Harley Potter and The Chamber Of Secrets

The Girl Who Lived

Chapter Six

The House Of Black

Harley followed after Regulus as the duo walked farther away from Buckingham's Boarding House and towards his home. It had been a long day for Harley and she just wanted to get off of her feet. She gazed around the bustling city with an almost bored look on her face. She had lived in the city for so long, nothing surprised her anymore. It was just another day, nothing special about that. Their footsteps thumped and thudded against the cement sidewalk as they walked by crowds of civilians unnoticed. They had perfected that ability, the two of them. Making themselves go unnoticed by everyone and anything. There was simply no reason the two wanted the attention. Seeing as one of them was a well-known witch that did a deed she barley remembered and the other happened to be a wizard that was an ex Death Eater that had betrayed Voldemort. Without Voldemort knowing he did so, though, Harley didn't know how Regulus betrayed him, just that he did. He was more than likely going to be searched for by the Dark Lords followers when they realized, if they realized, what he had done.

The sun remained high up in the sky. Surprisingly, no clouds covered the clear sparkling blue sky, for once. It was a day that every child remained outdoors, playing with friends or heading off for some sort of adventure. Harley had always wished to be one of them when she was younger. She had wished to have friends and be able to play outside with them. That was until she had realized just how cruel children could be and automatically ignored all child that tried to befriend her. It wasn't worth the betrayal, the loneliest and the hurt that came with it when you had so called friends where only friends with you, just to hurt you. No, she had to deal with that once before, she would never, ever make herself feel like that again. Not if she could help it. She cleared her throat and looked down at her shaking hands. She hadn't realized how worked up she was getting at the memories that flashed through her mind. Those memories haunted her, and always would, no matter how hard she tried to ignore them.

"You alright there Harley?" Regulus called over his shoulder as he noticed the girl lagging behind him. He watcher her closely as she shook her head, pushing something from her plagued thought mind. He recognized the look on her face; only someone who had horrible memories they couldn't forget, only ever had that look on their faces. Anyone who had them would realize it. That's one of the reasons he wanted to help this young girl so much. He cared for her; she deserved a chance at happiness. He just hoped she'd get that happiness one day. He had watched how she was treated for the last two years, like some animal, like a disease. It had made his blood boil and jaw clench in anger.

"I'm fine." Harley stated softly as she caught up to the older male. She noticed that they had walked farther away from the bustling city of London and into a small deserted community filled with large towering homes, blackened in color. The community reminded Harley of one of those halcyon areas. It may have looked composed, like some mask, but underneath it had some raucous hurricane underneath, just waiting to be released. It was almost how Harley at times felt inside. Rolling her eyes at her thoughts she walked quicker down the uneven sidewalk and towards the homes number 11 and 13. "Regulus, where is number twelve?" She questioned curiously, as she noticed it was missing. A smirk crossed Regulus's lips at her question. It was only a matter of time before he taught her everything he knew. She'd become something that The Dark Lord would be matched with, with strength and power. If he knew anything about her from following her, it was that she hated people that tried to protect her from something she knew she could fight.

"It's hidden, from those that do not know about it. My mother came up with that idea. It shocked my father, brother and myself about her idea. Seeing as she wasn't exactly the most pleasant." The older male stated with a shake of his head. He ran a hand through his hair, a sign of stress and thoughtfulness. Harley had discovered after watching him, studying him that he had some habits and quirks. "Of course, she was only unpleasant to my older brother, or whenever she didn't get her way." The thirty three year old wizard muttered. Harley heard him though. She made no comment and looked over the two buildings. "Just think Number Twelve Grimmauld Place." The wizard instructed with a nod of his head. Raising a disbelieving eyebrow she shrugged and turned her sharp gaze to the homes.

'Number Twelve Grimmauld Place.' She thought to herself with a shake of her head. To her awe, a house began to appear, shifting and pushing the houses in between it away, making room for the Black's home. "Wicked." She whispered with a sparkle of her eyes. Magic always seemed to catch her off guard, just when she thought it wouldn't.

