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Chapter 38: It was Kreacher, in the Kitchen, with the Frying Pan

Having Kreacher show up so soon after his fight with Remus came as a shock as well as a blessing to Harry. He was able to forget the feelings of hurt and sad that he felt after Remus had walked out. He needed that distraction right then more than anything else. To be honest he hadn't really given much thought to the house-elf until he showed up. It was clear that Mundungus wasn't too keen on being dragged back the former headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix. Especially after he'd abandoned Mad-Eye the night they were escorting Harry to the Burrow. He fumbled for his wand but Hermione was quicker than him. "Expelliarmus!" she called. Mundungus' wand flew from his hands and she caught it.

Mundungus looked around before making a mad, desperate dash for the stairs. Unfortunately Ron was on him and tackled him to the stone floor causing him to grunt. "What?" he yelled knowing that he had no chance of getting away from the trio, yet he still struggled to get free of Ron's grip. "Wha've I done? Setting a bleedin' 'ouse-elf on me, what are you playing at, wha've I done, lemme go, lemme go, or-"

Harry couldn't help but grin at the situation, "You're not in much of a position to make threats," he kicked an old newspaper aside and kneeled down in front of 'Dung and Ron. The look on the thief's face was one of complete horror but he stopped fighting. Slowly Ron was able to let him go but kept his wand on the man.

"Kreature apologizes for the delay in breathing the thief, Master. Fletcher knows how to avoid capture, has many hidey-holes and accomplaices. Nevertheless, Kreacher cornered the thief in the end."

"You've done really well, Kreacher," Harry said causing the elf to bow in gratitude for the praise.

"We have a few questions for you." Hermione said sitting on the end of the kitchen table her feet dangling. She had both her wand and Mundungus' in her hand.

Mundungus, who was already pale, paled more, "I panicked, okay? I never wanted to come along, no offense, but I never volunteered to die for you, an' that was bleedin' You-Know-Who come fling at me, anyone woulda got outta there, I said all along I didn't wanna do it-"

"For your information, none of the rest of us Disapparated," Hermione said hotly.

"Well, you're a bunch of bleedin' 'eroes then, aren't you, but I never pretended I was up for killing meself-" he said nastily.

"We're not interested in why you ran out on Mad-Eye. We could careless how you justify your particular brand of cowardice." Harry said moving his wand closer to the man's bloodshot eyes. "We already knew you were an unreliable bit of scum."

"Well then, why the 'ell am I being 'unted down by 'ouse-eleves? Or is this about them boblets again? I ain't got none of 'em left, or you could 'ave 'em-"

"It's not about the damn goblets either, although you're getting a bit warmer." Harry said, "Why don't you just shut up and listen."

"When you cleared this house of all its valuables-"

"Sirius never cared about any of the junk-"

What happened next, nobody saw it coming. There was the sound of feet pattering about the stone floor, the flash of bronze, and a metallic clang. Kreacher had taken a run at Mundungus and smashed him over the head with a frying pan. It was clear that he was going to hit him again, "Kreacher no!" Harry said in surprise but it was clear that he was close to laughing.

Kreacher was holding the pan over his head in mind swing, "Perhaps just one more, Master Harry, for luck?" he asked his arms trembling from the weight of the pan.

Ron, Harry, and Hermione all laughed, "We need him conscious, Kreacher, but if he needs persuading you can do the honors." Harry said.

"Thank you very much, Master." He said lowering the pan and bowing. He then walked over and hopped up on the table in beside of Hermione. He kept the pan close at hand just in case he needed it.

Harry noticed the soften look in Hermione eyes as she looked down at the House-Elf. He turned back and looked down at Mundungus, "When you stripped this house of all the valuables you could find," Harry began again, "You took a bunch of stuff from the kitchen cupboard. There was a locket there," He looked back to Hermione and Ron and could tell that his friends were just as excited as he was that they were closer to finding it. "What did you do with it?"

Mundungus' eyes shined with knowledge, "Why was it valuable?"

"You've still got it!" Hermione cried.

Ron shook his head his arms crossed over his chest his wand still clutched in his hand, "He hasn't, he's wondering whether he should have asked more money for it."

"More?" Mundungus asked clearly bitter about the subject. "That would have been effing difficult….bleedin' gave it away, di'n' I? No choice."

Harry felt like his stomach was sinking when he heard this news. It seemed like every time they got close to this damn Horcruxe it keeps evading them. "What do you mean?"

"I was selling in Diagon Alley and she come up to me and asks if I've got a license for trading in magical artifacts. Bleedin' scoop. She was gonna fine me, but she took a fancy to that locket an' told me she'd take it and let me off that time, and to fink meself lucky."

"Who was this woman?" Hermione asked.

"I dunno, some Ministry hag." He shrugged. "She was a little woman bow on top of 'er head."

Ron groaned, "She look a bit like a toad?"

"Yeah." Mundungus agreed.

The room was completely silent, Harry's wand dropped from his hand. It echoed as it clamored to the floor and shot red sparks from the tip and ignited Mundungus' robes.

After putting the small fire out and releasing Mundungus, much to Kreacher's disappointment, they went upstairs. Ron, Harry, and Hermione all shared a look. It was almost as if they were being transported in time back to their fifth year.