elf.
"I wonder what Kreacher is telling that poor elf," Bellatrix said with a laugh as the four of them entered the library, joining Kereston and Reynaldo. Both were curled on the long sofa with books. The spider looked adorable holding a book in two of his eight legs, turning the pages carefully with a third.
"I bet you're the only spider in the fucking world who can read," Rabastan proclaimed.
"Probably so," Reynaldo murmured distractedly.
"Makes me cool."
Rabastan chuckled.
"That it fucking does."
Regulus listened politely while the Lestranges bitched about work, not envying them their job in the least. To some it may seem exciting, but Regulus was more one for research than spying or killing.
"It's the in-between bullshit waiting, hiding, skulking," Rabastan said.
"At first it was okay but then it begins to drag one down."
"Cramp one's style," Rodolphus elaborated.
"Make one feel trapped," Bellatrix murmured, frowning distractedly as she stared into space.
"It isn't that way for every assignment, though," Rabastan said, seeing Regulus's look of concern.
"Usually it involves far more action which is a lot better."
Bella and Rod nodded, and Regulus smiled.
"Good then. That's good."
He would've hated it if he'd gotten the Lestranges out of one bad situation, Azkaban or death at the hands of Aurors during the battle of Hogwarts, to end them up in a job that hurt them in another way.
Kreacher entered before more could be said, and Regulus was relieved to have him back at his side. Perhaps it was silly, but he never liked being separated for long, and this had been quite long enough. Piper followed behind with a tray holding three crystal goblets of wine. Kreacher's face was calm and peaceful while Piper looked openly shocked and scandalized.
"What did you tell him, Kreacher," Regulus demanded, the words escaping before he could think better of them.
"Only that Kreacher is also a master and that he and Master Regulus are a couple," Kreacher said.
After a moment he added, "Oh and that we are also vampires."
Regulus knew from the overly nonchalant way Kreacher spoke, that he was fully aware of what an effect all of that information would have on Piper. It wasn't that any of it would personally affect the young elf, or that any of it was wrong. It was that for Piper it was all likely unheard of so very shocking. The Lestranges could have filled him in on what he was getting into, but judging by the state of shock and mild horror in which he appeared to be gripped, Regulus didn't think they'd said a bloody word.
Hastily he searched his mind for something to say that would put the poor Piper at ease.
"We would like you to be comfortable and happy working here, so please inform us if there is anything you require that has not been provided," he managed after a moment.
"We have plenty of spare rooms, so you shall have your own."
At that news Piper brightened.
"Truly? Piper always had to share with his brothers before. Miss Bellatrix told him he would have a posh set up, but he did not know what to expect."
He turned, giving Bellatrix a brief smile before looking back to Regulus.
"Please though...Piper shall not be required to supply blood for vampires shall he?"
The hunted look in the elf's gaze at that question caused Regulus to experience a strong feeling of awkward discomfort at the very idea.
"Of course not! Kreacher and I hunt evil doers for that. Please never fear that anything other than matters of the manor shall be expected of you. We may be unique, but we certainly aren't monsters."
Piper's gaze flicked to Kreacher, a look of doubt in his eyes.
"Kreacher and Regulus are just weird when it comes to one another. Otherwise they're safe," Rabastan drawled.
The look of doubt didn't leave Piper's face, but he made no objection. After an hour or so, the Lestranges left, with Bella promising to return the next week and bring the other five elves from which Kreacher would choose. That caused another look of confusion to cross Piper's face.
"What will each elf be doing? There doesn't seem to be that much work."
Kreacher frowned peevishly.
"No elf can manage the home as well as Kreacher, and as Master Regulus insists that he give it up, he feels four are required to do the job of Kreacher. Kreacher does not expect one to manage tasks with his skill and quality, after all, so perhaps four can. For now Piper may see to the cleaning. Kreacher does not wish to teach Piper how to cook until the others are here, because he does not wish to repeat himself."
"But Piper already knows how to cook," the other elf objected.
Kreacher sniffed disdainfully.
"Kreacher doubts that very much."
Regulus wondered if the fact he used to tell Kreacher that no one cooked like him played a part in that opinion. He'd meant it, but when a person loved someone as much as he'd always loved Kreacher, anything they did was superior. After the Lestranges departed, Kreacher took some time to show Piper around the manor, familiarizing him with where everything was.
As she promised, Bella arrived the very next week with the other five elves from which Kreacher would make his selection. They were all young, staring at Kreacher and Regulus with round nervous eyes.
"Well, introduce yourselves," Bellatrix said as soon as Kreacher and Regulus had ushered them all inside.
"Because I certainly can't remember most of your names."
"Stormy," the first elf stepped forward.
He met both Kreacher and Regulus's eyes directly though he appeared a bit nervous. "Agrippa," The next followed in the same vein.
"Ripper."
"Jazz."
"Orb."
Each elf wore neatly pressed attire in various styles ranging from roughly cut tunics to togas. Jazz and Agrippa both had French accents, Regulus noted.
Kreacher studied each elf in turn as they spoke. Then he approached, leaning close to peer intently into the face of each as if searching for something specific. Though Regulus wondered what, he did not ask. This was Kreacher's business, so best to allow him to conduct it in peace and satisfy his own curiosity later.
"So are you going to have them all cook and clean to test their skills or what," Bellatrix demanded, giving Kreacher an impatient look.
"Where are Rodolphus and Rabastan," Kreacher asked suspiciously.
"At home with their father," Bellatrix replied.
"Why?"
"Bella shouldn't have come without them," Kreacher grumbled.
"She is always more annoying on her own."
Bella's lips compressed.
"It's been a long day and they're tired. Today's Black Ops assignment involved far too much travel, and we're all drained. Still I promised to do this elf thing for you, so bloody hurry it up."
"Very generous of Bella," Kreacher murmured.
He returned his attention to the five elves then, not appearing to hurry it up in the least. After several seconds, he lifted a hand, pointing to the first elf who'd introduced himself.
"Stormy..."
He continued to peer at the others intently, first one then the next and so on until he reached the first and began again.
"And Jazz...And Ripper... Kreacher thanks Bella. She may return the others to their homes."
Bella nodded.
"Very good. I'm sure we'll see you prats soon. Ripper is the far younger brother of my father's family elf, Jackdaw in case he looks familiar," she said, then gestured to the other two elves that Kreacher had rejected to come along with her and apparated away.
Kreacher turned to Ripper, smiling.
"Ah. So that's it. Kreacher thought Ripper looked familiar. He has met your elder brother many times over the years when visiting the Lestranges."
The elf wore a black tunic with an abstract raven on the front. He gave Kreacher a slight bow.
"Have you any idea why you were named Ripper," Regulus couldn't resist inquiring.
"It was a play on Jackdaw...Jack the Ripper," Ripper replied.
"Ripper's other older brothers are Whitechapel, and Blade, and his sister is Victoria...after the queen who ruled over the Muggles when Jack The Ripper did his best to clean up the streets of London."
The almost proud way in which Ripper spoke of the Victorian killer of Muggle ladies of the night made Regulus smile in amusement in spite of himself.