Chapter 7

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Teddy woke up only a few hours after he'd fallen asleep. His dreams had been haunted by visions of his father lying deathly still on the ground, a wolf howling in the distance and suddenly the letters C.H. glowing in the sky like fire.

He could hear whispers, past conversations he had, had. He recognised Mrs Edward's voice. "You have any family other than your father..." "What's her name..." "Wonder if she's related to Mr and Mrs Helson..." "She died... cancer..."

After that Teddy had woken with a jolt, eyes blinking up at the ceiling. His hand rested on the jewelry box on his bedside table and opened it once more. He stared at photo of the young boy. Could it be? Now that he thought about it the boy's face was familiar and he looked a lot like him. "Dad." He exhaled, closing the lid to stare at the black pearl intials.

C.H.

Carla Helson.

"Mum." He ran his fingers across the smooth pearls. Suddenly he remembered the unread letter inside. He pulled it out carefully and read the particularly messy handwriting.

Dear Moony,

It's been less than a month since we broke up.
I know it's probably for the best.
My parents are thrilled of course... at least they were.

Remus, something wonderful has happened
and I don't know what to do.
Dad refuses to help, and you know my mother won't help unless Dad gives her permission.
But I can't do this on my own.

I need you more than ever.
I know you're busy but...

But, Remus, I'm pregnant with our baby.

There was scratched out writing beneath the last sentence, as if she had planned to continue but didn't know what to write next. Teddy's eyes rested on the line, 'something wonderful has happened'. His mother had truly loved him, even before he was born, even though her parents were throwing her out.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

He looked up and saw Arkie standing in the doorway. Teddy could tell she'd been crying as her eyes were red and puffy, somehow she still looked beautiful in his eyes. "Ron wanted me to come find you. Are you okay?"

Teddy didn't want to smile, knowing he'd feel guilty for being the only one who could, so he just nodded. "I'm fine. You?"

"Yeah." Was all she said. "Anything new with the box?"

He looked straight down at the box, the faintest hint of a smile on his lips. "It was my mother's." He tore his eyes from the box. "So, what did Ron want you to find me for?"

She gestured for him to follow her down the hall where they met up with the others. Ron was pointing to silver plaque on one of the many bedroom doors. "Regulus Arcturus Black." Teddy read aloud.

"R.A.B." Ron whispered. Teddy pushed the door further open. Inside the room was a mess. The upturned furniture was covered in dust and cobwebs and the shelves were filled with strange, dark objects. At that moment all their stomach growled at once and they all headed down the kitchen.

As Arkie plastered the butter onto her toast, Hermione read the note found in the fake locket. "I know I will be dead long before you read this. I have stolen the real Horcrux and intend to destroy it."

"So, R.A.B. is Sirius's brother?" Teddy asked, leaning back in his chair.

"Yes." Hermione nodded. "Question is, did he actually destroy the real Horcrux?"

Thump!

The softest of thuds came from within the pantry at the end of the kitchen. If the room hadn't been so quiet they might've missed it all together. Teddy jumped to his feet quietly, creeping towards the door and placing his hand on the doorknob. One deep breath. He swung open the door.

Everyone leaned in their seats, trying to look around Teddy who groaned and pulled something out from within the pantry cupboard. "Kreacher."

The house-elf growled at him in his low croaky voice. "Filthy half-breed!" He spat. "How dare you taint my master's house with you filthy blood!"

"Oh, put a sock in it." Teddy grumbled under his breath. "You've been spying on us, haven't you?"

The elf tugged at the rags he called clothing. "Kreacher has been watching." He admitted slowly.

"Maybe he knows where the real locket is." Ron said, standing up.

Harry grabbed the locket, holding it up to Kreacher. "Have you ever seen this before?" Kreacher was silent. "Kreacher!"

"It's Master Regulus' locket."

Harry continued to hold the fake locket tightly. "But there were two, weren't there?" Kreacher was slowly making his way around the table, back arched defensively. "Where's the other one?"

"Kreacher doesn't know where the other locket is."

Teddy remembered a time when he had laughed at the annoying elf, at how he talked about himself in third person and was constantly throwing him rude remarks. Back then they didn't hurt as much. But times had changed.

"But did you ever see it? Was it in this house?" Hermione asked.

"Filthy Mudblood!" Kreacher spat walking towards her, his eyes hateful. "Death Eaters are coming for-"

Ron stood defensively in front of Hermione, threatening to hit creature with his breakfast plate. Kreacher snarled. "Blood traitor, Weasley." Teddy quickly jumped in, pulling Kreacher back by his rags and placing him back on the ground. "Get out me Werewolf!"

"Answer her." He demanded.

Kreacher went silent, then whispered shallowly. "Yes. It was here in this house. A most evil object."

"How do you mean?"

Kreacher was tugging at his rags guilty. "Before Master Regulus died, he ordered Kreacher to destroy it... but no matter how hard Kreacher tried, he could not do it." The elf sounded genuinely displeased with himself, as if he was a failer.

"Well, where is it now?" Harry lowered the hand holding the fake locket. "Did someone take it?"

"He came in the night. He took many things, including the locket."

"Who did? Who was it, Kreacher?" Teddy asked, taking a step towards the house-elf.

Kreacher glared up at him, then closed his eyes. At first Teddy thought he was falling into an uncomfortable sleep, but soon he realized the grubby little creature was thinking. Kreacher opened his black beady eyes. "Mundungus... Mundungus Fletcher."

Teddy glanced at Harry who was staring at the house-elf. "Find him."

Crack!

F