What is going on with the Lord and Lady Black?
Chapter Four: Master
"He's a dullard Walpurga," Orion whispered harshly to his wife within the safe confines of his study. "He can't even hold a quill, much less serve the Dark Lord. It failed and we have to accept that."
"Perhaps it is you who are in possession of less than stellar intelligence," Walpurga sniffed, her voice lowering to a rasp as she continued. "Have you not noticed the way he watches us? How he interacts with Sirius? Did you not see him talking with the elf over your old chess set?"
Kreacher quietly refilled the tea pot as the two continued to bicker.
"And you failed to notice how the pieces fought him every step of the way. He had no concept of how they even moved!" Orion's voice rose in volume.
"Orion, what of his nightmares?"
"A phase he will soon grow out of. He's probably just afraid of the dark."
"So you haven't noticed how whenever I hand him any kind of food or drink he checks it for poison?" Walpurga asked, smug.
"He's a picky eater Walpurga. You're seeing things that aren't there. I'll admit the boy is a little strange, but it's too early to come to any conclusions."
"So we wait."
Kreacher relaxed as he entered the library where Master Regulus was waiting. The boy looked up and smiled warmly at him. "Good morning Kreacher. Why don't you come sit with me? I just finished the pieces," he said excitedly.
Kreacher looked at the flat, wooden pentagons that had strange scribbles on them. "What are they for, Master Regulus?"
"I call it Shogi." the child then proceeded to explain animatedly all the rules for his new game as Kreacher settled onto his stack of books piled on top of the chair. If only he could tell his master what the Lord and Lady Black had done. Perhaps, there would be more moments like this, when the shadows receded from the boy's face. Master Regulus deserved to be a child, for his eyes to light up in excitement. If Kreacher could tell Master Regulus why he saw such horrors in his sleep, maybe it would calm the boy's old and troubled soul.
Kreacher paused in his indulgent nodding when a thought occurred to him. Mistress Walpurga only told Kreacher to never speak of what was done that night. She said nothing about nudging Master Regulus in the right direction. The study door left open just a crack during one of the many secret discussions...a few papers from Master Orion's desk...and if he could find the book, all the better. Kreacher would do anything for Master Regulus because Master Regulus… was Kreacher's friend.
"Kreacher," Regulus whispered as the small elf sat by his bed in the dark.
"Yes, Master Regulus?"
"Will you always stay with me?"
"Of course I will, Master Regulus."
"Even if I get really sick?"
"Yes."
"Even if I get so sick you think I might die?"
"Especially then."
"Why?"
"Because that is when you will need Kreacher the most, and Kreacher will not leave when he is needed."
"Then stay, even when you think I don't need you, because I couldn't stand it if you went away."