"It is." Regulus agreed with a nod. Brushing past the girl he walked forward towards the home. He raised a pale hand and pushed open the squeaking gate. The black metal wrought Iron Gate was beginning to rust over from years of being uncared for. The gravel path way was covered with weeds growing in between the cracks of the ground. Harley followed after Regulus as he walked up the wooden steps. With each of their steps, the wood groaned and squeaked with the pressure of their feet. Harley felt like she was about to fall through with how indent the steps went from their weight. The raven-haired witch was already making a list of things they were going to need to clean this place up.

Finally when they reached the porch, which groaned from the sudden weight as the wood had begun to rot over the years gave Harley an uneasy feeling She followed after Regulus as the two walked towards the front door. Regulus grabbed hold of the silver-rusting handle and with a turn of the doorknob he pushed the door open, allowing it swung with a creak. The two companions stepped into the dimly lit room and was hit with the smell of decay, dust and grim. Harley and Regulus's noises scrunched up from the strong smell. It made the young girl shutter as different images of what the smell of decay should be. "This place is going to need work." Harley stated as her eyes gazed around at the darkened hallways. The staircase was old and made of fine dark oak. Down the right hallway was a kitchen that went downward, for you had to take a few steps to reach the larger room. The left of the hallway led to many doors that led to a living room, library, basement and a few other rooms. With a sigh Harley looked to Regulus and spoke. "Where should we start oh wise one." She asked sarcastically, causing Regulus to shake his head.

"We'll start in the living room and work our way around the downstairs before working on the upstairs." He supplied. Shrugging her shoulders Harley followed after Regulus to the living room.


"Mistress does not allow visitors. No certainly not, not at all. Mistress will not like this. Kreacher does not know who these strangers are." A bullfrog of a voice croaked from behind Regulus and Harley as they finally finished cleaning the living room. They had already cleaned the kitchen, dining room and family room. They had to wait to clean any other room for later. The living room had once been filled with cobwebs, dust and small blue little pixies that tried to bite them, but thankfully, with Regulus's quick magic skills, had gotten the right poison to kill them. They had hidden underneath the couch, behind the curtains and in many other places. The home was much more brighter and friendlier. The two had worked together to take away anything that was dark and depressing, and replaced the rooms with nicer and brighter colors.

"What is that?" Harley whispered, standing closer to Regulus with a suspicious raise of her eyebrows. She had never seen a creature such like this. The creature, Kreacher, had many folds of skin as well as white hairs in his ears. His green eyes seemed to be dull and sad, a permanent frown was on its face. Regulus felt a smirk grow across his tired face as he looked to his old house elf.

"I would think, Kreacher. That he would recognize his old master." Regulus stated loudly over the incoherent mumblings. He ignored Harley's question for now.

Kreachers nonsense muttering stopped at Regulus's words as he froze, looking to the ground. "Master…Master Regulus has come back?" Kreacher croaked as he raised his head up slowly and looked up at his old master. "Master Regulus was dead?" The house elf questioned dumbfounded.

"No Kreacher. Just in hiding, for reasons you would not understand." Regulus replied patiently. Kreacher seemed to brighten as he looked up at his old master. A spark seemed to shine in his eyes as a large grin grew on its face. It made Kreacher look much more kinder and different with a smile and glint in his eyes.

"Master Black was not dead. Master Regulus has come back for Kreacher?" The house elf questioned eagerly. As it continued to look up at Regulus with such devotion, it made Harley want to feel sick.

"Yes Kreacher. This is Harley Potter; I want you to listen to her whenever she tells you to do something. That's an order." Regulus demanded, folding his arms over his chest. Kreacher nodded his head slowly.

"Kreacher will do whatever Master Regulus requests." Kreacher stated, bowing to his master. Looking up he turned to Harley and looked her over slowly before speaking. "Kreacher is pleased to meet Harley Potter ma'am." Kreacher said, with a bow to her as well.

"Nice to meet you too, Kreacher." Harley stated with a small smile. Regulus looked from Harley and back to Kreacher.

"I want you to start cleaning up this place Kreacher. Make it like much nicer than we already made it. None of this doom and gloom." Regulus ordered his house elf.

"Of course Master Regulus. Kreacher will do whatever Master Black says." Kreacher replied. With a snap of its fingers, the house elf disappeared. Sighing to himself, Regulus looked towards Harley with a half smile.

"Shall we go see my mother now?" Regulus questioned. Grabbing Harley's arm, he dragged her out of the living room. The two made their way up the black staircase. Their footsteps echoed in the large entry way as they reached the final floor. Turning to the left, the two companions stopped before a large hanging picture. It was covered with black drapes that hid whatever was behind it from view. Raising their hands, together they grabbed hold of the velvet curtains and pulled them apart, showing a large painting. It showed an insane looking woman who was stuck in the painting. Before Harley could do anything, she began to bellow, loudly.

"You dare to disrupt me! Scrums! Filth of the wizarding world! Be gone with you and out of my sight! Strangers out with you!" Harley grimaced at the loud voice and shuttered. The voice of Walburga Black was like a screeching banshee. It reminded her vaguely of Headmistress Buckingham.

"Lovely to see you too mother!" Regulus yelled over his mother's screams. Walburga's painting froze at the voice and looked down at her youngest son with wide eyes.

"My…my boy. My darling Regulus is alive!" The woman cried out with tears in her eyes as she looked down at her son adoringly. "I thought you had died. But my boys alive!" Walburga clapped her hands together as she looked down at her son with love and adoration. "Where have you been all this time?" Regulus's mother demanded with a glare, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Uh…hiding. In some unknown god forsaken country." Regulus replied with a shrug of his shoulders. He looked away from his mother's critical eyes.

"Why were you in hiding?" She demanded with raise of her eyebrows. Clearing his throat with discomfort he rubbed the back of his neck.

"I betrayed Lord Voldemort." He stated quickly. Walburga looked down at her son seriously. When she spoke, her voice showed no sign of anger or disappointment.

"I assumed that would have been the case. You and your brother are so similar; it used to unnerve me at times. Then I realized the two of you use to be so close until I pushed the two of you to believe what I use to believe. Your brother, of course, was always so stubborn, fought every step of the way. While you listened so devotedly." Walburga sighed with a shake of her crazy mane of black hair. "Then again, your father never treated you as harshly and hurtfully at he did your older brother. Perhaps, that's one of the reasons why he rebelled so adamantly." Regulus's mother chuckled with amusement. "Oh how your father hated that, Just as I had." With another sigh she looked down at her son. "I loved you two boys more than anything. I just wished I could have shown it better." Rubbing her eyes from the tears she turned her gaze to the young girl beside her son. "And who is this?" Walburga Black questioned curiously. She looked down at the raven haired, bright, electric emerald green eyed, pale skin girl with interest. "I know she can't be someone you are dating." Regulus's mother stated. "She's much to pretty and out of your league and young." Walburga teased. Harley bit her lip from laughing, as she looked away, her face going bright red at the compliment.

Regulus glowered at his mother as he went red in the face as he blushed. Now he remembered why he and his brother never brought any of the girls he liked home. "Mother, this is Harley Potter. Harley, this is my mother." Regulus introduced the two women.

"Hello Mrs. Black. It's a pleasure to meet you." Harley replied politely with a smile. She had found Walburga's whole rant quite amusing. Considering that she had never seen a mother rant like that, only Mrs. Weasley.

"Hello dear. It's nice to meet you as well. How did you come across my son?" Walburga asked the young witch. Harley glanced at Regulus and then to his mother.

"Actually, he came across me. Stalked me for two years before I confronted him two days ago." Harley stated with a smirk. Walburga chuckled and looked to her son.

"Didn't know you where interested in younger girls Regulus." Walburga teased with a smile at the glare her son sent her.

"Very funny mother. Now, if you'd excuse us, we have some more cleaning to do downstairs. We'll be back to say goodbye before we leave." Regulus stated. Grabbing Harley's hand the two companions walked down the staircase and back into the living room to continue cleaning, before taking her back to the Orphanage. They would have to do the chest when they got to the Orphanage later.


Chapter Six is up! Yay! I know, I'm awesome giving you all three updates in a day. :)

Let's see, Harley got to meet Kretcher, who was a much more happier and eager house elf after discovering his master is back and alive. Hmm, I know Walburga Black was a bit AU, but I figured, with her knowing her son is alive, she's a little happier. And that she'd change after her death. That's just me though!

Next chapter has to do with Harley finding out some interesting things.

R&R please! Like I've said before, I love getting reviews, especially good ones! But bad ones are okay I guess. They just don't make me want to write much.

Your Writer,

TheWeepingRaven